We live in a pretty politically correct world. Luckily for us, there are a few people who don't give shit about the PC police. Josh Blue is one of those men.
You might know Blue from the fourth season of Last Comic Standing, where his win was entirely based on banter about his cerebral palsy. As a stand-up who refuses to recognize limits -- not even his own physical disability -- Blue is kinda like George Carlin with a crazy arm. He'll tell you that you're going to Hell for laughing at him. And he'll joke about being thrown in the clink when cops confuse his disease for public drunkenness.
A couple of days ago, Cultist chatted with Blue about Colorado, comedy fame, and missing-in-action funnyman Dave Chappelle.
New Times: Hey Josh, I see the 303 area code. Do you live in Denver, Colorado?
Josh Blue: I moved here on a whim after college and just fell in love with it.
What about our part of the world? Ever been to Miami?
I have been several times. It's my fourth time there since I have been on the road. I dig it. It's a little eccentric for my taste, but I can stand it for the weekend. No clubs for me. Those days are a little behind me.
Jokes.com | |
Josh Blue - Josh's Right Arm | |
Oh yeah, you're a married man. Turned in your dancing shoes for daddy shoes, huh?
I have a four-month year old girl and four-year-old boy. It's pretty awesome. Girls are the best. I don't want her to become a teenager when she will start to hate my guts.
So you made it big after Last Comic Standing, what was the audition process like for the show?
I was a young comic starting out and I knew it would be a huge stepping stone. I had won a few competitions before, so I figured why not go for it. The first year I auditioned, they give you two minutes and I got cut off about a minute in. That was pretty brutal and I knew I was good. But I was young and I became a little bitter, mainly because I auditioned in Chicago in minus-15-degree weather.
What made you want to try out again?
I auditioned again after my manager talked me into it and I am really glad I did. I thought it was a dumb reality show, it was and it made me famous.
Winning had to be pretty great. What did you do with the prize money?
New gym socks. I kid! I kid! I'm not flashy, so I bought my own house.
You got your fame off a reality show. What about the Jersey Shore kids?
Drunk trashy people getting paid to be assholes is what I think. It's funny, people were concerned about the oil spill, but I was more concerned about the Jersey Shore people on the beach when they were filming in Miami. They are way more toxic than oil.
I can imagine you have met a lot of celebrities. Has anyone left you star struck?
Dave Chappelle. When people say he is my peer, it kind takes me back. You like these people for years and then you end up on their show and it takes you back. Jon Stewart was great. I went on his show and I was hanging out backstage in a crowded room, he walks up to me and says, 'I love your work.' I was just, 'Oh, shit. This is a cool feeling.'
Jokes.com | |
Josh Blue - Lady Cop Hairdo | |
What did you think when Dave Chappelle fell of the face of the planet?
I have a lot or respect for him. Being famous seems great, but it invades every part of your life. That man couldn't walk down the street without guys yelling, "Rick James, Bitch!" It wears on you after a while, you know? I think for him to pull away from it and realize, 'My life is more important than being famous,' or whatever, I had to respect him for it. I have hung out with Dave quite a few times and we talked about it. You could see the weight of the world on his shoulders and I think he just needed to get out.
Do you think he will ever come back?
Yeah. He is still doing random projects. I am thinking about getting ahold of him and see if he wants to do a movie with me. I think we could be a quite a combo.
Your comedy focuses a lot of your cerebral palsy. Have you ever had any backlash for it?
I have had few instances where people don't like it. But I always just laugh it off. Usually it's people who speak for a friend who has a friend who has cerebral palsy who are offended. I always tell them to ask their friend what they think and get back to me. The disabled community gives me a strong backing.