Ron James is a smart man who uses a lot of million dollar words in his comedic routines. More than likely you’ve seen his stand up routine on the Comedy Channel and on his popular new CBC television show.
But more importantly, he is a funny man who will be bringing the funny back to the Yates centre for two shows, Dec. 4-5.
“I just flew into Calgary and now I’m wrapped up in blankets protecting myself from this Venusian cold,” noted James in an early morning interview during a November cold snap, kicking off an amicable half hour conversation covering everyone from the sold out crowd bundled up and shivering through the CFL Western Finals, the fall of the American dream, to how complacent Canadians are in their deference to authority, to why Bob Saget can fill concert halls and a lot f Canadian comedians can’t.
“ I went to a public school and then got a bachelors degree in history from university. I graduated with a BA in history and a minor in binge drinking. But university is also where I learned how to communicate as well started my belief that I could be an actor,” he said adding he honed his comedic craft with the renown Second City improv comedy troupe in Toronto.
“I learned that if I was going to be a success, I’d have to do it on my own, not as part of some group,” he said adding in 1993, he also spent three years in Los Angeles working on a sitcom that ended up failing, but it gave him plenty of grist for the comedic mill, which was incorporated into his first comedy special.
“ I just like how language trips off your tongue. I make observations. But you always try to remember what the audience is paying for — and that’s laughter,” he continued.
“I like to tell stories, but what you don’t realize is how well crafted they are because you lose yourself in the story,” he continued adding he loves coming out west, mainly because one of his first comedy specials was “Quest For the West.”
“It’s always fun going to Alberta and talking about Tories. Alberta is only province where the only opposition to a conservative party is another conservative party,” he observed adding he was impressed with how many people bundled up to go to the Western finals CFL football game.