RSSJosh Blue -- Equal parts inspiration and humor
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Josh Blue, the comic who performs Saturday in Yakima, tells a story in his act about a stranger approaching him on the street to tell him how inspiring it is that he's out on his own.
"I'm like, lady, I'm on my way to the liquor store."
The 30-year-old Blue, who won NBC's "Last Comic Standing" in 2006, has cerebral palsy, a physical disability that affects motor skills and results in shaky, uncontrolled movements. It's a big part of his act, because it's a big part of his life.
But he doesn't ask for sympathy and he never set out to inspire people or be anybody's poster child. He just wanted to be a comic, something he started working toward as a student at The Evergreen State College in Olympia.
Along the way, though, his success inspired people. Like the blogger with cerebral palsy who saw Blue and wrote, "Watching YouTube videos of his performances has reminded me that it is OK and in fact healthy to laugh at myself."
"I had no intention of that," Blue says in a phone interview, referring to the inspiration thing. "But now that it's thrown in my face like that, how do you ignore that? It's cool that people take inspiration from what I do."
What he does is walk a tightrope, making fun of himself and his disability in a way that is certainly politically incorrect and could come off as cynical or mean, were it not for Blue's impeccable delivery and regular-guy likeability.
"You are all going to hell for laughing at that," he tells audiences, getting laughs while deflating the uneasiness they have laughing along with him.
Blue, who also paints and is a member of the U.S. Paralympic soccer team, understands and acknowledges the strange psychology involved with getting laughs from his own disability.
"The majority of the time, I think it's OK," he says. "I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think so. The way I look at it is, it's OK for me to do this joke, but you can't. It's a weird position."
Talking with Blue, the first thing that stands out is that despite the celebrity he's a really down-to-earth guy. He does gigs, he plays soccer, he bums around his hometown of Denver. Winning a network TV comedy competition raised his profile, and he still hasn't really gotten used to it.
"It's weird," he says. "I'm just such a normal guy. Like, too normal. Like, sometimes I forget I'm famous."
What's changed his life more than fame, though, is fatherhood. Blue and his wife have a 20-month-old son and another baby on the way.
"My priorities are different," Blue says. "Being on the road before was party central. ... I talk a lot about my son. He's an endless supply of material. That kid is a holy terror. He follows me around the house, mocking the crap out of me. He pretends he has cerebral palsy."
Chalk him up as one more fan inspired by Josh Blue.
Don't be surprised if his show Saturday, a benefit for Camp Prime Time, leaves you feeling the same way. Blue, who does motivational speaking as well as stand-up, just has a knack for doing that even though he downplays it.
"People tell me stuff like that," he says. "And to me, it's just me. You know."
So, yeah, he's coming to terms with being an inspiration. But he really just wants to make you laugh.
* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.
If you go
WHAT: Christmas in November benefit for Camp Prime Time, featuring comedian Josh Blue, dinner and live and silent auctions.
WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St.
HOW MUCH: $50, reservations required. Call 509-248-2854.
MORE INFO: www.joshblue.com, www.campprimetime.org.
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