Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: The Verge

Photo Illustration by Chris Lee

Photo provided by Parallel Entertainment

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As he prepares to play a round of golf on a Friday morning in Park City, Utah, comedian Bill Engvall describes what he enjoys about performing in front of a college crowd.

It gives him a chance to reminisce a little bit.

"It's always fun to see different schools, and I like to see the kids," he said. "For me, it's always fun because it's a great memory flashback. It's a great feeling."

Engvall's continuous trip down memory lane will come through Charleston this weekend as he performs a pair of shows at 6 and 8 p.m. on Saturday in Lantz Arena.

During his 25-year career, Engvall, 51, has seen his audience evolve.

In his early years, his comedy was more appreciated by parents - that is, people who shared the experiences he based his comedy around.

His appearance in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which began in 2000, changed that.

"Ever since Blue Collar, and even before that, I have started getting a lot more people that are college-aged," Engvall said. "I love the energy of the college crowd."

It was as part of this college crowd at Southwest University that he began to develop into a stand-up comedian.


The beginning

As a kid, Engvall and his family moved a lot.

This helped develop his comedy.

"That was how I made friends, you became funny," he said. "I wasn't a jock. So that's how you made friends, to make people laugh."

While attending high school in Richardson, Texas, Engvall enjoyed his creative writing class.

It was in that class that his teacher showed him that creative writing didn't only mean literary projects.

"She really showed me that you don't have to just write (stories)," he said. "So I would write skits as my projects."

The practice helped Engvall when he made it big in the entertainment business.

He starred in the sketch show, "Blue Collar TV," on Comedy Central and right now is the executive producer of the situation comedy, "The Bill Engvall Show."

After graduating from Richardson High School, Engvall attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

"College is overall the best time of your life," he said. "The bills are being paid, you're away from home, and you don't have Mom and Dad running up and down your back."


On the road
Engvall sits backstage on a stop of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour in Nashville, Tenn., messing around on his computer.

In the corner, Jeff Foxworthy does his thing on his Nintendo Game Boy.

They don't know yet which of the four comedians of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour - Engvall, Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy or Ron White - will be "in the barrel" this week.

In other words, whose turn is it to be the butt of the pranks?

"That (tour) was as much fun as it looked like," Engvall said. "You're on the road with three of your best friends. You're just kicking back."

The friends didn't have any crazy backstage exploits.

And there wasn't much of a rivalry. Each of the comedians had headlined in the past and the tour gave them a chance to relax and entertain rather than decide who would headline the show.

"You had to bring your 'A' game every night because otherwise, you would get left behind," Engvall said. "It was just a hoot."

As he finishes his work on his computer, the stagehand comes back and retrieves Engvall.

It's his turn to take the stage.


The business

When Engvall talks about comedy, a different tone creeps into his voice.

He speaks as if he admires the craft and understands its place in the world.

"I just think laughter's the best," he said. "The world is in such turmoil right now. I tell people at the end of my show, 'You've got to laugh or you'll go crazy.'"

During one of comedy's golden eras in the 1970s - when Engvall was in his mid-20s - legends and household names like David Letterman, Robin Williams and Andy Kaufman played the clubs and inspired countless comedians.

It was no different for Engvall.

He grew up listening to Steve Martin albums and respected Bob Newhart for his clean comedy and hard work.

A third comedian he looks up to is his blue-collar pal, Foxworthy. He showed him how to be more than just a club comedian and showed him the possibilities.

"Literally, dude, until maybe 12 years ago, I didn't realize you can make a living at this," he said. "It was just a cool hobby. I could work at night, drink on the job and sleep in late. It was the perfect job."

Although Richard Pryor made an art out of being a "filthy" comedian, Engvall said the legendary comic's routine matched his upbringing.

Comedy today seems to be making a comeback, Engvall said, but he thought some comics are too quick to turn to an f-bomb just to try to be edgy.

"Listen, I'm not a prude," he said. "I love a dirty joke as much as the next guy. I'll tell you some that will make your hair curl. But I don't want to sit through an hour and a half of it."


Onstage

Engvall stands in front of the crowd of 18,000 people in Nashville.

He hears the applause roll down off the seats.

He never doubted that the tour would draw.

"Jeff and I knew it would be successful," Engvall said.

On its Web site promoting the DVDs, Netflix reports the tour earned more than $15 million.

The tour spawned a live album and a DVD. The success of the projects also led to a television show on Comedy Central.

"There are Blue Collar dolls for God's sake," Engvall said. "That's kind of creepy."

Despite being creeped out by his image on a doll, he said it doesn't change how he feels when he knows he has hit his mark.

"It's a great feeling," he said. "When you and the audience get on the same wavelength and they're there with you, it's one of the greatest feelings in the world."