Bill Engvall
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William Ray ("Bill") Engvall, Jr. (born 27 July 1957 in Galveston, Texas) is an American comedian best known for his work as a stand-up comic, and as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group.
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[edit] Background
Starting his career on the Television show Designing Women, Engvall hit his acclaimed first "big break" when he went on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and from there won the American Comedy Awards Comic of the Year, landing then on the television show Delta Burke, which lasted for one year, and from then on producing his albums. Before becoming a well-known comedian, Engvall joined the popular talent show Star Search.
Engvall's career toiled in relative obscurity for several years, hitting a low point while starring as CHUD #14 in the cult film C.H.U.D, until he turned his most famous routine, "Here's Your Sign," into a song by country music star Travis Tritt. The song was a hit, catapulting Engvall to comedic stardom. More recently, he recorded a Comedy Central special and starred with fellow comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ron White in the hit redneck-themed stand-up movie Blue Collar Comedy Tour (as well as its sequels and spin-off TV show). The Blue Collar group has been called the redneck Rat Pack. Foxworthy is both the leader and most famous of the group, like the Rat Pack's Frank Sinatra. Engvall equates to Dean Martin, since he is the best friend of the leader, and is arguably the second-most famous member of the group. He presently hosts Country Fried Home Videos on Country Music Television.His three favorite things are slim jims, beer, and boobs. He said he wishes he had boobs made of slim jims.
He is married to his wife Gail since 1982 and has a daughter named Emily, a junior at the University of Puget Sound, as well as a son named Travis.
Recurring themes in his routines are his family, his children growing up, his wife, and that he has a very low tolerance for alcohol and drugs.
Engvall will be starring in The Bill Engvall Show, which will also feature Nancy Travis and will debut in summer 2007 on TBS. In the show, he will be playing Dr. Will Pearson, a family counselor. [1]
[edit] Here's Your Sign
His most famous routine is "Here's Your Sign" in which he proposes hanging signs on people who are stupid, so others would know not to rely on them for anything. Engvall's criteria for getting signed is asking something stupid or obvious, to which he replies with a sarcastic remark and a "Here's your sign." Examples can be found on Wikiquote: Bill Engvall.
On occasion, others have signed him, much to his chagrin. Bill's "Here's Your Sign" skits skits have been compared to Mad Magazine artist/writer Al Jaffee's "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions".
[edit] 15 Degrees Off Cool
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[edit] Discography
- 1996 Here's Your Sign
- 1998 Dorkfish
- 1999 Here's Your Christmas Album
- 2000 Now That's Awesome
- 2002 Cheap Drunk: An Autobiography
- 2003 Here's Your Sign Reloaded
- 2004 A Decade of Laughs
- 2005 Here's Your Christmas Album (Bonus Track)
- 2007 15° Off Cool
[edit] Filmography
- Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie (2003)
- Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again (2004)
- Blue Collar TV (2004)
- Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One For the Road (2006)
- Delta Farce (2007)
[edit] Trivia
- Is both ophidiophobic (ironically, his favorite people to watch on Animal Planet are the snake handlers) and acrophobic.[1][2]
- Has been in two television series with best friend Jeff Foxworthy: The Jeff Foxworthy Show and Blue Collar TV
- Contrary to popular belief, he is not the cousin of Jeff Foxworthy.
- Attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
- Attended Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas.
- Is a member of Kappa Alpha Order (Xi Chapter at Southwestern University).
[edit] Notes
Bill will commonly have a bar tender bring him shots of tequila during a show. These shots are in fact only water.
- ^ Here's Your Sign, Track 2
- ^ Bill Engvall: Here's Your Sign LIVE! (DVD)
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Bill Engvall at the Internet Movie Database
- Bill Engvall cast bio on The WB
- "Blue Collar Comedy King", biographical article featured in The Auburn Plainsman
| Blue Collar Comedy |
|---|
| The Tour |
| Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie • Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again • Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One For the Road |
| The Television Show |
| The Comedians |
| Jeff Foxworthy • Larry the Cable Guy • Bill Engvall • Ron White |
