Jeff Foxworthy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeffrey M. Foxworthy (born September 6, 1958[1]) is an American comedian, actor and game show host who is known for his work as a stand-up comedian. He is perhaps best known for his "You might be a redneck if..." jokes.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
Foxworthy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 6, 1958, the first child of James Abstance and Carol Linda (Camp) Foxworthy.[2] His grandfather James Marvin Camp was a Hapeville, Georgia, fireman for more than 30 years.[3]
Foxworthy graduated from Hapeville High School[4] and was a member of the class of 1979 at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and worked for five years in mainframe maintenance at IBM (where his father also worked) before, at the urging of co-workers, entering and winning the Great Southeastern Laugh-off at Atlanta's Punch Line comedy club in 1984. [1]
[edit] Comedy albums and attempts at television
In 1993, he released You Might Be a Redneck If... which started the "You Might Be a Redneck" fad, topped the comedy album charts, and sold more than three million copies.
In 1995, he starred in The Jeff Foxworthy Show, a sitcom created out of his stand-up comedy persona. It aired on ABC, but was canceled after one season. NBC subsequently picked up the show, but it was again canceled after one season. Foxworthy later remarked that the network did not understand how to properly market his humor; thinking his routine was "too Southern" for a national network, they based the first season of his sitcom in Bloomington, Indiana. The ABC run of the show can now be seen on Nick at Nite and CMT.
[edit] Blue Collar Comedy
In the early 2000s, Foxworthy had a career resurgence as a result of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, in which he and three other comedians (Larry the Cable Guy, Ron White, and Bill Engvall), specializing in common-man comedy, toured the country and performed for record crowds. The tour lasted three full years, constantly being extended after an initial run of 20 shows.
In 2004, he launched a new television show called Blue Collar TV on The WB Television Network and Comedy Central. He serves as executive producer, and stars alongside Blue Collar Comedy Tour-mates Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall. (Ron White turned the show down but made occasional guest appearances). The show was relatively successful compared to the anemic performance of the WB's other sitcoms. However, on Larry the Cable Guy's website, he says the show was canceled on October 17, 2005, by the network. Reruns of Blue Collar TV continued until the network merged with UPN to form The CW.
Jeff has resurrected the Blue Collar TV format (albeit with only himself participating along with some of the Blue Collar TV co-hosts) called Foxworthy's Big Night Out. which airs on Country Music Television (CMT). Foxworthy's Big Night Out began airing in summer 2006.
[edit] Books and recent work
Foxworthy has authored several books, including You Might Be a Redneck If... (1989) and related "redneck humor" books-- as well as his autobiography, No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem! (1996). He also has released a cookbook entitled The Redneck Grill, co-authored with David Boyd, and Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Dictionary: Words You Thought You Knew the Meaning Of (2005).
Foxworthy also hosts The Foxworthy Countdown, a nationally syndicated weekly radio show featuring country music hits.
In 2005, Jeff Foxworthy was roasted in a TV special called Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy.
Presently, Foxworthy is host of the FOX game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, which began airing on February 27, 2007.
[edit] Trivia
- Foxworthy was a frequent diner at one of Roswell, Georgia's popular watering holes, The Southern Skillet, when he lived there off and on in the '90s.
- His family has nine young girls. He has two, he lives next to his brother, who has three, and their sister has four.
- In 2006, Foxworthy voiced the character Lyle in the Disney movie The Fox and the Hound 2.
- Foxworthy turned down a part in the movie RV because he felt that he would be away from his family for too long. The part instead went to Jeff Daniels
- Foxworthy stars in a new internet short by Don't Be That Guy Films [2] called "Practical Gifts"[3], in which he explains the importance of getting loved ones "gifts they can use" instead of "gifts they want."
- Jeff Foxworthy also has his own line of beef jerky.
- Has been best friends with fellow comedian Bill Engvall for a long time. On the Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy, originally broadcasted on March 20, 2005, both Engvall and Foxworthy mentioned the fact several times.
[edit] Discography
- Live (1990)
- You Might Be A Redneck If... (1993)
- Games Rednecks Play (1995)
- Crank It Up: The Music Album (1996)
- Totally Committed (1998)
- Greatest Bits (1999)
- Big Funny (2000)
- Best Of Jeff Foxworthy (2003)
- Have Your Loved Ones Spayed Or Neutered (2004)
- Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One For The Road (2006)
- Fox and The Hound 2 <voice of lyle> (2006; Disney)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA:A Harris Family Journey, Robert E. Harris, Genealogical Press, 1994, page 870.
- ^ From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA:A Harris Family Journey, Robert E. Harris, Genealogical Press, 1994, page 870.
- ^ From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA:A Harris Family Journey, Robert E. Harris, Genealogical Press, 1994, page 870.
- ^ From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA:A Harris Family Journey, Robert E. Harris, Genealogical Press, 1994, page 870.
[edit] External links
- Jeff Foxworthy's site
- Jeff Foxworthy at the Internet Movie Database
- Jeff Foxworthy cast bio on The WB
- Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck BBQ Barbeque Sauce
- Practical Gifts
| 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 |
