Josh Blue
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Josh Blue (born November 27, 1978) is an American comedian who was voted the "Last Comic Standing" on NBC's reality show Last Comic Standing during its fourth season, which aired May–August, 2006. Blue was born in Cameroon, West Africa, where his father was teaching in a mission, and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado.
Blue has cerebral palsy and many of his jokes center on living with his disability, how he deals with it and how other people view him. He coined the term "palsy punch" during his final set of the final round of the show, when he said that the palsy punch is effective in a fight because "first of all, they don't know where the punch is coming from, and second of all, neither do I." Blue also joked that signing an autograph takes 45 minutes, and that to write down his phone number he has to find a "big ole' stack of paper".
Blue is also an excellent soccer player and was part of the 2004 U.S. Paralympic team. Blue has also created various sculptures and paintings, which he is currently selling. One particular piece he sells at an extremely high price, because, as he said on his appearance on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show, "I nearly died making it".
Blue got his start in comedy doing open-mic sets while attending The Evergreen State College. Audiences reacted enthusiastically to his self-deprecating humour, and Blue started making a name for himself on the comedy circuit. He has appeared several times on Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia.
Another known comic with cerebral palsy is Australia-born Christopher Widdows, better known as Steady Eddy.
[edit] In touch with his fans
Josh's warmth on stage extends to the Internet as well. Since July, 2006 (halfway through Last Comic Standing), fans have been able to send fan mail directly to Josh Blue, through JoshBlueFans.com. Of the thousands that have written through the service, Josh has replied to almost every single fan, and continues to respond since winning the show in August, 2006.
[edit] References
- United Cerebral Palsy Press Release United Cerebral Palsy Celebrates Stand-Up Star Josh Blue
- About.com Josh Blue wins "Last Comic Standing"
- USA Paralympic bio (Accessed June 21, 2006)
- Hicks, L. Wayne. "Just Joshin'". Denver Business Journal, September 30–October 5, 2005 issue. [1] (Accessed June 21, 2006)
