Craig Glazer Talks Comedy Tonight!!!

TKC NOTE: Tonight our pal Craig Glazer shares a bit of comedy insight and shares what's happening at his place this weekend.

Female ‘Larry the Cable Guy’
The Tennessee Tramp: Janet Williams

It doesn’t seem that long ago that a radio DJ named Chris Baker told me about a country style comic who would come into our club and blow the doors off. He told me the guy’s name was Dan Whitney but he now goes by the name of Larry the Cable Guy. It was the late nineties’ and at that time all I could look at was a crudely made VHS tape shot in a bar somewhere in the south featuring Dan Whitney ala Larry the Cable Guy. Baker, who was the drive time DJ for KMBZ back at the time, bugged me about hiring his friend. After weeks of him prodding me, I was on Chris’ show with Bobby Slayton, he made this offer. ‘If you bring Dan in and he doesn’t fill your club to two-thirds capacity, I’ll feature for free,’ he said. Baker was a pretty funny comedian in his own right. I said, ‘You’re on.’ Johnny Dare put Larry on his show and that was when Kansas City heard for the very first time the phrase ‘Git ‘er done!’ It would be the beginning of Larry having a top-rated radio station having him on weekly, and it started with Johnny Dare. The phones blew up and to my surprise the club was packed even on Sunday. Larry went on to play Stanfords every three or four months for the next few years. I called Hollywood about him. Agent Matt Blake, currently head honcho at CAA, came to see him. Larry went to Hollywood to try out. The rest is history…and the beginning of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. The Cable Guy went on to be one of the highest grossing comedy stars in history. In fact, in one year he grossed north of fifteen million dollars with his concerts, movies and clothing apparel backing him up.

Ralphie May, who is still one of the hottest club comics in America, told me about a female ‘Larry the Cable Guy’ type named Janet Williams. With his encouragement, we gave the self-named ‘Tennessee Tramp’ a shot at headlining Stanfords just over a year ago. Janet, like Larry, does naughty blue-collar material. No, she did not have the overwhelming response Larry did, however, she drew nice crowds, they roared with laughter and we decided to bring her back. As we all know the blue-collar comedy craze has died down somewhat, but funny is funny and Janet Williams is definitely that. She’s a pleasingly-plump redhead that tells you how to keep a man (or a woman), all about dieting and those damned kids. If you like Larry, you will love the Tennessee Tramp.

Williams tells an entertaining story about how she was the first white female comic on BET’s Comic View. When she asked for make-up when she went on the air, they told her they didn’t have make up for white girls. She said, ‘My friends who watched me on that show thought I had one hell of an overnight tan.’ Janet gained more popularity with her appearances on CMT and the Country Music Awards. She talks a lot about her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she still lives today. One of her favorite stories is about her nineteen year marriage to a man she doesn’t love, but got her great health insurance.

The Tramp has spent the last few years opening for Ralphie May on his concert tours. Williams also goes overseas for USO Tours every year, her father was a twenty-five year veteran of the United States Navy. You might have seen her on Friday morning on KCTV 5 with Kelly Jones, if you missed it they will replay it Saturday morning. Find out why her nickname is ‘The Tramp’; she is at Stanfords at the Legends Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call (913)400-7500 for tickets and more information. I promise you will have a great time with the Tramp.

PS: Our dear friend TJ Miller, who was kind enough to fly to Kansas City on his own dime to perform at a comedy memorial service for my brother Jack who passed away just over a year ago, landed a huge one. TJ will co-star with Mark Wahlberg in Transformers 4, a 200-million dollar extravaganza of a film that will start shooting next month. TJ also has another starring role in a smaller picture later this summer. Miller will appear at Stanfords this fall after shooting both films. TJ is also the star of Comedy Central’s ‘Mash Up’. We are so proud of him and his accomplishments. Miller did his first full week headlining a major comedy club here at Stanford & Sons four years ago.

Follow me on Twitter @KCKingofSting.
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