Seeing Red

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000 | 2:07 a.m.

You might be a redneck if you go see comedian Jeff Foxworthy when he performs Thursday through Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton -- but probably not.

Foxworthy's popularity cuts across all social lines. His signature phrase, "You might be a redneck if ..." has earned him fame and fortune, transporting the former IBM serviceman from a working-class world into the world of entertainment.

But the 15-year journey does not seem to have changed the pleasant, down-to-earth storyteller whose wife and two daughters take precedence over his career. Foxworthy's values and laid-back Southern charm came across clearly in a recent phone interview from his home in Atlanta:

Las Vegas Sun: You lived in Southern California for a few years, but I understand you've returned to Georgia.

Jeff Foxworthy: We've lived back here about three years now. I prefer Atlanta for my family. L.A. doesn't show up at the top of those lists of great places to raise kids. When I need to, I get on a plane and go to L.A. I work a couple of weeks a year in Las Vegas, plus I'm there seven or eight times a year on conventions.

Sun: You've had a couple of television series. A lot of comedians are getting their own shows today. Think you'll take another shot at it?

JF: Not anytime soon, other than hosting a special or something. I'm not saying I would never do another sitcom, but I'm pretty happy right now. I do 100 concerts a year. For the last year-and-a-half I've been doing the syndicated "Country Countdown" (a Sunday morning radio show featuring country music and guests). We're in about 150 markets. I just finished another album, called "Big Funny." I'm working on a book of short stories.

The sitcom scene is pretty discouraging right now. It doesn't depend on quality writing, like it used to. It's not like I'm looking at it and saying, "That's a great show. I'd like to do something like that."

Besides, everything's going great. I get to take my kids to school every day -- actually I drive six little girls to school, mine, my brother's and a neighbor's. During the week I run to the hardware store or the grocery store and then on Fridays I get on a plane and go do a stand-up act in front of 5,000 people.

And I'm chairman of the Duke Children's Hospital Foundation in Durham (N.C.). It's an awesome hospital. It doesn't turn anybody away based on ability to pay. It gave away $48 million last year, so we have to raise a lot of money. It's a passion of mine.

Sun: There's a lot of politics in the news today. Is it good material?

JF: I don't do much political humor. It alienates about 50 percent of the people. Somebody said if Bush gets in we're going to have a redneck president and I said, "As opposed to the one we've had for the past eight years?" I tell you, it was all Bill (Clinton) could do to keep the appliances off the lawn.

Southern Florida is not the south. That part of Florida used to be attached to New York. It broke off and floated down and reattached itself. It scares me to think 96 percent of the people could read a ballot correctly and now we're thinking about letting the 4 percent who can't read a ballot select the president. That's a little scary.

Sun: You've been doing redneck jokes for years. Are they still popular?

JF: Unbelievably so. This thing should have died a long time ago. I guess it's because the ones that always work the best are based in truth. They still get people not only laughing, but also turning around and pointing at each other. Like when I say "... if you've ever emptied the back of your pickup by driving real fast and slamming on your brakes," people all over the audience are pointing at someone else.

Sun: Have you adapted your routine?

JF: It's constantly evolving. I'm constantly adding something and taking something out. Even with the redneck jokes. They're only five minutes of the show, but I have over 3,000 of them. I never get bored. It's not like Chubby Checker having to sing "The Twist" every time he goes onstage -- you know that when his band hits the first three chords of that song he must get that hot-orange juice feeling in the back of his throat and think, "Ah, crap. I've got to sing this song again." It's never been like that for me.

Sun: Today's comedy seems to be heavy on sex and vulgarity.

JF: Exactly. I've watched some of these things on (HBO's) "Def Comedy Jam" -- I'm not a prude at all, and I'm watching and I'm laughing, but I'm going, "Where do you work?" Jay Leno was king of comedy clubs when I started. Jay said, "If you work clean, you will always work." He was right.

Sun: Who else has influenced you?

JF: I was a huge fan of comedy as a child. I saved my money to buy comedy albums. Bill Cosby was one of my favorites. I liked Flip Wilson, Bob Newhart, Jerry Clower.

Sun: Great storytellers. Is it being lost as an art form?

JF: Stand-up will never be lost. It's changed a lot in the last 10 years. When I started doing this my goal was to be on Johnny Carson. For a comedian, that was the top of the mountain. Then when cable came along, everybody did comedy. It was the cheapest form of programming to do. They didn't have to pay writers or directors, all they did was put up a brick wall and give the comedian a microphone. But they quickly ran out of "Tonight Show" comics and worked their way down. It got to the point where people at home were going, "Bill at work is as funny as this guy."

It probably hurt comedy clubs a great deal. There was an oversaturation of the market and they've struggled since then. But there will always be good stand-ups. It's just harder and harder to work clean.

Sun: Did you make it to the Carson show?

JF: Over my desk right here is a picture of me sitting in a chair talking to Johnny and Johnny's got his head back, laughing. When I first got on his show that was kind of like all I ever wanted to do. I went home that night and -- lying there in bed, staring at the ceiling -- I thought, "What now?"