Comedian Josh Blue headlines in Columbus

From The Columbus Dispatch:

Former Last Comic Standing winner Josh Blue is sometimes called "the comedian who puts the cerebral in cerebral palsy."

He pokes fun at his disability with smart jokes that draw laughter.

Blue, the headliner this weekend at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, recently spoke to The Dispatch by phone.

Q For the past three years, you've performed in Columbus the first weekend in January. Is there a reason?

A Once you start a pattern, it's nice to let the fans know it's the beginning of the year and Josh will be coming back. It keeps the fan base happy.

Q Most comedians call New York or Los Angeles home. Why do you live in Denver?

A Position-wise, it's a nice place. If you've got to go to the West Coast or the East Coast, it's not that crazy six-hour flight.

It's actually a really good comedy city: A lot of good comedians live here and there are three (good) comedy-club rooms here. It's nice not having to deal with the hubbub of New York or Los Angeles, you know? I don't like traffic.

Q You studied comedy at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. Were you intending to be a comic?

A I had no idea what I wanted to be -- a writer or a zoologist.

I didn't have any idea that I was good at stand-up until my senior year of college. It just sort of happened one day.

Q Did college help reduce the amount of dues-paying?

A I've done my fair share of . . . (crummy) shows in Wyoming. I feel like that's what made me who I am and where I'm at. There's definitely some value to paying your dues.

Q What was the auditioning process like on Last Comic Standing?

A I actually did it two years in a row. The first year, they didn't even give me two minutes of their time. They were just like "Next," and that was pretty heartbreaking because I auditioned in Chicago, and it was 15 below. I waited in line for, like, six hours.

The next time I went, I had some more clout and they knew to watch for me. I was still really nervous. Actually, I'm happy I didn't get it the first time. I think I wasn't ready yet. I had . . . another year of shows to do and just get polished.

Q Judging by your Web site, it looks as if you'll wed soon.

A I'm already married. . . . (Yuko) just got back last week; we were in Japan. My wife is Japanese, and we did a Japanese wedding ceremony over there, and I have a 9-month-old son (Simon). And I'm just looking forward to watching him grow and being a father.