Comedian Ralphie May might not have widespread name recognition, but his presence is completely unforgettable. Standing at 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighing close to 400 pounds, he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with onstage. Ralphie is a Southerner to the core, with a drawl and attitude that become instantly endearing.
His first experience with stand-up was prophetic, to say the least. At age 17, Ralphie entered a talent show; the winner got to open for Sam Kinison. He won the contest, and after the show, Kinison turned to him and said, “That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
You might think he spends most of his act on self-deprecating fat jokes. While he has plenty of those, it’s his ability to see past all the meaningless political correctness in the world and make very true and hilarious jokes about anyone and everyone that makes people appreciate how funny and talented May is.
Ralphie May @ Wiseguys West Valley City, 2194 W. 3500 South, 801-463-2909, May 24 & 25, 7 p.m., $20. WiseguysComedy.com
Speaking of The Essentials
-
Brandon Mull: Beyonders
Thursday April 14 @ The King’s English Bookshop
- Apr 14, 2011
-
The Perfect Fit
Through April 3 @ Kimball Art Center
- Mar 31, 2011
-
Utah St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
On Saturday, March 12, the Hibernian Society of Utah's traditional Salt Lake City downtown St. Patrick's Day parade winds through the Gateway from 400 West and 200 North beginning at 10 a.m. ...
- Mar 11, 2011
- More »
More by Jennifer Heaney
-
Hidden Treasures
Rock Hounding & Treasure Digging in Utah
- Jun 8, 2011
-
Performance Review: Lily Tomlin
- Apr 19, 2011
-
Lily Tomlin
And That’s the Truth: Lily Tomlin still embraces her classic characters after more than 40 years.
- Apr 13, 2011
- More »
Latest in Entertainment Picks
Readers also liked…
-
THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR MAR 14 - 20
St. Patrick's Day, Bored Teachers Comedy Tour, Downy Doxey-Marshall: Bloom and Laura Sharp Wilson: Gilding the Lily: A Choreography , and more.
- Mar 13, 2024
