Second Moncton show added for Canadian funnyman.

A23

Lise Elsliger

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Speak Up

There must be something in the air in Canada when you realize that all the funniest people in the world are Canadians.

Jim Carey, Martin Short, Mike Myers, Howie Mandel. And that other guy - Ron James. He might not have made the Academy Awards yet, but he's got people laughing. His Friday night CBC gig attracts 800,000 a week. And due to overwhelming demand, a second Mental as Anything show is being added to the Ron James appearance at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton.

When I went online trying to find out what makes Canadians so funny, An online Canadian Wall of Fame site said:

"Canadian humour is unique in that we are constantly poking fun at ourselves. The funniest peeps around have always been able to take a good joke as well as they tell one. Canadians have always welcomed jokes directed at them, and often carry it on. Canadians don't take themselves seriously, even maybe when we should, but especially not when it comes to humour."

Interesting, as this reflects a little of James' humour, since he spends a lot of time making fun of things that make us Canadian - like his Youtube skit on the obsessive, undeniably committed and addictive relationship we have with Tim Hortons. Or, as the Toronto Star describes one of his shows, "This unique blend of poetically charged, kinetically driven stand-up comedy weaves a riotous verbal tapestry that captures one comedian's spirit of place, while traveling Canada in pursuit of the muse. By incorporating the historic and geographic, with a comic's eye for regional idiosyncrasies and a poet's ear for language ... it tickles the funny bone as well as the intellect."

The only problem with a guy whose celebrity is growing is that he's not so keen on doing interviews. But in my case that's because he was getting ready to host the Gemini's. A good enough excuse, I guess.

So, where does this guy come from? Ron James is Canada's award-winning, premier selling comedian, whose 100-minute non-stop stand-up comedy performances have been rewarded with standing ovations at sold out theatres from coast to coast.

James began his career as an actor with The Second City and has been seen on every major television network over the last twenty plus years, both here and America. He's been nominated for his dramatic acting with a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He was voted Canadian Comedian of the Year at the inaugural Canadian Comedy Awards in 2000 and also garnered a Gemini Award as part of the writing team for This Hour Has 22 Minutes. From 2000-2002 he wrote and starred on Global TV for two seasons in Blackfly, a sitcom of his own creation.

He's also enjoyed popular and coast-to-coast critical acclaim for his 90-minute television special, Up and Down In Shakey Town on CTV, and his five 60-minute specials for CBC TV: The Road Between My Ears, filmed in Toronto; Quest For The West, filmed in Calgary; West Coast Wild, filmed in Victoria, Back Home, filmed in Halifax and Manitoba Bound, filmed in Winnipeg. The Road Between My Ears, Quest For The West, West Coast Wild and Back Home are now available on DVD as 100-minute Performer's Cut. Manitoba Bound will be released in the near future. Also watch for The Ron James Show, a CBC-TV comedy airing Fridays at 8 p.m. The series launched on Sept. 25.

Interested in seeing the show? It will take place at the Capitol Theatre on Nov. 25 and 26. For ticket information, call the box office at 506-856-4379 or 800-567-1922.