Comedian and former Houstonian Ralphie May says comedy depends on your point of view. “It’s my job to take that point of viewand flip it, so people can see how ridiculous they are. Especially when it comes to racism and discrimination, I don’t even have to change what they’re saying. I just flip it on ’em and people see, ‘Hey, that ain’t right.’ Well, hell, that’s the same exact thing you’ve been saying.
“Like Arizona, they don’t want any immigrants, right? I bet you if Jesus went to Arizona, they wouldn’t let him in. They’d be like, ‘He ain’t from here? Naw, he can’t come in. Look at him, all that long hippie hair. Hanging out with a bunch of dudes all day, ain’t none of ’em got jobs.’ Somebody could tell them, ‘Hey, I think that’s Jesus.’ ‘I don’t care what his name is. You can’t come in here, Jay-soose. Walking around wearing a dress. What’s the matter with you, boy? You gay? We don’t want your kind in here.’ And then Jesus wouldn’t get in Arizona.”
May has stepped into the celebrity food arena with his new Fat Baby Jesus barbecue sauce. (“A molasses-based barbecue sauce with just a hint of jalapeño,” he tells us.) The label features a fat black baby. “Black folks wanna say,‘That ain’t right, Ralphie. Why fat baby Jesus gotta be black?’ I tell them, ‘Hey, it could be another picture of a white Jesus, all blond and shit. This way he represents.’ They think about it for a second and then say, ‘Aw, hell, good looking out, Ralphie.’ See, it’s all depends on how you look at things.”
8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Improv Comedy Showcase, 7620 Katy Freeway. For information, call 713‑333‑8800 or visit improvhouston.com. $25 to $50.
Thu., May 29, 8 p.m.; Fri., May 30, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., May 31, 7 & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., June 1, 7:30 p.m., 2014
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2014.