If you go> What: Comedian Kevin James.> When: 7:30 tonight, Oct. 30.> Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.> Admission: $39.50, $49.50, $59.50.> Phone: 423-642-TIXS.> Website: www.ChattanoogaOnStage.com.
Kevin James can make you laugh any number of ways.
An actor with film and television credits, he's also a producer, writer and stand-up comedian known for his observational and physical humor. Even just his face can make people laugh.
"I'll take that as a compliment," he says.
James will appear at the Tivoli Theatre tonight, Oct. 30, with an all new set observational humor that he believes will connect with people.
"I like to get people to recognize or see themselves," he says.
James is perhaps best known for the sitcom "King of Queens" in which he played "average Joe" Doug Heffernan. The show premiered in 1998 and stayed on until 2007, garnering him an Emmy nomination in 2006. He also starred in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," "Grown Ups," "Zookeeper," "Hitch" and the recently released "Here Comes the Boom."
He also starred in his own comedy special, "Sweat the Small Stuff," on Comedy Central. It's classic James with clean bits about everything from standing in line at the bank to people who leave long, slow messages on your answering machine only to zip through the call-back number to people who give their phone numbers in a rhythm other than the three-then-four number pattern we are accustomed to.
A star tailback in high school, James also discusses his expanded body shape.
"I either have to get back in shape or hope ponchos come back in style," he says.
For James, doing stand-up, television and movies "all go hand-in-hand and complement each other."
"You get different forms of reactions in each," he says.
He loves the immediacy of a live audience, even a television studio audience.
"The TV show can be pretty immediate."
Making a movie, on the other hand, can involve doing multiple takes of the same scene. James says he has learned to trust his instincts and the people he works with when it comes to sticking with a joke or sight gag. He may experiment with a line delivery or joke, but once he finds what he likes, he stays with it.
"You just go with your experience," he says. "You try it and test it as you pull a joke together. We kind of get a consensus and say, 'This one feels right.' I do have a pretty good team that we all feel comfortable with."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.