I strolled into the fairgrounds for my last night and the place was abuzz. Clearly they are ready for Chris Coen! Then I met my contact and he told me the show might be tough – we were up against bullridin’ (I left the g off for effect…think Sam Elliot on a horse…or me, hell I could do that western Marlboro Man voice. Maybe I’ll quit comedy and do Longhorn Steakhouse commercials. Sorry, back to the tale.)
We went over to scout out the competition and saw a multitude rivaling anything Union County had ever seen. A middle aged rodeo clown was slingshotting free shirts and water balloons into the masses. Damnit! Free t-shirts? WT’s love free T-shirts! I’ll have to bring it tonight. I don’t really know what bringing it means, but I better do it.
About 20 minutes before the show, an white bearded man with a radio velcroed to his wrist wearing swimming trunks and a t-shirt from several pounds ago sizewise came up to me. “Excuse me, who’s the comedians?” Actually, I’m one. “Where’s Kenny?” He’s the headliner, he’s over there. “What about Jimmy?” I’m Chris, there’s no Jimmy. I’m the other comic. “What?” Over there, on the flyer. That’s me. He shuffled over to the flyer, looked at it, looked back at me and said, “CLEAN! KEEP IT CLEAN TONIGHT!” He knows my act! Excellent!