Arts Agenda - Laugh out loud

Comedian and perennial TV personality Jamie Foxx joins a host of black comedians for the LAFFAPALOOZA! America’s Urban International Comedy Arts Festival, returning to Atlanta for the fourth year this weekend. Foxx serves as master of ceremonies for the four-day event, which features performances by D.L. Hugeley, Bill Bellamy, Kim Coles, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, Wanda Smith, Ryan Cameron and Yvette Wilson, as well as a community outreach program called “Learning Through Laughter” that helps educate urban youth with humor.

CL: Who’s your favorite person — or what’s your favorite thing — to make fun of as a comic?

Jamie Foxx: Well see, I grew up with my grandmother, who is still (and will always be) one of my favorite people in the world! I joke around about her all the time. There are people that I travel with on the road who I enjoy being around. We snap on each other all the time. My favorite is just making fun of experiences that everyday people have: male-female relationships and that kind of thing. You know, keeping check on the ‘thangs’ grown folks do. You know, I’m grown. You married?

Uh, yes. Have you ever bombed on stage?

Let’s say, I’ve had challenging moments. Particularly when you’re testing out new material. You just don’t know what to expect. You know, comedy is a lot of timing — kind of like boxing. You’ve got to know when to throw your punchline and when to move. Stick and move. By the way, go see me and Will Smith in Ali. Stick and move, baby.

What was the first thing you bought after you became a rich and successful comedian and television personality?

I’m not a big spender. Plus, I’m not the type of person who just runs out and buys a bunch of stuff just for the sake of saying I have it. Too many people starving in the world. That’s one of the reasons that I love doing LAFFAPALOOZA! I’m able to take my comedy and do something that benefits children. My success didn’t happen overnight. I did it like most people do it. I started out with the basics. I’m in it for the long haul, the slow grind, the slow burn. You know what I’m talkin’ bout?!

Yeah, I do. Can a comedian be taught to be funny or is it a gift?

A comedian can be born with the basics. I think, personally, it is a gift on one level or another. Even with the gift of comedy, though, you’ve got to work hard. It’s kind of like dancing: Everybody can be taught to throw a step or two, but you can’t teach people rhythm; no matter how they practice, either they have it or they don’t.

What one thing should non-comics understand about comedians?

Well, one thing is that it’s not an easy job. You make a mistake on stage, it’s your mistake by yourself. There is no band to hide it. That’s what I love about LAFFAPALOOZA! It comes to Atlanta every fall, and it really gives people an opportunity to not only see me and some of my friends perform, but it also gives new talent a chance to get out there and showcase for the non-comics, as you call them. People really get an opportunity to see the new talent before they get their television and movie deals. They can meet comedians and really talk to them one on one. ... People will begin to understand that this game of comedy is a challenge, but it is a chance for people to really let their hair — or weaves or whatever they have — down and have a lot of fun!

LAFFAPALOOZA! takes place Oct. 25-28 at various venues throughout the city. Events include Live from LAFFAPALOOZA! with Jamie Foxx Oct. 27 at the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave.; New Faces in Urban Comedy performances Oct. 25-26 at Uptown Comedy Corner, 2140 Peachtree Road; Learning Through Laughter performances featuring Nickelodeon’s Nick Cannon and Kenan Thompson and Lee Thompson Young of Disney’s “The Famous Jett Jackson” Oct. 27 noon-2 p.m. at the Atlanta Civic Center; and a Comedy Charity Basketball Game, featuring Jamie Foxx, Jaleel White (Erkel on “Family Matters” and Allen Payne (“The Cosby Show”), Oct. 28 at Morehouse’s Forbes Arena. 770-935-7353. 770-935-7220.??