No matter if you reside in Dallas or Atlanta, NBA All-Star Weekend is a significant event in most African-American households. All-Star weekend has everything from All-Star players such as Dallas resident LaMarcus Aldridge and Atlanta’s own Josh Smith to movie stars such as Gabrielle Union and DFW resident Jamie Foxx.
If you are fortunate to make to Texas this All-Star weekend, add Tony Roberts and friends to the list. As Roberts along with Bill Bellamy and some up and coming comedians combine to make up Shaquille O'Neal's All Star Comedy Jam Crew. The crew will be doing shows in Dallas and Houston this All-Star weekend but expect audiences to be made up of people all throughout the South.
For the headliner Roberts who is coming off a freshly released DVD “"I'M DIFFERENT." It’s a chance to show fans new material along with a different side of his act which you can’t get from the DVD.
“After I do a DVD you never see those jokes anymore. I hate when you pay 40 or 50 dollars to see someone and they are doing the same jokes that’s on the DVD that’s not me I’m different.” Comedian Tony T. Roberts
For Roberts the comedy tour isn’t all about laugh’s and jokes as he likes to use his personal back story to inspire people to reach their dreams. Unlike most comics Roberts didn’t get the laugh bug until he was 30 but thanks to hard work, dedication and careful planning he’s one of the top comics in the world over a decade later. When asked what does he tell young people who ask for career advice Roberts stuck to his funny but true stance from his first DVD “Wired.”
“I tell kids you might be a built like a football player but want to be a chef," Roberts said “Do that cook don’t worry about what people say. If you want to be a florist be a florist the only person who can stop you is you.”
Not bad advice from a kid off the mean streets of Detroit who has taken his comedy game to levels so high he now has a multi-ethnic following all across the country. Along with discussing his comedic journey Roberts also gave me a sneak peak of what fans from Dallas to the ATL can expect this weekend.
The host of the show will be Bill Bellamy who Roberts compared to a comedic version of Bill D. Williams. Next is Louisiana’s own Robert Powell whom Robert’s liken to slick Sammy Davis Jr. type whose comedy definitely appeals to fans from the South. Then there’s Lavar Walker who Tony quipped has a gangsters mentality but a Howard type education and delivery.
“Then you got my crazy ace, I’m going to slap you in your face so hard with jokes you can’t even breathe and can go home and enjoy yourself because I’m bringing it hard,” said Roberts.
If you are looking for things to do outside of the regular All-Star festivities this weekend check out the “Clone of Shaq All Star Comedy Jam 2013.” It will guarantee you a fun night filled with lots of laughter.
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