Joe Torry fulfills expectation, leaves no one disappointed
November 13, 1995
Despite rainy weather, the Joe Torry comedy show Friday night at Shryock Auditorium featuring Joe Torry and Jeff B., successfully left people doubling over in laughter.
When Joe Torry’s time came to live up to his reputation as the funny Def Jam host from St. Louis, he left no one disappointed. He didn’t seem to know when to quit as he talked about a female in the audience for a half an hour nonstop. She stood and began heckling him when he called her and her friend, the nappy-headed twins because they arrived late. He continued to belittle her by saying, Sit your fat ass down, as the audience laughed wildly and applauded. When she knew she couldn’t win the insult match with Torry, the irate girl left the show.
The rest of his stand-up was hilariously entertaining. Torry addressed a wide-range of topics, including his distrust of police officers, his role in Poetic Justice, and his father who was psychologically affected by the Vietnam war. He also joked about being poor in college and having to eat Ramen noodles when hungry.
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Y’all know the number one meal in college is noodles. Those noodles will always come through. I ain’t got no money but I got a closet full of noodles, he said.
As he ended the show with some risqu comments about kinky sex, the crowd stood with enthusiastic cheers and screams of approval. People appeared pleased with Torry’s performance, as many walked out of Shryock into the relentless downpour smiling.
Jeff B., who has been seen on television comedy shows such as, Def Comedy Jam, Comicview, and Showtime At the Apollo, opened the show. He approached the Shryock stage in a red Bulls shirt and snug leather overalls, making mocking comments about the O.J. Simpson trial, R&B singers and roaches in his home. His jokes were comical, but they were even funnier the first time I heard them, in a comedy routine he did on a TV show this year. Jeff B. is an alumnae of SIUC, and the audience gave him an enthusiastic and warm welcome back.
The Joe Torry comedy show was sponsored by the SPC Comedy Committee.
Torry said he’s currently on three different comedy tours, which keeps him busy these days. Though he enjoys the travel and variety of the Def Jam Tour, the college tour and his own show dates, Torry said he often enjoys performing his comedy skits in small clubs as opposed to large halls that seat thousands.
Sometimes you get tired of doing a forum in front of six thousand, seven thousand people. It’s a thing about getting too big for people. You have to come back a do a little something so people will know you’re still real.
According to Torry, this year will be the last season of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, despite high ratings and national popularity. Because this is the All-Star Season, different comedians including Adele Givens, Tommy Davidson and Joe Torry will host each one of final 13 episodes.
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The big picture for the body-building actor/comedian may lie in film. Torry said while he still enjoys acting (appearing in Tales From The Hood and Poetic Justice), he’s writing a screenplay. He wants to avoid being typecast for roles due to his physical appearance.
I’m to the point where something has to be written for me or I’m writing it myself. I can never go audition for a part because writers and directors only see me as a certain type. I give off a presence that’s mature, but face-wise I could play a younger person.
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