The good life

‘Blue Collar’ vet Bill Engvall enjoys working — and not working

In terms of popularity in the comedy world, Bill Engvall is still remembered and revered for his time on the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White. The supergroup of high-profile Southern-fried comedians sold millions of DVDs and CDs, not to mention toured soldout venues for years.

These days, Engvall — who five years ago appeared on “Dancing With the Stars,” with his last special being 2016’s “Just Sell Him For Parts” — is balancing his schedule between touring theaters and acting.

Regarding the former, the funnyman returns to the Buckeye State for two shows Dec. 8 at the Lorain Palace Theater.

The News-Herald recently talked to Engvall during a phone call to his Park City, Utah home.

Q Bill, it’s nice to reconnect. We last talked in 2011.

A (laughs) Well, nothing new has happened.

Q What are your memories of coming through Northeast Ohio over the years?

Q I have to tell you, dude, my career is like the Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere,” and it’s been wonderful. I used to love when I played the Cleveland Improv and we’d go to the Flats and hang out. We probably had more fun than we should have been allowed. The only problem with going to Ohio was you always knew you were going to be in rehab for the next week. I’ve never seen a state with people who like to drink more than Ohio.

Q That says a lot considering you did tour with Ron “Tater Salad” White.

A Yeah, here’s a funny story, and I’m not really proud of this, but I was working in, I think, in Columbus, and the minorleague hockey team at the time came to see the show. They invited me to go out with them. I learned real quick you don’t drink with hockey players because they just don’t have one drink. We’re doing tequila, bourbon, scotch, whiskey. By the end of the night, I was a puck.

Q You’ve been busy of late. Not only have you been touring, but also acting, including an appearance in the new movie “Monster Party.”

A That was a fun little role. Lately, I started looking for roles that people don’t expect to see me in. In “Monster Party,” I play an abusive father. There was also the film “The Neighbor,” where I played a guy who kidnaps and murders people. I always like to stretch myself and stretch my fans a little bit, because I don’t know how much longer I’m going to do this. So I thought, “If I get the opportunity to do these things, I’m going to jump on them.” I’m also getting ready to go do another (episode of TV’s) “Last Man Standing.” They’re reprising my role as the preacher on the show. I have to tell you, buddy, I’m really at a great place in my career. It’s like if I get something, great. And if not, you know what I got up this morning, and there are two mule deer laying in my driveway. It’s like I’m all right with that.

Q Set-wise, what topics will you be covering for the Lorain audiences?

A One of my favorites parts of the show is looking at this through my wife’s eyes because being married to a comedian is just a really weird gig because we’re different. That’s how we get our material. So we talk a lot about the situations I create and how she’s got to make sure everything is good. Then we talk about us getting older together and some of aches and pains of that.

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