Ralphie May doesn’t pull any punches in his latest stand-up routine
Weighing approximately 400 pounds, Ralphie May gets some looks in public. But when he’s on stage with a microphone, he has everyone’s full attention. May brings his act to the Improv Comedy Club in Kansas City this weekend.
After several television appearances and more upcoming, May is doing what he loves this summer.
“I love stand-up,” he says. “It’s the least respected art form and the hardest to perfect. Did you know public speaking is more frightening for people than death? Man, that’s crazy! I love it. It’s a blast.”
For those who have never seen May, his comedy can be described as raw and indignant. May doesn’t pull any punches and his act is far from generic. He was recently named one of Variety Magazine’s “10 Comics to Watch.” People find him captivating because he inspires the likes of comedians such as Sam Kinison, one of his idols in comedy.
“If you lean toward (Chris) Rock, Eddie Murphy, Kinison and those guys, then I’m your guy,” May explains. “If you like Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Reiser, then I’m probably not someone you’d want to see.”
May’s comedy career exploded in 2004 when he finished runnerup in the first season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” His popularity grew even more when he participated in the VH1 reality show “Celebrity Fit Club” in 2005. May lost 27 pounds on the show and enjoyed every minute of it.
“‘Last Comic Standing’ was certainly better for my career, but I had a lot of fun on ‘Celebrity Fit Club,’” May says.
May says he lost even more weight after the show because he stayed on the regimen. Lately, however, injuries such as a hernia and muscle atrophy have slowed him down.
“My muscles had atrophied so much that even working out or running a mile was a real burden,” he admits. “That’s a recipe to hurt yourself when you’re 480 pounds.”
Following his appearance on “Celebrity Fit Club,” May had two Comedy Central specials titled “Girth of a Nation” and “Prime Cut.” As for upcoming appearances he will be on the comedy talk show “Chelsea Lately” on August 27. May says he is also working on a television deal.
In the meantime, you can catch Ralphie May at the Improv tonight and Saturday night at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m., and at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
All shows are for those 21 and older. For more information, call (816)587-4500.
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