Alex Reymundo is a big-time comedian. He has starred in "The Original Latin Kings of Comedy," one of Showtime's highest-rated programs of all-time, alongside legends like George Lopez, Cheech Marin and Paul Rodriguez. And that's not to mention his hour-long comedy special "Hick-Spanic" aired on both Showtime and Comedy Central.

Needless to say, it would be easy for him to play the celebrity card.

"That's not my style," Reymundo says. "I like to get involved."

That's why Reymundo, one of the most famous Latino comedians in the world, finds the time to coach his son's soccer team on Tuesdays despite a sometimes gruesome touring schedule. The truth is that he's a pretty down-to-earth kind of guy.

Ask anyone who met him at Palma's Mexican Restaurant or the Hi-Ho or Norty's or Houlihan's or Foster's or Hammerjacks or The Rendezvous or Room 107 or any other St. Joseph establishment where he mixed and mingled with those interested in a conversation.

Most big-time comedians would choose a city like New York, Los Angeles, Boston or San Francisco to host their comedy specials. But Reymundo, who resides in the Louisville, Ky. area, calls "fly-over country" home.

"If we can influence other projects to come to Missouri and Kansas and the middle of the country, (that's) perfect!" Reymundo says. "Hollywood is well-represented. New York is well-represented. California is well-represented. The Midwest needs a voice."

Reymundo will perform two shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Missouri Theater. Both will be filmed for an hour-long program that will air in the spring of 2010 on Showtime and next fall on Comedy Central. Well, it will air as long as Reymundo holds up his end of the agreement.

"They agreed to air it as long as I agreed not to suck," Reymundo laughs.

It was one year ago that Reymundo picked St. Joseph for the honor. On a couple of cold October nights, much like the ones we've been experiencing lately, Reymundo opened for his good friend Ron White at the Missouri Theater.

The Tater-lovers had no idea what to expect from Reymundo. Let's face it, the Blue Collar Comedy audience and the Latin Kings of Comedy audience have about as much in common as Miley Cyrus and Gov. Jay Nixon. However, Reymundo won over the St. Joe crowd with his cross-culture brand of humor, everyday observations and a few dirty jokes.

"If you go to El Paso, if you go to St. Joe, if you go to downtown Los Angeles, there's a CVS. There's a Rite-Aid. There's a McDonald's and a Wendy's. We're all living the same thing," Reymundo says.

In those two wonderful nights, Reymundo picked up on some good vibes in St. Joe. And it wasn't long before he had an epiphany.

"I knew I was going to do a second special," Reymundo recalls, "and that night I was telling my friends as they were getting into the car, 'We're gonna do it right here! It's this theater!' And they were like, 'He's drunk.' But that wasn't it at all. I was drunk in the atmosphere, and I can't wait to be back on that stage (at the Missouri Theater)."

The atmosphere should be even more energetic Saturday night. Tickets for the show are $20 to $25, which is considerably low for a show of this magnitude.

Aaron Fishman, who directed the ALMA award-winning "Hick-spanic," will work on Reymundo's new special, and it also will be produced by people who have worked with George Carlin and Russell Peters.

"I'm bringing the A-team to St. Joe," Reymundo says.

And why not? Reymundo is a talented professional. He's not necessarily a physical comedian or a stationary storyteller like his buddy Ron White, but more of a truth-teller who bases his comedy off of personal experience.

His family inspires a large chunk of his material. His parents, his wife and kids are never off limits.

"Before I was a married man, my mother would take a beating in my show. But that's OK. I would send her money," Reymundo laughs. "And now I have a deal with my wife and children. I get to say whatever I want about them and they get to continue eating."

Another subject Reymundo jokes about in great detail is his culture, or in his case, a clash of cultures. His side of the family is full-blooded Latino, but his wife's side is mostly from Kentucky. Not to mention, he grew up in Texas. Ron White has been quoted as describing Reymundo as "a funny Mexican, who looks Indian, but thinks he's a damn cowboy!" Clearly, it's no secret where the term "hick-spanic" came from.

But he doesn't make fun of his cultural blend as much as he embraces it. Reymundo says he actively tries show Latino people and Southerners in a positive light.

"I really like to let people know where I'm coming from, whether it's just a dirty joke or something that means everything to me. It all comes from the heart," Reymundo says.

Reymundo says his job is to make people laugh, but he enjoys it even more when he gets audiences thinking. Many Ron White fans were pleasantly surprised by Reymundo's wit when they were expecting the simple-minded stereotypical ramblings similar to another Latino comedian.

"I think you're going to dig, at some time, what I have to say," Reymundo says of Saturday's shows. "And if you don't, well, then I'm Carlos Mencia."

Reymundo says both performances are adult shows, so don't bring the little ones. The 7 p.m. show is nearly sold out, but there are still tickets available for the 9 p.m. performance.

Players from both coasts will be in the city and may want to bring more acts to St. Joe in the future if Reymundo's venture is successful. Essentially, this isn't just a major step in the comedian's career. It's also a chance for St. Joseph to show its goods on a national stage.

"It's going to be wonderful once people see (the program)," says Jeff Haney, Robidoux Resident Theater business manager and one of the show's organizers. "It's going to include the Pony Express and the Patee House and everything that's St. Joe. I think that's when it will hit St. Joseph just how big this is."

SHEA CONNER | Stjoelive staff