guys who I didn’t think were re-
ally very funny,” he recounted in
an almost apologetic tone. “So
when we left, my friends said
to me, ‘If you think you’re fun-
nier, you should give it a try’ and
I thought; why not? So I went
back to the same club the next
week and I did well and thought
to myself, hey, I can do this and I
haven’t stopped since.”
Three Emmy awards, countless
movie and television appear-
ances as well as being named by
Comedy Central as, “One of 100
Greatest Stand-up Comedians of
All Time,” has all come his way
over the last 30 years. However,
like most, it was timing and a
nice break that led to his career
opening up. After deciding to
pursue comedy, he entered the
1981 Midwest Comedy Com-
petition, hosted by comedic
legend Henny Youngman. An-
derson took home the first place
trophy. Youngman found his
NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 6
work and style to his liking and
employed him as a writer.
Youngman is one of several key
comedic influences who shaped
Anderson’s career; others in-
clude Bob Hope, Jack Benny,
and the great Johnny Carson.
Anderson made his national
television debut on Carson’s To-
night Show in 1984.
“Johnny, Bob Hope, they had
such great writers,” he stated.
“I learned so much from these
guys. And Johnny, well he was
a friend to all young comedians;
I’d have to say he was my favor-
ite. Johnny was a mid-western
guy like me and we have simi-
larities. Jack Benny had the tim-
ing. I mean the way he’d just roll
the eyes or give that look was
perfect. Bob Hope, I modeled
my delivery somewhat after
him. Hope had this way of deliv-
ering his material that was, well,
there’s not been anyone like
him since.”
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