Blue Collar marks 10th anniversary

You’d think after 10 years, comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy would be tired of each other’s jokes.

They started Blue Collar Comedy in 2000 with comedian Ron White, hitting the road for what was supposed to be a four-month tour. The tour worked so well and there was such a demand to see it that four months turned into three and a half years, three movies, more touring and a TV show. The franchise has sold more than 9.5 million DVDs since its debut in 2003.

“I don’t think we had any idea how successful it was going to be,” said Engvall. “Jeff had so many fans, and I had started to get a big following with the ‘Here’s Your Sign’ stuff, but there were Blue Collar dolls for God’s sake. I mean that’s weird on a lot of levels.”

Larry the Cable Guy – wearing his trademark sleeveless flannel shirt and camouflage hat – joked that he didn’t quit his day job when Foxworthy first called him about doing the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

“I remember when I got on it, and I said, ‘Well, it should last a couple years, Foxworthy’s involved with it.’ But I kept my job at Radio Shack. I was assistant manager down there, only because I knew where the batteries were,” he said. “No, you know what, I don’t think any of us ever dreamed it would last that long, but it did and people still love it.”

Now they’re celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Blue Collar Comedy. Their obvious friendship is a key factor in their success.

The birthday bunch

Jerry Lewis is 84. Movie director Bernardo Bertolucci is 69. Game-show host Chuck Woolery is 69. Singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker is 68. Actor Victor Garber is 61. Erik Estrada is 61. Nancy Wilson of Heart is 56. Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is 51. Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) is 43. Judah Friedlander (“30 Rock”) is 41.