An interview with Ron White
The notoriously boisterous—and blue—comic has come a long way, from his oil patch birthplace of Fritch to sold-out standup tours and multimillion-unit DVD sales. His new book, I Had the Right to Remain Silent … But I Didn’t Have the Ability, melds his real-life misadventures and his testosterone-laden stage routines.
You grew up around Houston, where you just played five packed-out shows. Does that make you feel like a hometown boy made good? I just broke all records at the Verizon Wireless Theater for any kind of performer, whether it’s a band or a comedian. It makes you feel great. Lots of friends, lots of family. They were at the shows, and it was a hoot.
Does your mother come out to watch? What does she think of your blue material? Mother, she likes the blue material just fine. I could do no wrong in my mother’s eyes from the day I was born. My fans bought her a very nice house in San Antonio, and she has a great life.
Who are your fans? It is an amazing cross section of folks. I get e-mail from all over the world, and from lawyers and doctors and whoever—plumbers and drywall hangers. A lot of people can find something to laugh at in my humor, I guess.
From what I’ve read in your book, you weren’t a voted-most-likely-to-succeed kind of guy, were you? No, I was not. I was voted most likely to roll my own. Dutton, $24.95
