“Last Comic Standing”, Josh Blue, to perform at Fanshawe

Like any good comedian, the first thing Josh Blue bought after he won NBC's “Last Comic Standing” was a beer.

Blue's unique brand of self-deprecating humour and a no-holds-barred attitude about his disability, Cerebral Palsy, had audiences in stitches over the summer while the reality TV show aired. Since his new found celebrity, the comedian has been performing in front of thousands in clubs and colleges, and is now bringing his brand of humour to Fanshawe on November 1, which happens to be his only scheduled public Canadian date.

After performing in comedy clubs around the US for eight years, and even studying stand-up comedy at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Blue decided to enter the reality TV show “to make people aware of the fact that people with disabilities can make an impact."

But what he didn't realize was this year's crop of comics where funnier and feistier than ever, especially since the top 10 were put on the Queen Mary cruise ship to live during the airing.

“You know I hate drama. I hate fighting, even with my girlfriend, it's awful,” Blue said. “I tried to stay out of it [on the show].”

Just as what most people suspect, Blue said reality television is not what its cracked up to be.

“If you give the show what they want, they will run with it,” he said of the drama between contestants. “I love them all. I just talked to Roz today actually.”

Blue thought Gabrielle would have “made it to the top,” if the comic didn't break the show's rules and use his cell phone, which Blue jokingly said he slipped to the debunked comic.

Even with famous comics, like Jay Mohr, Tim Meadows and Kathy Griffin, making guest appearances on the show, Blue wasn't at all nervous.

“I think famous or not, I don't really get intimidated,” Blue said. “We are all just people.

“I'm just super-famous now. I go outside and everyone [knows who I am],” he joked, which doesn't faze the 27-year-old.

Although he has a steady-stream of shows booked across the US and guest appearances on existing Network comedies, Blue said he has talked with NBC about creating a pilot for his own sitcom based on the British hit “I'm with Stupid.”

“I would like the show to be redone, with basically me as a disabled person living in a group home,” described Blue, who added that in the show he wouldn't really be “that disabled,” but live in the home because of the obvious monetary benefits.

It's impossible for Blue's disability to go unnoticed, so rather than disregarding it, Blue embraces his Cerebral Palsy and makes his sporadic moves and tics part of his routine.

“By what I am doing, bringing disability into the limelight, me being me, I think it raises awareness,” Blue said of continuing to support Cerebral Palsy.

With a laugh, he added that he is thinking about starting his own foundation called “Cripples Helping Cripples.”

Blue will be performing in J-gym on Wednesday, November 1 at 9pm. Tickets are available at the Biz Booth - students $10, guests and general public $15. For more information go to www.fsu.on.ca.