Comedian brings laughs from radio show to stage

Few comedians older than 50 appeal to a young audience, but J. Anthony Brown does.

He's one-fifth of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, an urban radio show syndicated in more than 100 cities that attracts more than 8 million weekly listeners nationally. Many of the phone calls to the show are from young listeners.

Most are cracking up as the 52-year-old Murders the Hits, a regular segment in which he parodies popular songs, such as his No Tub, a humorous play on TLC's No Scrubs, about a person who needs to bathe.

"I'll just hear a song and it just comes to me," the Columbia native said in a phone interview from his Los Angeles home.

Mr. Brown is part of the Joker's Wild Comedy Tour, which will be staged at 7 p.m. Sunday at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, 605 Seventh St. He'll share the stage with comedians John Witherspoon, Sheryl Underwood, T.P. Hearns, Marvin Dixon and Katt Williams.

He served as host for BET's Comic View and has had roles in movies such as Mr. 3000 and Drumline. He often comes South to visit his sister in Wagener and relatives in Columbia, where he first tried his hand at stand-up comedy in 1972. He bombed.

"That was over 30 years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday," he said, laughing.

In his eight years on the morning show, anyone in the limelight has been an open target for his comedy, especially talk-show host Star Jones, the only one who makes him laugh by getting mad.

"She doesn't like them (the jokes). Her family called and said I messed up her Thanksgiving because she was so upset," said a bubbly Mr. Brown.

He said he expects the Augusta show to be much like his phone conversation, in which he commented on everything from the ridiculousness of "rap beefs" to Michael Jackson.

"A good lawyer can get you off anything; look at O.J. His lawyer came in there with some rhymes," he said, laughing, referring to Johnnie Cochran's line "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

"Anytime you step up in the court with some rhymes, oh, you getting off," he said.

Reach C. Samantha McKevie at (706) 823-3552 or samantha.mckevie@augustachronicle.com.

That's funny
WHAT: Joker's Wild Comedy Tour, featuring John Witherspoon, J. Anthony Brown, Sheryl Underwood, T.P. Hearns, Marvin Dixon and Katt Williams
WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, 605 Seventh St.
COST: $35.50 advance tickets, $40.50 Sunday
INFO: 722-3521, or www.ticketmaster.com