loading...

[/caption]Join me, Gary Freeman, as I interview one of America's funniest men, Jimmy Labriola. You may remember him as doughnut loving deliveryman Benny Baroni on  ABC’s hit show Home Improvement. You'll get a great laugh and find out another side of Jimmy that you may not have known about. Click past the jump to hear the interview of a most beloved American.

 

 

 

 

Like most comedians, Jim’s routines in the early days were steeped in adult themes and vulgarity but, lo and behold, the love of a good woman led him to reassess his core values and contemplate serious changes for his life.

loading...

[/caption]After marrying, Jim rededicated his life to Christ and vowed to clean up his act – quite literally. He eased into his new found and heartfelt persona by exclusively performing clean comedy at local churches and charity events. Armed with a renewed and fundamentally transformed purpose, Jim now travels the country speaking at business meetings and motivational seminars, and continues to appear on television and in film. Of course, his stand-up routine will always remain a staple of his repertoire but, in recent months, Jim has also been gallivanting across the country aboard the Tea Party Express alongside such notable figures as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Saturday Night Lives' Victoria Jackson, as well as hordes of Constitutionally Conservative talk show hosts, political pundits, authors, bloggers and public officials. Despite his expanding political activism and unwavering reverence for God, one indispensable fact remains true – Jim Labriola is ridiculously funny and never one to pass up the opportunity to elicit laughter when two or more are gathered together.

 

 

As a young boy, Jim had a natural flair for comedy which often played out at family gatherings and, like most youth, he chose to explore his passions from the perspective of a worldly mindset. Many kids his age spent their time listening to music, but Jim’s instinct and natural sense of humor led him to delve deeply in the comedic arts.

loading...

[/caption]Routines from legends like Pat Cooper, George Carlin and personal hero Don Rickles undulated throughout the airwaves surrounding Jim for hours on end. He began earnestly cultivating his God-given dexterity for hilarity by seeking out opportunities to perform anywhere and everywhere comedy was the primary, secondary or tertiary draw, even if it meant driving an hour and a half for a five minute slot. As Jim’s gift blossomed, patrons responded and clubs took notice. His burgeoning popularity led to regular gigs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and eventually took him far beyond where he became a favorite in comedy clubs across the nation. In 1989, Jim opened for headliner Tim Allen at Governor’s Comedy Club on Long Island. This fortuitous meeting sparked a close friendship and a big boost for Jim’s career when he was offered what eventually morphed into a popular recurring role as doughnut-loving delivery man Benny Baroni on ABC’s hit show Home Improvement. Jim later went on to guest star in various other network sitcoms and motion pictures including Disneys huge hit, The Santa Clause.

 

 

 

For more information, touring events and media purchase, visit Jim's website: www.hahajim.com

 

 

 

More From KGAB