Jeff Allen

Funny is funny. Clean humor, if it’s good, works anywhere.--Jerry Seinfeld

We watched a video called "The Apostles of Comedy" today and became acquainted with three extremely funny men. In my opinion, these men are living proof that you don't need F-bombs or rated R-material to appeal to a broad audience and get lots of laughs.

Our favorite was a man named Jeff Allen, not to be confused with Tim Allen, though there were some surprising similarities (They do not appear to be related, but lots of people wonder). As you listen to him, you can't help but notice that there is a certain depth to his humor that can only be acquired through life experience. It's not hard to tell this guy loves his kids and his wife, but, more than that, even if he didn't volunteer that he'd been to the brink of hell, seen the brimstone smoldering, and turned away, you'd smell it on his clothes and see it in his eyes. He's funny because of what he knows.

Below is just an excerpt of one of his acts. He does the same act both in Las Vegas and in front of churches. I like that. Many people can relate to the issues he jokes about--teenagers, marriage, weight loss, getting older. But what impressed me about him, more than even his material, was the sense that this man had lived through some difficult times. He hinted that he'd once filed bankruptcy, that he'd only just barely managed to stay married. The interviews between performances gave out a little more information, but did not really give the full picture. I was intrigued enough by him to search out more of his material as well as his life story. I wound up very glad I did.

The video below the excerpt is him telling the rest of the story. It is twenty minutes long and will take your breath away if you have the time to give it. Regardless of what you believe, the story is moving.