Sleeveless and shameless: The Cable Guy's down-home humor returns to Cape

The last time The Cable Guy had an appointment in Cape Girardeau, he showed why he's known as a comic for the everyman.

Larry, always the one to connect with his fans through his witty yet simple comedy, brought in a crowd of over 4,000 to the Show Me Center and stayed around afterward to sign autographs. Those who missed that first show won't get another chance for the big redneck's autograph when he performs at the same venue on Saturday night.

But it's not like Larry's not sorry for it.

"We've been informed for security reasons that we can't do that anymore, and you know what, it really sucks," said Larry, whose given name is Dan Whitney. "When you start doing stuff like this, you start getting e-mails, you start getting threats, you know, just weirdos. If I were to do that now I'd have to take armed security, and it's just not worth it."

Then there's the crowd size to worry about. Ever candid about his own flaws, Larry said he has a tremor in his writing hand that makes autograph signing take forever. With bigger crowds, he could spend five hours after a show signing. Even the Cable Guy needs some time to sleep.

So what has changed for the Cable Guy?

That first trip to Cape Girardeau was in January 2004, a much simpler time for Larry. He was riding on the success of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and the accompanying movie and touring the country to promote his comedy CD "Lord, I Apologize."

While he was popular, he wasn't at the top of the comedy heap. Today things have changed. Following the success of the Blue Collar tour, movie and the wildly popular "Blue Comedy TV" on The WB, Larry is now in high demand.

"Lord I Apologize" stayed in the top 20 on the comedy charts for two years and was certified gold. His 2004 DVD, "Larry the Cable Guy: Git-R-Done" sold over 1.5 million copies and his latest CD, "Right to Bare Arms," is the only comedy album ever to debut at No. 1 on the country charts, where it stayed for four weeks. Now he's working on a new DVD for release next year and will voice a role in the Disney/ Pixar animated flick "Cars," also scheduled for 2006.

Now his first book, "Git-R-Done," is set to debut on Tuesday. Not bad for a guy from Nebraska who once installed cable, got into stand-up comedy on a drunken dare.

In 2005, Larry the Cable Guy has gone from famous comedian to star. Not that it's changed him any.

"Hold on I got this guy shining my shoe here," Larry says from his home in Florida over the phone, laughing. Of course, there's nobody shining his lace-up ropers, only his quick wit. "I'm totally grounded. I hang out with the same friends, the same buddies, nothing's changed."

Except, of course, that Larry has fame and fortune now -- something the comedian says he thanks his fans for everyday. "I got great fans," Larry says. "I don't complain about any of my fans."

Those fans have found a connection with the Cable Guy's common-man persona, one that doesn't care to be politically incorrect or to sound country. He's not sophisticated, and he doesn't have to be. Being a country boy has gotten Larry a long way.

The Blue Collar comedy of Larry, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White has turned the comedy world on its ear. Larry has some ideas why.

"Number one, we're just regular guys, you can tell that," the Cable Guy says. "We grew up just like the people who are coming to our shows. We do humor we think is funny. Even if it's not politically correct we'll do it."

Larry rails against the liberal media for the PC craze, saying he's tired of watching Hollywood shows that preach to him about how bad a person he is.

"You know people are sick and tired of that garbage," says Larry. "People just want to come, sit down and be entertained by mindless entertainment."

The Cable Guy has some serious ideas about the state of culture and society in America, especially when it comes to liberals. He'll rarely delve into politics in his show, but in his social commentaries the subject has a huge bull's eye painted on it, especially with targets like former Attorney General Janet Reno, who has been the victim of Larry's sharp tongue in the past.

And he's done his Cape Girardeau research, acknowledging the city's most famous, and to some most contemptible, son.

"Somebody has to keep the country straight," says Larry. "Rush can't do it all by himself."