Widely known as the third voice
on the Opie and Anthony radio program
on Sirius/XM satellite radio, Jim Norton never had a desire to be broadcaster.
“I went up (to their studios) with Andrew Dice Clay when I was touring with
him. Opie liked me and said I should come back, so I did. Slowly I became part
of the show.” It’s turned out to be the perfect gig. “It’s been amazing,” he
says. “It’s like a soap opera at times. People get involved in your life from
hearing you on the radio, and you end up confessing a lot more than you normally
would.” In addition to his Opie and
Anthony duties, he still tours regularly doing stand-up. He finds the show
and his act can influence each other. “On stage, no one wants to hear some
idiot ramble for 10 minutes. When you’re doing stand-up, you have to get to the
point quickly.” Both, of course, offer him plenty of artistic freedom, a luxury
he didn’t enjoy when Opie and Anthony
was on terrestrial radio.
“There’s so much you can’t talk about on regular
radio,” he says. “You can’t talk about race or anything that might be
offensive. It’s nice to have the freedom of satellite radio.” Through Saturday.
8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday. $22. Funny
Bone, Newport. 859-957-2000, funnyboneonthelevee.com.
