Photo: provided
Many comedy fans know that comedian Jeff Foxworthy left
a job at IBM to start a career in stand-up. Detroit native Rob Little
also worked for “Big Blue,” but when he left he advised others to do the
same. “It was pretty cool, I sent out this company-wide email,” he
explains. “It went to Europe Asia, Africa — I hacked into the system
because that was my job, computer programming.” The email said: “If you
aren’t happy here, quit your job and follow your dream.” While Little
had made up his mind long before he pressed “send,” his boss was
reluctant to let him go.
“They wouldn’t let me quit,” Little says. “They
made me take a leave of absence. My boss said, ‘You don’t seem that
funny.’ I told him, ‘Isn’t that a good thing? I’m at work taking my job
seriously.’” From there, Little went to Los Angeles and wound up working
on Fox Sports’ Best Damned Sports Show Period helping create
sketches. It was a perfect fit. Before starting his stand-up career,
Little was in the Detroit company of the Second City improv troupe. “I
do a lot of improv in my show. I have a lot of jokes that lead to improv
bits. It’s very natural for me and it’s just fun. And it’s fun for me,
because you never know what’s going to come out of it.” $10-$15. Through
Saturday, Feb. 2. Funny Bone on the Levee, Newport. 859-957-2000,
funnyboneonthelevee.com.
