Comedian Cerome Russell explains the rules of KC BBQ
There are certain truths about barbecue that we hold to be self-evident and local comedian Cerome Russell breaks down the rules of smoked meats as seen through the eyes of an Atlanta transplant.
His set is from a recent show at the Westport Coffee House (the material and language is best appreciated through headphones or at home). He gets nearly two full minutes of material — from the 1:08 to 3:02 mark of the clip — out of the etiquette at Gate’s and what to do when someone asks you how the ribs taste.
It’s not often that you get to hear some jokes about Kansas City barbecue, so when you get the opportunity, you’ve got to take it. Although perhaps there is a burgeoning underground comedy scene on the smoking circuit, as Harry Soo of Slap Yo Daddy BBQ — one of the teams competing on TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters — apparently excels at stand-up comedy.
Outside of Kansas City, the world of comedy dips a toe in the world of barbecue now and again. Stand-up Harland Williams has a take on a new barbecue recipe and Jimmy Williams discusses why he’ll never go to a barbecue joint with a petting zoo. Still, none of the jokes I’ve linked to here are fall-out-of-your-seat funny, so, if there’s going to be such a thing as barbecue humor, comedians need to step it up.
