New film features comic Blue
Erika Gonzalez, Rocky Mountain News
Published November 2, 2006 at midnight
Josh Blue is hitting the big screen.
The Denverite's first feature film, Josh Blue, 7 More Days in the Tank, premieres in 220 theaters nationwide Nov. 9. The movie is primarily a concert film of his sold-out performance in August at the Gothic Theatre.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet," Blue said of his big-screen debut, which he'll miss because he'll be performing that night at the University of Southern Florida.
In addition to performance footage, the film also features a segment captured during a visit the Last Comic Standing winner made to the Denver Zoo in September. He toured the attraction, sharing stories about his experiences as an intern at the Dakar Zoo in Senegal.
"He was so gracious and so down to earth," said Tiffany Barnhart, a zoo spokeswoman. "He has a huge interest in animals. He said that if he weren't a comedian, he'd like to be someone similar to Steve Irwin and be a champion for animals around the world."
Blue is such an animal lover that before his internship in Africa ended, he asked zookeepers to allow him to spend eight hours in a cage next to a gorilla that he had befriended.
"I wanted to feel what it was like to be locked up," Blue said in a telephone interview before a gig in London, Ontario. "I found that it was like being on stage - everyone stares at you and you have to entertain them. But an animal doesn't want to be on display like that."
Blue, fortunately, doesn't mind the limelight. He has toured nearly nonstop since winning the NBC comedy contest.
He's also met with the head of NBC's casting department to talk about other small-screen opportunities.
"I'd like to be the lead in a sitcom. I have very strong opinions and I think I could convey that well in a sitcom," Blue said. "But I really do enjoy performing and seeing new places and people."
Seeing Blue
• What: The film Josh Blue, 7 More Days in the Tank
• When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 9
• Cost: $10
• Information: Find theaters showing the features and buy tickets: BigScreenBoxOffice.com
• See him: Blue's next in-state performance will be in January at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs.
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