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ICE CUBE: Kevin James Goes Boom at the Prince
Why James brought his Boom to town when it was filmed in Boston and other cities throughout Massachusetts was simple.
ICE CUBE: Kevin James Goes Boom at the Prince
On Tuesday night I had two delicious options — the tony family and friends dinner at still-unopened Red Owl Tavern at Hotel Monaco or hanging with Kevin James as he premiered his new mixed martial arts/teaching comedy Here Comes the Boom at the Prince Theater.
My dad St. Alfonso is a big Kevin James fan and wanted to meet him.
Dinner had to wait.
Why James brought his Boom to town when it was filmed in Boston and other cities throughout Massachusetts was simple. “Philly supported me big time when I was in standup,” says James of his comedy career up-to-and-including a stop here for his road show with Vince Vaughn to promote The Dilemma. It doesn’t hurt that Philly’s blue collar roots is in tune with James’ own, to say nothing of his characters from The King of Queens, Zookeeper, Grown Ups and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Yes even this week’s number one film Hotel Transylvania and the character James voices, “Frankenstein” is the ultimate everyman. “Everyman is the perfect word. I am that guy.”
Like Boom’s high school biology teacher who becomes mixed martial arts fighter to raise money to keep the school’s music program from being axed, James — wearing a black Adidas track suit and a bandage around his thumb — is all about being inspired by teachers. “I had teachers who taught me the meaning of diligence. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for a teacher. “It was during a public speaking class where I panicked that I learned to love stand up. I got laughs. That was addictive.”
Ask if he played a better teacher in Boom than Tony Danza did in real life and James laughs. “Aw, I don’t know about that. Tony did a good job.”
After he left me (and my dad, who is still beaming about the meeting), James went up on the Prince’s stage where was greeted by the Temple University marching band paying Neil Diamond’s “Holly Holy” (his character’s theme song in Boom), Sharon Pinkenson and Tony Luke Jr.
James thanked the audience for coming, told them to enjoy the film, then said “sorry I got fat again. I look good in the movie though.”
He did, come to think of it
Here Comes the Boom opens Fri., Oct. 12.
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