Cedric the Entertainer to perform at new Bonita theater

Cedric The Entertainer says he doesn't back away from discussing politics during his standup.

The comedian - who performs Friday and Saturday nights in Bonita Springs - enjoys ribbing Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and, until recent weeks, Bernie Sanders who dropped out of the Democratic race for president to endorse rival Clinton.

"I kind of nibble around the edges of politics," he said in a recent telephone interview from his Southern California home. "I have some great Clinton jokes and great Trump jokes."

Cedric, whose real name is Cedric Anderson Kyles, never sought standup stardom early on. In middle school, his friend threatened others who misbehaved with jokes from Cedric.

"I was the joke bully," he said. "I enjoyed the idea of crafting a joke."

At family gatherings in his native Missouri, he'd anticipate Uncle Eric or some other relative who made everyone laugh. Eventually, they called on Cedric to join in on the humor.

"You start to get handed the baton every now and then," he said.

His biggest comedic influence was the late Robin Harris, who died of a heart attack in 1990 at age 36. The Chicago native often wore a fedora, which Cedric sports when performing and in public.

"I think I started to look like a hat hoarder to my wife," he quipped.

"He was just a regular dude," he said. "He communicated in this kind of down-home way."

Other role models have included Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams. He also remembered watching Flip Wilson perform on his television show in the 1970s, "The Flip Wilson Show." The comedian and actor often performed characters on the show, including a fictional female named "Geraldine Jones."

The nattily-dressed Wilson who often wore double-breasted suits when not in character also left an impression on Cedric.

He also credits comedian Bernie Mac, who died in 2008, as having a large influence on him. Mac, also from the Midwest (Chicago), "felt and acted like you," Cedric said. They were contemporaries, but Mac seemed more like a big brother to him, he said.

"He was always a guy who gave solid advice," Cedric said.

He recalled a time he bombed in his standup and Mac followed him and made everyone in the room laugh.

Afterward, Mac reassured Cedric that he was funny and to not give up, not to "let these people whip you into thinking you're not good."

"I went and got ready and the next two nights was on fire and that was it," Cedric said. "That was the kind of experience, where Bernie would lift you up."

The pair later would perform together in the 2000 Spike Lee-directed film "The Original Kings of Comedy." Joining Cedric and Mac were comics Steve Harvey and D.L. Hughley.

When Cedric eventually began standup, he chose his stage name.

"I didn't give it much thought when I started," he said of including "The Entertainer" in his title. "It starts to hit you after a while, that man I've got be able to keep this up. It is something honestly and truly that I love to do."

His comedy "goes in a number of different directions," basing it on his experiences as being a parent, college student, corporate worker and more. And he views the standup stage as a place where free speech should reign.

Cedric The Entertainer, 52, will be the first big-name celebrity to perform at the new $7 million, 400-seat Southwest Florida Performing Arts Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Road SE.

"I always like that kind of the comedy club setting, that kind of a gym workout because I usually work bigger places," he said.

Brien Spina, owner of the new theater, said having Cedric christen the venue with a major act is "a big thrill."

Cedric's upcoming ventures include working on "Johnson Family Vacation 2," a sequel to the 2004 film that starred Cedric and others including Vanessa Williams and Harvey. And he also performs in the Comedy Get Down, a show with other comedians including George Lopez.

"It's good to still be doing it," he said of standup. "This is fun."

IF YOU GO
CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Southwest Florida Performing Arts Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Road SE.

Cost:$46 general admission; $68 VIP seating; $90 orchestra; $1,000 for a suite

Information: 239-389-6901 or swflpac.com