Comedian Jeff Foxworthy believes Hollywood has lost touch with the experiences and desires of everyday Americans. Foxworthy, whose new comedy special "The Joke's On Me" is now available on Fox Nation, stated that while people may differ politically or ideologically, the core wants in life – to love and be loved, provide for family, and seek entertainment – are largely universal.
"I don't think Hollywood has understood that audience in a long, long time," Foxworthy told Fox News Digital. "I don’t care where they live or where they stand politically, if you sat people down and said, ‘What do you want out of life?’ I bet we would agree on 85% of the things."
He suggested that the focus on differences rather than commonalities has created a divide. "We want the same things," he argued. "But what happened was, instead of celebrating the 85% that we're all alike, we yell and scream at each other over the 15% that we’re different."
Foxworthy cited the success of the "Blue Collar Tour" as an example of reaching an overlooked audience. He recalled an Atlanta newspaper describing the tour as being for an "urban hip audience," a characterization he found inaccurate given the broad appeal he aimed for. "I've been to all 50 states, and let me tell you, there's 200 million people that aren't urban or hip, so let's do a show for them," he said.
His comedy, Foxworthy explained, stems from relatable observations about his own life and family. "I just think if I think something or my wife says something or my family does something, I'm going to assume other people are thinking and saying and doing the same things."
He described the greatest compliment he receives as when audience members feel he has captured their own experiences, saying, "'Oh my God, you've been in our house,’ ‘cause, you know, you've made them kind of laugh at themselves."
"The Joke's On Me" offers a departure from typical stand-up specials by delving into the creative process. Inspired by the Beatles documentary "Get Back," which showed the band writing songs, Foxworthy wanted to reveal the work that goes into creating an hour of stand-up material. "Nobody's ever done that with stand-up. People just think stand-ups are funny," he said.
He noted that creating a 60-minute special takes about a year of hard work, a process he initially wasn't interested in showcasing. "I said, ‘But if you're willing to try something different, if you will show me note cards in hands, going into a club on a Tuesday night or a Wednesday night and just throwing these thoughts out’ – Because one of the things that still fascinates me after over 40 years about stand-up is I still don't know what people are gonna laugh at."
Foxworthy mentioned that the special aims to provide viewers with insight into the artist's journey, making the final product richer. "Not only did I laugh, I learned something about the artist in it,’ and I think we pulled it off."
The comedian, 67, also hinted that this special might be his last, not because he plans to stop performing stand-up, but because he prefers to dedicate his time to his grandchildren or farm activities. "I've been on tour since 1984, you know? It just never stopped," he reflected. "I still love stand-up. I just don't know that I'm willing — and to be honest, I'm not sure I can do anything any better than this, which just feels like a good place to stop."