Jim Norton Bringing More Laughs To Paramount

Comedian Jim Norton brings his honest style of comedy to The Paramount in Huntington on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

 A young Jim Norton realized he could make a career out of stand-up comedy in 1991, when he cashed the first of what would be eventually many paychecks in the business for a whopping $25.

“What a delusional idiot I was,” Norton says.

Now 49, the New Jersey native has been making sides split for more than two decades, and he’s gearing up for a stop at The Paramount in Huntington next month as part of his “Kneeling Room Only Tour.”

The tour, which comes on the heels of his hour-long “Mouthful of Shame” special released on Netflix last year, showcases Norton’s self-deprecating, satirical comedy that he describes as “very honest.”

“The reason it developed that way is because people laughed at it,” Norton said. “I talked about all the dirty things because that’s what would make the other comedians laugh.”

Laughter has always been important to Norton; he says it’s one of the driving forces behind his career choice.

“It was something I always wanted to do; I mean it was the only thing that made girls look at me, the fact that I made them laugh,” Norton said.

In addition to touring as a stand-up comic Norton can be heard almost every morning during his XM radio show with co-host Sam Roberts. Norton said that the radio show is different from the immediate reaction of a stand-up performance.

“I love them both, but their different,” He said. “Radio is more fun because you can go in different directions if you want to because there’s no rush to get to a punchline.

If you are telling a long story on stage it better be funny or else the audience is really going to lose patience with you.”

His Feb. 10 show in Huntington will mark his second appearance at The Paramount, a venue he said he is really looking forward to performing in again.

Norton said that he tries to keep his shows current, and each show is an hour of new material. The comedian also reiterated his usual message to prospective audience members.

“Don’t expect too much because then when it’s a good show you’ll be happily surprised,” he said.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets range from $29.50-$59.50 and can be purchased at the box office or online at Paramountny.com.