Emmy award winning comedian Louie Anderson coming to Shakopee

Shakopee Valley News

Comedian Louie Anderson is a born-and-bred Minnesotan — and proud of it.

The St. Paul native will be returning to the Twin Cities area in July for a series of stand-up shows, including a show at Turtle’s 1980 Social Centre in Shakopee on July 13 at 8 p.m.

“I can always tell when someone wasn’t from Minnesota when they say, ‘Hey, yeah, I was out in Shake-oh-pee,’” Anderson said.

Anderson will be working on an upcoming comedy special for after the New Year.

“I always come back to Minnesota for my stand-up specials because that’s the place that taught me how to do stand-up,” Anderson said. “If the joke works in Shakopee, it works all over the country.”

Anderson is doing the tour in between filming for his show Baskets on FX. In it, he plays Christine Baskets, the mother of twins — who are both played by Zach Galifianakis.

But just because he is a man playing a woman does not mean it is an over-the-top role reminiscent of Mrs. Doubtfire or Madea. Christine is meant to be as real as Anderson’s mother or sisters, whose traits he brings to the role.

“I really believe I’m his mother when I’m up there playing the part,” Anderson said. “I work at making Louie Anderson disappear.”

Anderson was recognized for this work in 2016 with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. He was up against Andre Baugher from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Tituss Burgess from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Ty Burrell from Modern Family, Tony Hale from Veep, Keegan-Michael Key from Key & Peele and Matt Walsh from Veep.

“I said, ‘What would my mom do? What would my mom think? What would they do in Minnesota? What would be the choice I would make?’ “ Anderson said. “I’ve tried to play it as real as possible and I’ve tried to play it as humble as possible.”

Despite growing up in a poorer part of St. Paul with a father who struggled with alcoholism, Anderson wanted to make people happy.

“My mom was very good to me,” Anderson said. “She’d say, ‘You could do anything.’ And I said, ‘OK.’ I believed it and then I just kept following my heart.”

His faith worked. On Nov. 20, 1984, Anderson performed his stand-up on The Tonight Show, accomplishing one of his main goals for his career.

In 1995, he created and produced an animated cartoon about his childhood called Life with Louie, where he won his first two Emmys.

In 1999, Anderson became the host of Family Feud.

In 2012, Anderson filmed a stand-up special called “Louie Anderson: Big Baby Boomer.”

In 2016, Anderson was cast as Christine Baskets.

“I did what Minnesotans do,” Anderson said. “If I’m going to build something, if I’m going to make something, I’m going to make it good.”

As with Christine Baskets, Anderson said he uses his life experiences to create something new and different.

“Life springs eternal from the well and my well is deep from the projects and the experiences I’ve had growing up in Minnesota,” Anderson said. “All of those unbelievable experiences were my soup to ladle from and that’s what I really did. I keep dipping in the same well because this well is rich, you know?”

As far as what audiences can expect from his stand-up shows, Anderson said they can expect “all the ‘f’ words” — family, food and fun being a few.

“I always say expect all the ‘f’ words but the ‘f’ words you can bring your mom or dad to,” Anderson said. “If you want to bring grandma, she won’t mind.”

Anderson said he keeps a map of where he performs and after July 13, he’ll be able to put a pin in “Shake-oh-pee.”

Tickets for the Shakopee show can be purchased from www.brownpaperticket.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets are also available in person at Turtle's. Details about Anderson’s other performances in Minnesota can be found on his website, www.louieanderson.com, or on the Louie Anderson Facebook page.