Comedian goes home to Atlanta

Jeff Foxworthy's new TV program chose a familiar locale.
ATLANTA (AP) -- Jeff Foxworthy is returning to television with "Blue Collar TV," and while he has to head to Hollywood to work on the show, he made sure some skits were taped before an audience in his native Atlanta.
The reasons are simple, he said during a recent taping: They don't serve sweet tea in Los Angeles, and the only pickups in Beverly Hills have lawnmowers in the back.
Of course, Foxworthy pointed out, there are drawbacks to taping in Atlanta: "If they see me getting makeup, I'm gonna lose my hunting license."
Based on tour
The sketch comedy program is adapted from Foxworthy's Blue Collar Comedy Tour and features comedians Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.
Skits included the 35th Annual African-American Country Music Awards, in which cast member Gary Williams plays Charlie Pride, who serves as host and receives his 35th consecutive lifetime achievement award.
The material scored with the crowd, which cheered and applauded wildly. Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy also pleased the crowd of some 3,000 people during five recent tapings at the Alliance Theatre with brief standup routines while the stage crew changed sets between skits.
"I enjoyed him talking to the audience like you were a co-worker or a neighbor or whatever," said Linda Keys, who had never before attended the taping of a television show. "I was glad he was back in familiar territory."
"He feels right at home here, and he knew we would be supportive," said Carmella Brooks, another audience member. "He's a local boy who's done well."
WB network officials said Foxworthy didn't want to do another TV series full time in Hollywood and insisted that he get the chance to work near his family in Atlanta.
Foxworthy's last TV endeavor was NBC's "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," which was canceled in May 1997 after two seasons.
"For the seven of you that watched it, thank you," Foxworthy said.