Ralphie MAY Laughing all the way to the bank

June 14, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Comedian Ralphie May will be the first one to tell you the best thing that happened to him came in 2003 when he didn’t win NBC’s reality show “Last Comic Standing.”

“I’m glad I lost the contest very publicly and very shockingly to the public,” said May, calling from Los Angeles. “It’s helped my career out so much more than if I won. It was great. That’s the day I learned that comedy isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

That marathon started more than two decades ago when the Arkansas native won a contest to open for his idol, Sam Kinison. He spent the next decade honing his material before finally receiving national attention on “Last Comic Standing.” From there, May became a household name, performing on “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Despite all of his success, May admits he’s still not viewed in comedy circles as a heavy hitter, even though his record-setting fourth one-hour special for Comedy Central, “Too Big To Ignore,” was released last month and already is platinum.

“I didn’t get into it for critical acclaim,” May said. “What’s so strange is there are guys who sell less than me. And we’ll do the same topic and their bit is two minutes long and mine is seven. I cover every angle. I did it first and their bit bites on mine and they get the acclaim for it because they’re a hip guy from New York City or something like that.

“I don’t get the respect because I’m fat. And even though I don’t mention that I’m fat in the joke, I don’t get the credit. But you know, whatever, man. I’ve been shortchanged and overlooked my whole life. And if you boo-hoo about everything, that’s all you’re going to do your whole life is boo-hoo.”

Invariably, May is laughing his way to the bank, having sold more than 1.6 million tickets over the last four years. In fact, he has a memory like a computer. May talked about his first Youngstown show in 2003 where he made $800 for a weekend. Now the funnyman returns to town for a Tuesday show at Powers Auditorium.

It turns out America loves his material, which he promises will be politically incorrect, racially insensitive and culturally controversial.

Part of May’s appeal stems from the fact he’s one of the hardest- working comedians touring, regularly turning in two-hour sets when he’s only contracted for 45 minutes on stage. He believes it’s his honesty — often painting him as the fool — that keeps audiences coming back.

“None of my stories make me look good,” May said. “I wish I had Mr. [Bill] Cosby’s stories as a parent. I just don’t. I have stories about [how] really they should call CPS [Children’s Protective Services] on me sometimes. Now that I don’t smoke weed anymore, it’s not as bad. But it’s still not all that great. None of my stories are printable.”