In a world where politicians are always made to be the punch-line, Jack Wilson, former Mayor of Fairborn decided to turn the tables and enter the world of stand-up comedy. Now he’s intentionally making people laugh.

“I’m just like Jerry Springer, only I never pay for hookers by check, I use cash,” Wilson laughed.

Jack Wilson served as mayor of Fairborn from 2001-2003 and, later, began his journey into comedy in September of 2006. After only a year Wilson has earned the position of sharing hosting duties with Joanne Viskup for the Future Legends of Comedy Shows at The Greene on Wednesday nights.

“If I started doing this earlier I could at least be living in my parent’s basement by now,” Wilson said.

The sound of laughter has always appealed to Wilson who had long thought about doing stand-up but never did anything about it until he took a class on comedy which required giving a performance. Wilson made his debut at the Funny Bone in Newport and the positive response got him hooked.

“Now I like to get up anywhere that has a stage, a microphone and is within driving distance,” he said.

Many thought it would be just a one time thing, a phase that Wilson would quickly pass through, but his appetite for laughs continued to grow. While his debut brought a bundle of nerves, Wilson now suffers from no anxiety and welcomes the chance to step up under the lights. “After that first time everything else is gravy,” he said.

Wilson holds no lavish hopes for the future and is just enjoying the journey which has already provided more highs than expected. “If it doesn’t go any further, it’s been great. I never thought I would get paid a nickel,” he said.

It took awhile for a profit to be made as Wilson started out in the hole. “The first time I got paid a hat was passed around and the money received was split between all the comics. I was excited to get $4 before I realized I had put $5 in,” he said.

Though the greatest payment has always been the laughs and Wilson relishes the opportunity to make people forget their troubles for an evening.

Wilson’s material comes straight out of his life, often inspired by his two marriages and three children, along with any other observations he has of the world. A pen and paper is always kept close at hand for when he is inspired by an idea.

 “When I’m driving in the car and something strikes me as funny I’ll stop and write it down before I forget,” Wilson said.

The Wednesday night shows are PG and his material never stretches very far beyond that as he always tries to be relatively clean.

In addition to being a host for the Future Legends, Wilson also organizes the show along with Viskup, carrying on what Ryan Singer started before moving to Los Angeles.

The shows usually include 12, up and coming, comics who are given 5-7 minutes to perform and on occasion a pro will appear and test out some new material, as well.

“It’s a really good way to meet lots of comics and find a lot out about how clubs work,” Wilson said.

The Future Legends Shows are every Wednesday, except the second week of each month, and begins at 7:30 p.m. and shows are located at The Greene. Call 429-LAFF for more information. A schedule of all Wilson’s appearances can be found at www.myspace.com/funnymayor

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