Louie Anderson Big Baby Boomer

Show Review

By Caroline Fontein

From his days at McDowell's Restaurant to headlining in Las Vegas, Louie Anderson is one of the most recognized comedians performing today. His new comedy show, Big Baby Boomer, at Palace Station spotlights the comic's humorous commentary on food and aging.

During the show Anderson casually walks about the stage as he discusses his love of fast food, what it's like dining with a group of healthy eaters and how he's becoming the annoying old guy he always avoided in his younger years. His relatable observations and G-rated humor are a hit with audiences of all ages. Appealing to a diverse crowd is something Anderson has excelled at throughout his illustrious career.

A two-time Emmy Award-winner, Anderson has been entertaining audiences for more than 30 years. Some of his career highlights include playing the role of Maurice in the 1988 film "Coming to America" with Eddie Murphy, hosting the syndicated hit series, "Family Feud" from 1991 to 2002 and creating, producing and performing as a voice actor in his Fox Saturday morning animated series "Life with Louie." The cartoon debuted in 1995 and ran for three seasons. It was based on Anderson's childhood and won two Daytime Emmy Awards, among other accolades.

Printed out scenes from the animated TV show decorate the walls of his showroom along with other pictures documenting pivotal moments from the comic's past. He references the cartoon series and his childhood during the show. Along with getting older and his comical approach to eating healthy, much of his material is based on Anderson's life growing up as the youngest of 11 children in Minnesota.

That same approach to making people laugh helped launch Anderson's career back in 1984 when he made his TV debut as a special guest on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Audiences across the country related to his take on everyday life situations, propelling Anderson to stardom. His success on the show garnered invites from Jay Leno and David Letterman to appear on their late-night shows. That was followed by offers for his own Showtime and HBO comedy specials. The exposure made Anderson a household name and helped the rising star land acting roles on television and the silver screen.

Some of his TV and movie credits include "Scrubs," "Grace Under Fire," "Touched by an Angel," "Chicago Hope" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." In addition to his work on TV and film, Anderson is also a best-selling author and has written three books, including the best seller "Dear Dad-Letters from an Adult Child" in 1989.

Anderson's show in Vegas is a chance to see the seasoned comedian doing what he loves most, making audiences laugh with his warm disposition and funny observations. He was named by Comedy Central as "One of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time." After seeing him perform it's not hard to see why.