The term “crossover” is seldom used of comedians, yet the word is the perfect descriptor for Vernard “Bone” Hampton, one of clean comedy’s most well traveled and in-demand funnymen.
Bone’s comedic smarts know no bounds. One day he can be seen working the crowd at a comedy club, the next he’s doing his thing at a church gig, and the following he’s making a splash on a hit sitcom. “I look at comedy like wearing clothes,” he says. “If I’m going to a prom, I’m going to wear a tuxedo. If I’m going to a choir rehearsal, I’ll go in shorts and a T-shirt.”
When Bone began his comedic career in California (after moving from Texas - almost on a whim), he felt like a fish out of water. But the experience inspired him to find his own niche, his own identity in the crowded world of foul-mouthed comedy. “What I did know was the Bible and how Christians think,” he acknowledges. “Perhaps I’m not going to be able to touch mainstream audiences like those hardcore guys, but I’m going to be able to touch them in a way a Kirk Franklin or TobyMac would.”
Bone not only continued to do stand-up and record his own DVD/s, but also scored slots on tours and being the Main-Stage host on festival’s like Joyfest, KingsFest, HeartFest, WonderJam, Beachblast and more, which features all the A-List Christian and Gospel music stars in the world. In addition, he has logged appearances on ABC’s “Less Than Perfect,” NBC’s “My Name Is Earl,” re-occurring on BET’s “Comic View” and a movie with Sandra Bullock, “All About Steve,” among other stints.
This impressive résumé didn’t just happen by chance. Bone credits his growing recognition to friends who think and act like him—co-laborers in the faith who believe it is possible to be a Christian and make it in showbiz.
Bone was featured on “Thou Shalt Laugh: The Deuce,” a DVD hosted by comedy legend and Emmy® Award winner Tim Conway (“The Carol Burnett Show,” “SpongeBob SquarePants”) that features some of the brightest talent in Christian comedy. The producers of TSL2 were so impressed by Bone’s performance they invited him back to perform on TSL5 hosted by Chonda Pierce.
No matter the outlet or the venue, though, Bone’s mission remains simple. “I just like to have a good time. I just want to be the ringleader of the good time.”
