Viva Vince!

He can play goofballs, yes. But did you know that this too-tall heartthrob is smitten with Bakersfield?

By DANIELLE C. BELTON, Californian staff writer
The Bakersfield Californian

Vince Vaughn is not your traditional heartthrob. He's not a pretty boy like Leonardo DiCaprio or Orlando Bloom. He's not a chiseled Adonis like Brad Pitt. He's not cuddly like Elijah Wood or a cute nerd, like Tobey Maguire.

He's gruff. He's rough. He's tall.
He's, dare we say it -- a man. A massive, tall (6' 5"), throwback, bad boy hunk of a man. And not a pretty bad boy. A cruel, sexy one like Ray Liotta in "Goodfellas" with a face a little too angular; cheekbones cut a little too sharp; eyes just a little too steely; jaw square.

But something about it works and makes it all right. Vince Vaughn, ever since he popped up in the cult film "Swingers," has done weird things to ordinary women. And -- sit down, ladies -- Vaughn's headed our way, as host of the touring "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show," coming to the Fox Theater Thursday.

In this newsroom alone, countless deskmates and co-workers asked me if I needed help with my phone interview with the actor who loves Bakersfield and Buck Owens. They're plotting to buy tickets in bulk for glimpses of Vaughn at the comedy show.

The four featured comics, Vaughn's friends, Brett Ernst, John Caparulo, Ahmed Ahmed and Sebastian Maniscalco don't even stand a chance.

By golly, Vince Vaughn will be in the room. Pray the ladies will play along and laugh at the stand-up routines.

Maybe it was this summer's hit flick "Wedding Crashers"? Or maybe it was the cosmic timing of playing the romantic interest of Jennifer Aniston in the midst of a paparazzi season that has been nothing but wall-to-wall Aniston? Maybe that's what put Vaughn over the top. Regardless, the top is where he is now and he's going to buck this bronco named "fame" and "female adoration" until they have to shoot the horse.

"I don't want it to stop," Vaughn said. "I can't handicap this thing."

For the interview, Vaughn called from his hometown of Chicago where he'd just finished filming "The Break-Up" with Aniston. Phone interviews with celebrities are often awkward or even grueling. With Vaughn, it was a fast-talking, lively game of "let's have a conversation even though I don't know you."

Highly personable, even over a phone, Vaughn went into how he ended up hosting "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show" with his friends:

"I thought it would be fun to start in Hollywood and take a road trip to a lot of the great places in California," Vaughn said, adding he got the idea after participating in several comedy benefits for charities.

If Bakersfield were a woman, she'd be the one her stepsisters of Los Angeles and Fresno tease all the time for being different. She's not used to being called one of the "great places in California," but to Vaughn, Bakersfield is one of the prettiest girls in the room.

"I'm a big fan," he said of the hometown of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, Dewars Chews and unwanted Los Angeles-based sludge. "I've always liked it. It's a very important place musically. There's something very American about Bakersfield. It's beautiful."

"The landscape," Vaughn said continuing in his unabashed flattery. "I've been up there four or five times to the Crystal Palace to see Buck. I'll bring my friends to stay up there with me.

"I love Buck," Vaughn said. "I've always loved Buck's music, and Dwight Yoakam is a close friend of mine. I've had the pleasure of seeing him play a few times. He's really kind of a pioneer when it comes to music -- the Bakersfield Sound. Big fan. I've always liked it."

Because Vaughn loves Bakersfield so much he thought it would be a kick to bring his comedy tour to town as well as taking it to other places celebrities not Vince Vaughn, fear to tread.

"It's a great chance to get on the bus and drive across America," Vaughn said. "I'll emcee the show. Do some scenes. Joke back and forth with the audience. Show video clips that are kind of funny.

"My sense of humor has served me well," Vaughn said. "I was never a great athlete. This is a chance to get out live and have fun with an audience. It's a different energy," he said. "It will be relaxing for me. Energizing to get up on stage. Do improv ... see what I can get away with. I like to get out and see different places and get out and see different things."

It's also a break from the paparazzi who love his chiseled mug so much. Especially when it's cozied up next to Brad Pitt-free Jennifer Aniston.

"You know, you can't take it too serious," Vaughn said. "They're looking to sell papers. Create a story. I don't take it personal."

Vaughn said he just lets it roll off his back.

But one thing he doesn't let just roll off is all that serious lady love he's getting. Vaughn has no problem with being the man of choice in the newsroom or anywhere for that matter. He's not complaining one bit. He's not even questioning it.

"I don't know (what's causing it), but I don't want it to stop," he said with a laugh. "Sometimes when things go good, you don't ask too many questions. I'll take it, man."

Posted by Christine at September 12, 2005 10:30 PM