Fancy Ray
Encyclopedia
Ray "Fancy Ray" McCloney is a comedian and television personality who has built a comedy and advertising career partly by becoming famous for being famous
, especially in and near his home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota
, USA. Fancy Ray is the self proclaimed "Best Looking Man in Comedy", known for his androgynous and heavily made-up style as well as a loud, sometimes bizarre, comic persona. His stage personality is made up of the sexual prowess of Prince
, the funky style of James Brown
, and the animation and expression of Little Richard
. He is known to break into verse and recite poetry at his shows, in ode to himself, of course.
Aside from claiming that he is the best-looking man in comedy, Fancy Ray makes many outrageous claims about himself such as his ability to swim in the oceans without getting wet. Fancy Ray's recurring performance themes revolve around his own good looks and sense of style, his outre urban attitudes, and sexual topics.
Fancy Ray explained the origins of his name to "Weird Al" Yankovic
on Ray's cable TV show in Minneapolis, Get Down With It, as follows: "Fancy comes from the Flamboyant, the Fertile, the Fashion part, and the Fragrant."
However, in a 1998 interview, Fancy Ray claimed he was actually principally influenced by his grandfather, Fancy Wade, a sharp-dressed ladies' man. Upon Wade's 1984 death, Ray inherited Wade's music collection, including Little Richard recordings, which inspired him to become known thereafter as Fancy Ray.
Ray began to perform standup comedy in 1989, then launched his television program ""Get Down With It"" on a Public-access television
cable TV channel. He interviewed guests such as Tiny Tim
and Whoopi Goldberg
. In the ensuing years, Ray cultivated an extremely unusual career in Minneapolis as a flamboyantly dressed advertising pitchman.
by saying, "I'm like Paris with a pretty tan," referring to Paris Hilton
.
Fancy Ray ran for the office of Minnesota state governor in 1998 under the People's Champion banner. This election was famously won by Jesse Ventura
, a professional wrestler, minor screen actor, and talk show radio host, who then became governor. Ray won 919 votes in the race.
As an advertising pitchman, Ray used the virtue of his celebrity to endorse local products on television because, as the "Best Looking Man in Comedy," he brought increased gravitas and class to these local establishments.
television show Last Comic Standing
in early 2008. Ray was immediately booted off the show.
Fancy Ray auditioned for the third season of America's Got Talent
. He got buzzed each time he spoke. The last thing he said on the audition was "I'm a present to the whole world". To which David Hasselhoff
responded, "The present to the world is no!".
Ray continues to perform in comedy clubs and television commercials. For 2009, Ray has apparently recorded a DVD celebrating his 20th anniversary in comedy.
Famous for being famous
Famous for being famous, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason, or who achieves fame through association with a celebrity. The term is a pejorative, suggesting that the individual has no particular talents or abilities...
, especially in and near his home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, USA. Fancy Ray is the self proclaimed "Best Looking Man in Comedy", known for his androgynous and heavily made-up style as well as a loud, sometimes bizarre, comic persona. His stage personality is made up of the sexual prowess of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, the funky style of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, and the animation and expression of Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
. He is known to break into verse and recite poetry at his shows, in ode to himself, of course.
Aside from claiming that he is the best-looking man in comedy, Fancy Ray makes many outrageous claims about himself such as his ability to swim in the oceans without getting wet. Fancy Ray's recurring performance themes revolve around his own good looks and sense of style, his outre urban attitudes, and sexual topics.
Nicknames
In addition to "The Best-Looking Man in Comedy," Fancy Ray's also frequently calls himself the "Human Chocolate Orchid."Early life
Fancy Ray grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Minneapolis West High School, which was located in Uptown Minneapolis and closed in 1982.Fancy Ray explained the origins of his name to "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
on Ray's cable TV show in Minneapolis, Get Down With It, as follows: "Fancy comes from the Flamboyant, the Fertile, the Fashion part, and the Fragrant."
However, in a 1998 interview, Fancy Ray claimed he was actually principally influenced by his grandfather, Fancy Wade, a sharp-dressed ladies' man. Upon Wade's 1984 death, Ray inherited Wade's music collection, including Little Richard recordings, which inspired him to become known thereafter as Fancy Ray.
Ray began to perform standup comedy in 1989, then launched his television program ""Get Down With It"" on a Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV channel. He interviewed guests such as Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim (musician)
Tiny Tim , , born in Manhattan, was an American singer and ukulele player. He was most famous for his rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" sung in a distinctive high falsetto/vibrato voice.-Rise to fame:Born to Lebanese parents in 1932, Khaury displayed musical talent at a very young age...
and Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
. In the ensuing years, Ray cultivated an extremely unusual career in Minneapolis as a flamboyantly dressed advertising pitchman.
Famous for Being Famous
In a 2009 interview, Ray addressed his career-long phenomenon of being famous for being famousFamous for being famous
Famous for being famous, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason, or who achieves fame through association with a celebrity. The term is a pejorative, suggesting that the individual has no particular talents or abilities...
by saying, "I'm like Paris with a pretty tan," referring to Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
.
Fancy Ray ran for the office of Minnesota state governor in 1998 under the People's Champion banner. This election was famously won by Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
, a professional wrestler, minor screen actor, and talk show radio host, who then became governor. Ray won 919 votes in the race.
As an advertising pitchman, Ray used the virtue of his celebrity to endorse local products on television because, as the "Best Looking Man in Comedy," he brought increased gravitas and class to these local establishments.
Comedy career
Recently, Fancy Ray moved to North Hollywood, CA where he appeared on the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television show Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
in early 2008. Ray was immediately booted off the show.
Fancy Ray auditioned for the third season of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
. He got buzzed each time he spoke. The last thing he said on the audition was "I'm a present to the whole world". To which David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
responded, "The present to the world is no!".
Ray continues to perform in comedy clubs and television commercials. For 2009, Ray has apparently recorded a DVD celebrating his 20th anniversary in comedy.