Ron James knows why he made the cut.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not because the prime minister loves me,B次元官网网址� says one CanadaB次元官网网址檚 favourite comics.

While other CBC-TV shows got the axe when the federal Conservative government decided to hatchet away the Crown corporationB次元官网网址檚 funding, JamesB次元官网网址� half-hour bucket of laughs, The Ron James Show, survived.

HereB次元官网网址檚 how, in his own words: B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e cheap.B次元官网网址�

Of course thereB次元官网网址檚 far more to that than just a B次元官网网址渃heap laugh.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎nd we deliver!B次元官网网址� he adds.

James, of course, is referring to laughs, not pizza.

But just in case the bean counters change their mind and ask James to deliver hot pies on Friday night, heB次元官网网址檚 getting the heck out of Hogtown.

James left Toronto April 25 and kicked off his latest tour of B.C. in Campbell River before shuffling down the Island and making stops in the interior and on the Lower Mainland before ending the tour here in Victoria on Sunday, May 13.

Island crowds have always been big fans of JamesB次元官网网址� thoughtful, insightful and rapid-fire style of humour. He returns to the Island every couple of years, but heB次元官网网址檚 usually so busy he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have time to have his own fun.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 changing on this trip west. He has a couple days off, so heB次元官网网址檚 planning to hire a salmon fishing charter, just to cast a line and chill out on the water.

HeB次元官网网址檒l need the down time because James is still hot with the feds for slashing arts funding.

B次元官网网址淵ou know, all we artists do is bring $11 billion into this country,B次元官网网址� he says with a sigh during a phone interview. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people lost their jobs. B次元官网网址� I think the cuts were personal and vindictive.B次元官网网址�

On a completely different note, the Toronto Maple Leafs fan was glad to see the Vancouver Canucks bounced in round one of the playoffs. And, no, itB次元官网网址檚 not because James despises the B次元官网网址楴ucks, itB次元官网网址檚 because if they kept winning, game 7 probably would have been played on the opening night of his tour.

B次元官网网址淭hey sure gave us some wiggle room,B次元官网网址� he says with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚 believe in the Leafs which is like believing in the immaculate birth B次元官网网址� both are a bit of a stretch.B次元官网网址�

James hasnB次元官网网址檛 embraced this yearB次元官网网址檚 style of anything-goes hockey. B次元官网网址淎m I watching hockey or a cage match?B次元官网网址� he wonders aloud. B次元官网网址淎nd youB次元官网网址檝e got a guy like Chara out there whoB次元官网网址檚 7B次元官网网址�2B次元官网网址� on skates. ItB次元官网网址檚 like having a villain from a James Bond movie!B次元官网网址�

JamesB次元官网网址� standup routines run from 90 minutes to two hours, providing an B次元官网网址渆clectic buffet of choices for everyone.B次元官网网址�

Tickets start at $52.50 at the Royal Theatre. The show starts at 8 p.m. Call the Royal & McPherson Box Offices at 250-386-6121 or 888-717-6121.