Brazos County commissioners unanimously approved a contract allowing comedian and Comedy Central host and writer Jeff Ross to perform three concerts at the detention center.
The only question raised Tuesday was about compensation for any county expenses. Jail administrator Wayne Dicky says Comedy Central will reimburse the county for additional security, IT support, maintenance, and any other costs.
Commissioner Sammy Catalena teased Dicky if he could attend. Dicky told Catalena they could make room, to which the commissioner joked he didn’t want to raise the daily inmate count.
Ross will be recording three performances, two before male inmates and to a group of women, which will be produced into one special.
Original story:
Comedy Central host and writer Jeff Ross is performing in Aggieland this Saturday.
Ross, nicknamed “The Roastmaster”, is doing three concerts inside the Brazos County Detention Center.
Sheriff Chris Kirk says Ross will perform before two groups of male inmates and one audience of female inmates. That will be produced into a special for future broadcast.
The concerts will be held in a vacant dormitory, performing material the sheriff says will be appropriate.
In Comedy Central’s contract with the county, which is scheduled for final action by commissioners on Tuesday, Ross was to provide a detailed outline or script. And Ross is contractually obligated to be “respectful and courteous to all inmates, employees, and law enforcement personnel.”
Click HERE to read the contract between Brazos County and Comedy Central.
Kirk says they were selected following a visit from Comedy Central producers, who also toured the jails in Maricopa County Arizona and Dade County Florida.
The three finalists were chosen from applications collected by the American Jail Association.
Kirk says the decision to make a pitch for the concert was a way to reward those participating in the jail’s inmate behavior program.
The sheriff says Comedy Central will reimburse the county for any additional expenses.
Click below for comments from Chris Kirk, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.