The Blue Collar Boy Gets Serious For a Second

It happened Sunday during durng an "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" session at the TCA Summer Press Tour. The show's cheeky stand-up comedian host, Jeff Foxworthy, was moved by a critic's question to wax eloquent about America's underappreciated corps of teachers.

Said the Foxmeister:

"You know what, I think teachers -- it's probably one of the most difficult jobs in the country and probably one of the most underpaid and appreciated. I expected, when I started doing this show, to get more mail from kids. I mean, there were kids who obviously didn't know me as a comedian or know the 'Blue Collar' stuff. I have been amazed at the mail that I get every week from teachers. Over and over again, teachers are saying you have made it cool to be smart again. And they record the show and they take it into the classroom and they show the show and the kids are interested in it, and they use it as a teaching tool.

"So that was a byproduct of it that I didn't even foresee when I started it. But to me, that's one of the collest elements personally, away from the stage -- that it has made it cool to be smart. You're not made fun of for being a nerd. It shows kids going on TV and beating adults at something, and it's with their brains. So, you know, hopefully maybe this elevates and how we deal with it as a priority in this country."

Who says talk shows can't work miracles?