Entertainment

The saying "There's no place like home" never resonated with more affection or authenticity than when comedian, crooner and Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx entertained a sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 at Nokia Theatre on Saturday night.

While his mere presence seemed enough to regale the crowd, the Terrell, Texas, native gifted the house with side-splitting laughs, seductive songs and swaggering sex appeal – a potent combination for both his male and female fans.

Mr. Foxx's comedy set started around 8:30, its tardiness a concession to the congested parking around the venue. His timing on the mike was razor-sharp and unaffected by the delay. "I'm home, Oak Cliff! I'm home, Pleasant Grove! I'm home, Dallas!" he exclaimed to a standing ovation and roaring applause. "I'm an Oscar-winner, but I'm ghetto too. I'm not gonna change on y'all!"

He then leveled the crowd with an arsenal of rapid-fire impressions and wicked observations about celebrity life – most of them too raunchy to print. He drew laughs by sharing how he celebrated his Academy Award win – smoking weed in a club with his Oscar dunked in Hennessy. He declared Prince "a pimp" for his ability to rock high heels and women's clothes without flak, and he challenged actor Michael Richard's declaration of not being racist: "That's like me wearing a Tevin Campbell T-shirt to a Clay Aiken concert telling folks I'm not gay."

He also revealed that he couldn't enjoy kissing fellow Texan Beyoncé in Dreamgirls because while doing so he was thinking "Jigga!" And as for the rumors that he's romantically involved with Oprah? "If I was, Oprah would be on her talk show with messed up hair, smoking a cigarette and declaring me one of her new 'favorite things.' "

Mr. Foxx's musical set was as enthusiastic as his stand-up but not as consistent as he oscillated without warning between singing and improv. With his six-piece band, four background singers and an elegant stage set, the handsome Mr. Foxx was well-received as he appeared atop a glowing staircase wearing a crisp white suit and shades. "Slow Jamz" kicked things off, and with his warm, versatile tenor, he sung favorites like "Can I Take U Home," "DJ Play a Love Song" and "Love Changes," which earned the most crowd participation and endless shouts of "I love you Jamie!"

Toward the end, Mr. Foxx even emerged with a baby grand as the late Ray Charles – shades, wide grin and self-hugging mannerisms included – performing a medley of "Georgia On My Mind," "What'd I Say" and "I Got a Woman" and dancing with three ladies to the interpolated strains of "Golddigger." Standing ovations and cheers followed through "Unpredictable" and "Extravaganza."

The evening would have been more memorable is if Mr. Foxx had cut out the distracting stage chatter (the "who's the loudest section" bit grew old fast) and remained in the moment. After all, he's the small town boy who made it big, and that full-fledged entertainer is whom the fans were there to celebrate.

Lorrie Irby Jackson is a Dallas freelance writer.

lorrieirby@hotmail.com