There’s something poetic — and pretty hilarious — about a man named Fairbanks finally making his way to Fairbanks.
That’s exactly what’s happening this week, as nationally known stand-up comic Chris Fairbanks makes his Alaska debut with a four-night run that kicked off Wednesday.
The twist? Chris Fairbanks, the man, is a distant relative of Charles W. Fairbanks — the man Fairbanks, Alaska, is named after. Charles was vice president under Teddy Roosevelt. Chris is a comedian with a manic, offbeat energy that’s taken him from Comedy Central and HBO to his own Amazon comedy album, fittingly titled “Fairbanks!”
“I should go there,” Chris wrote to Alaska Comedy producer Jerry Evans when the idea first came up. “Some distant relative named it. I think he was vice president once. I don’t know — we weren’t close.”
He added, “My grandmother always told me I was related to Roosevelt’s vice president, and to all of Fairbanks for that matter.”
What started as a family anecdote turned into a comedy booking with historical flair. “I’ve been trying to get him up here for years,” said Evans, who produces the comedy series. “I saw him at The Comedy Store with Bobby Lee, Kumail Nanjiani and Craig Robinson, and Chris had the most electric set of the night. It was manic and different — he just tore it up.”
This month’s performances mark the final shows of Alaska Comedy’s 2025 season. Fairbanks performed at the North Pole Alehouse on Wednesday, and at 7 p.m. tonight he takes the stage at The Spur, 537 Gaffney Road. He’s on stage at the Pioneer Park Theater in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $25 and available through AKTickets.com or AlaskaComedy.com.
Fairbanks is no stranger to big stages or small screens. He’s performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Conan,” “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central’s “@midnight.” His off-kilter, rapid-fire style has also landed him roles on HBO’s “Crashing,” Amazon’s “One Mississippi” and TruTV’s “Almost Genius,” which he hosted. Still, he’s never performed in the state that shares his family’s name — until now.
His comedic pedigree is matched by some real historical roots. After a little online digging, Chris confirmed what his grandmother always told him: both he and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks descend from English colonist Jonathan Fairbanks. “I’ve always been told that growing up,” Chris said.
So, while it might have taken him a while to get here, it seems only fitting that Fairbanks the comedian finally makes it to Fairbanks the city.
And judging by the buzz, the Golden Heart City is ready to laugh.
Contact News Editor Gary Black at 907-459-7504 or gblack@newsminer.com.
