Navajo comedians premiere 'James & Erniefied' DVD

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

"We're Native boys making some noise! We're brown and round, we're Indian guys with Fry bread thighs!"
— www.jamesandernie.com

Pictured is the cover of Navajo comedians James and Ernie's DVD "James & Erniefied '04." (Courtesy Photo)

GALLUP — James and Ernie, the two wild and crazy guys from Navajoland, are returning to Gallup and Window Rock with their manic comedy.

For five bucks admission, audience members can be "James & Erniefied" while they view the premiere of the duo's first comedy DVD. And for $25 dollars, fans can take a DVD home so their whole family can get "James & Erniefied."

Otherwise known as James Junes of Farmington, N.M. and Ernest David Tsosie III of Fort Defiance, Ariz., the Navajo comedy team is currently hosting DVD premieres around the reservation. Entitled "James & Erniefied '04," the DVD was produced from a live comedy show the duo performed in Farmington in October 2004.

Last night the comics hosted a premiere at the Farmington Civic Center. Tonight they will be at the El Morro Theater in downtown Gallup for a 7 p.m. show, and on Friday they will host a 6:30 p.m. show at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz.

According to Tsosie, the premieres have been designed to be informal, fun events for the audiences and the comedians. In addition to airing the one hour DVD, Tsosie said he and Junes will do a short comedy skit. Various guest performers have also been invited to open the different shows, he added.

"It was a couple of years in the making," said Tsosie of the DVD. The comedians had tried to shoot a DVD previously, he explained, but had run into problems with the film footage and the sound. The comedians had wanted to create a DVD for fans to watch because their comedy is so physical.

This DVD, produced by Time and Tide Productions, came together easily, Tsosie said, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida helped pay for the replication of the film. Junes and Tsosie have established a friendly relationship with the Seminole Tribe through performances in Florida - most recently the Native American Music Awards show which was hosted by the tribe.

In addition to the Nammy Awards, Tsosie said other recent career highlights have included the Sundance Film Festival screening of a film they were involved in and a performance at the American Indian Film Institute in San Francisco. According to Tsosie, network officials from FOX and NBC asked the comedy team for demo tapes of their work at the San Francisco event.

Tsosie expressed gratitude to God and the fans of James and Ernie for the success the comedians have enjoyed in their career thus far. Tsosie, who has acting experience, said he will be spending two months in Salt Lake City this spring, acting in a play. Junes has lined up some other gigs, he said, and will be "flying solo" during his absence.

The"James & Erniefied '04" DVD is also available for sale at Ellis Tanner Trading Company and Sam Goody's in Gallup, Cool Runnings in St. Michaels, Ariz., and the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise in Window Rock, Ariz.

— Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola can be contacted at (505) 863-6811, ext. 218 or ehardinburrola@yahoo.com.