St. Louis • Cedric the Entertainer reminded us why he's one of "The Original Kings of Comedy" during a funny New Year's Eve Homecoming Comedy Jam at Peabody Opera House on Saturday night.

The actor/comedian, who in some ways has put his stand-up on the back burner to further his TV and movie career, got back to where he started.

It felt like home in more ways than one, and it's clear he's still at the top of his game when it comes to standing on a bare stage behind a microphone.

The St. Louis native, who broke through nationally during the early '90s with BET's "ComicView" and HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," made a smoke-filled rock star entrance behind a screen that projected a large silhouette. The screen raised and Cedric the Entertainer danced to the microphone while rap music blared.

After wading his way through the smoke and saying it was too much, he immediately spoke of a kinder, gentler St. Louis, something the other comedians on the bill weren't in line with, swearing he'd seen a Starbucks in Wellston.

Staying in St. Louis mode for a while, he talked about finally getting a casino downtown that wasn't on a boat, referencing Lumière Place Casino, and joked about seniors frequenting the place with their walkers and "go-cart chairs."

He briefly touched on scandalized politicians such as Anthony Weiner, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Herman Cain. He said he dressed as Cain for Halloween and got sued by four white women.

His Barack Obama impression was solid, as he imagined how the president really wanted to react to being called a liar during one of his speeches.

While politicians got in trouble in 2011, he said the year was mostly quiet for African-Americans, unlike past years, when everyone from Tiger Woods to Serena Williams to Chris Brown to Kanye West made headlines. He explained one of Williams' more infamous on-court outbursts as a "flash mad," an occurrence when African-Americans are calm one moment and explosive the next.

Cedric the Entertainer seems to have a new obsession with Waka Flocka Flame, and referenced him and his screaming style of rap often. He said the rapper's music can turn anyone aggressive, and acted out a man walking out of church reacting to hearing the rapper.

He briefly slammed reality show personalities, particularly all the "wives" shows, and says he was approached about being on "Dancing with the Stars." But he insisted the show can't handle him. He demonstrated how he'd perform on the show, with moves that included spanking.

Also on the bill were funnymen Malik S., JJ and G-Thang.

G-Thang, boasting a noticeable slimmer shape, got in jokes about his hometown. He talked about going to the bleak Northwest Plaza to buy something to wear to the show and the shopping center resembling "I Am Legend."

JJ mined some strong jokes out of topics such as being a young grandfather, his wife, and a lengthy story about embarrassing himself in church.

Host Malik S. was a hoot right off the bat, slamming the house DJ for failing to deliver during his entrance, and later the light man for not keeping up with him. Along with some of the other acts, he addressed St. Louis' violent reputation, saying any empty seats probably belonged to people who just died.