By LAUGHING MATTERS BY JACK NEWORTH
My friend Jim called to say his son Eric got a job at the World Cafe on Main Street. Eric is 16 years old and a busboy at Hamburger Hamlet. I assumed the World gig was a promotion, but Jim corrected me. Wednesdays at the World is stand-up comedy night and Eric was one of the comedians!
This I had to see. Plus, I’m addicted to the World’s spicy bow-tie pasta.
A few days earlier, Michael Richards from “Seinfeld” had his infamous meltdown at the Laugh Factory. Thinking he was being heckled, he shouted racial epithets at black audience members. He’d have been better off busing tables. A cell phone video camera captured the images, which were then posted on TMZ.com. Suddenly, Mel Gibson didn’t look so bad.
The next night, Richards’ apology on David Letterman was so incoherent the audience thought it was a Kramer bit. Frankly, I’m tired of public apologies. Congressman Duke Cunningham, who set a record for taking bribes, gave an apology that set a record for crocodile tears. Mel Gibson’s apology blamed alcohol. (How did Mel know Sheriff Mee was Jewish? Was he wearing a yarmulke?) Congressman Mark Foley’s apology blamed a clergyman who had molested him. The thing everyone seems sorriest about is that they got caught.
Evangelist Ted Haggard apologized for doing meth and having sex with a male prostitute — picky, picky. Days before, Brother Haggard gave a TV interview from his car with his wife in the passenger’s seat. As he denied everything, you could almost see his nose getting longer.All these so-called apologies remind me of a scene in a Mel Brooks movie in which the defendant is charged with murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and arson, to which he pleads, “Guilty, but with an explanation.”
That Wednesday at the World Cafe, I wasn’t thinking about apologies or rehab. Unless it’s rehab for staring at beautiful women in the World. I’m lucky I didn’t permanently twist my neck. The comedy club inside the World is in a well-appointed room off the bar. It’s intimate and relaxed and seats about 75. Waitresses bring food and drinks, but the show is free and there’s no drink minimum. The show is every Wednesday, therefore, the name “Hump Day Comedy.” It featured three working comedians who have extensive “Tonight Show”-type appearances, and Eric, who has extensive bus boy appearances.
I’ve been a fan of stand-up going back to Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, Jonathan Winters, Bob Newhart, Nichols and May, and Shelly Berman, among others. These pioneers were followed by George Carlin, Woody Allen and Bill Cosby, then Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, and Jerry Seinfeld. Today, there’s Louie C.K. and Dane Cook, among so many. It’s a rich tradition. To the degree he tarnished the art form, what Michael Richards did wasn’t stand-up, it was a meltdown.
The show at the World was great. It began with Louis Katz, who is reminiscent of Woody Allen. (That is, when Woody used to be funny.) Louis began his comedy career at age 9, when he submitted jokes to “The Tonight Show” and two were read by Johnny! In 2005, he made his television debut on the “Carson Daly Show.” (If you don’t count an appearance on the Judge Joe Brown show.) Check Louis out at: http://www.Myspace.Com/louiskatz.
Next up was Jamie Kaler, who’s been on Craig Ferguson’s show, has done more than 50 national commercials, and is currently on the new TBS sitcom “My Boys.” That night, he did a bit about his exasperation at the Sprint Store, where all he wanted was a new charger for his phone and they insisted on selling him a whole new phone. Here’s Jamie’s link: http://www.Tbs.Com/shows/myboy s/.
Jay Larsen acted as M.C. A former bartender at the World, it was Jay’s idea four years ago to bring comedy night there. For the past two years, the show has been produced by Carl DeGregorio. As a stand-up, Jay’s been on Craig Ferguson twice and Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” His Web site is www.Myspace/whois-jaylarson. It was the night before Thanksgiving and Jay did some unique material on what type of person likes what type of pie.
At 16, Eric Nissen not only has incredible confidence, but he’s also very funny. He gave the audience a comical insight into the dangers of a teenager’s mind. Eric’s Web site is http://ericnissen.com.
“Hump Day Comedy” provides Westsiders some of the freshest and most original stand-up. It’s at the World Cafe on Main Street every Wednesday, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. While you’re there, check out the spicy bow-tie pasta.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 8, 2006. Read the original PDF.