Now the fans. There are comedy regulars. People who show up every week to have a few drinks, and get hours of laughter. I’ve been this person - and I gotta say, on night’s like tonight it makes it worthwhile. But more on that soon.
Tonight, Tonight
We’re in Hollywood and the room is rocking. Crowded, happy, high energy. Comedy Juice President Scot Richardson buzzes through, getting the show ready as curtain time nears.
First Up
Hosting the evening was Peet Guercio. Full of energy, he hops to the stage. The time goes by quickly. He gets off a few sharp remarks before starting conversations with a nearby audience member. His riffing is good, but his youth shows the the cracks.
Peet Guercio
Guercio keeps the party going by announcing Adam Ray. Ray takes stage casually and with a backwards hat. His look and feel comes across as a Jersey guy, when he actually hails from Washington State. The energy on stage simmers with his confidence. He prowls a bit soaking in the big hits and quickly moving on.
White Collar Funny
Jim Tavare is a gift. In a white-tie tux and dragging a cello to stage, he is a sight to behold. He’s introduced from “ Last Comic Standing”, but you recognize has face from countless movies and television. His delivery is dry and he works over the audience, slowly pulling us in. By the time he lifts his instrument to play, we were putty in his hands. And he contoured the room quite easily. The first big laughs of the night and the howling audience wanted more.
Jim Tavare
Baby Boy
I’ve seen Dov Davidoff before. Probably two years ago and even then his performance had something. Well, that something has exploded into a riot. He swaggers on-stage and you’re not sure he even realizes there’s a crowd present. He rambles, almost in a meditative state, until you just about can’t take it. Then hits with a punch line you never saw coming and it floors you.
This night he turns his attention directly to the audience. A young college brunette right up front. He giggles and contorts his face into scraggly elfish figures as he mumbles about. But after the first power punch line, now you’re holding on to every word. Direly curious how he’s gonna fit this next diatribe into the funny. And he does! Now he owns us all.
Back to the brunette. He just stares at her and she grins back wildly. “ Congratulations on your genetics. You won the lottery”. She turns a fire engine hue and he stumbles away, back to pacing the stage.
Dov Davidoff
Davidoff is the star of the night and he’ll be hard to beat. He’s grown since the last time I’ve seen him. And now I want to see him again.
But that’s the beauty of Comedy Juice. Your favorite comedians return every few weeks. It’s like you family -- only way funnier.
For more information on Comedy Juice visit their website, or here for tickets.
Find Peet Guercio at Funny or Die , MySpace, Facebook, and follow his Twitter.
Adam Ray has two websites, here and here. And a Funny or Die page.
The sublime Jim Tavare is on MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook.
The "laugh riot" (and yes, you can quote me) Dov Davidoff has a website, a MySpace and a Facebook.
