A whole lotta laughs: Big comedy shows this weekend
Local jokers and touring comics on stages around the Valley
HARK!
I hear…snorts…
Are you a snort laugher? A giggler? A hyena?
As a man once said: “There are no wrong laughs.”
This weekend, there will be plenty of opportunities to chortle, chuckle, roar, hoot, snicker, etc.
On the local front, the finals of the Funniest Comic in the Valley competition will be held this Sunday, Aug. 28.
Starting at 7 p.m., Stephen Hegarty, Ty Lavette, Tony Herndon, Tamponman, Chase Harter, Sandra Risser, Ashley Johnson, Kelly Kerr, John Cowan, Lady Que that Funny Girl and Ben Lewis will take turns on the microphone, trying to get laughs from the crowd and high marks from the judges.
It’s not just about bragging rights, as the winner pockets a cool grand (aka $1,000).
The Funniest Comic in the Valley competition takes place at JP’s Comedy Club, 860 E Warner Road, Gilbert.
The sentimental favorite is Risser, an 81-year-old comic HARK Valley recently profiled.
Over in the southwest Valley, a new Filipino-Asian restaurant has its first comedy show. MandoMan headlines at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Backstreet Asia, 965 E Van Buren St, Unit 125, Avondale.
National headliners
A few other Valley comedy clubs host headliners on tour.
Paul Mecurio, a comedian making headway as an actor, tops the bill this weekend at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy on High Street in North Phoenix.
Here’s a link to Mecurio on Stephen Colbert’s show, talking about how he used to be a Wall Street lawyer.
“I was always the funniest lawyer in my law firm. Which is kind of like being the sexiest IT guy.”
Paul Mecurio
Where’ve I seen that guy?
The comic has made multiple appearances on Colbert’s show, and has contributed to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He also acted in Chuck, the movie about boxer Chuck Wepner.
Mecurio also has made the rounds of all the late-night shows and is a commentator on CBS Sunday Morning.
Another heavyweight anchors things down at Stand Up Live:
David A. Arnold is a veteran comic who is taking his shot at breaking through to the big time. After appearances on Comedy Central and BET, he has a new Netflix special called David A. Arnold: It Ain't For the Weak.
The special captures Arnold performing in his hometown, Cleveland (insert joke here).
Arnold jokes about marital spats and entitled kids.
Check out a preview of his Netflix show here.
David A. Arnold
At Stir Crazy Comedy Club in Glendale, Warren B. Hall headlines this weekend.