The Phenomenon That Is Russell Peters Russell Peters is not just a comedian. He’s a phenomenon, and that’s a hard word to type more than once! I’ve often referred to him as The Messiah of Comedy, because he has such a diverse audience and makes people of all...
Comic Strip Xmas Party The truth is I liked my last column so much it was hard for me to start to write this one. That’s a dangerous thing for a writer to fall in love with his own stuff! Anyway, thanks to all of you who sent your condolences on my Mom. For the second year...
TRIBUTE TO MARJORIE GURIAN This column will be kind of a double column due to the sudden passing of my beloved Mom, Marjorie Gurian, right at the time my last column was due. It just kind of rocked me, and brought home the concept that all we have is today. [caption...
CHRIS ROCK STEPS UP In 1986, Chris Rock was discovered at the Comic Strip by owner Richie Tienken and Eddie Murphy. The story goes that Chris was setting up chairs and cleaning up in exchange for stage time, in a deal he made with Lucien Hold, the legendary manager of the club....
TEN THINGS I LIKE ABOUT LARRY MILLER In 1999, Touchstone Pictures released Ten Things I Hate About You starring among others, the late Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Gabrielle Union, and the great Larry Miller who played the strict Dad, Walter Stratford. Ten years later, it’s...
SEARCHING FOR JERRY SEINFELD As many of you know, I’ve spent the better part of the last year, working with Comic Strip owner Richie Tienken on a book about the history of the club that launched the careers of superstars like Chris Rock, Larry Miller, George Wallace, Lewis...
Artie Lange: The Ultimate “Mensch” Yes, Artie Lange is funny, but he’s also a great guy. Another great guy is Chris Mazzilli from Gotham Comedy Club, who never saw a charity he didn’t like, or support. Chris donates his club for charity the way some people offer you a...
Tony Rock Rocks The Strip Chris Rock didn’t get all the talent in the family of seven brothers and one sister. A whole lot of it was saved for his brother Tony, the star of The Tony Rock Project on myNetworkTV, also known as MyNet. Tony spends a lot of his time in LA, but he...
CHRIS ROCK AND PAUL REISER AT THE STRIP The Comic Strip was and is still considered home to some of the biggest stars in the stand-up comedy business. Those stars openly acknowledge their debt to The Strip in a book I’m writing now about the legendary club. The Strip opened...
