Written by: Sandi Durell
Looking slim and svelte in jeans and T-shirt, the King of Observational Comedy, who appeared on The Tonight Show more than any other guest, picked up where he left off at the original Gotham Comedy Club location.
A poor Jewish kid born in Philadelphia, part of a large family, he was a gang leader in high school and his Dad was a bookie. He refers to Dad and his jokes in many of his commentaries.
Brenner has something to say about everything and everyone. From health clubs and the American obesity epidemic, to pills and diets and how you look in Spandex. He considers himself a health nut doing herbal stuff, 12 grain bread and how the studies recommend coffee enemas. He talks about women, Botox treatments and, what about those older men who are bald but have ponytails?
He races from one thing to another, using his own form of flashcards that he prepares with all his ideas – - the news, Olympics, skiers, politics, Facebook – where he joined suddenly had 5000 friends and knew 3 of them. Then there are comments about Jewish priests and Jesus jokes (those 12 men in the picture; they were all Jewish). He comes up with a basic truth: The Jewish holidays are all the same “They tried to kill us. Let’s eat.”
And so nearly 80 minutes passed by and Brenner still seems to have that “it” factor that makes people laugh. He’s appearing at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St., Aug. 23 & 25, 7 p.m. 212 206-0440
*Photos: Maryann Lopinto
Posted by Sandi Durell
on August 23, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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