After a less-than-tasteful and off-color opening act, Mandel took the stage with a rapid-fire delivery and a huge smile. Almost immediately, it was obvious that he has not lost his comedic edge even after appearing as a dramatic actor (“St. Elsewhere”), voiceover actor (“Bobby’s World,” “Muppet Babies” and “Gremlins”) and talk show host and judge (“Deal or No Deal,” “America’s Got Talent”).

The fair provided a delightful interpreter for the deaf, Sharon Ramsey, who was addressed multiple times by Mandel as he used words and expressions just to see how they were signed. Female body parts, flatulence and butts were all topics requiring careful signing by Ramsey, who good-naturedly added to the fun rather than distracted.

Using his frenetic pacing and ADHD-like changes in subjects, Mandel was able to keep the audience wondering just where he was going to go next. Topics included the stage set up over the lagoon, his practical jokes that got him banned from his doctor’s office and conversing with the audience about hedgehogs, parrots and the strangest objects fished from a patient’s orifice in the ER.

“So, what do you want to do now?” was the segue phrase used by Mandel in making his transitions throughout his 40-minute performance.

At the end, a “hidden video” that Mandel had filmed in a Los Angeles beauty salon where he posed as a hair washer was shown on the big screens. When he returned to the stage, Mandel admitted that he didn’t have a big finish to his set so he just said goodbye and walked off the stage. It was an inauspicious ending to an otherwise delightful show.

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Second and third place were decided via coin-toss at the judges table, with Second Place going to Ellis Rodriguez and Third Place to Mike Betancourt. Rodriguez took the stage with a clear and auspicious plan: win the ladies, win the house. Mission accomplished, Ellis. Betancourt took quite the opposite approach of charismatic alienation. The only way to feel offended by Betancourt is if you didn’t feel like a target to Sacramento’s own version of Joe Rogan.

Other notable performances include Mikhail “The White Russian.” With a widely cross-cultural perspective and effortless audience-report, Mikhail is one Russian you shouldn’t feel guilty about keeping an eye on. In fact, I encourage it. Veteran comic Rick Pulido also showed off his muy grande cajones by stepping outside of conventional stand-up during the first round to attempt the commitment-driven character of Robot Prop Comedian. The late Andy Kaufman would be proud, Rick… Come to think of it, Tony Clifton has been making appearances recently… And Pulido was wearing sunglasses… Nah! Couldn’t be.

Congratulations to all the winners! The Inaugural NorCal Lightning Comedy Competition hosted by Jennifer Rutherford was sponsored by Good Times Events and The Cool Crowd. Special thanks to Tre Restaurant and Lounge and the secret panel of judges who shall remain nameless.

Photos by Aljohn Tabion

The show’s eight competitors – (in no particular order) Mike Betancourt, Rick Pulido, Khulani Malone, Mikhail “The White Russian”, Matt Byrd, Nate Darling, Ellis Rodriguez and Sean Peabody – were selected by a secret panel of anonymous judges. “I have nothing to do with that selection,” Jennifer says. “All eight of them, I have to say, are wonderful comedians as well as people.”  SacramentoComedy.Com Chief Editor Steven Bloom agrees, “These are eight of the top Feature-level comedians in Sacramento. I’ve seen them all. It’ll be hard.”

Especially hard with a cash prize at stake for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place says Jennifer, “Thanks to the generous donations of lots of local sweethearts.” *

Competitors will be given four minutes in each of two Lightning Rounds. No glorified introductions. No obligatory host-driven transitions. Just comedy; fast, furious and funny. So grab a date, leave the umbrella at home, and check out Jennifer Rutherford’s NorCal Comedy Lighting Challenge!

Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. $5 cover charge.

* Event sponsors include Good Times Events and The Cool Crowd

Seinfeld will join SNY TV’s Hernandez and Gary Cohen during the third inning, and is expected to call at least three innings. Seinfeld and Hernandez first teamed up in 1992 for one of the most popular episodes of Seinfeld ever, in which Jerry discovers he harbors a peculiar adoration for the baseball star.

Though the episode (“The Boyfriend”) first aired 18 years ago, Hernandez says he still hears references to the acclaimed guest-spot. Seinfeld and his wife, Jessica Seinfeld have been married for 10 years and have three children together.

Are you a fan of Daniel Tosh? (a Tosh-er?). If you have been following Tosh’s rise to stardom then we have some really good news for you.

According to Tosh’s official website, he is going to be performing a 50+ city tour starting in September. Tosh’s Twenty Ten Tour has Tosh criss crossing the country performing in a different city each day through November. Unfortunately for Sacramento fans, the closest Tosh gets to your city is his Santa Rosa engagement Just before Thanksgiving on November 22nd at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.

But wait, there’s more good news!  Tosh’s TV show on Comedy Central Tosh.0 has been renewed for a third season and will be starting early next year. So, don’t hesitate to spend all of your waking moments scouring the web for funny videos to nominate!

In the interview, Carvey talks about how he was actually the first one offered David Letterman’s job on the show that became “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” when Letterman fled NBC for CBS in 1993.  He also talks about SNL, the Church Lady and his heart surgery and subsequent lawsuit, (he successfully sued the doctors who opened the wrong artery for $7.5 million, which he donated to charity), his failed TV show and how he would do another movie with Mike Myers if he was asked.

Read Tony Hicks’ entire interview here. I know you will enjoy it.

A lawsuit filed today claims that Lovitz and other individuals entered into a written agreement to buy three club seats in the dugout area for all baseball games that are played at Dodger Stadium from 2008 to 2010.

The lawsuit claims that over $95,400 is owed for 2010.

Lovitz has not yet comment other than to say.. “That’s the ticket!”
(OK, that isn’t a real quote, but for more information, click here for the LA Times Associated Press’ official story).

Photo: Jon Lovitz throws out the first pitch before a 2009 Cubs game. (Scott Strazzante/ChicagoTribune)

“Louie” is the working title of the FX show starring Louie C.K. in a semi-autobiographical format detailing his life as a successful stand-up comedian and a recently single father of two daughters in NYC.

The show is slated for 13 episodes and is set to premiere June 29th at 8pm PST, following the Denis Leary show, ‘Rescue Me’. The first episode will start off with a bang as Ricky Gervais is set to guest star.

“Well, some nudity, here and there”  she joked. “Mostly here.”

White’s musical guest will be Jay-Z which is predicted to make this one of the highest rated episodes of the season.

“Isn’t that something?” she exclaimed, “he’s tremendous.”

White, who turned 88 this January, was the recipient of a Facebook campaign where over half a million people joined in to convince NBC that White was a national treasure.

“What a way to honor her, as well as entertain countless millions of people the world over who adore her as an actress, as a tireless animal rights advocate, and as a fantastic comedian!” the website reads.

Ultimately, both White and NBC agreed.

Here is an excerpt from her ‘Today” show interview:

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