Funny Things in Vegas- Sammy Shore!

He's opened for Elvis Presley. Along with Joey Bishop, Moms Mabely, Redd Foxx and Phyllis Diller, he headlined the Las Vegas Strip for years. The Comedy Store in Los Angeles was started by him. And, he is the father of MTV-Generation Xer, Pauly Shore. Sammy Shore, at 81, is still going strong, writing books, and even opening for Tony Orlando.On a cloudy day in October, I sat with Mr. Shore as he sold books at the local library book fair, and we talked about life in Las Vegas, entertainment, and even politics. His book, "The Warm Up" is less about the years he spent with Elvis, and more about growing up in the entertainment industry. He writes about the issues of going on the road while being a full-time father and husband. He writes about realizing that he was no longer part of the "under thirty" crowd. The book is as much about coming to terms with getting older as it is about spilling inside secrets of parties and concerts.

As we sat, Mr. Shore also chatted about his latest projects. He just published a book called "The Man Who Made Elvis Laugh" about the years he spent trying to get work with, then succeeding on stage with the most popular entertainer in the world. There are stories about band members, and late night sandwiches that you once heard about in talk-shows- but for Sammy, there are some real, honest to life "this happened to me" tales of life and death, women and drugs, and of course, "Vegas Elvis".

For many of us, Sammy is synonymous with the Comedy Store. He and his ex-wife, Mitzi, ran that club until it became the mecca for hundreds of young comedic minds including Sam Kinison, Steve Moore, Argus Hamilton, Jim Carrey, and even Robin Williams. But, according to Sammy, "Mitzi really turned that club into something. I gave it to her in the divorce and she turned it into the wonderful place it was." She brought in Andrew Dice Clay. For some she gave them a home in the condo behind the building. The respect he has for her business sense is inspiring. I asked how the Store was doing now.

"You know it's not the same. People are fighting over what it's supposed to be- a production company, a club- but it's not going to be the same place anymore. Now that Mitzi isn't running it, it's lost its heart." The Comedy Store remains part of the Shore family, but he noted, his daughter Sandi as a great influence to many comic minds. "Sandi is so talented. She has more talent in her pinky than anyone else in the family. She even wrote a book about how to be a comedian. She's just wonderful."

Shore also tours with his famous son, Pauly. "They're a different crowd. I was the original 'Weasel' you know. He gets on stage, and I just give it to him. The crowds love it. Can't outdo the old man!" I asked Sammy what he thought of other young comics, "Oh like who, that Dane guy, I can't really say anything. People that are good, write a lot of their own material. I don't see a lot of writing on stage anymore. There's a lot of dick jokes, but anyone can do the dick jokes. If they're good dick jokes, I'll laugh, but there's so few good ones now."

The small, unassuming gentleman gives the appearance of a former beatnik, maybe heading to a poetry reading, but he is all business. While we sat, he was on the phone with a publisher who didn't send him enough books to sell at this event. "They're complaining about one small edit before they reissue. I was on Larry King, and Larry didn't say, 'oh you misspelled synagogue' or something. It's nonsense. Everyone wants to sue you if you said something they don't want to hear. The publishers are just covering themselves, and it's a waste because I want to sell books, or I wouldn't be here."

"No good comedy about elections anymore. Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin. But Will Durst and Mort Sahl, they get it. This can't keep going the way it's going. We need to have a change."

People were admiring and buying, too. Sammy Shore is also opening up a new venue, when he isn't working as a Comedy Host of the Laughlin Tropicana, touring with Tony Orlando, or spending time with his wife Suzanne, and their adorable little dogs. "Oh I lost one of those kids last year. It was awful. Worse thing. Just like losing a kid in a way.. 12 years together. He was a great dog. Just a sad day. I still get shooken up about it."

Few people like Sammy Shore are on stages today. Mort Sahl teachers script writing. Phyllis Diller does voice over work for Family Guy. Chuck McCann is a frequent guest, along with Stan Freiberg on the Dr. Floyd Podcats. But, Sammy is only 81, and he is probably going to be the guy who opens for his favorite singers for another 20 years. He's part of what makes Las Vegas- VEGAS. Read more!

FunnyThings in Vegas- Comedy Clubs FREE to Everyone

Okay, maybe not the club at Harrah's, but from the guy who founded the World Famous Improv Comedy Clubs, Budd Friedman, comes a website that allows EVERYONE to visit comedians, talk about comedy, and learn about the shows that are coming up at the clubs in cities across the country. It's called IJoke.tv, and features video snippets from everyone including Old School favorites, to the newest star on Last Comic Standing. Budd Friedman is also available to answer questions about the comedy world, and will do so with a tongue as sharp as his mind.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a quiet moment with Robin Williams? How about sitting down with Roseanne and talking about cookie recipes? Did you ever just want to laugh for no particular reason and needed a great place to visit. This is the purpose of iJoke.tv. Paul Lander, a television producer and comedy expert in his own right, has produced specials for HBO, and networks for everyone. He is the voice of iJoke.tv, partnered with Budd, and bringing the best comedians from around the world to the site simply to amuse the visitors.

It's also a site of education. Have you thought about writing for screen? Have you wondered what it would be like to pitch a television show? What about podcasts? Do you know about improvisation, or would you consider trying stand-up if you just knew where to start? IJoke.tv is the website that gives real-life, experienced voices to the answers. Recent forum discussions include- "What do I need for touring?" "What can do to make my work stand out?" and "What does a video do for me?" All are answered by people who are not only comedians, but club owners, marketing experts, Hollywood big-wigs, and even those who are fans of the art.

If you are a fan of people like Erma Bombeck, Mark Twain, or Dave Barry, you have found a place to make your own humor writing known. When you sign up for an account at IJoke.tv, you are given a blog space- which is a great way to test out humor writing before submitting it to competitions, periodicals, or agents. You will get valuable feedback from people who have been on the judging panels, or who may have one competitions, such as the Bombeck event that happens each year. Join in the discussions and get your own page by clicking here.

Not sure about going to comedy clubs anymore because you wonder if all the material out there is just beyond blue? Visit the website to learn about the headliners at your local clubs, and see their work on display. You may discover people like MaryEllen Hooper, the Aspen Comedy Festival Winner, and Shane Mauss, whose appearances on Conan are now legendary. Or you may find that an old favorite, John Caponera, or Dennis Blair is now part of the community chatting with others about life on the road after MTV.

Nothing is quite like sitting before a stage, and seeing a comedian up close. You feel the infectious laughter of others spill onto your funny bone. You get inside jokes about events happening just there, just then, and just with you in mind. But, IJoke.tv does its best to bring that same idea to the net-surfing public. And it's free. It doesn't get much better than that. Read more!

Funny Thing In Vegas-What is Hack?

In a few weeks, Caesars Palace becomes home to the annual Las Vegas Comedy Festival, sponsored by TBS. Ellen Degeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, and dozens of others who are household names appear on the stages here, and even The Kids in The Hall make an appearance. The magic of the festival is the ability to see the new comedians, unknown to Agents nor to sitcoms, and the disgrace of the festival is the same comedians who appear to borrow material from others.

Most comedy today has been done to bits..and the words "sarah palin" are so intrinsic to the comedy stage, it's already too done to say them. But, the thing that bugs me on the comedy stages are the people who claim they are doing 'clean comedy' but are just redoing Bob Newhart, Rossi and Allen, and even older Alan King bits, and calling them original. It makes me upset because that is the essence of all things HACK. And, they get away with it because people who are supposed to know better actually hire them, and use them in clubs. Or promote them in contests. Either way, they're stealing and shouldn't be rewarded.

When I hear an insurance bit I think back to Alan King. When I think of bits about teaching, I think about Dennis Wolfberg, whose bug eyed delivery always made the bit better than it was. When I think of a white jewish girl pretending to be a big black man, it's Karen Haber. And, when I think of the Wizard of Oz, it's Lois Bromfeld. My personal heroes- Phyllis Diller and Moms Mabley did the "I'm ugly" bit long before others did. And, they did them right. The first time.

These bits are all on you-tube, and other websites, and are readily available. If you see them, you can see who is doing the exact routines. Mark Pitta, for instance, does one of the best Robert DeNiro imitations ever...because he LOOKS like DeNiro when he's not doing it. When I saw some kid imitating Pitta doing DeNiro, it just didn't ring true. He was imitating Pitta doing DeNiro and it was just not correct. It was mimicry at best, and falsely inflated ego at worst.

The fact is, there are thousands of us with ADD. There are thousands of us bringing note cards up on stage, and using THAT as part of the bit. The general colloquialisms that permeate our language, (all the izzle's inclusive), are not new. Bill Hicks did Bill's material, Denis did Denis's material, but the performances were so extremely similar no one can dispute them. Parallel thought is part of the world of comedy- parallel parking on an exact phrase, exact delivery, and exact timed piece is just plain hack.

The ones who bother me are the ones who assume that no one else studies comedy the way they do. That bothers me because I am one who would go to clubs EVERY night whether I was on stage, or not, and LEARN about comedy by watching everyone I possibly could. I sat transfixed to Lenny Clarke, Richard Jeni, and Roseanne with the same aplomb. (love that word) They were up there, headlining, and getting people to pay attention to them, and I wanted to know WHY- not what they were saying that I could improve on, or plainly steal, as so many seem to do now. When I saw someone doing a Bobcat imitation on a TV show supposedly designed to find "new" comedy, I nearly lost it- it wasn't anyone behaving as a comic and being funny, it was someone PERFORMING without WRITING anything new- and it was just theivery. It's the problem Fred Travelena and Rich Little have with those who imitate THEM, when in fact, they've written bits specifically to match their impressions. Other impressionists stealing bits from Fred and Rich are just telling the audience, "screw you, you don't know any better." That's just the wrong song to be playing in the Intel Age.

The online video sites are there for anyone to learn about what stand up is, and what it isn't. It's there for people to see "Oh yeah, Jeneane Garafalo had a good few years before she was on TV doing stand-up", "Patton Oswalt wasn't always killing when he first started.", "Oh yeah, look at Bernie Mac doing TV for the first time, wow, he was so much like Redd Foxx in his timing." It's for people to understand character motions, like those done by Buster Keaton, Mark Blankfield, and Jim Carrey. It's there for anyone to watch good comedians when they were not-so-good, and see them grow. It's there for people to see Ritch Shydner, and Mitch Hedberg and not just wonder who they were on the stage. It's there for the wisdom gained by Piper and Tupper, and Bobby Slayton, and Margaret Cho. Some continued on to be huge names, others great headliners and others, just footnotes in the comedy history books- but they're not up there so people can STOP writing.

Writing is what comedy is about. In Vegas, we have some terrific writers- Don Barnhart, Brandon Muller, Tanyalee Davis, Kathleen Dunbar for example. All are at different stages of their careers. We have terrific shows- the Short Bus Comics inclusive- where those who are more like Tim and Eric or even Terry Fator- can be alongside those who are college headliners, and longtime veteran champions of comedy everywhere. But people are writing constantly. It's what makes the stages come alive here. Diaz Mackie to Jeremy Flores, you'll find gems if you look.

So no, there isn't a reason to assume your audience isn't aware of comedy and the history of stand-up. (And before you start to mumble it, yes the Ass of U and Me line..done to death, thanks.) Assume that someone in your audience is also aware of Jim Norton and Jen Kober. Assume that someone in your audience has seen Carlin or Cosby, maybe even the same nights, and have played their albums for as long as they could. Assume that someone in your audience gets that Ernie Kovacs and Norm Crosby knew what they were doing. Assume this because if you don't, you are going to be disappointed when it comes time to talk to that person who DOES know these people and GETS that you are 'borrowing' material.

Everyone has their own views of something . I will write about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a different way, based on my own experiences and language than Grace Fraga. I will write my way, she will write her way. I will present my way. She will present her way. But I will WRITE and she will WRITE. When you're up there and talking about George and Gracie's version of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it will be obvious to others that you're just "playing comedian" and not actually being one. If you want to do the acting thing, that's great, but you don't get a pass to not write your own stuff. Check out Michael Keaton's stand-up and see if you can't find Johnny Dangerously in it. Learn the craft. Learn to write.

And then be the comedian you want to be- don't pretend you are someone else. You WILL be discovered, as a hack if you do. You WILL be discovered as talent if you WRITE. Read more!

Funny Thing in Vegas- Improv Vegas

Every couple of weeks, my writers group, The Las Vegas Quill Keepers, meets to chat and work on the world that is publishing. (http://www.lasvegasquillkeepers.com) And, because we have such a large group of folks, we meet in big coffee shops, often in bookstores, and often without any idea of what will come of each meeting. Generally, there is comic relief through the magic of diversity, and all that the age groups and racial backgrounds bring to the table. Then there comes the writing that happens on the fly- the improvisation- the writing prompts that take simple concepts and turn them into walks into the minds of the madness. And that is what improvisation does to people- lures the madness from the mundane.

This week, after the usual gathering of gams and dames, I had the fortune to chat with a woman who does more than talks about improvisation- she lives it. As a co-Second City Almumna, it was terrific talking with Amy Pittle, President of Improv Las Vegas.Amy started in Las Vegas, as many do, with the Second City Training Center, which formerly reigned supreme at the Flamingo, on the strip. Several months ago, the center closed its doors, leaving very talented comedians with no place to call home, nor a leader to count on to guide them through their careers. Pittle, a seasoned Vegas resident found a space at the Onyx Theater, and soon formed the Student Experimental Theater. Using Spolin, Second City, Groundlings, and other creative on-your-feet models, the theater company continues where its parent left off.

Each week a packed house doesn't just watch a bunch of people repeat their routines and gimmicks. The crowd is just as much a part of the show as the performers. Asked to only mention things familiar to their lives, the people in the crowd are transfixed and doubled over in laughter discovering the magic that is improvisational comedy. The key is- not TRYING to be funny is what makes people laugh. Amy possesses not only the qualities of a guide, who helps shape her company, but the patience of a teacher, offering classes to those who are excited about the idea that a show is part of life, and therefore an attainable goal.

As the only improv training center in the Vegas Valley, the school does more than shows people what the skills are- it teaches that fun can be a team sport. With dozens of people signed into the courses, from all levels of experience, Amy is adding Stand-up as part of the class schedule this year. She is aware of the many legendary performers who call this town home- and is luring them to the school with her magnetic smile, and smart business sense. Her experience with casino VIP services, marketing, and as a member of Second City helped her develop this theater and education center into one of the finest in the country.

People wonder if Improv Theater is something worth checking out. In fact, with the growth of shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", NBC's 30 Rock, and even the continued success of Saturday Night Live, improvisational ensemble theater is still one of the best ways to see the biggest stars in comedy. Wayne Brady headlines a show here, and helped bring audiences an awareness of improvisation that simply didn't exist in the last twenty years. It's music. It's stage play. It's stand-up. It's a way to be on the inside of the inside jokes - and develop new ones. And, audiences can play as much as the performers, or simply just enjoy the moments.

Amy knows how to bring the silliness from the most somber of topics. She knows how to coax the inhibition out of the shyest of people. And, with her warm smile and down-to-earth manner, she makes everyone feel as if each is the most important person in the room. As a teacher, she allows the individual to shine, and still makes the performer work in harmonic resonance with the team. Just like jazz music, the players only work well when all are listening, and feeling the same grooves.

You can check out the production for less than what it would cost for a large coffee in a Seattle shop. Only $7 will give you a sampling of the S. E. T. on Monday nights, at 9:30pm, right after the football game. Check out the Lotus of Siam restaurant just a few doors over beforehand and you have yourself one of the least expensive nights with the most bang for your buck here in Vegas. Be sure to say howdy to Amy when you go. Maybe even sign up for the classes and give your sense of humor a new sandbox to play inside. Bring friends- or make some there. It's your turn to be part of the action. Read more!

Funny Things in Vegas... Saying Goodbye

When entertainers gather together for one big party it isn't always in celebration of a film release, or an opening. It's bound to have free food, but it doesn't mean the occasion is a joyous one. Yet, even when artists and entertainers are brought together to say goodbye to one of our own, it can be a day for resounding fulfilling happiness. Such was the day spent today, in memory of John Thompson, Jr., a writer whose work is still giving people reason to laugh even though he has left after only 41 years on the planet.


John's dad is known to many fans of the Tonight Show, as the Great Tomsoni, a spectacular stage magician who still inspires the likes of Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, and thousands of kids who battle with card tricks, pigeons, and rabbits with hats. His son was uniquely gifted with words, sought out by script and screenwriters, and freelanced as a reporter for nearly every periodical in Las Vegas, and many in the entire West Coast.

He was inspired by the magicians and entertainers who crossed his path as son of Magic Royalty. Today, several of his friends spoke eloquently of the firm beliefs, the wild humor, and the downright goofiness of the kid they knew. In fact, as a many sat there, we were in awe- it was very clear that the people in John's life were not the ones who would normally fit into society. They are the geeky, strange, weird, fun people whom you always wonder about, but never quite get to meet in person. They are the Crispin Glovers, and the Pee Wee Hermans, but not quite famous as that.

One is a disc jockey whose love of amusement parks took them to Knott's Berry Farm on an adventure that included food poisoning, and a far more dangerous ride home to Las Vegas. Another is the socially awkward man who didn't quite seem to fit into any particular group of people, and yet, managed to say hello to everyone who crossed his path. Another was a country music radio jock who met John in high school, when the pair shared inside jokes, and constant cut-ups as boys often do. They did so up until the end. And, for every person who spoke, there was a common element- these are people who just don't fit into the society that appears on sitcoms, or in fairy tales- these were the odd ducks that only seem to know other odd ducks, and as such- they were perfectly suited to John.

This is one of John's charms. He was able to bridge the world between the guys who giggle in corners at Rocky Horror showings, and those who study at MIT, or are the celebrities of the day, or have jobs dancing for millions. He never let anyone be anything other than who they were. As such, he made friends with everyone he met, and rarely had a reason to dismiss any person- as he or she was a potential long-time friend. From the producers of the largest shows on the strip, to lowly writers and artists, we all stood in tribute to the man.

Today wasn't a memorial as much as it was a time for Las Vegas to appreciate the young man who left behind people to become friends with each other. Had he not died, many of us would still be unknown to each other. In that, he had another gift- he introduced the world to ideas he always knew as fact. Each of us has purpose- and therefore reason to be part of one another.

Brain cancer. It didn't see a guy- at 41 years old- and think- "NOW I will Get YOU!" Disease is simply a random process, and it took a man who loved words, loved to write, loved to laugh, and loved people. It brought a few dozen people together, to giggle stories, to share in the happiness of knowing him, and to admire his family's ability to bring a darling doggy wherever they went. The day ended with a song of "Happy Birthday", which both Pam Thompson, John's stepmom, and her little doggie, Gracie, did as a duet. They used to sing it as a family at least twice a week.

Happy Birthday John, Jr. February is to long to sing it..so happy birthday to you. Read more!

Funny Things In Vegas- Rita and Roseanne

Two women have billboards touting their command for comedy on the Las Vegas Strip. Both have decades of experience. Both have television, film, and writing credits that anyone would envy. Yet, both are filling rooms for entirely different reasons, and entirely different shows. It isn't likely that anyone will confuse Roseanne Barr's take on menopause, celibacy, and divorce the same way the petite counterpart, Rita Rudner explores marriage, motherhood, and shopping. Fans for one don't often appear in audiences for the other. And both are paving the way for women comedians throughout the world because of this.

Rudner started her career dancing on Broadway, not entering a comedy club until she was 25 years old. Her sing-song delivery hearkens to the comedy acts of the early 50's and 60's, with an undercurrent of clean material, surprised innocence, and a profound grasp for timing. When she arrived in Las Vegas, signing a deal with New York, New York, the room echoed the sounds of the roller coaster soaring through the building just over the stage. It wasn't the best location, but it was a constant flow of a demographic of people in their fifties and older, who remember her appearances on the Tonight Show, Comic Relief, and specials.

She enrolled her daughter in school, spent time working on designs for her sky-rise condo, and continued working on projects and scripts with peers that included Steve Martin, a bevy of Brits. The diminutive woman, who doesn't really seem to be a Vegas performer in any sense of the word, proved herself as a wise business woman. She became the star in a city where the men of the business have overwhelmed stages and women seemed relegated to huge hats and bikinis, poles, or lounges. Her show did well, despite the small room and noise, and continued to do well there until Harrah's offered her the opportunity to take over the room vacated by singer Clint Holmes.

It was in this central part of the Strip that George Wallace became a staple just a year before her move. The Comedy Festival moved into Ceasers, just across the street. Local staple, Vinnie Favorito hosted his own show, and that location seemed ready for a feminine touch. In a theater reminiscent of the Brat Pack days, she fills houses with busloads of tourists, who are ready to laugh with her on her verbal journey. Rita Rudner became a gentle Duchess of Humor, holding court nightly.

A little less than a year ago, Roseanne found herself in some local rooms, testing the casino crowds for her brand of Domestic Godess, brash, and bold humor. Taking apart the health care system, The White House, or talking about her utter disillusionment with sexuality, she is able to carry a crowd ably. Unlike the elegant appearance of her contemporary just a few blocks away, Barr settled in The Sahara, a showcase of Nascar, just a bus stop from Trump Tower. Being on a bus line has been great for business.

Her blue collar patter endears her to the tourists who have followed her marriages via gossip magazines, and her television show, which lasted longer than most of those unions. She is the grandma at the end of the bar, whereas Rita is the lady at the end of the dining table. When Roseanne enters a room, people don't wonder if she's a a size zero or a two. They wonder if she is going to be manic depressive, or bitchy, or even nosy. Barr always seems to give a better show each night. You can hear her writing, and hear her crafting the act that brought her to the public in the first place. She may bring a notepad up on stage, and ramble inchorently as she determines which scribble will play best to the people visiting from Walla-Walla.

Although Moms Mabely and Phyllis Diller each held court in Sin City, neither had a long-running show. Rudner and Barr may be here for years to come. Casinos once shied away from putting women on their marquees, except for songstresses, and the change has also changed the manner in which women are now hired by venues. Comedy clubs which once said, "we already had a woman in here this month", are now putting us in the line-ups every show. With Last Comic Standing doing their taping here, far more of us are getting recognized for the ability to make people laugh, gender-be-damned. We are now getting put on the bill with OTHER women- almost unheard of still in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston.

Without doubt, Roseanne and Rita have opened doors for comedy writers, and stand-up performers in Vegas, and throughout the world. We aren't always considered as male bashers, and menstrually obsessed. Whether we follow the choreographed steps of Rudner, or the clog shuffling stomp of Barr, we are definitely on the path they helped pave- in casino gold.

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Cathe Jones is the author of "I'm Just As Screwed Up as You Are- the Anti-Dr. Phil book", and "Godless Grief". She was a regular at Los Angeles Second City, the Comedy Store, and currently is a Short Bus Comic, while her husband, jazz pianist Mike Jones, opens and is musical director for the Penn & Teller show. Read more!

Funny Thing About Vegas- The Short Bus Comics

There are plenty places in the land -that- sobriety- forgot which will gladly take your cash, shuttle you to a seat behind a six foot wide column or a guy who used to star in the Lakers, and leave you to wonder if there is a seven drink, $50 per bottle, cash only bar. Most shows here cost as much as a gallon of gas, or around a car payment, whichever is less this week. If you take more than one person with you, then you can write off any hopes of retirement, college for your kids, or even food for your family for the next two years or so. And, each guarantees a show of a lifetime, but often leave you wishing you had another life all-together.

But, sometimes you can find something that is within a price range that mere mortals can muster. Within those choices, you can even find people who perform with their clothes ON the entire show, but often those aren't as fun as those which offer alleged titillation. If you want to see a headliner from the big billboards you can likely find them singing karaoke at a local Italian eatery on Sunday nights, and I will be telling you more about that local gem in weeks to come. This week, I'm filling you in on a show that is about to open- which means you can see it before anyone else. You can certainly brag about it and bring friends the next time you swing on by without the chance of losing your mortgage payment in doing so.

For only $15 a person, you can sit in a theater that offers a stage so close you can practically smell the cologne of those standing or sitting by the microphone. The Short Bus Comics, launched by Roman the Serial Comic, starts in September for a run, that will likely be years, in a theater that tricks you. The trick? You walk through a store which sells vinyl and leather clothing, and no, that doesn't include back-to-school togs. Sitting merely yards from the infamous Green Door swingers' club, and only a few parking spots from the Michelen Star rated Lotus of Siam, the Onyx Theater hosts this weekly event.

Las Vegas is home to dozens of comedians who you would probably never think lived so far from Los Angeles or New York, and many of us prefer not to drop the "F" bomb every show. Of course, some of the same people drop pants without blinking, and that makes for an unforgettable night of the comedy that is now becoming the staple of most cities- the Alternative Comedy Market. Those of us who prefer this form of expression are now becoming the driving force of humor.

What does that mean? Does that mean that people sit in chair covered in feathers and talk like Andy Kaufman? Does that mean that you'll need a thesaurus just to comprehend the new language spewed at an alarming fast or slow pace? Well, sort of- but not at all. Stand-up has become the platform for the wit-challenged over the last fifteen years. Where you once could see a person chatter about the current events or the life of confusion led, you now hear a somewhat coherently, morbidly inebriated, video-game addicted and MySpace bantering unemployed college drop-out utter nothing but "yeah right?" to his or her friends in the audience. It's just that bad. To find a group of comedians who are not only intelligent, but interesting is now the alternative to mainstream stand-up.

Alternative Comedy turns out to be a better alternative for those completely disenchanted by the comedy clubs around the country. You will not only find people are giving you a real show, with content, but you become drawn to the notion that comedy once and will once again be about making people laugh, and not about the bar sales. In fact, in the Onyx, you won't even FIND a bar, although you can get tanked at one of several bars within walking distance if you are eager to do so. The people behind the Short Bus Comics are only about the idea that comedy is about performance and entertaining the people who paid to sit and laugh. Roman also promotes something that many people miss about comedy clubs- the idea that entertainers are, indeed, entertaining.

The people who want to watch those shows are also an alternative to the crowds who just seem to want to bark back to the people on stage, instead of allowing everyone else to enjoy themselves. Because of the change of crowd, Hollywood has wooed the stars of Alternative Comedy to studio contracts. Eddie Izzard is a prime example of someone who just doesn't fit into the stereotypical stand-up role. He manages to talk about European Renaissance history, in high heels and a better shade of lipstick than most supermodels own, ripping most spectators stomach muscles up from fits of laughter. Izzard is the consummate Alternative Comedian, bringing a supremely devout following to each night he takes stage.

Short Bus Comics provides something even unusual for the Alternative Comedy realm. This is a show where you find an ensemble of individual performers. One week you may find the emcee to be a person who has headlined the week before, or a headliner doing a short set another week. The rotation provides a fresh approach, and allows enthusiastic fans to see favorites on any given showcase. And, unlike many shows in town, you will find something new every time you see it. For a taste of what I mean, you can visit Youtube.com and check out Brandon Muller's Mime Freak, the spoof of Cris Angel that is far more than the magician could ever pull off- it's good AND funny.

Don't be afraid of the Onyx location. It's just north of the Stratosphere, in a shopping area that has more traffic than most casinos on payday. There may be a few Sin City exclusive stores there, but the venue offers more entertainment than any other theater in town. The price is far less than you would pay for a lunch buffet. The show starts September 26th, and runs every Friday night after that. And, there's a chance that someone you see there could be the next headliner in town. It's that good.

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Cathe Jones is the author of "I'm Just As Screwed Up as You Are- the Anti-Dr. Phil book", and "Godless Grief". She was a regular at Los Angeles Second City, the Comedy Store, and currently is a Short Bus Comic, while her husband, jazz pianist Mike Jones, opens and is musical director for the Penn & Teller show. They reside in Las Vegas with their 50 rats, 5 chinchillas and 3 cats. Kids not included. Read more!