Bert Kreischer goes wild at the Improv, Lou Ramey booked for Hilarities -- It's Laugh Track for July 31-Aug. 3

by Michael K. McIntyre

Wednesday July 30, 2008, 12:04 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the host of the Laugh Track column, a man who tried to buy the Emerald Necklace for his wife ... Mike McIntyre.

Thank you, Cleveland. Turns out the Emerald Necklace, at 20,000 acres, is out of my price range. I'm going make a bid for Pearl Road instead. If that fails, maybe just a nice lunch at Ruby Tuesday.

It's all real: Bert Kreischer,
once hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as "The No. 1 Party Animal in the Country," is showing his wild side as a cast member on "Reality Bites Back." The Comedy Central show, hosted by the droll Michael Ian Black, skewers the reality genre by putting comedian contestants into ridiculous situations, like trying to gain weight, eating sushi off the body of comedian Luenell (she was the dinner "date" in "Borat").

"Doing a reality show is like being in a fraternity. They blindfold you a lot, you're naked a lot and there are things going in and out of your mouth. And you're like, 'I don't know if I'm comfortable with this,' " said Kreischer.

The party animal has grown up (he's 35) and has two daughters, but he still knows how to have a good time on and off camera. "It's kind of nice to do a show and I have this happen often, where a 70-year-old grandfather or grandmother comes up onstage and does a shot with me," he said. "They weren't always old."

Catch Kreischer at the Improv in the Powerhouse, 2000 Sycamore St., on the west bank of Cleveland's Flats, at 8 p.m. Thursday ($16), 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday ($17) and 7 p.m. Sunday ($16). Call 216-696-4677.

At Hilarities: Veteran comic Lou Ramey performs at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, inside Pickwick & Frolic, 2035 East Fourth St. in Cleveland. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday ($15), 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. Friday ($18) and Saturday ($23) and 8 p.m. Sunday ($15.) Call 216-736-4242.

All right, folks, that's my time. As always, remember to tip your carrier.
Previous columns online.