Laugh Track: Sebastian Maniscalco at Hilarities, 'Midnight Swinger' at Improv, Mike Conley at Bogey's

by Michael McIntyre/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 12:00 PM

PREVIEW
Sebastian Maniscalco performs at 8 p.m. Thursday ($18), Dec. 4, 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. Friday ($23) and Saturday (only general admission available at $18) and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre inside Pickwick & Frolic, 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland. Call 216-736-4242.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the host of the Laugh Track column, a man who loves the Browns . . . Mike McIntyre. Thank you, Cleveland. A lot of fans are down on the Browns, but I love the way they're always so generous at holiday time. Just when schedules get hectic and life gets frantic, the team is kind enough to give us a gift: Free time on Sundays. No need to plan the day around the Browns game. Feel free to weatherize the windows and clean the garage.

Or, if you really miss that feeling you get watching the Browns play, scrub the toilets.

Making his name:
Sebastian Maniscalco was hilarious as one of the comics in "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show" on the big screen this year, joking about 35-year-olds who order drinks like apple martinis. "You're 35 years old. You're walking around drinking something green? . . . You go get a beer or something that tastes like gasoline."

He's funny on the small stage, too, talking about his fastidiousness, how his friends raise their kids, shopping at discount clothing stores, his own family's quirks and everything else that affects his life.

Maniscalco recently returned from the Middle East, where he performed with Wild West co-star Ahmed Ahmed's "Axis of Evil" comedy tour. Usually the comics in that tour are of Middle Eastern descent. So what was an Italian kid from Chicago doing there?

"In Egypt, I'm Egyptian," said Maniscalco, who joked that, "you couldn't talk about sex, politics, religion or dating, so I had about three minutes of material."

He's happy to be back on stage in the States. "These tours are great, but I kind of want to do my own thing. I'd just like to establish my name," he said.

Before the 30-cities-in-30-days Wild West tour (which included Cleveland), he was still waiting tables to make a living. Now, he's a full- time comic. The name is established. It's Sebastian Maniscalco.

Swinging and slaying:
David Scott, a.k.a. "The Midnight Swinger," brings Vegas to the Flats with his act at the Improv. Catch him at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday ($11); 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday ($16) and Saturday ($17) and 7 p.m. Sunday ($11) at the Improv inside the Powerhouse, 2000 Sycamore St. on the west bank of Cleveland's Flats.

Also, head out to the Improv at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 to support new comics - heck, one of them could be your neighbor - graduating from a Tri-C comedy course taught by local comic J.D. Sidley. Tickets are just $5.

Also showing:
Bogey's Comedy Club, a terrific place to watch comedy at 28060 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills, is headlined by local wit - and frequent Akron-area radio guest - Mike Conley. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday ($8); 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday ($12) and Saturday ($15). Call 440-944-9000.

Well folks, that's my time. Thanks for reading and please remember to tip your carrier.