Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the host of the Laugh Track column, a man who is already exhausted by Cleveland's preparations for the Republican National Convention in July ... Mike McIntyre.
Thank you! Cleveland has so many projects timed for completion before the convention, I imagine Cleveland will sit on the couch after the RNC wearing sweatpants and binge watching Netflix while eating Ben & Jerry's right out of the container.
Polking fun: Mike Polk Jr.'s album release party was a full Cleveland performance put on in front of a full house (1,000-plus) at the Agora Theatre Friday and it evoked full-throated laughter.
How Cleveland was it?
Mayor "Frank Jackson" made an appearance -- actually Polk sporting a gray beard and speaking in a ridiculous accent. Moondog from the Cavs shot T-shirts from an air gun into the crowd. Polk sang about being a Cleveland sports fan, "It's like finding out there is no Santa Claus each and every day of your life." And, of course, Tim Misny -- the real Tim Misny, the "Make them Pay" TV lawyer Tim Misny -- wrestled a guy in a bear costume (a scrappy but over-matched Jimmie Graham.) Misny, of course, made him pay with a pin.
And the album released, "Baselessly Arrogant," which everyone got with their ticket, was recorded in a bowling alley. It doesn't get more Cleveland than that.
Polk told funny jokes and stories and sang songs (accompanied by Chris Hatton on drums, Joe Barone on keyboards, Matt Zitelli on guitar and after-party band Cobre Verde's bassist, Ed Sotelo.) He showed slides of stuff he bought on Amazon after drinking, played video clips, drank a tumbler of Jameson neat -- he had to toss his first pour after it was fouled by the glitter thrown by dueling Rip Taylors (Zachariah Durr and Adam Richard in a tour de force) -- and generally had a love-fest with the crowd, turning serious at one point and stifling real tears.
He referenced all the bad things we consume in media, and that comics use as joke fodder, but reminded the audience, "The world is not burning. Everything's fine. There's a lot of people doing good stuff left and right."
And he said he offers this advice to young comics:
"My first bit of advice is don't ask some guy for career advice if they just worked the same coffee shop open mic as you," he said, before turning more serious.
"Be decent to people," he said. "You can't believe what a difference that makes."
Any proceeds after expenses -- that bear costume wasn't cheap -- will be donated to the Cleveland Food Bank, Polk announced.
The whole night, produced by Kent businessman and Polk buddy Mike Beder, was a triumph for local stand-up comedy. Comedians rallied to help put on the show in whatever capacity they were asked. The crowd filled the seats, though Polk noted, "I know 75 percent of you are here on one Groupon and I don't care."
Polk showed that local comedy can sell, that working hard earns you a following, and that you don't need a Tonight Show credit or a goofy gimmick to draw a crowd.
"Here is what I like about this town," he said. "You support dumb (stuff) like this."
For more info and to get the album that spurred the party, check out mikepolkjr.com.
Complete photo gallery from Ken Blaze Photography:
This week at Hilarities: Dan Grueter performs at 8 p.m. Thursday ($23), 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday ($25), 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday ($28) and 7 p.m. Sunday ($23) at Hilarities, inside Pickwick & Frolic restaurant, 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland. Call 216-736-4242.
At the Improv:
Tony Rock performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday ($17), 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday $20. The Improv is at 1148 Main Ave., next to Shooter's on the west bank of Cleveland's Flats. Call 216-696-4677.