2008 Woodie Awards
Humor Fights Hunger
Comedy Club Raises Money for Charity
Douglas McIntyre
Issue date: 11/18/04 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The collaboration between a well-known comedy club and a good drive is an idea that won't go unnoticed. The result of an alliance such as that can form a humorous journey towards a worthy cause. Last Wednesday, Nov. 10, Rascals Comedy Club on Bloomfield Avenue hosted a charity food drive for the homeless. As guests walked in the door, they could donate two food items to lower their entry fee from $10 to only $5. Each guest then traveled up a flight of stairs, to be greeted at the door by the cheerful host Liz Russo.
The room, as one of the comics Lisa Landry put it, is like "a barn with paintings." Indeed, the red walls do remind one of a barn, adorned with black and white paintings of such famous comedians as Chris Tucker and Rosie O'Donnell. The small stage is set with a tall stool and microphone, in front of the club's name and mascot: a weasel. The black and white tablecloths and tall votive candles gave the room an unusual ambiance.
As the announcer said, the purpose of the event was to "fight hunger one laugh at a time." About a half hour after the 8 p.m. start time, Russo took the stage, announcing the charity. She mentioned that all food donations throughout the month of November would go to Action Against Hunger Human Needs Food Pantry, which would provide the food to homeless families for Thanksgiving. Russo went on to say that for the month of December, Rascals Comedy Club would be holding a toy drive.
Russo began the event by poking fun at almost everyone in the audience, using a range of voices to make a mockery of people in a good-natured tone. One that got many laughs was a crack at former President Clinton shopping at Seaman's.
Other comedians appeared with varying levels of fame. Ross Bennet, the first comedian of the night, has appeared on Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, a TV show on Comedy Central.
After his jabs at Walmart, "a delightful store" that "sucks every penny of commerce out of a community," Joey Gay, who has appeared on Law & Order, joked about midgets and his hometown of Brooklyn. Following that was Eddie Gambino, seen on The Sopranos, who began his act with an impersonation of Rodney Dangerfield, complete with small plastic cups in his eyes.
The room, as one of the comics Lisa Landry put it, is like "a barn with paintings." Indeed, the red walls do remind one of a barn, adorned with black and white paintings of such famous comedians as Chris Tucker and Rosie O'Donnell. The small stage is set with a tall stool and microphone, in front of the club's name and mascot: a weasel. The black and white tablecloths and tall votive candles gave the room an unusual ambiance.
As the announcer said, the purpose of the event was to "fight hunger one laugh at a time." About a half hour after the 8 p.m. start time, Russo took the stage, announcing the charity. She mentioned that all food donations throughout the month of November would go to Action Against Hunger Human Needs Food Pantry, which would provide the food to homeless families for Thanksgiving. Russo went on to say that for the month of December, Rascals Comedy Club would be holding a toy drive.
Russo began the event by poking fun at almost everyone in the audience, using a range of voices to make a mockery of people in a good-natured tone. One that got many laughs was a crack at former President Clinton shopping at Seaman's.
Other comedians appeared with varying levels of fame. Ross Bennet, the first comedian of the night, has appeared on Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, a TV show on Comedy Central.
After his jabs at Walmart, "a delightful store" that "sucks every penny of commerce out of a community," Joey Gay, who has appeared on Law & Order, joked about midgets and his hometown of Brooklyn. Following that was Eddie Gambino, seen on The Sopranos, who began his act with an impersonation of Rodney Dangerfield, complete with small plastic cups in his eyes.