Special Event Comics

Bobby Collins
August 14-16

The first thing a fly on the wall at a Bobby Collins show would notice is that half the audience is reciting parts of Bobby’s act from memory. Fans for years, these folks have seen him on TV and live before. Many of the “newbies” are there because they’ve heard him on satellite radio or have been exposed to the tremendous word of mouth that sells out his shows or have been given his CDs by a member of his enthusiastic fan base. They are longing to see him in person and in action. . . and action is what they get.
Bobby is a storyteller. His heartfelt humor engages audiences with a hilarious blend of characterizations and spot on observations to which everyone can relate. Unlike many comedians, who rely solely upon the clever use of words and ideas to engage an audience, from the moment Bobby hits the stage, he lassoes the crowd and pulls them ever closer to him while they cry from laughter. Even the hardcore “I usually don’t laugh at comedian” types, cannot help but surrender to his energy and visual antics targeted directly at tickling their funny bones. It also doesn’t hurt that Bobby is more eye candy than Quasimoto.
Bobby is a force of nature. Funny is funny and Bobby is funny. Bobby shows people themselves. He holds up a mirror to each of us and helps us not to take ourselves so seriously.
Bobby is the kind of guy you’d love to have as your friend, the guy you’d want to have on your team because you know Bobby would “cover your back.” He’s equally at home standing in the Rose Garden at the White House, golfing with Joe Montana and other NFL greats, shooting an impromptu episode of Airline while traveling on Southwest and kibbutzing with the tellers at the bank.
Not everyone has charisma. Not everyone leaves you better off than they found you. Bobby has “it” and gives “it” to you.
Early in his career Bobby accepted the baton from Rosie O’Donnell when she left VH-1’s Stand Up Spotlight. With several cable comedy specials to his credit, Bobby has toured with Cher, Julio Iglesias (to whom Bobby offers competition only with the ladies, not as a singing sensation), Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett, to name only a few.
Topping Bobby’s first comedy CD “On the Inside”, his second and third CDs “Out of Bounds” and “I Wanna Go Home” were submitted for Grammy consideration. With live stage performances, feature film roles and talk show appearances too numerous to mention, there is no excuse for anyone to leave the planet without having benefited from exposure to Bobby’s brand of “Laughter as the Best Medicine”.
“The most natural comedian working today”.
New York Times
“Simply one of the best comics in the country”.
USA Today
“Bobby brings the party whenever he appears. The XM audience has made him one of their most requested artists.”
XM Satellite Radio
“Bobby Collins elicits a mixture of heavy applause and genuine laughter even before he gets all the way to the microphone. With Collins, listening is only half the fun, the other half is watching him augment a story as he contorts his face, waves his hands, and twists his torso.”
Variety
“On stage he takes over. No two ways about it. Even if you come in a bad mood he’s gonna get you. He’s bold and brash and bigger than life, with personality plus. His bravado gets you hooked and his genuine warmth and charm keeps you hooked. He’s funny all the time.”
Philadelphia Inquirer
“All the right moves, Bobby Collins is learning is how to keep his star rising and standards high.”
LA Times
Alonzo Bodden
August 28-31

Even before appearing on “Last Comic Standing”, Alonzo Bodden knew there was nothing, absolutely nothing that would ever make him give up comedy. “That’s the drug,” he says “when they laugh it’s like I’m a jazz musician and they hear it, and they get it. It’s power to take the crowd wherever I want them to go. I love it when they laugh, especially when they relate through laughter. It’s a beautiful thing. It also means I’m going to get paid, which is nice.”
Alonzo didn’t always make his living as a stand up comic. A graduate of Aviation High School, for nine years he earned a paycheck as a jet mechanic for Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas. While comics around the country were making audiences laugh at airline jokes, he was working on the top secret Stealth Bomber. It was during a stint as trainer that Alonzo discovered his ability to entertain a group of people. “I was teaching airplane mechanics when I realized it was more fun to make them laugh,” he explains, “I was laid off one more time and I never looked back, although it was nice to have a steady paycheck and benefits.” Alonzo enrolled in a comedy class and the rest as they say, is comedy history.
After placing as runner-up on Season 2 of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” he came back strong in Season 3 to take the grand prize. In 2007, he went on to become a series regular judge on Season 5 of the show. His movie roles include parts in “Scary Movie 4,” “Bringing Down the House” and “The Girl Next Door.” On television, he has played a bouncer/crook/security guard/cop on “Angel,” “Grounded for Life,” and “Profiler.” He is currently a regular field correspondent on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Alonzo describes his material as “cynically good natured in an angry suburban Negro kind of way.” While he strongly believes that all young comics should study Bill Cosby, he freely admits that his mom is the funniest person he knows. When his family and friends attend his shows he loves and appreciates it.
One of the great things about Alonzo’s career is that he can make you laugh and fix your Learjet. One day, he hopes to have his own Learjet.
Rocky Laporte
September 4-7
Anniversary Special Event

The Former Chicago truck Driver and dock worker started his standup career in The windy City back in 1988. After winning some local comedy competitions Rocky went on to win The Johnnie Walker National Comedy Competition beating out over 1100 contestants in 10 cities! He then went on to do numerous Television shows like Cheers, Pat Sajak, Comic Strip Live , a C.B.S Pilot titled "The Rocky Laporte Show" and His very own half hour special on Comedy Central.
Doing The "Tonight Show" "Only16 years of sweat and toil, But who keeps track of that kind of stuff?" Says Rocky in a recent interview. He mentions that he's most proud of the fact that he was voted one of the funniest guys in his class at a Recent G.E.D. reunion.
Rocky Named Comedy Club Comedian of the Year!
At the Las Vegas Comedy Festival Rocky received the "Best Male Club Comedian of the Year " presented by George Wallace and Andy Kindler. 40 of the top comedy clubs around the country were polled for their favorite male and female comedians. Recently Rocky also found out that his "Just For Laughs" set that he performed at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival hosted by the legendary Carl Reiner was being showed on Air Canada flights. Rocky responded by saying " Man, I'm having a good week !"
With a busy schedule of Corporate work and Touring all Major cities, Rocky's become a favorite everywhere in the country. Even going overseas last fall to entertain our Men and women in bases all over Iraq.
Today Rocky is one of the most sought after comedians in the country. His clean observations and take on life have made him a favorite in all the top comedy clubs, corporate events and television shows. Rocky's likeability and every-man style gives him an unparalleled universal appeal that any audience can enjoy and relate to.
Rocky's opened for the likes of, Louie Anderson, Garry Shandling, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, Hootie and the Blowfish and the Righteous Brothers just to name a few. Hes done an enormous amount of charity work also. For St Jude's for Children, N.F.L. Charities, Homeless shelters, cancer research and Police and Fire Dept fundraisers.
John Pinette
September 25-28

When asked to describe his stand-up, John Pinette said, “I talk about my life, it is the funniest thing I can think of. For some reason, people enjoy seeing me lose my cherub like demeanor”.
Fresh off the Broadway Musical “Hair Spray” " as Edna Turnblad, John Pinette has been entertaining audiences around the world in a variety of ways for over fifteen years, but it is making people laugh that John enjoys most of all. He was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by the American Comedy Awards in 1999 and has received a Gemini Award nomination for his superb televised performance at The Montreal Comedy Festival in 2000.
Born just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, John has always had a gift for making people laugh. When he learned that he could actually make a living for doing so, John left behind his life as an accountant and began his comedy career. It wasn’t long before he was touring comedy clubs around the country. Shortly thereafter, John got his big break when he was asked to tour with Frank Sinatra. Since then he has become a regular guest on The Tonight Show and The View.
John has also enjoyed a long acting career in both television and film. Duets, starring Gwenyth Paltrow, Dear God, starring Greg Kinnear, and Junior, starring Arnold Schwarzeneger are just a few of John’s film credits. He was a series regular on the hit series Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, and starred as the car-jack victim in the final episode of Seinfeld. John will be seen in the summer of 2004 as the lovable ‘Mr. Bumpo’ in Artisan Entertainment’s The Punisher starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta.
John’s first comedy CD, Show Me The Buffet, was an enormous success. A follow-up CD/DVD, I Say ‘Nay Nay’, is due out in the Spring of 2004.
Rich Vos and Bonnie Mcfarland
Oct. 2-3

Rich Vos is an incredibly gifted comic who not only has sharp, insightful material, but he is also a master at working the crowd. His ability to perform in front of any audience has landed him television shows as varied as being the first white comic on Def Jam to performing on the View. Rich was the breakout star of NBC's Last Comic Standing seasons 1 and 3, was a regular guest on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and wrote for Chris Rock when he hosted The Academy Awards in 2005. He also played Lenny Bruce on NBC's American Dreams and is a regular on the Opie and Anthony radio show. He has one of the highest rated half hour specials on comedy central and his DVD just sold over 40 copies.

Bonnie McFarlane was featured on "Last Comic Standing" which led to her first appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." She has also appeared on "The Drew Carey Show," "Premium Blend" and "Late Night with David Letterman."
3 Blonde Moms
See How They Run
October 7-8

These are the really "Desperate Housewives" you’re looking for!
From the movie Jerry McGuire, her hit one woman show Raging Beau, guest starring roles on sitcoms and more, there's the hysterical, physical comedy of shows whacky and Southern, Beaumont Bacon. Perky Stepford Wife wanna-be, Joanie Fagan, played Faith on The Drew Carey Show, can be seen in several movies including Angels in the Outfield, Race to Space, dozens of commercials, and more. Also seen in dozens of commercials is Helen Keaney, the shows sassy and beautiful "Married to a Felon" Mom, who has hosted many shows on The Style Network, E!, TLC, and much, much more.
Beaumont, Joanie & Helen have many Theatre credits, as well, and all 3 Moms have long standup comedy resumes including numerous Comedy Central appearances, Evening at the Improvs on A & E, Girls Night Out on Lifetime, and so on. They have also toured nationally and performed in clubs, colleges, & casino's, for over a decade.
This top-notch, high-energy, semi-scripted PG 13 standup comedy show is jam packed full of hysterical material about being a Mom, having a Mom, kids, schools, husbands, in-laws and more. If you have a family, know a family, or want a family, this is the show for you!
The live stage performance includes a 4 1/2 minute audio visual opening displaying 3 very special, distinct, and unique persona's with 3 diverse lives, who are unlikely friends in the Cul 'd Sac.
3 Blonde Moms resume includes performing at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal to four sold out audiences at Theatre Gesu, in 2005, and this show has been selling out Theatres all over the country, ever since.
This past year, Suave came on board and made 3 Blonde Moms part of their "put beauty back on your to-do-list" campaign.. They have been seen on E! and CMT, heard on XM radio, and much much more.

Jake Johannsen
October 16-19
Sweetest Day Weekend

With a subtle and intelligent comedic style, Jake Johannsen is quickly becoming one of the most respected comedians for his ability to give the most common element new meaning. Not many comedians will devote six minutes to a single subject, especially one as seemingly mundane as a toaster or as strange as his conviction that extraterrestrials are working among us.
Jake was nominated as "Best Male Stand-Up Comedian" for the 1994 American Comedy Awards. His bizarre take on life has prompted critics to observe that he "conjures up some of the strangest imagery this side of Gary Larsen's comic strip, The Far Side."
He starred in his own HBO Comedy Special titled "This'll Take About an Hour," which premiered to rave reviews. People Magazine's 1992 year end issue listed "This'll Take About An Hour" as one of the Ten Best Television Shows, putting Jake in the same company as "The Tonight Show." Jake also received an Ace Award nomination for best writing in an Entertainment Special for his work on "This'll Take About An Hour." Jake is a regular on David Letterman with over forty appearances and he has been on "The Tonight Show" more than ten times.
Other television credits include "HBO Young Comedian's Special" and public television's "Comedy Tonight" series. He hosted Comedy Central's "Two Drink Minimum" and has appeared more than thirty times on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Jake was seen in the Robert Altman produced, Alan Rudolph ("Choose Me") feature film "Mrs. Parker & the Vicious Circle", distributed by Fine Line Features which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews. Jake had a costarring role in a cast that included Mathew Broderick, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Campbell Scott.
Man vs. machine, extraterrestrials and relationships are just some of the eclectic themes that Jake reflects upon. If anything is his trademark, according to Johannsen it is his longer, convoluted stories. "I'm talking about things that everybody can relate to and I think I have my own idea of where the problem is. I don't feel I make them deliberately bizarre."
Born in Iowa City, Jake attended Iowa State University in Ames in the early 1980s as a veterinarian major, later changing to chemical engineering. "I started college when the emphasis was on learning something that would get you a job." After three years in college Johannsen decided to leave the safe confines of Iowa and relocate to San Francisco to be part of the burgeoning comedy scene with such upstarts as Dana Carvey and Bobcat Goldthwait.
Shortly after his west coast arrival, Jake made his comedic debut at San Francisco's Cobbs Comedy Club during an open mike night. In 1986, he won the 11th Annual San Francisco Stand Up Comedian Competition. Jake also appeared in the "HBO Young Comedians Special" and on public television's "Comedy Tonight" series. In addition, Jake hosted Comedy Central's "Two Drink Minimum," a half hour series that showcased the freshest faces in stand-up comedy.
Johannsen has established himself as one of the country's most prominent comedians and continues to headline across the country.
Josh Blue
November 13-16
Josh Blue Since winning Season 4 of NBC Last Comic Standing, Josh Blue has emerged as one of the hottest comedians in the country, performing to wildly appreciative sold-out crowds on a non-stop cross-country tour.
JOSH BLUE has been a fast-rising star since first appearing on Comedy Central MIND OF MENCIA before gaining the attention and endearment of the country as a favorite and eventual overall winner on NBC LAST COMIC STANDING. Josh is a diverse and triumphant individual - hilarious stand-up comedian, stand-out guest star on television, talented artist, and stellar U.S. PARALYMPIC SOCCER player refusing to bow to any of the challenges that come from living with Cerebral Palsy. Blue jokes, realize that people are going to stare so I want to give them something to stare at.
Josh uses his incredible sense of humor and likeability to defy stereotypes and encourage others to overcome their preconceived notions about people who are considered disabled. His unique brand of everse teasing affords him the great joy of bumbling condescending people.
Josh stand-out performances at the 2004 Las Vegas Comedy Festival earned him $10,000 as Grand Prize Winner of the Royal Flush Comedy Competition. In 2006 Josh became the first stand-up to perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, an incredible honor, especially considering what a fan he is. He also received a Relly Award for Best Winning Reality Show Guest on Live with Regis and Kelley. From comedy clubs and theatre engagements to college campuses and corporate events, wherever he takes the stage Josh elicits an overwhelming crowd response. His uncanny ability to improvise with any audience coupled with comedic timing rarely found in a performer of his age has enabled him to rapidly develop a loyal fan base across the country. His rise is perhaps best described by a club owner following a recent show when he exclaimed: Josh is rolling like a ROCK STAR!
Finis Henderson
November 16-19

Being part of Finis Henderson's audience is equivalent to being invited to a reunion of not only some of the entertainment industry's greatest legends but, also those who have made a lasting impression in today's modern musical circle! You'll rock to the rhythm of Eminem, InSync, Outkast, and Ricky Martin, swoon to the unforgettable Barry White; and, then reminisce with Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, BeeGee's, The Beatles, James Brown, Willie and Julio, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Beach Boys, Rick James and none other than Mr. Ray Charles himself! As the night progresses, you may experience the affection between Kermit and Miss Piggy, laugh with Pee Wee Herman and meet the likes of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Michael Jordan and Homer Simpson to name a few! So many voices, so little time. The sound is theirs....The voice is pure Finis!
It was only natural that Finis would go into show business. His father was a successful song and dance man and one time Vice-President of Sammy Davis, Jr. Enterprises. Being exposed to that kind of talent and encouragement, he followed up with formal training at the Chicago School of the Arts and Columbia College. In his early days Finis was a member of two Chicago singing groups, entertaining audiences all over the city. "First," he says, "I joined the Chicago Community Music Foundation. Then several members of that group got together, and we formed the Weapons of Peace." That group eventually recorded an album on the Playboy label. In 1980, he moved to Los Angeles, where he formed an alliance with Al McKay, former rhythm guitarist/composer of the supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire. He worked with McKay for several years and started doing comedy at night.
He says that every comedian hopes to be discovered on some magical occasion, and that breakthrough occurred for him in 1981 when he took to the stage at the famed Comedy Store in West Hollywood on Audition Night. "It was a star-studded night with people like Sally Field and Richard Pryor in the audience. After a bit of clowning around, to my amazement, Richard Pryor comes on stage. Then Robin Williams comes on stage. We do an improv together, and that's the first night of many nights things happened like that." Soon afterwards, celebrities started coming to the Comedy Store to see Henderson perform, and, on a night he will never forget, he got a special telephone call from Pryor's office, "Richard wants you to be his opening act for the filming of "Live On Sunset." This opened the door for opportunities of association with many other great superstars His growing popularity led to a recording contract with Motown Records. "I was with Motown from 1983-85," he says. "They brought me in like gangbusters, but I was there when the company was going through turmoil. There were personnel changes, and they were moving into motion pictures. My first album sold well." Henderson performed in the films Wired and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. His television credits include performances on 227, Bustin' Loose, Dance Fever and Nashville Now. He was featured in the ABC-TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream as the emcee at the Apollo Theater.
Finis currently headlines all over the world in major comedy venues, casinos and on cruise ships. There is something about Finis Henderson’s performance that makes him stand out from every other musical impressionist in the business; His obvious passion for entertaining uniquely combines with his elegant style and limitless talent. Finis delivers a clean, fun and thoroughly entertaining show. The marvelous gift he was given is now his gift to us.....polished to perfection! When magicians refer to Houdini, they call him the "Master of Magic". We will say the same of modern day impressionists when they refer to Finis Henderson as the "Master of Voices". Truly unique in name, truly God-given talent, truly an entertainer's entertainer! Ladies and Gentlemen, he's truly the Finis!
Truly unique in name, truly God-given talent, truly an entertainer's entertainer!
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