Funny men in town for Turkey Day weekend

I can't think of a better guy to spend Thanksgiving with than Willie Barcena. OK, so maybe given a choice ...

But still, Willie is a good guy to hang with. Although he calls East Los Angeles home, Willie actually spends a majority of his time on the road. Born in Mexico (as Willie will admit, "Snuck in fair and square."), Willie used to be the morning guy on Sacramento's KSFM (102.5 FM) radio, but soon realized that getting up early every day doesn't cut it. And besides, he's happier when he's not in one place all the time.

You can say that comedy has taken Willie through myriad paths. Over the years he's amassed quite a number of impressive credits, including a dozen appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Jay even invited Willie to join a group that performed for the troops in Afghanistan soon after the war started. It's his way of connecting with people and taking them on an excursion through laughter; bringing some much needed laughter in that part of the world. Willie's philosophy is simple: know who you are and have people laugh with you.

Willie also writes on a regular basis, including a one-man show in which he also performs entitled, "Cry Like A Man." It's about the struggle of a blue-collar comic in today's society.

Like most of us in the comedy business, Willie wasn't an overnight sensation. At one time or another he worked as a security guard, plumber, roofer and limo driver before he found his calling in comedy. However, many of his best friends are those who still work in those professions, and that reflects in his comedy, giving it an 'everyman' style. He talks about everyday life that just about everyone can relate to.

He has also appeared on such television shows as "Moesha" and "The Wayans Brothers," and last year was chosen to be the host of the popular Si-Tv production "Latino Laugh Festival - The Show." He's also made multiple appearances on tours such as "Que Locos," "Latino Laugh Festival," "Montreal's Just for Laughs" and "Crown Royal Latin All Stars Comedy Explosion."



Larry Omaha is back

Appearing with Willie Barcena every night this week through Sunday is Larry Omaha, who is back at The Improv for the first time this year. And I can't think of a better person to spend the Turkey Day with. Well, that's not correct actually. Willie Barcena is better, but since it's a package deal this week I'll take Larry as well.

When you think about it, spending Thanksgiving with a true Indian (OK, Native American, if it makes some of you feel more comfortable), is unique indeed. We go way back and call each other brothers from different mothers from different races and ethnic backgrounds.

Other than we're that very similar. Larry's been doing stand up for years and one of the few comics who is a full-blooded Indian. "Cultural diversity isn't new to America," he says. "Before the Pilgrims landed, there were mountain Indians, agricultural tribes, and plains Indians. There were even Native American visionaries training to become casino operators."

Larry has toured with the "Freaks Are Everywhere Tour," and also toured with the "Pow Wow Comedy Jam" in an attempt to prove that Native Americans are funny too! Larry has made numerous appearances on Que Locos! and traveled with the "Que Locos National Comedy Tour." Larry has some great observations about cultural diversity including:

"How come several white people traveling in a car receive compliments for car pooling, but when Indians do it, 'Watch out! They're on the warpath!'?"

Larry is a regular on Comedy Central's, "The Mind of Mencia" (which is comedian Carlos Mencia's show) and "Comics Unleashed." He has also appeared on NBC's "ER" in an episode called "Untold Stories of the ER." As an actor Larry is one of those unique talents who can send a film straight to obscurity and bankrupt a studio. Seriously. In the movie "Veteran's Day," he portrayed a sadistic interrogator who burned the testicles of POWs. In "Crack Me Up," Omaha found joy in smashing a cue stick over his girlfriend's head. "How the West Was Lost" aired on PBS and gave viewers a chance to hear Larry's voice-over talents as he portrayed a cowardly soldier and Geronimo. See? This is probably why the writers' strike is still on so nobody will provide Larry with a script.

Omaha has also made numerous television appearances, among them: "Culture Clash," "Que Locos," "Latino Laugh Festival," "Comedy Compadres" and "Evening at the Improv," and he was a writer for the award winning documentary "How the West Was Lost." Larry presently resides in Los Angeles when not working the road. He will be in the new horror movie "The Blackout," which will be out in 2008. Also, in 2008, Larry promises, "For every square mile of land the white man returns to my people I promise to be 1 percent funnier than in 2007. It's a win-win proposition for America."