Comics deliver 1-2-3 punch at Improv

The spirit of George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield lives on with Dennis Blair.
This week’s headliner at The Improv inside Harveys Resort and Casino was Carlin’s exclusive opening act for nearly two decades and toured with Dangerfield for three years.

When we heard about Carlin’s death, a lot of us in the comedy world were stunned and shocked. Then we asked one another, “What’s Blair going to do now?” As cruel as that sounds (yeah, I called him, too, I admit) it really does cross your mind when you think about how much of your living is tied into that of another.

But Dennis has been a headlining comedian in his own right for years. His act combines music, standup and topical observations.

Dennis has performed virtually everywhere: comedy clubs, corporate venues, cruise ships and concert halls from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

On television, Dennis has appeared on “The Tonight Show,” HBO and co-hosted Stephanie Miller’s radio show with comedy legend Elayne Boosler. Dennis has appeared with everybody from comedians Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason and, of course, Dangerfield to musical artists such as the Beach Boys, Tom Jones and Gloria Estefan.

Dangerfield gave him his start, taking him in as his protégé. Dennis conceived and co-wrote Rodney’s hit movie “Easy Money” and also played two cameo roles. He co-wrote and appeared in two Dangerfield specials on ABC, and was creative consultant for the album “Rappin’ Rodney. The title song (which he co-wrote) was a Grammy Award nominee. He wrote and performed the song “Ordinary Man,” which appears on the “Easy Money” soundtrack album. And he won the “Charlie” (Chaplin) Award for Best Comedian in New York.

Blair has received his fair share of accolades in the press: Liz Smith from the New York Daily News said, “This guy will soon be a household face and name.” Randolph Hogan of The New York Times wrote, “It wouldn’t be fair to call him an impressionist, because he’s more than that. He’s a parodist and a satirist and a singer … well, there’s no word to describe him.”

The best compliments, though, have come from fellow comics. Boosler called Dennis “the funniest man in the world,” while Rivers said, “Dennis should be writing and starring in movies. He’s got a great, crooked sense of humor. There’s a lot of Woody Allen in Dennis.” Dangerfield said, “He has the fastest comedy mind of anyone I ever met.”

The best quote though comes from Carlin, who said he’s the “only person who can make me belly-laugh.”

Comedy runs in multitasker’s family

It’s all about how you use your time. As much as I consider myself a non-morning person, I have found that with a little coffee (OK, a lot, actually) and a microphone before the sun rises, you can make a low-paying radio gig a positive.

Where else does one get to scan all the news outlets at 5:30 a.m. and then see which stories might be fodder for the stage and on air? Paid research: That’s what makes it worthwhile.

Same with comedian Don Barnhart, who is putting the finishing touches on his one-man show based on “The DeEvolution of Man,” his successful standup bit.
When he’s on the road, he uses his spare time for writing for other projects.
His second feature film, “Freeloader” (which he wrote, directed and stars in,) will be out early next year. He’s also the creator and host of the new syndicated television “The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show” which is quite timely this year.

Barnhart is from an entertainment-oriented family. It was Don Barnhart Sr. who introduced his son to comedy while hanging out on the set of “Mork & Mindy,” where his father was directing Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters.

Don Jr. appeared in several episodes that called for a mischievous kid, so who needed to find someone to cast him when dad was right there? After graduating from high school and looking for work Don went down to the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, where he first worked as the doorman, before moving up to manager, talent coordinator and finally master of ceremonies. That’s where he really honed his craft.

Performing as an opening act for Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Robin Williams, Dennis Miller, Jim Carrey, Drew Carey, Dana Carvey, Louie Anderson, George Wallace, Tim Allen and many more, Don had the best teachers anywhere. Some of those guys even wrote some bits for Don and encouraged him to take his act on the road.
In 1987, Don left to pursue standup full time, and he’s worked nonstop ever since. Don has amassed a list of television credentials including “An Evening At The Improv,” “Friday Nights” on NBC, MTV’s half-hour comedy show and “Star Search.”

I enjoyed his stint on the Sci-Fi Channel when he played Capt. Zigaroff in the series “Genesis Wars.” Don also has written, directed and starred in several comedy videos and feature films. His first independent movie, “China Dolls” has been a favorite on the film festival circuit, and he has performed overseas in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan for the USO as part of the “Comics on Duty” tour.