Comics Sheridan and Rivera make their debut at Harveys

Wow, I can’t believe we’re actually having Rondell Sheridan up here. This will be his first time up here, and yet I feel as if I already know him.

Sheridan is an extended part of many American families: He played the father on the Nickelodeon series “Cousin Skeeter” (as Bobby’s father, Andre) then Raven Simone’s dad on the Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven,” and “Cory in the House,” where Sheridan is part uncle, part baby-sitter and big part funniest adult friend.

Rondell started his acting career back ‘83, when he starred in the movie “Deadtime Stories” as the loony bin guard. He later created the show “Minor Adjustments” and also starred as Dr. Ron Aimes. That show has the dubious distinction as the first and only show to premiere on one network (NBC) then to be sold and air on a second (UPN) during the same season. He also starred in “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” in 2000 and “The Test” in 2001, but it was Nickelodeon that really gave him worldwide acclaim.

Rondell will be a breath of already fresh air up here in Tahoe. I’m sure audiences will enjoy a somewhat wholesome act, blending his ever-changing physicality and facial expressions. As his résumé says, he has his approach to standup involves “continually shifting comedic gears and personas.”

“I’ve always just gravitated toward storytelling, and with the early inspiration of such comedic storytellers as Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Bill Cosby, I knew that I had made the right choice, and I always wanted an occupation that made sense for me,” Sheridan says.

Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Sheridan attended Marquette University in Milwaukee as an interpersonal communications major with a minor in advertising. Soon after, he attended the prestigious New York acting school Circle in the Square, then moved on to perform in repertory work, regional theater and off-Broadway.

He was a regular on the club circuit and appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jay and with Johnny. That alone is pretty cool. He also appeared on “ Keenen Ivory Wayans’ show and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in addition to starring in cable specials for both Showtime and Comedy Central.

I’m looking forward to his presence up here. And ladies, if you’re taking notes, he’s a Leo.

Rivera: rocket science and salsa

And what’s this? Yet another first timer to the lake? Yes, Shayla Rivera will make her debut up here as well in addition to Sheridan.

Shayla hadn’t planned on being a comedian. She was never a high school play. In fact all that Shayla wanted to be was an astronaut.

Born in Puerto Rico, the strong-willed Rivera attended Texas A&M University, where she earned a degree in aerospace engineering and then worked on NASA’s space shuttle and space station programs at Johnson Space Center in Houston. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering she didn’t speak the language.

“You try to learn English in Texas, and you’re going to find out how funny you are,” Rivera says. “Everyone laughed at me.”

Rivera had anticipated NASA as being at the leading edge of technology. Instead, she says, “It was more like K-Mart with lots of pocket protectors.”

Rivera left to pursue her interest in psychology and became a motivational speaker. She worked extensively as a corporate trainer, holding seminars on stress management. It was while she was conducting seminars that Rivera discovered her comedic skills. Rivera signed up for a weekend class on standup comedy and performed a five-minute routine at the end.

“I knew I’d found what I was looking for,” Rivera recalls.

Rivera co-wrote her one-woman stage show, “Rocket Science and Salsa: The Shayla Rivera Story,” along with Michael Ajakwe Jr., with actor-choreographer Debbie Allen on board as director.

Rivera is one of the hottest new comics on the scene. She can now look back at her past and see how far she has come.

“NASA and I had to part ways when they refused to let me to put St. Christopher on the shuttle’s dashboard,” she says.