She’s back and what better way to thaw out the recent snowfall than an evening with Thea Vidale?

Be forewarned: she can be a bit sassy and very salty with the language. Vidale’s success can be attributed to a standup act that is anything but mild.

Her substantial physical presence can only underscore her raw, confrontational depiction of American culture. Yet audiences from Houston to Europe and from the Caribbean to Australia are drawn to Vidale because a warmth and honesty pervades her hard-edged material. She really is a sweetheart.

If her name sounds familiar that’s because you might remember her from her sitcom on ABC TV called “Thea” for which she was nominated for a People’s Choice Award as “Favorite Female In A New Series.” Thea portrayed Thea Turrell, a widowed mother of four who works in a Houston supermarket by day and runs a one-chair beauty salon on the corner of her porch in the evenings. The show’s appeal was centered in her heart-warming portrayal of a no-nonsense mother shepherding her children through their formative years.

Television has been Thea’s best exposure by the way reaching millions from her appearances on other programs such as “Ellen,” “The Wayans Bros.,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “My Wife and Kids,” “Ugly Betty.” She starred in Master P’s comedy movie “Repo’s.” But, as mentioned earlier it was her portrayal of “Thea” that garnered her at that time the most attention and recognition. But let’s not forget it was comedy that introduced Thea to the masses way back when starting in clubs across the country.

Thea appeared last year on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” making it to the second round and has starred in numerous cable specials including “Def Comedy Jam,” “Comedy from the Danger Zone,” “A Pair of Jokers” and “Comedy’s Dirtiest Dozen.”

I worked with him last in the Bay Area way back in the last century! OK, so maybe it was more like 15 years ago, but I am so jazzed to have him up here for the very first time since our last encounter. Stephen B. is a clean, high-energy comedian with more than 28 years experience performing for night clubs, corporate events and even in churches. His act is current, poignant, silly and outrageously funny. Stephen B. proves that comedy doesn’t have to be salacious or dirty to be hysterically funny which will be an interesting contrast to the in-your-face Thea Vidale! A little bit of something for everybody.

Stephen B.’s influences include Bill Cosby, Groucho Marx, Monty Python and George Carlin ” so you sort of get an idea of where his comedy comes from. He’s been all over the tube including Comedy Central, America’s Funniest People and tons of late night talk shows. He hails from the Bay Area and was far along in his career before I ever picked up a microphone. His style is taken from real-life experiences and observations that is truly entertaining to watch as his act unfolds. He’s been a finalist in both the San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition as well as the Seattle Stand-Up Comedy Competition.

It’s really long overdue having Stephen B. up here. This is one week I really am going to enjoy. I think you will, too.