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East Coast flavor this week at Harveys Improv

Howie Nave
This is what radio looks like when it's silent. Howie Nave, left, and Nick Griffin listen to the clock tick after they finished using all of their material.
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Nick Griffin’s back and not a moment too soon.

The star at the Tahoe Improv through Sunday, Sept. 25, just finished doing his seventh “Letterman” appearance in addition to appearances on “Conan O’Brien” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and his own half-hour special on Comedy Central.

This is one of the few places that Nick loves to perform, in part because of the peace and tranquility and also because he feels safe up here. Yeah, I know that sounds melodramatic, but then again you have to know Nick to understand. His insights on life tend to be a bit cynical and a little depressing at first but then you find yourself laughing hysterically – even if Nick isn’t.



Nick’s comedy is appreciated not just here but overseas as well. He’s performed at comedy festivals in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Nick also is adept as a screenwriter who has written and/or co-authored numerous scripts with fellow comedian-screenwriter Mike Ferrucci. The two of them have written primarily in the horror and sci-fi genre with a sarcastic tone. When not napping during his off time, he keeps an online journal, and it’s the best way to gauge his career (and his health). My favorite entry of his: “Things have been OK lately, which is huge for me, because I always expect the worst.”

It’s fun having two East Coasters this week, and also having John DiResta back twice in one year.



John has had some uncanny timing breaks happen his way. In 1998 John’s sitcom, “DiResta,” launched on the UPN network. After that he went on to secure very big roles in the movies “Miss Congeniality” with Sandra Bullock and “15 Minutes” with Robert De Niro.

During that period, John made two very memorable appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and on The Howard Stern Show.

In 2004, John’s show “Trash to Cash” premiered on the FX Network. John then went on to star in “How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days” and “Miss Congeniality Two.”

In 2007 John began work on his next two TV adventures: “American Body Shop” was on Comedy Central for one year, and “Hammered” lasted two seasons on the HGTV/DIY Networks.

You always hear about comics starting out but rarely what gig it was they left in order to make a career out of standup. Well, John used to be a New York City Transit cop. Yes! A transit cop!


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