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Lake Tahoe comedy scene with Howie Nave: Breuer at Harrahs, Cooper at Improv and Barkley in Carson

Howie Nave
Special to Lake Tahoe Action

The last time I spoke with comedian Jim Breuer he was happy that there still was enough of a demand to warrant him being able to tour successfully across the country.

This time out Breuer’s halfway through his very successful tour, “Jim Breuer: Live and Let Laugh” that brings him to the South Shore Room at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe this Saturday night.

When we chatted this time out (after talking of course about comedians we liked and have performed with), the conversation delved into the serious side of life.



When I asked if he has ever gone off script and into unknown territory, and then the audience overwhelmingly responded with a “we’re with you” moment, he said in an animated voice, “Yeah, and it was great!”

When I told him please tell me you recorded that show he said, “Oh yeah and some of that may be ending up on a future project.”



Breuer first rose to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 1998.

When a cast member creates a character and it goes viral on SNL it solidifies you in the viewer’s sub-conscience as “that guy.”

Breuer’s character, “Goat Boy” became an instant hit as did the role of Glen Henderson, the elder brother to Chris Kattan’s Todd Henderson from the “Goat Talk” skits. From there, Breuer guest starred on “Home Improvement,” which gave way to the short-lived sitcom, “Buddies.”

I remember seeing Breuer on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend spots in addition to his own specials on that network. Oh, and who can forget him starring in the 1998 cult stoner comedy classic, “Half Baked,” alongside Dave Chappelle.

And get this, Breuer had a radio career as the sit-in comedian on the Opie and Anthony Show for many years and “Breuer Bits” were often played whenever the show was on hiatus and appeared on The Howard Stern show doing his impression of Joe Pesci for the entirety of the show (with the exception of the news).

Breuer also launched a podcast called, “The Podcast Masters” with fellow comedian Pete Correale that’s both funny and informative.

Speaking of podcasts, if you’d like to hear more of my chat with Breuer go to Howie’s High Sierra Comedy Vault Podcast @Howienave.com.

Check him out this Saturday. You won’t be disappointed.

Cooper headlines this weekend at Improv

Alycia Cooper will be performing through Sunday over at The Improv inside Harveys.

It’s fun when you see a rising star on television and then get to work with them on stage. It was NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” where I first saw her and she first gained national exposure.

Cooper has so many credits, including being on “America’s Got Talent,” “The Mo’Nique Show,” “The Ricki Lake Show,” “Wanda Does It,” “Gossip Queens,” “Nick’s Mom’s Night Out,” “Stand Up & Deliver,” “Stand Up in Stilettos” and “Poz Roz” (in the role of Michelle).

Cooper’s films include “Headshop,” “Do Not Be Deceived” and “Spiderman 3.”

She taped her first DVD in 2002 for a Christian Comedy Show called, “The Spirit of Comedy” and since then has taped two hour-long DVD’s (directed and produced by herself) called “Paper Chasin’,” “Stimulus Package” and “Alycia: Unchained.” Cooper’s film credits include acting in three independent films. She’s a member of SAG, after having been on “Grounded for Life,” “The Parker’s” and “Raising Hope.” Cooper was featured in Essence Magazine as “One To Watch.”

She also has impressive online credits that include a YouTube channel, “Alycia Cooper,” CDs available on iTunes, playing the role of Officer Jones in the Apple TV show, “Are You Sleeping” (executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Octavia Spencer) and playing the role of Aunt Dee in the first Facebook sitcom, “Loosely, Exactly Nicole.”

She has entertained troops in Japan, Korea, Guam, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Djibouti.

The Improv at Harveys takes place Wednesdays through Sundays at 9 p.m. Learn more at http://www.harveystahoe.com.

Barkley leads the laughs at Carson Comedy Club

Just down the way in Carson City is veteran “Chicago” Steve Barkley, star of stage and screen and a high energy comedian who brings an array of accents along with some amazing sound effects and a twisted sense of humor to his presentation.

I think we first met back when living in the Bay Area at Rooster T. Feathers in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Barkley has traversed the country more times than he’d like to remember and has written and performed in award-winning television and radio commercials in both the Bay Area and Monterey where I believe he has called home for quite a number of years.

He was a $10,000 winner on “America’s Funniest People” and has also appeared on Showtime’s “Comedy Club Network,” A&E’s “Evening at the Improv” and ABC’s “Foul Ups, Bleeps and Blunders.”

Barkley is the voice of truth with comedy as the conduit getting you to the good stuff. I didn’t know he had opened for so many name acts either. Some of those include Greg Allman, Ray Charles, David Crosby, The Doobie Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock, George Jones, Gladys Knight, Kenny Loggins, Keb Mo, Maria Muldaur, Smokey Robinson, Leon Russell, Neil Young and many more. He has also shared the bill with comics Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopie Goldberg, Gary Shandling, Kevin Pollak, Dana Carvey, Will Durst and Jay Leno.

Shows at the Carson Comedy Club inside the Carson Nugget start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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