TOM RHODES

World traveler and comedian Tom Rhodes returns to Tahoe for a third installment — as he never stays in this country very long. He will perform this week with Rick D’Elia.

Tom has been all over the world and briefly stayed in Europe — only because he had his own television show in Holland. His travels were chronicled in his podcast, called “Tom Rhodes Radio.” During that time he also released CDs and DVDs (my favorites being “Rhode Scholar” and “Built for Joy”).

He also made regular appearances on Comedy Central’s “Two Drink Minimum,” which eventually moved him into his own comedy specials and caught the attention of network executives. From there he landed his own sitcom, “Mr. Rhodes,” as he was already becoming a well-established act in Los Angeles. Even though the sitcom only lasted a season , it was damn funny — with Tom playing a long-haired rebel of an English teacher at this stuffy private school for rich kids. I wish it had lasted longer because I was really getting into it.

After the sitcom was canceled, Tom moved to New York City and focused all of his energy strictly on stand-up comedy. He was a regular at the famous Gotham Comedy Club, The Comic Strip, Caroline’s, The Comedy Cellar and Stand Up New York. Now he’s back up here in our neck of the woods as summer is in full swing.

Due to all his world-travel, Tom appeared at the Aspen Arts Festival and also killed it at the Montreal International Comedy Festival in Canada. As mentioned earlier, Tom additionally had his own television show on Dutch Yorin Television’s “Kevin Masters Show starring Tom Rhodes.” Along with venues in the United States, Rhodes performed in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, Bali, London, Berlin, Munich, Zurich, Lausanne, Vancouver, Stockholm, Sydney, Melbourne, Basel, Geneva, Copenhagen, Toronto, Honolulu and now Lake Tahoe.

RICK D’ELIA

Comedian Rick D’Elia sent me a text recently that said he was almost ready to announce the release of his documentary, “One Minute Comic: The Rob Sampson Story,” chronicling the rise of this incredible stand-up performer whose entire set lasts only one minute. I can’t wait to see the finished project in part because Yours Truly has a small part in it. A film credit!

A diehard Red Sox fan, Rick also co-authored a book with Andy Wasif entitled, “How to Talk to a Yankee Fan” (available now in paperback), which New Yorkers won’t appreciate (but have to admit it’s a funny read).

Rick was a regular sketch performer on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and his keen take on observational humor led him to the finals in the 2000 San Francisco Comedy Competition. He’s appeared on “Stand-up Stand-up,” “America’s Talking,” “Grand Slam Comedy Jam,” “The Naked Truth” and “Inside the Extra’s Studio.”

When not doing comedy on stage in front of an audience, Rick does a lot of stuff off stage, such as producing, writing and even directing shows both locally and nationally. He’s been involved with three stand-up specials on Showtime: “Going Native” (2009), “Green Collar Comedy Slam” (2010) and “The Godfathers of Comedy (2011).” Rick is also the director, writer, and co-host of the “Half Hour Happy Hour,” which is a late night comedy show on the CW Network in northern Nevada and California.

With both Tom and Rick on the South Shore, it’s a great week of comedy during the American Century Championships.

Howie Nave is the MC at the Improv at Harveys. The comedy club is inside Harveys Lake Tahoe. Shows begin at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and tickets are $25 plus fees, except Saturdays. Tickets are $30 on Saturdays. The Improv is dark on Mondays and Tuesdays. Must be 21 or older to attend. More information is available by calling 775-586-6266.