ComedyNJ.com - New Jersey Stand Up Comedy Resource

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Welcome to ComedyNJ.com, the NEW home for stand-up comedy in New Jersey. From North Jersey to South Jersey and everywhere in between, the Garden State offers premier stand-up comedy clubs, hosting some of the biggest names in comedy today. Find stand-up performances in your area with our comprehensive calendar and check back often for new interviews, articles and more.

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SNL Alum to Take the Stage in His Home State

Jim Breuer has a comedic resume that few in the business can match. Among his myriad experiences are a three year stint on Saturday Night Live, a co-starring role in the movie “Half Baked” and his most recent endeavor, a daily radio show on Sirius Radio. Add these highlights to his countless other television and movie appearances and you have a pretty stellar career in entertainment. Nevertheless, through all of these undertakings, this NJ resident has made time for his family and has continued to tour with his stand-up comedy routine, leaving audiences in hysterics all over the country. He will be performing in his home state this month with an appearance at the Borgata in Atlantic City on May 17.

Discussing his beginnings in comedy, he cites his family as his biggest source of inspiration. “I grew up in a funny family. Everyone had a great sense of humor, so I just kind of picked up on it early.” At the age of 15, he started writing down his ideas and towards the end of high school tried stand-up for the first time. “I thought I killed it, but I was a cocky kid. I thought I was the white Eddie Murphy.”

About ten years after that first time on stage, Jim took another stage for the first time. He debuted on Saturday Night Live in 1995 and became most well-known for his original character, “Goat Boy,” and his uncanny impression of actor Joe Pesci. He fondly recalls this three year period as “a great experience”. He lists Tracy Morgan, Colin Quinn and Molly Shannon as some of his favorite co-stars on the show, but maintains that all the comedians were great to work with.

However, he is quick to point out that the experience “showed me a side of Hollywood that creeped me out. It was like being allowed into an exclusive club. The public really has no clue what goes on behind the scenes. I mean, there was everything from guys calling male hookers to famous models passed out on the floor, just to name a couple examples. I would see stories in tabloids like the National Enquirer and be like ‘That really happened. I was there for that.’ Don’t get me wrong, I had a blast, but it was just a little disconcerting.” He also mentions how surreal it was “watching your favorite bands play five feet away, then smoking a joint with them after the show and hearing them tell you how funny you are.” This last activity led appropriately to his next big role, starring alongside Dave Chappelle in the stoner comedy “Half-Baked” which became an instant cult hit.

Saturday Night Live has been known as a sort of breeding ground for the up and coming stars in comedy and Jim was no exception. Since his SNL days, he has been touring the country doing stand-up and currently hosts “Jim Breuer Unleashed”, his daily show on Sirius Radio. He often incorporates his love for music in his stand-up act, creating what has been coined “heavy-metal comedy,” where he entertains audiences with covers of his favorite songs. “I’ve always been a huge fan of hard rock and heavy metal. Listening to it gives a great release of aggression. Metallica and Judas Priest are my two favorites.”

With these various entertainment ventures under his belt, Jim asserts that his favorite is actually something new he’s been working on. “I’ve been making up my own skits and acts and posting them on my website. It’s great just having total creative freedom and not worrying about what people think. I can put my kids on there or rave about the Mets and no one can tell me that I need to change it.” Speaking of his children, he considers this one of the best advantages of a career in stand-up. “The freedom to go wherever, whenever is great. I never wanted a job where I had to be in a cubicle or punch a time card. This lets me spend time with my kids and really have the freedom I want.”

And the Mets? “Everyday I rant and rave about them on the sports page of my website. This season they’re definitely going to make it to the playoffs. Johan Santana is going to get 16 wins and John Maine is going to with the Cy Young Award.”

When asked where he considers his “home” comedy venue, Jim states that anywhere in the Garden State or the tri-state area feels like home to him. However, “I don’t usually use New Jersey in my routine. I like to talk about things than anyone can relate to, no matter where they’re from.” Fans will have a chance to catch Jim on his home turf on May 17at The Borgata in Atlantic City.

For More Information, visit
www.theborgata.com or www.jimbreuer.com

New Jersey’s Bad Boy of Comedy Returns to his Home Turf for Special Appearance

Even though he currently resides in Los Angeles, Mike Marino is the epitome of New Jersey comedy. Known across the country as “New Jersey’s Bad Boy of Comedy”, he draws on his Italian heritage and North Jersey background to successfully embody the classic wise-guy attitude in his stand-up. Mike will be returning to his home state May 16th and 17th for special “Back to Bayonne" appearances at the Arts Factory Theatre in Bayonne.

Mike began his career in entertainment as an actor, but was encouraged to pursue stand-up by many people, including current manager Bob Gonzo, as they saw how funny he was. He first tried his act fifteen years ago at the Sunrise Pine Room which his cousin owned in Bayonne. The performance was part of a comedy competition in which he placed first. This is when he realized he might really have a future in stand-up. “That performance is basically the reason that the upcoming ‘Back to Bayonne’ shows are so important to me.”

His New Jersey roots are central to Mike’s stand-up routine. “Whatever state I visit, audiences love anything related to New Jersey or the wiseguy attitude. They like how New Jerseyites don’t hold back and just say what’s on our minds. That’s how I got my name, ‘New Jersey’s Bad Boy of Comedy’.”

After touring all over the country and living in Los Angeles, the Garden State is still his home turf. “I love performing in L.A. because I’m kind of an entity there. There aren’t many others like me out there. But New Jersey is definitely my home field. Vegas is another of my favorites.”

Comparing living in California to New Jersey life, he’s quick to point out the differences. “New Jersey is normal; the people are real. In California, it’s hard to know what people mean. In Jersey, it is what it is; everyone’s matter of fact.”

Mike recently released a DVD, live from Asbury Park’s Paramount Theatre, which has been highly successful. “The production company wants me to record another DVD, but we’re still trying to work out the details. I’ll be performing at the Paramount again on August 9th, so maybe we’ll tape there again as kind of a reunion show. Right now though my main focus is on the ‘Back to Bayonne’ shows.”

To prepare for a gig like this, “I study what’s going on in the area, current events, and basically just come out with as much energy as I can to try to make people laugh so hard it hurts. Coming back to Bayonne for a show like this is the greatest feeling in the world. It’s a high like nothing else. Half the people have seen me before and have paid to come back to see me, so that’s a great compliment right there. And the other half are wondering what all the hype is about and they’re excited to see me for their first time, and then once they see the show, they’re hooked.”

Besides the upcoming shows, Mike also just completed a movie with Talia Shire (Rocky, Godfather) and Vinnie Pastore (The Sopranos) titled “Pizza with Bullets”, which should be released shortly.

Preceding the Back to Bayonne appearances, the Arts Factory Theatre will be hosting a special free screening of “Crooks” on May 15th. The movie stars Mike Marino alongside Jim Norton as criminals who steal stamps from the Bayonne Post Office.

For more information on the Back to Bayonne shows or about Mike Marino, visit www.mikemarino.net or www.baypac.org.