Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Make ’Em Laugh
Zany still finding the jokes in the darkness
The good news is, it’s been a busy summer for comedian Bob Zany, even with the complete shutdown of live performances in his home base of Las Vegas. The veteran comedian has maintained his schedule of calling in to some 20 radio stations a week with his “Zany Report,” has kept his writing skills up, done a few performances here and there, and this weekend, he returns to The Grove in Lowell to kick off the comedy club’s fall season.
“It’s an interesting time,” Zany admits of navigating the world these days. “I talked to my friends in California, and one of them said, ‘Well, at least we’re safe and alive,’ while not leaving their apartment. And, you know, the question we all have to ask ourselves is, are we really alive? I mean, what is life? If life is safety, then you should never even take a bath, because a lot of people slip and fall and die in a bathtub every year. So when you talk about reality versus emotion and all that, it’s hard. That’s why I’m a comedian — I try to find the jokes in all of it.”
Everybody laughs differently and everybody mourns differently, Zany points out. And finding the humor even in dark times has always been part of his M.O.
“And boy, has it ever been bad times,” Zany states of people’s desire to laugh in both the good times and the bad times.
“I don’t think anyone has really talked about the fact that they have actually shut down live performances,” he posits. “I’ve done this over 40 years now — I started when I was 15 — and this has never happened. After 9/11, a week, tops, we didn’t do anything, but we got back to work. You know what I mean? Any performer I talk to, any comedian I talk to, we’re all in the same boat. It’s never been like this.
“And like the governor here in Nevada, I don’t think he gets it. Think about all the Vegas shows that have been shut down, and how many performers — from jugglers, dancers, singers, all these background people that work — that don’t work anymore. So that’s what you’re up against, I think: a lot of people who actually don’t know show business and what they have done to it.
“That’s why it’s good what [The Grove owner] Bill is doing,” he goes on, pointing to comedy clubs across the country that have had to close completely because of the pandemic. A lot of places “are going to be booking a lot of local acts to save money — whereas Bill’s bringing in people who are established and is going to give them a show.
“It goes back to if you’re living or if you’re not,” Zany muses before always bringing it back to a laugh as he adds, “I hope I’m not too much of a downer. Let me write a joke for you.”
As the standup show is indoors, tickets will be limited, and groups will be spaced to accommodate social distancing measures. But Zany recognizes some people may still be uncomfortable venturing out just yet to indoor entertainment. Luckily, those people can still get their comedy fix — and support Zany — by watching his new special, “I Think I Handled That Well,” filmed at Dry Bar Comedy and released in April.
“It’s completely clean, so they can gather the family around the internet to watch it. And if they like it, they can press the heart button. Do it until it hurts. But I suggest people with high cholesterol not press the button too hard.”