The first weekend of the fall is upon us, and comedian Chuck Booms is reflecting on his busy summer:
– His Comedy Central series “Comics on Delivery” was a winner for the network. The show, which Booms created, had several comics helping people in need, like one guy who needed a bachelor party planned for him.
Booms, Kevin Meaney, Max Alexander and other comics appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s and Jerry Springer’s talk shows for special segments on “C.O.D.,” which Booms says Winfrey declared as “her favorite new show.” Booms says Oprah’s fave will return sometime this fall.
– Booms hosted a sports talk show for a Washington, D.C., radio station. “I really enjoyed that,” the 34-year-old said, “because I’m a sports freak.” He’s hoping that maybe the show, which he did with a co-host, can become a regular gig.
“I made it what they didn’t have at that station,” he says, “which was both entertaining and sports oriented.”
– Booms made his fifth straight appearance on Jerry Lewis’ telethon to combat muscular dystrophy, as well as handing Lewis a $500 check. “Jerry, of course, always says incredibly nice things about me,” says Booms, who celebrates 10 years in the funny business in March.
– “It’s really been a huge summer of a lot of appearances and a lot of television,” says Booms. In addition to a heavy touring schedule, including dates in Las Vegas, he headlined “Comic Cabana,” a standup series on Comedy Central; made four appearances on that network’s comedy game show “Make Me Laugh”; and did a sit-down on ABC’s “Politically Incorrect.” Booms says he is scheduled for another date on Bill Maher’s show in November.
Booms, who appears Friday and Saturday at Zanies’ Mt. Prospect comedy club (2200 S. Elmhurst Rd.; call 847-228-6166 for show times and reservations), notes the fall may be as eventful as the summer.
The comic couldn’t give any details, but he was to take a meeting earlier this week for “a major, major thing . . . I can only tell you that there are extremely big players involved.” Booms did allow that one of them is a “president of a network.”
If someone is talking a sitcom with Booms, maybe he could hip them to an idea he has with good buddy Springer. Booms envisions a show where they play father and son, with Springer being the liberal and Booms the conservative. “You have the `All in the Family’-esque kind of thing,” he said, “only in reverse.”
Booms, who laughs when saying he and Springer enjoy a “hard-drinkin’ ” relationship, calls the controversial talk show host a “great entertainer,” and came to his defense when asked about his take on the row at WMAQ-Ch. 5, where Springer did commentaries in May to the disgust of then-principal anchors Ron Magers and Carol Marin, both of whom eventually resigned.
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“All I can say is that Jerry Springer did political commentary before (in his previous career as a television news anchor). He does commentary at the end of his show, even though he does have goofball guests. And he’s certainly somebody who’s intelligent.
“And I think that (Marin) became way too uppity. And if these supposed wink-wink journalists want to be so uppity about their journalistic quality, I suggest they first try and rid themselves of their own liberal slant in the media before they worry about Jerry Springer.”
Meanwhile, Booms says Springer may come out and do a few shows with him, something the two did some months back at Zanies’ downtown location. Springer did some material before bringing Booms to the stage, “killing” the audience with zingers like: “I don’t really like cocaine. I just like the smell of it.”
Genius.
The standup lineup
Here’s where the action is this weekend and next week. Current sets are scheduled to run through Saturday; all new acts begin on Thursday unless otherwise noted. Lineups are subject to change.
– Delivering some smooth laughs this weekend is J.B. Smooth at All Jokes Aside, 1000 S. Wabash Ave. Call 312-922-0577 for show times and reservations. And on Wednesday, All Jokes plays host to Midtown Spice, a monthly showcase of comedy, music, dance, sketches and other entertainment presented by Y.B.M. Entertainment. As always on Wednesdays, the host is Chicago favorite Damon Williams.
– Saturday is your last chance to see “Things to Do With Bob Denver When He’s Dead,” two-dozen sketches and musical numbers focusing on frivolous lawsuits, political correctness, zealotry and mimes. The title refers to a song in the show that suggests exactly what it suggests. If you’re feeling daring, travel out to Foltos’ Tonsorial Parlor in Batavia; call 630-896-9422 for more details.
– Paul Kelly, one of the area’s most durable, and certifiably wacky, comedians, is headlining the Wednesday night comedy jamboree at the Copacabana, 12340 S. Cicero Ave., Alsip; call 708-385-1388.