Las Vegas Weekly

June 9, 2010 · 12:47 PM

Brad Garrett on his new gig: ‘I’ll need those tips after leaving The Mirage’

By Robin Leach

Isabella Quella and Brad Garrett at the Keep Memory Alive 14th Annual Power of Love Gala at the Bellagio on Feb. 27, 2010.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

After weeks of rumors, comedian Brad Garrett officially confirmed this morning that he’s opening his own Comedy Club at the new-look Tropicana. Minutes later, he told me: “It means that I’ve had to give up my run at The Mirage. That was tough to do after working 15 years for MGM. They have been incredible. They gave me my first job in Las Vegas 20 years ago, but I just couldn’t dance in two places at the same time. It all worked out great.”

Brad will be the first star to headline his new club June 28 through July 4. He will showcase a never-ending lineup of established standup stars to hot young comics waiting to be discovered. Brad told me that he’ll make regular appearances onstage and greet patrons at the door.

“I’ll need those tips after leaving The Mirage,” he joked with me. “This is really exciting. After 30 years of being on the road, I’m excited to be a club owner. It was always a dream of mine to own my own comedy club in the Entertainment Capital of the World -- and Dubai wouldn’t have me anyway. I am humbled to be able to bring my standup friends to what I believe will be the best comedy room in Vegas.”

Photo: Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

Actor Brad Garrett plays in the $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament in the starting days of the 40th Annual World Series of Poker at The Rio.

He’s already signed Kevin Nealon, Dom Irrera and Rocky LaPorte to appear in the club. Brad added: “It’s going to be old school entertainment -- what the lounges used to be in Vegas. The room itself has a great history -- it used to be Rodney Dangerfield’s room, so we’re going to have that older vibe complete with a piano player who will bring up each comedian.

“I’m going to be very hands on. There’s a huge group of veteran comics and newcomers I can bring to Vegas. I plan two headliners every night, and Casey Cousins, who will be our pianist and emcee, will play along with jazz and other live music both before and after the shows and in between the acts. It’s an ambience and structure that simply doesn’t exist anymore in Las Vegas.”

Brad, who is a big supporter of our Keep Memory Alive galas for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health here, was only 23 when he made his first appearance on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show, making him one of the youngest comedians to ever perform on the program. He went on to appear on TV shows including Roseanne, Mad About You and Seinfeld and is best known for his role as Ray Romano’s brother on Everybody Loves Raymond. His voice has been featured in Night at the Museum, A Bug’s Life, Casper, Finding Nemo and as Gusteau in Ratatouille.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Brad Garrett and Larry Ruvo at the Keep Memory Alive 14th Annual Power of Love Gala at the Bellagio on Feb. 27, 2010.

The Tropicana is currently undergoing a major transformation with South Beach-inspired changes. In addition to the new world’s-largest Nikki Beach pool club debuting there next spring now comes Brad’s comedy club.

“I really wanted to be at the Trop. It has such a history. It really was one of the original Vegas hotels, and we’re going to have that vibe all over again,” Brad summed up.

Our Senior Editor John Katsilometes reported about Brad and the Trop this morning, as well, in his The Kats Report.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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