Las Vegas Weekly

June 30, 2010 · 1:33 PM

Brad Garrett off to a roaring start with his new comedy club

By Robin Leach

Brad Garrett, center, with Chris Phillips, Annie Duke, Angelica Bridges and Brittany Mason backstage at the Tropicana on June 29, 2010.

Photo: TVT

It was standing room only during last night’s second evening of Brad Garrett’s new Comedy Club at the new-look and revamped Tropicana, and he’s off to a sensational start with jam-packed houses. As the owner and headliner, Brad even found himself organizing extra tables and chairs to squeeze in the overflow while his opening acts, singer-pianist George Bugatti and comic Rob Sherwood, got the show underway.

“It’s a great problem to have so soon,” laughed Brad as he picked up the tab for some fans relegated to the back of the room. Backstage after the show, he greeted poker pro Annie Duke, Fantasy star Angelica Bridges, model Brittany Mason and Zowie Bowie singer Chris Phillips.

Brad told us that the Comedy Club, originally his hero Rodney Dangerfield’s Las Vegas home, was a total dream come true for him since he was 25 and first arrived on The Strip opening for Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. at the old Desert Inn (now the site of Wynn and Encore) 26 years ago. He recalled that before Frank later fired him, the singer always mixed up his name, calling him Gregg Barrett -- and never once got it correct!

His savage and slicing humor is hysterical, and be forewarned if you sit in the front rows. He’s going to pick on you with high-speed jabs that had last night’s audience roaring in nonstop laughter. No one was safe last night, including me! It’s the best four-letter funfest show I’ve seen all year -- and last. Brad is so fast on his feet tying the audience’s weaknesses, frailties and revealed secrets together that is a lambasting of pure comedic genius.

His Q&A to wrap up the night is nothing short of brilliant, spontaneous and savage sarcasm. There were fans from as far away as Ireland last night, and he spared them no mercy, either. If you’re expecting his cuddly TV persona, you are in for the most delightful shock of your life, as this roller coaster of comedy high-speeds with out-of-control outrageous humor.

Brad, who will walk Saturday’s celebrity red carpet at the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament at The Rio, headlines at his club through Sunday and returns mid-September. In between, he’ll not only have headline comics such as Kevin Nealon, Dom Irrera and Rocky LaPorte performing, but also will drop by to play host and greeter at the front door.

I asked him about his close Hollywood pals such as Ray Romano dropping by, and he assured me that they will when it doesn’t conflict with their rival hotel contract appearances.

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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