Comedian’s audiences star in his shows

Maricopans will get the chance to laugh this Sunday when comedian Brian Bradley comes to the Comedy Spot Satellite Room at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort Casino.

Many will remember Bradley from a brief cameo he did on an episode of Seinfeld when George and Jerry wrote a pilot for a show about nothing.

During that episode Bradley had to play a guy who gets into a car accident with Jerry and has no insurance, so he has to serve as Jerry’s butler to get him to forgive the incident. “It is amazing how many people remember me from that small role,” Bradley said.

However, those 60 seconds of fame are not the only success Bradley has had in his career.

Born in Philadelphia, he attended college in Florida where he received a degree in theater. “It was a complete waste of time; anyone who wants to be an actor or comedian should just head straight to New York or Los Angeles,” Bradley said. That is what the aspiring comedian did.

After earning his degree, he headed to L.A. and got a job waiting tables. He continued to work the restaurant scene, picking up jobs in commercials here and there until one day he decided he no longer needed to wait tables and could commit full time to his comedic career.

He fine-tuned his skills in the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, working with the Comedy Store Players improv group, which regularly featured Robin Williams, Martin Short and Betty Thomas.

“Many comedians are pompous and believe they can make anyone laugh, but when people like Robin Williams and Martin Short tell you that you are funny, that is the ultimate compliment,” Bradley said.

Bradley took his success from the clubs in the California area and parlayed that into a career for the next 15 years, touring around the nation. “At that time there were a lot of comedy clubs springing up around the nation, and it was easy to find work,” Bradley said.

However, he eventually landed a job performing as D.J. Vince Fontaine, a role he originated, in the 1994 revival of “Grease,” creating Broadway’s first half-hour ‘pre-show.’

“It was the funniest time of my career,” Bradley said of the four years he worked on Broadway.

After he left the Broadway act, Bradley spent the next eight years in Orlando, performing as part of Disney’s Pleasure Island Comedy Troupe. Despite the show’s family-oriented nature, Bradley is able to go from ‘Corporate Clean’ to ‘Late Night Dirty’ in the flip of a switch.

Combining a blend of improvisation and stand-up comedy sets, Bradley stands apart from standard monologists. Whether he’s using audience members in an improvised murder mystery, fashion show, hypnosis act or a blues song, the audience is always the star of the show.

His unique brand of humor is not rehearsed in front of a mirror. “I modify my act to fit the audience,” Bradley said.

If you go:

What: Brian Bradley Comedy Show
When: Sunday, Jan.18 at 5 p.m.
Where: Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort, 15406 N. Maricopa Road
Cost: Free

Submitted photo