{"id":4754,"date":"2010-03-15T08:57:17","date_gmt":"2010-03-15T13:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=4754"},"modified":"2016-12-16T19:44:06","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T01:44:06","slug":"laugh-it-up-at-las-vegas-hotels-with-top-comedy-acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2010\/03\/laugh-it-up-at-las-vegas-hotels-with-top-comedy-acts\/","title":{"rendered":"Laugh it up at Las Vegas hotels with top comedy acts"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/em><\/em>

David Spade (Photo: Hard Rock Hotel)<\/p><\/div>\n

By E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

With audiences from around the country and even the world, Las Vegas hotels<\/a> have always been a great home for comics, who can play here more regularly than perhaps anywhere else in the world. A recent set by John Stewart at the Mirage<\/a> reminded us just how great stand-up comedy can be, making you see everything and everyone around you in a different light, smiling at the absurdities of life, and even laughing a bit at ourselves. If you’re planning a Las Vegas vacation<\/a>, or just looking for a good laugh, here’s a roundup of current and upcoming shows.<\/p>\n

David Spade, Venetian<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You know him from Saturday Night Live, Just Shoot Me, or movies like Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt, but returning to his stand-up roots, a (slightly) more maturing Spade riffs casually about relationships, growing older, Vegas absurdities and (of course) Hollywood. Good stuff.<\/p>\n

Jay Leno, Mirage<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the huge Tonight Show era, it\u2019s hard to remember that Leno was first one of our most consistent — and often edgy-stand up comedians. Leno\u2019s topics are typical — Tiger Woods, politicians, terrorists, airlines, fancy pet food, health care, obesity, religion, the economy — but his delivery and viewpoints are both so sharp that he\u2019s nearly as on point as John Stewart. His material no doubt ranges from jokes he just thought up on the way into town to ones he\u2019s probably been playing for decades. \u201cIsn\u2019t it obvious God has a major problem with Malibu?\u201d he says. And on our supersized fast food: \u201cWhen did meat become a condiment for other meat?\u201d Consummate pro. (Upcoming dates: April 2-3, April 23-24, May 14-15)<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/strong><\/strong>

Terry Fator (Photo: MGM\/Mirage)<\/p><\/div>\n

Terry Fator, Mirage<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a slick talk show-style stage, hip DJ and tight band, the America\u2019s Got Talent winner is as on-the-money as possible. In this Las Vegas hotel show, Fator has added new puppet characters (like a Cougar and a Beatle) to his already solid cast, and more stunning musical voices like James Blunt and Brooks & Dunn. Approaching conservatives and liberals, old and young alike, Fator simply represents Vegas entertainment at its best. Who ever thought ventriloquism would be hot?<\/p>\n

Don Rickles, Orleans<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like seeing a \u201clegend\u201d who\u2019s still got it, and Rickles — one of the last standing \u201cgolden era\u201d Vegas names — qualifies in both respects. Though a little slower physically, the original audience-insult comic still zings in one-liners about his wife, current events, Jewishness, and whatever else crosses his mind. Comedians come in all shapes and sizes, but not a one working today hasn\u2019t been influenced by Mr. Warmth.<\/p>\n

Gordie Brown, Golden Nugget<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Considering his many talents — singer, dancer, impressionist — it seems almost shortsighted to put Brown in a category with comedians. But humor is his main objective, and Gordie delivers laughs without fail. Imagine Robin Williams or Jim Carrey taking Mad Magazine and turning it into a R-rated musical. It can start with a Bruce Springsteen satire followed by dead-on imitations of Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Forrest Gump, Paul Simon, Randy Travis, Elton John, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Billy Ray Cyrus, Barney the dinosaur \u2026 and that\u2019s just in the first ten minutes!<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/strong><\/strong>

Carrot Top (Photo: Hew Burney)<\/p><\/div>\n

Carrot Top, Luxor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m only proud of about half the stuff you\u2019ll see in the show,\u201d CT warns us after his first relentless barrage of one-liners and prop gags about Vegas, current events, celebrities, clich\u00e9s, and himself. With seven trunks of stuff on stage, Carrot Top is never without a joke, but is also willing to make fun of himself when something falls flat. Once mistaken for a Carrot Top impersonator, he himself says \u201cIsn\u2019t one enough?\u201d The booze he serves up midway isn\u2019t the only thing that kills brain cells — but you\u2019ll laugh in spite of yourself.<\/p>\n

Vinnie Favorito, Flamingo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bastard child of Don Rickles and Dean Martin, Boston tough guy Favorito is the perfect Las Vegas hotel lounge comic, making sure he picks on everyone equally, and talking as dirty as he dares (especially when married couples and their parents are present). He makes fun of easily half the entire audience, and is seemingly never at a loss for a put down, with one exception: \u201cEven I don\u2019t mess with postal workers.\u201d
\n
\nGeorge Wallace, Flamingo<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have an act,\u201d Wallace tells his jovial cross-generational, multi-racial audience halfway through his performance. That may not be entirely true, but what Wallace does have is a big sense of humor about all things Vegas, politics and everyday life. He likes to list \u201cPeople who need they a** kicked\u201d and get to know the audience (sometimes those are one in the same), but he does have his one-liners: \u201cMy school was so small, we had driver\u2019s ed and sex ed in the same car.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rita Rudner, Harrah\u2019s<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The lone resident comedienne on the Strip, Rudner holds her own in her classic deadpan style, warming the audience with one-liners about shopping, motherhood, marriage, politics and of course, Vegas. She\u2019s never been excessively biting, but that doesn\u2019t mean she isn\u2019t entertaining — and one of the few who can make you laugh while staying \u201cclean.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Las<\/strong><\/strong>

Andrew "Dice" Clay (Photo: Riviera)<\/p><\/div>\n

Andrew “Dice” Clay, Las Vegas Hilton<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Married or not, Clay has certainly not mellowed with age, warning his Las Vegas hotel audience about to be attacked that \u201cthere are people who leave my show feeling worse than when they came in — it\u2019s what I have to do to please everybody else.\u201d Throwing in some penchant impersonations, Clay combines fearless racial and explicit sexual humor, often warning the crowd \u201cDon\u2019t laugh at that, because that would make you as sick as me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank Caliendo, Monte Carlo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You know Caliendo from MAD TV and Fox\u2019s NFL Sundays — he\u2019s the guy who does uncanny impersonations of presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Charles Barkley, John Madden, Yoda and more: when he mixes them into bizarre scenarios he\u2019s at his best, though critics have tweaked him for lacking much new material.<\/p>\n

Louie Anderson, Excalibur<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Relatively bargain-priced, Family Feud and Life With Louie vet Anderson tells warm jokes about growing up, pokes fun at himself (aging, eating) and Vegas, improv\u2019s with the audience \u2026 and does it all clean.<\/p>\n

Todd Paul\/ Dirty Joke Show, Hooters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Working the illustrious Hooters \u201cNight Owl\u201d showroom when Men of X or Purple Reign don\u2019t have it, Todd Paul is a bit of a one-man variety show, mixing juggling, magic and even a little music with his jokes. Later in the evening, Paul has introduced a new (old) concept, the Dirty Jokes show: using the premise of a post-show backstage alley get together with fellow comics (Geechy Guy and Mickey Joseph) to tell each other the filthiest jokes they can conjur. It\u2019s as raw and real as Vegas gets — at least until former \u201cNight Owl\u201d resident Bobby Slayton comes back.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming headliner shows include: Ray Romano and Kevin James April 16-17 (Mirage), Joan Rivers April 8-10 and April 15-17 (Venetian), Ron White April 9-10 (Mirage), Steven Wright April 10-11 (Orleans), Dennis Miller April 16-18 (Orleans), Jerry Seinfeld April30 – May1 (Caesars<\/a>), Lewis Black May (Mirage), Tracey Morgan June 5 (Hard Rock Hotel<\/a>)<\/p>\n

More Vegas comedy:<\/p>\n