Laughter filled the air at The Youth Center’s 3rd Annual Comedy Night at the American Legion Post 716 on Friday evening in Los Alamitos. More than 40 people came to the fundraiser put on by The Comedy Machine, a professional comedy troupe who performed for the non-profit for a fun evening of clean, clever and hilarious belly laughter.
Comics appearing included Andy Kern, Mel Kohl, Tymon Shipp and the memorable David Deeble. “It’s the best show I’ve ever seen,” said Hans Lumme, husband to The Youth Center Executive Director, Lina Lumme.
The Comedy Machine out of Long Beach performs for non-profits, the military, casinos, corporate events and colleges around the United States. They were founded by Kern nine years ago. “We want to entertain with a lot of melodious laughter without offending anyone,” said Kern. “I like doing this for charity and wanted people to come and have a good time.”
The evening began with a guitar performance by Todd Vansooi of Rossmoor performing a ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s medally and Blue Grass rendition with Youth Center board member Karen Frankenberg on violin. Kern then opened with jokes about how if women want to look younger they should get braces instead of Botox. He also joked about being pulled over for a DUI after going to the dentist, having a hard time doing the field sobriety test because he was under the influence of nitrous oxide. Kern was then followed by comedian Mel Kohl who joked about how it’s easier to be pulled over for a traffic ticket in Mexico, as you can pay the fine on the spot in whatever amount you have in your pocket.
Comic Tymon Shipp, who has been doing standup comedy for 23 years and works for Los Angeles County Probation Department at Juvenile Hall, joked about how young people think it’s cool to be stupid and wonder why it’s hard to get a job. But on a more serious note and in light of the Santa Monica shooting rampage, tornadoes in Oklahoma and Boston Marathon bombings he said, “Any time you can help people (through comedy), it’s a wonderful time for the community to come together to support each other financially and spiritually.”
Last but not least was comic David Deeble of Long Beach who has performed for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Last Comic Standing and in an opening act for Ray Romano at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach. He grew up in El Dorado Estates in Long Beach and said, “I love doing comedy for charity and have a geographic connection to the kids of Los Alamitos.”
Deeble had the entire audience laughing with his “face juggling” act and Richard Nixon impression while he held two ping pong balls in his mouth. He then held four ping pong balls in his mouth and strategically spit them out at Youth Center Executive Director, Lina Lume. Deeble also rolled a watermelon off his back and hooked it with a pronged hoe between his legs. He also joked how he went clothes shopping in Los Alamitos but that there wasn’t a Baby Gap shop in the entire city since he wears small sizes. The entire audience including Deeble’s parents watched and laughed as he proficiently juggled a “motorized” plunger, machete and baton followed by juggling empty plastic grocery bags. He then ate a flaming marshmallow, balancing it on a clothes hanger on his head and catching it in his mouth.
At the evening’s end, The Youth Center held an opportunity drawing with prizes for local restaurants, boutiques, tickets to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, delectable delights, two golf clubs and $25 gift certificate to Roger Dunn golf pro shop. There also was a “50/50” drawing where one lucky winner received half of the drawing earnings and The Youth Center received the other half.
For more information on The Comedy Machine, please call Andy Kern at 562-961-8495 or visit online at www.comedymachine.com. For more information about David Deeble’s upcoming southern California performances, visit www.daviddeeble.com.