Stand-up comedy duo: Pair of comics featured on “Bob & Tom” at Shady’s Friday

Two comedians that millions of people hear each week will be in Jamestown Friday doing what they do best — making people laugh.

Bob Zany and Costaki Economopoulos are regulars on the syndicated “Bob & Tom” radio show.

Zany just capped off 15 years doing the “Zany Report” every Tuesday, which is his take on news reports. For example: “A new study has found a dog can understand 250 words, beating out the cast of ‘Jersey Shore’ by three,” the comedian said during a phone interview Tuesday.

Zany has been in comedy since 1977 when at the age of 15 he appeared on “The Gong Show.”

Since then he has appeared on national television hundreds of times and most recently on the silver screen in “The Informant” with Matt Damon. His next film is “23 Minutes to Sunrise,” with Eric Roberts and Nia Peeples.

Zany, however, has never had his own hour- or half-hour long comedy special on national TV, even though he spends 45 weeks a year on the road. This is the focus of the 2010 documentary “Close But No Cigar: Bob Zany,” which also takes a look at his success with other comedians.

“I’m fortunate enough in the sense that I can make comedians laugh and audiences laugh, and that’s a very rare quality,” Zany said.

He has done charity work in Grand Forks in the past, and “Close But No Cigar” will be screened on Nov. 17 at the Fire Hall Theater in Grand Forks. More details were not immediately available.

Zany will be joined by Costaki Economopoulos, who literally has the biggest name in comedy.

Known for his “Economonologue” on “Bob & Tom,” Economopoulos’s routine has evolved into making fun of the NFL.

“Michael Vick described his dog as ‘a member of our family.’ Which means at some point that puppy is going to be asked to take the rap for a felony,” he said during a phone interview.

Economopoulos, who holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, has stepped away from jokes about politics.

“People in a bar setting don’t really want to hear about politics, and even the ones that do, half of them hate you for taking a position on something,” he said.

Both comedians said “Bob & Tom” has served as a nice mix of adolescent humor and intellectual humor to help their routines.

Shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday at Shady’s Restaurant and Lounge are for those 18 years old and up.

Both said the show will have some adult themes.

“Bob Zany and I are both grown up and we’re going to be having adult beverages. I’d say it’s a grown up show but it’s not filthy,” Economopoulos said. “… We’re grown up, talking about relationships and things that didn’t go well. He’s getting a divorce, I got a child that lives across the street from me. We’re covering those subjects and we’re covering adult themes.”

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. They are available at krvxcom

edy.brownpapertickets.com, at 1-800-838-3006, and at the KRVX 103.1 The Raven, 2625 Eighth Ave. SW, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: diversions, performances