LM, Episode 1157, 2/17/23, Heckler

Today’s Laughter Matters has language not suitable for children, so you may want to listen to it when the little ones aren’t around.

The President got heckled last week at the State of the Union Address. I know the hecklers are quite proud of themselves and there have been plenty of jokes about them on Social Media.

When I first started doing comedy, someone told me a heckler will never win because I have a microphone, I think quickly on my feet, and I’m sober. Although I don’t get heckled often,it has proven true. What I get are people in the crowd wanting to talk to me or commenting on a joke. Although it is not meant to be, it is disruptive and, in the past 20 years, I have developed a sixth sense. I can feel when someone is about to talk, so I go right into my next line, even if it does step on some laughter.

The worst heckle I encountered was one night in a comedy club when I was working on what has become one of my favorite bits, one I call Oak or PIne? It is about me not being handy with tools, but my wife, Twyla, is. Halfway through the bit, some guy yells, “You’re a pussy.”

I immediately say, “Sir, I’ll be with you in a minute,” which is like putting him in time out so he can think about what he has done. I am seething as I continue with the remaining two minutes of the bit. When I finish, I look in the heckler’s direction and say, “Okay Chatty Cathy, you have something you want to talk with me about?’

It is obvious that his wife or girlfriend has told him to shut up because there is silence.

I continue, “Come on, you were a big man yelling at me a few minutes ago, now’s your chance.”

Silence.

I go, “Now who’s the pussy,” which brought the room down. It was at least a minute of wall to wall laughs before I could continue.

If you’d like to heckle me, come to the Kenosha Comedy Club tonight and tomorrow night at 8 pm. Have a great weekend and always remember laughter matters.