Bob Zany

In 1977, at the tender age of fifteen, the native Southern Californian appeared on the infamous Gong Show. Halfway through his stand-up routine, which he read from a piece of paper, he was pulled off the stage by a man dressed like a nun wielding a net. Eleven years later, he made a triumphant return as a celebrity judge. This marked the first of over 100 appearances on national television.

In 1981, while attending Mt. San Antonio College, he applied for a job as a newscaster at the campus radio station but was turned down. Later that year, he auditioned for the owner of The Ice House in Pasadena. The audition took place in the middle of the afternoon in a club that seats 300. From the only occupied chair came the voice of the owner, "You're not ready". Zany looked around the empty showroom and said "Neither is your club!" Undaunted, he talked the owner into letting him produce his own show so he could have the stage time, and for the owner, an audience. The result was The Bob Zany Show featuring such newcomers as Garry Shandling, Yakov Smirnoff, Robert Wuhl, Kevin Nealon, and Nia Peeples. After one show, Bob was approached by Frazier Smith, the host of a top-rated radio show on KLOS/LA. After a short time doing guest spots on Frazier's show, Zany was hired by KLOS as a personality with his own show on Saturday mornings.

Zany's stage persona has evolved over the years, but the dramatic weight loss in 1991 caused the need for a major overhaul...along with the 175-lbs, he lost 30 minutes of his act. He spent the following year doing late night spots at Hollywood clubs, trying to "reinvent" himself. The result is the cigar-smoking, audience-interactive crowd favorite Bob Zany we know and love today. He is married to comedienne/actress Erin O'Connor, and they live in Los Angeles with their three dogs and three cats.

Opening Act: Zan

While working as a road comic in the Midwest, Zan won a radio contest and the prize was to open for Chonda Pierce, the Queen of Clean. The “one minute joke” paid off big and turned into an eighteen month national tour. This Cinderella story took her from comedy clubs to playing theatres, arenas and churches all over the country, culminating on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry during the taping of “This Ain’t Prettyville.”

Zan holds a Master of Fine Arts in theatre from UCSD in La Jolla. All of her material is clean, autobiographical and funny. The only complaint that audiences ever have is that they want more Zan!

Along with performing for colleges and churches all over America, Zan has performed at The Comic Strip, Gotham, Crackers, McCurdy’s, Coconuts, The Comedy Caravan, Mason City Limits, Snickers, Goonies, Wiley’s., Jr’s Last Laugh, Loonees, Go Bananas, Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, Loony Bins in Wichita and Little Rock, and The Grand Ole Opry.

For tickets and additional information call 618.307.1750.