Don Friesen at the Tropicana Laugh Factory

Headlining this coming week at the Laugh Factory, located on the mezzanine level of the Tropicana Hotel Las Vegas is one of the nicest guys, who incidentally works clean, on the road today, Don Friesen. He will be sharing the stage with fan favorite, Brian Scolaro, and the lovely Erin O’Connor. Showtimes are 8:30 and 10:30 nightly.

Don Friesen

Friesen’s kids think he’s fun. His wife thinks he’s an idiot. Audiences think he’s hilarious!  Don is a modern suburban dad just trying to raise his kids and get through the day with a bit of money in the bank and a scrap of dignity intact. With a unique style that can best be described as frenetic and engaging, Don captures the irony of parenting, marriage and everyday absurdities through characters, voices, parodies and some of the best written routines around. He’s a wanna-be geek who constantly upgrades to the latest technology, but can never get it to work, leading to signature bits about tech support, Idiots Guides, texting and passwords.

Friesen has recently taken his smart, savvy, and highly-caffeinated comedy to the stage at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA, for the taping of his new Showtime one-hour special titled “Ask Your Mom.” In his first nationally released concert special, Don delivers a winning hour of clever, true-to-life “he’s talking about my family up there” comedy that manages to be adult-smart yet family-friendly. Don is a relatively “clean” performer who uses self-deprecating humor to lampoon his life as a suburban husband and father.

Don Friesen

In 1999, Friesen won the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition. In 2005, he returned to the competition with different material and took first place again, becoming the only person to win the competition twice. His first win led to a performance on the Martin Short Show, where, immediately after his set, he was asked to change his shirt and tape a second performance in front of the same audience. The second set aired a month later. Friesen has also appeared on Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed. His episode was tapped for the syndicated program’s compilation “Best of Comics Unleashed” DVD.

Friesen’s stand-up performance DVD/CD “Inexplicable,” was taped at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, CA, and released independently. Indie-Music.com reviewed the DVD, saying, “Friesen, to put it simply, nails it. Not a single obscenity or lewd rant and he still connects.” The Serious Comedy Site called Friesen’s debut CD “Almost absolutely brilliant

His early professional acting career was highlighted by three Wendy’s commercials and a guest role on Sidney Lumet’s “100 Centre St.”

In 2001, writer Steve Koren, famous for writing on Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld saw Brian Scolaro at the end of a 12-hour video tape collage of actors auditioning for his NBC pilot Everything but the Girl with Tiffani Amber Thiessen and insisted that NBC fly Scolaro in for a test. He was hired as a regular cast member for the role of love sick, overly sensitive “Doug“. Later Lester Lewis (The Office) became interested in his ability, and Brian immediately moved to Hollywood to be a regular cast member on the second season of NBC’s Three Sisters as the bartender named Gordon.

Brian Scolaro

From 2008 to 2018, Scolaro has had a recurring character of the sad sack, forgetful, Doug, on the first season of TBS’s Sullivan and Son, played numerous characters on HBO’s The Life and Times of Tim, did stand-up on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Conan, and appeared on a slew of television shows including Mad Men, Showtime’s Shameless, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s A Million Little Things, and Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, to name a few of the dozens of character parts he’s played.

Comedian/Writer/Actress Erin O’Connor told her first joke for money in San Francisco 28 years ago and became addicted. She abandoned her career as an Advertising Copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather and hit the road. Her travels as a road comic took her to 41 states and eight countries: Japan, Korea, Germany, England, Denmark, Scotland and Canada. As an actress, some of Erin’s favorite jobs included a recurring role on “In Living Color,” a pilot co-starring her comedy idols Fred Willard and Martin Mull, as well as a quick but memorable flash as the “Crazy Cat Lady” in Green Day’s award-winning music video, Time of Your Life. Erin and her husband, comedian Bob Zany, host The Bob Zany Show with Erin O’Connor podcast.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

Monster Jam

This. Is. Monster Jam™. The most action-packed motorsports experience for families in the world today is bringing the inaugural Monster Jam All-Star Challenge™ to Las Vegas and to the Sam Boyd Stadium, 7000 East Russell Road.  This premiere event will pit Team Ice against Team Fire in a two-day event featuring talent-filled rosters of twelve athletes per team.  Led by Team Ice captain Scott Buetow and Team Fire captain Tom Meents, individual drivers will score points throughout four competitions to crown both Individual and Team Champions.  Friday will feature a unique racecourse never seen in Las Vegas Monster Jam competition.  After racing, competitors will be challenged by the new “Best Trick” competition.  Saturday will feature the teams lining up in head-to-head racing utilizing a different course featuring the return of Thunder Alley.  After racing, drivers will each have an opportunity to score points with a two-minute Freestyle.  Single and two-day tickets are available for this FIRST-EVER event at Sam Boyd Stadium on October 11-12, 2019 at  UNLVtickets.com.

Monster Jam

Monster Jam® drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motor sports action seen around the world. The  All-Star Challenge is a two-day event with 2-day and individual day ticket options available.  Fans also have the opportunity to get up close and personal to the trucks and drivers by purchasing a Pit Party pass that allows them early access to the event for photo opportunities and autographs. Pit party is from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. with the competition starting at 7:00 p.m. both days.

 

Rob Garrett

Celebrated Neil Diamond tribute artist Rob Garrett will bring timeless hits to Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel’s One Six Sky Lounge on Friday, November 15. Known as the “King of Diamonds,” Neil Diamond tribute performer Garrett began singing and playing the guitar at the age of 13. In 1974, his parents moved him from New York City to Las Vegas where he later formed the group Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven, performing oldies and classic rock hits at various Las Vegas entertainment venues.  Garrett went on to pursue a career as a musical impersonator in 1994, paying tribute to the legendary, multi-talented artist Neil Diamond. The tribute performer continues to impress fans with his remarkable recreations of Neil Diamond’s classic hits, including “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Love on the Rocks,” and “Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good).” As one of the most popular Neil Diamond tribute performers, Garrett has received several awards for his outstanding tribute shows, including being the first tribute artist to receive the Tribute Artist of the Year Award by the Entertainment Consumers Exchange in 2013.

Showtime is 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000; online at  www.EastsideCannery.com; or in-person at all Boyd Gaming box offices throughout the valley.

 

To help celebrate the Vegas Golden Knights home opening game on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is hosting a free viewing party, open to all ages, in the Plaza Events Center, which has 18 large screen high definition televisions, two projectors and a state-of-the-art sound system, making it one of the best sports viewing experiences downtown. Guests can toast the Knights with an exclusive $4 12 oz. Training Day draft beer from 7Five Brewing, Ryan Reeves’ Official Vegas Born Beer (while supplies last). A special $2 Irish Whiskey Shot will also be available with any draft beer purchase. The party will also offer pizza and wing specials from Pop Up Pizza and beer buckets: Domestic (5 bottles for $25) or Imported (5 bottles for $30).  Throughout the game, the Plaza will giveaway official VGK licensed Items, such as lanyards, car gear, hats, bags, VGK wine, and select inaugural season Items. One lucky guest will also have a chance to win a 2-night complimentary stay in one of the Plaza’s newly renovated premium Luxe rooms (restrictions may apply). Each guest will receive one complimentary drawing ticket upon entry for a chance to win prizes (21 years of age or older for certain items). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

 

Well, gang, that’s about it for this week.

I’m outa here!

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