REVIEW Sarcastic Spade humors audience

Todd Glass, who opened for David Spade here, is a finalist on NBC's reality series 'Last Comic Standing.'
By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Comedian David Spade was his usual sarcastic self Thursday night before about 1,000 fans at Stambaugh Auditorium.
Spade, a recent addition to the cast of the ABC-TV series "8 Simple Rules," ripped into life in Los Angeles, the recent quickie wedding of actress Jennifer Lopez, Sam's Club-style shopping warehouses and rock bands that won't play their hits in concert. For some, it ended too soon. The audience got about 75 minutes of comedy from Spade and his supporting acts, Todd Glass and local comedian Tom Olsen.
Dressed slacker-style in his untucked, patterned long-sleeve shirt, two-color ball cap, dark pants and longish blond hair, Spade spent some time mumbling but more time ranting about current events.
After noting the legal troubles of pro basketball player Kobe Bryant, who is on trial and charged with raping a woman in Colorado, Spade joked that he won't let Bryant's problems dissuade him from having sex with strangers. Some people laughed, while others groaned.
"No, it's not the llama from 'The Emperor's New Groove' tonight," Spade added, referring to the G-rated Disney animated movie of 2000 to which he contributed a character's voice.
Sarcastic ways
Sarcasm has been Spade's calling card ever since he was a regular on NBC's late-night program "Saturday Night Live" a decade ago. It's a form of humor that produces plenty of smiles and chuckles, but not as many belly laughs.
Highlights from his Thursday night show:
UComments on watching adult videos in his hotel room and mocking the titles of some well-known movies such as "Patch Adams," "Schindler's List" and "Total Recall";
UEnvying the Cambodian boy who was adopted by actress Angelina Jolie;
UComparing the U.S. military's capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to an episode of "Cops in Tikrit";
ULearning which Australian animals are cute but dangerous and which are harmless;
URipping into bands that are too morose or too busy promoting their new albums to pay proper homage to their hits. That's why Spade says he likes REO Speedwagon and chews out rock bands such as R.E.M. ("Make me shiny and happy for $100 a ticket," he said, referring to R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" song).
If you don't recognize the name Todd Glass, perhaps you've seen him this season on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" series. He made it to the final 10, which means sharing a house with your competition as one contestant is sent home each week.
Glass is the guy with the rubbery face who compares his appearance to cross-breeding by actor Mel Gibson and cartoon character Fred Flintstone. He struck a chord with the audience when he suggested that they go to an exercise gym, strap on Rollerblades and stand on the Stairmaster machine.
shaulis@vindy.com