PETE GEORGE Childhood supplied comic his material

An electric guitar is part of the act.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
Pete George was misunderstood as a child.
An overabundance of energy, anxiety and creativity mistakenly landed him in the learning disabled class at Valley Forge High School in Parma, Ohio, for three years.
But he didn't get mad. Why should he? It all made for very good material for the comedian-actor-musician who will be at the Funny Farm comedy clubs in Boardman and Liberty for six shows Friday, Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17.
"I dealt with it," said George. "I said, 'how can I use this to benefit my career?'"
It's his ability to see the world through the eyes of an adolescent that allows him to connect with his audiences, and has made him such a favorite in the Mahoning Valley.
He doesn't shy away from his learning-disabled classroom days: "I'll tell a clever joke about me being stupid."
What makes George's show different is it has a theme. "It all goes back to my adolescent outlook. It's politically incorrect, but when you say it with innocence and humor, you get away with it."
Unique prop
That's not all that makes his performance unique. A typical show sees him doing about 20 minutes of stand-up before he breaks out his electric guitar. "I might be the only comedian who uses an electric guitar -- with special sound effects. I'll do about 25 minutes of music, maybe a heavy-metal polka."
George was in a number of rock bands growing up in Ohio, including one Cleveland-area group called Separate Checks. He still teaches guitar in Los Angeles, where he lives.
The 43-year-old has had numerous television and film acting roles, including in "The Shawshank Redemption," and he has a sitcom in development.
George says he was a sensitive child, and admits his childhood left a mark. But being the butt of jokes somehow just made him stronger in the spotlight.
So now it's payback time for the comedian -- not that he holds a grudge.
"It was tough [as a child], but being sensitive helps you understand the humor of the situation. It gave me material" said George, who pointed out that when he gets a heckler these days, he "coaches" him from the stage.