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Comic spreads laughs on Web
By John Benson
After spending the early ’00s playing open-mic nights around Northeast Ohio, Lakewood native Ray Devito left the Buckeye State for New York City.
The comedian has made inroads into the comedy business, touring around the country, appearing on Lifetime Network, E! Network and “Entertainment Tonight.”
He’s also found success in the web-series world. Devito appeared on the now-defunct AOL men’s website Asylum.com, as well as Comedy Central’s Atom.com. The latter gig just folded, but Devito isn’t taking his Web series failures personally.
“It’s just the Internet hasn’t figured out how to work itself,” said Devito, calling from New York City. “Now I just started shooting my own stuff and it’s good. Also, I’m on a popular podcast, KeithandtheGirl.com. It’s funny — you hear ‘podcast’ and think there are like 10 dorks that listen to it but you go on the website and there are over 100 people who have their logo tattooed on their body. I haven’t made a bunch of money from it, but people come out to shows because of it. So it’s exposure.”
Devito has also gotten exposure from his appearances on “The Bob and Tom Show” (heard locally weekday mornings on WNCD-FM 93.3), and he’s been the featured comedian of the week on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Not too bad for a guy who grew up outside of Cleveland inspired by comedians ranging from Bill Hicks to Bill Cosby.
In some ways, Devito is merging his two idols with the last Atom.com bit, which debuts soon.
“You know how rappers talk about keeping it real? Well, we keep it too real and reveal too much information,” Devito said.
“That’s the hook. Like I yell out my Social Security number. There are a lot of hot chicks in the video, so it’ll do pretty well based on that. And recently I did ‘Red Eye’ on Fox News Channel 2. I want to do that more often, not that I’m political. I want to do stand-up comedy and build up a following so I can do this and not have to resort to doing web videos to make a living.”
As for his current set, Devito said the material is highly observational, autobiographical ... and somewhat painful.
“I’m poor, but the positive side of that is I don’t have to worry about ghosts,” he said. “All they haunt are mansion and castles. You never hear about the haunted one-bedroom apartment. So trailer parks are safe.
“Also, I don’t have a girlfriend, so my mom often helps me out. Every year she buys me one of those huge entertainment coupon books, which is great. That’s exactly what a woman wants me to lug around on a first date.”