Clark is more than a typical comedian
By John Benson
Comedian Eddie Clark has never been to Youngstown, but he knows plenty about its boxing history.
So that means he’s well aware of favorite sons Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Kelly Pavlik. In fact, it turns out the former is a favorite of Clark’s, who previously worked as a sports-radio talk-show host.
When asked who would win a fight between Mancini and Pavlik, Clark took a deep breath and began analyzing the match-up as if he were talking to Larry Merchant.
“Wow! Mancini is fast, but Pavlik is extremely strong,” said Clark, calling from outside Philadelphia. “If it goes the distance, I gotta give it to ‘Boom Boom’ because he can take a hit. That boy is like Rocky. If it goes short, it’s because Pavlik knocks him out in six or less.”
In case you can’t tell, Clark isn’t your average comic. He started in comedy in 1979, and over the decades never left what he calls his bread-and-butter. However, he’s also added acting to his talents. This led to appearances on “Law & Order” and “Law & Order SVU,” as well as films “Blood Night,” “Camp” and “Salted Nuts.”
Today, he’s on the road half the year, including playing cruise ships. Proving that Clark is different from his peers, he cites Red Skelton and Robin Williams as influences. Name another comedian these days who lists Skelton as an influence, let alone recognizes the popular ’50s and ’60s entertainer. For the record, Clark said his facial features are similar to Skelton, while his ability for rapid-fire comedy mirrors Williams.
Then there’s Clark’s goal for 2013. Basically, he’d like to be a regular NASCAR reporter for ESPN. So you better believe in addition to material about marriage, divorce and relationships, this comic will be talking race cars.
“I have one bit everyone loves about NASCAR — the black man’s dream,” Clark said. “What I’m talking about is I fantasize what it would be like to be NASCAR’s first Sprint Cup Champion. How I would change the sport if I could. I’d have inclusion, but it’s that part that freaks people out. I’d have to have an old white man as an owner, and I’d want all Latinos for a pit crew because I can’t think of anybody who can take apart a car faster. So I’d be a black man driving a very expensive car being chased by 42 white guys, and it would be legal.”
What’s interesting about Clark is that while he kowtows to stereotypes on stage, off stage he’s a Red Skelton-loving NASCAR fan who knows his boxing and hockey.
“Let me tell you how diverse I am: I’m a black, Jewish, Republican,” Clark said, laughing. “I have a bit I do about Barack Obama. I don’t burn the guy, because at the end of the day, I’m still an American. He’s president and I respect that. But I do give my views.”
Those views, NASCAR stories and more are what audience members are going to get when Clark makes his Northeast Ohio debut Monday at The Funny Farm.
“People will walk out saying Eddie Clark didn’t try to preach to me or give me an agenda,” Clark said. “The only job Eddie Clark did was to make me feel better than when I walked in. So you’ll start your New Year’s off right by starting it out with me. That’s a guarantee.”