Thursday, October 18, 2012
By John Benson
Over the past decade, comedian Steve Iott has been bringing his straight-ahead style of comedy to the Mahoning Valley with memorable results.
“You know what, I don’t think I make a lot of money in Youngstown, but it’s always fun,” said Michigan resident Iott, who lived in Los Angeles for years before moving back to the Midwest. “I do make money, but it’s not like, ‘I got to get back there to make the mortgage.’ The crowds are always good there. Even the crazy one- nighter bars — they are a pretty hip, pretty smart crowd.”
Wait, does Iott view playing Youngstown as charity work?
“Listen,” he said, laughing, “one of my favorite Springsteen songs is ‘Youngstown.’ I know I have to low-ball to get in there and help you people out.”
Still, he stressed that he’s all about making Northeast Ohio laugh. Iott — who has appeared on A&E and Comedy Central, as well as opened for the likes of Steven Wright and Bill Maher — has booked shows this weekend at the Funny Farm’s new location at Mojo’s Pub & Grille in Austintown.
As for his style of comedy, Iott said he was recently compared to Paula Poundstone by some morning radio-show knuckleheads.
Initially, he took the comparison as a slap in the face, but then upon further review, he decided his act is actually very similar to the funny lady who also has a penchant for improvisational work and crowd participation.
“I do pretty much straight stand-up,” Iott said. “I’m hitting middle age, so I talk about relationships I’ve had that have failed. The jokes are adult but not blue. It’s not really crazy outlaw type comedy, but there’s some cutting edge stuff there. My thing is I also talk to the crowd quite a bit. It turns into quite a bit of improv that can only be captured that night. But I show up with a full hour set list. I’ve done it so long that I can veer from it and change gears pretty seamlessly.”
In case you can’t read between the lines, there’s a bit of self-loathing for Iott, who apparently looks for any distraction in the crowd to keep him from going to his canned material.
“That’s a great way of putting it,” Iott said. “I’m almost looking for anything other than the next joke, but if nothing is there, I’ve got some jokes I’ve done on television. ‘Here they come.’ That’s the attitude. But I want to be entertained, too. How about that for a change?”
Iott stressed his audience participation is never mean spirited, but apparently he’ll riff on whatever fate brings to the evening.
“I’m ready for anything,” Iott said. “Say a light was to fall. Even if it falls on an audience member — that’s all the more enjoyable.”