Zany comedy

July 23, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

It’s hard not to look at veteran comic Bob Zany as the Forrest Gump of comedy.

His resume is littered with a who’s who of experiences beginning with an appearance as a 15-year-old on “The Gong Show.” Zany was on the “The Tonight Show” and co-hosted “The Jerry Lewis Telethon.” The comedian-actor also appeared in feature films such as David Spade’s “Joe Dirt” and Stephen Soderberg’s “The Informant” playing Matt Damon’s attorney.

While maintaining an incessant touring schedule, including a July 24 and 25 appearance at The Comedy Cellar at Mojo’s Pub and Grill in Austintown, Zany always finds time to call into the syndicated “Bob & Tom Show” with his “Zany Report.” He also feeds material to numerous radio stations across the country.

His latest appearance of note was on Billy Gardell’s Showtime special “Road Dogs.”

“It’s like Billy is doing like the reverse Rodney Dangerfield,” said Zany, calling from Sarasota Fla. “He’s showcasing the older guys who have done it for a while. And, coincidentally, I was on the Rodney Dangerfield special as a young comic, so that bookends my career.”

Zany said he actually worked for the legendary “I get no respect” comedian booking his Las Vegas and Los Angeles clubs. In fact, he told a great story about how Dangerfield would keep falling asleep while watching videotapes of comics hoping to be picked for his young comedian specials.

As far as Zany’s 1992 appearance on Dangerfield’s special, he said, “I did very well, but inside I was nervous as all hell. I remember my leg shaking during it, and then it finally calmed down. Whereas the Billy Gardell ‘Road Dogs’ set, I was ready. Everyone is different in their timetable of stand-up. I’m just more at ease now.”

Even today though he’s not a household name, Zany stressed he holds no animosity.

“I’ve done everything in this business,” Zany said. “I suppose there are a couple of more things I wanted to do. I’ve always had an even-keeled career. So there is no animosity. I’m not bitter. Rodney didn’t hit until his 50s. So I’m fine. I’m 53.”

When asked about topics he’ll be discussing when he comes through Northeast Ohio, Zany said he has discovered a new bit of sorts that has turned into comedy gold. He calls it “The Goodwill Tour” and, well, it begins by visiting a Goodwill store.

“I got there, buy stuff and report back to the audience what I found,” Zany said. “Like there was a book I bought here in Sarasota called ‘Prostrate from A to Z.’ I said, ‘I can’t get past P.’ The jokes kind of write themselves. My favorite one was, I found a 50 Cent CD – you can’t write this – and on the back was a price tag for 50 cents.”

Off stage, Zany’s interest of late revolves around his popular podcast, “The Bob Zany Show with Erin O’Connor.”

“We’ve had about 100 episodes,” Zany said. “I co-host with my wife, Erin. Everybody I’ve had on, I’ve worked with or knew, like Steven Wright, Carrot Top, Fred Willard. My favorite was Jimmy Pardo. We did a pilot a long time ago where he was my sidekick. We had fun.”

Zany added, “It’s one of the 28 pilots I’ve done that didn’t go anywhere.”

Keeping the Dangerfield example in mind, perhaps it’ll be Zany’s next pilot that breaks him mainstream.

“You never know,” Zany said. “It’s only over when I say it’s over.”