Originally filed Wednesday, September 19, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
In an unusual confluence, three veteran actors and stand-up comics are appearing at the same time in metro Atlanta at three different venues on Friday, Sept. 28: Rob Schneider, Janeane Garofalo and Howie Mandel.
Mandel will be at the Atlanta Symphony Hall (capacity: 1,762). Schneider will perform at the new Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre (1,070). Garofalo is headlining the Red Clay Comedy Festival in East Atlanta on an outdoor stage.
[UPDATE: September 24: Due to a “scheduling conflict,” Mandel has cancelled his performance in Atlanta. Refunds are available at point of purchase. Tickets purchased from Ticketmaster.com will be automatically refunded to the credit card used for the original purchase. I hadn’t checked how strong ticket sales were but perhaps they weren’t.]
Their careers have not intersected in any tangible sense though Schneider left “Saturday Night Live” as a cast member literally as Garofalo was coming in 24 years ago. (Schneider lasted four seasons; Garofalo quit after just six months.)
Garofalo once played a booker on “The Larry Sanders Show” in 1994 where Mandel was mentioned as sixth on a list of emergency guest hosts behind the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Richard Lewis.
Schneider’s character in his 2005 film “Deuce Bigolo: European Gigolo” made an off-color joke referencing Garofalo.
And Schneider jokingly shook germaphobic guest host Mandel’s hand while promoting that same film on “Live With Regis and Kelly.”
Here’s a thumbnail about each:
Howie Mandel
Age: 62
Born: Toronto, Canada
Notable career highlights :Dr. Wayne Fiscus on medical drama “St. Elsewhere,” host of the mid-2000s hit “Deal or No Deal” and current judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”
Stand-up style: improvisational and goofy, not political
Interesting fact: He has OCD and as a germaphobe popularized the fist bump to replace the hand shake.
Atlanta appearance: 8 p.m., Friday, $45-$75, Atlanta Symphony Hall,
1280 West Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, www.ticketmaster.com
Janeane Garofalo
Age: 53
Born: Newton, N.J. but grew up in California, Texas and New Jersey
Notable career highlights: Starred in films such as “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “The Matchmaker” and “Reality Bites.” Regular roles on “24” and “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.”
Stand-up style: Observational dry wit with a cynical edge
Interesting fact: In 2010,she proclaimed herself "asexual," meaning she has no real interest in sex. She was also maligned by Fox News and conservative types after being vocally against the Iraq War.
Atlanta appearance: Red Clay Comedy Festival, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Friday, $30 at 8 p.m., $25 at 10:30 p.m., festival main stage, 552 Flat Shoals Road, Atlanta, www.freshtix.com
Rob Schneider
Age: 54
Born: San Francisco
Notable career highlights: Four years on “Saturday Night Live” whose most notable character was the “Richmeister” who would give co-workers annoying nicknames while they made copies. Starred in two “Deuce Bigolo” films. Played oddball characters in many Adam Sandler films. Has a Netflix comedy “Real Rob.”
Stand-up style: Iconoclastic and surprisingly political
Interesting facts: His daughter is singer Elle King. He is also known as being a vaccine skeptic.
Atlanta appearance: 8 p.m. Friday, $34, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center,
1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, www.citysprings.com
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