The “Gettin’ It Out Of Our System” Tour 2009 – Day Three (and one-half) – Las Vegas

Post #1234!! Whoa!

The Thursday Morning “Nobody-Asked-Me-To, But-Here-I-Go-Anyway” concert review: Howie Mandel

The first of our three shows here in Das Vegas was a fellow (if not former) Canuck – the host of “Howie Do It”, and “Deal Or No Deal” – although one audience member last night was under the impression that he was ANOTHER Canadian – Monty Hall of “Let’s Make A Deal”. A distinction Mr. Mandel turned to great comic material. That was the best part of the show, as Howie improvised off of the chatter from the audience – an audience I believe may have been under the impression they were still on their sofa back home, yapping at the TV. Howie never really ran out of banter material.

If you are a fan of his clean-cut TV stuff, bear in mind – he’s a stand-up comic, and as such, there are no boundaries for a live show. Well, he never plugged anyone with a round from a six-gun, but he did (as did opener John Mendoza) utilize quite a bit of salty language – if indeed anyone other than retired pirates would still describer swearing as “salty”. To use a bit myself – he was frickin’ hilarious!!

He was on top of his game last night, using the same sort of observational material that Jerry Seinfeld wielded so well when we saw him not too long ago – but the interaction with the audience is what made this show extra-special, like finding an old M & M under the bed that’s still pretty fresh when you bite into it. Mmm-mm-good!

What we probably won’t forget anytime soon was his opening video – a throwback to an old late-nite talk show, o r maybe even the Lawrence Welk Show – an older gentleman singing a very repetitive song, repeatedly. You have to see it to believe it.

Howie, you do Canada proud!

Tonight, a Vegas version of a Broadway smash – stay tuned!

Chow for now!