•

•

Miia4tik

-

is

Lots Of

Lau

L.A. comic Mike Young brings
his act home to Michigan.

JULIE WEINGARDEN
Special to The Jewish News

A

ll Mike Young really wants is
to stay healthy, make people
laugh and sustain a living in
the entertainment business.
It looks like he's getting his wish.
The Los Angeles-based comedian
has a regular gig at the Comedy Store
on Sunset Boulevard, performing
stand-up four nights a week. He's been
on national television as the featured
comedian on "The Keenan Ivory
Wayans Show," and he's backed by the
same management company that repre-
sents Chris Rock and Howie Mandel.
'All I really have to do is be funny,"
says Young.
The 30-year-old Southfield native
spends hours writing his material and
perfecting his craft, but the funny part
comes naturally. "All my friends used
to tell me to go to California and be a
comedian. I was always the class
clown," he says.
And where does he get his material?
"From life. I try to relate to the audi-
ence. We've all been in crazy relation-
ships and have had heartaches. I draw
from my friends and the people
around me," he says.
He pulls from personal experience,
too, describing a bad break-up as
being a better weight loss aid than
Jenny Craig.
For now, the biggest challenge fac-
ing Young is making it in front of a
Michigan audience. The Southfield
Lathrup High School and University
of Arizona graduate will be the feature
act at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in

Julie Weingarden is a freelance writer
based in West Bloomfield.

1/22
1999

88 Detroit Jewish News

Royal Oak Jan. 27-31.
He's performed at clubs
throughout the country,
but that's nothing com-
pared to the pressure of
coming home. "I'm ner-
vous because now it's in
front of family and friends.
Oy-oy-oy. I think my
mom's put bulletins out all
over the city," he says.
"But it's a good kind of
nervous," he adds, "because
I know [the hometown
Mike Young will play
audience] is pulling for me.
Mark Ridley's Comedy
It means a lot to me. It
Castle Jan. 27-31.
means showing my mom I
really have a job."
`If you have a dream, go for it,'" says his
Young started at the
mom, Gail Young of West Bloomfield.
bottom about 2 1/2 years ago. "I
"The first time I saw him at the
stood in line at The Comedy Store
Improv in L.A. I held my breath
one Sunday with all the other shlubs
because I was nervous for him. But
waiting to do our three minutes," he
the place was rocking, and he had the
says, and before he knew it, he found
greatest reception from the audience."
a manager. That led to auditions with
The ability to get laughs runs in the
industry people and meetings with
several TV networks to discuss possi-
family. "My dad, [Sam Young], was a
major inspiration to me," says Young.
ble projects down the road.
"He passed away when I was 21. He
Being on stage wasn't a new experi-
was hilarious. He had a natural gift of
ence for Young. After college, he
drawing people to him. He was the
helped form a hip-hop group, T.K.O.,
for which he was a vocalist and lyri-
life of the party.
"When I'm going out for a big
cist. He produced songs for sports
show, I take a deep breath and think
teams, from the Detroit Red Wings to
about him. I look at my career as a
the Green Bay Packers. The music ∎ • as
tribute to him. I know he would be
a great side business and an alternative
diggin' what I'm doing."
to the 9-to-5 thing, he says.
Young's brother, Robert, also is an
"I've always written comedy, so I
inspiration. "He keeps me grounded,
had like pages and pages of stuff I
motivated and gives great advice," says
wanted to do; it was just a matter of
the comedian, who also does voices.
when I was going to give it a go," says
Young isn't worried about turning
Young, who credits his family for their
Hollywood. "I've had too much hap-
encouragement.
pen to me ever to take anything for
"I was totally supportive when he
granted. I see plastic people every-
told me what he wanted to do. I said,

where, but I just have to sift
through that."
In fact, Young is a guy who still
feels tied to his roots in Michigan.
"I loved growing up in Southfield,"
he says. "It was integrated - black
kids, white kids, Arabic kids, and
we [were] all equal.
"I miss Michigan. I love the sea-
sons, especially the fall. I actually
feel like I have more creative ener-
gy in Michigan. I think you need
to hit all different moods like you
do when the weather changes. I
miss my family and my friends,
who are all getting married and
having kids."
Young appreciates his Jewish her-
itage, too. "It's more cultural than
religion with me," he says. "There
is a connection with Jewish people,
you just feel a certain kinship. You
know what kreplach soup tastes
like, and I know what it tastes like.
You may have a funny grandma,
and I have a funny grandma."
In his free time, Young has
managed to write two screenplays
that he's shopping around to dif-
ferent studios. He also keeps busy
playing ice hockey, basketball and
recording music.
For companionship, he turns
to his girlfriend of.two years,
singer Rebekah Johnson. They
met at a party. "I thought I was
being pretty smooth," he says.
For the future, Young is thinking
big. He hopes to "develop a huge
following on the road and get really
successful" in the next year and a half.
He then wants his own production
company, so he can write, produce
and be the boss.
Oh yeah, and maybe he'll do a TV
show.
Few comedians find steady work
and success. Young considers himself
blessed and lucky "I'm still coming
up. Its a constant journey. I'm climb-
ing that hill right now — nothing is
slowing me down," he says. "I'm just
rolling with it."

See related LOTS OF LAUGHS

stories on page 90

Mike Young will appear at Mark
Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal
Oak Wednesday-Sunday, Jan. 27-
31. Show times are 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 27-28, $6; 8:15 and 10:45
p.m. Jan 29-30, $12; and 7:30
p.m. Jan. 31, $6. 269 E. Fourth
Street. (248) 542-9900.