sK, • M; ON 9 61. VOUS:Mkt. LOTS OF LAUGHS from page 88 Funny Business Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle celebrates 20 years of laughter. Iff ark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It's owner, 48-year-old Mark Ridley, grew up a Lutheran, but converted to Judaism in 1974. His ex-wife — and mother of his sons, Ryan, 22, and Adam, 17 — is Jewish, but that is not why Ridley converted, he says. He was drawn to Judaism on his own. In college, at Wayne State University, Ridley majored in Near Eastern studies, which focused on the history of Judaism, Israel, the Mideast and the Bible. He and his family are former members of Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park. Ridley shares his observa- tions about the funny business: JN: What other changes have you noticed in the last two decades? MR: The one thing that has been very unusual is that there are more comedy clubs here in metro Detroit than any- where else in the country. JN: Has there been anything that's surprised you — particular types of humor or comedians that hit it big? MR: I didn't think that Paul Reiser would be as big as he is because years ago, when he played my club, people walked out in the middle of his show. Lots of people. They said he was "too New York for us." I was surprised to see Jon Stewart get as big as he is. He had the same problem with people walking out. JN: Who are your favorite comedians to watch? MR: I like Richard Jeni, Roc LaPorte, Kathleen Madigan and Gary Shandling. Le : Mark Ridley: "There are more com- edy clubs here in metro Detroit than anywhere else in the country" Below: Ryan Ridley: Humor that's "edgy" and "kind of out there. JN: What's been the biggest change in comedy over the past 20 years? MR: Each season there are more comedians up for sitcoms than ever before. The comedi- ans coming out of the comedy scene 20 years ago really laid down the foundation. Ryan Ridley _Plows in his dad's footsteps. A 1/22 1999 90 Detroit Jewish News JN: What kind of impact did Seinfeld have on the industry? MR: Seinfeld can talk about the most obvious things that go on around us and make them funny. He can talk about those things in a non-threaten- ing and non-vulgar manner. It's made a lot of the comedians more aware of their writing abilities and showed - them they can use more of their per- sonal humor rather than swear up on stage. Seinfeld really set the example. JN: How have your audiences changed over the years? MR: My demographics have remained the same over the years. Anybody young, old, black, white, Jewish or non-Jewish who loves to laugh. — Julie Weingarden Second Generation decade ago, Mark Ridley often brought his two sons, Adam and Ryan, to his club, Mark Ridley's Come- dy Castle in Royal Oak, to watch comedians like Gary Shandling and Jim Carrey perform. Adam always acted in talent shows, while Ryan never even stepped on stage. But it was Ryan who started performing stand-up comedy about seven months ago. "When he first started doing [stand- up], I didn't know about it. He was try- ing out his comedy at another club in Ann Arbor before he came to my place. He went by Ryan Matthews initially," says Mark Ridley. Now, Ryan Ridley is using his real name and performing stand-up at Club Bart in Ferndale, and at his dad's club as well. JN: Is there more Jewish humor today in comedy? MR: No, there were a lot of Jewish comics 20 years ago, and there are still about the same number today. But the comedy is not so much about their black, Catholic or Jewish background; it's much more observational about life in general. "When he first started perform- ing [at the Comedy Castle], Ryan still used the other name because he didn't want the nepotism thing to be a factor. There are about 40 people that call each week to perform for only six slots," says Mark Ridley, who is helping celebrate the club's 20th anniversary by scheduling favorite performers throughout the year. Ryan, a second-generation comedi- an, remembers watching his dad M.C. at the club when he was little. "I'd be embarrassed by him just because it was my dad on stage. I didn't think I wanted anything to do with comedy when I was younger," says Ryan. But he realized he had a knack for it when his friends found him funny. • "All my friends are funny and I fig- ured if I could make them laugh, I'd try it on stage. Plus I like watching comedy, and I try to write on a par with what I think is good," says the 22-year-old, who grew up in Beverly Hills and now lives in Hazel Park. His father calls Ryan's material "edgy" and "kind of out there." Ryan hits on subjects rarely touched by other comedians. "I like dark humor about serial killers, the Unabomber and ghosts. It's a high if you can get laughs from something you thought . was funny in your own head and all of a sudden a roomful of strangers think it's funny, too," he says. The Jewish comedian does not use Jewish humor in his act but believes there is a "Jewish person's sense of the world that other comedians talk about." Ryan chose comedy over a college degree. He plans to do stand-up for a few years and eventually write a quality sit- corn for television and perhaps do movies. If he heads to Los Angeles, he'll be prepared. Despite his connec- tions, says his father, he'll need to have a thick skin. After 20 years in the business, dad should know. "Things run in a cycle," says Mark Ridley. "It all depends if you are the flavor of the month." 17 — Julie Weingarden =( Ryan Ridley performs between 10 p.m. and midnight Thursday nights at Club Bart, 22726 Woodward, in Ferndale. No cover charge. (248) 548-8746. orgivzw**• AtrTIMWV1,. "