Mr. Clean

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

111

ark Schiff has devoted
his career to making
people laugh, but most
of his time now
involves a more heady project —
turning a serious theater piece he
wrote into a film for HBO.
The Comic dips into the relation-
ship between an aging comedian and
the room-service wait-
er delivering what the
entertainer has intend-
ed as his last meal.
Schiff, in recent
weeks, has been taking
breaks from his script
by planning a standup
routine for an Aish
HaTorah benefit at
Mark Ridley's Comedy
Castle, where he will
appear Oct. 14.
"Working on the
script has been very
powerful," says Schiff,
48. " The Comic is a lit-
tle autobiographical,
but the focus is how the comedian,
even in his darkest hour, changes the
life of the other guy for the better."
Schiff decided at age 12 that he
wanted to be a comedian — while
watching Rodney Dangerfield per-
form live. After finishing high
school, he developed his style at
comedy-club open-mike nights
around New York.
"I get my ideas from everyday life,"
explains Schiff, married and the
father of three sons. "I talk a lot
about growing up, my parents, being
an only child, my wife, my children.
"I only want my audiences to have
a good time. If I could teach people
anything, it's that they have the
capacity to laugh more than they
ever knew."
After working a string of small
nightclubs, Schiff moved into larger
shows and has opened for many
name acts. He has had return book-
ings on late-night TV with Johnny
Carson, Jay Leno and David
Letterman. HBO and Showtime have
featured his specials.

"The best Pizza
in Metro Detroit"

"Tops on my list...
their Filet Mignon"

Mark Schiff performs comedy
benefit for Aish HaTorah.

... John Tanasychuk, Detroit Free Press

Schiff moved to California to get
into movies or TV and ended up
writing for sitcoms, including
Roseanne and Mad About You, whose
star Paul Reiser is producing Schiff's
HBO movie.
Although specifically Jewish humor
has not been part of his general act,
he is writing in some Jewish material
for his Aish HaTorah show.
"I'm a member of Aish HaTorah in
Los Angeles," says Schiff. "When I
was a child, I was very involved with

• Pasta Specialties • Pizza
• Steaks • Chops • Poultry
• Seafood • Cocktails

OPEN DAILY - LUNCH & DINNER

OPEN WEEKDAYS UNTIL 2:00 AM

WEEKENDS UNTIL 3:30 AM

A Ferndale Favorite Since 1961

ar at 9 m 1 .

Italian-American
Fam- 1 Restaurant

1 Y 548r 5005
le • (248)

woodw d

•

• Fresh Made Salads & Pasta Salads Daily

Mark Schiff
"I always
work clean."

religion and went to a yeshiva. Then
I got away from it for a long time.
Ten or 15 years ago, I decided to
take a class and got re-involved."
Schiff says that working on the
Sabbath is not an issue because he
doesn't do clubs any longer. When he
performs for the general public, it's
usually on cruise ships or at larger
venues with special arrangements.
In 2002, he will be doing some
appearances with Jerry Seinfeld and
fitting corporate events into his
schedule.
In a departure from his expression
of personalized subjects, Schiff has
taken on characterizations for ani-
mated productions.
"I've been blessed to earn my living
in show business for the past 20
years," Schiff says. "I always work
clean."

❑

Mark Schiff appears 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14, at Mark Ridley's
Comedy Castle, 269 E. 4th St.,
Royal Oak. $50. (248) 593-5138.

• Custom Carved Sandwiches

• Homemade Soups

• Daily Specials

• Famous Rice Pudding

CAFE

HOURS
Fri 9 - 8:30
Sat. 9:30 - 6:30

Mon.

-

• Catering For All Occasions

• Columbo Yogurt

• Limited Delivery

• Seating for 24

877 Long Lake Rd. at Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills

h: 20-540-7220 • Fax: 2 8 540-6269

Tino's Coney Island

NOW OPEN UNTIL 8 p.m.

p

am ma

1•11111 NMI MN MIMI

- Livery customer after 3pm
recieves an additional
I

I

I

10% off!

16 MI EMI NMI MIN

MINI MIMI Ma

Now serving dinner • Open lam - 8pm
7325 Orchard Lake Rd • 248/626-0160

(Located in Mike Robinson Ship Mall between 1 11 & 15 Mile)

10/5

2001

65