20 | NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 J
N
A
lmost 40 years ago, Al Lubel
took a bus from a small town
in Texas, where he was work-
ing the comedy circuit, to Oklahoma
City for a prime gig. Lubel was going
to be the opening act for fellow Jewish
comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
And the rest, as they say, is comic
history.
“We played racquetball every day at
the gym that week. I still remember
that he was ahead six games to five
against me,” said Lubel with a laugh.
“His thoughtful act inspired me to be
a clean comedian, which you had to be
to get on The Tonight Show.’”
Six years later, Lubel’s dream came
true when he performed his set on The
Tonight Show, one of the last episodes
for Johnny Carson. Lubel, the 1988
$100,000 Star Search Comedy Grand
Prize winner, went on to perform six
times on The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno and five times on The Late Show
with David Letterman. He took home
the Amused Moose Laughter Award at
the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Lubel’s bringing his witticism and
plenty of Jewish anecdotes of growing
up an only child to Adat Shalom at
2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17. Lubel will
perform his “Still Laughing After
All These Years” at a fundraiser for
FRIENDS of Jewish Senior Life.
STARTING OUT IN COMEDY
Lubel received his undergrad and law
degrees from the University of Miami
in Florida and passed both the Florida
and California bars.
“I became a lawyer to please my
Jewish mother,” says Lubel, who prac-
ticed criminal law for two years in
Newport Beach, Calif. “
And then I
became a comedian to displease her.”
Growing up in Queens, Lubel loved
watching Carson and Don Rickles.
“I was drawn to comedy — my
mother, father and grandmother were
all funny people, so there was always
humor in the house,” Lubel recalled.
When he was 19, Lubel saw the
movie Lenny starring Dustin Hoffman
as comedian Lenny Bruce.
“
And that was the first time that I
actually thought I’d like to become a
comedian,” Lubel said.
While at the University of Miami,
Lubel bought some old Lenny Bruce
albums at a record store. He memo-
rized some of Bruce’s iconic mono-
logues and performed them in an
acting class.
“I remember getting laughs and
thinking, ‘Well, maybe, I can do this.
I’m getting the same laughs that Lenny
got with those jokes,’” said Lubel, who
opted to “play it safe and get the law
degree,” just in case.
Lubel promises he’ll have some
funny stories for the FRIENDS of
Jewish Senior Life crowd on Nov. 17
about his short time as a criminal
defense attorney.
Lubel was living and doing comedy
in England when COVID hit and he
had to return to L.A. For a few years
prior, producer/editor/director Joshua
Edelman followed Lubel on the road,
chronicling Lubel’s highs and lows —
including going on welfare and food
stamps — of being a comedian.
Edelman released Mentally Al, a
full-length documentary that can be
screened on Prime Video.
Many top comedians, including
Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon and
Judd Apatow provide insight to Lubel’s
creativity.
“He’s crazy, funny and an original
thinker,” said Nealon.
“He’s just hilarious,” added
Silverman.
But for Lubel, he never cared about
fame, he said.
“I can keep getting better. I’m proud
of the act.”
Comedian Al Lubel to headline for FRIENDS
of Jewish Senior Life fundraiser.
Did You Hear the One
About the Funny Lawyer?
JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
DETAILS
“Still Laughing After All These
Years” Fundraiser planned by
FRIENDS of Jewish Senior Life
takes place Sunday, Nov. 17, at
2 p.m. at Adat Shalom Synagogue
in Farmington Hills. There is a $75
minimum donation (includes show,
refreshments and valet parking)
to attend. Sponsorships are also
available. Buy tickets at https://
jslmi.org/events/jsls-lives-well-
lived or contact Beth Robinson:
brobinson@jslmi.org or (248) 592-
5062.
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