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. 

Contact Raymond Jenkins
33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

If you are not wearing it… sell it!... 
or BORROW on it!

You can’t enjoy jewelry if it’s sitting in your safe 
deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash. 
We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.

A Service to
Private Owners,
Banks & Estates

33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

248-644-8565

Coins & Jewelry

If you are not wearing it… sell it!... 

We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.
Let Old Friends be your 
Michigan-Florida Connection

Keyes Real Estate
Keyes Real Estate

Estate Property Sales from Listing to Clean-Out!

BUY • SELL • INVEST

Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton, 
Delray, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Nina Spinner-Sands

NinaSpinner-Sands@keyes.com

(954) 290-8293

Rita Morse

RitaMorse@keyes.com
(305) 609-7559

