Who Won The Punchline’s War “Mike Speenberg vs Scotty K”?

By Dee Corley.

Eight O’clock on Sunday night, I sat with a group at The Punchline for my first time.  It’s a small, comfortable place in a quaint little strip mall type setting, centered amongst a group of establishments that are specifically there for a fun night out.  The neon sign above the door that portrays Groucho Marx is very welcoming and so fitting.  The people who work there made us feel welcome from the time we walked in the door.  No cold-shoulder-we’re-busy treatment for us!  Many will appreciate the non smoking environment.

This is a top entertainment spot that has appeared on various morning shows such as The Today Show and Good Day Atlanta.  Located just off of 285 at exit 25, it has been around since 1982, and is known for a full house.  Many of the top comedians we’re familiar with were seen on The Punchline’s stage when they were starting out and later as headliners.  In 2008 The Punchline was awarded one of the 10 Best Bet Awards and Best in Atlanta in 2007 by Creative Loafing and Insite.  It’s owners’ experience in comedy are no laughing matter.  Jamie Bendall started out on the stage in 1991, and Chris Dipetta began his work in 1982 on the expansion of The Punchline, branching out to other shows and many headliners such as Jeff Foxworthy and Steve Harvey.  Chris Dipetta   continues to manage a number of comedians today.  The Punchline’s  website has a daily listing of the upcoming shows.  You can choose seats and order your tickets at www.punchline.com.

This is a place where comedians try out jokes that either become great closers or just never should have been tried.  Headlining on this night is Mike Speenberg vs Scotty K.  The show starts off rather dryly with an MC that just can’t get the audience to connect.  We’re polite as we patiently wait for either a real reason to laugh or the next comedian to be introduced.  Suddenly, Landry is introduced and our interest is perked.  Landry came all the way from Canada, we’re reminded a few times throughout the evening.  The show was beginning to take shape.

Mike Speenberg made his way out onto the stage next.  Speenberg portrays a “down home kinda guy” who grew up in the country lifestyle.  His description of the differences in the generations brings the audience together in agreement and lots of laughter, because it’s so true.  He talks about life as a kid, the big wheel he loved, and the rat tail that was in style.  My particular favorite was the guy he describes riding his bike at 44 years old to an interview in daisy duke cutoffs.  Yeah, we all know that guy …  Speenberg got his fill of being distracted by a table full of chatty cathies and blasted them for about half a minute, turned to the other side of the audience and smiled as he continued with his act. He’s a known name now, having performed nationally and internationally, and with huge names like Robin Williams.

Finally, we got to meet Scotty K.  Wow!  He reminds me so much of my childhood, the mind goes in fifty five directions all at one time, and you’re just trying to catch one, just one concept as it darts about within.  Scotty portrayed the ADHD personality to a tee.  The facial expressions that went so fittingly along with everything he said and did.  Expressions of embarrassment, confusion, anger … his version of his mothers frustration while introducing him to other children as she tried to get him to light just for even one second on a stool she was offering to him.

And then there’s the gay skit, the one he says his kid brother inspired.  My group couldn’t help but to talk on the way home about how dead on he performs the gay act.  He does a few musical impressions, his version of the singers of popular hit songs, which included a hit from his kid brother’s favorite group Backstreet Boys, “I Want It That Way”.  His twist on the song left us rolling with our jaws dropped open.

Scotty tells us that he was a preacher’s kid, and incorporated some of his religious knowledge into his act while his southern upbringing flavored everything he did.  He reminded us repeatedly that he performed on BET, and he truly connects with the black audience.  It almost seemed to me that the African American guests were having a better time that the rest of us were!  His shows are never duplicated.  He is spontaneous, a master of improv.  Scotty finished his act as he showed us one of the tee shirts he had available to the audience.  He read off what it said and described his mothers embarrassment as she read it at his families Christmas gathering.  He described her as she stopped in mid sentence and then scolded him with “I didn’t raise you that way”.  He snapped his fingers in a feisty gay gesture and retorted, “Oh yes you did !”

So, who won the war between Mike Speenberg and Scotty K?  You needed to have been there to decide for yourself.

Tags: Atlanta commedy, Atlanta Entertainment, Atlanta live entertainment, Atlanta performing arts, Comedy, Dee Corley, The Punchline

More articles by Dee Corley

This article was published on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 and is filed under Artists, Atlanta Character, Attractions, Comedy, Fun Stuff, Reviews, Theater. You can follow any comments to this article through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.