Comic Mark Knope will perform at Brendan O’Neill’s tomorrow at 8 p.m. along with Steve Sabo. The last time Knope performed in the Cleveland area, he opened for Wayne Newton. (Photo courtesy of www.knobe.com)

National Headliners take stage
tomorrow at Brendan O’Neill’s
By Zachary Dzurick
happenings
Published April 12, 2005

Cleveland sports fans, Mark Knope understands your pain. He grew up a fan of the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions.

"Being a sports fan is inbred in you," Knope said. "I have been a Tigers and Lions fan since I can remember. There has been a lot of suffering lately."

A year ago December, Knope opened for Wayne Newton at the Palace Theater downtown. The gig was just after the Browns had lost to Bengals 58-48. He said he was moved being able to perform on a stage where so many famous comedians have stepped foot.

"Cleveland has produced so many famous comics," Knope shared with the crowd. "Bob Hope. Drew Carey. Steve Harvey. The Cleveland Browns."

Knope said it took a few seconds for the line to sink in.

"Most of the crowd laughed," he said. "I mean seriously how can you score 48 points and lose."

Knope recently celebrated his 20th anniversary of being in the laugh business.

"No one gives you a gold watch in this business," Knope said. "But I have no plans to stop and I am still going on strong."

Knope will be one of two national comics tomorrow night at Brendan O'Neills in Westlake as part of their Hardcore Stand-Up Comedy night. On the second Thursday of each month, Brendan O'Neills hosts two nationally touring comics for no coverage charge. Tomorrow's 8 p.m. show will be the third of the series. Brendan O'Neill's owner Mike Schaffer is pleased with the response.

"So far it has been great and very well received," Schaffer said. "I'm really surprised myself by the level of talent that we have had here. There is no question that I would pay to see the headliners we have had so far."

Why add Hardcore Comedy night (minus a cover charge where a comedy club might charge $10-$15) to a schedule that includes several nights of music, Gorilla Poker on Tuesdays and monthly events like Pub Quiz night and Swing Dancing lessons?

"We want to give our guests some fun and affordable things to do during the week, and give them a reason to come out," Schaffer said. "We are always trying to do something different than other places in the area. I think a 'cover' charge freaks people out. We may add some kind of minimum in the future, but I want people to come check it out."

This will not be Knope's first job in Westlake.

"Last time I worked in Westlake was back in '83 when I was a suit & tie for Liberty Mutual," he said. "This gig is gonna be way different."

In a world of interchangeable comics, Knope has staked out his bit of notoriety with the phrase "Born Again Bachelor."

Knope is not a fan of single topic humor.

"I hate sitting through a half an hour to an hour about the same subject," he said. "I talk about a lot of different things. From cold weather to divorce to Hollywood and breast implants. I run the gamut."

Knope estimates that he has written 30 percent of his act on stage. He is always using his own life for material.

"I messed up my leg," he said. "The good part was I now have a good bit out of it."

Many see Knope in person for the first time and believe he must be a retired ex-linebacker.

"People are surprised how big I am," he said. "The problem is I am just a big guy, but I am not fat enough to make fat jokes."

Knope uses sound effects, quirky facial expressions and a few celebrity impressions along the way to add to his material. You may have seen him on television as a part of Comcast's Comedy Spotlight on the Road, Comedy Central's Stand-Up Stand-up, Nightshift on FOX, America's Funniest People and Comedy at CLUB54. He has headlined at many of the top clubs across the country, but has also opened for many of comedy's heavyweights including Brett Butler, Kevin James, Harland Williams, Richard Lewis, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Tommy Chong, Bobby Collins, and Tommy Davidson.

Knope released a CD in 2001, "Don't Laugh... It Will Only Encourage Him." He also has a website where you can check out his road journal and listen to a few of his bits at www.knope.com.

Also performing will be Steve Sabo. Knope is a fan of Sabo's work.

"People at the show will be in for a treat," Knope said. "Steve headlines a lot in his own right. He is very funny and it will be like getting to see two headliners. He has a strong act and the show will be a lot of fun."

In an odd twist of fate, the two men are neighbors.

"We both live in Toledo and the entire town has four fulltime working comics," Sabo said. "And we live a block away from each other. It is bizarre."

Comic Steve Sabo wants your help making him a millionare. At his website he asks everyone to send him $2. Sabo will perform with Marh Knope tomorrow at Brendan O’Neills’s. (Image courtesy of www.stevesabo.com)

Sabo, the self described "Caffinated Voice of Reason", claims to offer the truth. He uses no props, no songs, no voices. He is just a man and a microphone with attitude to spare.

"I am truthful," he said. "I say stuff that will get the reaction: 'That is so true.' I say what everyone else is thinking, just maybe a little harsher. It is edgy and honest."

Sabo has his own website at www.SteveSabo.com. There you can buy his CDs "Midgets, Cream Corn and a Tub Full of Jello" and "Banned from Wichita", which includes a bonus rant that has never been heard before on stage and never to be repeated again on stage. So just what happened in Wichita?

"That story can't be printed in your paper," Sabo said. "Let's just say there was tequila, a challenge and bad decision making skills involved. The story is on a podcast online. If you google my name and Wichita, it should be the second or third entry."

Sabo has written three books "Commercially Speaking", "Loser in Love - 100 True Tales of the Broken Hearted" and "Man are Mars- Women Suck - A Survival Guide for Men." Also on the website is a link for a chance to win a date with Sabo's sister and another where he asks everyone to send him two dollars (inspired by the movie Better Off Dead) and then lists everyone who has donated. He started in November and has collected nearly $240.

"I literally started one day at breakfast talking to my friend," Sabo said. "I decided to try it. Little by little it is growing. It has just not been exposed enough."

Sabo is a 10-year veteran of the comedy circuit. He has opened for such comics as Chris Rock, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Jim Breuer, Kevin James, Michael Winslow, Kathleen Madigan, Bobby Collins, Bobby Slayton, John Heffron, and Tammy Pescatelli.