Rich Stein, a long time standup comic, took a few years off the road to teach high school, get married, and have a kid. Now, retired from teaching, he is back on stages and reconnecting with old friends and trying to Catch up with Comedians. Plenty of funny stories, anecdotes and tributes to the greats both famous and infamous!
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Rich Stein, a long time standup comic, took a few years off the road to teach high school, get married, and have a kid. Now, retired from teaching, he is back on stages and reconnecting with old friends and trying to Catch up with Comedians. Plenty of funny stories, anecdotes and tributes to the greats both famous and infamous!
Bruce graduated from Boston University with a business degree in marketing in 1988 and quickly headed to Los Angeles to try his hand at stand up comedy and acting. From the first time I met Bruce he always had a smile on his face and a positive spirit and determination that whatever he was doing it was going to work.He took his training in competitive wrestling and body building and used that ambition to drive him to success in stand up comedy as well as writing for sit coms and comedy shows.
Bruce readily admits that the timing of coming to Los Angeles and breaking into stand up in 1988 could not have been better. Stand up was still in its first boom and they were handing out sitcoms to whichever comic, male or female was funny enough and powerful enough to lead a sitcom ensemble cast.
Bruce early on was one of three mc’s at the Santa Monica and Melrose Improvs and consequently was not only bringing up all the brightest and best comics who were on the fast track to their own sit coms but he was also being seen by the agents, managers and show runners in Hollywood who cast those same shows. Before long Bruce was promoted from mc to regular spots and then he was noticed by comics who were a few years ahead of him and liked what they saw.
The Wayans brothers brought Bruce into their group and he started hanging with them, pitching jokes, bits, ideas and over the course of many years Keenan, Damon, Shawn and Marlon were instrumental in Bruce getting staff writing jobs on all three of their respective talk shows and sitcoms two of which made the 100 plus episode mark.
Additionally Bruce’s own comedic and stand up talents got him great spots on Arsenio, Star Search, Evening at the Improv, LCS and finally on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also scored a multi-arc role as Bud Bundy’s doppelganger: Ben, on Married with Children, as well as spots on The Fresh Prince, The King of Queens and the MTV Video Music Awards.
Bruce’s comedy resume had so many television and writing credits he went on to headline clubs, colleges and casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City and beyond.
Bruce married, had two sons and went on to produce and promote his own comedy shows in and around Los Angeles while helping friends and folks in the entertainment industry become more fiscally sound by taking counsel from Bruce’s financial consultation services. Bruce continues to produce both comedy and musical revues although he maintains to be semi retired from entertainment. ( much like the Stones, CCR, Elton; you know the drill!)Please welcome to my podcast this week :Bruce Fine
Catching Up With Comedians
Rich Stein, a long time standup comic, took a few years off the road to teach high school, get married, and have a kid. Now, retired from teaching, he is back on stages and reconnecting with old friends and trying to Catch up with Comedians. Plenty of funny stories, anecdotes and tributes to the greats both famous and infamous!
