Grosse Pointe Woods man is a stand-up guy

He competed on this season of 'Last Comic Standing'

August 5, 2007

BY KIM NORTH SHINE

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

"I was watchin' Fox News -- the Bush channel -- and there's this guy on there goin': 'You know, gas is one of the cheapest liquids in this country. For example, this gallon of orange juice cost $4.19.' That's flawless logic, except for the fact that every four days I don't have to buy 20 gallons of orange juice!"

That joke, told by Dave Landau of Grosse Pointe Woods, got a lot of laughs when he appeared on the NBC TV show "Last Comic Standing" last month, but apparently not enough to advance him to the next round of the competition.

Landau nevertheless continues traveling the country, telling his jokes, making people laugh and being "happy I can do something I love."

Landau, 25, who started working as a comedian about four years ago, also appeared on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," which is still in rotation on the cable network. He hopes to compete again next year on "Last Comic Standing."

Landau attended Lansing Community College and first took to the stage doing improvisational comedy after training with Second City Detroit.

"I decided I liked stand-up better than improv," he said. "Once I got onstage, I knew. It felt so good."

His TV appearances, as well as his performance at the HBO Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, have led to more headliner appearances.

"It's working out nicely," Landau said by telephone as he drove back from a show in Charlotte, N.C. "I'm happy. I'm basically climbing the ladder."

QUESTION: Do you remember the first joke you ever told in front of an audience?

ANSWER: Um, let me think. All I remember is it was a Hamburglar joke, and I was comparing his cape to Mel Farr. ... That's all I can remember. I don't think it worked.

Q: Were you the funny guy in school?

A: I was definitely the class clown.

Q: Did it get you in trouble?

A: Oh yeah, I ended up actually attending there (Grosse Pointe North High School) for five years. So, yes, it got me in trouble.

Q: Are you the funny guy in the family?

A: My dad was the funniest guy I've have ever known. (Dad Tom Landau passed away when Dave was 19.) I definitely inherited the humor gene from him. My brother is funny, more in an insane kind of way.

Q: What made you decide to start stand-up?

A: I had always loved stand-up since I was a kid. My friend, Brian Vandenberg, introduced me to (George) Carlin when we were, like, 10. He had his older brothers buy us CDs. My dad used to listen to, like, Bill Cosby. As I got older, I would get CDs like Sam Kennison and Lenny Bruce. ... I never thought you could actually do it for a living.

To learn more about Dave Landau, including show dates, go to www.myspace.com/davelandau. Contact KIM NORTH SHINE at 313-223-4557 or kshine@freepress.com.