When I was 12 or 13, my parents took me to the Comedy Cafe to see Brady Street live. Brady Street was Bruce Brinker, Joe Cortese, Angelo Farina and John Podlesnik - each highly respected in the Milwaukee comedy scene (and I would later learn deeply respected in the American comedy community). I remember watching them and thinking that I too could make people laugh. It planted a seed deep in my mind. To this day, I'm proud to say that I have been able to perform with each of them on stage and that I'm able to call each one my friend.
Moving back to Milwaukee, I saw a poster at a grocery store offering classes in improv. I'm so glad I decided to take that class. It was here I met Matt Tremmel and where both of us were encouraged to take "real classes" at ComedySportz.
After years of classes and countless shows for friends and family (please come, PLEASE, it's only $3 and this Tuesday), I was asked to join the ComedySportz Milwaukee troupe. For nearly 10 years, I was one of the fortunate few that got to go on stage and make thousands of people laugh. It was an amazing experience. At nearly all of those shows, there was Angelo Farina. Ang was one of the originals. If he gave you notes, you listened - and you acted on those suggestions. No matter if it was my first show or number 500, it was intimidating being in a show with him. Screw influencing the audience; it was Ang you wanted to impress. There was no better feeling than being in a show, saying something and hearing Ang's gravely laugh come from the sound booth. For ComedySportzers, it was like getting the nod from Carson. You knew you had done something right.
I don't recall the specifics of the conversation, however I remember talking with Angelo at the Clarion hotel for about an hour. The talk was probably about something trivial - the state of radio, politics, boobs...whatever. It was then I knew I had made friends with someone in comedy I respected.
Over the years, we had many conversations, the best often over beers at the CSz bar after shows. Ang had been through more than anyone should, yet he always kept a positive attitude and continued to give advice. I always loved his Brewer updates at the Summer picnic and running into him at the Budweiser pavilion every first Friday at State Fair (I can't even count the number of times people would stop to say hi to Mort Snotlocker).
Earlier this week, Angelo passed away. It is a sad time for the CSz family, yet in an odd way, I'm looking forward to today's funeral as I know it will be filled with stories and laughter. Angelo influenced so many. The love for this man is incredible; I've read countless Facebook posts from all sorts of people praising his wit, his kindness, his sense of humor and the 30-year ComedySportz legacy he built.
I'm so grateful for the time I spent with him. In a way he wouldn't realize, I'm grateful he planted that comedy seed in my mind so many years ago - because of it I have made countless friendships and shared millions of laughs.
My ComedySportz days are behind me. I may not have been the greatest performer to ever grace its stage, but I can say that I held my own with some of the best in the world. I mean that. I have seen some of the most talented improvisational comedians Doo-Run-Run, Object Freeze and Sideline Debate their way to points that ultimately didn't matter. So many have moved on to greater things on TV and in the movies. Angelo played a gigantic part in this. He may be gone, but his legacy will live on with each laugh, guffaw or groan.
From one ref to the best of them all, I blow my whistle and send all points to you, Angelo. You will be missed.
