Smart comedy and spicy food Smart comedy and spicy food (December 24, 2004)

Eddie Brill and Brain mallow headline this year's "ChopShticks"

by Jamie Schuman

At this weekend's "ChopShticks" comedy showcase, Jews and anyone seeking a break from Christmas concerts and fruitcake can find smart humor and spicy Chinese food -- minus the mu shu pork and shrimp low mein.

"ChopShticks," which started two years ago as a Christmastime social outlet for Jews, combines stand-up comedy with a Chinese dinner. Eddie Brill, talent coordinator and warm-up comedian for "The Late Show with David Letterman," and San Francisco comic Brian Malow are providing the entertainment at the event, which takes place tonight, Saturday and Sunday at Ming's Restaurant in Palo Alto.

Both comics take an intellectual approach to humor rather than an off-color one. The New York-based Brill describes himself as an "observational comic" who exposes the world's ironies in a manner similar to George Carlin. "ChopShticks" founder Gloria Goldblatt first saw Brill on Comedy Central. Drawn to his cerebral and wry style, she has been luring him here ever since.

"It's a huge coup for us to have Eddie Brill here," said Goldblatt, who teaches English Language Development at the Barron Park Elementary School in Palo Alto.

Brill, who believes comedians can improve their craft by performing as much as possible, worked about 500 gigs per year when he launched his career. He often performed at multiple venues per night in New York City, and would tweak his material between shows based on his interpretations of the audience's reaction.

As Letterman's warm-up act, Brill energizes the crowd before the "Late Show" each night. He has performed live on "Letterman" eight times and does stand-up all over the world.

When booking the comic talent for Letterman -- a job he has held for four years -- he said he looks for "smarter laughs": unique and intelligent comedians.

"We really train our society to like dumb, easy comedy," Brill said, citing sitcom laugh tracks that dictate what an audience should find funny. "We are training our society to like mediocrity."

Malow said his experience growing up Jewish in Texas inspires some of his material, but he also will discuss other topics, such as politics and science.

"I don't assign myself as a Jewish comic because that's just one part of my reality," Malow said.

"ChopShticks" has grown from a one-night event at the Golden Wok in Mountain View two years ago to this year's three-night party. Goldblatt modeled her event after "Kung Pao Kosher Comedy," the popular San Francisco dinner performance, to give Peninsula residents a more convenient way to satiate their inner egg roll-and-comedy cravings.

Chinese restaurants are the venue of choice for these shows in part because it is customary for Jewish people to dine at Chinese restaurants -- one of the only types of restaurants open -- at Christmastime, said Goldblatt, who spent many Christmas nights eating Chinese food and going to the movies.

"Chinese food is practically Jewish cuisine," Goldblatt said. "Jews and Chinese food, they go together like bagels and lox."

What: "ChopShticks: An Evening of Comedy and Chinese Food." Headliners are Eddie Brill and Brian Malow. The show is for anyone 16 years and older.

Where: Ming's Restaurant, 1700 Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto.

When: Dec. 24, 25 and 26. Tonight's show is sold out, but a few tickets remain for Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are required. A no-host bar will commence at 6:30 p.m., followed by a family-style dinner and the show.

Cost: Tickets are $60. Partial proceeds of the event will benefit three organizations that serve the Peninsula community: The Jewish Coalition for Literacy; Jewish Children and Family Services; and the Campus for Jewish Life, the future home of the Palo Alto JCC and a number of other community organizations.

Info: Visit www.chopshticks.com or call (650) 947-1280 or e-mail info@chopshticks.com.

Eddie Brill will lead a seminar, "The Business of Comedy: Everything from Getting Started to Letterman," on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Ming's. Tickets are $50. Information is available at www.chopshticks.com.

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