What’s funny about a star comedian writing an autobiography (aside from the obvious) is what’s unearthed during his or her research.
In the case of Brad Garrett, the evidence uncovered, thanks to the miracle of photography, was an impression he did when he started performing stand-up comedy in front of audiences. This was in 1974, Garrett was age 14 at the time and the hot sitcom of the moment was Good Times.
“My comedic hero at the time was Jimmie ‘J.J.’ Walker,” says Garrett, who this month celebrates the second anniversary of operating Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand. “I did a handful of impressions, and one of the first was Jimmie Walker. I got the denim hat, the sweater, the vest, everything.”
Garrett remembers being 6-foot-4 and 98 pounds, looking similar in stature to a young Walker. He was asked to perform the impression at his temple (Garrett being Jewish) and decided to go full tilt by adding makeup to the act.
“I went to a makeup place, this tall kid from the Bronx, and asked, ‘Can you make me look like Sidney Poitier?’” Garrett says. “I was not trying to make it like a minstrel show, but just to add to the character. … How it was that nobody in my house stopped me from going out in that makeup is still a mystery to me. But I did find the photo in an album I was looking through just a few days ago. I am using it in my book, and I hope it doesn’t kill my career.”
The book, titled When the Balls Drop, is one of Garrett’s myriad projects, and is scheduled for publication by Simon & Schuster, with a spring 2015 release. The TV rights for the book, which is largely Garrett’s richly entertaining life story mixed with his own observations about growing older, have been picked up by 20th Century Fox Television. He hopes to develop a cable TV show from the book, and has also wrapped his work this season on Robin Williams’ sitcom, The Crazy Ones.
In Las Vegas, Garrett is moving into his fourth year of running a club, having moved his operation to the MGM Grand from Tropicana in 2012. He typically appears as host one week per month, although this spring he did take two months off to work on the book and the sitcom. He’ll likely perform two weekends a month during the summer, with ticket prices higher when he is in town (tickets are starting at $68.40 when Garrett’s on, $46.40 when he’s off). The club sells out when the star is onstage; it runs about 75 percent capacity when he is not.
Garrett will be in town during the anniversary from April 7-13, playing with Tom McTigue and Danny Bevins. He says the business is making money and “creatively, I’m having more fun than ever.” He points to the wide array of comics who have appeared on his stage during his run in Vegas, including such upstarts as Michael Somerville and such established friends as Ralph Harris, who have routinely killed during their sets. In fact, one of the dozens of comics to perform at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club is his teenage inspiration: Jimmie “J.J.” Walker.
“He doesn’t know that story,” Garrett says, clearly referring to his long-ago impression. “I was just trying to be edgy and think out of the box. Looking back, it’s pretty funny.”
MGM Grand, 8 p.m. daily, starting at $46.40 plus tax and fee, $68.40 when Garrett performs, 21+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
