Just for laughs

Local comedians will cast out their best shtick during grand opening shows Sept. 9 to 11 at the Flappers Comedy Club.

The grand opening evening shows will be emceed by Samuel J. Comroe.

Comroe plays up his Tourette's syndrome that, he said, inspires lots of laughs from the audience.

"In the beginning, I didn't do too much on Tourette's syndrome, but I was told by Barbara [Holliday, the club's owner] and other comedians to take advantage of it," he said. "It separated me from others and provided me uphill success from there. I really embraced it."

One bit he does at the opening of his segment usually always gets a laugh.

"I have Tourette's," he tells the audience. "You don't know what it's like when a haircut becomes a life or death situation. I don't want Super Cuts to be the last thing I see."

Comroe will also be hosting and producing the Flappers University College Nights at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. To help draw a younger crowd, college students get in for half price when they show their student ID.

Another regular performer at the comedy club is Michael Rayner, a veteran children's entertainer who prides himself on anticipating what his audience likes.

"I know the attention span of the 5- to 11-year-olds," he quipped.

To that end, he has been placed in charge of creating and hosting the "Two Milk Minimum" kids and families show at 11:30 a.m. every Saturday in the Yoo-hoo Room, which will have its grand opening on Sept. 11. He also books talent for adult shows in that room from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Rayner has appeared on TV shows like "The Late Show with David Letterman," and "30 Seconds to Fame" and others. When not performing, Rayner has been a writer/producer for Nickelodeon TV, GSN, E!, The Spark Factory and UCP productions.

"I do lots of shows for families around the country for churches and festivals and at the Burbank libraries and libraries around Los Angeles," he said. "I'll be booking the comedy jugglers and guest magicians for the 'Two Milk Minimum' shows."

But the shows won't be just for laughs. Rayner plans to add a little sophistication by bringing in special guests like filmmaker Cory Edwards who directed the 2005 blockbuster animated film "Hoodwinked."