Mason one of top three stand-ups today

Joe Delaney

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Jackie Mason deserved a capacity crowd Thursday in the Sahara Congo Theater -- and for every night through Feb. 23. It was a goodly crowd and all concerned had a fine time, particularly this old critic. Mason's approach to current events is astute and extremely funny. The first few minutes were spent on an analysis of the O.J. Simpson civil trial verdict and the jury system in general. He was hot, from casual walk-on to closing remarks 75 minutes later.

Other topics included Catholics and Jews, Gentiles and Jews, the difference between them, Puerto Rican commercials, Italians as executives, black weathermen on TV, status symbols, Caribbean island vacations, Mexican vacations, Starbuck's coffee shops vs. ordinary coffee shops, the French people, exercise rooms, brie, cajun food, sushi, milk, salt, sugar, red meat, what is and is not good for you, health food stores, alfalfa and bean sprouts, Picasso paintings, Jews skiing, adultery, and Jewish husbands and wives.

He concluded with ethnicity, cultures, occupations, discrimination, Nixon vs. Clinton as presidents, presidents committing adultery, his show-stopping carbon of the late Ed Sullivan, and weathermen who never tell you whether it is hot or cold outside, a short semi-disclaimer, and a story about his grandfather.

The tribute here is that a good bit of his material was from the "Jackie Mason, Brand New" cassette that I've been listening to in the car for the past two weeks. I still laughed consistently and out loud Thursday. Mason rates as one of the top three funniest men in the business today.

JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.