Two big Macs and an extra-large order of laughs

Steve Bornfeld

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:47 a.m.

Cue the theme -- semi-altered -- from that tele-chestnut "The Patty Duke Show":

"They laugh alike, they talk alike, at times they even joke alike; you can lose your mind, when comics are two of a kind."

Or are they?

Before making your weekend entertainment plans, we thought you could use some help in differentiating between comic Mike McDonald, performing at 8 and 10:30 p.m. through Sunday at the Tropicana Comedy Stop, and comic Mike MacDonald -- coincidence or conspiracy? -- performing, yes, at 8 and 10:30 p.m. through Sunday (hey, what are the odds?) across the street at Catch a Rising Star at the MGM Grand.

"We're borrowing jousting equipment from Excalibur and having a battle royale," says McDonald of MacDonald. The latter adds: "The name hasn't done me that much good anyway."

One -- we'll call him McD -- is a 39-year-old funnyman from Hartford, Conn. The other --- let's try MacD for short -- is a 42-year-old rib-tickler from Ottawa. The two know of each other -- they've even worked the same cities and heard good things about each other secondhand -- but, as of this telephone interview, have never met. Sounds like at least a coffee-and-danish confab is in order.

Is one Mike McDonald as good -- and giggle-worthy -- as the next Mike MacDonald? You decide:

Q: If you hadn't become a comic, what would you have become?

McD: A marine biologist. I have dolphins in my tub right now, and a lobster in my toilet.

MacD: An undercover narcotics cop.

Q: Why did you become a comic?

McD: Because I'm definitely funny. It's a good job. It's not like I was making and loading bombs.

MacD: It was one of the few things I could do all by myself. I had played in bands before that and I got kicked out for being too funny.

Q: How do you feel about other comics named Mike McDonald-MacDonald?

McD: I can't begrudge the man his life on Earth. He's funny. And we're both bringing up all the other Mike McDonalds in the gene pool.

MacD: Whaddaya gonna do? I hear he's a nice guy. We probably share the same problems, like going to radio stations for interviews and having the DJ do the same stupid joke: "How ya been doin' since the Doobie Brothers?"

Q: How do you feel about Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers?

McD: We're all hoping to tour together.

MacD: Whenever his career pops up again, I go, "Oh, great, thanks a lot."

Q: How much would you pay the other Mike to change his name?

McD: I might pay him some Canadian money because that ain't worth anything anyway.

MacD: Nothing, but I'd take money from him. At this point, I'd take money from anybody.

Q: Why should people see you instead of the other Mike?

McD: If people come to the show and don't like what I do, I'll give them their money back. I don't know if the other Mike will do that.

MacD: I would never tell anybody not to see somebody. Of course, it's a nicer room over here. And a nicer stage. Nicer hotel rooms. A better cafeteria.

Q: How about working as a team: McDonald & MacDonald (argue about the billing order amongst yourselves)?

McD: I'd be happy to work with the guy. It would be fun. We've actually played some of the same cities at the same time.

MacD: A long time ago, a promoter wanted to put us together. I thought it would be OK, but it never happened. I've never even bumped into him anywhere. It's weird.

Q: Ever consider breaking into a computer and transferring all your credit debt to the other guy?

McD: I'd be more than willing to do that. If you're able to get his numbers, I'd be happy to take them from you.

MacD: That's a very interesting idea.

Q: What can you do that the other Mike can't?

McD: I broke into Siegfried & Roy's house the other day, and I've got some of the elephants. I don't think he has any of the elephants in his act. And I've got Lance Burton's makeup, too.

MacD: Sleep with my wife.

McD: When he's on the road, I give her a call.

"While McD adores the minuet, the Ballet Roos and crepe suzette, our MacD loves to rock 'n' roll, a hot dog makes him lose control. What a wild duet! Still they're comics, confusable comics all the way..."