Columnist Joe Delaney: Boosler ponders comedy, dogs and baseball

Joe Delaney

Friday, July 6, 2001 | 8:48 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Comedian and comedy writer Elayne Boosler, appearing in Paris Las Vegas' le Theatre des Arts through Saturday with special guest Judy Tenuta, is one of this columnist's favorite people and a very funny lady ... In a recent telephone chat, we shared our strong feelings for baseball and pets, particularly dogs.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., she admits to enrolling at but not attending the University of South Florida in Tampa for several years ... Back in New York City she set records for being fired as a waitress from the most restaurants during the shortest period of time at each ... Still waiting tables in a place that doubled as late-night comedy club, she made her debut.

It is reported that her first attempt at comedy included an 11-minute version of Van Morrison's "Moondance" ... She did study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, plus take courses in musical comedy and jazz, plus ballet at the Joffrey School.

Despite her Brooklyn upbringing, Boosler did not follow the Dodgers west. "Joe, I'm a Mets fan today. You know, I have sung the pre-game national anthem a number of times for the Mets, Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. I play baseball once a year at Dodger Stadium for charity on the Hollywood Stars night. I actually go to baseball games whenever possible.

"Performing and writing comedy is my first love. Baseball and animal rescue are tied for second. Boxers are my favorite dogs. We have a website (boxer-rescue-la.com). During 2000 we placed 720 boxers in new homes. I am also active with the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the U.S. Humane Society and a number of other animal rescue groups.

"My start in comedy was really as a young, unmarried, dressed-up-for-a-date young lady. Today I deal more with the social aspect of relationships between all people, not just the sexes. I also deal with social aspect of politics and how all of this affects our every-day lives. How we see each other is my theme today.

"I guest on 'Politically Incorrect' with Bill Maher twice a month." On July 9, the "Politically Incorrect" baseball edition will appear in its regular time and also on ESPN.

"Writing for Streisand's 1995 tour, city by city, was great fun, and having one of my pieces for Barbra on the front cover of the L.A. Times Sunday Calendar section was a big kick," Boosler continued. "Her New York City monologue that I wrote was quoted in its entirety in the New York Times.

"Working with Judy Tenuta this weekend is a treat. I agree that it's an odd coupling. We were thinking of calling it the 'Vagina Diatribes.'

"Ideally, I would like to perform 26 weeks a year and write 26 weeks a year, still continuing to divide my time between Manhattan and L.A., with my boxer dog, Petey and black Labrador, Wiley."

It's a comedy weekend

Along with Boosler and Tenuta, Rita Rudner is even stronger after moving to New York-New York ... Elsewhere, it's David Brenner plus Amazing Johnathan (Golden Nugget); Tim Conway and Harvey Korman plus Louise DuArt (LV Hilton); George Carlin (MGM Grand); Louie Anderson, closing tonight at the Top of the Riviera; Rich Little (Suncoast); and Andrew Dice Clay (Venetian).

"Second City" (Flamingo Las Vegas) is recommended, and there are copious laughs at the comedy clubs in the Excalibur, Flamingo, Harrah's, Palace Station, Riviera and Tropicana. Check out afternoon shows, such as the long-running "Bottoms Up (Flamingo Las Vegas); "Stars of the Strip" (Lady Luck) and "Viva Las Vegas" (Stratosphere) ... There are others.

Our lounge best-bet, this weekend and next, is the ubiquitous and indefatigable Treniers at the Castaways, the real Las Vegas for nearly five decades now ... See you next Thursday.