Every Part Of The Industry With Harry Basil!

·1 hr 12 min·5 clips

Harry Basil's Rocky-themed comedy act earned a rare standing ovation, prompting Mitzi Shore to declare him a headliner instantly.

The episode is an interview format where host Barry Katz guides Harry Basil through his extensive career in entertainment. Basil grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey, in a Greek family with five kids; his father left when he was young. Early inspirations included watching Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Abbott and Costello, leading him to make silent home movies as a child. He moved to Hollywood at age 21 in 1981 with minimal plan, working as a waiter at the Sheraton Universal. His break came at The Comedy Store's Monday open mic, where he performed a Raiders of the Lost Ark spoof and caught Mitzi Shore's attention. Basil developed a unique act incorporating movie soundtracks and props, performing bits from James Bond, Superman, and Rocky, which earned standing ovations. Shore promoted him to headliner, and he performed alongside comics like Louis Anderson, Andrew Dice Clay, and Jim Carrey. He headlined at The Dunes in Las Vegas at age 24. Basil appeared on Rodney Dangerfield's Ninth Annual Young Comedians Special in 1984, performing a Risky Business bit. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff saw him and compared him to Steve Martin, leading to development deals and auditions for Saturday Night Live, though he didn't get cast. He acted in films like Peggy Sue Got Married, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and TV pilots. Basil wrote and directed several films with Rodney Dangerfield, including Meet Wally Sparks and The Fourth Tenor, with Dangerfield self-financing projects. He co-owns and operates the Laugh Factory theater in Covina, booking Latino comics and friends like Paul Rodriguez. The conversation covers anecdotes about comics like Sam Kinison, Gary Shandling, and Liza Minnelli, who made a pass at him leading to a strained relationship. Basil reflects on regrets like not hiring manager Brad Gray and blowing his SNL audition. He concludes with advice for aspiring comedians to create unique content and leverage multiple outlets in the industry.

As heard by us

A Bergenfield origin story grounded in club work, taped music, and the Dunes.

Barry Katz's conversation with Harry Basil keeps its attention on the basics of a working comic's life: Bergenfield, New Jersey, a family story marked by a father who left five children behind, and the long stretch of club work that followed.

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Why you'd press play

You want a New Jersey comedy story with taped music and club-room stakes.

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