Richie Ripple

Photo of Richie Minervini comedian, philanthropist, East Comedy Club founder, friend and me before ‘Stand Up Sit Down’ at Cinema Arts Centre on 6/04.

This is the story I told as host to introduce Richie to audience for his stand-up set.

The written words here will be more detailed then the words I spoke.

East Side Comedy Club meaning Richie Minervini is where Eddie Murphy, Ray Romano, Kevin James and Rosie O’ Donnell launched careers that went to the stratosphere. Richie also launched many lesser names, me being in that batch.

I was a very young man working as a clerk at a video store. Richie came in frequently to rent movies. I often recommended films to him as the film geek I was and still am. He liked many of my recos. And he invited me to come on down to his club ‘on him’ to catch some comedy.

I was enamored by stand-up comedy and I laughed and observed. Richie astutely saw my interest and said to me that night. ‘Come on down anytime you want Steve’ I took him up on that and I was glued to the back wall five or six times a month, most times with his generosity the first beer was on him too.

This experience had a profound impact on my career and character. Here I was some young dreamer working in a video store and Richie treated me like I was a top agent at Creative Artists Agency. I could do nothing more than recommend films to him and he always had nothing but amazing hospitality and openness waiting at East Side. Over time I met many of the comedians that performed there.

My two favorites including the ‘stratosphere names’ were Rob Bartlett and Bob Nelson. I saw both of them perform numerous times. Someday they were going to be in a film I will make I thought to myself in the back blackness of the club. I had no credentials to make a film though.

I became an intern at PBS WLIW21 they then hired me as a part-time employee as a union cameraman and stage director. I learned my craft here. I worked with comedian legend Robert Klein twice on a pledge show and in-studio.

I launched my documentary “Laugh a Day” with the term ‘apple a day’ in mind. I interviewed scientists, doctors and scholars. Also many comedians kindly participated in my show including Rob Bartlett, Bob Nelson, Robert Klein, Richard Belzer, David Brenner, Jeff Garlin and others. An almost two year struggle to get this film completed resulted in broadcast on PBS WNET13 and many PBS stations in our country. I was nominated for an Emmy, documentary short as the film was 30 minutes running time.

Fast forward to my ‘Stand Up Sit Down’ comedy series at good vibes Cinema Arts Centre with the format of headliner comedian and then me interviewing them for the audience. No cameras rolling. I began this once a month for eight month journey with amazing comedian and really good guy Rob Bartlett and ended season one with the “Godfather of Long Island Comedy” Richie Minervini. Perfect bookends to fill this circle of good karma.

I remember Richie calling me the Dick Cavett of the East Side gang years ago and I have interviewed many people in documentaries and now live for the ‘Stand Up Sit Down’ comedy series.

How Richie treated this nobody kid from a video store with enthusiastic goodness was invaluable and unforgettable. It was and is profound to me. It taught me a life lesson to treat everyone with respect and kindness always. My career and character have been altered and bettered because of the seed of positivity planted by my friend Richie Minervini.

This is a rare and wonderful occurrence in life.

I am simply one of many that had parallel stories to mine as told at ‘Stand Up Sit Down’ this evening to an audience that enjoyed many laughs and sentimental tears. It was an awesome night.

After the show a bunch of us went to Christophers Pub/Restaurant for food and drinks.

Richie commented to me ‘tonight was like being at my funeral with the words that were spoken’. He deserved and earned every accolade that was shared.

And… ‘Stand Up Sit Down’ will return to Cinema Arts Centre in September for season two. Thank you Richie, Cinema Arts Centre and a wonderful audience that has been enjoying this concept of headliner comedian and then conversation/interview.

Kindness, appreciation, community and laughter will continue I’ll call it the ‘Richie ripple.’