Boston Comedy ... Funny Grown Here

That's the new Weblog of Nick Zaino, intrepid writer, reporter, and chronicler of all things Stand-up Comedy.

Nick was the long-time beat reporter for The Boston Globe (as well as other publications), covering the enormous comedy scene in, and around, Boston.

Least you forget, Boston (primarily, the old Ding Ho, in Inman Square, Cambridge) launched the careers of people such as Barry Crimmins, Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Kevin Meany, Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwait, Lenny Clarke, Dennis Leary, Steve Sweeney, Jimmy Tingle and dozens of dozens more, and continues to be a hotbed of up-and-coming talent, the new and next generation of smart alecks.

Nick, for the past 10-years+ has been working the beat, covering the local clubs, the big headliners that would blow into town, and keeping tabs on who was where. and what was going on, locally, and nationally.

However, recently, as The New York Times continues to water down, and whittle away the once strong quality, dominant Boston Globe, the Globe, much like other newspapers, continues to cut back and cut back (as discussed with a mutual friend the other day, the Globe Arts Section is beginning to look like USA Today, with 50-word articles and lots of pictures!), and ultimately, recently, gave Nick his walking papers.

So, rather than wilt away, Nick is channeling his energy into doing what he has been doing, that being covering the Stand-up comedy scene, now, working for himself.

He's open to taking donations, advertising, sponsorships, or any positive assistance you can provide.

Go over to Boston Comedy ... Funny Grown Here, say hello to Nick, and sign-up for his feed.

It will help you to remember to laugh every day ...

Comedy Alert - The Optimistic Curmudgeon's Last Thoughts on 2007 Comedy Albums ...

"It’s difficult to make a really good comedy album, one you’ll want to listen to more than once. That’s why a lot of them get assigned to novelty hell."

Nick Zaino, over on The Optimistic Curmudgeon, is offering another look at last years' comedy albums released, following up on a column he wrote in The Boston Globe.

If you want to get away from Super Tuesdays', delegate counts or the flood of new Britney Spears news, this is a good read.

Check out "OC Review: A Few Last Thoughts on the Best Comedy Albums of 2007"

Comics Come Home Xlll Review, From The Optimistic Curmudgeon

Meet The Optimistic Curmudgeon.

The Garlic wants to hip you to The Optimistic Curmudgeon, otherwise know as Nick Zaino, freelance writer extraordinaire, and pounding the Comedy and Stand-Up Comedy beat for 'The Boston Globe" (and a person who "enjoys declarative sentences".)

And, if you are a Dennis Leary fan, you're in luck, as TOC has an extensive review of the event, which took place last week here in Boston.

Most of Leary’s ire Saturday was directed at celebrities and senators. Amy Winehouse and Larry Craig both had their images shown on two giant screens as Leary blurted his immediate thoughts, a burst of sunshine, as usual. The high/low point came when Leary showed an infamous paparazzi photo of Britney Spears getting out of her limo sans undies, with a star over the naughty bits. Leary asked the screen operators to show the picture uncensored, after which a picture of Bobby Brown came up on the screen. Just when you thought it was safe, there was the pic, uncensored, about twenty feet high. “That’s actual size, by the way,” Leary commented.

Check out Live Review: Comics Come Home XIII

And bookmark, or sign-up for, The Optimistic Curmudgeon... Nick's the real-deal and you'll find your time well-spent with his writing.