The very first stand-up comedy special I remember seeing is Mom! Louie's Looking At Me Again! It's also the first time I remember laughing so hard that tears came out of my eyes.
It started my love of stand-up comedy. I would watch any stand-up that was on TV. I used to tape it if I couldn't catch it, and I would watch the tapes over and over. I didn't realize it, but it was giving me a sense of comedic timing. I don't know if this would have happened if my parents hadn't had me watch this big guy from Minnesota one night on channel 2. That special was what changed the direction of my life.
I wound up joining a comedy improv troupe out of high school, and performed from 1995-2005. Toward the end of our days we also started doing sketch comedy, and I tried stand-up at a couple of our last shows. There was (and is) nothing like it.
In 2005 Louie (that's how big he is in Minnesota. He's known by his first name only) announced on the KQ morning show that he was going to hold auditions for amateur comedians to open for him at his annual New Year's Eve show at Northrop Auditorium on the campus of the U of M. I didn't hear the announcement, but a lot of family and friends told me about it, and that I have to audition.
The first round I arrived at the club in a hotel, and met Louie for the first time. I couldn't believe how nice he was. Just a gentile giant. During intermission of that show he was in the hall outside the club, and all of the guests were going up to him to meet him, and tell him where they know him from. He spoke to every last person, taking pictures and signing autographs. Intermission went about 25 minutes longer because he didn't start the show again until he spoke to everyone.
At one of these auditions he watched all of our sets (as usual), and after the show he met with all of us in a room and gave personal notes to each of us.
See if you can get to your first punchline faster.
You had that great bit about mowing the lawn, but you don't need to swear during it.
You might not want to drink before you go up next time.
He announced the winners (the ones who would open for him on New Year's) on KQ. Again, I don't listen to that show; so I didn't hear that I was a finalist. My co-workers were the first ones to tell me when I showed up in the morning. Friends and family were calling me at work to congratulate me.
New Year's Eve 2005. Northrop Auditorium. The other amateurs and I got to the theater that afternoon. Like 3:00, or something. It was really early. We all did a dry run of our sets on the stage to the empty theater. It was really echo-y with no one in the seats. A few of us went to a nearby malt shop for dinner before showtime.
When we got back to the theater Louie was in a tiny dressing room getting a haircut from a stylist. We had drew our order at random earlier in the day, and I was the last of the amateurs to go on. The show was going to be us six doing our 5 minutes each, intermission, and then Louie. There was supposed to be a winner who got $1,000. We never heard how that was going to be judged or anything. It's not like I was doing it for the prize.
After all of my new friends did their sets (with Louie watching from a black-screened tent on the side of the stage - he could see out, but you couldn't see him), I got to do my act. Walking on stage was incredible. I have heard that 4,400 people were in attendance, and I believe it. Looking out at the biggest crowd I've ever performed for gave me an adrenaline rush that I've never had since. My first laugh felt like a tidal wave at me. It was unbelievable.
They went to intermission after my set. We were all high-fiving each other, and patting each other's backs. There was no sense of competition back stage. We were all equal, and having the time of our lives. Coming back from intermission, no one said anything to us. Louie just went out on stage and got a few laughs, and said something like "So now we need to pick a winner from the guys you saw earlier," and he announced my name. I strutted out to Louie at center stage and gave a little bow. I thought I had won.
I didn't win the money
Then he called out my friend Steve, who also didn't win. He brought out one more guy, and announced him as the winner. I was never disappointed. The experience is one I'll cherish for the rest of my life, and Louie made it possible. This would be the 2nd time he changed my life.
I went with my dad to see him perform at the Parkway a few years later. He had a meet and greet and when I went up to him he said, "Hi Andy. Are you still doing stand-up?" He remembered me. I don't think it's because I was such a good comedian. I think he really cared about people in his life.
I believe that Louie considered me a friend. I am lucky to have this experience and to have known him. I will miss him, and so will millions of others.
