By Eva Trieger
LOS ANGELES — What does a Southern California weatherman need to know about meteorology? Apparently, that’s the wrong question. The correct question is who does an aspiring weatherman need to know. The answer to this query was discovered by stand-up comedian, Fritz Coleman in 1982.
Coleman was discovered by Steve Antonetti while doing his comedy routine at a local Los Angeles club. Having done a stint in the Navy and providing weather reports for Armed Forces Radio gave Coleman experience in addressing the public and using a microphone. Following his act, the former NBC4 news director asked him if he’d like to become a “relief” weatherman, filling in for the permanent meteorologist. When Coleman reiterated that he knew little about weather reporting or forecasting, Antonetti told him it would be a perfect fit because LA doesn’t “have weather.” All Coleman had to do was learn to say, “overcast in the morning, clearing late morning, and 72 degrees” in about 20 different ways.
He quickly became a valued member of the NBC4 news team, and a beloved personality on the station. This day job soon developed into a full-time vocation when Coleman stepped into the shoes of his predecessor, Kevin O’Connell. San Diegans may remember Coleman’s weather reports on NBC affiliate KNSD from 2009-2011.
However, Coleman’s commitment to comedy did not diminish and by night, he was still doing stand up and growing ever more popular. To build up his “chops,” Coleman was a talk show host, did radio jobs, and became involved in several open mic nights that eventually led to a paid regular spot at the Comedy Store.
Coleman said his appearance on Johnny Carson felt like a “bar mitzvah” as it was such a significant rite of passage. From Carson and George Carlin, Coleman learned that comedy can be a unifying force that “allows audiences to get out of their heads.” His admiration for both of these brilliant and sophisticated comedians helped to form his brand of humor which is not based in politics, but largely on observation of the common human experience.
Some of Fritz Coleman’s projects include his own self-reflecting. He joked about being middle aged, raising children and getting older in his show It’s Me, Dad. Now he says he’s “deep into it (aging)” and has created a show called Unassisted Living where he explores his new role as a grandpa and a senior. This show is entering its second year at the El Portal theatre in North Hollywood, and is the longest running comedy show in their history, with Emmy winning Coleman appearing each month with the very funny comedienne Wendy Liebman.
Liebman describes herself as a Long Island yenta. Her humor is largely self-deprecating and very funny. She talks about marriage, getting older, dating, stepchildren and exudes a warm, engaging spirit both in her stand-up routine and during our Zoom interview. The two comedians don’t generally appear together except for the mic hand off, yet both voiced a clear and obvious high positive regard for one another.
Liebman, an East coaster like Coleman, had studied in Boston and was trained to be a therapist. However, she found the work difficult and “oppressive.” When a piece of mail was misdelivered to her apartment, she signed up for a class from the course catalog for the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Thinking she’d enjoy an acting class to take her away from the challenges of being a therapist, she enrolled. However, the teacher quit during the break, so Liebman opted for How to Be a Stand-Up. She referred to this as her epiphany and heard angels, bells and knew that she’d found her calling.
Embracing her love of theatre and musical theatre, Liebman found a mentor and guide in Ron Lynch. She says she is eternally grateful to him for his lessons, experience and has never looked back.
I asked both comedians about writing comedy. Was it solo or do they bounce ideas off of friends/colleagues? Coleman told me that writing is a solitary act, and he has great self-discipline, writing one to two hours every day. He finds it cathartic. He enjoys trying out his new jokes in the same way a toddler enjoys a new toy. Liebman said that her husband says funny things in his sleep, and she asks him if she can use them! She shared a really cute one, but I refuse to reveal it here. Go see the act.
I wanted to know about each comedian’s favorite live performance. Fritz told me that he loved being on Carson and being on Bob Hope’s show, where he finally won his father’s approval. His dad was a WWII guy who related to Bob Hope more than he appreciated Johnny Carson. Liebman loves kibbitzing with the audience, but both agreed that having the comedian be present and staying in the moment is what makes audiences feel connected.
Both Coleman and Liebman have won awards. Of which ones are they most proud? Liebman is in very good company. She was previously nominated twice and then won the Best American Female Stand Up Comedian award. She is flanked by an impressive sisterhood of Sarah Silverman, Paula Poundstone and Margaret Cho. Fritz Coleman is most proud of the Humanitarian award he won, in addition to his five Emmys. He said that he enjoyed being recognized with those individuals with whom he shared a common interest in charities and philanthropy. He encourages others to volunteer and think “outside themselves.”
These two individuals are teaming up monthly to provide a respite from our current world climate. They enable audiences to laugh at them while also laughing at ourselves. Coleman wants the show to be accessible to all, and to that end, he promises his Boomers he’ll “get them home before dark”!
Tickets may be purchased at www.elportaltheatre.com/frizcoleman.html Show dates are 1/26, 2/23, 3/30, 4/27, all at 3 pm
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.