AFTER THREE ROOKIE SEASONS

By: Glenn Cohen

My First Rookie Season of stand-up comedy was in 1978 at Boston’s Comedy Connection at the Charles Playhouse. I was adequate, and got accepted into that fraternity of comedians, but didn’t really have the “passion” and didn’t pursue stand-up much further.

I moved to New York in 1983 and soon thereafter got involved in an improv comedy where I played a citizen of India, Malphal Singh. Malphal was a HIT character. Everything he said got laughs. Around 1985, I decided to have Malphal perform stand-up comedy and I auditioned for Silver Friedman at The Original Improvisation.  I made the cut and commenced my Second Rookie Season of comedy. I was adequate, but still lacked the passion necessary to pursue it further. I then went a quarter century without performing stand-up.

At the start of the year, I had a chance encounter with comedian Francesca Day. She produced her own weekly comedy show in New York, The Dirty Hoe Show. I saw her show four weeks in a row. It ignited my passion! It made me want to be a Dirty Hoe. So in 2015, I began my Third Rookie Season as a stand-up comedian. My NEW character is Glenn Cohen, a bald 58 year old unemployed Jew. In the last couple of years, a multitude of people have been telling me that I am very funny! Now, I agree. I’ve had 100% positive feedback. I am proud of my set and willing to do it anytime, anywhere, even to an audience of one. I am loaded for bear!!!! It only took me 37 years of writing jokes onto little slips of paper to assemble a six minute set, and IT’S HILARIOUS!!!!

Last year, if I were asked: “Are you a stand-up comedian?” I would have said “I used to be”. In January, I was asked, “are you a comedian”? – my response – “YES”!

This week I got the word I’ve been waiting for. Francesca Day sent me a text that she was putting me into one of her shows in May. I made it! I’m gonna be, no, I am a Dirty Hoe!  This is the goal I had set for myself, to get accepted into the Dirty Hoe Show. It’s in the same place, but with a new name (subject to change), “Free Dirty Friday” (Every Friday at Karma Lounge, 51 First Avenue, NYC at 7 pm).

Last Friday night I went to Francesca’s “Free Dirty Friday Show“. I then got to hang out with her and a few comics afterwards. Francesca had another performance scheduled at a different comedy club. I was just going to be in the audience, but I signed up as a “no show replacement” and I made it onto the bill. I had no idea I was going to do a show. It was my goal to be in the same show as Francesca and now I don’t even have to wait until May. After the show I got to hang out with a few of the comics until the extreme wee hours. I feel as though after three rookie seasons, I have graduated into being accepted by the comedy community I’ve been wanting to join. It was a GREAT NIGHT! Looking forward to a great year!!!

Update:  The new name for Francesca Day’s 7 PM Friday show at Karma Lounge is “Free Dirt”.  “The Dirty Hoe Show” is now reserved for female comedians only.

To learn more about Glenn Cohen visit his website and social media pages.

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