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Of Hedgehogs and Psychiatrist Tom
Howie Mandel:
by David Carter
photographs by Eric Drummond
I am going to have nightmares. I might have to
sit on psychiatrist Tom’s couch and discuss why
I cannot forget the image of a man in a three
piece burnt orange suit singing about how
great his day was. I wasn’t sure if I should have
gone along with the crowd when they began to
wave their cell phones, or armed myself with
riot gear when the masses at Howie Mandel’s
performance (sponsored by the College Activi-
ties Board) realized that the video of a singing
man projected on the screen would continue to
play for a solid fifteen minutes before the show
actually started. The tape was finally stopped
after being rewound
for kicks and giggles,
and the opening co-
median came on. I
knew then that this
show was going to be
something different.
Aside from shameless
plugs for Mandel’s
Deal or No Deal, I did
not know what to expect from this performance.
There were no beautiful models holding cases,
no mysterious bankers to bargain with, and no
commercial interruptions. I was skeptical as
to what I was going to see, and curious as to
how reserved the comedians would be, know-
ing it was homecoming and that families would
be present. It all became clear as the opening
comedian, John Mendoza asked an audience
member, “Is this your wife or a business trip?”
only to find out it was an ex-wife. Unedited hu-
mor quickly evolved and became something
everyone could enjoy, with it being completely
FCC-approved for television.
Then he appeared. Before the show, I was ex-
pecting an “As Seen on TV” Howie Mandel in
a designer suit, escorted by models wielding
numbered cases. What stood before the audi-
ence in Gordon Field House was Howie Mandel,
alone, in t-shirt and jeans. Much more energetic
than the moderately reserved host of a television
show, Mandel was a tangible person, aware of
his surroundings and ready to pick on people
within his field of vision.
Seeing a comedian live when they are on tour
contains almost the same material as the CD
which can be purchased at the end of the show.
Mandel sought the expertise of an M.D. and
found Tom, an audience member. Poor psychia-
trist Tom. Seeking free help and inquiring about
growing hair on his gluteus maximus was the
start of the inquisition. Mandel discussed with
the audience various topics including the ac-
curacy of a prostate exam, Mandel’s nocturnal
singing testes, talking parrots in thunder storms,
intercepting someone else’s phone call, and his
wife’s new pet hedgehog. Obviously, you won’t
find that as a hidden track on your Deal Or No
Deal: Season One DVD.
Unless you have your own Howie Mandel shrine,
complete with locks
of hair (from where, I
wonder!), you might
not have realize d
some things about
his career. Mandel
mentioned that he
was involved in many
infamous television
series. He was Bob-
by of Bobby’s World,
Gizmo in Gremlins and Gremlins 2, and Skeeter
in Muppet Babies. He pointed out that all three
voices were practically the same, finding his
ability to reach such pitches while choking on
birthday cake at a tender age.
Improvised humor is a showing of real comical
imagination, dividing those who can write jokes
from charismatic standup performers. It is said
that laughter is the best medicine. From Howie
Mandel’s point of view, a gloved finger stuck in
bodily orifices, an elderly doctor holding his ear
to Howie’s testicles in the dark (listening for a
humming sound), or picking on a psychiatrist in
the first row are all apparently acceptable forms
of medicine. Comedy is a laughable form of
mystery: one should not know what to expect.
Expecting a show that you already witnessed
via YouTube adulterates the experience. How-
ie, however, offered a little more than that. He
talked about the dangers of an audience mem-
ber shoving a parrot into her vagina and tried
to learn the sign for “parrot in vagina” from the
interpreter. Try finding that on YouTube.
... On second thought, just take my word for it.
Your probably don’t want to go there. •
LEISURE 11