Bob Zany made his first television appearance at the age of 15 on the Gong Show. ย“They still repeat that,ย” he says. ย“I still get residual checks. Itย’s 53 cents for each appearance, but this was before I was incorporated, so they take taxes out. Four cents actually goes to FICA, so Iย’ll be seeing that when I retire.ย”

Zany peppers his audience with one-liners. ย“You ever meet the overachiever guy?ย” he asks; ย“(he) says, ย‘Iย’ll sleep when I die.ย’ Why donย’t you go to bed early?ย” That style of comedy, though, seems to be a dying art. ย“I donย’t know,ย” Zany ponders, ย“everyone has such short attention spans youย’d think it wouldnย’t be the case. I saw Pirates of the Caribbean this summer, and itย’s so long Iย’m going, ย‘How in the hell did they market this and to who?ย’ I donย’t even have time, and I probably have a little more patience than people who watch YouTube.ย”

Thu., Aug. 23, 8 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 24, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 25, 7, 9 & 10:45 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 26, 7 p.m.

This article appears in Aug 23-29, 2007.