Playing charity golf, Cabana score with Valentine
Playing golf and comedy make a trip to Myrtle Beach all the more valuable for Gary Valentine.
The comedian and actor will shoot the rounds Monday in the “Monday After the Masters” tournament, the Hootie & the Blowfish “Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am” at Barefoot Resort near North Myrtle Beach, a fundraiser for the group’s foundation (hootiegolf.com) helping various charities. Then he will play Tuesday at Comedy Cabana, just north of Myrtle Beach, with shows at 8 and 10:15 p.m., continuing his tradition of an annual booking at the club.
Valentine’s known for various types of roles, such as Danny Heffernan – cousin to Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) – on “The King of Queens,” which ran nine seasons (1998-2007) on CBS, a few episodes for which he helped write. He also has joined James in two “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” movies, including the sequel, hitting theaters on Friday.
Other parts for which Valentine is known cover playing Deputy Knudsen on several episodes last year on FX’s “Fargo,” and host for “The X Show” earlier on that same cable network; various appearances on comedy shows and specials, especially adding his roundtable cheer on E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately”; and as George Bannister in “The Dog Who Saved ... ” TV/DVD movie series, with “The Dog Who Saved Summer” slated for release later this year, Valentine said.
Calling last week from home in Los Angeles, the Long Island, N.Y., native sounded as easygoing and friendly as he comes across on camera, just like he might be your “Cousin Danny.”
Question | What is about certain sitcoms – such as “The King of Queens,” a nightly staple on the cable channel TV Land – that gain a whole new life, and maybe a whole new audience, in syndication?
Answer | It gained a lot of momentum by being shown on American Airlines, where people were in a way forced to watch it, or if they’ve never seen it before, they got an introduction. It gained a lot of momentum that way, and just because it’s on so much. ... I’m proud of that.
Q. | Just when we think we had seen every episode of “The King of Queens,” would you believe my wife and I will look at each other late one night and say, “How’d we miss this one?”
A. | For me, it’s like that with “Seinfeld.”
Q. | You have any special hobby or interest to which we would never dream of connecting you?
A. | My only hobby that I’m really passionate about is golf. That’s what I’ll be doing at Myrtle Beach, in “Monday After the Masters,” with Hootie & the Blowfish. It’s really a great time and a great cause, which draws a lot of people, even if the weather is crummy. Then I will follow it up with the night after, at Comedy Cabana.
Q. | Who is the classic, yesteryear comedian that influenced you most, so much that he or she makes up a little piece of your heart every time on stage?
A. | I have a couple: Steve Martin and Robert Klein. Robert with his ... intellect, and Steve with his silliness. I see my act as a mix of the two, and it works for me.
Q. | You don’t also boast a talent to playing banjo, as Martin does so well?
A. | No, I don’t play the banjo. I wish ...
Q. | When you go on “Chelsea Handler” and other TV shows, and everything is off the cuff, how do you make yourself a comfort zone, or is that a secret skill that’s hidden so well, and it just happens case by case?
A. | It’s so funny: I’m really comfortable improvising. I know that sounds odd, but I just feel good on my feet. ... On “Chelsea Handler,” we had a few topics that we had to deal with and put our 2 cents in, so we’d have notes of our topics, but we usually improvised for a lot of it, and someone would say something that fed off of what others say. ...
It’s just ingrained; I was born with it.
Q. | With a new baseball season starting, any hopes for, or expectations from, your favorite team?
A. | I’m going to New York next week for the “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” premiere. ... The Mets are my team. We have a tough division; the Washington Nationals will be up there. We’ll be fighting for a wild-card spot. The Mets could surprise a lot of people. Top to bottom, we have a good pitching staff.
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 444-1764.
If you go
Who | Gary Valentine, with Rollin’ Jay Moore and Cooter Douglas opening
When | 8 and 10:15 p.m. Tuesday
How much | $17.50 or $20
Where | Comedy Cabana, 9588 N. Kings Highway, just north of Myrtle Beach
Other confirmed headliners | 8 p.m. per night, also 10:15 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, with most dates including Cooter Douglas opening, and each $15 or $17.50 , and more to be scheduled:
▪ Manny Oliveira, Tuesday-Saturday
▪ Rollin’ Jay Moore, April 15-19.
▪ Tim Young, April 21-25, also with Daryl Knight.
▪ Craig Carmean, April 28-May 2, also with Mark Evans.
▪ Ron Josol, May 5-9.
▪ Troy Thirdgill, June 2-7.
▪ Steve White, June 29-July 5.
▪ Eddie Clark, July 13-19, also with Ron Placone.
▪ Ron Feingold, July 20-26, also with John Charles.
Information | 449-4242 or comedycabana.com
This story was originally published April 12, 2015 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Playing charity golf, Cabana score with Valentine."