A Chat with Comedian Tony V.

Editor's Note: Rhiannon D'Angelo is on vacation this week in Europe. Let's all feel envious for a second. While she's away, I've decided to re-run a couple of my favorite Stopping by this Life columns. This was originally published on March 2.

The very funny Tony V. is a well-known comedian, actor and writer, as well as a spirited member of the Charlestown community. Tony married into Charlestown in 1982 when he tied the knot with his wife Kristen, a lifetime resident. Tony has had apartments everywhere from the Big Apple to Los Angeles, but has never given up his Monument Ave. home. Recently, this local wisecracker caught up with Charlestown Patch. Below, his musings on everything from donuts to his own inner beauty:

 Q: What does Charlestown have that the rest of Boston doesn’t?

A: One square mile of PEACE, LOVE, and UNDERSTANDING. You see, in other parts of Boston it seems there aren’t equal parts of P-L-U. For instance, in JP, I understand, there apparently is only a little P, not much L and an over abundance of U. The South End has a significant amount of LU and not much P and Eastie is almost all PU.

 Q: Favorite restaurant/bar to grab a bite or beer in Charlestown?

A: , Zumes and Zumes!!! Can't say enough about the place, without exaggeration. In all honesty I can report that I had THE BEST cup of coffee in my life there. Throw on top of that Kane’s Donuts, which they offer, and it's near perfect. If they'd let me sleep there, that's where I'd live. Then, there's the , where you can have wonderful fare in the oldest tavern on the planet. And, by the way, you can enjoy that fare with people who have been in the place since it opened in the 1600's along with folks who just moved in yesterday. The fantastic staff makes you feel welcome from the second you step in.

Q: I read that before discovering comedy you had a stressful job, and were in the middle of earning a Master’s degree. What’s so funny about that?

A: I had just started working toward my MSW; I have a Bachelor’s from UMASS. I think there was a State law passed forbidding me from stumbling down that avenue of my life. Something about being less well adjusted than the people I was trying to help. One time I escorted a client to a group home and they tried to keep me there as well. (I really wish that were a joke) 

 Q: What inspires most of your material?

A: My ability to see the down side of everything. It can get a little tedious, I'm sure. You'd have to ask my wife and kids about that. I try to keep it somewhat in check when around them. And don't ask any of my friends--they're worse off than me. When I hang out with my comedian friends, any conversations we have would damn us all to the deepest quadrants of Hell!

 Q: TV, Movies, stand-up – you’ve shared the stage with some pretty famous people.  Ever get star struck?  And is Ben Affleck is really that handsome?

A: I once did a pilot with Gary Coleman, that's as close as I ever came to star struck. And I once had Gary Oldman take a swing (and a miss) at me because I kept calling him Gary Coleman in a bar in LA. I have no opinion one way of the other about the handsomeness of Ben Affleck - you see, I was standing next to Jon Hamm on the set of "The Town" at the time, so there was good looking everywhere I turned. Of course, most of the Ladies were looking my way; it's my inner beauty and my hat!

 Q: So you’ve been here in Charlestown since 1982– what’s your favorite spot in the neighborhood?  

A: I enjoy the - It's one of the most wonderful spots anywhere in the country. The History, the water, people from all over, comfy places to sit and an amazing view of a world-class city - you can't beat it anywhere. I am also fond of my couch.

 Q: Since I have you here, can you tell me about the meeting between The Gorilla, Spuds MacKenzie and Ronald McDonald?

A: It is a long and very funny story involving a Jerry Lewis Telethon in Atlanta Georgia, me in a gorilla suit and a drunk "cracker" in a dog outfit. It ends with me slapping the dog guy across the face, reviving him to the horror of hundreds of children who came out to help Jerry's kids! Everyone has my permission to stop me in the street at anytime for the whole sordid tale!

Q: On a serious note, I know you’ve been involved with a lot of organizations in the community – how have you seen the neighborhood improve in the past few years?

A: People improve communities. I have never met a more dedicated group of folks than in this neighborhood.  From the (which is run by my wife and sister-in-law and brother-in-law) to the Hockey program, Harvest on the Vine, The Neighborhood Council, The Boys and Girls Club, Soccer, baseball, dance, The Lacrosse Learning Center, The Charlestown Mothers Association, Courageous Sailing and many others, all working for children and families in the community! I’m happy to be on board in any way I can. I LOVE being part of this community and if telling a couple of jokes is what folks want out of me, then I'm in for as long as they're not sick of me.

 Q: What’s next for Tony V.?

A: Right this second I am preparing to take my children to a magic shop (that is a shop that sells tricks) not an actual shop that has magical powers like in Harry Potter. Then I will be telling my jokes wherever they will have me. I am going to Los Angeles in April to do an independent film (directed by my good friend Bobcat Goldthwait) Florida, Atlantic City, then Las Vegas in the late spring. 

 Q: How can we learn more about Tony V.?

A: Study the complete works of Tony V or on the interweb at tonyvcomic.com or by standing in a dark room and saying my name out loud three times. I just found twitter on my hand held, so I’ve got that, and I have a Facebook page. Oh, and just joined LinkedIn to stay in touch with all the other CEO's and high-powered execs!