Comedian Kevin Meany Brings Laughs to Tiff's

What can be said about a comedian who discusses Eleanor Roosevelt's bikini wax?

Kevin Meany preformed a set on July 29, at the martini bar at Tiffany's restaurant on Route 46 in Pine Brook, that included commentary on his recent divorce, dog sitting, and, yes, the 32^nd president's wife.

"This is nice," he said to the crowd. "The martini bar looks like I'm in somebody's basement." He turned to the crowd and asked, "Mind if I just curl up and take a nap right here?"

Before the event, Meaney commented on the venue, praising its "real 1970s feel."

"It's great being able to do venues like this," he said.

Meaney's career has spanned for over two decades. He has been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. For the past five years, Meaney had been on Broadway as part of the show Hairspray.

"I played several roles, like those of Mr. Pinky and Mr. Spritzer," he said. "I even understudied for the role of Edna Turnblad."

John Travolta had famously played the role of Edna Turnblad in the movie version of Hairspray.  Harvey Fierstein and Meaney's fellow comedian John Pinette have filled the roll on Broadway. 

"John Pinette is a real nice guy," he said. "If you mentioned in passing you needed something, you would find it mysteriously show up in your dressing room the next day."

On Broadway, practices are daily, so when asked how he prepares for a performance, he explains he's always soaking in events and the environment around him.

"I live it," he said with a chuckle. "Everything [in life] is a tax deduction."

Meaney is the most recent comedian brought to the area by Catch A Rising Star entertainment.

"We are working to bring great comedians like Kevin Meaney to high quality restaurants like this," said Craig Neier, who operates a branch of Catch A Rising Star from West Caldwell. 

Neier said that Catch A Rising Star wants to bring established comedians to places like Tiff's Martini Bar on Thursday nights.

"We know there are other places who bring in other comedians on Fridays, but we like to bring them on a Thursday night," said Neier. He said it allows fans a certain access to comedians, and shows and performances.

"Look at the setting here," said Neier pointing to the front with couches, leather sofas and a coffee table. 

Opening act Steve Trevelise commented that all " it's missing is a black and white television set and a spool for a coffee table." 

Tiffany's general manager Joe Bradley said he was thrilled to see the comedians come through.

"We are known primarily for our ribs," he said. "But this is great to get comedians like this. We get to offer the people dinner upstairs and they come down and enjoy the show. I used to be the manager of Rascals [comedy club] in New York City, so it's great seeing these guys again."

With comedians like Meaney headlining, Trevelise said he loved getting the crowd warmed up.

"All of my heroes like Johnny Carson, David Lettermen went first," he said. "It allows you to set the tone."

During his set Trevelise commented on the differences between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"As a New York Giants fan, we have three DVDs of Super Bowl wins," he said. "What do Eagles fans have? Watching the movie Invincible a second time?"

Meany talked about his family life, his divorce, and even impersonated a duet with Johnny Mathis and Ethel Merman singing "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."

However, his rendition of "We Are the World" pantomiming everyone from Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Cyndi Lauper with a little Michael Jackson brought down the house. 

To a father, who brought kids, sitting on one of the sofas, he said, "What are you going to tell their mother about this act? That's just not right."

Meaney was met with a standing ovation and promised to see the crowd soon.

With or without Eleanor Roosevelt is anyone's guess.