Otto and George: Politically Incorrect, But Amusing

It was a night of political incorrectness with ventriloquist Otto Petersen and his wooden partner, George, and fellow comedians Kenny Michaels and Chris Johnston, presented by J.J. Shoppe promotions, at Suppa's Restaurant Saturday night.

“How many of you people are from Jersey?” Johnston asked the crowd. “How many of you are here on vacation? Right, you come to Pine Brook in the middle of winter for vacation.” 

The evening was opened with host Michaels, who is fast making a name for himself on Sirius/XM. Michaels recently opened for former Suppa’s act, Thomas Dale, in Rockaway.

Michaels discussed asking his 87 year-old grandfather for some advice.

“Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time,” Michaels said, imitating an elderly man.

When Johnston hit the stage, he had the crowd eating out of his hand. Much of his act was not fit for print, but the crowd reciprocated and applauded. For example, he discussed how amazing it felt to drive a rental car. Considering he tours the country, he usually needs one.

“I asked the [rental car agency], ‘Should I bring it back here or will the tow truck just drop it off for me?'" he said.

The highlight of the evening was Petersen and his dummy sidekick, George.

“Nice sweater,” George said to Petersen. “What did you raid Ted Bundy’s closet?”

George was dressed in black coat, white shirt, red tie, gray pants and black children’s sneakers. He routinely singled out members of the crowd and took shots. At one elderly woman sitting with a table of 18-year-old girls celebrating a birthday, George referred to her as “Aunt Bea.”

“Wow,” George said to Petersen. “I have never seen Aunt Bea in color before.”

Much of the night was spent laughing through cringed teeth, but the audience laughed none-the-less. Petersen was able to “temper the humor” by jerking George’s shoulder as if reprimanding him.

Petersen and George singled out a friend in the audience about being on an airplane.

George said he asked their mutual friend what he would do if he was in an airplane, it was crashing and they had 25 seconds to live. The friend said he would engage in a physical relationship with the “first thing he saw moving.”

George also remarked that he regularly watched television late night.

“I saw a commercial that said, ‘If you are an alcoholic, call this number,'" said George, who added he called it. “It was for a liquor store.” 

At the end of the show, the three comedians stood in the back and greeted fans, signed autographs, posed for pictures and sold merchandise.

Next month, Suppa’s will host comedian Bob Nelson, who once performed for President Ronald Reagan on March 19. Doors open at 7 p.m.