Comic Legend Jim Breuer Headlines Three Night Run at Governor's

Levittown's Governor's Comedy Club was a packed house this past weekend as legendary comic Jim Breuer hit the stage with local performers for a sold out crowd.

A Long Island native, Breuer started his comedy career performing standup in small comedy clubs across the country and rose to fame with a stoner-role in the hit 1998 comedy Half Baked and his recurring role on NBC's "Saturday Night Live".

In an interview with Patch last August when Breuer featured his new Heavy Metal Man act at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, he explained how his recent material aligns more with his family life as a parent of two in Morris County, New Jersey.

"Being a parent and having a family has inspired me," said the 44-year old comic. "I want to have a family friendly show that still makes people laugh."

His performance this past weekend at Governor's focused on just that, touching on stories from a trip to Six Flags, his daughter's soccer team and growing up in Valley Stream.

Prior to Breuer taking the stage Saturday night, two local comedians shared the pleasure of opening for one of their idols. John Ziegler, a Bethpage resident who first performed at Governor's three years ago, called the experience a highlight of his career.

"I've watched Jim Breuer for the last 20 years and he really is one of the best stand up comics out there," said Ziegler. "I hope to have half the career he has made."

Ziegler added that he respects all of the transformations Breuer has made throughout the span of his career and truly appreciates the family-friendly material his act consists of today.

"I think he's so brilliant and his material has really evolved," Ziegler said. "He did an hour and a half tonight of clean, family-friendly comedy."

Brian Jian also found it an honor to welcome Breuer to the stage. Accoding to the New York City native, Breuer has been been an inspiration of his long before he first took the stage five years ago.

"I grew up watching him on Saturday Night Live," said Jian. "To perform on the same stage as him is just a dream come true, really."

At the close of the show Breuer announced his plans to film his upcoming comedy special in on Long Island, somewhere he feels shaped the career he has succeeded in today.

"I grew up on the same street for 19 years with the same people," Breuer told Patch at his August 2011 gig. "It was very family and friend-based - we all knew each other. From that, I always kept moral and grounded, one foot in Hollywood, one foot back."