TKC NOTE: Our pal Craig has been stepping up his game as of late and this weekend he hosts a rather controversial guest. Check it:
Here's your chance to be ‘Saved By The Bell’
Dustin ‘Screech’ Diamond @ Stanford & Sons
Most of us grew up watching hit TV shows like ‘Full House’, ‘Empty Nest’, and, of course, ‘Saved by the Bell’. Arguably, the best known character on that series has to be Dustin Diamond, aka ‘Screech’. Even though the show went off the air in the nineties, it’s still on every week day on any one of several cable networks. The truth is Dustin grew up in a television studio.
After the show ended, Dustin was still a very young man in search of what to do next. He made appearances on other television shows and small parts in movies, but through the late nineties and early 2000’s never found an ‘anchor’ role like he had on ‘Saved by the Bell’. It was at that point that he decided to become a stand-up comic. Stanford’s was one of the first major clubs to headline him back in Westport in the late nineties. In his original shows, it was closer to a meet and greet Dustin Diamond type scenario. Dustin drew large crowds, but his stand up was in it’s infancy and the audiences were of course comparing him to other television stars who actually had something of a background in stand-up comedy. It would take several years for him to be on a level with his peers.
In the mid-2000’s we saw Dustin on several media events from ‘Celebrity Boxing’ to his two seasons on ‘Celebrity Fit Club’. In the meantime, Dustin worked much harder on his stand-up and improved dramatically. Dustin also appeared in a few higher-profile movies like ‘Dickie Roberts: Child Star’. Of course, there was always controversy around this former child star, who was still trying to find his comedy voice.
We had Dustin in a couple years ago and he really delivered a great show, reminiscent of a young George Carlin. It was the first time he brought down the house on a consistent basis since we started working with him back in the late nineties. Much like Jimmy Walker, he has accepted his household fame as a beloved character from American television. Dustin is very comfortable in his own skin today. If you come out and see his show, you will find him to be a little naughtier than you might think and he even makes fun of himself while throwing in humorous references to the show that made him famous.
There will be large crowds and plenty of ‘Saved by the Bell’ fans, it will be an adult show. I think many of you will be pleasantly surprised at the entertaining stand-up act of Dustin ‘Screech’ Diamond. Showtimes are 7:45 pm and 9:45 pm on Friday and Saturday night. Call the club at (913)400-7500 for tickets and more information.
Don’t miss the feature story next Wednesday in the Pitch Weekly all about your humble scribe, me. Follow me on Twitter @KCKingofSting.
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After you've checked out Screech . . . Here are a few more Kansas City weekend links . . .
5 fun things to do in KC this weekend
Maker Faire and other weekend possibilities
4th of July: Events around Kansas City