What is Steve-O doing at Wiseguys comedy club? “Telling some jokes, you idiot,” is how Steve-O began his autobiographical comedy routine at the last of his four shows Saturday night at Wiseguys in West Valley City, UT.
Steve-O is not a stand-up comedian and it shows in his amateur stage presence. Although, what he lacks in posture, punch-lines and control of the audience, he more than makes up for his with unimaginable tales that one would expect from a professional idiot known for his role in the Jackass television show, three movies and his co-starring role in the MTV series Wild Boys.
On-screen he got a self-portrait tattooed on his back, got covered in porta-potty waste, snorted wasabi and dangled raw chicken from his often seen speedo while walking a tightrope above crocodiles. While his off-screen life was far more dangerous, he managed to make hilarious stories out of his biggest faults. His material ranged from his drug addiction/recovery and sexual inadequacies to his unreleased gangsta rap album.
He offered a question and answer portion in which his thoughts on Utah were revealed.
“I’m gonna go around knocking on doors and asking about the LDS church, then when they get pissed off I’ll say, don’t you guys go to other states, bang on doors, and talk about Mormons?” He also joked, “So is it the church of Latter-day saints or is it former-day saints?”
After a 45 minute set, he took a break and introduced Guy Seidel. Guy gave a quick set, giving his thoughts on a local “idol” saying, “This rainy weather led Kurt Kobain to kill himself…so is David Archuletta in town?”
Steve-O came out again and told more stories and then brought out a local comedian named Marcus. Marcus gave a brief version of his normal hour show, although it was cut short by a heckler. Marcus shamed her swiftly, prompting the entire audience to boo her.
Steve-O came out prepared to do some of the stuff that made him famous, his stunts. He showed the audience a bar trick that would allow them to drink free for life. He squeezed lemon juice into his eyes and soon after he recovered he brought out a fire-breather, setting his hair ablaze with the aid of flammable hairspray. Steve-O was quoted after the stunt saying, “Can’t do that one very much longer on this tour,” while running his hand through his hair, singed remnants falling to the ground.
His stunt persona seemed much more calm and relaxed than during his comedic routine. Steve-O offered to stay as late as it would take for every audience member to get a picture and an autograph. He seems to have a new outlook on life with two years, ten months and five days sober. He has had no cigarettes for two years, is caffeine free and lives a vegan lifestyle. Having just finished a book called Professional Idiot, and partially through a comedy club tour, Steve-O is successfully finding new avenues for his career.