Following in the footsteps of recently failed talk-show host Chevy Chase is not the key to success it used to be. But Kevin Nealon, best known for his wry delivery as anchor of the "Weekend Update" on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," is moving steadily up the performing ladder.
Nealon, who will perform in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 24, has been making people laugh since his regular appearances at comedy clubs in Los Angeles, but his TV stock has been rising since 1986, when he joined the famous show that created stardom for Chase, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.Nealon is the co-creator of the popular "Hans and Franz," and has played "The Subliminal Man," Sam Donaldson and Gannon, P.I. He writes many of his own sketches and was nominated for an Emmy in 1988.
Although Nealon got his first brush with performing as a teenager playing guitar in several garage bands, it was a long road from his marketing degree at Sacred Heart University to what he calls "a career in part-time jobs." They included stints as a department store Santa Claus, and an employee at a car-leasing company and a moving company. Finally, his last job as bartender at the Improvisation, a comedy club, led to his big break as a stand-up comedian.
Not long after, he appeared in TV commercials and as a guest on such talk shows as "The Tonight Show," and "Late Night with David Letterman."
Even while holding his coveted spot on "Saturday Night Live," Nealon continues to appear at the nation's biggest comedy clubs and concert venues. Today he credits Andy Kaufman, Albert Brooks and Steve Martin with having the greatest influence on his comic style.
Some of their tricks have rubbed off on the easy-going but highly disciplined Nealon, who will appear at the University of Utah's Kingsbury Hall at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for a one-night show.
Tickets are available at Kingsbury Hall and any Gray-whale CD exchange at $12 for students and $16 for the general public.
His performance is sponsored by KUTV, X-96 and Echo Productions.