Oh, Lucy!
Who could forget that refrain? It has been indelibly imprinted in our minds as Lucy and Ricky have appeared in television reruns for as long as most of us can remember.So for those of you who have been looking for a way to escape those interminable reruns, BEWARE: Lucy and Ricky have been reincarnated in the Comedy Circuit's most recent comedy act, "I Love Ludo."
The act, featuring Ludo Vika and Dave Conrades, is being billed as the '90s version of "I Love Lucy." Ludo and Dave star as themselves in a cross-culture relationship, sitcom style, where the conflicts of everyday life take a turn toward hilarious while at the same time striking a chord of familiarity among audience members. Men laughed at Dave while women laughed at Ludo as each poked fun at the other's not-so-peculiar, gender-related habits, such as Ludo's five-hour prep time for their evening show.
"Try to get ready on American time, not Latino time," Dave quipped.
And then there was Dave, predictably wearing the same black T-shirt (with a spaghetti stain), thinking it is Ludo's favorite (it isn't).
Although many of their jokes were not fresh, they still struck a chord with the audience.
For example, Dave's well-used joke, "Women can have two or three thoughts going on at once, while men have to work hard just to concentrate on just one," still brought laughs.
In another predictable yet funny exchange, Ludo gets incensed at Dave for cussing at another driver on the road.
Dave retorts, "How can I drive if I can't curse?"
Earlier Dave commented on how, when he apologizes to Ludo about something, he said it as though he were taking a multiple-choice test. "I'm sorry for what I said, did, thought. You must be really, sad, angry, frustrated," and on and on.
And Ludo's great witticism went, "We treat our men like hair. We tease them, manipulate them and no matter what they do, we cut them off."
But Ludo's slightly blue humor crossed other bounds as she joked about her mother.
"She worries so much," Vika said, "She worries that one day she will have nothing to worry about."
Another Comedy Circuit regular, Just June, appeared briefly in the act but had little to do.
Overall, the act was familiar, as if they strung together all those gender-biased jokes we've all heard and related with. The commentary on everyday life seemed to hit home with the audience who took awhile to warm up to the act.
Ludo Vika's fame extends far beyond the Comedy Circuit in Midvale. She was one of 15 comedians chosen to appear in HBO's recent Loco Slam, which was billed as the first comedy concert specifically geared for the diverse audience.
Vika is a regular at the Comedy Circuit and the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. She was also the first place winner in Utah's Laugh Off in 1992.
Conrades has done his own version of laid-back comedy at the Comedy Circuit, Comic Strip Live and Lily Tomlin for President. His guitar-picking tunes brought variety and insight to their dynamic act.
Watch out for the next Lucy and Ricky!