I'd seen Pablo Francisco on "Comedy Central Presents" and fell in love with his quirky sound-effects routine. Now he was coming to the Improv in Baltimore, where I could experience the magic live.
Billed as "America's Original Comedy Showcase and Restaurant," the Improv is a successful franchise with over twenty locations in the U.S., Canada and England. It has been the launching pad for many comics, including Robin Williams, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld and Drew Carey.
The Baltimore location is in the Power Plant area, right near Bar Baltimore and Have a Nice Day Caf5f. Its walls are completely covered with autographed posters of famous comedians, some dating back to the establishment's opening in the 60s. When I entered, I felt like I was walking in the presence of greatness.
It was a Thursday night show, since Friday and Saturday shows are 21 and up. That didn't, however, keep the place from being filled to capacity.
The audience was almost entirely college-aged kids and had a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. They were also psyched about the headliner; a few people were imitating Pablo's famous girly line, "What's going on?"
Of course the first opener wasn't funny; I actually don't think they are allowed to be. He did typical pothead and driving-while-intoxicated jokes. I don't get it; is hearing the same tired jokes actually supposed to make them funnier?
The evening, however, was saved by the second opener. Erik Meyers, a Baltimore native who looks like a mouse and talks like he's high on helium, warmed the audience up with self-effacing humor and jokes about our beloved city. The line of the night was definitely: "I went to Hammerjack's the other night, or as I like to call it: Herpes, the Musical!"
Then came Pablo. Running onto the stage, he looked like he needed a haircut and a shower but hid it under a baseball hat that stayed glued to his head all night. But that was easily overlooked once he dove into his act.
Pablo's signature talent is his ridiculously amazing sound effects. He imitated R&B music, Latino music, black guys, white girls, Hispanic guys and girls, Keanu Reeves, and of course, the movie-voice man.
He was also completely ADD and would interrupt his own jokes to make trumpet noises and whistle.
That evening, he made Latino music and mimiced his roommate's having sex, serenaded girls with R&B, drove a van blasting Latino music, and simulated Viagra-driven geriatric intercourse.
The show was chock-full of of sex and Latino music, but his sound effects were so incredible and random that it never got old. Most of the act consisted of recent material to promote his new CD, "Bits and Pieces."
The whole night climaxed with thunderous applause as Pablo told his last joke. In his amazing, booming movie-narrator voice, while doing an in-place slow motion run that would have made David Hasselhoff die of jealousy, he deadpaned, "Arnold Schwarzenegger...is...Little Tortilla Boy!"
The show lasted for a solid two hours. Though the three comics were in the hall after Pablo's set selling merchandise, signing autographs and hugging their fans, I had to fork over $20 for admission, plus more cash for expensive drinks.
Upcoming acts at the Improv in September and October are Tommy Davidson, Richard Lewis, Greg Lausch.
