Reviewed on June 29, 2025 Chris Cassone cc@chriscassone.com
It was the 1980’s and I was performing with the doo wop kings, The Earls (“Remember Then,”) and we had many gigs in the Catskills. Yes, those Catskills. The Borsch Belt was in its final death throes, and we shared the stages with the likes of Lenny Rush, Freddie Roman, Charlie Callas, Mal Z Lawrence, London Lee, and Sal Richards—the last of a dying breed of comedians. We had our fill of one-liners.
Little did we know, at the same time, Fritz Coleman was leaving New York as a radio DJ and moving to LA as a stand-up comedian. Then, he was waylaid for forty years as KNBC’s weatherman, winning all the awards that come with that position.
Now he’s back.
Last Sunday, the Borsch Belt came to Lankershim Boulevard as Fritz brought his hit one-man show to the venerable El Portal. All he was missing were the rimshots. But let’s be clear. He was pure and simple funny. And funny sells. The El Portal was filled, and I couldn’t find a person under sixty-five. It was like I died and went back to South Fallsburg.
From his first joke to his last, Fritz took aim squarely at his age. From Metamucil to Viagra. From colonoscopies to senior discounts. From filling the pill caddy to emptying the bladder. He spoke in truths, like: the senior menu is just a kid’s menu, but without the crayons.
Rimshot.
Soupy Sales had a radio show on NYC’s WABC in his waning days. A favorite bit of his was “Pet Peeves” where locals called in with what bothers them the most. And that was Fritz’s essence. We are all trying to make it in this world, especially those of us who are graced with older age. There’s security in numbers, and last Sunday, Fritz spoke for all of us silver citizens. And if we complain a little, so what? It felt good to be around others who have the same pet peeves.
Most pet peeves had to do with our bodies that are slowing up, winding down, and, speaking for myself, filling in. As C3PO said to R2D2 in the first (and only) Star Wars, “It’s our lot in life.”
But wait. There’s more.
Did we mention the wonderful air conditioning in the theatrical gem of NoHo? Yes, ladies and germs, take your wife. Please. To the El Portal Theater on a Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM (July 27, August 24, and September 28th).
I love this crowd.