Belzer Lets Up on Fans, Comes Down on Politicians

Perhaps more than ever now, Richard Belzer operates as the Certs of stand-up comedy: He is a provocative, confrontational crowd conversationalist; no, he is more of a sharp, well-informed topical satirist. . . .

He is two, two, two comics in one.

Longtime comedy club-goers tend to avoid the front-row seats at Belzer shows, so as to dodge the verbal salvos he likes to fire at point-blank range. These people may be relieved to know that these days, the veteran 43-year-old comic is just as likely to direct his barbs at the Reagan Administration or some other political target.

“I do have a lot on my mind these days about politics, so there is a lot of that,” Belzer said over lunch at a West Hollywood restaurant. “But,” he added quickly, “it also depends on the venue. If I have access, physical access to the audience, I’ll use them. I still very much like to relate to the audience.”

Of course, Belzer’s idea of relating to the audience is a little more pointed than some; it’s oft-quoted, and perhaps apocryphal, that Robin Williams once called Belzer “the Marquis de Sade as a game show host.”

An advantage of having these two, two, two Belzers on stage is an especially variable, flexible and spontaneous performance. He will be at the Improvisation Comedy Club in Irvine Monday night.

Indeed, Belzer remains one of the precious few comedians whose sets might be radically different from night to night. “I don’t plan what I’m going to do,” he said. “I mean, I know I’m going to talk about certain things. But I never know how much I’m going to talk to the audience or how much material I’m going to do.

“I don’t say, ‘Well, tonight I’m going to do 50-50 or 90-10.’ Sometimes I never get into (prepared material) because I have something to talk about, and it may not even be with the audience. It may be just that I’m talking about what happened that day. So I’ll improvise off the news and relate to the audience through that material.”

Belzer is an astute and perceptive observer, and when he does “improvise off the news,” he is in a pretty good position to know whereof he speaks. “I read about five newspapers a day, I watch CNN a lot, I listen to National Public Radio, watch the network news,” he said. “So I’m kind of a news junkie. I’m obsessed with it.”

He is equally obsessed with getting the laugh. “I feel an obligation that I must be entertaining and interesting--and funny . That really is important,” he said. “That’s why people paid: to laugh.”

There is another reason, beyond his obsession with news, for his being a bit less assaultive these days.

“I’m becoming more and more relaxed on stage,” he explained softly. An armchair psychologist might posit a correlation between the stinging ad libs and blistering bits that characterized Belzer and a deep fear of his audience.

Belzer freely admits that when he went into the successful audition in 1971 for the underground TV show “The Groove Tube” (which spawned the film that also featured Belzer), he “was absolutely terrified.”

Asked whether he had any show business or performing aspirations before that foray into entertainment, Belzer instantly replied: “No. Only fantasies. I was always terrified of the notion of going into show business. Very afraid. (I thought), ‘Well, I’ll be a writer.’ But I was really terrified.”

Another key aspect of his performing approach, his inclination to interact with the crowd, sprang from his earliest stand-up efforts as an emcee in New York from about 1972 to 1978, when he presided over shows at Catch a Rising Star and the original Improv.

“I’d go on every night and introduce 20 or 30 or 40 other acts, from like 9 at night till 3 in the morning. I’d say that’s where the style comes from: having to go on (stage) so much and not having material, but having just to rely on your own wits and whatever you find in the audience.”

Belzer held an assortment of jobs before trying entertainment--from newspaper reporter to jewelry salesman--and all the exposure and experience he reaped from emceeing led to even more gigs in a variety of mediums.

He has held a drive-time radio slot. He has appeared extensively in television--both as guest on such programs as “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night With David Letterman,” and as host of a few shows, including ‘Hot Properties” (on which wrestler Hulk Hogan demonstrated some moves, sending Belzer to the hospital).

He has been in such films as “Author Author,” “Scarface” and, most recently, “The Wrong Guys.” His first book, “How to Be a Stand-Up Comic,” is to be released this month and will serve as the basis for his next HBO special.

With those kinds of high-profile projects comes the ability to play theaters and large halls, which Belzer enjoys. But to work the way he prefers, bigger isn’t always better. “Actually,” he said, “I like smaller venues.” So he’ll be in his element in the relatively cozy confines of the Irvine Improv on Monday?

“Yeah. No holds barred, take no prisoners--I don’t know what’ll happen,” he said, pausing just long enough to allow a little smile. “But it’ll be fun.”

Richard Belzer performs at the Improvisation Comedy Club, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine, Monday at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8. Information: (714) 854-5455.