BABES IN LAUGHLAND : Class Cutups Try Out for TV Pilot That Will Focus on Youthful Comics

Nicole Berger cracked jokes about homework. Michelle Zimmerman stuttered a nervous impersonation of her algebra teacher. Ted Griffin did a children’s version of Henny Youngman.

“Take my Tonka truck . . . please.”

Welcome to babes in laughland, juvenile jokes, high school hilarity. Fifty teen-agers and children auditioned at Universal Studios on Monday for a television pilot that will feature adolescent stand-up comics.

“Comedykids Club” is the brainchild of Pierre Cossette Productions, the same people who produce the Grammy Awards and have launched syndicated shows starring Sha Na Na and Andy Williams.

“Comedy is what’s happening right now,” said John Cossette, Pierre’s son. “We tried to figure out how to present it in a different way.”

Class Clowns

So the Cossettes scoured Southland beaches and malls in search of class clowns who would cut up on camera. Fledglings from across Southern California arrived for a tryout.

Kristi Palmieri, 17, of North Hollywood recounted a recent plane flight.

“It kind of scared me when the pilot came over the loudspeaker and said his name was Pontius.”

And Cheyenne Ehrlich, 17, of Los Angeles paced briskly as he wisecracked: “My hero was the Kool Aid man. Arnold Schwarzenegger can beat someone up, but this guy could come busting through a brick wall and he was made of glass.”

Ehrlich was a veteran, having participated in “open mike” nights at local comedy clubs. Backstage, he talked about being on stage at the Improv in Santa Monica.

“I started getting nervous and I started shaking,” Ehrlich told the others, some of whom were looking a little pale themselves. “It looked like I was having an epileptic fit. People were yelling, ‘Get a doctor.’ ”

New to Comedy

Most of the young people were newcomers to comedy. Marc Phillips came at the suggestion of his high school drama teacher. Michael Anthony Rawlins said he’s always telling jokes at the restaurant where he works. Melanie Simka, only 12, got some parental urging.

“My mom said that I could be funny,” Simka said.

The producers will select 15 or so of the young comedians later this week and have them coached by professional comics. A pilot show will be taped later this month.

Simka said she isn’t counting on being a winner, but the youngster was pleased with her routine.

“It seems real fun,” Simka said of stand-up comedy. “I like to hear people laugh at me. . . . Well, not at me. With me.”