Michellini’s Therapy

KLOS deejay Geno Michellini proudly whips out a letter from a satisfied listener concerning his radio feature, “The 5 O’Clock Funnies.”

“Dear Geno, I have a bone to pick with you. You make my drive easier but what really kills me is that you only have the show on the air for an average of four or five minutes. However, I am stuck in this traffic for over an hour . . . please make your comedy show longer,” he reads.

He laughs. “This is great. When I get letters like this, I know I have them hooked,” he said. “It has become a lot of fun, I love comedy.”

Michellini, 43, created this radio sensation five years ago when he started working at the popular rock station with cuts from comedy albums during rush hour traffic. “It began as a project to provide a respite for frustrated commuters,” he said.

However, it became so successful, comics starting sending him their tapes for airing on the show.

“It got to the point where 90% of the material was from comics just starting out. It then evolved into live shows,” he said, still somewhat stunned.

“It’s like I have a new job now. I never believed it would turn into something this big. We sell out almost every live performance.” The latest ones, tonight at 8 and 10:30 at the Wiltern Theatre, feature Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworth and Franklyn Ajaye. Michellini says that new comics from New York are instructed to try to get appearances on “The Tonight Show” and the “5 O’Clock Funnies.” “I am very flattered they think of the program that way.”

The veteran deejay said although he promotes comedians and loves the art, he could never see himself as a stand-up comic.

“I could never go up night after night and stand in front of hundreds hoping I get that line right,” he said laughing. “You would have to be somewhat masochistic.”

For fear of exposing too much of a comic’s act, Michellini decided against extending the 5-minute afternoon comedy show but will continue to bring new comics into the limelight while pacifying the commuters during what he refers to as “therapy time.”