Listeners Give ‘Funnies’ the Green Light

If KLOS-FM disc jockey Geno Michellini ever had any doubts about the popularity of the “Five O’Clock Funnies” segment of his afternoon drive-time show, they were dispelled in April when the rock album-oriented station was feeling the heat of competition from two other stations that had adopted the same music format.

“Normally when you have a lot of competition, you weather the storm by tightening up and playing it safe,” Michellini said in a phone interview last week. “ ‘Five O’Clock Funnies’ could have been a casualty of that rationale and being how we had lost our old program director, I tried my best to nip it in the bud.”

That meant going on the air and informing his audience, “There’s a chance we might lose ‘The Funnies.’

“Some letters,” he suggested, “might help.”

The result was a flood of correspondence from fans protesting the potential demise of their drive-time dose of laughter.

“I was overwhelmed by the response,” said Michellini, 45, who started the popular comedy segment featuring taped comedy performances and live interviews with comics six years ago.

Michellini said the letters reflected his own attitude about the “Five O’Clock Funnies.”

“It keeps you from wanting to kill the person in front of you,” he said. “It really is therapy. People tune into the ‘Funnies’ so they can lighten the pressure a little bit. It helps them get through the drive home.”

KLOS management got the point. In fact, Michellini said, the first official act of the station’s new program director was to go on the air and declare the 6-year-old program “safe.”

Fans will be able to check out Michellini’s latest installment of the “Five O’Clock Funnies” live stage show at the Celebrity Theatre in Anaheim tonight. “Tonight Show” veteran Richard Jeni is headlining a bill that also features Diane Ford, Rocky LaPorte and Greg Ray.

All four have been guests on the daily “Five O’Clock Funnies,” which airs Monday through Friday at approximately 5:15 on KLOS (95.5 FM).

Although the “Funnies” runs only five to eight minutes a day, which some listeners have complained is too short, Michellini says he has no intention of trying to expand the segment. “My attitude is as long as they feel that way about it then I’ve got them--I’ve got their attention and they’ll come back.”

When the show started, Michellini only played tracks from comedy albums. But now it is considered another source of exposure for comedians who are appearing locally, so he receives tapes of performances from not only the clubs but from the comedians’ managers and publicists.

He doesn’t seem to have any trouble lining up big-name comics for live guest appearances, either. Among those who have appeared on the “Funnies” are George Carlin, Jay Leno, Howie Mandell, Jerry Seinfeld, Louie Anderson, Rosie O’Donnell and Judy Tenuta.

Not every comedian does well on radio, however. “You’d be surprised at the people that can’t do radio and be funny,” said Michellini. “They need the timing of a live audience. They can’t just sit there and recite their stuff.”

The 20-year veteran of broadcasting has no difficulty providing an explanation for the still-burgeoning popularity of stand-up comedy: “Times are tough. The tougher the times--the more stressful the times--the more you need relief.”

Richard Jeni, Diane Ford, Rocky LaPorte and Greg Ray, along with host Geno Michellini, perform tonight at 8 at the Celebrity Theatre, 201 E. Broadway, Anaheim. Tickets: $18.50. Information: (714) 999-9536.