Comic Makes Time for AIDS Response Benefit

Now that she’s a nationally known comedy club headliner who appears regularly on “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night With David Letterman,” Ellen DeGeneres receives numerous requests to do benefits for a variety of causes.

She says that she carefully selects the causes she chooses to support but that she wasted no time in accepting an offer to help out the AIDS Response Program of Orange County by headlining its second annual comedy shows, to take place Monday and Tuesday at the Improv in Irvine.

“That’s a cause I’m definitely involved with, and it’s one I think everybody should be involved with,” said DeGeneres, who believes AIDS research and programs designed to help prevent the spread of AIDS must be given high priority by both the government and the people.

“Even if you can’t come to the show,” she said, “put some money on the doorstep.”

Monday’s show, which will also feature Mark Roberts and Steve Kelley, is already sold out, but tickets are available to the Tuesday show, which co-stars Mark Brazill and Joey Scazola. Last year’s benefit, with Paula Poundstone, sold out and raised $7,000 for the AIDS Response Program.

DeGeneres, who was voted Female Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the 1991 American Comedy Awards in April, said she doesn’t have the time to help many of the social causes that interest her.

“I want to help abused children, the homeless. . . . We need so much,” she said. Because of the financial rewards that have come with her success, she added, “I feel like there’s definitely a responsibility to get out there and give something back.”

But she said she has a personal stake in helping raise money for AIDS education and prevention.”

“I had a good friend die of AIDS,” she said. “It’s an amazing thing to see someone who’s a healthy, vibrant person with a huge sense of humor and full of life, and then see him a couple of months later and (he looks) like a concentration camp victim. You can’t even tell it’s the same person. It’s scary.”

Jerry Holderman, the AIDS Reponse Program of Orange County volunteer who has produced the benefits both years, said many performers in Hollywood are still afraid to support an AIDS-related cause. “I think it’s in the comedy field that people are willing to take a stand,” he said. “Both Paula and Ellen have been more than willing to participate and to support the work we’re doing through the work they do.”

Ellen DeGeneres, Mark Brazill and Joey Scazola perform Tuesday at the Improv, 4255 Campus Drive, Irvine, to benefit the AIDS Response Program of Orange County. Tickets are $50 and $35 and include dinner, served at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8:30. Information: (714) 534-0961.