Tracker Pixel for Entry

Pepitone Peps Up The Cellar

Humor | October 17th, 2018

Those who have been reading my articles for a while may remember when I interviewed Zachary Tooker about the Level Two Comedy Club at the Radisson in Fargo. While the club may have unfortunately closed, Tooker has not ceased booking comedic talent for the city of Fargo. His latest contribution is bringing a personal favorite comedian of his to the Cellar at Front Street Taproom, Eddie Pepitone.

Pepitone is not only one of Tooker’s personal favorites, but a “cult favorite” as well in the words of Huffington Post. The 59-year old comic is a staple of the LA comedy scene, and this will be his first time in Fargo, North Dakota. “I’m always excited doing a new place for the first time,” said Pepitone. “It always opens my eyes to my preconceptions of a place, I’m always surprised by people.”

Comedy has been a lifelong passion for Pepitone. “I started doing comedy basically out of the womb,” he said. “The doctor slapped me and I said, ‘Is that all you got?’ I was always the class clown and dropped out of college and started acting lessons which led directly to stand-up, improv groups, and one-man shows. It took a long time to get good at stand-up. At this point I’ve performed all over the world.” Among those performances have been regular appearances on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, sketch appearances on Conan O’Brien, and TV shows like The Life & Times of Tim, The Sarah Silverman Program, and Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Half this article could be devoted to guest appearances on television alone. Among his most recent work in that field is starring in the Adult Swim live-action comedy Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell as the tortured soul Eddie.

What drew Pepitone to the world of comedy? “It’s always been in my bones and my salvation in a cold, cruel world (it’s cold in ND, I hear). Also it’s an incredible art form to master and it allows me to say anything about anything if I’m funny.” Among his inspirations he counts Richard Pryor and George Carlin, but more personal influences as well. “I just try to stay open to the world as I see it. When I was younger my inspiration was my family, now I consider the world my family. Also, I like to attack stupidity and there’s never a shortage of that!”

Those who attend the show will be able to purchase vinyl records of Pepitone’s album “The Big Push” that he recorded at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Also, they will be able to pick up DVDs of the 2012 documentary made about Pepitone called “The Bitter Buddha”.

Before we finished up our interview, I asked Pepitone if he had any words of advice for aspiring comedians, which we all know there is no shortage of. “I tell them to perform as much as they can and dedicate themselves to it. Make sure it’s a true calling.”

IF YOU GO:

Comedy in the cellar: Eddie Pepitone

Front Street Taproom

October 19 and 20, 7pm

614 Main Avenue, Fargo

RECENTLY IN

Humor

Tracker Pixel for Entry UNDWritersConf23 Tracker Pixel for Entry ParamountMar2022 Tracker Pixel for Entry FargoFilmFestival2023 Tracker Pixel for Entry TheatrebSMS Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird28 Tracker Pixel for Entry Dvfa

Recently in:

Proposed Bills Could Take Books off Library ShelvesBy Laura Simmonslaurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu The passing of ND House Bill 1205 and ND Senate Bill 2360, which would prevent sexually explicit books from being in public…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comHPR chats with a local legendThe following interview was done in February of 2016, just a few months after Mr. Josef Olivieri's 90th birthday. We're sorry to hear of his passing at the age of 97 on…

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30pmZandbroz Variety, FargoAuthor of “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land” Taylor Broby will discuss the important role libraries play in their communities as sanctuaries of acceptance. He will…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.comOur Opinion: Who on Earth would ever want to move to North Dakota?Let’s talk about the left hand and the right hand. Or, more correctly, let’s focus on the right hand, being as there is no left in ND…

By Ed Raymond  fargogadfly@gmail.comHas Christianity Gone Bankrupt Because of Evangelicals, Stupidity, and the Vatican?The word “bankruptcy” refers to money because…

Well shiver me timbers. After weeks of sampling some of the finest drinks in F-M from more bars than we could shake a belaying pin at, the results of High Plains Reader’s 6th Annual Cocktail Showdown are in! For nine weeks,…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.comWhen thinking of popular sandwiches associated with the Upper Midwest, the sloppy joe immediately comes to mind. But let’s not forget the sandwich with a spicy side – the taco grinder. It’s a…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Upon discovering the music of Arkansas-based musician Nick Shoulders, there are a couple of things that come to mind. At first listen it’s no secret that his sound is a celebration of past music…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comOn Saturday, March 25, filmmaker Mike Flanagan returns to the Fargo Film Festival, where “Absentia,” his debut feature, made its world premiere in 2011. This time, he will be joined by his…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIf you’ve ever driven down the Enchanted Highway, the 32-mile ribbon of road connecting Regent to Gladstone in western North Dakota, home to the world’s largest salvaged metal sculptures,…

By Jessica M. Hawkesjmhawkes84@gmail.comIt wasn’t long after the founding of the railroad and river town of New Rockford that entertainment venues started to put down their own roots. Its population bolstered by booms of nearby…

By Jan Syverson  Jan.r.Syverson@gmail.comFor the past 30 years live, stand-up comedy has had a place in the Fargo Moorhead area, Starting with…

By Kris Gruberperriex1@gmail.comSpring is here (mostly), and our area is buzzing with people eager to get back out and about -- many newly vaccinated and feeling a bit safer. Partnering with Jade Events, Fargo Brewing is just…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

JANUARY 19, 1967– MARCH 8, 2023 Brittney Leigh Goodman, 56, of Fargo, N.D., passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 8, 2023. Brittney was born January 19, 1967, to Ruth Wilson Pollock and Donald Ray Goodman, in Hardinsburg,…

By Ken and Alice Christiansonsubmit@hpr1.com HB 1332 is currently before the North Dakota legislature. The bill proposes to permit social workers to use a discredited treatment method to convert the sexual orientation of gay and…