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 Nicoles Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL Tracker Pixel for Entry Seven Tracker Pixel for Entry Bahai Tracker Pixel for Entry Hjemkomst

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakotans will take part in a nationwide civil rights rally on Thursday, July 17. Protests, marches, rallies and acts of service are scheduled in Bismarck, Bottineau, Devils Lake,…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

July 18-19, 25-26 and August 2-3North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N., FargoLadies and gentlemen, prepare to place your bets — racing season is upon us! Not just horses will be racing this year; word on the street suggests…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhy doesn’t the world require politicians to leave office at 60?Most of the leaders of countries, whether gods, fascists, democrats or socialists, are not doing very well these days. David Van…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comPhoto by Sabrina Hornung Wing, North Dakota is a town of 132 located about an hour northwest of Bismarck on Highway 36. There’s a shiny new Cenex on the intersection of the highway and the high…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…