LA Times picks up on downtown comedy

Wednesday, September 01, 2004, at 06:29AM

By Eric Richardson

Today Steve Lopez picks up for the LA Times the bit on Perry Kurtz that ran in this week's Downtown News.

Did you hear the one about the stand-up comic who tried to make a go of it at downtown L.A. night spots?

It's no joke to 53-year-old Perry Kurtz, comedian by night, mattress salesman by day. And it's been a test of his good humor.

Skipping ahead slightly...

Kurtz also held a comedy night in a community room at the downtown Premiere Towers, where he lives, and it drew four tenants.

Like I said two days ago, the numbers in the article are slightly misleading. As I recall, four tenants did turn out (well, three and Kathy), but so did three other non-tenants (who were there to see a comic who didn't show up). But again, maybe people just knew in advance that it was going to be an awkwardly unfunny show.

I rode the elevator with Perry this morning. I'm glad to see him getting publicity for his efforts, and hopefully someday I will make it out to see how the Blue Bongo show is working out.