Comedians Paul Ogata and Augie T., who are each scheduled to headline their own one-man, Friday night comedy shows in Kona later this month, have been making island folks laugh for many years.
Back in 1997, both comics were selected to make their national television debuts on NBC’s “Friday Night Videos” from a 12-act Big Island Comedy Club special taped live at the old Kona Surf Poi Pounder.
This month, “The Amazing Asian” Paul Ogata returns for a performance Aug. 22 that includes a 7:30 p.m. Coffee Shop Comedy Break outing at Kona Coffee &Tea’s Kona Coast Shopping Center location and a 9:30 p.m. after-dinner show at Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill.
Hawaii’s favorite funnyman Augie T.’s “So Dumb 2014” comedy tour kicks-off Kona’s Labor Day weekend festivities with an 8 p.m. Aug. 29 show at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu. All three outings are presented by the Big Island Comedy Club.
Realizing he’d never have the biggest muscles or the fastest legs, Ogata decided to concentrate on getting the biggest laughs with the fastest wit. So he chose to stay indoors and listen to comedy albums rather than playing sports. The results proved hilariously amazing.
Honing his skills on the Oahu comedy club circuit before moving to the West Coast, Ogata was crowned the Funniest Asian-American Comedian in the U.S. in 2004 after winning the The TakeOut Comedy Competition’s coast-to-coast talent search. Ogata won the 32nd annual San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 2007, joining an alumni list that includes Dana Carvey, Sinbad, Rob Schneider, Doug Stanhope and Jake Johannson.
Today, Ogata’s material centers around his Japanese-American upbringing and his recent marital foibles funneled through a quick and animated delivery designed to give his audience a wild ride through the edgy, often-improvised corners of his mind.
Seen on Showtime, Comedy Central, “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,” TBS, NBC and PBS and on CBS’s “The Late Late Show,” Ogata headlines shows from New York to Shanghai and Hollywood to Hong Kong along with entertaining troops at military bases worldwide.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show at Kona Coffee and Tea are $20 in advance and $25 at the door at both Kona Coffee and Tea locations. Seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and reservations call 365-5340.
Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. show at Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill are $15 in advance or with dinner and $20 at the door. Dinner show seating starts from 8 p.m. Show only, space available seating start at 9:15 p.m. For tickets and reservations, call 327-0209.
Augie T. became a Golden Gloves boxing champion at age 16, but traded in his gloves and mouthpiece for a microphone and stage time in 1991.
Two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1999 and 2013, numerous best comedian and best comedy show accolades, television and film roles and three No. 1 live comedy DVDs later, he remains the only local comedian to ever sell out the Baisdell Arena.
The production and filming of his current, statewide So Dumb 2014 Tour will provide the footage for his sixth live DVD project as well as an upcoming film.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. Aloha Theatre show are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $25 VIP reserved and available at Kona Wine Market, Soundwave Music, Kiernan Music and alohatheatre.com.
For artist, ticket and schedule information for both shows visit bigislandcomedy.com