Early Stand-up Comedy Years
About a year into Harry’s comedy career, a then unknown but very well respected Jerry Seinfeld approached Harry. He said, “You’re a good writer,” and added, “I don’t just say that to anyone.”
About the same time, Joan Rivers also caught Harry’s act. She invited him to hang out in her dressing room before her next few shows at the Diplomat Hotel in South Florida.
Over the years, Harry has toured the country, opening for many big name comics. This includes Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Dennis Leary, Andrew Dice Clay, Paul Reiser, Pat Paulson, Drew Carey (who actually opened for Harry) and many more.
He also became friends with Ray Romano and Richard Jeni. And Harry has opened for both in numerous theaters and clubs across the country, including Carolines in New York City.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Harry was featured on many national TV shows. Among them, were VH1 Stand-up Spotlight with Rosie O’Donnell, Comedy on the Road with John Byner, and Carolines Comedy Hour on A&E with Richard Jeni, which Harry also wrote for. In addition, Harry took home a nice check for coming in 3rd place on America’s Funniest People.
Harry was also a regular at New York’s top comedy clubs including The Improvisation, The Comic Strip, and The Comedy Cellar. In addition, Bill Maher took a liking to Harry’s humor, and regularly gave him spots at Catch a Rising Star.
But all of that was merely a warm up to Harry’s next move.
Becoming A Keynote Speaker
When a friend asked Harry to help prepare a corporate comedy put-on, Harry wrote much of the material. After watching the video of his friend’s show, Harry knew immediately this was perfect for him. After that friend gave his blessing, Harry went looking for companies to perform to. Months later, his good friend, a not yet famous Ray Romano, got offered a put-on for a hospital, which he passed on to Harry.
Posing as an aide to the Governor on health care, Harry made 200 doctors and administrators fall down laughing. The video from that show helped him get 10 more put-ons in the next 6 months. He was soon entertaining some of the biggest companies and associations in the world including Dell Computer, The American Bankers Association, Cox Radio, IBM, and many more.
TV and Radio Put-Ons
Harry has been a fake sports doctor on Tim McCarver’s national radio show, had multiple guest spots on WFAN, the nation’s largest sports radio station, and appeared on the nationally syndicated TV Talk Show “NY at Night” with Clint Holmes. Posing as a fake sports doctor, Harry was seated next to former NY Mets star and current TV announcer, Keith Hernandez, who thought Harry was real even as he was laughing at the jokes.
Harry was also a regular commentator on David Brenner’s syndicated Radio Show delivering his humorous take on the news.
Beginnings
Harry has always been funny. In high school he got elected to the student council after making a hilarious speech about school policies. His 600 fellow classmates were rolling with laughter, while ironically, the school vice principal looked on with an expression of shock.
During his senior year at SUNY Binghamton, Harry won an award as an outstanding delegate at the Harvard Model United Nations. This event included about 2000 elite students from Top New England Universities including many Ivy Leaguers. Harry had become a sharp debater.
After attending 3 semesters of law school in Miami Florida, Harry realized his fathers wishes for him to follow in HIS footsteps as a lawyer and judge were not his own. He did however learn to explore both sides of every issue, which became invaluable for joke writing. And, he also excelled at Moot Court.
Over the next few years, Harry worked as a managing editor for a humor magazine and feature writer for a Miami Beach Newsweekly. Then he decided to go after his own dream – standup comedy.
When South Florida’s first comedy club opened in Hollywood Florida, Harry “killed” for a crowd of 250 people on the very first night. He literally got 5 ovations in 12 minutes and stole the show. That performance changed his life.
He moved back to New York and the rest is history.
Harry practicing his deadpan expression
Practicing his standup
Same Deadpan Expression. Only Deader