Florentine, Diamond, O’Neil, Et Al: The Comedy Never Stops

Treehouse Comedy will bring five big headlining shows into the area over the next four weekends. Headliners include a popular VH-1 Classic talk show host, a child star turned controversial reality show feature, a set of sassy women, a stand-up who will perform in two local cities, and another stand-up, this one about to release his second Comedy Central special.

First up is Jim Florentine, the Emmy Award winning comic and host of VH-1’S popular series “That Metal Show.” VH1 Classic has mixed the best of “The View” with “Headbangers Ball” to create “That Metal Show,” a weekly series that discusses and debates everything in the world of metal.

Florentine will be at Marisa’s Ristorante, 6540 Main Street in Trumbull, on Friday, August 28. Showtime is 8:30 and tickets are $19.50; call 203-459-4225 for reservations. Rob Falcone will be the evening’s opener.

Batting second is Dustin Diamond, one of the stars of the long running TV series “Saved by the Bell.” The stand-up comic recently gained more notoriety thanks to his appearances on seasons 5 and 6 of the reality show “The Celebrity Fit Club,” where he shed his child star image. He also lost the invite to be part of the People magazine cover shoot celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Saved by the Bell,” which he may still be talking about when he headlines at The Harborside in Stratford on Saturday, August 29.

Showtime is 9 pm and tickets are $19.50. The inn is at 946 Ferry Boulevard; call 203-375-3037 for reservations. Melvin Jones will open the show.

Up next will be a Ladies of Laughter Show on Saturday, August 29, at the Holiday Inn in Danbury.

Headlining will be the sassy Sheila Kay who has been featured on The Playboy Channel, HBO, LIFETIME, A&E and VH-1. Also on the bill is cougar comedian and Bristol native Tracy Tedesco, and Jen Palumbo, who was recently called “one the top ten New York City stand-ups to watch” by Backstage magazine, will headline.

Showtime is 9 pm and tickets are $15. The Holiday Inn is at 80 Newtown Road; call 702-7577 for details.

Patrice O’Neal will be slugging punchlines in both Stratford and Danbury in two weeks.

An accomplished and versatile stand-up, O’Neal has starred in his own stand-up comedy specials on Comedy Central, HBO and SHOWTIME networks. He is also featured regularly on Conan, Opie and Anthony, and Comedy Central’s Tough Crowds.

His schedule will have him performing Friday, September 11, at The Harborside in Stratford, and then Saturday, September 12, at the Holiday Inn in Danbury. Showtime is 9 pm and tickets are $19.50 both nights.

Last up in the Treehouse comedy line-up is offbeat comic Mitch Fatel, who is releasing his second Comedy Central special. Entitle “Mitch Fatel is Magical,” the show is set to air on Friday, September 18, at 11 pm.

Comedy Central Launch Parties will be held before and after the new show screens, and audiences have two changes to catch the comedian in action. Fatel, whose first Comedy Central special was voted one of the top ten stand-up specials on Comedy Central last year and #6 all time, will first be at The Harborside in Stratford on Thursday, September 17.

He will also be in Danbury two nights later, at The Holiday Inn on September 19. Both performances will begin at 8 and tickets are $19.50.

Tickets for all shows are also available through TreehouseComedy.com.