By Myra Chanin . . . 

Brad Zimmerman is a very funny guy in the classic, smart, clean Alan King/Mal Z Lawrence/Jackie Mason tradition. His material is coordinated. His substance is unique. His timing is perfect. His delivery is spot-on with facial expressions and body language further enhancing the verbal images uttered by his lips. Since 2015, I’ve seen several variations of My Son, The Waiter, and I always end up LOL-ing like someone newly amazed by his perceptions, wisdom and wit. 

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, rather than try to describe his special qualities, here’s a video of Brad in action. 

Brad was born in 1954 and raised in Ordell, NJ. Did everything nice Jewish boys were s’posed to do. Was great at sports, particularly baseball. Celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. Earned a BFA in Dramatic Arts from Rollins University and then . . . Boom! . . . he suddenly drops out of graduate school. Two years later, he arrives in New York City, another acting hopeful who supports his dream by waiting on tables at insignificant diners, feed ’em fast dining spots where he could answer a customer’s questions about the wine list with, “We have two kinds. White and Red.” And where the job didn’t interfere with his primary aim—waiting to leave and go home. 

For a while, he studied and worked on showcases, but lacked the push demanded to insure a fulfilling acting career. Then in 1996 he stumbled on his true calling in Ron Poole’s comedy class at Don’t Tell Mama and became a regular of the Poole Party at Don’t Tell Mama every Saturday night, which bolstered his confidence and proved that he could make people laugh. 

Brad persevered, and refined, polished and sharpened his observations. Within a year he’d worked his way up to an invitation from Caroline’s Comedy Club to invite 10 guests who would each buy two drinks, which allowed Brad to do 10 minutes of standup. Luckily that night, thanks to an equipment failure, Brad’s set lasted considerably longer than the allotted Tight Ten, and the whole thing was taped. Someone gave a copy of that tape to Freddie Roman, the creator and star of Catskills on Broadway, who’d been Dean of the Friars Club for as long as Brad had been a waiter. Brad also won a comedy contest at Caroline’s and participated in a show at the Friar’s Club attended by bookers. And the momentum continued. Brad was invited to perform at a Smothers Brothers Roast, before he was even a Friar! 

Brad climbed another rung on the comedy ladder by opening for superstars like George Carlin from 2006 to Carlin’s death in 2008. Carlin’s evaluation of Brad’s comedy? “F**kin’ great!” Next Brad opened for Joan Rivers for seven years, who introduced him as “the best act in his price range,” but kidding aside, Brad’s name was included on her list of her three greatest opening acts. The other two? Billy Crystal and Garry Shandling. Hardly a shabby trio. 

Brad’s acting career also flourished. He was one of the two Jews on The Sopranos who was permitted to live. His mother must have been pleased to see him playing a lawyer. All right, so he represented a mob boss who copped a plea. It’s America! Doesn’t everybody deserve legal representation? 

Then came Covid, and show business shut down right after Brad had attracted Producer Philip Roger Roy. Brad went back to writing, adding 30 more minutes of solid laughs to the 60 he’d already established while Philip Roger Roy booked clubs in which Brad will perform now that we’re once more entertaining thoughts of enjoying live entertainment. I’d love to tell you more of his material, but he delivers his jokes much better than I do. 

Brad Zimmerman played sold out shows at the Boca Black Box in Boca Raton, March 22 & 23. To see if and when Brad will be bringing his show to anywhere near your nook and cranny, check out www.mysonthewaiter.com and www.bradzcomedy.com. And then for a real treat, see him in action.