Comedy on the Cumberland provides post-flood assistance to local branch of the American Red Cross

By Bill Larson | July 22, 2010 |

The Second Comedy on the Cumberland benefit has come and gone. The charity event held on Tuesday evening brought five very funny comedian to Clarksville; raising over $4,000 to help the local chapter of the American Red Cross start on their own road to recovery after the Great Flood of 2010.

Interim CEO Randy Weddle related how they were affected by the flooding. “The flood of 2010 affected your Red Cross just as it did so many citizens of the county and surrounding areas. We had about three feet of water that came through our building, but you would never know it by the way that our strong hearted volunteers responded to the needs of our citizen”. The Red Cross spent a lot of money and expended a lot of their resources, helping local residents during the May 2010 flooding.

Chad Riden, Brian Bates, Jim Gossett, Hank Bonecutter (Center), Brian Kiley, John Bowman

Local Comedian and owner of WJZM 1400AM, Hank Bonecutter presented the $4,000 check to the newly appointed  executive director of the Clarksville-Montgomery Chapter Julie Campos and Interm CEO Randy Weddle the day after the sellout performance.

Almost every seat in the Luxurious Roxy Regional Theatre was filled as Clarksvillian Jim Gossett with assistance from Nashville comics John Bowman, Brian E Kiley, Brian Bates, and Chad Riden entertained the capacity crowd.  Hank Bonecutter served as the emcee for the evening.

Hank Bonecutter addressing the crowd

“Comedy on the Cumberland is not the charity; it’s about giving back to the community, it’s about using laughter to change your community. So the Red cross was natural, they were flooded out and devistated, and yet they were still out helping people who needed their help. A city without a Red Cross would be no laughing matter.” said Bonecutter.

Some of the notables on hand for the evening included Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, Sheriff Norman Lewis, Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper,  Merriel Bullock Neal Chairman of the Board for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Red Cross, F&M Bank CEO Sammy Stuard, Khandra Smalley, Hodgepodge Owner Paige King,Charlie Koon from Cumberland Bank and Trust, Ken Goble Jr., Charlsie Hand Lankford, Mary Nell Wooten, and this is hardly a complete list.

Several bore the brunt some good natured ribbing by the comedians including Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper, Sheriff Norman Lewis, and of course the Kevin Kennedy. All of them took it with good humor.

The sponsors of the evening were F&M bank, Wendy’s of Clarksville, and Wyatt Johnson (Buick GMC Hyundai Subaru Mazda)  are the primary sponsors for this event, with Clarksville Online, Discover Clarksville, Ad One Advertising, and Clarksville’s Best Buys, along with CDE Lightband are serving as the media partners. Edwards Steakhouse held a pre-show reception for the Comedy on the Cumberland Comedians & sponsors.  “All of our partners agreed to support this effort without hesitation”, said Bonecutter, “We just couldn’t do it without them”. John McDonald and Tom Thayer from the Roxy Regional Theatre have been very supportive of this effort, offering the use of their theatre as the venue for this event.

More Comedy on the Cumberland events are planned for later in the year, for more information as soon as they are announced; listen to WJZM 1400AM, or read about it on Clarksville Online.

John Bowman

John Bowman

John Bowman kicked things off for the evening. His number dealt with: Growing up in New Jersey, Relationships, Watching Golf on tv, CSI shows, Tipping, and more.

When talking about Golf, he said “It’s kind of scary, because when you start watching a lot of golf, it’s like you accepted that the physically active stage of your life is pretty much up.”

Brian E. Kiley

Brian E. Kiley

Brian E. Kiley was up next. He was very funny big man. His  number covered: the obvious topic of his weight, the Cumberland Grille,  dating,  eating in Las Vegas,  Airport bathrooms, his mother,  personal trainers, divorce, boardgames, and  much more.

Talking about the Roxy Theatre he said, “This place is packed tigher than a Waffle House, on Walmart’s payday.” he continued  “I haven’t had this many staring at me since my weight watchers intervention. You can tell that went really well”

Brian is  a regular performer at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville, TN

Brian Bates

Brian Bates

Up third was Brian Bates. He started out joking about the set on stage “I have never performed at the Rainforest Cafe before” he said.  His number covered the flood, being single, growing older, finding love, the upcoming election, and more.

“I don’t do well with women as I have already told you, it’s probably because my mom still treats me like an eight year old, girl,” he said. “Her biggest fear is I will be abducted by online predators”. He then segued that into talking about social networking.

He closed his number with a joke about selling used cd’s that he picked up at a yard sale after the show in the lobby.

Chad Riden

Chad Riden

Chad Riden was fourth and he was also very funny. “I’m a professional he said, I drink beer and tell jokes for a living”. Chad talked about a lot of different topics, including: The BP Oil Spill, the weather, the economy, gaming including Guitar Hero, UT Knoxville, organic meat, and more. He had a lot of redneck humor  in his repertoire.

“I see a deer out on the interstate, on I-40. It gets hit by a truck,” the audience awws, he continues “I think gosh this is a fantastic opportunity, that is grain fed organic venison. It’s gotta be a couple hundred pounds right there …”

Catch the rest of the story when Comedy on the Cumberland airs on CDE Lightband in the coming weeks.

Jim Gossett

Jim Gossett

Last but certainly not least was Clarksville native Jim Gossett. He was the headliner for the evening. His number touched on: his opening acts, playing golf with Hank Bonecutter, APSU, College Football,  Relationships, Republicans and Democrats, Kevin Kennedy, Alabama, and more. He also does great impressions, though his Obama still needs some work.

When he started out he ragged on his opening acts a little bit, “You are all a part of history, we just set the Guinesses World Record for the world’s longest opening acts. I know the Red Cross is a worthy organization, but if you have any change kick in and buy my opening acts some watches.”  he said.

One of his funniest numbers was similar to Johnny Carson’s Carnac the Magnificent. He saids the first answer is “Catch 22″, opens the envelope, and states the question is  “What would Vanderbilt Receivers do with 500 forward passes”.  He then pulls out another envelope and puts it to his head “Puberty and New Providence” he says the answer is, then he opens the envelope and says “Name two things that no one enjoys passing through.

Jim Gossett specializes in corporate comedy, if you are interested in booking him for a performance check out his web site at: http://www.jimgossett.com/

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