We live in a world where political correctness is intentionally being pushed aside, where uncensored comments are common on social media and both comedians and candidates don’t shy away from a dig here and there. To some it may feel like a whole new world but in the beginning there was Don Rickles. And tonight and tomorrow night, Mr. Warmth is bringing his iconic brand of zingers to the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Anyone who’s seen Rickles act in person, on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” or a classic “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast,” knows that no one is spared the wrath of the comedians barbs. But few people understand that the man behind the jokes is as kind and big-hearted as they get. Take his decades long friendship with fellow funnyman Bob Newhart as the prime example. As Rickles summed it up in an interview with Variety in 2012, “We’re apples and oranges… I’m a Jew, he’s a Catholic. He’s low-key, I’m a yeller. But we share the same values, marriage, children and grandchildren. We’ve traveled all over the world together with our wives, and in all that time we’ve never had a serious argument. So many things happen, there’s so much sadness. But we can laugh together.”
And those lucky enough to catch one of Don Rickles upcoming shows will quite possibly laugh until they cry. Sure, they’ll see the other side of The Merchant of Venom — the one who doesn’t shy away from a quip about race, religion, weight or obvious physical flaws. But isn’t it time we all took a step back and learned to laugh at ourselves a little?
This fall, Don will be performing at a number of venues on both coasts:
September 15, 2016, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ with Regis Philbin
September 17, 2016, Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI
September 20, 2016, Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ with Regis Philbin
October 22-23, 2016, Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV
November 12, 2016, Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA with Regis Philbin
November 18, 2016, Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA with Regis Philbin
November 20, 2016, The Rose in Pasadena, CA with Regis Philbin
Can’t Make it to Milwaukee? Download Don Rickles’ Mr. Warmth App
For those who can’t make it out to see him in person, MediaMine has created the Don Rickles’ Mr. Warmth App. Available for $2.99 iPhone and Android not only can you search categories like “Celebrities” and “Religions” but you can get the great insult comic to even call you a “hockey puck.” Visit Don Rickles’ official website to download the app and learn more about his upcoming shows.