Robert Klein

Frank Halperin

In the school of observational stand-up, Robert Klein has always been class valedictorian. Sure, George Carlin was more subversive, and Jerry Seinfeld had a brilliant ensemble sitcom, but neither of them could croon like Klein. Take his "I can't stop my leg" bluesman routine, for example, a legendary bit of inspired silliness. A Child of the Fifties (his classic, Grammy-nominated album which, along with the National Lampoon's Goodbye Pop and Steve Martin's A Wild and Crazy Guy, are among the most consistently engaging comedy recordings ever released), Klein would earn his humor diploma a decade later while matriculating as a Second City cast member ('65 alumnus), where he would work out his nascent act backstage for fellow performer Fred Willard's amusement. Then came his significant contributions to the 1970s comedy renaissance: the de rigueur Sullivan/Carson appearances, hosting Saturday Night Live twice during its early years, more terrific albums (Mind Over Matter, New Teeth), selling out Carnegie Hall in 1973 with his one-man show The First Annual Robert Klein Reunion and his groundbreaking On Location concert specials that put a fledgling HBO on the remote-control map. Along the way, he's made the rounds on Broadway (Apple Tree, The Sisters Rosensweig, his Tony-nominated role in They're Playing Our Song) and in the movies (The Owl and the Pussycat, Primary Colors and, most recently, Two Weeks Notice) while maintaining his respected and revered status as a master of the laugh craft (Seinfeld and Jay Leno are among his acolytes). When Klein visits South Jersey, audiences are guaranteed a set fortified with his distinctively keen wit and hysterically ironic insights. And maybe, if they're lucky, he'll pull out a harmonica and do the unstoppable leg crowd-pleaser.