For Philadelphia sports fans, laughing to keep from crying has been one way to weather the seemingly perpetual lean years. And if that collective sense of humor has a singular voice, one could say it resides in the person of Joe Conklin, the stand-up comedian, radio personality and voiceover performer who has skewered the characters Philly fans love (and love to hate) for more than 20 years.

    Whether lampooning a certain Sixer's aversion to practice or mimicking Phillies’ broadcaster Harry Kalas' signature calls, no celebrity, in or outside of the sporting world, is safe. Take Conklin's recent song "Cheney's Got A Gun," sung in Conklin's George W. Bush voice to the tune of the Aerosmith pop hit "Janie's Got A Gun." (You can hear that clip, and a bunch of others, at www.joeconklin.com .)

   "When I'm doing shows in Philly, there's a great camaraderie because they're very familiar with the subject matter," said Conklin, who can be heard on WMMR-FM (93.3) and Sports Talk WPEN-AM (950). He has previously worked in the city with WIP-AM (610) and Comcast SportsNet.

   "(Fans) want me to satirize the teams. They want to hear the bits they hear on the radio that rip their teams. They're pissed that nobody wins anything around here."

   Conklin has three upcoming area shows: Friday, Feb. 24, at the Knights of Columbus in Springfield, Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Comedy Cabaret at the Elephant & Castle in Cherry Hill and Friday, March 3, at the Comedy Cabaret at Poco's Restaurant in Doylestown.

   The comedian said he started doing impressions in junior high, "doing Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent in 1976.

"I became instantly addicted to the laughter and the response."

Conklin, who said the highlight of his career was working as a sideline reporter covering the Sixers for Comcast during the team's 2001-02 playoff run, has taken some abuse in addition to dishing out the insults. Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager and Norristown native Tommy Lasorda "got all upset and came at me (verbally)" after Conklin poked fun at him at a sports banquet, he said.

    Audience members can be nastier still because celebrities, while they may get angry, generally try to maintain their public image.

   "An audience can scream shit, throw a bottle at ya," Conklin said. "I've had bad shows. I've been in bad situations where (I was) getting booed off the stage."

    As for what stage the performer's career enters next, Conklin said he's not sure. His contract with WMMR and Sports Talk expires on March 23, and a new contract has not yet been signed.

One idea he's hoping to bring fruition is a one-man musical that could play theaters, and not just those in the Delaware Valley.

   "I want to work some singing and impressions into my act, and maybe go to the next level with my standup and make it into more of a formal presentation that you can sell outside of Philly."

 

Joe Conklin

 

Fri., Feb. 24, 9 p.m.

Knights of Columbus 

18 Baltimore Pike,

Tickets: $30- includes draft beer.

610.543.9685

 

Sat., Feb. 25, 8 p.m.

Comedy Cabaret at the Elephant & Castle

1450 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill NJ 

Tickets are $20.

 

Fri., Mar. 3, 9 p.m.

Comedy Cabaret at Poco's Restaurant

625 N. Main Street Rt. 611, Doylestown, 

Tickets: $20.