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“I was actually raised on Long Island, New York, but my roots are deep in Cleveland,” recalls comedian Basile. “We spent a lot of summers (there). I wound up coming to Cleveland in 1980 (to finish up my degree) at Cleveland Sate.” He describes CSU as one of the toughest schools to get into. “You had to make a left on E 21st, and it’s like a one way.”
After CSU, Basile dabbled in comedy at the old Cleveland Comedy Club. “My mom was very, very ill and I was just not in the mood to pursue anything at that time, and I just said ‘I’ll take some time off’ and then this comedy bug hit me.” Things went well for him, but his career really took off when he decided to tap into his Greek roots. “Not only do I do my regular stand-up, on the Basile Unleashed Tour, I (also) do my standup in Greek.” He explains that, “if I did my ‘American’ or ‘English’ shows in Greek it would really not make sense, so I do a whole show in Greek called Growing Up Greek in America.”
Basile
The two shows are completely different. “The ‘American’ show, I break into different characters. You think the ball’s coming here and it’s actually going to be a hard slider or a curve. It’s not what you think it’s going to be. It’s not cheap dick jokes. If I do a dick joke you can bet your ass it’s brilliant dick joke,” he laughs.
“That’s what I try to do with these shows. If you’re looking for that high brow ‘oh he’s so clever;’ I’m not Seinfeld, but if you want a great laugh, a great time and sit there and go ‘what a great show that was from top to finish,’ this is the show to go to. ’I’m really proud of my show.”
Basile performs at the Funny Bone on The Levee Thursday July 9 Thorugh Sunday July 12
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