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Comedian: Humor not ‘brain surgery,’ but best medicine

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter/Photographer

Comedian Leighann Lord said she is coming to entertain at a time when people need it the most. Wise Crackers Comedy Club in Scranton is offering a chance to unwind this weekend when they welcome national touring comedian Lord.

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Above, Leighann Lord, who will be performing at Wisecrackers Comedy club in Scranton, January 9 and 10.

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“Now more than ever is the time to come out to a comedy club,” said Lord. “With economical stress, political stress and holiday stress, people are thinking, ‘Oh, I just spent so much money on people I don’t even like.’ Laughter is the best medicine for all of that.”

Lord is a name that might not strike up immediate recognition, but odds are you’ve seen her on one of her numerous television appearances on shows like Lifetime’s “Girls Night Out,” HBO’s “Def Comedy All Star Jam,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and ABC’s “The View.”

“Every time you do something on TV, it helps,” said Lord. “I haven’t gotten that overnight, William Hung-type success yet, but my fan base is growing. I have people coming up to me all the time now, going ‘I saw you on “The View” and you were delightful, can I set you up with my grandson?’”

“The best part of doing ‘The View,’ for me, was getting to meet Barbara Walters,” said Lord. “She came over to me and introduced herself, and I was like, ‘Of course I know who you are, you’re Barbara Walters.’ That’s something I remember fondly.”

Lord explained she is very happy with her newfound television popularity, but said it’s something that some saw coming very early in her career.

“When I first started out, the older comics would say, ‘You’re a TV comic,’ and, at the time, I didn’t know what that meant, but it means that I’m funny but not offensive, kind of a Bill Cosby- style of comedy,” said Lord.

Lord describes her style of comedy as pure standup, very observational, covering a number of topics. She has been compared to George Carlin and Franklin Ajaye: smooth, smart and classy.

This isn’t the first time she’s found her way to Wise Crackers at the Clarion Hotel. She’s played there a few times, and said she is looking forward to coming to entertain at a time when people need it the most.

“I know I’m not saving lives, I’m not doing brain surgery, but I’ve had lots of people come up to me after shows and say, ‘Thank you, I really needed this,’ and that they were coming back the next night and bringing a friend.”

Lord will be performing at Wise Crackers at the Clarion Hotel, 300 Meadow Ave. on Friday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. For details, call 788-8451.