Many voices, but just one Joey; comedian talks ahead of Helium Comedy Club show
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Joey Mulinaro’s always had a knack for comedy. Growing up in Indianapolis, he was a source of laughs for friends and family. These days, he’s entertaining hundreds of thousands with his spot-on impressions across social media.
Now, Mulinaro’s taking his act on the road and really showing off his chops not only as an impressionist but as a stand-up comedian. Kicking off his NFC North Tour is a stop at Buffalo’s Helium Comedy Club this Wednesday.
“It was a long, slow progression,” Mulinaro, 30, said of his rise as a comedian. The former Catholic school student had plenty of impressions of teachers, coaches and priests under his belt, but by the time he was in college, Mulinaro was looking for a way to really stand out.
So, with his mom’s encouragement, Mulinaro took to social media, transfiguring his sports and Seinfeld fandom into modern-day takes from some of those worlds’ best-known voices.
Jerry Seinfeld’s bewilderment at Stanley cups, “Colin Cowherd’s Top 5 Taylor Swift Songs” and a take on what Patrick Mahomes might’ve said to his mom before the Chiefs beat the Eagles in last year’s Super Bowl — none of it happened, but Mulinaro gives us a pretty good look at how each situation might’ve played out.
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However, Mulinaro credits two particular impressions with giving him the biggest boosts online.
“The first two that really kind of set me apart — Andrew Luck in the spring of 2019, right before he retired. And then Nick Saban the day before Thanksgiving 2019.”
These impressions garnered him a massive following on social media, and he just kept expanding it from there. Nowadays, he boasts impressive numbers of followers across Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
But he’s not caged to just those three. The former Barstool Sports staffer has shown up on ESPN, The Howard Stern Show and even One Bills Live a handful of times.
Bringing his brand of comedy to the stand-up stage, Mulinaro says he comes in ready, respecting the process and preparation of people like Jerry Seinfeld.
“Using a football analogy, the best off-script plays are allowed to happen when you’re the most prepared,” Mulinaro said.
Like many comedians, he’s ready to improvise on the spot, too. But it’s being ready for anything that gets him there. Although he’s a Steelers fan, he draws a likeness to Buffalo’s beloved quarterback.
“I’m sure that he’s like, the most prepared guy, and that allows him to play more freely and then make those incredible Josh Allen plays,” Mulinaro said.
Along with Seinfeld, Joey Mulinaro’s personal “Mount Rushmore” includes chameleonic comedians like Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon and Frank Caliendo.
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“I still try to take a little bit of who they are, what they do and influx it into something that hopefully comes out as Joey,” Mulinaro said.
Mulinaro’s Buffalo debut will start a staggered tour that continues into Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota and Chicago before finishing in Green Bay. The spread of six dates over a month’s time lets the comedian be home with his wife and children more often. He’s got two under two, after all.
The first and last dates of Mulinaro’s tours typically stand out most to him, he says. He’s planning to check out the Bills’ facilities and work with them earlier in the day before he performs at Helium that night.
Being in Buffalo, he’s ready to dig into some wings, too, with plenty of suggestions already thrown his way. But one of the best parts of being on the road comes from just seeing the people who support him.
“I’m never gonna take that for granted — the fact people want to spend their hard-earned money to come see me perform for 45 minutes,” he said.
From the phone screen to the stage, Mulinaro’s talent and reach continue to grow.
“I know that I pull for the Steelers, but I’m still looking forward to it, so don’t hold that against me,” he said.
Tickets for his 8 p.m. performance at Helium Comedy Club can be purchased here. Prices range from $27.99 to $35.99.
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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
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