Howie Mandel, actor, comedian, longtime judge of “America’s Got Talent” and host of “Deal or No Deal,” will bring the laughs to Maui for a stand-up comedy show on Wednesday. Jeff Daly / CNBC photo
Howie Mandel loves Maui. In fact, it’s his favorite vacation spot. So heading here for some “R&R” with his family and a stand-up show at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Wednesday, what could be better?
“It’s my favorite place in the world when I’m not at home,” Mandel enthused. “Since the late ’70s, that’s my one vacation spot that I look forward to. I’m missing doing stand-up, which is a respite for me from television and anything else that I do. But don’t bring the kids because I don’t edit myself.”
One of the “America’s Got Talent” judges, the host of the long-running game show “Deal or No Deal,” dramatic actor and hit podcast host, Mandel still loves cracking people up as a comedian.
“I’m not touring, but I do feel comfortable on Maui and I need this. It’s something I’m madly excited and thrilled to do, and what a great respite from the news and whatever is happening in life and your monsoon,” he said earlier this month as the recent Kona storm was raging. “Come and enjoy some silliness.”
Often in trouble as an impulsive kid, he was later able to employ his quirky sense of humor as a successful career path. “Everything that I was ever punished for or expelled for or got in trouble for is what people pay me for,” he explained. “I didn’t know that I was a stand-up comedian. I got thrown out of school and I got in trouble and barred from different places. Then when I found stand-up comedy, I just did the same thing and the audience and the career welcomed me. Whether it was ‘St. Elsewhere’ or they heard the voices, and it became ‘Bobby’s World’ and ‘Gremlins’ or I got hired as a game show host, or a judge on a talent show, it’s all because of stand-up. That’s the place I’m most comfortable.”
Mostly improvised, his zany stand-up routine typically includes audience participation.
“That’s what I missed most,” he said. “After 40 years, I have a plethora of material to call on and have those things people like to hear. But aside from that my favorite moments are the things that happen in the moment, that night in that room that will never happen again, and whether it’s somebody yelling something out, or whether it’s something that happened that day on Maui. It is incredibly interactive and improvisational. I look at it like a giant party and I’m just trying to be the center of attention.”
In recent years, Mandel has been quite open about some mental health issues that have impacted his life — attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and germophobia. He thrives on distraction and comedy has been a godsend for him.
“That’s why I need it,” he emphasized. “This is a giant group therapy. Aside from therapy and medications, the biggest thing for me is distraction, and there’s no better distraction than living in the now and having to think on your feet in front of a large group of strangers who just want you to make them laugh. It’s the healthiest place for me mentally.”
In these times of politically correct, cancel culture, Mandel has spoken out about how stand-up is being hobbled by fear of offending.
“I hope I don’t offend anybody, but comedy is offensive. That’s the nature of that art form,” he said. “Whether it’s as innocent as laughing at a clown falling down at the circus, or a pie in the face, you’re laughing at the misfortune of somebody you don’t know. That’s all comedy. That’s why you see that comedy and tragedy masks are side by side. They’re very similar.
“In true comedy nothing is off limit. Sometimes it’s meant to be funny because it’s so wrong. It’s also subjective as far as what will make you laugh. So it’s kind of complicated and now with this kind of cancel culture it makes this art form tough. But at the same time, I think we need it more now than we ever have.”
Joining “America’s Got Talent” in 2010, Mandel is the longest running judge in the history of the popular series, which attracts around 10 million viewers per season. His greatest joy? Hitting that golden buzzer, like he did for ukulele player Grace VanderWaal in 2016, who is set to star in Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming “Megalopolis.”
“Nothing feels better,” he said. “I feel like the luckiest guy in the world having the best seat in the house where somebody has a hope and a dream and I’m in the room when their life really changes. When they hit those notes or when that audience is brought to their feet, you just feel this overwhelming, jaw-dropping moment and I get to not only scream and applaud, but I get to hit a golden buzzer. Then five years later they’re charting, they’re in Vegas, you know their name, and I was in the room before anybody knew their name. That’s pretty exciting and amazing.”
Beginning on Jan. 2, NBC will present “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars,” featuring winners, finalists and fan favorites from previous seasons of “Got Talent” franchises from around the world.
“It’s the best of the best competing against the best,” he said. “So whether it’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent,’ ‘India’s Got Talent’ or ‘America’s Got Talent,’ they’re competing against each other. It’s like the Olympics of talent.”
Heading into 2023, Mandel said, “I know the first day of 2023 will be great because I’ll be in Maui. I’m happy right now and my entire family will be in Maui with me. I’m very content and I hope to have more.”
The “Howie Mandel Live!” show is presented at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the MACC’s Castle Theater. Kathy Collins will open. The show includes adult content. Tickets are $39, $49, $69, $89 and a limited number of $129 premium seats, plus applicable fees. Tickets are available online only at MauiArts.org.
Howie Mandel, actor, comedian, longtime judge of “America’s Got Talent” and host of “Deal or No Deal,” will bring the laughs to Maui for a stand-up comedy show on Wednesday. Jeff Daly / CNBC photoToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
The Maui News Maui County Department of Finance Director Scott Teruya was placed on administrative leave on last ...
Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, formerly on Front Street in Lahaina Town and destroyed by the fire, announced the ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqecsKtfobykrctmpZ6vo2R%2FcX6RaGhrZ6SnvLauy55kqZmpqHqwssVmn6ivmZp6rq3NnZylq12nrrSvwKVksqelqbVuv8StZK2glWLAta3GnmSfp6JiwKm71maZorJdmK6zscSrZg%3D%3D