Randy Kagan, Stand-Up Comic, Reportedly Assaulted at 'Hollywood Improv' for Making Fun of Girl in Front Row

I find it hard to believe that the "bouncers" at the Improv didn't move into action immediately, maybe the Hollywood club functions differently, or perhaps the franchise has gone soft since I worked for it over 12 years ago, but while I was there (Irvine) we put ourselves in harms way to protect the talent:  

Once a woman nearly clawed my face off as I deflected her attack intended for Richard Lewis.  He had warned us in advance that she was stalking him, so we were prepared, but after the show she literally leapt from one terrace to another to try and get at him as he left the stage for the green room, and she would have had him if not for me.  

The most insane moment came when we had a group of gang members celebrating the release of "one of their own" from prison . . . he had just gotten out earlier that day.  To this day I don't know what possessed them to choose the show they did, but I'm guessing complementary tickets played a part.  They knew absolutely nothing about comedy and went to a Bobby Slayton show for fuck sake!  All through the opening acts they were talking loud and celebrating like this night was their private party and the comedians were only there for background entertainment.  We had warned them to calm down more than enough and were issued verbal threats every time.  Our attempts to remove them peacefully during the show were unsuccessful, as they outnumbered our immediate "door staff" and chose to "stand their ground" against us.  All of this was disrupting the show, so upon taking the stage Bobby, naturally, CALLED THEM OUT (anyone familiar with Bobby Slayton knows they don't call him the "Pitbull of Comedy" for nothing)!  What went on from there was absolute insanity! The freshly freed gang member was yelling death threats at Bobby Slayton while he egged him on and tore the whole gang apart with insults.  The strongest amongst us gathered at all ends trying to anticipate their moves and waited for the shit to hit the fan.  A good handful of the audience made bee line exits.  While this was happening our general manager was fast on his feet, contacting the "malls" on-site police dept., and rounding up all the male staff to gather in the front lobby.  After his players were in place, he came to the terrace above the gang, got their attention and yelled "You wanna go?  Let's take this outside!"  To which they were more than willing to comply.  And with that, the GM ran into his office and locked the doors, leaving the rest of us to deal with the aftermath.   We followed them into the lobby where the rest of the staff had created a "wall" leading to the door, we finally had the upper hand, with guys both in front of them and behind them.  Naturally they were rallied up, and weren't going out without a fight.  Drinks went flying, punches were thrown, all while we held back our aggression and tried only to force them out the door.  Of course it didn't help that our house M.C. was throwing major insults at them the whole time, but in retrospect it was quite hilarious (only at a comedy club!).  We managed to get them where we needed and literally pushed them out the door into the waiting arms of the police!  Of course most of them didn't realize it was the police because their attention was still on us . . . they likely thought they were being "jumped".  And they fought back sight unseen (maybe they thought it was mall security and not the actual sherifs department).  Well, let me tell you, I've seen some shit in my time, but NEVER anything like that, and man, those batons work some magic!  Their "girls" started attacking us and one even leapt on the back of an officer and started hitting him.  Bat-fucking-shit-crazy-shit!  In the end, all of them, 10-13 in all, were arrested.  A couple were literally dragged away in straight jackets and put into a large police van/bus.  Quite honestly they seemed too injured to be much of a threat, but I understand taking precautions.  After the adrenaline settled, the rest of us got back to work, we had to wrap this show and still had the "10 o'clock" ahead of us.

Sorry for my novel, but the point is this:  If we handled this level of crazy, a single 60 year old man would have been nothing.  If the comedian in question had to fend him off on his own it was likely because the guy was in the front row and showed no indication of what he was going to do until he did it.  I'm willing to bet that staff was on him within seconds of the attack, but a lot can happen in those seconds.  I don't know why they didn't hold him until cops arrived, but then again I wasn't there.  The bottom line is, it's comedy people!  Learn to fucking laugh!  And if you can't, don't go to a FUCKING COMEDY CLUB!!!

Kagan is an agitator and is known in the comedy world for being about himself and would insult his own mom if it meant a laugh.

This is the most attention this guy has gotten since he farted in the first grade.Assaulted?!  The only persons assaulted were the people who had to sit through this ass-chimps act.Have you ever seen this guy do stand up?!UGHGHGHGHGHGHGH!!!!

I heard it was a purple monkey who threw a dishwasher at the stage and everyone tried to climb in it for a spin!

I heard that the joke he did was about the California flag having a bear on it and instead it should have a Mexican selling oranges cause there's a lot of that.

"Don't be the douche who takes his own insecurities out on the talent. First Amendment, etc.!"

First Amendment has no bearing in a sitch  like this you silly Bea Hatch.

Maybe these people weren't familiar with how stand up works. I've watched and listened to enough stand up to know that if the comic can see you and feels the need to make fun of you, its fair game. You may not like it, it may be painfully hurtful, it may not even be particularly funny to anyone, but its still fair game.

If you're truly a sensitive type, perhaps sit further back or, you know, don't go to a comedy club. Your gender, race, fashion sense, any visible physical imperfection (in this case) the way you eat, etc... can all be ripped on at the comic's discretion. Doesn't even have to be an insult comic either, its all part of the show.

Sorry that chick's boyfriend didn't get it, but comedy shows aren't the time to take anything to heart. maybe they should stick to bowling or mini golf or handies at the TGI Fridays parking lot.

And I stick to this stance even if the comic truly sucks. Id rather listen to comics skillfully take down a heckler than listen to one rip apart random members of the audience, though.

YOUR FACTS ARE ENTIRELY WRONG!!Randy Kagan is not a stand up comic - he is a hack.Can't really blame the Improv security guards for being outside in front of the club during his set as that's where most people who know him would be as well - hiding until it was over (or in the rest room).Real story here is that no one deserves to get sucker punched on stage - but then no one deserves to have to pay admission to a comedy club with a two drink minimum and have to suffer through seven minutes of Randy Kagan.

This is more evidence on the death of irreverence in our culture. I would also be fascinated to know what race the perpetrator and his girlfriend were, as multi-culturalism and political correctness continue to place restrictions on all levels of free speech in our society. Not being a stand up comic, I was astounded to learn that there is a "no heckling" policy at the Comedy Store. Even the thought of placing those kinds of restrictions on comedy club audiences, particularly in the Catskill resorts, Vegas or Atlantic City in the heyday, boggles the mind. Yet here we are, another Jewish wit visciously assaulted by Goyem no doubt. Let's just call it what it is, an anti-semitic hate crime. See, that wasn't so hard now, was it?

Simone, please, once again. The general reading public begs you to give up your sad writing career and go be a hostess at some trendy sunset restaurant or become a hooker. I'm sure you're better at either of those than being a writer. You are terrible at fact checking, style and your tone is always condescending and dumb. Kill yourself.

You are taking the word from a guy who wasn't even THERE. Not only were security talking to trashy girls outside the club, Randy had to defend himself for that full 30-40 seconds until Rick Overton and another comic came to his rescue...... Randy did NOTHING to deserve this. I will NEVER go to the Improv again, and I hope he does not either. Its a corporation about food, not comedy.

Again, I say, comics should be armed.  

I was there. Your facts are very distorted. Please research the topic before publishing!!!!