This week, Ira spoke with Tommy Savitt.
Tommy Savitt, otherwise known as Tommy Lama, Ordained Comedian / Life Coach To The Stars, is the newest resident comedian at The Laugh Factory, performing Monday through Sunday through September 4.
Savitt was born in Livingston, New Jersey to William and Irene Savitt , Romanian immigrant parents. Tommy graduated Canarsie High School in Brooklyn and then went on to graduate Brooklyn College earning a Bachelor’s in psychology. From there Tommy went on to Brooklyn Law School. Prior to completing law school, Tommy enlisted in Marine Corp boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina in order to become a Judge Advocate General. The administrators wanted to consolidate Tommy’s split-summer program and so Tommy left the training because he did not want to interrupt his law school studies.
Upon leaving Parris Island, Savitt’s drill instructor advised him not to be a lawyer but, rather a comedian. That was Tommy’s impetus to begin to pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian during his second year of law school. However in order fulfill his mother’s dreams of having a son who was a lawyer he received his Juris Doctor in 1997, and is licensed to practice law in New York and Connecticut. Tommy found took down his license from the wall, and left to pursue his passion, stand-up comedy. He still retains he law license.
Savitt is a 15 year comedy veteran who began in his hometown of New York City, where he also starred in productions of Shakespeare. After developing his “Hey Tommy” character, he was featured on Bob & Tom and Blue Collar Radio and performed around the world for the troops.
He has since developed a new stage persona, the Tommy Lama, which has proven a hit at comedy clubs and festivals internationally and landed him a residency at the Laugh Factory in Las Vegas. Along the way he’s won the prestigious Seattle Comedy Competition. Best Comedian at the Boston Comedy Festival, Ventura Comedy Festival, and the LA Comedy Awards.
