Generation Gap
A Comedy Show Highlight
by: Emma Rose
The Generation Gap Comedy Showcase
hosted by Don Gavitte is literally timeless…
It’s a show that features four comics from four different generations, almost like Thanksgiving dinner with the family but with hilarious jokes instead of highly traumatic yelling. Here we find out answers to age-old questions like “Are they laughing with us, or at us?” and “Are the kids gonna be alright?”
This show takes you all the way around the family table for insights, wisdom, and laughs. No matter who you are, you will find a sense of community and something in common with the featured comedians.
No death-match to figure out which generation is best; It’s more of a non-competitive musical chairs where the chairs aren’t removed and everyone’s a winner. Can the elders stay up past their bedtime for the show? Can the youths put their phones away long enough to pay attention? Find out this week at Generation Gap!
Talking with show runner Don Gavitte, we learned a bit more about the show and its host:
”Generation Gap has been going strong since October 2022 and brings 4 comics together from 4 different generations for some fun and laughter. I have been teaching high school history for 30 years and have been doing stand up since 2018. I also produce the Teacher Show which will have a 3 show run at Showbar next month… and I once made $78 in tips at a bar show.”
That’s no easy feat for a bar show!
Here are the Featured Comics for the March 8th show at Haymaker:
Gen Z: Danelle Porter | Danelle Porter is a Jewish Portland comic, who uses her bitter childhood to prove she should just be in more therapy. Her comedy is described as being sad but in a good way. She is currently producer of local Portland comedy shows Go Comedy Go, and Everything in Between(Woman/LGBTQIA+). She’s performed on the Haha Harvest Festival, the 16th Annual NW Woman’s Festival, and Helium for the Record.
Millennial: Anthony Robinson | Comedian. Half Chuck D, half Flavor Flav.
Gen X: Dan Wiancko | Dan has been doing comedy in the Portland scene for five years. In 2021 he advanced to the semifinals in Portland’s Funniest Person Competition. He is a regular feature comic on showcases & guest hosting mics all over town. Wiancko has recently been deemed the hardest working man in the open mic game. Every Saturday (summertime) he’s in Oregon City at Trails End Golf Center hosting the best outdoor golf mic to ever exist. In his youth, this dark comic managed to not get aborted.
Silent Generation: Dorothy Geary | After over 50 years in education, Dorothy “Dot” Geary started stand-up comedy and, at 80, formed D&D Comedy Productions. Currently, Dorothy rents four theaters outside Portland for monthly comedy shows that she hosts. Audiences laugh a lot at her comedy, but no one knows if it is because they are just so impressed that she can do stand-up standing up or if she is really funny.
We asked each generation the following three questions and got back some interesting texts, telegraphs and clay cuneiform tablets…
1: What does your generation mean to you?
Danelle | “I feel like my generation seems to be the Swiffer, we are picking up after the previous generations.”
Anthony | “I don't know. It's America so I assume most generations were trash (or not).”
Dan | “Not much…. Empty V (MTV) Getting trough my youth with no cell phone, internet or social media feels like is pretty big flex on my part.”
Dorothy | “….Been there, done that and probably won’t do it again.”
2: How did you get started in comedy?
Danelle | “I got started in comedy by going to an open mic called Devil’s Den and then started going every day.”
Anthony | “I started comedy at some lesbian ran open mic in Kansas City years ago. What does making a room full of lesbians laugh say about me?”
Dan | “I was tired of being interrupted. My voice is so low, no one would could hear the hilarious quips I was offering up. Now they have to listen for minutes at a time.”
Dorothy | “My husband died of Alzheimer’s, and I told my doctor I needed to figure out what to do when I grew up. She said I didn’t need to grow up and suggested Group improv. After 3 classes I decided I wanted to learn to do stand up so I could write and perform a set about my husband and Alzheimer’s because he was very funny and the disease never touched that part of his brain. I took classes from Alex Falcone and after Covid started losing my savings with D&D Comedy. Now I am replacing the savings.”
3: Who is your greatest comedy influence?
Danelle | “My biggest comedy influences are Taylor Tomlinson, Beth Stellings, Trevor Noah, Mike Birbiglia, Daniel Sloss and John Mulaney. Each of these comics made me want to pursue comedy.”
Anthony | “The absurdity of ignorance. Some good ole fashion stupidity always influences my humor.”
Dan | “Saturday Night Live started the year I was born. So that’s a pretty sweet deal.”
Dorothy | “When I was in high school, I bought all the Shelley Berman records. I never thought of being a comedian, though. I also remember how Jack Benny could just walk out and the audience knew him so well, they would laugh when he said the same things. I host all my shows and I have decided we like to get to be part of comedy communities that get to know some comedians well—and they don’t have to be the best comedians.”
There’s no time like the present to see Generation Gap at Haymaker...
Getting old is no joke, but it can be hilarious. Come to the show where meme culture meets Mom culture, and when LOL used to mean lots of love. Where suspenders meets sus and dentures meets dented cars;
It’s a place where fuzzy slippers meets Adidas slides and hips pop while you TikTok.
This show is for you, your friends, your parents, kids (21+), grandparents, cousins, estranged family
or just a strange family… bring your cult, youth group, elderly group, middle-aged MeetUp for birds; Everyone!
It’s about time you watch this show on March 8th @ 8PM
Haymaker Bar & Eatery [1233 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR, 97217]
by Emma Rose
Emma Rose is Jewish and female and a comedian.
She enjoys telling jokes in her free time, and her not too free time. She’s frequently performing on phone calls with her parents and open mics around town.
Contributing writer and editor for LaughsPDX.