THE NIGHT RICHARD LEWIS BOMBED AND CARLOS MENCIA TOOK BACK THE CROWD!
It was one of those perfect Southern California nights in 2002 when KLOS along with Mark and Brian took over the Verizon Amphitheater. The show was called Livestock and featured great music from John Waite, Midnight Oil and Cheap Trick and comedians that included Steve McGrew, Richard Lewis and Carlos Mencia.
The show drew a big crowd looking forward to lots of laughs and good music. Everything was moving along well until about a half hour before Richard Lewis was scheduled to hit the stage and he was nowhere to be found.
As I was running around trying to find out where he was someone told me that he was still in the limousine in the backstage area. Relieved, I sent someone to get him, but my relief did not last long. The message he sent back was that until he got his check he would not perform.
You need to understand that Richard was no stranger. He was a frequent guest and considered a friend of the Mark and Brian Show, so why he was acting this way baffled all of us. Rita Wilde, our program director managed to get his check and Richard went on stage. The next big surprise of the evening was that – well to put it kindly he bombed – and just about got booed off the stage.
Midnight Oil was up next and helped get the crowd back in a party mood. While they rocked the house Carlos Mencia arrived back stage and Mark and Brian told him what happened with Richard. He shook his head, understanding what he might be facing from the audience but said, “no problem, I’ll get the audience back.”
Twenty minutes later Carlos hit the stage, tore it up for about 45 minutes and had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Carlos always came through for the Mark and Brian Show whether it was golf tournaments, Christmas shows or the final live radio broadcast at the House of Blues. Richard Lewis, as you might have guessed, was never invited back on the Mark and Brian Show.