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The former Saturday Night Live star, best known as the “Weekend Update” anchor—or another one of Adam Sandler’s friends that shows up in all his movies—is the guy that got the job because he stuck around. He was 31 when he first appeared on television; he never did impressions, original characters, or physical humor. He’s not the fat guy, the quirky nerd, or the eye candy; he’s just some dude whose unique observations make (a lot of) people laugh. His not-exactly-animated style of joke-telling has earned him TV roles (Weeds, Curb Your Enthusiasm)—and why? He’s able to make the mundane fun. Nealon belongs in the class of Sarah Silverman, Dave Attell, and Norm MacDonald: smart, edgy if you’re listening carefully, and charming if you’re not. Since becoming a dad at the age of 54, Nealon has been exploring an arena of comedy—and life—most his age have exhausted.
Nealon performs tonight through Sunday at the DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. $25. (202) 296-7008.