“Why alcohol kicks ass.” Wouldn’t that have been a fun lecture to attend? If that was the title of a college course, wouldn’t you make an extra effort to be there every day?
That simple description is how Zane Lamprey sums up his one-man comedy show “Drinking Made Easy,” which he presents Friday night (Dec. 4) at Tonic Lounge.
“Alcohol appreciation: That’s what it is.” he said via phone from his L.A. home. “It’s the best college lecture you’ve ever experienced.”
The 33-year-old comedian covers the three big alcohol families — beer, wine and liquor — and explains their history, creation and how to go about finding one's own favorites. This is your chance to find out “why beer is in fact the most important beverage in the history of our country and the world," for instance.
“We don’t really know much about what we’re consuming,” he said. “And I’m giving people just enough info to be dangerous.”
Some might think, I could talk for an hour about drinking, no problem!
We'd bet against them, but Lamprey is actually qualified.
He’s the host of “Three Sheets,” a show currently airing on the Fine Living Network, where he travels the globe exploring local drinks and drinking customs. It’s packed with information for “people who are nerdy like me,” Lamprey said, but its primary goal is to entertain.
“People get out of the show what they want to,” he said.
The vast majority of the 50 (so far) episodes take place abroad, with a few filming in U.S. hot spots like Kentucky for its bourbon and Las Vegas for its, well, Vegas-ness.
Foreign locales are favored because “shooting in the states opens up a can of worms,” Lamprey said. “Every town then wants you to visit, and soon you’re doing ‘Three Sheets: Scranton.’”
And though many may laud his job as the best in the world — getting paid to travel and drink — there is a downside. Notably, when bars are your workplace, they start to lose their appeal during off hours.
“When I come home, I’m pretty dry,” Lamprey said. And after shooting at a bar Thursday, Friday and Saturday, “and someone asks you to go out on Sunday, you’re like ‘No, dude, I’m good. I’m done,'” he said.
Lamprey’s upcoming book, “Three Sheets: 6 Continents, 15 Countries, 150 drinks and 1 Mean Hangover” is an exploration of the history of and appreciation for alcohol. Though the book was more work that Lamprey expected, the research made the live show possible.
“That sort of lead to the stand-up thing,” he said. “I have so much information in my head, and I really want to get out on the road.”
The hour-long show is a test of sorts, as the Reno date will only be the second time he’s performed it.
“It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving — I’m still writing the thing,” he said. “I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
So what is certain? Drinking, footage of hilarious drunk people and — even better — footage of drunk animals.
“Three Sheets” has a clearly defined drinking game, and there are guidelines for “Drinking Made Easy,” too.
Every time Lamprey says “fact,” the audience should drink.
“And every time I screw up, you have to drink,” he added. “There may be a lot of drinking that night.”
At least he won’t be cut off by last call. If any town should be ready to celebrate alcohol, it’s Reno.
Opening the night is Marc Ryan, a comedian who revels in his Southern background, but in the opposite way of, say, Larry the Cable Guy.
Protip: If you're a fan and want to buy Lamprey a drink, don't go with a shot, because "A shot is the quickest way to an apology. Start taking shots and figure out what you‘re going to say sorry for," he said.
Find "Three Sheets" on the Fine Living Network, Charter digital channel 102. Click here for showtimes. There also are episodes available on Charter OnDemand and Hulu.
