Once named by Ebony Magazine “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian,” Gary Owen has lately gone pan-demographic. It was a risky move; many believed his black fans would drift away, even after he won his own series on BET and toured with Shaquille O'Neal's All-Star Comedy Jam Tour.

But the success of his Showtime Special, “I Got My Associates"; last year’s release of “Meet the Blacks,” in which he costarred with Mike Epps and Mike Tyson, and other big-screen appearances in Think Like a Man, Daddy Day Care and others have attracted fans of every stripe and plaid.

Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise’s Treena Parvello says,“Gary Owen has had huge success on television and in movies, not to mention his memorable Showtime standup specials ‘I Agree with Myself’ and ‘True Story.’ We’re excited to host a live performance for his Southern Arizona fans!”

Owen performs at Desert Diamond Casino’s Diamond Center at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 28. Tickets are $76 to $114 at Sahuarita.tickets-center.com.

Comedy Competition Continues

Laff’s Comedy Caffe continues its month-long competition for the title “Best in the Southwest” on Thursday, July 26 following the weekly open mic. Admission is free all night. Locals competing in the round are Jesus Otamendi, Cindell Hanson, Autumn Horvat, Drake Horner and Marcus Raymond Gallegos.

191 Toole Hosts Kurt Braunohler

Kurt Braunohler rode a jet ski from Chicago to New Orleans on a seven-city water tour/mission to send 500 goats and 1,000 chickens to families in need in Africa. The adventure was filmed for a Comedy Central web series called Roustabout.

He’s also acted in shows that matter a lot in 2018 comedy, including Judd Apatow’s The Big Sick and, on the smaller screen, Lady Dynamite, Comedy Central Presents, Drunk History, Chelsea Lately, John Oliver Stand Up, and every single late show. On NPR, he naturally turned up on This American Life.

As a standup comedian he’s been on Variety’s prestigious “10 Comics to Watch” list and Time Out New York's list of 50 Funniest New Yorkers.

We suggest you get tickets now for his 8 pm, July 29 appearance at 191 Toole. They’re $15 at the door or $12 online at rialtotheatre.com. The show is 21 and older.

Snarks & Stripes

We laugh so we won’t cry. Comedy at the Wench helps out with a politics-themed laugh-a-thon at 7 p.m., Monday July 30. Hosted by Roxy Merrari, the show features Stacy Scheff, Dominic DiTolla, Eli WT, Autumn Horvat, Jon Jon and Amber Frame. It’s free, but donations are suggested.