Dave Attell drops image as drunk guy, keeps raunch

By John Benson

The comic says that in his 40s, he’s trying to be ‘more adult.’

Drinking and telling jokes.

That’s been the modus operandi of comedian Dave Attell for nearly two decades. Most famously on the Comedy Central show “Insomniac,” in which the New York City native funnyman would, well, check out late-night watering holes and tell jokes, Attell has recently changed his act.

Though his staple material — raunchy observational jokes — remains, it’s his lifestyle that no longer goes in step with his stage image.

“Well, I have a liver the size of a small Ethiopian child, so yeah, I kind of have to cut back [partying],” said Attell, calling from his Big Apple home. “So right now I’m not drinking, but people still want to buy me shots. It’s a great test of willpower.”

He added, “I’m trying to delve into more of being in my 40s, being alone and how I’m doing that, but I’m no longer like a party drunk guy. So now it’s more about once you hit 40 and you’re still drinking, it’s like, ‘What’s with that guy?’ Before it was like, ‘Hey, that’s the guy.’ And now it’s like, ‘Hey, what’s with that guy?’ So I’m trying go be more adult, I guess.”

On the surface, a sober Attell seems to be quite the paradox, but the entire scenario is very similar to Rat Pack leader Dean Martin, whose stewed image entertained his WWII-era peers for decades.

“Yeah, everybody said Dean Martin was a big drunk, but he was drinking apple juice most of the time,” Attell said.

“But those days are over, like the inappropriate drunk guy. Nobody seems to want that guy anymore. Especially with these celebrities who can’t seem to get somebody to drive them home, which is kind of really weird that they have to drive themselves home.

“Like every time you have to turn on the TV it’s another celebrity getting a DUI. So I try to stay away from that kind of stuff.”

What Attell is not staying away from is his image as a staunchly raunchy comedian, whose latest comedy special, “Captain Miserable,” aired last December on HBO. In fact, now being sober adds ammunition to this every-guy funnyman, who has become quite successful on the comedy club circuit.

“My show is all adult language and adult topics,” Attell said. “I’ll be talking about sex stuff. So if you’re a couple, you better be swingers, otherwise it will be an uncomfortable ride home.”

Attell, who has dabbled in television (“Arrested Development”) and feature films (“Los Enchiladas!” and “Pootie Tang”) said he’s not interested in parlaying any of his success into acting, nor is he interested in becoming a Dane Cook-like arena comedian.

Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Attell feels he’s found his niche in life as a club comedian. He returns to Cleveland for a Saturday date at the House of Blues.

“I’ve done Cleveland many times,” Attell said.

“The thing about Cleveland is you always have the warehouse area. I always remember just drinking and looking out over a river. But I will say one thing, Cleveland is probably the coolest times I’ve had when I swung through Ohio.

“It’s good to go back to a shot-and-a-beer town after a roll through the Midwest where it was all crystal meth and Waffle Houses.”