Published: January 11, 2008 09:28 am      

Comedy nights coming to San Marcos

San Marcos — Jim Tierney thinks San Marcos needs a few more laughs.

The California transplant was producing comedy clubs in Los Angeles for years before he came down to San Marcos to help his friend refurbish some downtown apartments last summer. He had stand up rooms in Los Angeles and Hunington Beach, among others.

And the comedy bug followed him to Texas.

“When I came down here, it was still in my blood,” Tierney said. “You know in LA the money is tight, businesses are closing down. I’m thinking I’ll just stay in San Marcos and do my thing here.”

Tierney will premiere what will become his weekly comedy show from 8 to 10 p.m. Jan. 26 at Gold Crown Billiards, located at 205 W. San Antonio St. He has already lined up Saturday night shows there through March, with Austin comedian John O’ Connell being the headliner on Jan. 26.

O’Connell is an 18-year comedy veteran who has performed with Dave Attel and Dolly Parton, as well as working at The Improv in Hollywood and the Comedy Cafe in London.

Tierney has spent the last few months recruiting comedians from Austin to San Antonio. The Gold Crown has added a new stage and sound system to accommodate the weekly comedy acts, which will typically feature two openers and a headliner.

“Comedy is bubbling up, it’s going to happen. I just decided I would do it before someone else here does it,” Tierney said.

If nothing else, he says, it gives college students an added option for a night on the town.

“I like the idea of giving the kids and people in this town something to do besides drink beer and shoot pool,” Tierney said. “When I see 250 people laughing out of their chairs, beer spitting out of their nose, that’s what the pay off is for me.”