Modified On April 27, 2008
Comics based in the Northeastern U.S. in the 80s and 90s were certainly familiar with Wise Guys. The Syracuse, NY, comedy club regularly sold out five nights a week and proprietors Bruno and Jeannine Schirripa ran and booked a club that was the envy of many larger-market venues. (We worked there twice a year and regularly cited it as one of the top ten clubs in the country.)
After a change or two in location and other difficulties, Wise Guys closed and Syracusans found themselves without an A-room.
We recently received word from Bruno Schirripa that, on October 18 of last year, he re-opened Wise Guys at a “fantastic location in the heart of downtown Syracuse,” and that the room is offering eight shows over five nights each week.
Along with news of the re-birth came sad news: Jeannine passed away suddenly on March 1 of last year, after a brief illness. Jeannine was very hands-on at the old club(s) and anyone who worked Wise Guys knew her well and regarded her as a friend.