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Ted Alexandro: Straight outta Queens

By Ed Condran | Special to amNewYork

Ted Alexandro is a real Queens guy. The affable comic and Astoria resident is a Queens College alum and roots for both the Mets and the Jets.

"I remember when the Jets played at Shea Stadium," Alexandro said, calling from his apartment, which is within booing distance of the Mets' home.

Prior to focusing on stand-up comedy 12 years ago, Alexandro taught elementary school music in Queens, and he believes that his borough helped shape his comic voice. "You're so close to Manhattan, but you're still an outsider," Alexandro says of Queens. "It's good for comedy when you're an outsider looking in. It's worked for some guys who came from here."

Those guys include fellow observational comics Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano, who have become some of the biggest names in the business. "Seinfeld and Romano both have that Queens thing in their act," Alexandro says. "You can sense it."

And much like them, Alexandro also honed his craft in Manhattan, where he witnessed sets by Romano and future stars Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Dave Chappelle. "I watched closely how those guys did it," Alexandro says. "I admired their work ethic. You have to work hard before you get recognized."

During his early days playing the Manhattan comedy circuit, Alexandro received encouragement from Comedy Central mainstay Dave Attell.

"He said to me, 'You're one of the funniest new guys I've seen in a while," Alexandro recalls. "That meant something to me since it was coming from one of my idols. I was walking on air for a while."

During the process of sharpening his skills, Alexandro discovered that he also happens to be a gifted physical comedian, a rarity among observational humorists. "It's odd since you're usually on one side of the fence or the other," Alexandro says. "But I found that I have a knack for physical humor. Why not use it? It makes my comedy better."

When Alexandro takes the stage at Comix, expect riffs about his life, current events and some politics.

"When we invaded Iraq, weren't we supposed to bring civilization and progress there?" Alexandro asks. "If that's so, how can you explain hanging Saddam Hussein by a rope?"

The comedian also gets political on his Web site through a couple of clips dubbed "Elected 2008," in which he takes shots at Barack Obama and John McCain.

"Obama wouldn't just be the first black president. It would be the end of white presidents. Because they say, once you go black, you don't go back," he quips.

Ted Alexandro is at Comix Thursday through Saturday.
Time: Thu. 8:30 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 8:30 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
Tickets: Thu. $20; Fri. and Sat. $25
Where: 353 W. 14th St., 212-524-2500