The last time I recall comedian Howie Mandel doing a true stand-up comedy show in our area, it was in March 1997 at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.

I spent more than a few days shadowing Mandel who had to plant roots in Merrillville while using the Star Plaza stage as the landscape to shoot his new HBO special (at that time) "Howie on Ice."

Now he's finally back.

Other than a quick Las Vegas gig now and then, Mandel, 52, has been more content during the past decade with television stints, doing live comedy remotes as a correspondent for Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" and hosting the popular game show "Deal or No Deal."

But the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond has snagged Mandel to headline at their new performance space The Venue for one exclusive show at 8 p.m. Oct. 10. Tickets just went on sale Friday.

Also just added to The Venue schedule is an 8 p.m. Sept. 27 concert with jazz great Robert Cray, with his special guest Shemekia Copeland.

Speaking from previous experiences, Mandel is a great show.

Here are some of my favorite tidbits about Mandel's fast-paced, action-packed life, both personal and professional.

* Two months after his comedy stage debut, Howie married his long-time girlfriend, Terry Soil. The couple have three children, two daughters and a son, ages 13 to 23.

* His emergency room physician character Dr. Wayne Fiscus on "St. Elsewhere" carried a strong following for six seasons. His most popular episode was one in which his character "went to heaven."

* One of Mandel's trademark original stand-up comedy tricks involved inflating a rubber surgeon's glove with his nostrils by placing the glove over his head and nose. However, doctors advised him to find a new shtick after the pressure of the inflation repeatedly caused the blood vessels in his nose to burst.

* Howie has enjoyed a lucrative career with voice-overs for movies and animated shows. He provided the voice of Gizmo the Gremlin in Steven Spielberg's 1984 film "Gremlins." He also lent his voice variations to Animal and Skeeter for Jim Henson's animated "Muppet Babies." In 1989, he began producing his own children's cartoon show called "Bobby's World" based on his 4-year-old character from his stand-up routines. "I wonder if kids ever noticed that Bobby, Skeeter and Gizmo all have the same voice?" Mandel once told me.

* "Bobby's World" was on for several seasons on FOX television. "I've become associated with that voice so much," Mandel said. "I actually struck upon it on accident one time as a child while I was choking on a piece of cake. The other kids thought it was funny, so I developed it more."

* He said he's learned to be careful how he showcases his vocal talents as Bobby when he's approached in public. "I've seriously frightened children before," Mandel said. "Unintentionally, of course. For anyone under the age of 8, I don't do the Bobby voice. I've had kids become very disturbed to see Bobby's voice coming out of this grown man. They think I've eaten the 4-year-old!"

* While first starting off, Mandel used to open for Diana Ross during her Las Vegas engagements.

* Besides Mandel using the Star Plaza stage to tape his comedy special, the only other performer to use Star Plaza to tape a special has been Johnny Mathis. "He taped part of a music special here a few years ago," said Star Plaza Theatre Director of Publicity Monica Montella.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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