Roast honors, insults youth center direction

Brad Wilhelm said he has four rules when he plays host at the Comedy Attic.

“The fourth rule has a bad word in it,” Sandra Cazee whispered.

“The rule is you have to ‘laugh your fucking ass off,’” Jay Cazee said.

Last Thursday, the Cazees attended the Comedy Attic for a “Roast of Brad Wilhelm.” The event gave community members the opportunity to honor and insult Wilhelm, executive director of Rhino’s Youth Media Center & All Age’s Club, and benefit
Rhino’s entertainment and after-school programs.

“Brad Wilhelm is not a well-liked man,” Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said. “When this event present itself, dozens and dozens of people stepped forward.”

Kruzan was the first comedian on stage and said he was hesitant to honor Wihelm’s 20 years of work.

“Hasn’t this organization suffered enough?” Kruzan said. “Isn’t it time to bring this national nightmare to a close? Well, at least Wilhelm’s found fame as the poster child for flop sweat.”

Joking aside, Kruzan recognized Wilhelm’s work in the community. Rhino’s goal is to provide a safe environment for Bloomington youth.

“It’s more than a job,” Wilhelm said. “It’s making a difference in these kids’ lives.”
Kruzan named Jan. 26 “Rhino’s and Brad Wilhelm Day” in the city of Bloomington, and awarded Wilhelm with a signed certificate.

Wilhelm laughed.

Laura Brinkmanis, a comedian at Bear’s Place, acknowledged Wilhelm’s role in the community.

“I was really surprised when they asked me to roast a Bloomington celebrity,” she said. “I was like, ‘I don’t even know John Mellencamp.’ But seriously, Wilhelm was always a wonderful host. He made the audience feel like they could be funnier.”

Wilhelm is the former emcee at Bear’s Place Comedy Caravan, and Brinkmanis succeeded him. He went from doing stand-up comedy two nights a week to working just one, leaving more room in his life for his daughter, Sam.

“I remember the day he told me he was going to be a father,” attendee Alison Holen said. “He had a look of sheer joy and peace on his face. I came to here to support and laugh my ass off at him.”

Holen joined audience members in obeying Wilhelm’s fourth rule.

Wilhelm sat on the stage, and looked regal in his over-sized chair. Between asides, the Roast raised more than $13,000 for Rhino’s.

“We try and hit every Thursday night and, of course, Brad’s the emcee those nights, so we had to see his Roast,”  Jay Cazee said.

Jay Cazee put down his Coke and waited for the presentation to begin. But Wilhelm was late to his own Roast and only agreed to participate “if you donate more money to Rhino’s on your way out.”

The crowd anxiously shouted “Yes!” So, after a few minutes, Wilhelm stepped onstage and smiled, patiently, like a man proud of 20 years’ work.