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Actor Steve Schirripa has become a fixture in Celebrity Row at New York Knicks games for years. For one night, however, the star of The Sopranos and Blue Bloods will be at Madison Square Garden to take center stage, as he hosts Garden of Laughs.
The one-night-only event features eight A-list stand-up comedians in a fundraiser for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which benefits children facing illnesses or financial challenges. Schirripa appeared on 710 WOR’s Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning program to discuss why the charity is so important to him.
“It helps underprivileged kids in the Tri-State area,” Schirripa told Berman and Riedel. “The good thing is that every single dollar goes where it’s supposed to go. I was an underprivileged kid, so I grew up on welfare, and we had small things like this, and I remember it to this day, and these kids will remember this stuff for the rest of their lives, you know. It really makes a difference, so I’m happy to do it.”
Never one to shy away from politics, Schirripa also offered his critique of the politicians who try to make the city run. “I think [Mayor] Adams is trying — this is just what I think — I don’t think he’s a bad guy; I don’t think he’s up to the task. I think Hochul has his hands tied to a certain degree. She’s not very smart and she’s a complete fraud. She puts the baseball cap on like she’s just a regular person. I don’t even know what to say; I’m flabbergasted by what comes out of her mouth.”
The Garden of Laughs event to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation takes place March 27th at The Theatre at MSG. Among the comedians slated to appear are Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan and Jim Gaffigan, while sports stars CC Sabathia, Henrik Lundqvist and John McEnroe are also expected to be there. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
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