Jeni’s ‘Greatest Bits’ Are a Sound Investment

*** RICHARD JENI

“Greatest Bits”

Uproar Entertainment

When Richard Jeni decided to do a comedy album after years of success with cable specials, including the CableAce-winning “Platypus Man,” he knew he was venturing into a form just regaining consciousness.

Until Jeff Foxworthy, Adam Sandler and Bill Engvall struck gold with comedy CDs recently, record labels were largely considering the genre a dead art.

In “Greatest Bits,” Jeni adds to the case for revival of the species. He has put together 22 of his favorite routines, focusing on the ones that A) he hasn’t retired, and B) lend themselves to audio, without the aid of onstage pranks.

From the opening track, “Back in L.A. . . . No Smoking!” to the final cut, “Anus Presley,” Jeni continually asks, “What is going on here?” as he finds himself astonished by day-to-day reality and expands on it.

The fuel that fires Jeni’s live show is his rapid-fire succession of thoughts and nimble use of descriptive adjectives. Both traits are amply displayed here and translate well into audio only.

When discussing, for instance, the difference between perception and reality in “Death of a Shoe Salesman,” the Brooklyn native offers: “No matter how much of a three-toed, knuckle-dragging troglodyte [a] guy is, he figures he’s only four or five sit-ups from being in a hot tub with Elle MacPherson.” And when men go to the beach, we get: “You’ll see some of the largest, brightest land mammals who have shrewdly chosen the Speedo bathing suit. The guy who should be wearing a poncho.”

Such wordsmithing paints mental cartoons that, for the most part, are rated PG but veer into the blue on occasion.

Also on the album, recorded live last year at the Ice House in Pasadena, is another fan favorite, “Fred Robster,” which includes the lobster’s view of being in a tank on display for diners: (“Any word from the governor?”)

Unfortunately, Jeni didn’t include the routine about his fast-talking car salesman--it’s one of his best live, though one Jeni says his fans like it better than he does. But that omission is a small price to pay considering the rest of the 48-minute compilation.--GLENN DOGGRELL

* Richard Jeni appears tonight at the Irvine Improv, 4255 Campus Drive. 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Also 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday. Ends Sunday. $12-$17. (714) 854-5455.

Ratings range from * (poor) to **** (excellent), with three stars denoting a solid recommendation.