Comic's career spins in a new direction

By Nick A. Zaino III, Globe Correspondent, 10/3/2003

Kenny Z is in a position most 23-year-old comedians can only hope is waiting for them down the road. After six years of learning to be a comedian, starting at clubs in New York City and then getting three years working in Boston radio, Kenny (whose real name is Kenny Zimlinghaus) has been handed the reins of the morning show on WFNX-FM (101.7), which he now hosts with Henry Santoro and entertainment reporter Anngelle Wood.

"I definitely think that I'm way too young to do this," he says, laughing. "Everybody knew that my goal was eventually to be doing something like this. I didn't think it would happen as fast as it did."

WFNX started moving in a new direction six months ago, going away from what general manager Andy Kingston calls "aggressive-leaning" rock music toward the station's original alternative sound. Kingston says that Kenny Z's style and youth is a better match for the target audience than departed host Cruze, whom Kingston described as having a more "Top 40" feel. "He understands the sensibilities of our audience," Kingston says of his host. "He understands the type and nature of the show, and that we're an alternative rock station."

Though Kenny Z had been with WFNX for almost three years -- first writing bits for the morning show for free, then coming aboard as a producer more than a year ago -- he hadn't expected the prime slot just yet. "I was very surprised," he says. "They were just like, `Go get 'em, kiddo. Everybody supports you.' "

Now Kenny Z lives the dual life of being a host at one of Boston's high-profile radio stations while still struggling to climb past MC and guest spots, and toward headliner status at local clubs.

Though the day job helps his profile, there are still a lot of dues to be paid, and that means putting in late hours at the clubs and for the show Kenny runs every Wednesday at Tommy Doyle's Pub in Kendall Square, with fellow comic Greg Johnson.

"I'm not at any point where I'm getting booked all over the place," Kenny says. "Weekend work is still rare, you know. So I want to get more of that, but in order for me to get more I have to keep hanging out at clubs. And I do, but only to the point where it doesn't affect the show."

Kenny Z the comedian and Kenny Z the morning-show host are both promising works in progress. He counts on Santoro and Wood to contribute both on air and in booking guests, trying to create what he hopes will be a smarter show.

So far, it's a grab bag; it includes stunts like "Fakin' the Band," which auditions listeners for an official WFNX morning-show band, the final lineup of which will be decided at a showdown at the end of the month.

"We want to make people think but we also want to make people laugh," Kenny says. "We're still searching for that, we really are. Every day we're trying something different."

Rock rolls back More than a decade ago, Comedy Connection owner Bill Blumenreich was producing shows with Chris Rock, a struggling comedian on the rise. When Rock went from "Saturday Night Live" to the biggest new stand-up star around, Blumenreich thought Rock's club days were over.

"When he first became big, which was about six years ago, I said, `We'll probably never see you in the club anymore.' And he said, `Hey, man, I love this club. I promise you I'm going to come back here like once a year.' " True to his word, Rock will be back at the Connection Monday and Tuesday, for four shows that sold out in three hours last Tuesday. Rock also dropped by in July.

Around town Tonight and tomorrow: Bobby Slayton plays the Comedy Connection; Chris Zito, Adam Perlman, and Lance Buchanan play the Comedy Escape in North Andover. . . . Paul Mercurio plays Jokemavens in Methuen tonight and tomorrow. . . . Ira Proctor plays Johnny D's on Monday.