Pete Correale brings his 'relatable' comedy home to 2 LI clubs

Comedian Pete Correale will perform at Governor's in Levittown on... — Comedian Pete Correale will perform at Governor's in Levittown on Nov. 6 and McGuire's in Bohemia on Nov. 7. Credit: Todd Rosenberg

By DAVID J. CRIBLEZdavid.criblez@newsday.com DavidJCriblezOctober 30, 2015

Comedian Pete Correale is a Long Island guy. Growing up in Oakdale as the middle child in a middle-class home, he oozes Suffolk County charm with his distinct accent, colorful hand motions and fast-talking manner. When he performs at Governor's in Levittown Nov. 6 and McGuire's in Bohemia Nov. 7, it should be quite a homecoming.

"I can't wait to come home because it's so comfortable and the crowd gets my sense of humor right away," says Correale, 45. "Long Island is the only place where there are guys in the audience who are thinking, 'You're not even as funny as me, pal. What are you doing onstage?' "

Correale came into comedy late in the game at age 23. After college he worked sweeping and mopping floors at New York Comedy Club in Manhattan just to be able to go on last every night.

"It was crazy, but it made total sense to me. I was so zoned in," says Correale. "On Long Island, they don't encourage you to become a comedian or an actor. They say things like, 'Became a cop, ya get your pension!' But after I graduated, I said, 'I've got to try this.' "

Every week, he co-hosts a popular podcast with fellow comedian Sebastian Maniscalco called "The Pete and Sebastian Show" on Riotcast.com. Here the duo pontificates on things like proper gym etiquette and their bizarre airplane experiences. "The show is just a real back-and-forth between the two of us," says Correale. "He's my kind of guy."

In his upcoming Showtime special, "Let Me Tell Ya," which airs Nov. 13, Correale wins over a Chicago crowd with his regular-fella persona.

"I think the crowd is refreshed when they see a guy go up there and talk about a problem with their carbon monoxide detector," says Correale. "They are like, 'OK, I know this guy.' I like to be relatable."