David Brenner & Hal Linden at the McCallum

McCallum Theatre presents a night of comedy and music on Thursday, March 29, at 8:00pm when David Brenner is joined by local favorite and television legend Hal Linden.

David Brenner has had a remarkable career. Beginning with his debut appearance on “The Tonight Show (where he made 158 appearances), he continues to be a frequent talk show guest. His act is based on “very” current events and he is recognized as a political pundit, appearing on news oriented shows on MSNBC, CNN and The Fox Network.

He’s done four HBO specials, including his last one which was performed live, “David Brenner Back With a Vengeance,” and proved that once again, the Philadelphia native is still “the ultimate comeback kidder.” The show was one of HBO’s highest rated specials and garnered glowing reviews.

David wasn’t always in front of the TV cameras. Before stepping on stage, he enjoyed a successful career as the writer/producer/director of 115 television documentaries. He also headed the distinguished documentary departments of both Westinghouse Broadcasting and Metromedia Broadcasting. His documentary work earned him nearly thirty awards and citations, including an Emmy Award.

I Think There’s a Terrorist in My Soup, David’s fifth book, is a guide on how to use humor and laughter to get through personal problems and cope with the problems of the world. His first book, Soft Pretzels with Mustard, was a best seller.

David grew up in the poor sections of South and West Philadelphia where he was a gang leader who used humor as a negotiating tool. From fourth grade through high school, he was Class President as well as class comedian. He attended Temple University where he graduated with honors, majoring in Mass Communications.

Hal Linden is a versatile star who easily shifts roles in theatrical and TV films to projects for the legitimate stage and performances in the world’s finest nightclubs.

A native New Yorker, Hal began his show business career as a clarinet player and later toured as a singer with Sammy Kaye, Bobby Sherwood and Boyd Raeburn bands. As a member of the U.S. Army band, he performed in Army revues which led him to an acting career. After his discharge, Hal enrolled at New York’s American Theatre Wing. His breakthrough came when he was signed to understudy Sydney Chaplin in Bells Are Ringing, and five days later, he made his Broadway debut. He starred opposite Judy Holliday on Broadway and on tour with the national company.

Hal appeared in the Broadway productions of Cabaret, The Gathering, and The Sisters Rosensweig. He has had feature roles in numerous television series and was the star of the enormously popular series “Barney Miller.” He completed the successful national 19 week “Hal Linden Tour;” starred in the CBS series “The Boys Are Back;” appeared off-Broadway in Visiting Mr. Green; played Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at Madison Square; and starred with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Out to Sea.

Some of his many other accomplishments include 44 weeks on Broadway in I’m Not Rappaport; playing Alan Alda’s sexy, shallow sidekick in the movie A New Life; doing a nine city tour in Man of La Mancha; and performing concert dates (he plays Mozart on the clarinet) in Dallas, St. Louis, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City.

McCallum Theatre presents David Brenner & Hal Linden on Thursday, March 29, at 8:00pm. Tickets are priced at $85, $75, $55 and $35 and are available by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787 or online at www.mccallumtheatre.com. McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.