CasiNotes: Comedian Jim Labriola brings a different kind of standup comedy

WHEN IT comes to naming a show,

Jim Labriola

has few, if any, peers.

The Queens, N.Y., native is the creator and star of "Night of 1,000 Guidos," a stand-up comedy revue coming to Trump Plaza for the weekend. Not surprisingly, the name signals the show's concept: a lineup comprised exclusively of Italian-American gagsters. (While he may have a knack for bestowing titles, Labriola's math skills appear lacking: The laugh-fest features but four "Guidos": himself, Vic DiBitetto, Tom Anzalone and Joseph Anthony.)

So, Jim, isn't the name - generally ascribed to a certain type of Italian-American and his or her lifestyle - just a little too much for these oh-so-politically-correct times?

"I never looked at it that way," said Labriola during a recent phone chat. "I grew up as a 'guido.' A guido was like, you know, like 'Saturday Night Fever,' with the gold chains.

"And you don't have to be Italian. There are Irish guidos and Spanish guidos and Indian guidos. It's a state of mind."

According to Labriola, who got the idea for the name from an event called "Night of 1,000 Stars," the idea for "1,000 Guidos" dates back a couple of decades, when he and some of his comedy-club-circuit buddies began ascending to headliner status.

"Every friend I had was basically an Italian-American comedian," he recalled. "When [they] became headline acts, we never got to work together anymore. So I put together a show on a night when nobody was working."

The early performances were successful enough that Labriola spent the ensuing decade-and-a-half touring with the package. And while the program's name remained constant, the roster didn't.

Sometimes, even non-Italians were featured.

"We had Kevin ["King of Queens"] James, Colin Quinn, John Mulrooney . . . we even had a black guy named Tony Powell," he said. "His name was Tony, so it was OK."

Labriola said the tanking economy cut down on the number of venues for "1,000 Guidos." It's back on the boards after a five-year hiatus.

Despite the show's title and featured performers, Labriola insisted "1,000 Guidos" isn't just for folks of Italian heritage. "We talk about the Italian experience, but it's also regular comedy, too. We talk about our wives, kids, things everyone relates to."

Labriola is especially proud he presides over a family-friendly affair. "There's not many shows where you're gonna see four funny guys who don't use the F-bomb," he bragged. "You don't come out of the show offended."

Trump Plaza, Boardwalk at Mississippi, 9 tonight, 8 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday, $30, 800-736-1420, ticketmaster.com.

Tomorrow's the day Tropicana Casino and Resort begins selling tickets for next month's IMAX screening of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1."

The advance sale, via Facebook, will offer a special package for a Nov. 18 midnight showing. For $50 a pop, you get VIP seating, a Harry Potter T-shirt and hat, and the large-combo popcorn and soda. To order, go to facebook.com/tropac.

If you can't make the midnight-screening scene, the flick will be shown at the IMAX Theater at The Quarter from Nov. 19 through Dec. 16. Admission is $15 (advance ticket purchases are recommended). Call 800-736-1420 or go to ticketmaster.com.

If you've ever had the urge to get a tattoo (or get another one), you'll want to be at Resorts Atlantic City this weekend as two $1,000 gift certificates for either Empire Tattoo in Pitman, N.J., or Mystic Eye Tattoo in Turnersville, N.J., will be up for grabs.

At 7 p.m. each day, one slot player's name will be selected. To be eligible, your Resorts player's card must be inserted in a machine at that time. And by the way, if body art isn't your bag, the prize is transferable.

We're still smarting from the butt-kicking we recently received from Ray Stefanelli, director of poker marketing at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, who let us know that in last week's column about the new card room at Delaware Park, we neglected to mention the Big B also offers two "bad beat" jackpots:

If a player loses with four 10s or better, the "high" jackpot is awarded. If the losing hand is four twos to four nines, the "low" prize is claimed.

Chuck Darrow has been covering Atlantic City and casinos for over 20 years. Read

his blog http://go.philly.com/casinotes. E-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com. And listen to his Atlantic City reports

Saturdays at 1:45 a.m. with Steve Trevelise on WIP (610-AM) and 4:05 p.m.

on Atlantic City's WOND (1400-AM) with Marc Berman, and 5:35 p.m. on Gloucester County's WNJC (1360-AM) and at 11:05

p.m. Tuesdays on WIFI (1460-AM) in

Bucks County.