Iwas completely off base with my preconceived notions about open mike night at the Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre (Seminole Paradise, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5700 Seminole Way, near Hollywood).

The rookies who perform here every other Wednesday night may only have their moms and maybe a few stragglers for an audience. But a packed house is virtually guaranteed for the A-list professional comedians this nightspot regularly attracts.

I wasn't expecting to scramble for one of the few remaining seats in the back of this spacious nightclub. I was sure my only laughs would be caused by my own sarcastic, mocking comments. Since I did a little improvisation comedy in college, I thought I was going to jump up on stage and show these clowns a thing or two. But I was cracking up within 15 seconds of the opening act, and by the time the night was over, I had a residual stitch in my side from countless full-belly laughs.

Although the audience had to suffer through a few hackneyed Paris Hilton jokes, the comedians were, for the most part, timely and, to my surprise, had the stage presence of the seasoned veterans who often appear on Comedy Central.

Jeff Madanick, 63, is known as the Doctor of Comedy, and I feared he'd get booed off the stage. The potty-mouthed stand-ups he had to follow told raunchy jokes, and the predominantly Gen-X crowd appreciated every four-letter word. They needed a minute to warm up to the excessively self-deprecating, Rodney Dangerfield-inspired stylings of this former office furniture salesman. But once they felt the flow, he totally killed. Madanick is an open mike night regular, and his act alone is worth the two-drink minimum.

Another mistake on my part: I thought, best-case scenario, I'd be able to score a few greasy chicken wings at this so-called dinner theater. But the menu was quite extensive, and my snapper, shrimp and rice dish was cooked to perfection.

On an open mike night, anyone with a voice and a knock-knock joke can walk in off the street to take the stage. But they take comedy seriously at the Improv, so you need to sign up first with Ramon at 561-833-1812 on Monday in between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Break a leg.

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