Matthew Chimento

The Courier-Post

Editor's note: Due to high demand, a second show by Joe Matarese has been added at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Ritz. See infobox for ticket details.

I like to imagine comedian Joe Matarese moving through his essential life stations the way we all should: with “Gonna Fly Now” (you’re not allowed to call it “The Rocky Theme.” Show some respect) building and crashing in the background.

You know he hears those signature horns when he stands on stage at the Wells Fargo Center, on tour with a true master of the craft, Bill Burr, and in the company of more than 12,000 people.

He had it on loop for his appearances on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” or alongside Chelsea Handler on “Chelsea Lately,” or even while winning audiences on “Last Comic Standing.”

But duh.

All of that’s so obvious. And, really, a bit disingenuous.

Because “Gonna Fly Now” is the score for the come-up. Your mind can go to a million different places when you hear that anthem, but you shouldn’t forget – it’s Rocky running the streets. Putting in his work. Visualizing the zenith because, and let’s be honest, the journey feels impossible right up to the very point it no longer is.

Sometimes you can’t shake its imprint, for better or worse. It becomes a defining characteristic.

And as it just so happens, Joe Matarese is someone who pays particularly close attention to that journey.

I, for instance, get more satisfaction out of thinking that, in addition to all the other big, glorious, rushing-the-ring moments, Joe Matrese hums the composition made immortal by Bill Conti while chatting with me on the phone and breaking into a brief sidebar with his wife. His son (“Trying hard now”) needs to be picked up from winter soccer practice (“Getting strong now”) and there are instructions to read on a note (“Gonna fly now”).

“What does ‘water bottle’ mean?” he asks. “Oh. Don’t let him forget his water bottle.”

Dude might as well be adorned in a sweatsuit, shadowboxing.

Born and raised in Cherry Hill (he’s a product of East, should you have wondered), Matarese is a stand-up comedian going on 25-plus years in the business; a Philadelphia fan (his first realization sports life existed outside of Greater? Tug McGraw’s landmark 1980 “We’re No. 1!” speech); an active podcaster; and a forever pledge to the Church of Balboa.

Plus he’s really funny. I should tell you how funny he is.

Very.

He’s also gearing up for a homecoming performance, of sorts, at the Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township Saturday, Feb. 13, where he intends to share his honest, no-punches pulled material, much of which derives from his most recent special, “Medicated.”

“(Joe’s) act is polished, his delivery is casual,” says Kris Clayton, production manager and technical director with the Ritz Theatre Company.

Clayton met Matarese a few years back in the capacity of comedy club general manager and fast identified headliner potential.

“He was one of the guys that helped me understand comedy and the process comics go through developing an act,” says Clayton, who is part of the team at the Ritz committed to diversifying the venue’s upcoming entertainment lineup by adding more alternative offerings, such as comedy showcases.

“So long as I provided an audience, I knew Joe would deliver the goods.”

I understand you’re going to dip into your new comedy special, “Medicated,” at the Ritz Theatre. Can you tell me a little about the material?

A major theme in my material is fixing me. I fix all of me in this special – and not just my mental state, either.

Marrying a psychologist and starting a family really helped motivate me to eventually try Celexa for my anxiety issues and, more recently, Adderall for adult ADD. I’m very pro-medication now. I feel like my life has changed for the good in so many ways. I’m a better comedian. I’m really organized with all of the projects I’m working on, and, most importantly, I’m also a better father to my two children.

I read a book by Phil Rosenthal (“You’re Lucky You’re Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom”) and one thing he wrote that I totally agree with is: the longer you do stand-up, the more specific your comedy material is to your own life, and the broader the appeal. It’s amazing how many people who are on medication or thinking about taking it relate to my “Medicated” stand-up. If they hear me, they might leave thinking, “Huh, maybe that could be something to help me.”

What was it like cutting your comedy chops in this area of the country?

I used to go to Philadelphia to perform and I remember being nervous. It was not my comfort zone. I would drive over the Ben Franklin Bridge, sign-up for an open mic and get my name on the list. I was such a Jersey guy that I would drive back to Cherry Hill and wait two hours before I had to perform, then go back in. My parents would be like, oh my God, you’re going into Philadelphia?!

Also, most of the comics performing at the clubs in the city were from Philadelphia or around it, and they were making fun of New Jersey. I was thinking, “Oh wow, I live in the place that comedians make fun of.” I always liked having a driveway, though.

I’ve always felt this region is a breeding ground for funny people and things. What do you think gives us that humorous edge?

There’s something about growing up in a town where the sports teams always struggle and are always the underdogs. We have a negative thing here that drives us. It’s part of why you become a comedian – because you don’t feel good inside or you’re insecure. Like, I always thought my brother got more attention than me.

I know the “Rocky” movies have been pretty important to you and you like to work your Sylvester Stallone impression into your act. What is it about that character you enjoy so much? Do you identify with him, in a sense?

The original “Rocky” film is the best movie of all time. What other movie has like 2,000 quotable lines? It’s also very poignant and includes a lot of subtle life lessons. There were some things about the character that reminded me of myself, but I didn’t realize until I got older. I mean, I was nine when I first saw the movie and there’s no way I could have understood some of the themes then. For instance, there’s a scene where he’s looking in the mirror and sees a picture of himself when he’s younger and you can see what he’s thinking without him saying it: he’s not happy where he is.

To be a comedian and realize I’m opening for someone huge like Bill Burr, I have to at the same time be honest and think: why can’t that be me? I feel like I’m good and I’m worthy, but I totally connect with (Rocky) feeling that way. Also, like Rocky, I have a tough guy exterior but I’m actually a sensitive baby underneath.

I sometimes hear comedians disparage “lesser” topics as unintellectual and claim they would never touch them in a stand-up routine. Do you have any off-limit subjects when it comes to material? Or if you come up with a funny concept about airline peanuts, will you go there?

If you can find a new angle on a subject that’s been done to death, I actually like that. It means you’re being clever.

But then at the same time, a subject like farts… there’s no way to do that cleverly. Even if you did the best fart joke ever, I can’t respect that. Just get really specific and talk about who you really are.

I worked with a comic once who was doing basic observational stuff. The last joke in his whole set was about doing 10 years in prison and I was like, dude. How do you not have 25 minutes (of material) about being in prison? That should be your opener. I never went to prison – bring me there. Then two years later I saw the same comedian and he told me it was the best advice anyone ever gave him.

Leonardo DiCaprio fights a bear and barely (ugh, I am the worst) survives in “The Revenant.” I wasn’t buying it at all. In your estimation, is there any practical way to fight a bear and walk away? Or does the bear always win?

I’m intellectualizing the question. Like, maybe if I could play dead really well… Actually, I’d probably wish I was dead if I survived a bear attack. I’d be complaining about the mauling and the gashes in my shoulders for the next 50 years.

Joe Matarese performs at 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township. Tickets are $25. For more information, go to ritztheatreco.org.

To keep current with Joe Matarese, or to access his “Fixing Joe” podcast, find him online at joematarese.com.