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Nite Out: Hot Ticket
By WILMA NORTON
© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 30, 2001
Welcome back, Kaplan
For most of the past 22 years, since Welcome Back, Kotter was canceled, Gabe Kaplan has spent his time honing his investment strategies and his poker game. His strategies have gotten some national attention, and he has come close to winning the World Series of Poker.
But about a year ago, the 55-year-old decided to go back to his days in stand-up.
"I went to do a show in Vegas, and there was a guy in this show who did an impression of me," Kaplan told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I found out the guy was making more money for doing me than they're giving me for playing Vegas."
He said he isn't sure if he will stay on the road.
"I started this like in September or October and said, "I'm going to do it for a year and see how much interest there is.' Can I get new people to think, "Gabe Kaplan is a really funny guy,' who say, "I hardly remember Welcome Back, Kotter, but I saw the guy last night and he's funny,' " Kaplan said. "If it doesn't work out, at least I took a shot and tried. If people say "Please go back to investments,' then I'll do that. A good poker player always knows when to fold 'em."
Kaplan appears at 8 tonight and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Improv, 1600 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. Tickets are $18-$22. For information, call (813) 864-4000.
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