Fourth of July Concert Series to Feature Former Honorary Mayor Martin Short

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Each week the Palisadian-Post highlights a movie or TV show with a connection to a famous member of the community. This week, we are deviating slightly: Readers can catch former Honorary Mayor Martin Short—not on a screen, but live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Short, who served as honorary mayor from 1998 to 2000, is teaming up with Steve Martin and Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform at the annual July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular, with three shows slated to take place.

Short and Martin have toured together since 2015, when they launched their first live show, “A Very Stupid Conversation.” Together they toured Santa Barbara in June for their latest show, “You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today!”

“[Short and Martin’s] humor is often subversive, but it is always a joyous self-deprecating romp from two comedy masters driven to make each other laugh as much as the audience,” according to the Santa Barbara Bowl. “The jokes come at you at a rapid-fire pace with little set-up and big punch lines as they mock Hollywood and the fickle nature of celebrity, but the comedy truly soars when they lovingly (and relentlessly) roast each other.

“Martin and Short’s chemistry and timing on stage reflects a friendship forged over three decades, which developed when they met for the first time on the set of the 1986 film ‘Three Amigos.’”

Now, the duo returns to Hollywood to host the Bowl’s annual Fourth of July festivities.

LA Philharmonic, led by Thomas Wilkins, is set to open the evening with a program of orchestral hits. Following Short and Martin, The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko will also be accompanying the stage.

“Fireworks crown the Hollywood sky on three huge nights at the Bowl, when Thomas Wilkins and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform … along with two of the funniest, most influential and most acclaimed talents of the past century: Steve Martin and Martin Short,” according to the Hollywood Bowl website. “Join us for one of LA’s greatest July Fourth traditions.”

Angelenos can catch the show on Saturday, July 2; Saturday, July 3; or Monday, July 4.

Tickets range from $27 to $305, and are half price for children ages 12 and under. To receive the child ticket discount, the ticket price will be adjusted once in the cart. There is a limit of two child tickets per standard ticket purchase.

Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl’s July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular are available online at hollywoodbowl.com.