AUBURN – Joe Wong, who was scheduled to make his national TV debut this week on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” will headline comedy night Saturday, April 18, at the Fireside Inn & Suites. The Letterman show was taped Monday and is slated to run Friday.

Wong will be joined by two New England comics, EJ Murphy and Derek Gerry.

“Doing the Letterman show was a great experience, but I’m sure it won’t compare to the Fireside,” deadpanned Wong, a former Boston Comedy festival finalist who is originally from China.

A self-proclaimed all-American immigrant, Wong has come a long way from rosy-eyed American newcomer to comedian on the Boston comedy scene. Since his surprise finish in the finals at the 2003 Boston Comedy Festival, he has been one of the busiest comedians in New England, working in theaters, clubs, fundraisers, colleges and other venues. As a student in China, Wong was fascinated with America’s vibrant culture. He experienced it for the first time as a student at Rice University in Texas, where he wrote a popular humor column. Moving to Boston after graduation, he became an immediate stand-up success. He was also star of “Joe Huang for President,” a funny short film that won a first-place award at the 2003 Cambridge Fringe Fest.

Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $14 at the door, $12 with a reservation. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 777-1777. The Fireside Inn is at 1777 Washington St., off Exit 75 of the Maine Turnpike.

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