Da Braddahs

Bringing simple, loveable characters to television is anything but simple. That is the task, however, that Tony Silva and James Roache’ have set for themselves as the biggest local comedy team since Booga Booga.

Since appearing on MidWeek’s cover just two years ago with some of Hawaii’s biggest names in comedy, Da Braddahs have continued their steady climb to the top.

“I am not surprised by the success, but I am surprised by the support that we have out there,” Roache’ says. “Sometimes you have to wake up at 2 a.m. and you don’t want to go to work, but then people recognize you and shake your hand and say how much they like the show, and that is nice.”

The business of Da Braddahs is pretty much a two-man operation. Though that adds to the work load, the partners also feel it gives them more control of their product.

“That’s what keeps us so busy on a full-time basis,” Silva says. “We are our own management company and our own promotions company, and that’s how we like it. When we say we are in the public eye, we really are. If people want to know about production, they can call me direct.”

Just to let you know, the duo can next be seen June 19 at their first annual Daddy’s Day Brunch at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

The success of the TV show Da Braddahs and Friends has enabled Da Braddahs to cut back on their live appearances, which totaled about 120 stops for the last couple of years. They are now on track to do 70-80 shows.

For Silva, the father of four boys, the good-natured ribbing of the show sometimes spills over into his real life. “For the older ones, I think their friends know who we are so they get teased sometimes,” he says. “They get on them ‘Hey, I saw your dad dressed up as a woman last night. What’s up with that?’”

For the younger members of the family it gets a little dicier trying to explain how the at-home dad becomes a TV auntie.

“I have to sit them down and tell them it’s TV and comedy, and that is not how Dad really is,” Silva says.

However long Da Braddahs can continue to do what they love is anyone’s guess. But for the time being, they are happy doing things their way.

“We originally set out to have a show by the people and for the people,” Roache’ says. “We are different ethnic communities, we are all mixed up, but we live in paradise. It presents our culture in a variety of ways. Within comedy they (those new to Hawaii) are better able to understand our culture, and that better translates into aloha.”

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