Kids Laughing Their Lives Out

If your kid's the type who always has a smart answer for everything, The Early Show might have the answer for you. CBS News Correspondent Tracy Smith found a place that turns kids into comedians, and she has more in this week's Study Hall report.

Some of you may already be groaning, thinking kid humor is only about gross noises and "knock knock" jokes. But these kids do pretty sophisticated stand-up routines that they spend weeks and months refining.

To them, comedy's no joke.

Kids 'N Comedy's been around seven years now, and already it has some success stories: one kid's got his own national radio show, and another is getting his own TV show.

On a Sunday afternoon, sitting at a table full of boys, 10-year-old Rachel Resnick's nervous. She knows something funny is going on.

At least, she hopes it's funny. Rachel's one of the regulars in The Kids 'N Comedy Show at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. The half-dozen comedians she shares the bill with are all under 15. She's the youngest -- and the only girl.

"Well, I like to make people laugh. Heh-heh. It's one of my favorite things to do is to get people to laugh," she says.

In her case, it might be hereditary. Her dad's the real clown.

"My whole routine as a clown is a dog. And I got that from my kids," says Gershon Resnick, Rachel's dad.

"Most of my ideas come from my kids. The best clowns are 5-year-old kids, 10-year-old kids. They're the best clowns," he adds.

But up on stage, there are no funny red noses, no big ol' shoes. There's no makeup to hide behind. It's just one mike, one spotlight, a huge audience -- and eight unforgiving minutes.

It's tough on the kids -- and maybe even tougher on the parents.

"I'm thinking, 'How could I let her do this?'" says Elisa Resnick, Rachel's mom, laughing.

But this tightrope has a net. Each kid on stage has gone through at least one Kids 'N Comedy workshop with the pros.

For $30, the kids get a mix of critique and praise.

"If these kids are going to build up the courage to get up there on stage and bring us material about their lives, that's fabulous. So whatever they do, we try to encourage them," says Stu Morden, Kids 'N Comedy founder.

And if they're good enough, they get a shot at the real show.