Smoke From A Three-Alarm Fire Photobombs Local Comedian’s Wedding Photos
Local comedian Rocco Deserto took the plunge with his ladylove, Melissa Fortunato, last month. Their wedding party was extensive, with 26 of their closest friends and relatives walking with them down the aisle.
One guest, however, was a total wedding crasher. A giant plume of smoke from nearby three-alarm fire made its way into all of the couple’s photos near the Brooklyn Bridge (see above).
A massive fire broke out across the East River at the South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 at about 4 p.m., the same time the couple had stopped there for their wedding photos.
The comedian, who has been hard at work trying to make it in the business for years, became a TV sensation after the story broke.
“The day after my wedding I got a phone call from Inside Edition, that they wanted to pick up the story. I was leaving for my honeymoon the next day so I couldn’t go in to be interviewed. They asked me for my videographers information, and they actually picked him up the next day and took him to their studio to upload footage. Later that week they aired our story, and it even aired on another episode a few days later. Rumors from my family in Italy that it also ran on a TV show in Italy. The picture has made it to meme websites and a London newspaper. Long story short, I’ve been doing comedy for 2 years with no love from the media, but one wedding picture and I got the most media coverage I’ll probably ever get. I even got recognized when I went to do my insurance information at work, the lady told me “I recognize your name, you were in the NY Post right?” said Deserto of the surprising source of his new-found fame.
Poor Rocco, he gets no respect.
He does have an upcoming show at Caroline’s on Broadway on September 17 at 7:00pm.
“If you call to make your reservation tell them you’re coming to see Rocco Deserto, if you do this you get a $10 discount on the cover charge, so you will only pay $5!” Deserto says.
As for the smoke monster, Rocco will have to see if it makes an appearance at his stand-up show too.