Mallory: I don't get no respect.

Anyone who has spent more than a few minutes with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory knows he's a funny guy -- maybe not Rodney Dangerfield funny, but still funny.

The mayor is well-known for dead-panning reporters asking serious questions, and for telling audiances to lighten up during formal speaking engagements, like a couple weeks ago at the 100th Police Recruit class graduation.

But just like Dangerfield, Mallory didn't get no respect when he tried his hand at stand-up comedy.

Mallory wasn't laughing about it Tuesday at his weekly press conference when a reporter asked about a stand-up comedy class the mayor enrolled in, then promplty dropped out of.

The reason he dropped out: A television station found out about the class and posted it on their website.

"It was supposed to be a surprise for my mother," Mallory said of the six-week course that culminated with a nightclub performance. "I had asked the other people in the class to respect my privacy. The next day I got a call from (a television station) asking about the class. So I just decided: forget it.

"It's a lost opportunity."

Mallory said he probably won't re-enroll because his schedule is too busy. "But one thing I do believe, this city needs some levity," Mallory said. "We need to laugh."