Vic DiBitetto MANALAPAN — A few months ago when Manalapan resident Vic DiBitetto went to the movies with his wife, she begged him to keep his mouth shut.
But he couldn’t resist. The moment his face appeared in one of the coming attractions, DiBitetto stood up and shouted to the audience, “Hey everybody, that’s me!”
“Without a beat, only in Jersey, a guy stands up and said, ‘Yeah, and I’m Robert De Niro! Sit down, idiot!’ ” DiBitetto said.
If only the audience members at the AMC Freehold Metroplex in Freehold Township knew whom they were sitting with, perhaps they would have reacted differently. DiBitetto will make his big screen debut in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” in theaters April 17, alongside comedian Kevin James.
“It’s surreal,” DiBitetto said. “I get up every morning and I tell my wife to pinch me.”
But even though “Paul Blart” is DiBitetto’s first movie, the local comedian already has a fan base that spans millions.
Through social media, and the power of YouTube, DiBitetto has gained a loyal, passionate following by making hundreds of short clips in which he rants about everyday life — whether it be about how much he hates Justin Bieber, how he doesn’t want to drive to Florida, or, in his most popular clip, a tirade about how he needs to buy bread and milk before a snowstorm.
“I’m the working man’s comedian,” DiBitetto said. “I mean, I once drove a garbage truck in New York City, drove the truck to Dangerfield’s Comedy Club, went onstage, did my act, went back in the truck and finished my route. I mean, come on.”
It was through watching DiBitetto’s YouTube videos that James got inspired to give DiBitetto a call and invite him to play a role in his next “Paul Blart” movie.
Now, DiBitetto will celebrate his “Paul Blart” release with a show at iPlay America, Freehold Township, on April 24, which will be “red-carpet themed,” feature a band and be hosted by Steve Trevelise.
“Most of my audience knows what to expect because I’ve got a huge following and we are already selling out tickets,” DiBitetto said. “I’m very high-energy, I’m very rapid fire. I’m honest. And if you’re sitting up front, you better order one of those umbrella drinks because I spit a lot.
“My veins are popping, because that’s my outlet. That’s my therapy. I’m up there, and I’s coming from the heart and the soul. It’s about being Italian, growing up in Brooklyn, having kids, being married — and everybody relates to it.”
Even as his fame increases, DiBitetto says he has no plans to pack up his bags and head to Beverly Hills.
“I’ve been here (Manalapan) for eight years now,” DiBitetto said. “That’s how Italians migrate — they go Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manalapan. … I love where I am. If anything, maybe, I’d like to put an extension on the house, get a new fence, and put some more plants in.
“Honestly? Give me Central Park West and I’m a happy guy. I’m a New Yorker. I’ve been to Los Angeles, and it’s not for me, unless I get a development deal and I’ve got to do a sitcom. Then I’ll be out there in a heartbeat.”
In addition to “Paul Blart,” DiBitetto has a number of projects in the works, including a role on the Hulu series “Don’t Know Jack,” and a reality show that is being edited and pitched to networks.
“It’s a reality show about me, but nothing like the idiots on ‘Jersey Shore’ or ‘Mob Wives,’ ” he said. “It’s a positive, good show. I’m tired of these shows that make Italians look like buffoons. I hope it turns around because there’s garbage on TV, and a lot of times I watch TV and I’m like, ‘Who the hell am I kidding? I’m not dysfunctional enough to be on TV.’ ”
DiBitetto said the one thing he still hopes to accomplish in his career is an appearance on a talk show.
“I just want to do my five-minute set on ‘Jimmy Fallon,’ ” he said. “I’d love to do that. … And I would just love to do more movies. I’ll always be doing stand-up until the day I die. I’ll never stop doing stand-up. But I would definitely love to get more exposure, because as popular as I’m getting, I’ve still got a long way to go.”
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” hits theaters on April 17. To learn more about Vic DiBitetto, visit vicdibitetto.net, on YouTube at youtube.com/user/vicdibitetto, on Facebook at facebook.com/vicdibitetto or on Twitter at @vicdibitetto.