as a stand-up comic, rizzo performed at various comedy clubs, including the pittsburgh comedy club in dormont and the improv. he also was featured in many television comedy shows, including an evening at the improv, showtime special, the comedy channel and fox tv's "comic strip live". in "the pittsburgh press" of june 2, 1983, lenny litman described rizzo's comedy style as "whip-cracking satire cushioned with warm and funny stories."