Anyone who knows comedian Frank DeLima is aware that he tools around in an SUV with LUCEEL license plates, an homage to his parody of the Kenny Rogers hit song.

But the other day, the lyrics turned true: LUCEEL was going leave him now.

"I got towed away," said DeLima, after unknowingly parking on S. Beretania Street during afternoon rush hour, when he had a meeting at Auntie Pasto's on Pensacola Street. "The adventure was an unexpected lesson in responsibility — just the thing I am trying to teach the students I visit every day around Hawai'i."

Let him explain it:

"The parking sign said pay the meter from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. So I gave Mayor Mufi his two quarters. But I didn't notice the other sign that said TOW AWAY from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.," he said. "Usually I park where the signs say Pay. Not Tow. So the HPD, who I am proud of and who reads signs better than me, towed away my van with the license plates LUCEEL."

Happened the afternoon after he sang a parody of "Lucille" (joined by Augie T in the chorus) at a rally, "What, Advertiser, You Goin' Leave Me Now," for Advertiser employees in front of the News Building.

He even had a SHOPO sticker on his windshield, which was covered with the offending ticket.

But apparently, the tow truck recognized the plates and returned to deliver his vehicle back to the scene of the crime.

"The friendly tow driver told me afterward, 'If you have a hard time, just call 422-2222,'" said DeLima, alluding to the cab commercial in which he plays tutu who have trouble remembering what number to call. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: By the way, the aforementioned DeLima and Augie, joined by Kaleo Pilanca, will collaborate in "The Local Kings of Comedy," an Administrative Professionals Day luncheon show, from 11:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Ala Moana Hotel. The Ka'ala Boys are also on the roster; doors open at 11 a.m. Information (if not already sold out): 955-4811. ...

DeLima also has a pair of Mother's Day performances (a brunch as well as a dinner choice) on May 11 at the Pagoda Hotel's C'est Si Bon supper club. The morning event starts at 10 a.m. (noon show) and the evening one at 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. show). It's likely that Pearl DeLima, Frank's mom, will attend one of the showings — she always does. Reservations: 948-8371. ...

AROUND TOWN: Island musician Dean Taba, who divides his time between Honolulu and Los Angeles, is home these days to promote his latest CD, "The Camarillo Waltz." He tours with various groups and is Japan-bound this week to work with jazz icon Mark Murphy (playing at the Motion Blue Yokohama, Cotton Club Tokyo and Blue Note Nagoya) but has an upcoming date at the Honolulu Club in a "Sonny Rollins Tribute" with Noel Okimoto, Robert Shinoda and Tim Tsukiyama. ...

Sight 'ems: Henry Ian Cusick, who is Desmond Hume on ABC's "Lost," found his way to Ed Kenney's Downtown restaurant. ...

And fellow cast member Michael Emerson, who is the menacing Ben Linus on the show, was spotted at Du Vin. ...

It's after the fact now, but worth mentioning: DJ Frank B. Shaner continues to grow as an artist, displaying four abstracts at the 'Iolani Fair. ...

TRADE WINDS: Publicist Bonnie Friedman just marked her 20th anniversary (her company is Wailuku-based Grapevine Productions, so we call her the Wailuku Grapepicker) here — and she's happy to announce that she's renewing ties with former client D.K. Kodama, tending to his Sansei Seafood & Sushi and d.k. steakhouse accounts, just like old times. ...

Actor Richard Vida, on a break from his national tour of "The Drowsy Chaperone," taught 30 kids — ages 9 to 24 — at Windward Community College the other day and did another session at Ballet Hawaii Saturday. At the latter, he taught the group the "Toledo Surprise" number from "Chaperone," so they'd know a real Broadway routine. Recalls the time when another former Broadway pro and stage mentor Jim Hutchison taught the Ballet Hawaii girls the original "Steam Heat" segment from "Pajama Game." ...

Thomas Hampson, who was in town for a pair of Honolulu Symphony concerts last week, gave a master class last week in a program sponsored by the Orvis Foundation, the symphony and the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Among the participants: Megan Mount, whose parents are John and Lorna Mount. Hampson told the young singer: "You just have to wait until your young age catches up to your fabulous voice skills. It's obvious you were born to sing. Music to the ears of the Mounts, for sure, since they teach and perform, too. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.