How Comedy Helped A 'Flash Mob' Teen

17 year old Chris Tate is on probation for taking part in a so-called flash mob in Center City in February.

Tate said he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I came down there to handle my business and I got mixed up."

Tate has spent the last several months taking classes at the Philadelphia Comedy Academy. Founder Brad Trackman heard Tate was interested in stand-up comedy, so he worked with Tate and donated a scholarship to his comedy school. Tate performed over the weekend as part of his graduation from the program. Tate told Mike he was "very nervous" for the performance.

Attorney Danny Cevallos represented Tate during his legal proceedings. He said "this really would not have been possible without some real Philadelphia celebrities coming together like Judge Dougherty who supervised his probation and his probation officers, all of whom supported him the whole way." Cevallos explained Judge Dougherty supports rehabilitating teenage offenders and supported Tate "100%."

Tate said stand-up is not easy. "What I really learned is you learn how to work in the field, you learn how to get hired.You learn how to tell jokes, and also being a comedian is not just making people laugh it's also a job."

Check out Tate's graduation performance at the Helium Comedy Club.