Catching Up With Comedians

My guest Joe Dalo was born in Philly and raised in South Jersey. He started out like  most comics working open mics and progressed to the real comedy clubs like The Comedy works  and The Comedy Factory Outlet. He also wanted to be an actor and he was in the road company of Toni and Tina‘s wedding. Joe had a building and construction background which gave him another side hustle; He started getting hired on prank and hidden video shows as a builder and prop-master.  Due to his positive demeanor and leadership he worked his way quickly up the crew ladder because he was a guy who had the ability to hire the right people and get things done. He worked for years on Ashton Kutscher‘s show Punk’d and went from  PA to Show Runner and appeared on many episodes. He has also worked on all of the Jackass films in every capacity and personally built the “BIG HAND”  Which  famously slapped everyone big and small. He can also be seen in the upcoming Jackass Five! He is also on a show currently running on Netflix called FOUL PLAY, with Anthony Davis; I saw it on my queue as I was scrolling last night. After all that, his love and desire to do standup comedy still prevails and he is still out there hitting the stages; ladies and gentlemen, please Welcome Comedian, Joe Dalo.  

Rhonda Shear grew up as the youngest of four kids in New Orleans. Her Mom Supported her dancing and  modeling while Dad instilled in her the Mind of the Business Model. She left Louisiana with a College Degree from Loyola University, and the Title of Miss Louisiana USA/World/International   She headed west to Los Angeles where she studied acting and started paying her dues. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena and studied with Harvey Lembeck.     She eventually started getting small roles on television shows such as Chips and Dallas.   Her natural ebullience and funny demeanor opened doors for her on comedies like Married with Children, Cheers, Three’s Company and the Dukes of Hazzard.  She was even cast in SPACEBALLS by the legendary Mel Brooks   Many  agents and producers tried to discourage such a pretty and voluptuous young woman from pursuing the historically alpha- male world of stand up comedy however  she followed her own intuition and before long she was working the Comedy Store/ Improv/ Laugh Factory circuit as well as going on the road and working steadily in the Las Vegas Casinos as a stand up comic.   Her big break came when she was hired as the hostess of a show produced by USA Network titled “UP ALL NIGHT!” The show had been running for two years with the female hostess doing the Friday night ( Campy comedy movies) and Gilbert Gottfried hosting the Saturday night ( scary monster movies)  Rhonda was a big hit and she went on to host alongside the great Gilbert for the next eight years ( 8 years on tv and over 450 episodes )   On my podcast Rhonda talks about the 2025-26  Reboot of the Up All Night show and all things in the RHONDAVERSE ; including her own line of Intimate Apparel which she started out selling on QVC / Home Shopping Network; including her signature “AHH  BRA   Rhonda is one of those rare humans who evokes inspiration just through her voice and spirit and her laugh which even having a slight cold during our interview she laughed and carried on like the true pro that she is.   Ladies and Gentleman I am So proud to introduce Comedian, Writer, Producer, Entrepreneur and all around Neat Lady: Rhonda Shear ✌️💕🎙️🎙️🎬

My guest today Ted Lange was born and raised in Oakland California. While most people would recognize Ted from his 10 seasons starring as Isaac the Bartender on  THE LOVE BOAT;  before that show he  had already appeared in 4 to 5 films, was a regular in a sitcom that ran for 39 episodes and he had already appeared in the  Broadway  production of the musical HAIR! TED Lange is a  GRADUATE from LONDON’S ROYAL ACADEMY and is  also a MEMBER of the  AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE! Ted went on to write and direct a dozen episodes of  THE LOVE BOAT  and once that hit show wrapped, he has gone on to act in hundreds of different roles in television, film and the stage. While Ted has remained active and very visible on film and television over the years, his real passion is writing and directing for the live stage. He has penned at least a dozen plays for theater and has become a much sought after producer and director as well. Currently he is producing his passion project he wrote entitled:   "Shakespeare Over My Shoulder;"  where he spent years researching, interviewing and lecturing about his theory that Othello was not written by Shakespeare but by someone else.  So keep your eyes out for his new play and other projects Ted is involved in such as The Love Boat podcast and many charitable endeavors in which Ted participates. Ladies and Gents: I am proud to introduce Comic, Actor, Writer, Director: Ted Lange

My guest today is Comedian Vince Harper. Vince was dancing a lot as a teenager and inspired by his older brother, he started pursuing it full time. From a young man, he had joined a dance group that performed on the stages at Disneyland and eventually they were good enough  to perform on TV shows, American Bandstand, Dance Fever, The Midnight Special as well as the Merv Griffin Show. His group known as  "Dancin Machine" eventually was performing for the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas and soon after the group got a gig at the Chicago Playboy Club before Vince was legally old enough to drink. VINCE was drafted by some old friends to start a Chippendale style version of male stripping and he was doing that around the time he started seeing more and more stand-up comedy legends like Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, and Bill Hicks inspire him to start trying to add a little Comedy to his stripping routine. Once he started doing Comedy guest spots at all the new comedy clubs that were exploding in the eighties, he had been bitten by the bug. He happily traded shedding his clothes for slinging his jokes. He quickly took his years of experience as a dancer and started doing stand up all across the country and he has never stopped doing it and that puts him in the 40 plus year Comedy Club.  Please welcome my guest who is still telling jokes for paying crowds:  Vince Harper.

  My guest on the podcast this week is Mr. Jay London. Raised in the Bronx, Jay’s two passions in life have both served him well:  stand-up comedy and boxing. In both enterprises you are fighting for your life and in both you can kill or bomb out and die. Jay fought his way through the Bronx neighborhoods and school yards and later through the local comedy clubs and  “Live at the Apollo!” He fought his way into the house on season two of “Last Comic Standing” where he first came to national attention. He became a fan favorite where in an unprecedented move the producers brought him back for a wildcard shot on season three.  To say Last Comic Standing was a big deal in Comedy would be an understatement;  there have always been Star Search type shows, but on L.C.S. stood the best and the brightest of club comedians as well as stars, young and old, who came on the show to be mentors, celebrity talent scouts and judges, as well as hosts of which there were numerous over the nine season run of the series. In addition to appearing on the “King Of Queens” as well as several other films and television series we will talk about what Jay is doing now as he proclaims He is Still in the Fight because it Ain’t Over Yet! Please Welcome: JAY LONDON

George Hamaty started as a stand up comedian at Penn State and continued for twelve years developing an act while also studying acting. After college, he decided to head west to Los Angeles, which is where I first ran into George. He was only in LA for the years 1985 through 1991,  but he rose up the ladder from opening act to feature act and met many people and definitely made his mark. George is  proud to say that as an Arab American, he relied heavily on his ethnicity.  Personal drama forced him to leave the business but currently he is writing a book on his experiences which is part cathartic, part humorous and ALL TRUE;  Entitled:  “I Could Have Been A Great Comedian, But Took Myself Too Seriously.” Please welcome my guest and old friend, George Hamaty 

Linda Marcus Smith joins me this week for her second appearance on the podcast.  Linda gained much notoriety during the pandemic when she interviewed not less than 1000 comedians for her podcast "The Comics Spot." Since the end of the pandemic, Linda has worked tirelessly rising up the ranks in the Las Vegas Comedy Clubs and Casinos.   Just over a year ago she decided to make the move back to her native homeland, New York City. Linda has worked very hard over the past year to build up her Comedy Chops in the many Comedy Clubs of the New York "Tri-State Area." Linda, as a proud army veteran is very passionate about raising awareness for all military personnel as well as veterans who may be in need of helping out or lifting up. To this point, as part of her Comedy Journey, she is very passionate about booking her own shows for military audiences as well as booking Comedy Shows where Military veterans and their families may benefit from the money raised from these shows. We also draw attention to the shows, dates and places that Linda will be performing at and producing over the next year. We will announce those locations and dates at the beginning and the end of this podcast. Thank you for listening and please welcome my special guest:  Linda Marcus Smith.

  Welcome Dan Rosenberg to the podcast . In 1992, Dan moved to Los Angeles to start a stand-up career at age 22.    He sold cars in the daytime and did stand up at night. When the Northridge earthquake hit in 1994,  he took that as a sign to leave LA while he could still catch a plane that had an accessible runway.   He moved back to Pennsylvania to coach basketball and  after that he ended up teaching Comedy traffic school in Orlando, Florida, which basically jump started his return to stand-up comedy .   A born salesman, and entrepreneur,  Dan started his own company, called “humor vision” where he went to, and performed at The “Just For Laughs” premiere comedy showcase in Montreal for seven years in a row.   In 2001 he saw Rick Springfield at the Universal Amphitheater and thought,( he’d be perfect for my sitcom!)   This is a story of how dogged determination, hard work and seeking out the right people can actually lead to dreams coming true.   Not only did he get Rick Springfield to star in his movie , but it has now won awards at multiple film festivals and Dan is now a full-time standup and working on his third hour long special for streaming on television   Welcome Dan Rosenberg

My guest today is David Uhlfelder who was raised in Colorado and started his comedy career when he was barely 20 years of age and pursuing an engineering degree at Cal State University, San Luis Obispo. He earned his degree and has been working as a comedian for eight years now and without the assistance of a day job. To understand how you could visit: https://www.daviduhlfelder.com/    as well as  https://www.cal comedy underground.com/  Not only can you see his credits and comedy history but you can also peruse the locations where he produces comedy shows at myriad locations from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. David goes on the road as much as possible where he works as a Feature act and has been starting to Headline shows as well. Please welcome to my podcast this up and coming Comedian, Producer and Showrunner;  David Uhlfelder!

My guest today is Comedian, writer, actress: Brenda Pontiff. A Texas, Gal, born and raised in Bay City. She was in the second generation of comics who started at Houston's Comix Annex  which began the famed careers of Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks and the Texas Outlaws. One of these Outlaws has had a rebirth of late:  Andy Huggins, of AGT fame. Brenda worked with Andy many years ago and now is opening for him at select clubs on the West Coast. Brenda, who refers to herself as a TEX-A-CORNIAN, proud of her Texas roots and moved to California in 1993, just four years after starting her stand-up career. Before stand up, she had worked for many years after college as an actress doing Cabaret shows while getting her masters. She also was an executive for Deloitte and Ernst & Young selling professional services. When Brenda‘s Mother became ill in the mid 2000's she returned to Texas to help her family navigate Mom‘s Health. While in Texas, she developed and grew her own consulting business and still has that business today while she pursues her comedy career as well. Please help me welcome a woman who is helping to establish a high mark in comedy for not only women but anyone who takes the stage and the microphone: Brenda Pontiff

I am proud to Welcome Comedian Bob Zany on my # 50 Podcast today.   Born, Robert Tetrault in West Covina, California; the family later moved to the Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys section of the San Fernando Valley. With two older brothers and one younger sister, Bob was Ensconced well into middle child status, but the family unit was close and parents very supportive of their brood.   Bob Zany started out in Comedy at the tender young age of 15 on none other than "The Gong Show" starring Chuck Barris  The Gods of showbiz smiled down upon young Bob that day as he was not given the GONG but rather he was paid $125.98 as a "specialty act!"  In addition to that, he also gained a membership into AFTRA (the union) and was awarded a waffle iron as his take-home prize. From that point on Bob was in show biz and he worked tirelessly from booking his own shows to working at the Ice House and wherever else he could get on stages before reaching  the age of 18 Among Bob’s many credits are: Seven appearances on A&E’s AN EVENING AT THE IMPROV STAR SEARCH POLITICALLY INCORRECT with BILL MAHER WORKING WITH RODNEY DANGERFIELD FOR TWO YEARS and filming a special with RODNEY! Television series appeared on: ROSEANNE THE DREW CAREY SHOW THE TONIGHT SHOW with JAY LENO COMICS UNLEASHED   FILMS: JOE DIRT  THE INFORMANT   (Matt Damon’s attorney) DOCS: I AM COMIC CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR One of Bob’s personal victories and a turning point in his career was auditioning with scores of other comedian at The Improv, in 1991 to perform on the JERRY LEWIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND TELETHON FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.   As Bob was a throwback to the Comedians of Jerry's era, if he auditioned well, he was sure to score the show.  Once again his years of experience and dedication paid off as Jerry Lewis loved him and he performed on the telethon from 1991 until “ they fired the other guy” as Bob always said.   So close to twenty years on the TELETHON and once he became part of "JERRY'S FAMILY as ED MCMAHON called it, Bob Performed on the Last Twelve years as a CO-HOST during the overnights which were the prime time Comedy Slots!   A true comedy legend at this point, having tread  the boards for 48 of his 63 years, Bob has gotten to rub elbows and work with the likes of Milton Berle, Jan Murray, Red Buttons, Rodney Dangerfield and Steve Martin. Additionally he has worked with Norm McDonald, Jim Carrey, Jordan Brady and Ritch Shydner, just to name a few of the modern era.  After all this success, his most current special for the Dry Bar Comedy Channel has 10 million views on YouTube and over 40 (that’s FOUR O) million views on all social media, making Bob Zany one of the top 10 comedians for all the comics who have been seen on the "Dry Bar" specials. A fitting benchmark for a man who has been working hard at his craft for close to 50 years. Please help me Welcome, "The Most Sarcastic Comedian 0f All Time":  Mr. BOB ZANY!      

Today, joining me for his second visit is Gene Hamm;  a writer- producer and Animation Film Maker.   Gene has been working in animation for over 40 years… …….starting out with Hanna-Barbera where he was a model maker and then onto  Prema Vision as the in house free lancer with the iconic "Art CLOKEY" who created Gumby, Pokey and so many other Beloved childhood characters using stop action editing.            In the ensuing years he worked for the likes of Disney// Sega video games,           Walter Lantz, Tex Avery  and has also been teaching young people animation at              the Academy of Art for over 15 years.              Last year he joined me to talk about his animated film titled Hell TOUPEE ,                    which WON film awards, and has been playing on Roku and other platforms!     Today he is here to talk about his brand new 77 minute long animated  feature that’s been playing on Roku and Roku.com Titled "THE DREAM HAT!" This is a film that could really be a big hit among the HIGHLY COVETED children’s market and up into teens and young parents. It’s a HIGH ENERGY//  OUTSTANDING  film with a great message About love//hope and redemption!   Please Welcome back////my special guest/// The Professor of Animation: GEEEEEEEEEEENE. HAAAAAAAAAAAMMM!

Welcome to the show today, Wyatt Cote. Wyatt had figured out very young that he was a water child. He loved the ocean and by six years old, he was starting to surf the inside breaks in Long Beach and Huntington Beach. He loved the beach vibe and has been a surfer ever since. Though he attended the University of Hawaii as his father wanted him to pursue a professional career, Wyatt decided early on the collegiate life was not for him and against his father‘s wishes he quit school and decided to start doing something he really loved, which was stand-up comedy. At the tender young age of 19 years old, he started going to Open Mic. nights in Los Angeles. While his early attempts were hit and miss, he put everything he had into stand-up comedy, going out to clubs night after night and grinding out his material and  within a fairly short time he started to see and feel that he could really make a go at this stand up comedy life. Now here he is eleven years later, barely thirty years old and those early dues he paid are really bearing fruit. He generally features or headlines comedy clubs all across the country as well as performing at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, which is the Crown Jewel of Clubs where only the top comedians perform. In addition to that he won First Place in World Series of Comedy Competition in Las Vegas in 2021. Help me, Welcome a guy who is really going places in Comedy and someone who a lot of comedians both young and old could learn something from, Wyatt Cote.

  Max Dolcelli is a man who has had to claw and fight for anything he ever had in life.  Born in Liguria, Italy the first son of a ship builder, he lost his father when he was but five years old but under him were a 3 year old sister and a baby brother. Life got immediately harder as mom couldn’t raise three young children without a job so Max and his sister went into a catholic orphange and mother moved in with Grandma with her infant and they would put one foot In front  of the other to cope with the loss of the husband, father and breadwinner.  Fortunately for Max and his little sister after six months they were rescued from a torturous place where Max was made to kneel bare legged on rice for hours and his sister left bruised and both were psychologically scarred.  Mama Angela would marry Papa Jimmy a year later and he took the entire family to America by way of New York Harbor.  It was no longer Ellis Island but for these native Italians who could not speak English, it was kind of a 1959 Ellis Island revisited.  Plus Papa Jimmy was a black man and that would also make their assimilation less fluid.  Max’s journey to comedy was a long one ( as he was barely six when he landed in New York) and many kids gripe about when their family moved and they had to switch schools a few times. Max said his tough childhood made him tougher and he learned how to fight to defend himself and he learned how to get laughs to disarm his combatants altogether. Max took the stage at the New York Catch A Rising Star and through sheer guts and strength he did well enough on his first shot that the club owner told him to keep coming back that he could get regular stage time. Like many comics who I have had on my show, his desire was so great that he rose through the ranks of opener to headliner very quickly.  He worked hard at his craft and has never really stopped over the course of forty plus years. He has been working the cruise ship circuit since 1989 which in Cruise years alone is a career and then some. Max still loves getting on stage and that is the most important asset in any comic over 70 who still chooses to perform.  I guarantee if you listen to this just to hear his Sam Kinison story alone you won’t be disappointed.  But there is so much more to Max than just the Sam story. He has had a long and successful career and has made and kept many friends along the way Ladies and Gentleman please welcome Max Dolcelli to the podcast…

Erin started her career in the Bay Area ( San Francisco) after earning her degree from San Jose State in Marketing and Advertising.  She worked for a few years in marketing and walked by a comedy club one day and thought, Wow, what is this? Just a young woman in her early twenties and comedy was barely one to two years away from experiencing a BOOM! Comedy clubs would be opening in every major city in the country, with smaller satellite clubs putting on amateur and open mic. night comedy nights in every bar, restaurant or room where they could set up a mic. stand and hold people's attention for an hour or more! So Erin's timing could not have been better. Her experience in Advertising helped prepare her as she had always been comfortable presenting and speaking in front of clients and her life long love for comedy and comedians she loved also helped incentivize her to dive in head first and start hitting the clubs frequently. The one thing that ALL COMICS agree on and it may be the ONLY THING comics agree on is that the  way to get better, learn your craft and develop your skills as a comic is by getting STAGE TIME and LOTS OF IT!!! Erin prepared her set for her very first spot and unlike a lot of comics ( myself included) who did not have their first set down cold, Erin went up and did well; well enough she was offered follow up work for the following week.  Erin's Dad had been a sportswriter for all the major teams in The Bay Area and Erin had  worked in Silicon Valley during her career in Advertising. Living and breathing in the shadows of Apple, Google & Microsoft teaches you very quickly that business is not for the faint of heart but for people who are ready to strap in and go for the Gold.  Oddly enough, Comedy may not be that much different for the ones with the ambition to go all the way and try and make it to the top of the mountain. The truth is only very few comics make it to the height where everyone knows their name.  There are many who made it to the top and couldn't handle it and ended up quitting or getting out when their mental health took precedence. I say that because Erin is also in a special class, as she has been able to work for her entire life and make a living doing something that she loves. Many more folks have done it and quit or done it as a sideline, but to do it full time and make a living at it is truly the most commendable and honorable addendum anyone could add to their career.   Erin has been married to COMEDIAN  BOB ZANY for thirty years.  They often work together on radio and television shows and hosted their own podcast.  In addition to  being successful stand ups, they both work with many charitable causes including the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada PET RESCUES. Please welcome to the mics of CUWC, my conversation with Erin O'Connor       

  John Caponera grew up in a large family on the south side of Chicago.  The family home sat just across the street from a large park which became a playground for him and his friends. No matter what season, they played baseball in the warm months and when the pond froze over in winter they played hockey and fit in every other sport in between. John went to college wanting only to play baseball but he felt he wasn’t getting enough playing time so he took his English Professor's request and auditioned for a main stage production of “ One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” He not only was cast but he was bitten by the acting bug. He would act in all the MainStage theater productions until his graduation.  When he couldn’t afford to move to New York where he could study acting at the level he wanted to, he moved back to his hometown and started tending bar. Once again providence kicked in and he was coaxed by friends to enter a comedy contest for $500 prize money.  He won first place and took the laughs and the cash! His final exam in acting was to perform a ten minute comedy act and he had not only gotten an A+ and the reward of honest laughter and applause from his teammates but an additional spark went off in his head that he was getting laughs and encouragement from classmates and teachers who are not always an ideal audience and will be the first ones to tell you if you are barking up the wrong tree.  John's journey from this point parallels what every person who ever decides to do stand up for a living should and must do! Get stage time as much as possible even 4-5 sets a night which is why the early stand ups from cities like New York, Boston, San Francisco and others got better faster because in their formative years they are going up five times a night to different crowds and grinding it out. The  second key is to always be writing, never let your act atrophy as John says on this podcast.  Keep writing, keep pushing yourself to not rely on the same jokes that work, because as you go on more and more television shows, repeating material is the sure sign that you are coasting along and just getting by. John, who I have been a big fan of from the first time I saw him on television and live on stages rarely repeated material on successive tv spots and he was always working on new stuff if you saw him performing at the Comedy Store. Beyond doing the Tonight Show, dozens of episodic shows like ER,  L.A. Law, The Drew Carey Show, he even had his own sitcom titled: THE GOOD LIFE which is the brass ring that all stand ups aspired to get at that time.  Without any nepotism or connections to show business in the least, John is a great example of what you can achieve if you put your mind to something and work very hard at your craft and always keep learning and keep your eyes on the prize. John was and still is one of the funniest guys I have seen come out of my generation of comedians. Check him out on you tube and the next time you are in Las Vegas where he performs regularly there at the clubs and casinos! Please welcome to CUWC: John Caponera

Denny Johnston returns for a second episode. After amassing fifty plus years between his musical and comedy career, I feel it is only right to devote at least two episodes to Denny Johnston. I already wrote a lengthy bio for Denny in the previous podcast #43 so let me just say that we go a little deeper into his beginnings. If you have ever listened to the great theme song for the TV show: THE ROCKFORD FILES, you will hear the work of the student who was in the same metal shop class with Denny. None other than Mike Post. Mike, along with Denny's future first wife Susan, performed at a gig and Denny not only dug their music but also really dug their female band member.   There are many people who have stories of going to high school in LA with people who later became famous or infamous.  We took a little tangent and talked about Yellowstone and Kevin Costner for a bit with a little Ray Liotta mixed in for variety. Denny recalls a few falling outs with comedians but so many more that he admires including but not limited to Sebastian, Bill Burr, Louie CK, Anthony Jeselnik and others.  When you think that Denny was just starting out when Laugh-IN and The Smothers Brothers were on the Television and The Vietnam War was dividing our country.  He is still getting on stages  but no longer going on "the road" as that is the one thing that all comics must give up at one point otherwise they will end up dying on a road gig; which for some is what they have chosen either intentionally or not.  So sit back and listen to a guy that has been doing stand up for fifty years and counting and still does it with a smile on his face and a song in his heart. Ladies and Gents:   Denny Johnston    

Denny Johnston started his entertainment career performing with the Back Porch Majority in 1967-68 and went on to work with The Christy Minstrels in 1969. Young comedian Steve Martin was opening for these musical acts at the time and Denny watched Steve carefully and was amazed how he came out every night to just entertain the audience using every tool he had in his bag to be funny!  Denny became friendly with Steve Martin, Gary Muledeer and other comedy acts who used musical instruments, lyrics, and singing to add variety and entertainment to their act.  As this was the era of The Smothers Brothers and other anti-war musical acts, It was not uncommon to use songs and musical accompaniment to spread your message however Denny, Steve and Gary were not trying to forge any political statements and if anything they were there really just trying to spread humor, laughs and bring some joy and happiness to a nation and a world that was already feeling the effects of war and a growing sense of hostility between the youth and the older generations. Denny has worked as a comic for over fifty years which is why I am featuring him in  two separate podcast recordings. His story is quite unique as he never really made the millions that some comics who achieved sitcom level fame and notoriety but as a comic myself and a student of comedy I never saw him do anything but kill on the live stages when I worked on the bill with him or I watched him from the audience. He was a throwback to when comedians of the " olden days" went out every show to KILL, lest they be pulled from the stage with a hook or a hoop or worse yet LOSE a gig or a FUTURE gig if word got out that you failed to produce LAUGHS! You will hear stories today of his start ups at THE TROUBADOUR in Los Angeles/ reconnecting with his father who had been a famous crooner with Jimmy Dorsey and had a successful film career for a period of time. Denny getting his Carson Spot but with John Davidson and getting his Letterman spot as well.  His Las Vegas Years, Placing NUMBER ONE and Beating out four other famous comedians for The NATIONAL LAFF OFF in 1980, and second place the next year out of 109 entrants in the highly coveted and respected SAN FRANCISCO COMEDY COMPETITION. Denny Johnston regularly played all the television shows that featured the top comedians of the time such as EVENING AT THE IMPROV, SHOWTIME COMEDY CLUB NETWORK, THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW, DR.DEMENTO 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION and many many more. Where Denny truly shined, like many other great performers such as Shecky Greene, Don Rickles et al was on the live comedy stage. Some entertainers, and often some of the greatest could not be captured on the small screen as their talent was being in the moment and performing for that crowd that was assembled in front of them that night. In our discussion here, many reasons why the live performance is the true barometer for what makes a GREAT COMIC, come out organically in Denny's stories of the things that worked in his career and the things that did not.  I was honored to have Denny on my podcast and if you are a fan of comedy and comedians Denny is a living time capsule on stand up comedy, with over a half century of time where he performed to audiences and with a very high batting average of laughs and success.. Please Welcome to the mics of CUWC/  DENNY JOHNSTON

Pete George is one of those guests who comes on and just wins you over immediately. He is a fount of energy and enthusiasm. Every comedian has their own story which is what makes doing this podcast so exciting and entertaining for me, and hopefully for my listeners as well.  Pete came from a musical background as his Dad played the accordion, which has spawned its share of jokes over the years but he was the first accordion soloist at West Point, and in the course of his duties he played for Presidents and heads of State. While Pete could play the accordion, he gravitated more towards the guitar and being from Cleveland ( the future site of the Rock and Roll HOF, which he also helped campaign for to be in his home town) he ended up being in many bands in his formative years and always figured the rest of his life would be playing music professionally.  Well, he was certainly half right. He still plays music professionally but it is presented in the context of his stand up comedy, which he is happily in the thirty plus year club in that profession. Pete's Uncle, Don George certainly was a big deal in music as he worked for big music companies for his entire career including: A&M, Universal, MCA, Mercury Records and many more. He gave Pete some jobs before he started comedy which gave him invaluable experience on the Business side of show business. Pete has great stories of coming into comedy and winning a fifty dollar contest on his first shot. He had talent from the start but is quick to point out that luck and good fortune didn't hurt either. Kerry Pollock, a seasoned Comedy/magician took him under his wing early on and from there he was introduced to weeks of continuous work on a circuit above what an opening act would generally be immersed in. He just put his head down and worked hard while keeping his eyes and ears open to what a Pro like Kerry could do with an audience night after night and week after week. He has quite a story on how being cast ( as a principle extra) in the Film: The Shawshank Redemption, pretty much gave him better experience than he might've gotten had he spent the money and years getting a degree in film.   Plus some sordid tales he witnessed but never really embarked in from Ye Ole Comedy Road and how he still loves doing comedy but is also enjoying continued acting parts. Pete never turns down a gig but his management has requested he stay in town ( LA ) more so he can be available for casting in the many streaming series which have really become the best delivery system for comedy and short form episodic shows. Please welcome my guest: Pete George to the CUWC microphone today!   

Comedian Jann Karam started out close to home in Arizona when she embarked on her journey in Stand Up Comedy. She soon traveled to Chicago where she studied in The Second City School of Improv, doing comedy sketches. Before long she traveled To New York City where she ultimately met the people and made the connections with the comics, writers, agents and clubs which helped define the path her career would take for the next thirty plus years.  She not only got on those early stand up TV shows like "An Evening at The Improv" ( 4 appearances) but also performed on "Caroline's Comedy Hour" and was the lone female comic on what has long been considered one of the best Years/ Versions of "The Young Comedians Special" which aired on HBO yearly and had become the  premier and most coveted spot to show what you had to a national and worldwide audience. Jann appeared on   "The 13th Annual Young Comedians Special" ( 1989) As her star continued to rise she appeared twice on The Tonight show with Johnny Carson, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, The Late show with David Letterman as well as spots on episodic shows like: ER, Mad About You, Diagnosis Murder, Norm and two of the greatest comedy series ever: Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  We discuss her Seinfeld spot which is considered one of the top episodes ever where Jerry and George try to figure out how to break up with one roommate, to pick up the other one, would best be solved by requesting a menage a trois to which both girls accept.  Jerry scarily rebuffs shrieking, "I CAN'T DO IT, I'M NOT AN ORGY GUY...I'd have to grow a mustache and get all kinds of robes and lotions....I'd need thick carpeting and weirdo lighting and get orgy friends...No, Im not ready for it!"    It was probably one of Jerry's best line deliveries even with the smirk and smile he still pulled it off and George even caved and said,"Yeah, Me neither!"   So Jann Karam as Sandi, one of the potential partners of Jerry, entered into what has been called in SEINFELD LORE and on IMDb one of the top 73, or female dates, girlfriends, encounters with Jerry in the series no matter if it was brief, a date or anything in between. Jann also discusses her roles on CURB Your Enthusiasm, which due to its long run has had an equally strong impact in terms of comedy as dealing with popular culture and the always changing line of comedy and how close you can get to it and in Larry's case, cross it.  We also discuss Jann's independent roles and features that she has written and or produced as well as some of the many independent projects she has appeared on to support her friends and colleagues.     Please welcome to the mics this week: Jann Karam  

There are more layers to this podcast that could fill the podcast time alone, much less a short description. Film Director: Brian Burkhardt raised in New Orleans had a rather colorful childhood which led him to performing his first stand up comedy in a federal prison in Texas. Mickey Joseph: born and raised in the Bay Area of San Francisco started comedy back in the hey day of the comedy boom and through some rough roads of his own still does comedy today as well as produces and sells some very unique art and enjoys playing and producing music. It was a Vegas lounge comic named Vinnie Favorito who would ultimately bring these two men together in a joint project of producing a film for the big screen about someone who had risen to headlining clubs and lounges in Las Vegas and becoming the heir apparent to Don Rickles as the premier insult comic" of his time.  Along the way Vinnie had acquired a bit of a gambling problem and had a penchant for borrowing money from folks without reimbursing them in a timely manner.  On July 28th, 2025, their film "Vinnie Plays Vegas: The Con Man of Comedy". will premiere at the Crescent Theater in Beverly Hills and open wide on Amazon Prime streaming services August 11, 2025. Pre Buy on Apple TV -VOD starts on August 5th. Also available on VUDU and will be available in the UK and Ireland.  Please welcome Brian and Mickey to the mics of CUWC:

Tommy comes back for a part two where he deftly and hilariously lays out the second part of his comedy career;  once the 90's came and out went the once burgeoning comedy clubs.  Thankfully what happened for Tommy and other enterprising and well rounded entertainers were The Poconos ( resorts) The Catskills ( much more varied) than most folks had come to believe, The Casinos, Atlantic City, Day Cruises, and wherever a group of folks assembled of any race, color or creed and entertained the thought of being entertained.  Tommy is one of those rare folks who has mastered just about every discipline in comedy from Clown, Mime, Prop Comic, singing, dancing, jokes, gags, impressions and anything else that the club promoter decides to add on three minutes before show time.  In Addition to that he is a Great STORY TELLER in every sense of the word.  Every great story teller also needs great stories and lucky for Tommy and his audiences, most notably, WE LUCKY DUCKYS, ABOUT TO EMBARK HERE ON PART TWO:   THESE ARE HIS STORIES, THAT HE LIVED, which gives them the AUTHENTICITY that ultimately makes them so believable, so funny and so real. please welcome back to the CUWC mics:   TOMMY MOORE  

The Legendary, Comic, Writer, Producer from Philadelphia joins me for a much anticipated second appearance.  Because he is such a fan favorite and an old school gent, I was able to persuade him into ( A TWO PARTER ) telling us stories that chronicle over fifty years in the business of fun, funny and making people laugh.  In this first episode # 38, Tommy regales us of stories that predate the comedy clubs which slowly started appearing in the seventies. Then a comedy boom started across the country in the eighties and by the nineties the clubs started to disappear due to many factors, a few of which there were more comedians competing for less dollars and other socio-economic figures that came into play, which Tommy explains.   Tommy was a local Philly boy, born and bred and while he was never a "made man" in the "Good Fellas" sense, he was street wise and business wise enough to know how to deal with them, as well as all the other myriad club bookers, managers, agents, and wanna be show biz types that one encounters in the always wacky and always changing business of show.  I know you will enjoy this PART ONE episode Of Tommy Moore as he tells tales only like a master story teller can.  Ladies and Gents; The Great TOMMY MOORE:

Kivi Rogers,  who I worked with early on in our stand up careers, went on to work in television sit coms, series, movies and has been happily employed as a Top Headline Comedian on the Royal Caribbean line of cruise ships since 2008.  In his early days he worked on the road at comedy clubs as well as the college circuit. After getting into Las Vegas and getting more of a name for himself he was a top opener for the Temptations and other high profile music acts for a period of time between the nineties and the early two thousands.  He has funny stories about some Las Vegas gigs, working on Everybody Loves Raymond and going to lunch with Peter Boyle, his idol since watching “ Young Frankenstein” as a kid … He shares a little heartache and a few hiccups along the way but his indomitable spirit and Never Say Quit attitude took him past any detours that he encountered. We also discussed how prevalent depression and mental illness and stress is in the entertainment business and what mental health issues did to top comics like Rich Jeni, Robin Williams and countless others and Kivi is thankful and grateful for his entire  journey; Sometimes just pinching himself for being able to make a living and raise his kids and support his family in a manner that he may have only dreamed of while growing up as a child in South Central, Los Angeles.  Please welcome to the CUWC mics today,  Mr. Kivi Rogers  

Carrie Snow was raised in the Bay Area with one sister and two parents.  These days that might not always be the norm but in her day it generally was. In 1978, she took an under grad degree from ( CAL) Berkeley, and to the sheer delight of her parents,  started doing stand up comedy at what she, nor anyone else knew, was to be the advent of a comedy boom unlike any other time in American or modern day history.  Many things contributed to that timing but Carrie was actually hopping on to a train that had been slowly chugging along since 1972, when The Comedy Store first opened its doors and within five years, every major city would have comedy clubs and most minor cities would have comedy in bars, saloons, restaurants or wherever someone could convince an establishment to let three novice funny people talk into a microphone at least one day per week.  Carrie went further than most in the biz and ended up as a television writer, producer and talent in addition to being a much sought after stand up comedienne in Major Comedy Clubs in the U.S. and the greater planet Earth! Please welcome the rather saucy and outspoken: Carrie Snow! 🎙️🤣🎬

Craig Shoemaker says you can’t hit a moving Target and he proves that every day. He started comedy as a junior in high school and put himself through college doing stand up.  Craig Shoemaker may not have hit the ultra fame of Seinfeld, Tim Allen or some but he has gone far beyond the limits of many comedians. He tore through the early years doing every show that comedians did like Evening At the Improv, Caroline’s, Comedy Central, and as his career flourished he did two Comic Reliefs and through Whoopi he did 75 Hollywood Squares, tons of sit coms: Night Court, Coach, The Fresh Prince, Parks and Rec and many more.     He went on to write and produce his own comedy specials, television series, Films and he was named  Comedian of the Year at the American Comedy Awards. While many might be resting on their laurels after all that he has been mentoring younger comics in sobriety and  inviting them into his circle by letting them tour and open for him and see what life is like in the higher levels of the comedy world. Craig has authored two books and through his Laughter Heals Foundation and Laughter Worx  he has been bringing the power  of laughter to the business and corporate world and raising the bar from stand up and trying to help people really experience the healing powers of laughter. Craig was getting pulled by his business partner so this is a somewhat abbreviated podcast today but all things Craig Shoemaker are easy to find online. He is still a busy touring comedian, as since recording  this podcast he just returned from Headlining at the Tempe, Arizona Improv and knowing him he is probably already off sharing the love and the laughs with another lucky group of humans somewhere in the world. I hope you enjoy ( as much as I did hahaha) the dynamic comedy of Craig Showmaker!

Bruce Baum first attended UC Davis as a Poli/Sci Major and intended to play for the Football team. But providence stepped in and he joined up with his cousin Ken and started a comedy duo on campus where they also played guitar and banjo, sang funny songs and started getting people's attention.  Before long he wrote a screenplay and moved back to LA and was accepted into the UCLA Film Dept. based on Bruce's screenplay and their ever growing list of gigs they were performing around town.  AS Bruce says on the pod this was all pre comedy club and comedy explosion but his timing was spot on as no less than Robin WILLIAMS, DAVID LETTERMAN, GARRY SHANDLING et al were featured in his early student films. As fate would have it Bruce was just starting to cook as the infamous Sunset Strip was giving birth to The Comedy Store and with it the first wave of comedians who were  born and bred there, most of whom traveled from the four corners of the USA as well as Russia ( Yakov ). Bruce was one of those original types who wasn't just telling jokes or doing a monologue on stage, rather he used props and played musical ditties and created more of an audio/visual panorama of comedy from the stage.  His class of Comedy (1976) gave stand up a Turbo boost by doing comedy in syndication on the show "MAKE ME LAUGH" hosted by Bobby Van.  It played the same comedians for five days straight and in smaller markets that did not yet have comedy clubs. By the early eighties every major, medium and small city had COMEDY CLUBS EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY IN A BAR, SALOON, RESTAURANT OR BANQUET ROOM.  Comedy had exploded and Bruce and his comedy colleagues were riding the perfect storm.  Bruce went on to headline at comedy club, casinos and night clubs for the rest of his career all the while writing, producing for television series as well as appearing on Hollywood Squares, Match Game, Arsenio Hall, The Simpsons and creating his own brand of short films and independent features which were always and still to this day his passion.  Look for " BRUCE BAUMS PERSONAL STASH" soon to be streaming on your favorite services as well as all his award winning shorts and films that were featured on Fox television, Comedy Central, SHOWTIME, HBO, as well as his student films with Robin, David and Garry and his epic Clown Away starring George Carlin, Garry Shandling and Carrie Snow. When in doubt go to BruceBaum.com where you can access his Facebook, Instagram and Youtube Channel which will link to all of his comedy content, films and merch. please welcome to our mics this week,  Bruce "baby man" Baum 

Comedian Mark Knope has the distinction of getting divorced and doing his first stand up comedy spot, while he was training for his insurance license in Albuquerque, New Mexico way back in 1986. That sounds more like the start of a Farrelly Brothers comedy film but for Mark it was the start of a new life and his comedy career has been going strong for 40 plus years. Mark had been working as an insurance salesman for Liberty Mutual, but once he found comedy he attacked it with the type of perseverance that one truly needs to not only make it but have a sustained career as a comedian.   I first ran into Mark at the Newport Beach LAFF STOP where they ran a Monday ZOO nights for the up and comers, first timers, and guys like us who had a little experience but needed a room to practice and work on " The Act!" We kind of fell out of touch until social media came around, but we reconnected as Fbook friends and it was easy to see that he has worked his entire adult life as a stand up in comedy clubs, colleges, and on the corporate circuit, which is a very coveted and niche market for any comedian to maintain. I always remember Mark as a friendly and good guy who always had a smile on his face and it seems like his confident and friendly demeanor has served him well throughout his professional life. We catch up and chat about the glory road days of the eighties and nineties and how he stays closer to home now and in addition to headlining clubs and opening shows for big name stars, he also does many benefits and shows for causes to help out folks who need some assistance or a little more attention to their programs. Mark was also happy to bring me up to date to his son Drew and daughter in law Lauren and their three children who have made him a proud Grampa. I only wish the hour didn't go by so quickly but it was great to catch up with not only a great comedian but just a great guy; Please welcome to the CUWC's mics this week: Mark Knope          

  Bruce graduated from Boston University with a business degree in marketing in 1988 and quickly headed to Los Angeles to try his hand at stand up comedy and acting.  From the first time I met Bruce he always had a smile on his face and a positive spirit and determination that whatever he was doing it was going to work. He took his training in competitive wrestling (Freestyle State Champion) and Powerlifting ( He set National Records) and used that ambition to drive him to success in stand up comedy as well as writing for sit coms and Variety shows.  Bruce readily admits that the timing of coming to Los Angeles and breaking into stand up in 1988 could not have been better.  Stand up was still in its first boom and they were handing out sitcoms to whichever comic, male or female was funny enough and powerful enough to lead a sitcom ensemble cast.   Bruce early on was one of three MC’s at the Santa Monica and Melrose Improvs and consequently was not only bringing up all the brightest and best comics who were on the fast track to their own sit coms but he was also being seen by the agents, managers and show runners in Hollywood who cast those same shows.  Before long Bruce was promoted from MC to regular spots and then he was noticed by comics who were a few years ahead of him and liked what they saw. The Wayans brothers brought Bruce into their group and he started hanging with them, pitching jokes, bits, ideas and over the course of many years Keenan, Damon, Shawn and Marlon were instrumental in Bruce getting staff writing jobs on all three of their respective talk shows and sitcoms two of which made the 100 plus  episode mark. Bruce was nominated for an Emmy for his work producing The Wayne Brady Show!  Earlier in his career,  Bruce’s own comedic and stand up talents got him great spots on Arsenio, Star Search, Evening at the Improv, LCS and finally on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  He also scored TV Guest Star shots on Married with Children, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Weird Science, Men Behaving Badly, The King of Queens and the MTV Video Music Awards, The Critics Awards and Comedy Central Bruce’s comedy resume had so many television and writing credits he went on to headline clubs, colleges and casinos in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City. In 2009 he created, hosted and produced over 200 live shows of THE LAUGH PACK with all the best comedians around. ( See clips on YouTube) Also checkout  www.brucefine.com  Bruce joined his family business about 12 years ago and is now a Financial Registered Representative and Insurance Specialist. He helps friends and folks in and around the entertainment industry become more fiscally safe and sound. Please welcome to my podcast this week: Bruce Fine

Comic Rick D’Elia is on the podcast this week.  Born and raised in Boston he came up in comedy in his freshman class with Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Patrice O’Neal and many other notables.  A booker told him early on to work clean as he was opening up for Joe Rogan and Louie C.K. Afterwards the booker told Rick those two guys are funny but they will never succeed in the business because they are too dirty. Rick later called him out on that remark and he said, “ Don’t ever listen to a booker!” Rick later moved to LA, took classes and tried out acting, screenwriting, tv production but like so many comics he worked most steadily on the road and made good money.    After a while he started getting a  lot of  work on cruise ships. While they used to have a negative connotation, ( Boat Acts) now every comic of his generation always asks “ Hey, can you get me on the ships?” About fifteen years ago he moved to Las Vegas where he found he could live cheaper than in Los Angeles and have nicer amenities. Now after working for Royal Caribbean cruise line steadily for 20 plus years he calls the Lake Tahoe area his home with a wife three kids and fresh air, skiing and and less stress and strife from the city life. Rick is one of the good guys and counts himself as one of the lucky ones to be able to make a living at comedy for all of his adult life. I hope you enjoy the podcast!

Born and raised in Northern Kentucky and the oldest of six boys, Jeff brought a certain wisdom to his stand up as he witnessed many comics, singers and entertainers in a club his father introduced him to as a young teen; The Beverly Hills Night Club just outside of Cincinnati. Not only did he see young comics like Kelly Monteith but he also got to meet legends like The Ritz Brothers! Inspired by WC Fields, The Marx Brothers and beyond, Jeff made it out to California before the Comedy Gold Rush. He  quickly became one of the early paid regulars at The Comedy Store and his wisdom and insight got the attention of Mitzi Shore who relied on him for thumbs ups and/ or downs when new comics were brought in for auditions. Jeff was also instrumental in managing and booking other comedy venues in Los Angeles, most notably The L.A. Cabaret where he produced shows and learned the craft of putting together shows that would offer the optimum entertainment value for the paying customers. As time went along Jeff became an act who worked the Las Vegas strip regularly as a comic in casinos and opening for singers. He also has been on most of the comedy tv shows along the way: Evening at the Improv, Comic Relief, Comedy on the Road and Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen and continues to perform on current shows such as Dry Bar Comedy as well as the lucrative cruise ship comedy circuit which has become an invaluable gig for the baby boom generation of stand ups. Please welcome to the CUWC mics:  Jeff “ BIG DADDY” Wayne

Paul Boland joins me on the podcast this week. Paul was interested in the theater as a young man and acted, sang and performed in plays and musicals during high school and later in college and  community theater.  He grew up on the east coast but visited his Dad in Los Angeles when he was 22 and decided to just stay and see what he could do in the LA theater scene.  From doing impressions and impersonations as a waiter he landed a role on  Rick Dees late night talk show and everything kind of snowballed after that.  He worked hard and networked and he was getting announcing jobs and warm up comedy gigs for sitcoms and it all stemmed from his talent for using his voice and all the impersonations he was able to do which was just starting to become a real commodity in the business of entertainment.  He booked a number of jobs on television shows as a voice over actor or character part but he also started doing voice and singing impressions as a cruise ship entertainer and that has served him well for over thirty years. He met his wife, Marlise through his theater work and now, their daughter Juliette is a young woman  and also doing well working behind the camera and editing booth in the technical aspects of the business.  Never one to sit around waiting for the phone to ring, Paul and Marlise have worked in tandem on many projects they have written and created themselves and they produce, edit and make them all happen right down to the red carpet and award shows for talent. Paul also works in collaboration with friends  to write and produce entertainment for film and television.  Just check out his IMDb page! I was quite inspired by all that Paul and his friends and family have created from starting out with no show biz connections or wealthy uncles in the biz. A great example of how anyone with the talent, desire and drive to take a shot can create whatever they want to be a success. 

Stand up Comedian, writer and show biz historian RITCH SHYDNER comes on the podcast this week.  A native of Pennsville, New Jersey, oldest son of a large family and his Dad  was funny and showed his oldest boy the comedy of Jackie Gleason from his first sketch show on TV.   By the time Ritch was of college age he was a fan of the brilliant comedy of Pryor, Carlin, Klein and other up and comers and he himself worked as a bartender and was known as a funny guy among his friends and bar patrons.   He went to law school after college and was on track to go into law after passing the bar but along the way, not unlike most comics he started doing open mics almost as a whim or to just say they he took a stab at it but also not unlike most comics he was instantly hooked and like most alpha type A’s he not only tapped out on his promising law career but he started getting up on stages like all comics must do with consistent regularity and commitment to even be able to get stage time on what was still a slowly burgeoning  “Pre boom era“  stand up comedy explosion.   He was getting some stage time in Washington DC and New Jersey but before long did what it took to make the move to New York City which was then and still remains to this day one of the most important and visible stand up markets where a young performer can get the most stage time nightly, and make their bones in more clubs than any other city at that time or even today as well.     His move paid off because he was a regular emcee at all the same clubs that other comics who were already working and making strides also worked at such as David Brenner, Robert Klein, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, et al.  He was constantly writing and adding material to his already growing act and his high energy and passion for comedy was quickly helping him to get more emcee spots and showcase spots not only in New York and New Jersey as well as all the satellite clubs that were slowly opening up to get young up and coming comics to get paid work while also giving them the experience and stage time that all comics need to find their voice and develop a workable act.   Ritch worked tirelessly at his craft and was never shy about taking as much work as he could get and he often mentions he went on the road as an opening act but after an extended tour of some of the toughest bars, saloons and clubs in Alaska he returned to the states as a closing act with a solid hour of material suitable for any comedy club in the states. Ritch went on to do Evening at the Improv, The Smothers Brothers comedy special, a dozen Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson as well as numerous David Letterman appearances. When he remarried and had young kids he turned to writing for sitcoms and comedy specials for other comedians and quickly became a coveted sitcom staff writer  script doctor, editor and consultant for shows such as Roseanne, Titus, The Mind of the Married Man, Becker, Blue Collar Comedy Tour and the Jeff Foxworthy Show and his Comedy Specials   Ritch has done about everything a comedian could do throughout a long career where generations come and go and tastes and material travel through different points of reference. For the last five years he has  toured the country with his “ History of Stand Up Comedy Special. Often times comedians are their own harshest critics and Ritch in this episode talks about the inequity of talent vs breaks vs luck and all the myriad stressors, behaviors and personal challenges that can make or break any career and certainly the fragile plane where “ show biz success “ is just one blog, post or reel away from getting one cancelled. Ritch has done whatever he had to do to keep going and keep producing laughs on stage, television and film whether by writing, producing or performing it himself. He is a cherished personage and commodity in a business that has generally not been kind to those of a certain age.   Ritch has helped many comedians when they needed assistance in their last years whether it be with go fund me’s or benefit performances or helping out on documentaries and it’s good to see him now busier than he has ever been with not only his history of comedy show but performing in shows with comics of his generation or in his local community where he champions the up and coming comics who he feels are some of the greatest young comics he has seen to date. Please give a listen to one of the greats from the boomer generation who not only honors the legendary comics on whose shoulders we stand but also gives a leg up to the next generation of comics who are just now entering the  fold. Ladies and gentleman: Ritch Shydner

Darren Carter joins me this week on Catching Up With Comedians. Darren is a natural upper and one of those people who represent the comedy profession in the most positive way.   Despite his youthful appearance and high energy style, it’s hard to believe he has been performing for over thirty years.  Growing up in Fresno, his first years in comedy were in San Diego but he was on the  "ROAD” quickly as an opening act due to his many years of performing comedy style raps around California. He also took his many years of speech and prose competitions in his College days where he ended up in the Nationals in Minneapolis. While most comedians start off from scratch he already had a fair amount of time speaking and performing in front of audiences and at many different venues. He loved comedy and the whole art of stand up so he was hungry and caught on fast.  He has been working steadily as a standup comic since the early nineties and has long since not only become a headliner but a headliner that is a “ draw” where people are coming to see him specifically which is the ultimate credit that every comedian seeks to attain.  Darren did his first Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2002 and has added numerous more television credits such as Premium Blend, Comic View, Dry Bar Comedy and he is currently in the comedy film “ Holy Cash“ at AMC Theaters and streaming networks.   Darren is a stand up who has risen to the highest levels and maintained a humility and likeability that is not always the case in the comedy world.   Not only has he hit close to 20 million views on his short comedy clips he features on Instagram  but is most proud of his happy marriage to his wife as well as their son Austin, aka "AusTheBassBoss" who is an accomplished musician and following quickly in the entertainment footsteps of Dad. Please welcome to the mics, Darren “ the PARTY STARTER” Carter!

Welcoming Steven Lolli to the podcast this week.  Steven is a big personality and a very strong comedian who after 20 years is headlining around the country and really starting to create some heat. He performed on NETFLIX IS A JOKE last summer on the same bill as Whitney Cummings, Nikki Glaser with Howie Mandel and Arsenio headlining.  He has a starring role in “Last Chance” a Film opening in 2025. As a writer he has worked for Katt Williams, Eddie Pepitone and was a regular on Eddie’s podcast.  He will be headlining Jimmy Kimmels Comedy Club in Las Vegas on Feb. 21 & 22. Shows at 730 and 930. Please welcome to the mics: Steven LOLLI 🎙️🤣🤣

Phil Tagliaferri bounced onto the stage of the Emerald Princess this past October while the wife and I were celebrating our second honeymoon// empty nest vaca. This was a fourteen day cruise and the first one we had gone on without friends, relatives or castaways so we were determined to see every comedy show and as many of the large shows as we could fit in.   Phil who wisely whittled his last name down to TAG, ( after countless teachers, coaches and cruise directors had no doubt been butchering it for years) hit the stage in great voice, energy and a take no prisoners delivery.   The wife and I both liked him immediately and saw not only his early show but his later, more spicy show as well.  I'm proud to say that of the few comics I passed my card to, he was the first to respond and the first to come on my podcast. There are a large number of comics and entertainers that hail from New Jersey, The Boss, Eddie ( lives there) Dave Attell, Jeff Ross, Artie Lange and one could easily add Phil to this list.  Entering comedy during the 80's BOOM, he was a working club comic within two years and quickly added a Showtime stand up Comedy credit and many writing credits early on. He eventually landed Evening at the Improv, Star Search, and at least one Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as writing for Norm Macdonald for two seasons of "Weekend Update!" It was really fun talking with Phil as he regales a very busy career on the road, in Major Casinos, a Muti-year contract working for the MGM-Disney studios in Florida as well as  close to twenty years as a top tier Cruise ship comedian. Next up, Phil will throw down anchor in New York City and start calling out markers for TV and Movie writing gigs as well as performing on all the top stages in the Big Apple. Please welcome to the mics this week:  PHIL TAG   

David started out as a deejay but as is often the case it  took only a dare from friends for him to try out comedy and take second place on his very first try. Born and raised in Dubuque,Iowa, David was on his way to the west coast when he stopped in Colorado on advice from his brothers and that has been his homeland and home base in comedy ever since.   He is a member of the 35 plus year club in stand up.  He has always enjoyed and loved the driving and scenery of being a road comic.  After years of doing carpentry and furniture making as a hobby he switched to photography and you can see the pictures yourself on his social media pages and his photos are award winners and now make up his annual calendar selections. Please enjoy the experiences and stories shared this week as we welcome David Testroet to our mics.

Comedienne Linda Markus Smith came to national attention during the pandemic when she started her Zoom podcast "Comics Spot." Most comics weren't working much, if at all, so her timing was perfect.  She had no agenda other than to just interview comics and hear their stories. She had only started her comedy career maybe five years prior to the Pandemic so she was a newbie and relative unknown, which was also a plus for her because comics far and wide were not intimidated or suspect of someone who greeted you with a smile, a laugh and charming demeanor. So here we are close to five years later and she has amassed well over one thousand ( that's correct 1000) ZOOM PODCASTS for COMICS SPOT and shows no signs of slowing down. On my podcast ( I was a little intimidated by interviewing the Queen of podcasting) she tells of her early days in Portland and going into the Army and being stationed in Germany and her working life which her longest employment was in banking.   She really found her niche when she started in stand up comedy close to ten years ago, and has made her bones in Las Vegas and only recently decided to return to her place of birth and take on The Big Apple.    please welcome to the mics : Linda Markus Smith .          

Steve Klasky grew up in Los Angeles and remembers using his early school years as his first stage for entertaining his peers.  Always looking for laughs and vying for the attention from the fairer sex, he found theater and drama in high school and became his high school’s most celebrated actor.  In College, beyond simply acting, he also took to learning the technical and theater production sides of the business.  Before long he was a union stagehand working on Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews and other television programs.  As with most artists, Steve became bored quickly and left a secure job with the Art Department at Rockwell and started a period where he became a beat poet, bartender, magician and working pro and decorated member of the Magic Castle.   As time went on and he found himself married with child, an opportunity came up for him to teach acting and comedy and soon after the Academy of Comedy was born.  Steve has been a mensch to me and all my comedy brethren from the first years we met and started working for him and his many comedy rooms, venues and clubs.  The only person who ever had a bad thing to say about him is spoken of toward the end of the podcast.  Please welcome to our mics, Steve Klasky

Scott Shimamoto the oldest of three boys was raised in the San Gabriel Valley and unlike many comedians he was a happy, energetic and industrious kid.  Always a funny kid he did what he could as a smaller lad to keep his classmates and friends laughing as opposed to giving beat downs. His natural friendliness was his best anti-fight kryptonite as he said the fighting part was never much of a problem in his life. From his earliest jobs at places like McDonalds , he was a go getter and learned the value of a hard work ethic and cooperating with employees and bosses so that everyone came out ahead.   A long time businessman involved in mortgage loan companies and real estate, he started getting on stage later that some but that hasn't stifled his progress or enthusiasm. Scott's material and delivery aided by his natural sales acumen has made him a sought after act for testimonials, benefits, fundraisers and the local comedy club circuits in Los Angeles. I even learned he has an entire history with rap music and music writing and production. I will share some of his original songs on the link. Please help me welcome the always up tempo, multi faceted comic and entertainer to our mics today:  Scott Shimamoto  

Mark Cordes originally, from the midwest, had made a good living in  real estate with Coldwell Banker and one night he took the dare to go up at a comedy open mic night.   He caught the bug immediately and within a short time he let his realtor license lapse and told his guys he was burning the boats and they replied that he could always come back if he wanted to.....  that was over 35 years ago and he has not only made a living in comedy but done it on his own terms. Mark's up tempo personality  and  cheerful demeanor combined with his natural skill for sales were the perfect ingredients for a man to switch careers at thirty years of age.  Many comics start out young before they have had much life experience whereas there have also been more than people realize who don't get into comedy until they've lived a little and frankly I think they become better comedians because of that. There are always exceptions but the comics who are great enough to come right out of the gate would never have made it in any other job anyway.  Mark's quick success got him bookings with the major road clubs with folks like George Lopez, Davis Spade and others giving him high marks to club owners and national comedy chains.  When the clubs faltered a little in the nineties he naturally added corporate comedy to his resume and eventually made his way onto the premiere cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, which have served him well, and he works as much as he wants to even though he is at the age where he could slow down if and when he wants to.   Mark's own creation and brand show is titled " THE SPOUSE WHISPERER!"  and he performs that show all around the country and the world for whatever club, convention or corporate sponsor wants a show specifically for their audience.   If was really fun to catch up with Mark after working with him in Portland over thirty years ago.  He is just a wealth of information and any comic young or old would do well  listening to his road tales and sage advice.  Some great Norm MacDonald stories in here as well as Jimmy Fallon and others. Please welcome to the mics, the always funny and entertaining...Mark Cordes. 

Chris Lewis started out his show biz career as a child actor which he describes in the podcast. He was even a contestant on a famous kids show which is even more interesting given the  career trajectory of the once popular host. Chris has been continuing to audition and act in commercials and indie films while also making a name for himself in the L.A. stand up comedy circuit. Once listening to Chris I'm sure you'll agree that his charming personality, youthful demeanor and quick wit are all ingredients that will help ensure he will continue to entertain audiences and make a name for himself in stand up comedy!

Frances DiLorinzo one of four siblings never fancied a comedy career but with encouragement from a professor at Saddleback College she found out she had a gift for public speaking and getting some laughs. She plowed through her Undergraduate degree thinking it was just a phase but the spark was re lit when she stopped by the Laff Stop comedy club one night. Before long she was hooked and one of many who joined the eighties comedy boom. While many fall by the wayside she kept plugging away and has been a working pro for many years performing standup at corporate events, banquet halls, cruise ships, and the top comedy clubs.  Along the way she managed to raise two sons and they made it onto the comedy stages for a season or two.  Please welcome the energetic, and always in motion… Frances DiLorinzo

Chance Langton had been writing and playing music since a young boy. Long before his comedy career, he was a working musician and his journey took him from Massachusetts to New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and many parts in between. His story is interesting, to say the least and Chance is such a great storyteller that I felt it very important that I capture as much of his story as I possibly could.  From Doug Westin's Troubadour in Los Angeles and all the way down to the Mussel Shoals hitmakers in Nashville, Chance tells stories of players, producers, record companies and all the characters it takes to make it in the music biz.    He candidly admits to refusing a record deal when he should have accepted it. He explains how even the Beatles got a lousy deal and they were the greatest band ever.  Fortunately his comedy career was greatly enhanced by his musical talents and Adam Sandler was one of many people who helped Chance out by making him one of the four singers who performed a special song in the film" Eight Crazy Nights"   Listen to this amazing man tell his stories of the twists and turns in his music career which name Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, BMI, EPIC and ARISTA records just some of the folks he encountered along his journey.... Ladies and Gentleman,  Chance Langton

Greg "Hilby" Hilbers a proud Oregonian and fan of comedy made his way to the Comedy Store in 1974, just two short years after it opened its doors on April 7, 1972. Although getting laughs and a strong response on his first stage performance, he headed back to Portland to develop more in his local scene but returned in 1976 to re establish his stand up career at The Comedy Store and became a paid regular within a pretty short time. He was part of that early wave of comedy pioneers who came from all parts of the country to risk it all and attempt to join what in previous generations could only be learned only in Vaudeville, burlesque, saloons and strip joints.  Greg paid his dues at the Westwood Comedy Store and came up alongside Sam Kinison, Argus Hamilton, Dice Clay, while watching his idol Freddie Prinze lose his life! Greg was there to witness first hand Jay Leno, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr and others shoot to the Stratosphere.  Greg was happy to just be one of the comedy family and decided early on he didn't want to spend his life out on the lonesome road which had  laid claim to more than its share of bodies and souls over the years. Greg had a fine career on his own terms and worked when and where he wanted until calling it a career after 18 years. He sure has a lot of stories though and still might have a screenplay or two left in him before the last roundup is called. Please welcome to our mic this week, Greg Hilbers

Julie Kidd raised three kids as a single mom, taught dance at night and started doing comedy once she re connected with her step sister Cindy Burns.  They struggled for years but eventually helped form The Laff Pack and that led to co-founding The Funniest Housewives of Orange County.   It took off pretty quickly and they were soon filling up large venues for monthly shows and corporate shows all over So.Cal. and beyond.   Julie and Cindy started getting spots on The View, The Tonight Show, opening for Joan Rivers and so much more. Sadly she lost her sister and comedy partner Cindy Burns to cancer just a few years back.  Julie decided to honor Cindy's strength and vision by keeping the Funniest  Housewives brand going, bringing in some of the brightest and funniest comics from OC, LA and beyond.  Julie also wrote a book about the Funniest Housewives and it is currently being made into a documentary by Julie and her son, who is also a successful film maker/ editor.   Julie is a force of nature, she just had another book come out this week ( about: How To Write A Book ) and she has some others coming up quickly right behind.  Please welcome to our microphones, the dynamic and unstoppable Julie Kidd.

Please welcome JOVO to the podcast today. After working as a Set Designer/ Decorator and Lead dresser behind the camera for thirty years, Jovo threw caution to the wind and took the plunge into full time acting in 2020. The first time I met Jovo was on a movie set and I could instantly tell he had the chops of an actor and a funny one at that.  The man is from Windsor Ontario, Canada for goodness sakes, so just add him to that already long list of funny Canadians. His story reads like a Screenplay if not a documentary; first generation Canuck, middle child, parents emigrated from Macedonia and made a life for their family of five by hard work and old world values.  Mike moved from Windsor to Vancouver at 21 to try his hand at the crew side of show biz. On this podcast he will talk of growing up, playing sports, pursuing pro hockey but ultimately the acting bug caught him. For all his young years he worked behind the camera but with the same passion and dedication he now puts in front. In a relatively short time he has appeared in television commercials, Inde. films; he is currently shooting a feature and he has also appeared in a commercial during the Super Bowl and he has been nominated and won top awards for performances in the independent film market.  How can you not root for a guy with his passion and heart and on top of all that, he posts clips, shorts, reels and gags on social media every day.  Ladies and Gentleman: Coming up to our mics, please welcome, JOVO 

Willie Randolph was fresh out of the air force and looking to go pre-med when he strolled into the Claremont, Ca. Laff Stop one night.  An Ohio native, his family had transplanted to San Bernadino, California and Willie had never planned to be a comic but his natural talents, charm and likability gained him quick amateur status and before long he became a dependable and sought after emcee, host and booker.   I took no time at all for Willie to fall in love with the comedy life, night life and getting paid to tour the country with comics and friends and get paid well to do it.  He opened for Jay Leno early on at the Houston, Texas LAFF STOP and that credit served him well all the way up until he became a road headliner which wasn't too many years after he had started. I know you will enjoy listening to Willie talk about his many appearances opening for big name singers and appearing on just about every cable comedy show that employed comics steadily through the eighties and nineties. Still the same nice, humble guy he  has always been, he discusses a few health hiccups and detours but life has brought him full circle back to Claremont with his wife and his son who is about the age now that Willie was when he started his journey.    Ladies and Gentleman, coming to the mic, it is my pleasure to introduce to you,   Willie Randolph....

Ron Coleman started his comedy career in southern California around 1989. He found success quickly and before long he was a sought after opening and feature act on the road. Once he started working he was picked up by The Improv, Catch a Rising Star and other chain clubs and he was working week long engagements.  By the late nineties comedy had cooled off from the boom of the eighties. Ron married and moved to Las Vegas around the year 2000. Before long his family grew to four and he started his own trucking company called Ron Coleman Transport and he had a booming business working with the convention center business in and around Las Vegas. As time went on he missed his comedy days and decided to go back to it while maintaining his trucking business. Before long he had started getting enough comedy work just in Las Vegas that he and his wife decided it was time to cash in their chips, sell the trucking company and Ron returned full time to stand up comedy. Ron has been one of the best friends I ever made in comedy. He works hard and has always been a friend and support system to many up and comers and always a faithful friend from our original group which I was proud to belong to with Ron always as our "Sarge!" You couldn't meet a nicer and funnier guy who also is a fan of any comic who puts themself out there and takes that chance every night on stage.  Ladies and Gentleman:  Ron Coleman

I first met Sam Fedele in the early nineties. I had been working the stand up circuit for at least five years but he came in with nothing but pure energy and enthusiasm. As it turns out Sam had grown up in New Jersey and after serving his country as a marine, he had married young, and started his own blueprint business.  He had grown dissatisfied with that job and with the encouragement of his wife Kim ( and a growing family of one daughter and one on the way) he jumped into stand up comedy and has never looked back for one second.   Watching Sam perform is akin to watching a happy tiger prowling the stage as he is always in motion and is very physical sometimes leaping from the stage into the crowd or running across the stage to make a point or just have fun. Sam started going on the road and worked the national circuit of comedy clubs.  As a former marine he eventually added the military tours to his comedy caravan working such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait and many others to entertain the troops.  He has additionally become a much sought after comedian working the cruise ship circuit as well as opening for Celebrities such as Ray Romano, Brad Garrett and many others. He performed alongside Brad Garrett on a very funny week of Celebrity Family Feud and Sam will be performing at Brad Garretts Comedy Club at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at the end of July. I know you will enjoy the great spirit and fun chat I have with Sam about his great ride in stand up comedy.