Podcast episode 494ish: Myq Kaplan

This episode ran over two weeks on the radio, but we're releasing it as one giant podcast episode because I think you can handle it. Myq Kaplan talked a lot when he was in town a few weeks ago. I was enjoying it so much, I just kept going. Because why not? There are no rules in podcastland! We don't break the rules; we make the rules! We talked about robots, trees in Brooklyn, stereotypes of New Jersey, poop jokes, Jeopardy!, Nickelback, language, favourites, Dimethyltryptamine, and he helped kick off (and name) our New Joke (and/or) Old Joke segment with two good ones.

Get started now! Or later... or not at all. Your choice. But you really should. You can click below or find us (and subscribe to us!) on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

May 13: Myq Kaplan (part 1)

Hello radio listeners. Tonight we've got the beginning of a two-parter. Myq Kaplan was in town recently playing Yuk Yuk's so we sat down to talk. And we talked. And talked. I like the way he thinks. And speaks. So I'm going to run it in two parts on the radio. When it drops as a podcast, however, you can listen to the whole thing all at once. We've had Myq on with us before, back in 2012. I first saw him, I believe, on Last Comic Standing in a year prior to 2012. He didn't win but he was on a fair number of episodes and got tons of screen time. That's my take-away from that season. Since then, the Jersey boy who got his start in standup in Boston and who now resides in Brooklyn has done The Tonight Show and Conan and The Late Late Show all that kind of high-profile stuff. And tonight he'll be on my dog-and-pony show!

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. Tune in there or livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on your TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 493ish: Fred Ewanuick

Oh, we had fun with Fred Ewanuick on Sunday. It was a festive atmosphere, it being Sam Tonning's birthday and Sam's dad being in the control room with him and Fred a bit loopy because it was past his bedtime. He told us about the role he's most proud of – as Phillip in the "edge of your seat, non-stop action thrill ride," Absolute Zero. He did some cold read promos for us. And of course we talked about his reprisal as Hank on the new Corner Gas Animated. And lots more, of course, because that's how we roll. (On a sad note, our station archives were a little wonky, levels-wise, so the sound isn't as top-notch as you're used to hearing, but it's still listenable.)

Here you go. Hear for yourself below. Or go find us no iTunes or Stitcher or elsewhere and subscribe. And leave us a review while you're at it.

May 6: Fred Ewanuick

The ageless Fred Ewanuick

We've got a real, live cartoon as our guest tonight. Fred Ewanuick (pronounced: Fred) is one of the stars of Corner Gas Animated. His last visit with us, he was a mere mortal, having starred for x-number of seasons (google it!) on the original Corner Gas series and feature film, as well as his own sitcom, Dan For Mayor. We'll see what life is like as a cartoon character and how the animated Hank is different from the live version. I bet he appreciates not having to shower or shave. And I think he's naturally an animated character so it was probably an easy transition for him. We had a fun conversation when he was first here 15 months ago. I believe we sat in different rooms then. This time around, I'll allow him to sit in the same room as me. He's earned my trust. And Sam Tonning will be here this time, so that'll add even more to the good times.

We are on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM so tune in, won't you? You can livestream, if need be, at coopradio.org or you can find us on the TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 492ish: Ryan Beil

This episode is brought to you by baseball and fish. Those were the recurring themes in our hour and a bit with actor/improviser Ryan Beil. He's a huge baseball fan and part-time fish. Last time Ryan was with us was eight long years ago. In this episode, we find out a little-known fact about his old Ryan the Trainee character from the A&W commercials. He also creates a joke out of thin air, tells us about auditioning for a French play, getting roughed up by George Costanza, and explains the term "corpsing."

Listen below or download us at iTunes. Go ahead and subscribe while you're at it.

Apr. 29: Ryan Beil

Photo: thisisitstudios.com

Ooh, I'm really looking forward to tonight's show. Ryan Beil was last (and first) with us eight years ago, in June of 2010 and it remains one of my favourite episodes. He's just fun to talk with. I have no idea what we'll talk about, but who cares? Ryan is one of the funniest improvisers around. And he's all over the TV set. My wife will be watching some movie on some woman's channel and I hear Ryan. A commercial will come on and I'll hear Ryan. He also runs (somehow) the greatest little comedy venue in town, Little Mountain Gallery, as well as being the Ed McMahon to Paul Anthony at Talent Time. He'll be scooting over from his weekly Sunday Service show at the Fox Cabaret, which, if you haven't been, is one of the funnest shows going.

We're on the air on CFRO 100.5 FM at 11 pm. Livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on your TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 491ish: Tom Green

Look at this quick turnaround! This episode just aired on Co-op Radio and now it's out on podcast. Ain't technology grand? It's apt because this was the most high-tech episode we've ever done. I was in Vancouver and Tom Green was at his home in Los Angeles and we hooked up through the wonder of Zencastr. Also, Tom's old buddy Phil Giroux called in from Ottawa and gave a shout-out. What a time to be alive! In addition to talk about his varied career, Tom and I discussed/debated art criticism, he told us about drinking with Dennis Rodman and getting fired by Donald Trump, and throwing a dead raccoon in Mike Bullard's face (it never happened quite like that). And more!

Go ahead and listen already. Just click below or go download us at iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be there waiting for you. If you subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes, the latest episode will magically appear on your device.

Apr. 8: Tom Green

Tom Green is playing Yuk Yuk's here in Vancouver this coming Friday and Saturday (April 13 & 14) so we thought it was a perfect time to finally get him on the longest-running comedy podcast in the universe. He is a Canadian superstar, after all, so he deserves this big break. Tom may not have done it all in show business, but he's close. He first did standup as a teenager in Ottawa, then became a Juno-nominated rapper with his group Organized Rhyme, then... the rest is history. His public access show in Ottawa took the city by storm, moved to Much Music, then finally to the bright lights of Hollywood. He made movies, did commercials, hosted SNL, guest hosted for David Letterman, hosted his own talk show, and... well, I can't get into everything. He's been back doing standup for the last eight to ten years and that takes him all over the English-speaking world.

We've got him for the hour so tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM tonight at 11. Or if you're one of the millions of Green groupies around the world, you can livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on TuneIn Radio. And as a special surprise, the podcast version of the show will be available on iTunes and Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts right at midnight. How's that?

Podcast episode 490ish: Simon King

Photo of Simon King by Mike Bailey

On Juno Sunday, Sam Tonning took over the controls at What's So Funny? headquarters. Together with Simon King, they talked comedy and played some comedy clips from the Juno Award-winning I Wanted to be a Dinosaur by Ivan Decker, as well as clips from Simon's own albums. And they had a ton of fun.

Check it out below. Or go download the episode at your favourite podcast dispensary. If you subscribe to us at iTunes, it'll always show up when you need it.

Podcast episode 489ish: Mike MacDonald rerun

I had to rerun our Mike MacDonald episode from four years ago after learning of the passing of the great Canadian standup. He was one of my favourites. Maybe you heard it before but it stands up to repeat listening. I've also added two of his standup clips: one at the beginning; one at the end. I think you'll enjoy this frank, honest talk with the master.

You can listen here, as always (if you're good), or you can go download What's So Funny? on iTunes. Godspeed.

Podcast episode 488ish: Chris Gordon

It's generally conceded that Chris Gordon is one of the smartest comedians in the country, if not the world... Ah, who are we kidding? He's dumb as nails! But he sure is funny. And he's in full Chris Gordon mode in this episode, hawking merch with a raging boner. The Calgary standup – a two-time loser at the Vancouver Comedy Awards – name-drops throughout the show the likes of Bob Odenkirk, Key & Peele, and Colin Quinn. Great stories. Listen!

Check it out below or go find What's So Funny? on iTunes. And if you subscribe, you'll always get the latest episode immediately.