Sept. 30: Iliza Shlesinger

When I first spoke to Iliza Shlesinger, it was in a cramped office between her shows at Lafflines Comedy Club in New Westminster. This time around, we got to stretch our legs with a leisurely chat inside the showroom at Yuk Yuk's one afternoon a week and a half ago. In tonight's episode, the Excused host and Last Comic Standing winner and I talk about her hosting duties on the dating show, why she's such a good girlfriend, that time of month, and her girl-love for Calgary comic Lori Gibbs, among other topics.

So tune in tonight at 11 PM PDT to 100.5 FM. Or, if you're far, far away, you can always livestream the show at coopradio.org. So why don't you do that? And if you miss it, well, it'll be available as a podcast next Sunday. See how it works? We've got a system.

Podcast episode 291ish: Steve Bays

Rocker Steve Bays joined us last week for his third appearance on What's So Funny? I'm thinking maybe we should tally another episode in his favour and make it four appearances since we talked for 2 hours. Don't worry, though, I've edited the podcast version down to a very listenable 1 hour and 45 minutes. In it, we talked about whether humour belongs in music, his love of Christmas lights and music, the lessons of M*A*S*H, taking it in the ass, hiring friends over professionals, being ripped off by Russian pop stars, Chinese karaoke, and we conclude with a round of Defending Your iPod.

So go ahead and listen. What are you waiting for? If you feel you can go the distance in one sitting, click below. If you're like most normal people and listen to your podcasts in segments, then go download it at iTunes (or other podcast recepticals).

Sept. 23: Steve Bays

As you know, our home station, CFRO, recently switched frequencies to 100.5 FM, while the Peak (home of "world class rock") moves to our old frequency. So as part of our new mandate, we need to fill our rock star quota. With that in mind, Steve Bays, of Hot Hot Heat and Fur Trade fame, joins us as our first in-studio guest since the change-over.

Okay, so it's not really a mandate. But we still like to have his Bayness drop by. Not only is he a killer musician but he's a comedy superfan with loads of opinions on performance. The last time I ran into him was at a Talent Time show a few months back and we got a good discussion going. When intermission ended, I told him we'd have to continue it on air sometime. So this is the time. Now I just have to wrack my brain figuring out what we talked about. Hope he remembers.

So tune in Sunday night from 11 to midnight at 100.5 FM. And you can always livestream it at coopradio.org if that's how you roll.

Podcast episode 290ish: Sean Patrick Shaul

In comedy, timing is everything. I sure hope it isn't for podcasts. Here's the deal: We had film maker Sean Patrick Shaul on a week and a half before the premiere of his comedy documentary Alone Up There. The podcast really should have come out last Sunday but whatcha gonna do? The premiere was on Thursday. But fear not, it's also available as a digital download for a mere $7.00. That's 86 minutes worth of entertainment for a lousy seven beans! (You can download it here.) Besides featuring me for a good ten seconds, the film also talks to the likes of Marc Maron, Mark Breslin, Eddie Pepitone, Mike MacDonald, Iliza Shlesinger (next week's guest on What's So Funny?, by the way), Jeremy Hotz and lots, lots more. Plus, there's some great archival footage. (Yes, I already watched it on my very own computer. Easy-peasy).

Anyway, in this episode, Sean talks about documentaries, punk rock, stage fright and reveals the name of one very famous comic who rudely refused to be in the film. I won't spoil it for you but it rhymes with Fatten Laws Fault.

Enjoy the episode here and now or go download it on iTunes or wherever it is you download podcasts from. Ask for us by name.

Sept. 16: Snippets

As I mentioned last week, CFRO changed frequencies on Monday. Tonight will be our first show at the new spot on the dial of 100.5. There are billboards around town alerting the masses to the change. Maybe a few people see it and tune in to see what community radio is all about. Maybe a few who haven't heard will tune in expecting "world class rock". Either way, I thought I'd spend the hour tonight playing clips of former episodes. If you've seen the What's So Funny? YouTube channel, you'll have heard these, with the exception of one. If not, tune in for some fun conversational snippets of past shows. As always, we're also available in live streaming format at coopradio.org. But if you're tuning in by radio, remember 100.5. Same bat time, different bat channel.

Kliph Nesteroff on WTF with Marc Maron

Big ups to local boy Kliph Nesteroff, who is on the latest episode of WTF with Marc Maron. This is huge. Maron is the modern-day Johnny Carson in that it's a real mark of honour for a comic (and comedy-related people) to get on the show. And when they do, legions of fans can follow. I haven't heard the episode yet because I'm a bit anal in that I have to listen to them in order. I've been listening since the very beginning and have heard every single episode all the way through. Maron does two a week, which is a little exhausting, and who has the time to listen as soon as they come out? Not I. Nesteroff is on episode 314 while I'm currently in the middle of episode 301, so it'll be a week or two before I get to it. But I'm sure it's excellent.

Funny story: A few weeks ago I was in Victoria for the Blue Bridge Comedy Festival. I'm standing in line outside what used to be Harpo's (I can't keep up with the name changes in my hometown) to get in to Maron's show. Marc wanders around outside, spots me, and comes up to talk for a bit. He engages a few of the excited fans around me then says he's got to go in. After he left, an older man behind me asks if I know him. I say, "A little bit. But I'm still standing in line so obviously not that much." I tell the guy I've interviewed him a few times and that I do a podcast, too. He asks the name of it and I dutifully tell him What's So Funny? "Oh!" says the guy. "I know that one. You had Kliph Nesteroff on!"

The guy didn't know Kliph, he was just a fan of Kliph's blog and had searched him out on the podcast. Small world. I messaged Kliph to relate the story to him but he didn't tip me to the fact he'd probably already, by this time, recorded his own chat with Maron. So it was a surprise to me when I learned this week that he'd be on.

If you're stumbling onto this blog because you've just learned of Kliph, he's been a guest on What's So Funny? five times, dating back to 2004. The last time, recorded in January, was a 90-minute affair. Since I've yet to hear the WTF one, I don't know if he told any of the same stories, but he told some pretty great ones. You might want to check it out. (And if you're new to this show, I've also had Maron on twice.)

Here's the latest Nesteroff episode of WSF? And to hear him with Maron, follow this link.

Podcast episode 289ish: The Comic Strippers

Take off your shirt and enjoy an hour of conversation with the Comic Strippers. Roman "Chip" Danylo, Ken "Chip" Lawson and Chris "Chip" Casillan talk about their goof on male strippers. But it's not all Ping-Pong balls and shower scenes. They also reflect on what Labour Day means to them. It may very well be the last episode Lawson makes, or the last anyone sees of him as he reveals he's off to Prague for a very sketchy job.

Have a naked gander right here or download the episode at iTunes.

Sept. 9: Sean Patrick Shaul

Tonight, on our very last show at 102.7 FM (the station moves down the dial to 100.5 tomorrow at 1 pm), we welcome filmmaker Sean Patrick Shaul. Sean just completed a documentary on stand-up comedy called Alone Up There, which will debut at the Rio Theatre as part of the Olio Festival on Thursday, Sept. 20. And it'll also be available as a digital download for $6.99, too.

The film, as I understand it, centres around Sean interviewing comedians about what to expect when he does his first set, considering he has quite the fear of getting up in public and speaking to people (hopefully that doesn't apply to radio). The list of comics he spoke to is quite impressive: Marc Maron, the Sklar Bros., Iliza Shlesinger, Bobby Slayton, Eddie Pepitone, Brody Stevens and lots more. And he included lots of locals, too, including Matt Billon, Roman Danylo, Simon King and Darryl Lenox, among others.

I'm looking forward to seeing it. And tonight we'll get some behind-the-scenes scoops, I'm sure. At least I'll be digging.

So tune in at 11pm PDT to CFRO 102.7 FM or livestream it at coopradio.org. Meanwhile, take a look at the trailer:

Podcast episode 288ish: Graham Clark

They say regularity is one of the most important factors in a successful podcast. Well, we make no claims to being successful. We just hope the product is a fun and interesting listen whenever we get it uploaded to you. We aim for once a week but sometimes life gets in the way.

All this to say that the following episode is late. Quite late. But it's Graham Clark so I know you'll listen. Geez, it's been so long since this aired on the radio I forget what we talked about. Let me wrack my brain... I believe he told us about his gig in London, England... I vaguely recall talking about how handy he is with an axe... And, yes, he foresaw his upcoming (and now complete) Canadian Comedy Award for Best Podcast. You know why? Because he puts his out on time and with regularity!

Listen here or download at iTunes.

Sept. 2: Roman Danylo, Ken Lawson, Chris Casillan

Roman Danylo doesn't like being alone. That much is clear now. Last week was his first ever solo appearance on What's So Funny? He'd been on a few times before, but always with his improv buddies. Well, if you tuned in last week, you'll know he pulled the plug on the episode. We were about 20 minutes into our illuminating chat when the power went out. That's the kind of tricks Danylo will apparently resort to in order to deflect probing questions. He must have alerted one of his cronies, who then took down a power line.

He's back this week but with his requisite friends. Joining Danylo will be Ken Lawson (top left in photo) and Chris Casillan (bottom left). All three are members of the Comic Strippers, whose next show is this Friday at 11:15 at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. Hopefully the two extra bodies will help Danylo (bottom right) feel comfortable. I'm sure their presence will bring enough electricity to the studio that we'll be able to stay on the air for the whole hour.