Mar. 31: Karen O'Keefe

Happy Easter. I've got to work off this sugar high, so the show is a go tonight. Karen O'Keefe is in town and will make her What's So Funny? debut tonight. In fact, it was O'Keefe's first ever working weekend in Vancouver, so what better way to commemorate this auspicious occasion than with an appearance on Canada's favourite comedy-based radio show-slash-podcast? (I figure if I describe it that way, it might come true.) What do I know of Ms. O'Keefe? I know she lives in Toronto, got started in Alberta, and grew up in one of the territories. I know she went to Catholic school. I know she's a tall drink of water. And if I'm wrong on any of those, we'll find out tonight.

Amen.

So join us, will ya? It's a holiday tomorrow, kind of. Live a little on a Sunday night. We're on the air from 11(ish) to midnight(ish) PST on CFRO, 100.5 FM, in Vancouver. If you're far, far away, you can always livestream the show at coopradio.org. And if you absolutely can't tune in tonight, the episode will be available as a podcast next week(ish).

Podcast episode 309ish: Hari Kondabolu

The Hari Kondabolu episode ran a few weeks ago radio-side. If you tuned in, you might have noticed a couple glaring technical glitches. But the beauty of podcasts is all those snafus can be seamlessly edited out and you're none the wiser. So have a listen as the New Yorker and I get all racial and political. Prior to his week headlining the Comedy MIX in Vancouver, I had always assumed Kondabolu was a Seattle native. That's where I first saw him and met him. We find out the standup comic was just discovered in the Emerald City. Go figure, discovered in Seattle! If that doesn't provide inspiration to comedians everywhere, I don't know what will.

Click on the gizmo below or go to iTunes for the download and away you go.

Mar. 24: Darren Frost & Kenny Robinson

Darren Frost

Kenny Robinson

Darren Frost and Kenny Robinson have each been on What's So Funny? before. Solo, though. Tonight, they join us as one. Together again for the first time. Frost and Robinson brought their Rank & Vile Comedy Tour to Vancouver a week or so ago so I took the opportunity to catch up with them. Topics covered: getting fired from cruise ships, dissatisfied comedy club patrons, their contentious first encounter, regrets, wives and ex-wives, and how to book a role on a TV sitcom through Twitter. If you want to make a drinking game of it, take a swig every time Kenny drops one of his patented musical references. Warning: you'll be hung over for work tomorrow.

It all get underway at 11 pm PST (or thereabouts) on CFRO, 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're outside the lower mainland, check in via livestream at coopradio.org. That'll do the trick. It runs a little longer than usual but it's well worth it.

Podcast episode 308ish: Nelson Giles

There's a new face on the Canadian comedy scene: veteran standup Nelson Giles. Allow me to explain. After a couple decades in the business, Giles took a 14-month break. During this time, he also happened to drop 60 pounds. Now, three weeks back into his career, Giles walks into clubs unknown. In this episode, he talks about the excitement of getting back on stage and what led him to take a break from it. Also, his good buddy Jack Nicholson makes an appearance!

Podcast episode 307ish: Dino Archie & Sunee Dhaliwal

Here's one of the liveliest episodes we've had. Dino Archie invited along his good buddy Sunee Dhaliwal at the last minute and the two of them left me in the dust. Sunee would help things along by translating Dino's hip street talk to old white guy so I could understand. Along the way, Dino emotes like a true thespian for any casting agents who might be listening, Sunee tells the story of a time when he innocently used a racial epithet by accident, and I talk about getting dunked on by Alonzo Bodden. It's three dudes enjoying each other's company... pause. (Did I do that right?)

Have a listen below or go download it at iTunes. It'll do your heart good. If you don't see a player below, click on this link for the stream.

Mar. 10: Hari Kondabolu

Last week New Yorker Hari Kondabolu was in town headlining the Comedy MIX on Burrard St. so I scooped him up for a recorded conversation, which you'll hear tonight on What's So Funny? I did my best Charlie Rose impersonation (I had huge bags under my eyes) and we talked about trailblazing South Asians, rape vis-à-vis Daniel Tosh and the c-word vis-à-vis the Onion, and the Seattle comedy scene. And, of course, plenty more.

If your only timepiece is a wristwatch or old-timey clock radio, don't forget we've leapt ahead so 11 pm comes one hour earlier tonight than it did the last four months. If you forget, though, not to worry –we've got you covered. In a week (or so) it'll be available as a podcast. Meanwhile, tonight at 11 on CFRO 100.5 FM or lifestream it at coopradio.org.

This week in press releases: Anthony Jeselnik

This just arrived via the teletype machine. Anthony Jeselnik is coming to town, thanks to the good folks at Just For Laughs. I haven't seen Jeselnik's new TV show but I hear it's good. I do have his hilarious CD, Shakespeare, though. And I saw him before he really hit it big back in 2008 when he opened for Sarah Silverman at the River Rock Show Theatre. Back then, I was blown away at his great joke-writing, and the disconnect between his smiling boyish good looks and the darkness of his material. Of course, now everyone knows what to expect. But seeing it for the first time without any foreknowledge was pretty great. I got that chance to hang a bit with him the night before and then again after the show and he's a super nice guy, too. Maybe he doesn't want that image of him out there, but I think most people understand that persona on stage is just that – a persona.

ANTHONY JESELNIK

Live in Vancouver

Thursday, June 6

Montreal, Tuesday March 5, 2012 – Just For Laughs is thrilled to announce comedy sensation Anthony Jeselnik will be performing on Thursday, June 6 at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver as part of his North American Tour. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10:00 AM.

Anthony Jeselnik is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He is a stand-up comedian, most famous for The Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump and The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen.  Anthony has also performed on CONAN, Jimmy Kimmel Live and was the first ever stand-up comic to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Anthony has also written for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and received an Emmy Nomination for his work on A Night of Too Many Stars: An overbooked concert for Autism education.

Anthony was named one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch in 2008 and one of Comedy Central's Hot Comics in 2009. In 2010, Anthony released his critically acclaimed debut comedy album, SHAKESPEARE, through Comedy Central Records.

Anthony currently stars in his own show “Jeselnik Offensive” which airs on the Comedy Network.

"Jeselnik... has rapidly emerged as the Satanic prince of stand-up, a black-hearted joke-slinger with a ferocious and unstoppable will to power."  - Nathan Rabin, Head Writer - A.V. Club

"...a bad man." - Conan O'Brien

Anthony Jeselnik

Vogue Theatre

Thursday June 6, 2013 – 7:30 PM

Tickets: $25 (taxes included + facility & service charges)

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10:00 AM

In person: Vogue Theatre Box Office - 918 Granville Street

By phone: (604) 569-1144

Online: www.voguetheatre.com

For more ticket information please visit hahaha.com/concerts

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Mar. 3: Nelson Giles

Tonight I speak to comedy vet Nelson Giles for the first time. The guy's been doing comedy in this country for 23 years and is based in Vancouver yet for some strange reason I've never had a conversation with him. We met briefly once and we've had some email correspondence but never had even a shallow discussion let alone the in-depth one you'll hear tonight. I have so much respect for comedy road warriors so I'm looking forward to tonight's show. We'll hear about the comedy scene then and now, as viewed through his lens. Nelson took some time away from the spotlight but has recently climbed back on that horse. We'll find out all about it. He works clean, too, so we'll try to draw the f-word out of him at some point. In a good way, of course.

It all gets started tonight at 11 pm PST on CFRO, 100.5 FM. Or, if you'd rather, on your computer at the same time if you click coopradio.org.