Podcast episode 329ish: Godfrey

Here it is, by popular demand, the Godfrey episode, wherein the New York-based comedy veteran of 18 years sticks it to the know-it-all comedy critic. And after we get that all sorted out, we bonded over our fondness of old-timey television. We could have thrown out references all hour. Godfrey even admitted a love of Rich Little. You gotta appreciate that in a hip, modern-day comedian. He even displays a Little-like ability of impressions throughout our conversation. A modern-day George Kirby, if you will (Bing him, kids; Godfrey won't have to, though). I threw in a little 10-second musical intro. Bonus points if you can get the singer and the song without Shazaming it. I think my man Godfrey will appreciate it.

As always, there's any number of ways to access this puppy: Right here, by clicking below, subscribing to the show or downloading the episode on iTunes or PodcastLand, or... I'm sure there are other ways. You'll figure it out. I have faith in your abilities. (iTunes is always a little tardy getting the latest one up, but PodcastLand is right on top of their game.)

Oh, hey, thanks to peppermintswirl2, who gave us a rating and nice comment on iTunes a couple weeks ago. I appreciate it.

Oct. 27: Godfrey

We got a good one tonight, folks! This will go down as one of my all-time favourites. It also marks the first time we've had a one-named guest. Godfrey was headlining Yuk Yuk's last weekend and I sat down at the club to talk for an hour. And he handed it to me right off the bat, as you'll hear, calling me out for being a "so-called expert" and critic who's never performed. We got into that a bit and emerged from it to talk about black & white films and early television, doing warm-up for Bill Cosby's sitcom, and he gives some unsolicited advice to Eddie Murphy. Along the way, he does a bunch of spot-on impersonations. I edited them together and put them in a little video montage below. That'll give you a sense of what to expect tonight. Despite getting off on potentially a bad foot, when it was nearing the end, he called our conversation a "kick-ass interview." I agree. Loads of fun.

As always, we're on the air at 11 pm PT at 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're in Godfrey's hometown of Chicago, his current residence New York City, or anywhere else on the globe, you can livestream it coopradio.org. And, of course, the episode will be available in podcast form within the week.

Now enjoy a taste of our conversation through Godfrey's amazing impressions. If you're keeping track at home, those voices are David Brinkley, Snoop Dogg, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Murphy, Andrew Dice Clay, Bill Cosby, Sheldon Leonard, Howard Cosell, Muhammad Ali, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart, and Walter Cronkite:

Podcast episode 328ish: Alan Zweig

It takes us a while to get into the comedy talk in this episode, but if you're at all interested in documentary films, you won't mind. The reason I reached out to the man in the mirror – Toronto filmmaker Alan Zweig – was because his latest work, When Jews Were Funny, is filled with comedians. And he was in town. But I haven't seen the movie yet (it plays at Fifth Avenue Cinemas on Nov. 10 as part of the Jewish Film Festival here in Vancouver and I will definitely catch it), but I've seen, and loved, three of his previous movies: Vinyl, I, Curmudgeon, and Lovable (damn comma – if that looks like four films, know that the first and third films both have one-word titles). So we talked about his early unsuccessful career making features, how he stumbled into his current successful career, and why talking to old-timey Jewish comedians wasn't as fulfilling as you'd think.

It's all right here for you. Or at iTunes. Or at PodcastLand. Or fine hardware stores everywhere. Enjoy.

Podcast episode 327ish: Michael Gelbart

Here's a fun episode with me and my good buddy Michael Gelbart. We knew each other for 12 hours when we recorded this and haven't spoken since but that's the kind of guy he is. You automatically feel like you've been hanging out for years. We talked about his days as a brash young know-it-all comic, his relationship advice, why positivity is the way to go, growing up the son of a karaoke star, and the imagined hell of going through life with the name of Oprah. In the end he calls it "one of the best podcasts of all time." I concur. Heartily.

Have a listen here, on iTunes or PodcastLand. Your choice. There are others, but what am I, your mother?

Oct. 20: Alan Zweig

Zweig winning his Tiffy.

We've got a legit film maker on the show this week. Alan Zweig recently took home the Tiffy (I don't know if there's an actual name for the award but there should be) for Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival for his documentary When Jews Were Funny. That's how good it was – a documentary won for best feature, not best documentary. I haven't seen it yet but it will apparently be playing the Jewish Film Fest here in Vancouver in November. I have seen three of Zweig's other docs and I recommend each one highly: Vinyl, I, Curmudgeon, and Lovable.

When Zweig was in town for the Vancouver International Film Festival a couple weeks back, I sat down and talked over an hour with him about all his films, including his most recent one and what it's like to interview old Jewish comedians. If you haven't seen any of his highly personal docs, you've got to check them out. Here's your homework leading up to the show Sunday night: Watch Vinyl (from 2000). You won't be able to stop and you'll wish there was more. It's ostensibly about fanatic record collectors but really about Zweig. You don't even have to go looking for it; I've embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. Of course, you don't need to have seen it to enjoy our talk. Tune in at 11 pm PT to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver or livestream it at coopradio.org. And if those don't work for you, you can always wait about a week until it's released in podcast form.

Podcast episode 326ish: Dave Nystrom

When Dave Nystrom returned to his old stomping grounds from his new stomping grounds in Los Angeles, we sat down in the showroom of the Comedy MIX for a talk on all things Nystrom, from his roots in Thunder Bay, to his early luck with auditions, from the roller coaster ride of the Hollywood machine, to raising a family of three boys all under the age of seven.

This episode was almost lost. The file was corrupted and it took months before we got it sorted out without losing a second of the conversation. Celebrate by listening below or downloading at iTunes or at PodcastLand. (iTunes always seems to be a day or so late in getting the most recent episode up but this one is already available at PodcastLand and probably elsewhere.)

Oct. 13: Michael Gelbart

Michael Gelbart (Jennifer Elizabeth photo)

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm glad I've got tonight's episode in the can because I'm going to be tripping on tryptophan after a big turkey dinner. I spoke to Montreal-raised, Toronto standup comic now residing in Los Angeles, Michael Gelbart. Perhaps you've seen him on Speaker's Corner... No, wait, there's got to be a more current credit... Got it: Open Mic with Mike Bullard... No, hang on. Yes, here it is: Late Night with Craig Ferguson. And here's a piece of trivia for you: Gelbart – born in Montreal, you'll recall from four sentences ago – is the only Canadian comic who's appeared on an American late-night talk show who has never performed at the Just For Laughs festival. Go figure! We talk about that, as well as all sorts of other stuff. And Michael is his inimitable ebullient, funny and positive self.

Show starts at 11 pm PT on CFRO, 100.5 FM, in Vancouver. Livestream it at coopradio.org. Or wait a week for the podcast to drop. Your call.

Podcast episode 325ish: Brian Regan

Brian Regan is a busy man, jetting all over the place doing theatre gigs. He was in California the night before he came to Vancouver a few weeks ago, then the following night was off to Alaska. And still he made time for What's So Funny?! What a guy! Okay, we didn't get the full hour but we'll take it. Regan invited us backstage just prior to his show and we snuck in an extra four minutes. Over the course of 34 minutes, we talked about his pre-show rituals, his experience on Arsenio, unintentionally borrowing from Dennis Wolfberg, his multiple university degrees, and an idea for an invention. Interspersed throughout are clips from his standup act. If you're a Regan fan, you've heard all these routines before. But if you're a Regan fan, you can listen to these bits over and over again and laugh each time. I suppose if there were a real clamouring for it, I could always release the interview uninterrupted.

As always, you can click here, download at iTunes or check us out at PodcastLand.com. You've got options.

Oct. 6: Dave Nystrom

It's been a long, long time since Dave Nystrom has visited us. Nine years, in fact. He was last here in studio with Patrick Maliha in 2004. But this time he's all alone so he actually gets a word in. (Ah, but we kid Fatty!) I always think of Nystrom as a Vancouver guy because he got his start here. But he grew up (with Maliha) in Thunder Bay and now makes his home in sunny Los Angeles, California. We catch up with him about life in the big city, acting, writing, standup, and kids. We recorded this in the summer. The file was corrupted somehow but we eventually got things working and it's presented tonight in all its glory.

Show starts at 11 pm PT at CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. Or you can livestream if you like at coopradio.org. Or failing that, you can always wait a week and download the podcast. That's a service we provide to you free of charge!

Podcast episode 324ish: Ryan Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton ventured outside the comforts of his own hotel room, where we last caught up with him, to be with us in studio in the Downtown East Side. The Ashton, Idaho native (pop: 999) was brave, though – he's lived in New York City for a while now so nothing phases him. We talked about his respect for teachers which is so extreme he still does whatever he's told by them to this day, being a non-hockey-playing Ryan Hamilton and one of many other Ryan Hamiltons, how the teetotaller pedals booze for a living, and his fond memories of his missionary position.

Download the episode at iTunes or wherever you download fine podcasts. I found this site last week. It's called Podcastland and you can even vote for your favourite podcast of the week (hint, hint). And, of course, it's posted here, too, for your convenience.