Apr. 27: Shirley Gnome

It's been two whole months since Shirley Gnome last visited us so we're overdue for another visit... Yes, that's a quick rebooking but the dynamic will be different this time. In February I was sick and couldn't make the show so Dino Archie kindly stepped up to the mic for me. As of noon today, I'm not sneezing uncontrollably and can talk so there's a decent chance I'll be there tonight. Shirley's got a show coming up at the Vogue Theatre on May 2. Hopefully she'll play us a tune or two on her guitar, as she always does. She's rather prolific so she's got lots to choose from. We'll see if she's cleaned up her filthy, filthy act.

Tune in tonight at 11 pm to CFRO, 100.5 FM, in Vancouver. Or livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 344ish: Ross Dauk

In this episode, long-time listener Ross Dauk makes the big move up to first-time guest. He tells us that he used to listen to What's So Funny? while out alone in the woods working as a park ranger. Now Ranger Ross is a standup comic. We reminisce about the night when he spilled a full glass of beer on me at a show, he tells us that Saskatchewan – his home province – is full of babes, relives his encounters with grizzy bears in the wild, and explains how he overcame shyness. This episode is brought to you by Graham Clark's beard.

Have a listen here. It's even up at the iTunes store (that's record time for them – they obviously were getting a lot of requests for more Dauk). And, of course, you can always use Stitcher or PodcastLand, too.

Canadian Comedy Awards: Submissions are Open

Comedians, it's that time of year again. Actually, it's been that time of year for a few weeks. And it's coming to a close. If you want to submit yourself for consideration for the Canadian Comedy Awards, now's the time. If you want to save on the submission fee, get your submission in before April 23. Or if you're made of money, you've got until April 30. From all the submissions, a jury will pick the top five in each category. (You may recall What's So Funny? was in the running for Best Podcast last year, losing out to the unbeatable Stop Podcasting Yourself.)

It sure would be great to have more comedians from here in the wild west submit. Last year I believe all the standup categories were filled with Ontario comics. Don't figure it's a done deal. Western comics are just as good as Eastern ones. Even if you submit, then make the finalist list for Best Whatever, and ultimately lose to an Eastern comic, at least you can say you were a Canadian Comedy Award-nominated comedian. And that's something. So get on it. If you have management, get them to buck up for the submission. It's worth a shot.

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN
Submissions are now open for the 15th Annual Canadian Comedy Awards. To make a submission, please log in to your account, go to the Your Submission page and click Add A New Submission.
Public voters are permitted to submit to public categories. Industry voters are permitted to submit to all categories. There is no membership fee required; submission fees are listed below. 

If you do not yet have an account, please visit our Registerpage. 

Before making a submission, please review the 2014 Criteriafor the category to which you are submitting. 

** Submitters are no longer required to pay a membership fee before submitting. Updated submission fees are below. ** 

Early Bird Submission Fee: $50/submission (to April 23, 2014)
Extended Submission Fee: $75/submission (April 24-30, 2014) 

Long story short - Early Bird Submitters pay $15 less per submission, Extended Submitters pay $5 less per submission. 

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2014 CRITERIA
URGENT - 04/04/2014: We have made a change to submission video criteria in Live Format categories. Submission videos in Live Format "Artist" categories may include edits but no edit may be shorter than 30 seconds. 

Our 2014 criteria updates are now available for you to inspect and criticize! 

Most notably, we have added a new category - BEST VARIETY ACT. Clowns! Musical acts! Hypnotist! Get it together! 

Also of note, the majority of Live Format categories have had their minimum runtimes reduced from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. So middlers and short-form improv troupes - Get. It. Together! 

And finally, remember that Membership fee that some of you resented having to pay? Gone! 

If you paid for a 2014 membership, we will be contacting you shortly to determine if you want it refunded or applied as credit to a 2014 submission.
Click here to view our 2014 criteria. 

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VOTER / SUBMITTER REGISTRATION
Voter/Submitter registration for both public and industry voters is open year-round. Registration is open to all Canadians.
Click here to register.

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Apr. 13: Donovan Patrick Mahoney

Top o' the afternoon to you! Tonight we've got first-time What's So Funny? guest Donovan Patrick Mahoney and it's not even St. Patrick's Day. Well, that's okay because he's not even Irish; just his name is. Mahoney is First Nations and he's got stories to tell. A standup comic, photographer, former homeless heroin addict, and survivor, the guy must be part cat because it seems he's had nine lives. He's fresh off a new hip and he's on his way to Cuba tomorrow so we caught him at a good time. We'll hear his fascinating story tonight at 11 on CFRO, 100.5 FM. Or you can livestream us at coopradio.org, if that's how you roll.

Apr. 6: Ross Dauk

Tonight on What's So Funny?, we've got first-timer Ross Dauk. I don't know a lot about Ross but I will after tonight. But I've known him for a year or two now. This much I know: Despite the dashing good looks, Dauk hails from Saskatchewan (no disrespect to my prairie friends). He's also a very nice young man who rides his bicycle and can do a pretty good impersonation of a horse doing dressage. And that's it. To find out more, you're just going to have to tune in tonight at 11 pm on CFRO, Vancouver Co-op Radio 100.5 FM. Or if you don't have an old-fashioned radio, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org.