Mar. 29: Dino Archie

Back in studio this week with a live guest (the best kind of guest, if you ask me). It's old friend Dino Archie dropping by. The eminently likeable Californian will talk about his new album, Choosy Lover, and tell us all about his recent trip to Dubai. This will be his fourth visit with us (fifth if you count the time he guest-hosted for me with Shirley Gnome as a guest), but he hasn't been on for a couple of years. It's always a fun time when Dino's here.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM and will be talking non-stop until midnight. We might take a little break to play a clip from his new album, though. Join us.

Podcast episode 381ish: Daniel Chai & Chip Ellis

Chip & Chai, the last two on the right

It's the Chip & Chai show! In this episode, The Fictionals co-founders – Daniel Chai and Chip Ellis – stop by to tell us about Improv Against Humanity, their monthly extravaganza which has recently relocated to the Vogue Theatre. Big time. It's based on a party game called Cards Against Humanity, which I hadn't heard of before. So they gave me some hands-on experience as we played a few rounds of it to determine the most horrible person in the studio. We also dug into Chip's past – he's from Oklahoma. Who knew?! And Daniel talked about making sound effects for Wayne Brady in front of a thousand people. And we each gave our karaoke go-to song.

The whole episode can be listened to right here for absolutely free. Or, for the cost of nothing more, you can go get it at iTunes, Stitcher, PodcastLand, Tunein Radio, or places like that.

Podcast episode 380ish: Jacob Samuel

Today's podcast episode marks the first time we've ever had a New Yorker contributor on the program. Our esteemed guest is young Jacob Samuel, who not only does standup around Vancouver and his hometown of Toronto, but has made it to the pages of the respected journal with his single panel comics not once but twice, proving it wasn't just a fluke the first time. We talk about what it takes to be accepted in the Big Apple big times, the one-sided feud between Vancouver and Toronto, the real purpose behind Jewish summer camps, and facing down a bull in Kenya.

Let us paint you a visual picture of his work. Just click below to your ear's content. Or go to iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein Radio, et. al., and download it for listening on the road.

Mar. 15: Paul Anthony

What time is it?! It's time for our check-in with Talent Time's Paul Anthony. I guess that doesn't roll off the tongue quite the same way as the way he starts his show, but it works for this blog. The weirdest live host in the city recently returned from a television game show hosting gig in... Austria? Apparently. I, for one, want to hear all about this. So on tonight's show I'm going to get all the details. And, of course, we'll talk about the monthly Talent Time at the Rio and whatever acting gigs he has on the books.

We're on the air at 11 pm. CFRO 100.5 FM is where we are. Join us.

Mar. 8: Daniel Chai & Chip Ellis

Improv is nice family, friendly entertainment... or so I thought until I took in Daniel Chai's Improv Against Humanity once. Yowza! Don't bring the kids, folks. It's a wickedly fun concept based around the game Cards Against Humanity. If you don't know what that is, you're just going to have to tune in tonight as we talk to both Chai and Chip Ellis, one of the mainstays of The Fictionals. IAH is just one of the many shows the troupe does. It started out at Cafe Deux Soleil, moved on up to a regularly sold-out show at the Rio Theatre, and they now find themselves at the Vogue Theatre. We'll talk about all that and more tonight.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. Or you can stream us at coopradio.org. That's the new time, don't forget. These days all our devices automatically put our clocks ahead, but in case you're going by the microwave oven, we lost an hour last night. Make the adjustment.

Video taste: Craig Northey & Brent Butt

Here's another in a series of video morsels. This one is a mash-up of Craig Northey, who guests a couple weeks ago, and Brent Butt, from his first appearance in 2005. We're discussing the correct way to pronounce Corner Gas. Is there a correct way? Watch this 2-minute clip and find out.

Podcast episode 379ish: Craig Northey

This was a fun episode. Craig Northey isn't a comedian but he's had his hand in a lot of comedy. The rock'n'roller has worked extensively with Kids in the Hall (collectively and individually) and Brent Butt, with forays into Norm Macdonald and Cheech Marin. He's been in a lot of bands, too, and they all get a mention here, especially Odds (sans definite article). In this episode, I mentor Northey on the correct pronunciation of Corner Gas and his own name. And he talks about his old days at the Roxy, speaks of his love for Abbott & Costello, his unlove for Odds hit Heterosexual Man, and how his vocabulary was aided by his old boss, Warren Zevon.

So do have a listen, won't you? Stream it below or download the episode at iTunes or Stitcher or whatever your preference is for podcast servers.

This week in press releases: Joel McHale

Remember Almost Live! out of Seattle? One of its stars was Joel McHale, now a star in a bigger world from Community and before that, The Soup. But let's all take a moment to reflect on his beginnings:

Now look at him. He's finally made it to This Week in Press Releases on the What's So Funny? blog. Good for him. He's coming to town. No doubt he's been here many times on his own, but this time he's performing. And at the Orpheum yet. He's done good. Very good.

COMEDIAN AND STAR OF THE SOUP AND COMMUNITY

LIVE IN VANCOUVER

@ THE ORPHEUM

SUNDAY, MAY 10

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10 AM!

Montreal, Tuesday March 3, 2015 – Just For Laughs is thrilled to announce that comedian and actor Joel McHale will be dishing his wit to Vancouver audiences on Sunday, May 10 at the Orpheum as part of a three city visit to Western Canada.   McHale has won over fans with his outrageously funny jabs at pop culture and current events on E!'s The Soup, and with his performance on the cult comedy Community which will move to Yahoo! starting March 17 after five years on NBC.

McHale was most recently seen in the supernatural thriller Deliver Us From Evil and appeared in Blended alongside Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.  Other film credits include Seth MacFarlane’s comedy smash TED, What’s Your Number?, Spy Kids: All The Time in The World and The Informant.  In addition to performing stand-up for sold-out crowds across the country, McHale headlined the 2014 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and hosted a Just For Laughs gala at the Montreal Festival in 2012 to great success.

“He is a quipster in a class all his own…invariably leaves crowds convulsing.”

- Bill Brownstein, Montreal Gazette

Joel McHale Live!

The Orpheum

Sunday, May 10 – 7:30 PM

Tickets: $55.50, $45.50 and $35.50 (taxes included + facility & service charges) 

go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10:00 AM

in person: Ticketmaster

by phone: (855) 985-5000

online: www.ticketmaster.ca

For more ticket information please visit http://www.hahaha.com/joel

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Podcast episode 378ish: Ryan Hamilton

Here's a different episode. It's a low-grade Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, only there's only one comedian and no coffee. But we are in a car for the duration of the episode. It's a first for us. The Lynn Shawcroft episode was recorded in the same car, but we were parked. This time, with Ryan Hamilton, we're driving all throughout Vancouver as we discuss what's in Ryan's brain and what we see outside the window. Part discussion, part travelogue. He talks about his Norman Rockwell-like upbringing in Idaho, which may explain his 1950s look. We debate how hard Drew Carey works. He reveals who his best roommate was (hint: it's a well-known comedian). He rues retelling jokes on the same show. I teach him a useful lesson about the UK should he ever perform over there. And he opens up about his standard post-interview regrets after recording a podcast. So join us for the ride!

You can hop on board right here by clicking that gizmo you see below. If you don't see the gizmo, don't panic. Take a deep breath and switch servers. Or go download the episode and/or subscribe to the podcast at iTunes or Stitcher or wherever fine podcasts are dispensed.

Mar. 1: Jacob Samuel

We've got a first-timer on the show tonight. A young tyke by the name of Jacob Samuel. He does standup comedy. He has (or had, we'll find out tonight) a podcast called Jacob Talks to Girls. And he's got a book of single panel cartoons, one of which, I understand, made it into the venerable New Yorker magazine, and many of which can be found here.

Tune in tonight, why don't you, and we'll get to know the punk kid. We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. You can livestream us at coopradio.org.