Oct. 1: Randy Charach

Is he a mentalist? Is he a magician? Is he a hypnotist? Is he a comedian? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Bottom line is he's an entertainer. That covers it all. Our guest on Sunday is Vancouver-based showman shaman, Randy Charach. He's put people to sleep all over the world... No, wait, that doesn't sound good. But remember point 3 above? He's also a stage hypnotist. I am impervious, though, so I'll be sharp as a tack. I won't succumb to his dark arts. Charach is doing his thang at the Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver on Oct. 14. You can get your tix at Randytickets.com. (That picture to the right is as old as it looks. Randy doesn't don a tuxedo and top hat anymore. Nor does he carry a magic wand. But that's him and it's a great look. I hope he comes dressed like that to the radio station on Sunday!)

Sept. 24: Alex Sparling

Tonight on the program, we've got standup comic Alex Sparling. Just in time, too. I hear the comedian/actor is moving soon to the comedy hotbed of Salmon Arm Prince George, British Columbia. We'll find out why tonight. And we'll talk about his experience in Vancouver, growing up in Yellowknife, and how a brutal attack changed his life. It took us a while to find a Sunday that worked for both of us so it's probably now or never.

We're on the air at 11 pm and go until midnight. So if you're up or awake, tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're in, say, Yellowknife, try livestreaming us on coopradio.org or finding us on your TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 464ish: Oh Susanna (Suzie Ungerleider)

What's so musical, you ask? Why, this podcast episode of What's So Funny? is. Our guest is old pal Oh Susanna, who's a big star in the alt-country/roots/folk scene. Suzie Ungerleider, her nom de vie, grew up in Vancouver but has called Toronto home for over twenty years. Her latest album, called A Girl in Teen City, is all about her misspent youth in this backwater town. We talk about how she's come to appreciate everything she looked down on as a rotten teenager. And we talk about what got her into music in the first place, because back when I played on a softball team with her, I knew nothing about this burgeoning musical career. As an added bonus, I play two tracks off her new album, which you're guaranteed to love.

Oh, if you're reading this in Vancouver, she's playing the Wise Hall on October 12. If you're reading this from anywhere else, check out her tour schedule on her website. Chances are she'll be in a town near you sometime.

No go and enjoy this hour. You can click below to listen, find us on iTunes or Stitcher, or even some other podcast dispensary. Your call.

Sept. 17: Leland Klassen

Leland Klassen has been a guest with us twice before, once in 2005 and once in 2009. But in 2009, I was sick. So I haven't really talked to him at length in twelve years. As of press time, I'm feeling healthy so there's a decent chance I'll be there tonight. And not just because now he's a big-time movie star. He's just a good guy who I like talking to. There was a period a few years back where I saw him wherever in the world I went on vacation. It was like he was stalking me. We've got lots of catching up to do. Leland, a veteran standup comic, recently got the starring role in a feature film, and it's Extraordinary. I'm sure it is (it just came out and I haven't seen it yet), but that's the name of it, too. Leland plays an ultra-marathon runner. He's a tall, lanky drink of water so he looks like a runner. We'll find out if he really is one. We'll also find out what it was like to share the screen with Kirk Cameron. And lots more, I'm sure.

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver at 100.5 on the FM dial. If you're an ultra-marathoner and find yourself too far from home without your radio, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org or on TuneIn Radio and other such apps. Basically, what I'm saying is you have no excuse not to listen.

Podcast episode 463ish: Johnny Perrotta

I've known Johnny Perrotta for a long time but this was his first appearance on What's So Funny? He told us about how he moved from old Italy to the frozen tundra... well, Prince George, how he grew up worshipping Tony Manero, and about his various embarrassing acting gigs. It was our first night back in three years at our old/new studio. The levels may be a bit "hot" but whatchagonnado?

Click below for the full episode. Or better yet, subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes and it, as well as future episodes, will automatically show up in your feed like magic.

Podcast episode 462ish: Chuck Byrn

Here you go. Another podcast episode for you. This one's with former Vancouverite (but still a Vancouverite in his heart) Chuck Byrn. The veteran standup has been living in Toronto for eons but we got him on a family visit back to his home town. Great stories. Great opinions. Great voice! Listen to him tell us how he dissed Jim Carrey. Check out the stories on a vacation to Hawaii he took with Irwin Barker and Kerry Talmage. Hear how he sounded like Ian Bagg for a spell once (and the mysterious way Bagg answered his motel room door once in Victoria). Unfortunately, we lost the last two minutes but you get the vast majority of it, and it's good.

Check it out either below or on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favourite podcast server.

Sept. 10: Katharine Ferns

Katharine Ferns makes her return to What's So Funny? She's never been a guest, but she visited another guest back in 2012. She was still living in Vancouver then, but departed not long after for Toronto. A couple years there, and then she departed for England, where she's been performing standup and doing Edinburgh Fringe shows every year or two. She's back in town performing her new show, hot off a month-long run in Edinburgh. The show's called Katharine Ferns is in Stitches. She'll tell us all about it and what else she's been doing since her time here.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. If you're in, say, England, and can do the math on the time zone, you can livestream us at coopradio.org. Or on TuneIn Radio.

Podcast episode 461ish: Christina Sicoli

Here's the Christina Sicoli episode you've all been patiently waiting for. Christina loves her sleep but she managed to stay awake throughout the show. The actress/improviser's earliest credit involved sitting on a toilet. That's right, she was "Foxy Girl" in Detroit Rock City. She also tap-danced with tap master Gregory Hines. We talk about both those things and, as they say, more!

Have a listen. The last two minutes are sadly cut off for reasons beyond my control. But the bulk of our scintillating conversation is intact and here for posterity. You can click below to listen or head over to your favourite podcast dispensary. We're everywhere.

Sept. 3: Andy Cañete

Summer's over. Maybe ñot officially for a few weeks, but oñce September hits, it's always fall to me. It always feels like back-to-school. Toñight we're going back-to-Cañete. Añd I'm celebratiñg the tilde! I love the squiggly liñe over the ñ! Standup comic and actor Añdy Cañete was first with us back iñ 2015 wheñ he was doiñg his Porn & Pinochet show at the Friñge. This time, he's got a ñew one: The Cañete Chroñicles. Añdy will tell us all about it añd whatever else he's beeñ up to iñ the past two years.

Fire up your radio at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM. Or livestream us at coopradio.org. Or oñ the amazing TuñeIn Radio app, where you cañ find añy radio statioñ in the world. What a crazy time we're liviñg in.