Dec. 31: Jon Reep

The last day of the year brings our 36th show of 2017. Bringing us right up to the dropping of the ball, we've got a November conversation I had with American comic Jon Reep. I kept planning on running it for the past month but it kept getting pushed back due to live guests being available. So here we are, on New Year's Eve but it's just as fresh as the day we recorded it. For those who don't know, Jon is a former champeen of Last Comic Standing (I'm sure that's how they say 'champion' where he's from in Hickory, North Carolina). I won't be there live tonight as I'm far, far away where the wind chill factor is minus-42 today and I haven't been outside in three days. But the show will go on through the magic of technology. Enjoy and have yourself a merry little New Year now.

Tune in at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. Even I will tune in, if the weather hasn't frozen the internet, by livestreaming at coopradio.org or the TuneIn Radio app.

Dec. 24: Harry Doupe

We're waving goodbye to 2017 tonight. In this season of traditions, it's a What's So Funny? tradition to have on Harry Doupe. He doesn't make it every single year, but we try. This will be his eighth appearance on the old program tonight and we never run out of things to talk about. We'll be discussing the year in comedy and whatever else happens to come up in the last hour before Santa starts making the rounds. And Harry is driving in all the way from... I forget but it's beyond Chilliwack, I think. We'll find out tonight. So do him a solid and listen to the show as you're wrapping your last gifts. I'm going to run out to Shopper's Drug Mart now and start my Christmas shopping so I'll be ready for Harry tonight.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM, as always. You can livestream us from anywhere where there's the internet at coopradio.org or on the TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 474ish: Paul Anthony

Paul & I ignoring each other before the show.

Here's a little pre-Christmas treat for you: our recent episode with Paul Anthony. We started off the show talking about the most recent comedy news, much to Paul's chagrin. We also discussed Hugh Phukovsky and his urine gun, the challenges of producing the monthly Talent Time showcase, and we re-enacted a year-old Facebook Messenger conversation/argument we had. Plus we bring back the Funny or Not? segment!

So sit down and get a load off, pour yourself some eggnog (don't forget the nutmeg and rum!), put some logs on the fire, and fire up this episode. Pipe is optional. (You can also find us on iTunes, Stitcher, and most hardware stores.)

Podcast episode 473ish: Ron Vaudry

He's not a cynic; he just plays one on stage for your amusement. The Canadian standup veteran Ron Vaudry makes his second appearance on the program in this podcast episode. After 38 years in the business, you wouldn't believe what his net worth is! We discuss that, plus he tells us what made his Crash 'n' Burn show so good, how he's an equal-opportunity heckler squelcher, and we discuss some of Norm Macdonald's tweets about the early days in the Toronto comedy scene.

Have a listen, won't you? Here, there (Stitcher), and everywhere (iTunes).

Dec. 17: Ivan Decker

A young fresh-faced Decker.

Take two! A couple weeks ago, a Vancouver standup comic made his American network TV debut. Ivan Decker did a set on Conan, which is a big proverbial feather in his proverbial cap. And then we had him all set up to come on the show and talk about it... last week. But when you're a big star, big gigs fall into your lap and young Ivan had to postpone our rendezvous to go entertain Albertans in their natural habitat. But he's here with us tonight... fingers crossed! He was in town on Wednesday, I know, because I saw him performing at the Cobalt (see big gigs, above) and he reconfirmed his appearance on What's So Funny? tonight. Other Vancouver comedians have done late night talk show sets (Phil Hanley on Craig Ferguson, Lachlan Patterson on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, Darryl Lenox on Conan, Dino Archie on Jimmy Kimmel) but Ivan is the first one who's done it while still living and working in Vancouver. Because he still lives here, we can have him on our show again so he's here tonight and he's going to tell us all about his Conan experience, from how he got it, to the day of the show, to the aftermath.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM right here in foggy Vancouver town. You can livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on the TuneIn Radio app.

Dec. 3: Darryl Lenox & Garry Yuill

I don't know who I've known longer: Darryl Lenox or Garry Yuill. But I've known each for a long time. The great standup comic, Darryl Lenox, lived in Vancouver for 14 years before moving back to the United States of America, where he went on to perform on Conan and headline everywhere. Garry Yuill I knew even before he became the Vancouver franchise owner of Yuk Yuk's. How weird is that? He worked with my wife and I babysat his kid. Next thing I know he's comedy industry! Darryl has been on What's So Funny? three previous times, but only once solo. He likes company, I guess. Garry, of course, has never guested with us before. Darryl and Garry are teaming up for something I don't quite know about. I'll let them explain things tonight. It could shake things up in the Canadian comedy scene.

We're on the air in Vancouver on CFRO 100.5 FM at 11 pm. Or you could livestream us at coopradio.org. Or find us on TuneIn Radio.

Podcast episode 472ish: Shirley Gnome

I had a front row seat for the Shirley Gnome show on What's So Funny? a few weeks back. As always, Shirley arrived with guitar in hand and proceeded to entertain us for an hour. Well, we talked, too, but she even entertained then as she discussed penis art and public nudity and all that. In this hour, she played 3 or 4 songs, and we played one track off her new album, Taking It Up the Notch. Word is, her jazzy Christmas song, which we also talked about during this episode, will be out on December 8, so listen for it!

But meanwhile, listen to this. Click below or go subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes, Stitcher, Podbay.fm, or wherever fine podcasts are handed out like free candy. And if you haven't already, my right-hand man Sam Tonning has made us a new Facebook page. Go 'like' it or follow it or whatever you do with such things.