Podcast episode 503ish: Brett Martin

Brett Martin is hot but the levels are hotter! Something was/is amiss at the radio station when Brett guested with guest host Sam Tonning, but while a bit distorted, the show is listenable. So give it a shot! They tried so hard! Brett and Sam have a long history together and it shows in this episode. Sam, who is regular host Guy MacPherson's manservant was first (and continues to be) Martin's right hand man on the Brett Martin Show, a live talk show held every month at Yuk Yuk's in Vancouver.

Click on the link below or download on iTunes or Stitcher.

Podcast episode 434ish: Brett Martin

Brett Martin's talk show premiered at Yuk Yuk's on Sunday, September 11, i.e. before we recorded this episode. But I believe it'll be a monthly show so you can still check it out. And if the next one is anything like the first, get your tickets early. The place was packed! I was impressed with the show. It had everything you want in a talk show: a band, a sidekick, crummy monologue jokes, prepared bits, and interesting guests (an Olympic bronze medalist, a comedy reviewer – ahem! –, a freak show, a comedian, and a wrestler). Good times.

But I'm here to talk about this latest podcast episode. Sure, we talked about the upcoming (now past) talk show, but we also talked about Brett's varied career. Did you know he ran for mayor of Calgary when he was in his early 20s? He also worked at the Calgary Sun despite not graduating from high school. And we end with a Trivial Pursuit smackdown. More good times.

Here's the episode in its sweet entirety. You can also go download it at iTunes or Stitcher and the like.

Aug. 28: Brett Martin

Brett Martin first (and last) was on What's So Funny? in 2009 when he first moved to Vancouver, if memory serves. He's back. The guy tours all over Canada doing standup. In September he's hosting a live talk show at Yuk Yuk's on Cambie with sidekick Sam Tonning. Only tonight I'll be asking the questions. See how he likes that. And I'll probably ask him some of the questions I asked back seven years ago because memory doesn't always serve.

We're on the air on 100.5 FM in Vancouver tonight at 11 pm. You can livestream us at coopradio.org or your TuneIn Radio app. So listen, why don't you?

Podcast update

Three good ones to while away the hours. Listen here or download at iTunes:

Brett Martin, from November 9, 2008:


Byron Bertram, from November 16, 2008:


Pearce Visser, from October 11, 2009 (with guest hosts Shaun Stewart & Eric Fell):

Aug. 23: Brett Martin... from somewhere

We are back with a live guest this week, who may or may not be in studio. Brett Martin headlined in Halifax this week and was due to fly home today. But there's a bit of a breeze in the maritimes, it seems, so he may be stuck there. If so, he's offered to be our storm correspondent and we'll talk to him via telephone for the hour. It'll be 3-4 a.m. his time, but he's a comic. That's nothing for him.

UPDATE: Just got a call from Brett in Halifax. Turns out the storm was not the monster everyone predicted. The bad news is he'll be flying out and won't arrive home until 11:30ish. But he will call in when he arrives and talk about the new monthly show he's starting next Sunday night. We'll play some more comedy clips while we await his call.

November 9: Brett Martin

Tonight What's So Funny? welcomes Winnipeg's own Brett Martin. Or is he Calgary's own? Whatever he is, he's Vancouver's own Brett Martin now. What else do I know about the man? Not much, other than he has a dormant blog that looks exactly like our blog, complete with the Converse star in the corner. His blog, though, is really good. I wish he'd update it, but reading past entries is entertaining enough. I'll link you to it but don't get all confused when you see the almost identical layout. His came first. And while our blog might not be as good, it certainly is more current.

Seriously, that's about all I know about Brett. I've seen his standup act once and was impressed. But I'll do my due research before airtime and we'll have lots to talk about, don't you worry. It'll be a riveting hour, believe you me. So tune in. I know I will.

The hour will cap an interesting weekend of comedy. It started with Joe Rogan and Ari Shaffir at the Red Robinson theatre in Coquitlam. Some very funny stuff, too many dick jokes for my liking, and way too many yahoos screaming shit out. Then Saturday night I caught Bob Newhart at the River Rock. His opener was the Jack Stafford Big Band. I love jazz and big band music, and they were great, but I just find it an odd pairing. It's like my worlds colliding.

It was my third time seeing Bob. I feel I can call him Bob because I've interviewed him three times and he's just so nice and accomodating. His show isn't hilarious. I know many people who've gone to his show all excited and came away disappointed, but he is what he is. Warm and gentle and humorous. He stammers out street jokes, but makes them his own, and throws in one classic bit for old time's sake (this time it was Sir Walter Raleigh Introduces Tobacco to Civilization). Not hilarious or groundbreaking, but like that funny, but low-key, uncle you have.

Great comedy coming up this week, too. On Friday it's Louis CK at the Vogue, the Just For Laughs comedy tour at the Centre and Dame Edna at River Rock. She's also there on Saturday. And the weekend ends when we welcome Byron Bertram back to the studio.

I'll try to have something on Louis CK for you in a day or two, so check back when you get a chance.

The people have spoken

You know, when we put this little blog together, we had no idea people would actually read it religiously. In the ocean of blogs on the internet, why should our humble offering stand out? I don't know, but apparently it's hit a bit of a chord with the masses if our survey is any indication. We asked how you, the reader, stumbled across this blog and you answered in spades. A whopping 66 percent of you admitted you followed a link to arrive on our page. Not only that, but 33 percent of you found us after we directed you here. What can we say? We are humbled. To know that 99 percent of you are not only regular readers but took the time to answer our survey, well, I'm tearing up. Look for more surveys in this space (or the space to the right, anyway). You have spoken. It's an awesome responsibility we face knowing so many of you are reading.

The show booked three more comics today. Kevin Foxx will be joining us the first Sunday in November, and Brett Martin on the 9th of November. And Patrick Maliha will be taking a break from CFUN to slum it with us on the 23rd. We had a great conversation with Paul Myrehaug last night. I'll let you know when the podcast gets uploaded in case you missed it. Next week is my Victoria homeboy, and current neighbour, Chris Molineux. Check out some of his videos in our margin and tune in on Sunday.

Hey, who wants to be the first to leave a comment? Don't be shy. It'll be historical. It's up to you whether it's hysterical.