Podcast episode 476ish: Charlie Demers

We're coming fast and furious with the podcast episodes now. Here we've got comedian Charlie Demers (aka author Charles Demers), who was last with us way back in 2010. We got caught up on his latest news, the most recent of which was the release of his first comedy album, Fatherland on 604 Records. We also spoke of his love of voice-over acting, and his frustrations with same. He plays the slug Walter on Netflix's Beat Bugs. Along the way, we talk about anxiety, Herr Jordan, Humphrey Bogart's Twitter feed, and steam & sauna rooms.

It's a rollicking good time so why don't you do yourself a favour and listen. Either right here, or go on off to iTunes or Stitcher or Podbay or TuneIn Radio.com or wherever.

Nov. 26: Charlie Demers

Charlie (aka Charles) Demers has been with us twice before but not since 2010. So it's time he came back. I'm surprised we can get him because he's one busy feller. At least it seems that way. He's got books coming out the ying-yang, is seemingly on every other episode of CBC's The Debaters, is the voice of a slug on the animated Netflix series Beat Bugs and does another voice for My Little Pony, co-hosts a podcast that involves reading, of all things, and he just released his first ever standup comedy album. I got winded just writing all that. The album is called Fatherland and is on 604 Records. We'll play a track from it on the show tonight, promise. And we'll talk to Charlie about what he does in his free time.

We're on the air, as usual, at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM here in Vancouver. You can livestream us at coopradio.org or listen via the TuneIn Radio app.

Comedy extravaganza at Pat's Pub, Nov. 22

You're here so I assume you love comedy. Well, have I got a deal for you! Mark November 22 in your calendars. Not only is it the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, but it's also the night of a thousand stars. Or six, anyway. CFRO, Vancouver co-op radio, is holding a fundraiser at Pat's Pub and Brewhouse (home of cheap and delicious beer and eats) and you're invited! For the low, low cost of $10 (plus $1.59 for Eventbrite's troubles), you can get yourself a ticket to the extravaganza featuring six of Canada's top headlining standup comedians, plus the music of James Danderfer and the What's So Funny? Orchestra, and Eric Cottrell of She Was The Law.

Let's run down the line-up for you if you're not sold on it already. What do these comics have in common, besides being hilarious? You guessed it, they've each guested on What's So Funny? on co-op radio over the years. Here, in alphabetical order, is who you'll see:

Dino Archie. This Fresno, California, native is practically a local given the amount of time he spends up here at his home-away-from-home. Vancouver fans have come to love his infectious enthusiasm and "simply dope" comedy. In June, Dino brought in a couple of his comedy brethren from Los Angeles and Toronto, added in Ivan Decker, and packed the Vogue Theatre on the strength of his brand.

Graham Clark. The bearded wonder spent the summer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where his show garnered great reviews like this and this. A four-time nominee at the Canadian Comedy Awards and co-winner twice for his podcast Stop Podcasting Yourself. In 2008, Graham pocketed $25,000 as the winner of the Great Canadian Laugh-Off in Toronto. He's appeared on HBO's Funny as Hell series. Zach Galifianakis (of Hangover fame) calls him, "A really great comic... I wish more people knew of him." And that's not a made-up quote!

Ivan Decker. The Georgia Straight called the boyish(-looking) Decker "a real star in the making." Yes, I wrote that. And I stand by it. He never ceases to amaze and amuse with his smart(-aleck) observations. Decker has played the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal and this past summer performed at JFL42 in Toronto. Maybe you saw him opening for Brent Butt at the River Rock Show Theatre. In 2011, Ivan won the Vancouver Comedy Showdown.

Charlie Demers. CBC radio listeners are familiar with Demers through his numerous appearances on The Debaters. But that's just one aspect of this multi-faceted performer. He's the author of the novel Prescription Errors and the book of essays Vancouver Special. Charlie's latest gig is as adjunct new media studies professor in the creative writing depart of UBC, but don't let that scare you off. The 32-year-old doesn't lecture when he's on stage telling jokes.

Shirley Gnome. The voice of an angel, but her lyrics are anything but angelic. The naughty songstress sings hilariously filthy c*untry songs. Shirley won the 2012 People's Champ of Comedy award, which was accompanied by a cheque for a cool $20,000. This past summer Shirley took her act on the high road, all the way sunny Scotland where her performances drew raves (and more raves, and still more) at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest.

Erica Sigurdson. One of the most prolific comics in the country. Sigurdson never ceases to impress me with her constantly changing act. No wonder she holds the record for most appearances on CBC's The Debaters. The woman knows how to write. Erica has performed all over the world, from Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan (during a rocket attack, yet!) to Alert, Nunavut, the northernmost permanently people place on the planet. She's played in every province and comedy festival in this country. Plus, she won a Leo Award for Best Comedy Screenwriting.

What a winner of a show! If you get your tickets online at eventbrite.ca, not only will you be saving yourself money (tickets are 12 bucks at the door), but you'll be entered into a draw for prizes, such as passes to the two premier comedy clubs in town, the Comedy MIX and Yuk Yuk's. And you'll be helping co-op radio, which relies on memberships and donations from its listeners to keep on keeping on.

Episode 182ish: Charlie Demers

We had a good visit with Charlie Demers a couple weeks ago. We talked about his novel, his book of essays, and being fired from City News among other things. If you missed it, it's here for your enjoyment. It's also over at iTunes, if that's the way you roll. Also enjoy the photo I snapped of him in the studio. I keep meaning to do that every show but to date, he remains the only one I've captured.

February 21: Charlie Demers

You know him from the CityNews List. You know him from his numerous appearances on CBC's The Debaters. You know him from his stand-up comedy. You know him from his novel, The Prescription Errors. You know him from his book of essays, Vancouver Special. You know him from rabble-rousing political rallies. Or maybe you don't know him at all. But you should. He's a very funny guy and altogether too damn smart for his own good. Charlie Demers (aka Charles) is our guest tonight. It's been a while. But lots has gone on since his last visit (see preceding sentences) so we'll have plenty to talk about.

Bee's Knees Comedy Arrangement video

Monday night is my basketball night. For another few weeks, anyway. So I missed most of the big opening night of the Bee's Knees Comedy Arrangement at the Cellar jazz club. I got there as headliner Jamie Hutchinson hit the stage. There was a decent-sized crowd and the room, as I keep telling you, is really great. And Jamie was en fuego. Made me wish I had been there all night.

But now, through the magic of video, it's like I was. Each week on their website, they're going to show excerpts from the previous week. I love this idea. Hopefully, though, it won't keep people away, figuring they can just watch on-line. I'm sure the idea is to whet their comedic appetites, if you will, so they'll make it down to Broadway and Alma one Monday night. To that end, maybe they need to give smaller tastes of the acts, and edit them all together for some one-stop viewing. But I'm glad I was able to catch most of what I missed. Here are the first two on their page, all really funny.

City-TV superstar Charlie Demers:


Kelly "In my day" Dixon:

To watch all the other acts (minus Hutchinson, for some reason, and Dave Shumka for another reason), check out their video page. You'll see A.J. McKenzie, Paul Breau, musical act Janet Panic, Barry Greenfeld, and host Tim Rykert.