Podcast episode 571ish: Darren Frost

Darren Frost is back for his sixth pony ride. The Toronto-based (well, Barrie-based now) comic was first with us way back in 2006 and we managed to get him on the show every year or two after that. Well, until 2014, which was his previous appearance. But he joined us in the Isolation Studios from his home in snowy Barrie. Darren was all set for his biggest and last cross-Canada tour when a nasty virus put the kibosh on that. We talked about his distaste of crowd work, what advice he'd give to young Darren, his kids' opinion on his work, cartoon voices, dark humour, and Hairspray. He's recently released his seventh album, aptly titled "Story Yelling." And he, Dave Martin and Kathleen McGee have rebooted their old podcast Anything Goes.

Take a listen, why don't you? Click below or, better yet, go download us at your favourite podcast site.

Nov. 30: Darren Frost

Hey there, radio fans. Tonight we've got Darren Frost with us on What's So Funny? Or at least, we're airing the episode he recorded a couple weeks ago. And, in fact, the episode we dropped as a podcast yesterday. So it's out there and you don't have to wait up to 11 pm to hear it if you don't want. But I know some people love the warm crackle of a radio. This is for them. It's Darren's fifth time on the show, but this one's my favourite. Don't know why. And I'm not just saying that to get you to listen. But please do.

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver on CFRO 100.5 FM. If the streams are working, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 310ish: Darren Frost & Kenny Robinson

This is no April Fool's joke. I really did talk to Darren Frost and Kenny Robinson. And we really did air it on the radio eight days ago. And this really is the podcast of that show. It clocks in at a cool 1 hour 18 minutes and change. But there were two guys with lots to say. They were in Vancouver performing their Rank & Vile show but this interview is neither rank nor vile. These are two family men, after all.

Have a listen here, at comedycouch.com, or do what millions of others do (with other podcasts) and download the episode at iTunes or another podcast server.

Mar. 24: Darren Frost & Kenny Robinson

Darren Frost

Kenny Robinson

Darren Frost and Kenny Robinson have each been on What's So Funny? before. Solo, though. Tonight, they join us as one. Together again for the first time. Frost and Robinson brought their Rank & Vile Comedy Tour to Vancouver a week or so ago so I took the opportunity to catch up with them. Topics covered: getting fired from cruise ships, dissatisfied comedy club patrons, their contentious first encounter, regrets, wives and ex-wives, and how to book a role on a TV sitcom through Twitter. If you want to make a drinking game of it, take a swig every time Kenny drops one of his patented musical references. Warning: you'll be hung over for work tomorrow.

It all get underway at 11 pm PST (or thereabouts) on CFRO, 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're outside the lower mainland, check in via livestream at coopradio.org. That'll do the trick. It runs a little longer than usual but it's well worth it.

Three new podcasts

Are you jonesing for some new What's So Funny? podcasts? No? Tough, we got three new ones for you anyway. As always, you can listen to them right here, over at the Comedy Couch, on your favourite podcast server, or on iTunes. (Thanks to Raegan Birch for getting these up the night before her big trip to Europe.)

The first, and to date only, appearance of Paul Myrehaug, from October 5, 2008:


The third appearance of Darren Frost, from October 26, 2008:


The second appearance, but first solo appearance, of Erica Sigurdson, from November 2, 2008:

October 26: Darren Frost

I don't know how many of you caught last week's two-hour Lenny Bruce extravaganza, but I personally learned something. I learned that I like Lenny Bruce. Not the reputation or the legend or the "importance" of Lenny Bruce, but Lenny Bruce the comedian. Who knew? While not all of his stuff translates to modern ears, much of it does. Thanks to Steve Bowell for putting together a great show.

I saw three former What's So Funny? guests at Yuk Yuk's tonight. Dan Quinn hosted, Darcy Michael featured, and Darren Frost headlined. It was a strong show throughout, I thought. I heard new - and funny - material from all three comics, which is always a plus for someone who sees as much comedy as I do.

The Toronto-based Frost always makes the time to do our little show each time he passes through Vancouver. This week is no exception. And what a fitting follow-up to last week's program because Frost certainly inhabits the spirit of Lenny Bruce. Their styles are nowhere near similar, but Frost, like Bruce, likes to take the audience to places that they maybe don't want to visit. He has progressive views that certainly no one would get offended by, yet he approaches the topics (from Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears to gay bashing and the Greyhound bus beheader) sideways, which occassionally lands him in hot water. Okay, more than occassionally. I think he likes that, though. It gives him one more thing to vent about. We'll ask him all about it on Sunday.

Next week, one of my all-time favourite Vancouver comics, Kevin Foxx. Looking forward to that one.

THIS JUST IN: The Christmas corporate season just stole one of our guests. Kevin Foxx is no longer available next week so we'll reschedule him. Stay posted to this space for further developments.

Oct. 19: Lenny Bruce

What do I know about Lenny Bruce? I've got to admit, not much. Although I like the fact that at my advanced age I'm able to use the "he was before my time" line (not that that's any excuse; Socrates was before my time, too, and I love reading about him).

But we're doing a big two-hour special on Lenny Bruce on October 19 beginning at 10 pm. "We" is Steve Bowell and I. It was all Steve's idea. Steve hosts the popular Ragbag show immediately preceding What's So Funny? every Sunday night and he recently got hold of hours and hours of Lenny Bruce. Since he says he has enough for an afternoon's worth of programming, he thought it would be a good idea to do a special to launch the Fall Membership Drive on CFRO. And since it sounded like very little work from my end, I agreed. And I figured I might learn something.

As a youth in the 1980s, I bought a couple Lenny Bruce biographies, which I still own and haven't read, as well as a couple albums, which I listened to quickly and dismissed just as quickly. His humour, to my immature ears, didn't seem to transcend generations. I'm looking forward to being able to prove myself wrong.

Speaking of the Membership Drive, if you're a regular listener to our program, why don't you become a member of the station? It's not like we'll put you to work. The station, being community run and all, could sure use the dough. Where else are you going to hear your favourite comedians talk at length about their craft? Tell you what we'll do. You join up and we'll throw in this blog for nothing! You can sign up right here.

Next week we're back to our regularly scheduled live in-studio guests. And we've got a good one. The always controversial Toronto comic Darren Frost makes a return visit. Don't worry. He's really a pussycat.