Podcast episode 451ish: Joel Plaskett

First off, happy 13th birthday to What's So Funny? On April 18, 2004, we hit the airwaves with our guests Dana Alexander and Paul Bae, with my trusty manservant Kevin Smith on the controls. Look how far we've come: Dana has been living in England for years and tours her standup all over Europe. She's also got a podcast with the apt title of Comedians of the World. Paul has retired from standup but has a very popular – and creepy – podcast called The Black Tapes. And, of course, Kevin retired from pushing buttons after ten years of service and is now in hiding.

But that was 13 years ago. What's the latest, you ask? Why, it's nationally adored singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett, aka Joe Plastic. Based in his home and native province of Nova Scotia, Plaskett junior and senior (his musician father) were on tour and playing the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver so I nabbed him on Sunday afternoon for a free-ranging chat on all things Plaskett. We discuss me fake-kissing his now-wife, plus he tells us about his mom and Jimi Hendrix, how hecklers on Twitter get him down, and his dream of driving John Candy's van across country on tour.

It's all right here for you to enjoy, if you like. Just click and the soundwaves will hit your eardrums. Or take us with you on the road. Go search for us in your favourite podcast peddler, be it iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, or what-have-you.

Podcast episode 215ish: Paul Bae

I'm slowly getting caught up around here. As proof, I offer you now the Paul Bae episode, recorded Dec. 19, 2010. There's a good 15 minutes on Paul's philosophy of religion. We also discuss why he keeps a clean desk on jobs, talk about his experience on Comedy Death-Ray years ago in Los Angeles, and what it takes to get him to cry. It was our last show of 2010, if you're keeping track at home.

Have a listen here or over at iTunes. If iTunes is your poison, you'll notice we finally got a review! Now that the ice has been broken, feel free to add your own. Good or bad.

Oh, and hey, have you checked out our upcoming line-up? We're booked solid for the next little while. We've got Talent Time's Paul Anthony this Sunday, then new Vancouver addition Larke Miller, who you might have seen on Craig Ferguson, the following week. February starts off with some of the comics from the Snowed In Comedy Tour, then American Dino Archie, dual citizen Pete Johansson, and man-about-town Johnny Scoop. And March 13th sees the return of former Great Canadian Laugh-Off $25,000 winner Paul Myerhaug. Good times!

Dec. 19: Paul Bae

Boys and girls, class is in session. Tonight, playing the part of Scrooge in our weekly radio show is stand-up comic/TV personality/high school teacher Paul Bae, who will no doubt spread a little Christmas cheer in our last episode of the year. Paul is the answer to the trivia question, Who was the very first guest on What's So Funny? in April of 2004? That was our pilot episode. Because of his good job guesting along with Dana Alexander that night, the show was picked up and we've been going strong(ish) ever since. He came back on his own one year later but that was the last we've seen of him, so we've got lots of catching up to do.

December 21: No show tonight

Looks like we're done for the year, folks. Man, it's like we live in Canada or something. I love the snow and all, but my car doesn't. Just as well since I'm still hacking and sneezing from whatever monster bug is out there. Man, if there's ever a case for homeschooling, it's that. Kids bring home the darnedest things, don't they?

So I've broken the news to Simon King, who was scheduled to be on tonight. He took it like the man that he is. Simon just got back from the Las Vegas comedy festival, I do believe. The only Vancouver comic in attendance. I'm sure he had some good stories to tell. Thankfully he was gracious enough to rebook and he'll be back on Jan. 25 (aka 11 shopping months until Christmas '09).

If you want to tune in tonight anyway, there will be a repeat... er, I mean an encore presentation. The station is going to run the Nov. 16 classic with guest Byron Bertram. It's a must-listen. And if you've already heard it, you catch so much more the second time.

Next week we were taking off anyway. The Korean language show that usually follows us will be starting an hour early in our place. That's for you, Paul Bae.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a see ya later.