Podcast episode 378ish: Ryan Hamilton

Here's a different episode. It's a low-grade Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, only there's only one comedian and no coffee. But we are in a car for the duration of the episode. It's a first for us. The Lynn Shawcroft episode was recorded in the same car, but we were parked. This time, with Ryan Hamilton, we're driving all throughout Vancouver as we discuss what's in Ryan's brain and what we see outside the window. Part discussion, part travelogue. He talks about his Norman Rockwell-like upbringing in Idaho, which may explain his 1950s look. We debate how hard Drew Carey works. He reveals who his best roommate was (hint: it's a well-known comedian). He rues retelling jokes on the same show. I teach him a useful lesson about the UK should he ever perform over there. And he opens up about his standard post-interview regrets after recording a podcast. So join us for the ride!

You can hop on board right here by clicking that gizmo you see below. If you don't see the gizmo, don't panic. Take a deep breath and switch servers. Or go download the episode and/or subscribe to the podcast at iTunes or Stitcher or wherever fine podcasts are dispensed.

Feb. 15: Ryan Hamilton

Found Ryan Hamilton on the road and offered him a ride.

We've got a What's So Funny? first tonight. Our guest, Ryan Hamilton, has been with us twice before – once from his hotel room and once from the studio. So how could we spice things up this time? We got in the car and drove around the city, talking all the way through it. We think it was legal. There were no fender-benders anyway. And you get a bit of observations out the window along with the talk of the life and times of the Idaho-born New York-based standup comic. We didn't get coffee, though, because that would have been a copyright infringement. So come along for the ride!

We're on the air from 11 to midnight on Co-op Radio 100.5 FM in Vancouver. You can, as always, livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 324ish: Ryan Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton ventured outside the comforts of his own hotel room, where we last caught up with him, to be with us in studio in the Downtown East Side. The Ashton, Idaho native (pop: 999) was brave, though – he's lived in New York City for a while now so nothing phases him. We talked about his respect for teachers which is so extreme he still does whatever he's told by them to this day, being a non-hockey-playing Ryan Hamilton and one of many other Ryan Hamiltons, how the teetotaller pedals booze for a living, and his fond memories of his missionary position.

Download the episode at iTunes or wherever you download fine podcasts. I found this site last week. It's called Podcastland and you can even vote for your favourite podcast of the week (hint, hint). And, of course, it's posted here, too, for your convenience.

Sept. 22: Ryan Hamilton

Little change of plans tonight, folks. I had originally planned on running an interview I did recently with Brian Regan. Then later this week I'm heading over to Victoria for the second annual Blue Bridge Comedy Festival where I'd record an episode with Ryan Hamilton. But when I heard Ryan was in Vancouver and not sailing to the island until Tuesday, I thought we should have him in the studio to get the full What's So Funny? experience. And he agreed. Ryan has opened for Brian Regan so it all works out. We'll play Brian next Sunday and it'll be like Ryan opening for him again.

If you don't know Ryan, you should check him out. He's hilarious. You should have heard the compliments coming from everyone exiting the Comedy MIX last night, where he headlined the weekend. He's been on Conan, Last Comic Standing, and been featured in Maxim magazine. And tonight, he's all ours.

Tune in around 11 pm PT (I can never remember if it's Standard or Daylight but I know it's Pacific) to 100.5 FM in Vancouver or livestream the show at coopradio.org.

This is what it's all about

I've said all along how I love having two professional comedy clubs in the city (and three if you include Lafflines in New West). This weekend really drives that point home. Check out this rundown:

The Comedy MIX, 1015 Burrard St, in the Century Plaza Hotel & Spa

Ryan Hamilton: tonight & tomorrow at 8:00 and 10:30 each night
You might not know him by name. You may not even know him by face. But he's hilarious. I first saw him on Last Comic Standing, where he progressed quite far. Since then I've seen what he can do live numerous times (and will be back for more on Saturday night). He's the total package: great delivery, naturally funny looks and strong writing.




Yuk Yuk's, 2837 Cambie St, at 12th
Norm Macdonald: tonight and tomorrow at 8:00 and 10:30 each night
You know him by name. You know him by face. He's also hilarious. He's perhaps best known for his 3-year turn behind the Weekend Update desk on Saturday Night Live, his various TV projects and movies, but he's always been first and foremost a stand-up comic. He's also just about the perfect late-night talk show guest ever. The last time he played Vancouver he was at the 950-seat River Rock Show Theatre so the chance to see him in an intimate nightclub is one you shouldn't pass up.

Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way
Russell Peters: Saturday at 8:00
A true Canadian superstar. There aren't many comics who can perform in sold-out arenas but he's been doing it for years after graduating from theatres by way of clubs. If you're like me and skeptical of the comedy experience in such a cavernous venue, fear not. It's not like the old days when Steve Martin was driven out of the scene. The sound is great and there are two huge screens to watch if you find yourself in the cheap seats.

Lafflines, 530 Columbia St., New Westminster
Simon King: tonight at 9:30, Saturday at 9:00
Simon's one of the many local comics who flies under the radar in their own hometown but who destroys on stages all over the country. His frenetic pacing leaves crowds breathless as he rails about stupidity and injustice. It's amazing how fast his mind works. And his mouth.




So you see, there's lots to choose from. And you can have your cake and eat it, too. With the exception of Peters, every other comic is on multiple times so you can work your schedule around catching all of them, if you want, especially given that both Hamilton and Macdonald also played on Thursday night.

As I said before, it's a good time to be a comedy fan in Vancouver.

Nov. 13: Ryan Hamilton (repeat)

I'm away this week so we're running a repeat. Er, I mean a special encore presentation. There have been some really fun shows lately so it was hard to choose one. I decided to make it semi-timely. Ryan Hamilton is playing the Comedy MIX this weekend (and I'd totally be there if I were in town because the guy is hilarious). When he was here back in February, I dropped by his hotel room and recorded a show with him. So that's what we're running tomorrow night. You can go down to the 8 or 10:30 show at the MIX tonight, laugh at his jokes, then tune in on Sunday night at 11 to learn about the man behind the jokes and funny face. Oh yes, we talk about his face. Enjoy. We're back next Sunday with a live in-studio show when Jason Bryden drops by. Then the following Sunday we've got the legendary Bob Robertson back in studio!

Podcast episode 221ish: Ryan Hamilton

As the blurb I wrote for iTunes says about this particular episode, "Ryan Hamilton, best known for his two turns on NBC's Last Comic Standing, has a face made for comedy. And, luckily, an act to match. You can't see the mug on this podcast, but we talk about it. That, and a whole lot more, such as why the press insists on commenting on said visage and the fact he works clean and happens to be Mormon." I think that about sums it up.

Have a listen. Here or at iTunes.

Feb. 20: Ryan Hamilton

Sorry about the false alarm earlier. We had scheduled Dino Archie for tonight but no sooner had I posted the info did I get an e-mail from Dino saying he had to cancel. That's show biz.

I've got a pretty good episode in the can, though, I was saving for a rainy day. Well, here's that rainy day (metaphorically speaking). On Friday I recorded an hour-long interview with Idaho native and New York resident Ryan Hamilton, who was headlining the Comedy Mix this past weekend. You may remember Ryan from two seasons of NBC's Last Comic Standing. Or maybe you read about him in Rolling Stone, where he was named (in a piece titled, appropriately, What's So Funny?) one of five new comics to watch. Or maybe you saw him at the Vancouver comedy festival last fall. Or maybe it was at the Just For Laughs comedy tour.

We sat in his hotel room and talked about his life in comedy, his unique look, comedy competitions, why he performs clean, and his private life. So there you go. Hot off the presses.