Yet another local makes good

Just last week we had news that Vancouver's Lachlan Patterson (two-time guest on What's So Funny?) made his Tonight Show debut with a solid stand-up set. This week we get news that our very own Phil Hanley (three-time guest on WSF?) will make his debut on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson tomorrow night. That'd be Friday, Feb. 18. Set your PVRs, folks. Phil is hilarious.

The Ferguson show has been kind to Vancouver comics. Todd Allen (three-time guest on WSF?) and Larke Miller (recent guest on WSF?) have both done sets on the CBS late-night talk show. (Am I missing anyone?) These are all comics you can see around town at various clubs, restaurants, bars and anywhere fine comedy is served. So often John and Jane Q. Public only get out to see celebrity comics who have been validated by the power of TV, preferably American TV. Well, they're here all around you. Go check 'em out sometime. Who will be the next?

THIS JUST IN: Uh, never mind. Phil just posted on his Facebook page this note:

"Hey everybody thanks again for all your comments. I just found out that because something unexpected happened at tonights taping my set won't air tomorrow. I'll keep you posted."

That's a shame but it doesn't change what I wrote above. We'll keep you posted when his set is due to air.

Podcasts, we've got podcasts...

We're slowly but surely catching up on the old shows and turning them into podcasts. It won't be too long before the podcast will be uploaded the week of the show. But for now, enjoy eight new/old podcast/shows:

Todd Allen from April 27, 2008:


Torben Rolfsen from August 17, 2008:


Graham Clark from September 21, 2008:


Seth Perry from January 11, 2009:


Maz Jobrani from February 1, 2009:


Sugar Sammy from February 8, 2009:


Damonde Tschritter from February 22, 2009:


David C. Jones from March 1, 2009:


And as always, you can listen to these over at the Comedy Couch and at iTunes. Your call.

Todd Allen

Yes, folks, that youngster we saw crossing home plate in 1991 was none other than Todd Allen. I had no idea who he was when I snapped that photo. Todd is one of at least five standup comics that I know of to come from my alma mater, Oak Bay High School. The others are Steve Ivings, Dr. Russ Kennedy, Jason Lamb and Kristeen von Hagen. When I was going to school, our rivals would call us Joke Bay, but for other reasons. Little did they know it was a hotbed of future comedy.

Here's little Todd making good last year on CBS's The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson:


Todd is also a three-time visitor to What's So Funny?. The last one isn't yet up on the podcast. Before that he guested in April of 2005. His first visit was with Phil Hanley was in November of 2004.

ADDENDUM: Oops, forgot James Ball, another standup comic alum of Oak Bay High. (Back then he was Jamie.)