Making it in America – Yakov Smirnoff

One of my favourite episodes over the years is the one when Yakov Smirnoff sat down with us in studio. He has such an interesting story: a small-time cruise ship entertainer defects from the former Soviet Union and makes it as a big star comedian in the United States of America. So many questions to ask (and I'm not sure I got to them all). This one aired in 2007. If you missed it, go back and check it out. It's still up there on iTunes or comedycouch.com. Meanwhile, here's a little video taster of it, with Yakov talking about his first jobs in America.

New vids: Brent Butt & Nate Bargatze

It's been a while since I made any video snippets. Thought I'd give it another whirl. To watch all 21, go to my YouTube channel. You'll see highlights from shows featuring, alphabetically, Dino Archie, Scott Aukerman, Steve Bays, Ryan Beil, Craig Campbell, Nikki Glaser, Gilbert Gottfried, Phil Hanley, Paul Hooper, Ken Lawson, Norm Macdonald, Marc Maron, Brian McKim, Phil Nichol, Bill Reiter, Bob Robertson, Paul Shirley, Baron Vaughn, and Glenn Wool.

The latest two are from shows in December of 2012. The first is Brent Butt talking about the most common acting direction tip he gets:



The second is Nate Bargatze talking about not getting recognized:

The Great Alcohol Debate – Nikki Glaser

With the run-away success of the Norm Macdonald video (1103 views and counting), I decided to add another video snippet to the What's So Funny? channel collection. Last night I found two minutes from the Nikki Glaser episode that was snippet-worthy and it's up on YouTube now (6 views and counting). It's our brief debate on the wonders of alcohol.

Deep shit

It's been a while since I've put together a little video. But I had some extra time today. Voila. I offer you Baron Vaughn talking about some deep shit, which also happens to be the name of his podcast. It's a breezy little exchange that touches on Darwin and nostril dominance. For the full episode, scroll down or download it at iTunes. If you want to see the full collection of video snippets, go to my YouTube channel:

Talk show hosts – Steve Bays

When Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays made his first visit to What's So Funny? last year, I got him to rank the late night American talk shows in order of fun, since he's done all the biggies. He gave us a little rundown of how the hosts operate. Here's that snippet for you set to photos. If you enjoy this taste of What's So Funny?, you might like the whole show. The catalogue is available over at iTunes and at comedycouch.com.

A taste of Hooper

The Paul Hooper episode will drop in podcast format later this week. In the meantime, here's a taste of what's to come, in case you missed it on radio. In this snippet he talks about his obsessive behaviour and how it manifests itself. A footnote to this description of his hotel check-out ritual: His OCD paid off for me. While doing his thorough search, Paul found a cord I left there during the interview.

Street jokes

Street jokes are verboten in most stand-up, but they're good fun in conversation. And in all the years of What's So Funny? we've only had one show where a street joke was told. Not only one, but three. This clip is from my trip to Las Vegas last summer. Brian McKim of sheckymagazine.com told a couple and I answered with the only one I can confidently tell (courtesy of the late Irwin Barker). Feel free to use them. They're public domain. And funny.

Catch Phrases

We're dipping into the archives for this video snippet. Phil Hanley's last visit to What's So Funny? was back in 2010 and we had lots of fun. I don't know why I find it so easy to tease him. I think because he takes it so well. In this episode, there were three excerpts I could have used, all equally fun. I chose this one for no real reason. In it, Hanley unintentionally stumbles upon a catch phrase. If you like it, there's a whole hour's worth over on iTunes. Or simply click on the hyperlink and find it lurking there somewhere.

The Voice

We're a little behind with the Glenn Wool podcast episode but it's coming soon. Promise. To whet your appetite, he's a little excerpt from that show, complete with accompanying photos. It's almost like being there.

To catch up on the 11 other video snippets, go to the What's So Funny? YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/guymac22

World's Biggest Asshole

Now who would that be? I couldn't begin to name one. But Scott Aukerman happily gave us his vote when he visited the What's So Funny? studios back in September of 2009. Run the clip, Kevin:

If you missed it the first time, you can listen to the whole episode here or download it at iTunes.

Legends – Bill Reiter

It's been a few weeks since I last did a video snippet. So here's one for you. If you haven't had the chance to listen to the episode with the legendary Bill Reiter from last May, see if this doesn't whet your whistle.

Sam's secret

This little WSF? snippet goes back to 2009 when I interviewed Marc Maron in his hotel room (using his WTF equipment). He told a secret about his old mentor Sam Kinison he'd never mentioned publicly anywhere else to that point (I haven't heard it anywhere else but I don't listen to everything so who knows?). It's not a mind-blowing secret, but it is a somewhat surprising glimpse into the genesis of Kinison's iconic primal scream.

A cautionary tale

The Snowed In Comedy Tour is almost upon us, playing at ski hills throughout BC (with stops in bigger burghs like Vancouver and Victoria along the way). Among those on the bill is former local Craig Campbell, now plying his trade in England. He's a regular on this tour. Last year he and another ex-pat, Phil Nichol, dropped by the studios and while there shared a most harrowing tale from their adventures in jolly olde London. The boys do spin a yarn. Let it be a warning for anyone should they be persuaded by Mike Wilmot to go out for a drink. If you haven't heard the episode yet, here's that story isolated. You can live vicariously through Craig and Phil. Enjoy. And you're welcome.

Podcast episode 259ish: Dino Archie and me

I had a good chat with Dino Archie. But in reverse fashion since he was the one doing the asking. Or more like grilling. He asked me about not writing enough about locals, about the perception of favouritism and if it's true I'm hard to work with. The guy's got a future when Mike Wallace retires. But it was fun.

Have a listen here or download it at iTunes. Even though I list it here as episode 259, that's not how it's listed there since they have the most recent episode as 1. So if you're coming to this after the fact, just do a search for Dino Archie. Or better yet, just subscribe to the damn thing!

Seeing as this episode was all about me, I couldn't very well make a video snippet of it. So instead I dipped into the mouldie-oldie podcast vault and pulled out a show from December 18, 2005 when Brent Butt guested. I mentioned this episode with Dino so it's somewhat relevant. It's one of my faves, too, so if you've never heard it, and you like what you see below, go download the whole thing at iTunes.

Podcast episode 258ish: Paul Shirley

Paul Shirley may not have been a force in the NBA, but at least he played in it. That makes him for the time he was there, anyway, one of the top 450 players in the world. He was also known as the funniest guy in the association. Sure, that's damning with faint praise, as we discuss in this episode, but he really is a witty – and smart – former jock. Go figure! Now he's moved on to more rewarding, if not higher paying, work as a writer. We also talk about him being beat up by Arcade Fire's frontman Win Butler and he explains his controversial essay on Haiti that led to his termination from ESPN.

Here's a little taste of the show. Then when you finish watching, you can listen to the whole thing below or download it at iTunes.

And here's the full episode:

A taste of WSF? II

It's fun making these little videos. And easy. Who knew? After the runaway success of my first effort featuring Ken Lawson (46 views and counting), and in anticipation of the return of Dino Archie this week, I thought I'd put together a little snippet of the last (and first) time he was on the show... after cancelling on me twice earlier. If you didn't hear that episode, maybe this little snippet will whet your appetite. I'll periodically go through some select past episodes and extract a nugget, add some pics, stir and post the end result here (and YouTube). Enjoy.

Audio-visual presentation

Remember back in September when I posted those photos from my humbling table tennis experience against 13-year-old Natasha Carr-Harris on Paul Anthony's Talent Time? Subsequent to that, Ken Lawson, my sorry excuse for a coach, and I rehashed the evening on What's So Funny? I decided to meld those two formats. Here's what I came up with: