July 9: Christina Sicoli

Tonight on your radio, we're welcoming Christina Sicoli. It's been a long time coming getting her in here but our schedules finally aligned. Her hubby, David Milchard, has been on the program a couple of times but not for years and years. But it's Christina's turn tonight. She's an actress, improviser, writer, and producer. Perhaps you've seen her in the web series Paranormal Solutions, Inc. or Convos with my 2-Year-Old. Or maybe in the TV series Supernatural or Psych. Or maybe it was her first listed credit, from 1999, when she played "Foxy Girl" in Detroit Rock City. We'll get her complete story at 11 (or whatever will fit into the hour).

Get your radios warmed up. We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. (For those without such fancy contraptions, you can always stream us online at coopradio.org or find us on the TuneIn Radio app.)

July 2: Bob Robertson Tribute

Tonight we're going to pay tribute the great Bob Robertson, who passed away in March. There was a beautiful (and hilarious) memorial service for him at Bard on the Beach on Friday afternoon, but if you didn't get there, this might help.

Bob, along with his comedy – and life – partner Linda Cullen, was a guest on What's So Funny? three times over the years: on episode 41 in 2005, then on episode 69 in 2006 (along with Trevor Devall), and again in 2011. Tonight I'm going to play clips from all three of those episodes. You'll hear Bob talking about his early days in commercial radio, the Double Exposure heyday, the live revue called the Snides of March they did on Granville Island, and his book Mayan Horror: How to Survive the End of the World in 2012. Along the way, we'll hear some old clips and he'll do some voices.

They say never meet your heroes, but Bob Robertson was an exception. He was a superstar to me growing up in Victoria. He was the funniest deejay I'd ever heard. As the weekend man on CFAX 1070 from noon to six, I'd listen all day, often with my cassette recorder poised to record one of his numerous regular segments, like Little Mansion in Oak Bay, the Moldy Oldie Music Vault, a conversation with Old Ernie (with Bob doing both parts), and always a phone call from Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (also voiced by Bob), who always condescendingly got Bob's name wrong. Bob was the best.

He went on, of course, to real fame with his wife Linda on CBC radio for 10.5 years, then over to CTV, with Double Exposure.

In the late '90s, I had a job where I had to do the daily banking. More than a few times, I saw the great Bob Robertson in the bank but he was too mythic for me to approach him. Cut to: 2004, when I started hosting What's So Funny? on Co-op radio. I figured, what the hell, I'll contact Bob and Linda and see if they'd come down to the downtown east side to do my rinky-dinky little show. I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. And they graciously accepted. They couldn't have been nicer.

Bob gave me an autographed copy of his book on their last visit to the station in 2011, but even better, knowing that I was such a big fan of his early CFAX days, he gave me a disc with a bunch of his old radio bits.

He was a great guy and he is missed.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM. You can livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on TuneIn Radio. I think it's going to be a long one, in the 90-minute range, so get a nap in!

June 25: David Beckingham

It's the first show of summer! I don't know why I'm excited. It just means the studio is going to be stinking hot. It would be hot anyway because our guest tonight is the very hot David Beckingham: singer, songwriter, pop star. David is in the fantastic indie pop band Hey Ocean! I don't know the status of this band, since he and Ashleigh Ball both have recently released solo projects, but they're playing at Canada Place on Canada Day to celebrate the country's 150th birthday. We'll find out tonight if they have plans for other shows, too. I hope so. But we'll talk about all sorts of things, as we do, like the time he couldn't speak for a month. In the meantime, check out to the two videos below: one is David as a solo artist; the other is David with Hey Ocean!

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver at 100.5 FM. Livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on TuneIn Radio if you don't have a radio. They'll work, too.

June 18: Diana Frances

Could it really be six years since Diana Frances last visited us? That's what my records indicate. They also show that she was on one of the very first episodes of What's So Funny? back in 2004. She was also in studio with Urban Improv in 2009, setting the record for most number of guests on one show. And the records also show... that's it. Just three appearances?! There must be some missing episodes because I could have sworn she's been with us more than thrice. Diana's now living in Toronto where she's making a living writing for TV, but she still hits the stage when she can, and comes back to town on occasion. So we've nabbed her while we can.

We'll find out everything that's new since 2011 so tune in tonight at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver or livestream us on coopradio.org or tune in to the TuneIn Radio app. So many options.

Podcast episode 457ish: Kevvy

Have you bought/streamed the new Fake Shark album yet? You really should. It's called Faux Real and I never got the punny title until I said it out loud in this episode where we talked with front man Kevvy. You expect something humorous from Kevvy. Not only is he an accomplished musician, but he's recorded probably more standup comedians than any other individual. He talks about all of the above, as well as about his high school daze, tattoos and hair dye. Plus I challenge him to a jazz-off. I won't tell you who wins but suffice it to say if I lost, chances are that segment would be edited out of the podcast.

Podcast episode 456ish: John Cullen

John Cullen returns! The TOC/curler/drummer/podcaster/
comedian/straight arrow has just put out an album and is here to talk about it. It's called Most Likely to be a Comedian and is available in all platforms. Check it out. But first listen to this chat we had. He talks about being gifted, being in bands, his hidden aggressions, his two podcasts (Podcaps and Real Good Show), and sponsoring a Little League baseball team (go Jokers!). We also put his gifted status to the test.

We, too, are available in all platforms. So go check us out on iTunes. Or Stitcher. Or PodcastAddict. Or TuneIn Radio. Or right here!

Podcast episode 455ish: Ryan Gunther

It's podcast drop time. The latest is with guest Ryan Gunther, a standup comic who's been doing his one-man Fringe show, Leash Your Potential, all over the place. He talks about how he overcame crippling stage fright to finally hop up on a stage and perform comedy. He also tells us of his early life growing up in the wilds of British Columbia.

Get listening already. It's right here for you. Or go download us at iTunes, Stitcher or some other podcast emporium.

May 28: Kevvy

Tonight on the old programme, we welcome the mono-named Kevvy, from the band Fake Shark. They just released a brand-spanking new album on Friday and are off on a month-long tour on the morrow. Timing, as they say, is everything. Go buy the album Faux Real now. We'll play a track or two tonight to whet your appetite if you need to hear it first.

But Kevvy isn't just a musician and Leo-nominated film scorer. He's also the pre-eminent comedy album producer in this city. He's recorded close to 20 (I think) standup comedians. So we'll talk to him about his love for comedy, as well as tons more. Promise.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 in Vancouver. You can always livestream us at coopradio.org, if you like. Or find us on TuneIn Radio. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Meanwhile, check out a video by the band, with a special guest appearance by funnyman (or two-time former guest of What's So Funny? Ivan Decker). Our man Kevvy is the one with the florescent hair:

Podcast episode 454ish: Garrett Clark

Boners lead to night danger. At least, that's the take-away I get from Garrett Clark's two albums: Boner Comedian and Night Danger. Clark joined us in studio and we listened to a couple tracks off his new recording, and he told us all about his experience in Los Angeles, where he studied at UCB, and got closer to Kevin Bacon than many of us will. What else? Well, with anyone who's spent any time in Australia, I have to discuss the horrific spiders found down under. And he does some of his spot-on impressions to round things out.

Enjoy this episode courtesy of the internet. You can listen here below, over at comedycouch.com, on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you like to get podcasts.

May 21: John Cullen

Mayday! Mayday! (I don't get why this weekend celebrates a distress signal, but whatever.) Tonight we welcome back standup comic John Cullen. John's got a brand spanking new album and we're going to play a couple tracks off it. And he'll tell us what else is new in his world. Is he still teaching? Good question. I think I'll ask that. Is he still curling? He must be, but we'll find out for sure. Was he really voted most likely to become a comedian in high school? These are the kinds of hard-hitting questions you can expect from me tonight.

Tune in at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM here in Vancouver. Or, if you'd rather, livestream us at coopradio.org. Or maybe you'd prefer to catch us on the TuneIn Radio app. We're not choosy. Just listen.

Podcast episode 453ish: Colin Lamb

And now for a musical interlude we have guitar man Colin Lamb. Even though he doesn't play many comedy clubs, he's very definitely a comedian. His songs are hilarious and original and he really commits to them, making them even funnier. He's got a CD out with his band Terry but we had him bring in his axe so he could serenade us in person. Yes, his maintaining eye contact with me throughout his songs was creepy but whatever. Oh, a warning for anyone suffering from vertigo: we also talk about tree felling!

Here's the episode in all its glory. If this gizmo below isn't to your liking, go search us out on iTunes or Stitcher or your favourite podcast emporium.

May 7: Ryan Gunther

Tonight we have comedian and unmotivational speaker Ryan Gunther in studio for the first time. Maybe 'unmotivational speaker' isn't the right term (we'll ask him), but Ryan does a very funny, very droll one-man show PowerPoint Presentation at various Fringe festivals called Leash Your Potential. In the next month, he'll be performing the faux business seminar in Orlando and San Diego. We'll talk about that and get to know the all about the guy. I don't know much. I do believe he's a fellow Victorian, so we have that in common. When did he start standup? Was he really one of the Muppets? What high school did he go to? Inquiring minds want to know!

We're on the air at 11 pm, as we are every Sunday, on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. Listeners on the island – any island, actually, except Granville or Mitchell – can livestream us at coopradio.org or just wait for the podcast version to drop.

Podcast episode 452ish: Brad Upton

I had a great time talking with Brad Upton a few weeks back. The Seattle-area comic was making one of his yearly weekends at Lafflines in New West. I brought along sidekick-in-training Sam Tonning and we visited Upton in his hotel room for the best-worst threesome I can think of. We talked about dealing with hecklers, how standup and teaching a class of 10-year-olds are similar, and playing mind-games in both athletic and comedy competitions. He also spoke openly and honestly about all the big names he's worked with over the years. And there have been plenty. He still opens for Johnny Mathis, about whom he has nothing but good things to say. And check out this photo. On the right is our guest, Brad Upton, when he was competing in hurdles for Eastern Washington University. Who's that on the left? Why, it's none other than Mr. Johnny Mathis, who was quite the track athlete in his day, Upton tells us. Great form!

Enjoy this episode. It's on the house. You can click below to hear it or go find us on iTunes, Stitcher, or the podcast emporium of your choosing.

Apr. 30: Garrett Clark

It's been two years since Garrett Clark last visited us. So he's back tonight. As you can see from the photo, Garrett is a very sexy man who wears a vest with no shirt. And as you can also see, he has antlers. Oh, and he's got a new comedy album out. As you can see, it's called Night Danger. I'm hoping everything will be safe on this night. And we'll play a track or two off the album.

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver on CFRO 100.5 FM. If you're a friend or relative of Garrett's in Ontario or Australia, you can livestream us at coopradio.org once you've done the math on the time difference.

Apr. 23: Colin Lamb

Tonight our guest comes with axe in hand. No, it's not Paul Bunyon. The axe in question is a guitar and the guest in question is Colin Lamb, who'll be making his first appearance on the show. I saw him at Sam Tonning's musical comedy show at Yuk Yuk's a few weeks ago and said to myself, "One day, this man will be on our show." Then it happened. Positive affirmations work, friends! If you like Shirley Gnome, you'll love Lamb. Totally different style from Shirley, but what they have in common is great musicianship, catchy tunes and hilarious (and inappropriate) lyrics. Colin will play for us live in studio, which is always a treat.

Tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM at 11 pm for all the chatter and chanteys. If you're outside our listening area, you can stream us at coopradio.org or find us on TuneIn Radio.

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.

Apr. 16: Brad Upton

Our guest tonight has been doing standup comedy for over 30 years. I'll do the math for you: we're talking 1984 when he first gave it a go. And he still kills wherever he goes, whether it's a club, cruise ship, or theatre. Brad Upton still goes out on the road with crooner Johnny Mathis, but he makes time for a visit to Lafflines about once a year, where we caught him last week. Upton has spent his whole career in Seattle so it's a nice little drive up. He's been an elementary school teacher and a university track & field coach, but comedy won out. We'll talk about all of the above, and more, tonight. (Full disclosure: we already did.)

Tune in tonight at 11 pm to CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. Or livestream us at coopradio.org. Or, I suppose, find us on TuneIn Radio. That works, too.

Podcast episode 450ish: Camilo the Magician

Camilo the Magician is the first guest in What's So Funny's 13-year history who's had a pop song written about him. That's right, Vancouver's Said The Whale wrote a catchy little number all about Camilo Dominguez and you'll never guess what it's called: Camilo Juan Tamariz and all week I've been watching Juan Tamariz videos on YouTube. Great stuff. I also went to Camilo's show at the York Theatre with my son and we both loved it. He told me afterwards it was "as good as Mac King's show and maybe even better." High praise indeed. Camilo moved to Victoria as a teenager and immediately made friends through his prestidigitation. And he performed a trick for me, too. They don't call it the magic of radio for nothing!
(The Magician). Go check it out and I guarantee you'll be humming it for weeks, as I've been. Camilo was a great guest, telling us all about magic in Colombia. He told me about

Have a listen.

Podcast 449ish: James Kennedy

And now it's James Kennedy's turn in our mad rush to get our podcasts updated. James was a guest just under a month ago, his first time on the program. This guy shot onto the Vancouver standup scene like a cannon. One day he was brand new, the next he was headlining. But he remains humble. We talk about his previous life in music as well as his love of monkeys. And more, of course, but it's been so long I forget now.

Check it out. You can click below or download us (and subscribe!) at iTunes or Stitcher or wherever. We're everywhere.

Podcast 448ish: Harris Anderson

We're a tad late on our podcast posting so let's get the ball rolling. Dog-loving standup comic Harris Anderson made his WSF? debut back on March 12th. Now, a month later, the episode is available for you in perpetuity for nothing! He's a young man with old taste... except when it comes to jazz. Can't have it all, I guess. But his comedy heroes are the likes of Jonathan Winters and Victor Borge. He even threw in a quote of Milton's Paradise Lost.

Listen quick because the next one is coming down the pipe any day now. Click below or go find us on iTunes, Stitcher or your favourite podcast dispensary.

Apr. 9: Joel Plaskett

We like to branch out once or twice a year with guests outside the direct world of comedy. Tonight is one of those nights. Last Sunday, I spoke with new old friend – and goddamn national treasure! – Joel Plaskett. I first met the singer-songwriter back in the mid- to late-nineties when he was still with his Halifax-based band Thrush Hermit. It was a brief hello in a diner and we hadn't spoken since. But we picked up right where we left off lo those many years ago... only we said more than hello to each other this time. Plaskett, who still lives in Nova Scotia, was out for an afternoon stroll in East Van the day after he and his pa played the Vogue Theatre in support of their new album, Solidarity, and walked right into Co-op Radio for a little chin-wag with me, which you will hear tonight if you tune in to 100.5 FM at 11 pm.

And if you're far from a radio – or far from Vancouver – you can always livestream the show at coopradio.org. Or just wait for the podcast to drop.

Apr. 2: Camilo the Magician

I love magic. And magic on radio is something truly special! Okay, not so much. But Camilo the Magician (Camilo Dominguez) will tell us his story of moving from Bogota, Colombia, to Victoria as a 15-year-old. That's gotta be some culture shock, I'm thinking. He's got a show at the York Theatre that ends next weekend. I've seen his magic via the old computer and it's pretty amazing. Check him out, and then tune in tonight to CFRO 100.5 FM at 11 pm to hear our conversation. We'll even play a song by Said the Whale that called, crazily, Camilo (the Magician).

If you're away from a radio, you can livestream us at coopradio.org

Mar. 19: James Kennedy

Tonight we've got James Kennedy on the old program. This is NOT Jamie Kennedy, I found out after booking him... Not true. I mean, no, they're not the same but it's not true that I ever thought they were. In fact, it wasn't until checking to see if he had a website that I put the two together. James is a local comic who's been killing it the last couple years... and he hasn't been doing comedy all that long, relatively speaking. He was in the music biz for a decade before switching over to the laughs. We'll talk about that, and welcome him back to Vancouver. From where? Not sure. But I know he's been away for a few weeks.

We're on the air at 11 pm. Tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM to eavesdrop on our conversation. If you don't have a radio, try livestreaming us at coopradio.org. That oughta do it.

Podcast episode 447ish: Barry Crimmins

Here's a special episode. The legendary Barry Crimmins was in town for the JFL Northwest Comedy Festival a few weeks ago and he very generously agreed to sit down with me for an hour, despite being hounded to do podcasts wherever he goes. I first heard of Crimmins in 1988 when I heard the album Strange Bedfellows. Some know him from his book, Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal. And more lately, a whole new group of people know him from the Bobcat Goldthwait documentary, Call Me Lucky (on Netflix on a TV near you). He's also the godfather of the Boston comedy scene that birthed the likes of Goldthwait, Steven Wright, and Louis CK, all of whom he talks about in this episode.

Unfortunately, the sound is a bit crap. But whatcha gonna do? We can hear his words and that's the most important thing. Live and learn. The political satirist and activist talks about who he considers to be the best and worst president of his lifetime, his problems with Hillary, his experience on Air America (or "Err" America, as he dubs it), and the early days in the Boston comedy scene.

You can hear the episode at the gizmo below or you can download it at Stitcher or iTunes or wherever fine podcasts are dispensed. Go subscribe to us and the next episode will pop up automatically in your feed.

Mar. 12: Harris Anderson

Our guest tonight is a first-timer. He's what they call in the business a young up-and-comer. I have no idea how young Harris Anderson is, but it's all relative. They're all whippersnappers to me. He's established enough that they're roasting him later this month. On March 20th, his friends and colleagues will rip him a new comedy hole at Yaggers in Kitsilano, all for a good cause. The proceeds are going to the BC SPCA. Harris is also a pretty good musician, I hear, so we'll talk about that. He hates jazz, so that's a potential stumbling block, but maybe we can work through it.

And Sam Tonning is in week #2 of his audition to be my new manservant. This is his first time with a real live guest in studio so pressure's on.

Turn on your radios at 11 pm (new time) in Vancouver to CFRO 100.5 FM. If our streamer is up and working, you can stream us at coopradio.org. If not, we'll be out in podcast format in a couple weeks.

Feb. 26: Barry Crimmins

The JFL Northwest Comedy Fest has come and gone. I saw a lot of good shows. Hope you did, too. I also got the opportunity to sit down with the legendary Barry Crimmins for an hour. That conversation runs tonight. Crimmins has been the preeminent American political satirist for the last forty-plus years. We spoke in his noisy hotel room. The sound quality ain't the greatest, but hopefully you can cut through the noise to the scintillating conversation, which ran the gamut from Trump and Clinton, to Air America, to the old Boston comedy scene from which he sprang and helped develop.

For those who may not be familiar with him, check out the Bobcat Goldthwait-directed documentary on him on Netflix, Call Me Lucky. It's fantastic. He's also the author of Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal. And I first heard him back in the late 1980s on a great political comedy album called Strange Bedfellows, which also featured Will Durst, Jimmy Tingle and Randy Credico. Check it out. It's all about the Reagan era but it sadly still holds true. And holds up comedically.

We're on the air tonight at 11 pm, as always, on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're elsewhere in the world and can't wait until the episode drops as a podcast, you can livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 446ish: Fred Ewanuick

Professional pretender Fred Ewanuick teaches me how to pronounce his name and then we get on with it, in this latest podcast episode of the hit show What's So Funny? He also tells us he's more than a professional pretender; he's also a voice prop. His words, people! In reality, he's one of Canada's finest comedic thespians. You know him and love him as Hank on Corner Gas. He talks about that, and about his regrets in his starring turn in Dan For Mayor. We also delve into his years as a bad theatre student and his time performing improv at his mom's coffee shop.

And away we go! You can listen here and now, or go find us on iTunes or Stitcher or some such place. If you subscribe at one of those places, new episodes will just pop up on your device when they come out. How convenient.

Podcast episode 445ish: Lori Gibbs

The always crafty Lori Gibbs (right)

How time flies! It had been five years between Lori Gibbs' last (first) visit and this one. Actually, it was I who did the visiting both times – to her hotel room. That's just the way she rolls, inviting men up to her room. Not really, but she did recently receive a proposition on the road, as she tells us in this episode. She also talks about the genesis of her nickname "the human antidepressant," her career in morning radio, developing into keynote speaker mode, and the art of crafting. We also settle, once and for all, who has the bigger head.

You can listen here. Or you can listen at iTunes. Or you can listen at Stitcher. Or you can find us somewhere I'm not familiar with. Go now and do what you have to do.

Feb. 5: Fred Ewanuick

Over the years on What's So Funny? we've had Brent Butt (twice), Lorne Cardinal, and most recently Nancy Robertson, all from Corner Gas. Tonight we've got comic actor Fred Ewanuick. Who's left? Tara Spencer-Nairn, Gabrielle Miller, and Eric Peterson. (I interviewed the late Janet Wright on set in Saskatchewan for print once.) Maybe we'll get all the way through some day. But tonight, we'll focus on Fred. He's best known for his Gilligan-like character Hank Yarbo on Corner Gas but he's been in a ton of other things, including starring as the eponymous Dan For Mayor. We're going to talk about all that and more.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. Or livestream us at coopradio.org or on your fancy TuneIn Radio app.

Jan. 29: Lori Gibbs

Welcome to 2017, officially. Our first guest of 2017 was Harry Doupe, but he counted as the last guest of 2016 since we rehashed the year in comedy. Then we had two weeks of highlights from our 2016 season. Tonight we get going with the new year, a month into it. Lori Gibbs was in town in December, in the middle of our white season. I bundled up and met her in her hotel room to chat away the cold. It was perfect because she's warm and funny. The Calgary-based comic (originally from Vancouver) is branching out from standup. She's now a keynote speaker, too. And a real craftsperson. Literally. We talk about all of the above. We also measure each other's giant noggins. Who's is bigger? You'll have to tune in to find out!

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM tonight. Lori and her posse can listen in from Calgary at coopradio.org or find us on the TuneIn Radio app. In fact, no matter where you are in the world, as long as you have wi-fi, you can tune in. And, of course, the show will drop as a podcast soon(ish).

Jan. 22: 2016 highlights (part 2)

We had fun last week with all those clips of our past guests in 2016, right? Tonight we get to the rest of them: Steve Bays, Graeme Duffy, Jy Harris, Ed Hill, Chris James, Richard Lett, Brett Martin, Efthimios Nasiopoulos, Scott Patey, Nancy Robertson, Ari Shaffir, and Sam Tonning. More fun!

Tune in at 11 and we'll get started. CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver or livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on your TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 444ish: Harry Doupe

It's Harry Doupe time again! The veteran standup comic/producer/writer has recently moved back to Vancouver (or thereabouts) (again). We rehash the year that was in comedy. And, of course, go off on tangents, as we do. So you'll hear us gabbing about comedy "specials," comedy deaths, the Human Rights Tribunal, game shows, and Saturday Night Live. He also gives us a taste of a book he's been working on for years which he hopes will be published in 2017.

Here you go. It's the first show of the new year. Have a listen. Also available at iTunes and Stitcher and elsewhere, if you can find it.

Podcast episode 443ish: Nancy Robertson

It's not often you get Nancy Robertson in studio for an hour of free-wheeling conversation, so no matter how sick I was, I was going to be there. And I was sick. Usually the guest and I will sit in the same room but on this night I quarantined myself in the control room and had Nancy sit in the studio. But boy was I golden-throated! Best I've ever sounded; worst I've ever felt. After the show, I drove home and slept for 30 of the next 32 hours. Fun times! Robertson, as everyone knows full well, is best known for her role as Wanda on Corner Gas. We talked about that, how she started in acting (learning from one of the finest cowboy thespians in the business), and her formative years improvising with the Vancouver TheatreSports League. We also got into her love of obscure British TV series, her dislike of her new slow cooker, and her loss of respect for me for having not seen so many classic movies.

Here she is. You just need to click the button below to start listening to Nancy with the laughing face. Or you can download the show at iTunes or Stitcher or similar places. (NOTE: I just tried the button and it took 45 seconds before the audio started playing. Not sure if that's just my machine. Individual results may vary.)

Jan. 15: 2016 highlights (part 1)

We started off 2017 with a recap of 2016 with guest Harry Doupe. Tonight and next week we look back audibly on highlights from our shows last year. We can't get to them all because there are too many, but we'll do about half this week and we'll the rest next Sunday. You're going to hear snippets of conversations from the following guests tonight (not in this order): Dino Archie, Byron Bertram, Jason Bryden, Sophie Buddle, Sara Bynoe, Jeff Cooper, Grahaeme Cowie, Ivan Decker, Glen Foster, Jessica Holmes, Paul Hooper, Caitlin Howden, Shauna Johannesen, Sean Kent, Julie Kim, Simon King, Dave Merheje, Camille Mitchell, Tim Nutt, Rob Pue, and Mike Storck.

Tune in tonight at 11 sharp to CFRO 100.5 FM. Or livestream us at coopradio.org or on the TuneIn Radio app. It'll be a fun show, promise.

Jan. 8: Harry Doupe

It's become a bit of an irregular tradition on the show to have Harry Doupe on the show at the end of the year to talk about the year in comedy. He's been with us in late December in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2014. He's back tonight – really late December! Ah, first week in January is close enough. As anyone who's heard him on the show previously will know, Doupe was one of the first comics I ever saw live, back in the early 1980s at the now-defunct Punchlines Comedy Club in Gastown. Then he moved to Toronto (and elsewhere). He moved back to Vancouver a few years ago only to move away again. But I hear he's back to live again in the lower mainland, which is why I can welcome him back to the studio tonight. I saw him opening for his old buddy Norm Macdonald at the casino theatre in Coquitlam (I can never remember its name). We'll talk about the year that was and whatever else we can think of.

We're on the air at 11 pm and will go until we're finished, at least midnight, on CFRO 100.5 FM. If you're elsewhere in the world (or don't own a radio), you can livestream us at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 442ish: Sam Tonning

Getting back to business here after the holidays. Let's start with the posting of Sam Tonning's podcast episode. Sam is a guy I've probably seen more at jazz clubs than comedy clubs, but he's a very funny comic. And despite his good musical taste, he's also an unabashed and unironic lover of Phil Collins and Ted Nugent. Comedically, he's not ashamed to admit he adores Jay Leno and Dennis Miller, too. Got like a guy with the courage of his convictions. In this episode, we also discuss TV talk show sidekicks, moustaches, voice-over acting, playing the bass, and a whole lot more.

Check it out below. Or go download it iTunes or Stitcher (or elsewhere) and take it on the road with you.

2016 in a nutshell

Greetings from sunny Edmonton. The year isn't over yet but we've got enough information in to be able to compile our annual head-count. Each year (well, starting in 2009, five years into our run) I tally the number of guests we've had in a calendar year. Here's how it's looked each year:

• 2009: 42 shows with guests
• 2010: 38 shows with guests
• 2011: 44 shows with 53 guests
• 2012: 41 shows with 47 guests
• 2013: 35 shows with 37 guests
• 2014: 36 shows with 39 guests
• 2015: 36 shows with 40 guests

So how does 2016 stand up? Colleen Brow fills in and she usually plays comedy clips. She did have Marlene Swidzinski and Lauren McGibbon as guests two of those Sundays but we don't podcast those episodes so they aren't included. Even with them, we would have been a record low. Another factor is, well, it's just one of those years. So here are the numbers:

A record low! Now, there are some factors to consider. Halfway through the year I decided to take the last Sunday of each month off.

• 2016: 32 shows with 33 official guests (36 if you count Vishal Ramesh, who joined in with Chris James, and Siobhan Williams and Pal Mann, who joined in with Steve Bays).

Big thanks to all our guests in 2016:

• Byron Bertram
• Ivan Decker
• Chris James
• Sara Bynoe
• Mike Storck
• Ari Shaffir
• Shauna Johannesen
• Dave Merheje
• Caitlyn Howden
• Ed Hill
• Dino Archie
• Julie Kim
• Richard Lett
• Jessica Holmes
• Camille Mitchell
• Lauren McGibbon
• Glen Foster
• Jeff Cooper
• Grahaeme Cowie
• Simon King
• Jy Harris
• Tim Nutt
• Jason Bryden
• Brett Martin
• Rob Pue
• Efthimios Nasiopoulos
• Sophie Buddle
• Sean Kent
• Steve Bays
• Graham Duffy
• Scott Patey
• Sam Tonning
• Nancy Robertson

Dec. 18: Nancy Robertson

Our last show before Christmas is a goodie. We've got first-time guest Nancy Robertson live in studio. Her hubby, Brent Butt, has guested twice before. She'll be the third former Corner Gas star to grace our studios (Lorne Cardinal was the other). But Nancy is more than Wanda Dollard. She also starred in Hiccups and has acted in other film and television. And if you go back far enough, you might remember her from her work on stage with Vancouver TheatreSports League. We'll cover it all. Promise.

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver on CFRO, 100.5 FM. If you've recycled your radio, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org or on TuneIn Radio.

Podcast episode 441ish: Scott Patey

It's always exciting to have a first-timer on the show. I'd seen Scott Patey perform for years at the Improv Centre on Granville Island with Vancouver TheatreSports League, but I'd never met him until this momentous night. Patey hails from the border town of Lloydminster, Alberta. Or is that Saskatchewan? It's confusing when you can cross the street in your town and be in another province. He explains. We also talked about how his hockey career was cut short by a break-up, his funnier brother, portraying Donald Trump, and what it's like working in movies with celebrities. Most exciting of all, I take him on in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors (a game he hosts at various venues around town, but mostly at Corduroy in Kits on Monday nights). I've also got him promising me on air that he'd take me to New York City when/if he gets to host Saturday Night Live. I'm holding him to it.

Here's the episode for you. Do with it what you will. I'd recommend listening. You can also go download/subscribe to the show on iTunes or Stitcher. And elsewhere!

Dec. 4: Sam Tonning

We're going to learn all about Sam Tonning tonight. I know him a little bit but not the finer points. I see him out and about at comedy shows and jazz shows. I know he's from my hometown, Victoria. I know he plays the bass a bit. I know he does standup, I know he unironically loves Jay Leno and Ted Nugent. And I know he's the sidekick/second banana to Brett Martin on the live monthly Brett Martin talk show at Yuk Yuk's (next one is next Sunday, Dec. 11). We'll fill in the details tonight at 11 pm if you care to join us.

Tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM or livestream us at coopradio.org. Tonight from 11 to midnight-ish.

Podcast episode 440ish: Graeme Duffy

Improvisor and actor Graeme Duffy joins us to talk about his very public – and swift! – engagement. He tells us how he proposed to his girlfriend in front of 1100 people four months after their first date. Did she say yes? Did she say no? You'll have to listen to find out! The Vancouver TheatreSports mainstay also talks about being bullied in Scotland, the thriving local film and TV scene, cruising the Baltic Sea, his dislike of St. John,and his love of moustaches, tattoos, and Kanye West.

Have a listen, won't you? You can do it right here and now. Or you can go download us on iTunes or Stitcher and elsewhere. And give the show a rating and comment on iTunes while you're there.

Podcast episode 439ish: Steve Bays

It's Steve Bays time once again. It's always fun hanging with the rocker. His former band (maybe) Hot Hot Heat has a new album out, eponymously titled, and it's great. He came to the studio armed with his girlfriend, actress Siobhan Williams, so I came in armed with my brother-in-law, visiting from out of town. The three of us do our best to get Steve to organize one last tour for HHH. Also in the episode, Steve tries to name all 20 bands he's been in over the years, and we talk about lyrics, emo and ego. And we tie it all together with comedy.

Here's the gizmo to get you started. Or you can go download us and/or subscribe to the show at iTunes. Or Stitcher. Or other places.

Nov. 13: Scott Patey

I've seen tonight's guest Scott Patey many, many times over the years at the Improv Centre. Never met him, though. Not too long ago, I saw him playing Donald Trump in Trump Card and thought, 'I should have him on the show.' Little did I know Trump would win and now I feel deep resentment towards the guy. I'll try to keep it bottled up for the hour tonight. We'll see how he feels about the orange man, and we'll talk about his own history. He started acting when he was but an 11-years-old. To date, the Albertan and VTSL main stage performer has shared the silver screen with the likes of Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black. He also hosts a show that I've got to get down to one of these days. It's called Rock, Paper, Scissors at Corduroy and has been going strong for over four years, if my math is correct.

Tune in tonight at 11 pm to CFRO, 100.5 FM in Vancouver or livestream us at coopradio.org or many a radio-streaming app.

Nov. 6: Graeme Duffy

Graeme Duffy (right)

Happy November. Happy first day of the dark days of winter. I love how we don't need to remember to turn the clocks back because all our robot devices do it for us. So there goes that excuse for missing tonight's show at 11 pm. My homeboy Graeme Duffy returns for his second visit. The actor and Vancouver TheatreSports League mainstay recently got engaged in a very public way. We'll see how that went. We'll also talk about all the various shows he's written at VTSL and movies he's working in and why he loves weird facial hair and whatever else we think up in the moment.

Tune in to 100.5 FM at 11 pm for all the conversation. Or livestream us at coopradio.org.

Oct. 30: Marlene Swidzinski

When the cat's away, the mouse will play. It's the last Sunday of the month, so regular host Guy MacPherson is taking it easy. Colleen Brow gets in the game tonight. She welcomes Marlene Swidzinski. When a polka princess leaves the old country (Saskatchewan) for the downtown eastside, she's bound to ask, "Where are the men who can polka?" Colleen will talk with Swidzinski about her prairie Slavic origins, eventual urbanization, and her comic insights on art, society, motherhood, and livestock.

Tune in to 100.5 FM at 11 pm. Or livestream the show at coopradio.org.

Podcast episode 438ish: Sean Kent

It's almost US election time! Better get this puppy up and running. It's my conversation with Texas-based standup comic Sean Kent, an avowed anti-Trumpist. And that's what we talk about for most of this very special Election '16 episode. He even tells us about the time he was kicked out of a Donald Trump rally just outside of Austin. Sean was with us back in 2010 (not 2006 as I incorrectly thought) if you want to compare episodes. Back then he gave us the full hour. This time we only got about 40 minutes of talk so I've supplemented it with his standup comedy. So this way you get some laughs along with the political conversation. Although I guess there are plenty of laughs as it is in their general election.

Have a listen before it's too late, especially if you're an American voter. You can click on the gizmo, or go subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever fine podcasts are dispensed. See you there.

Podcast episode 437ish: Sophie Buddle

This one was a long time coming. But totally worth the wait. Since this episode aired on the radio, the big $25,000 Sirius comedy competition has come and gone in Toronto. Our guest, Sophie Buddle, didn't take home the big bucks but she did achieve her goal of placing, finishing in the top 3. Not bad for a 22-year-old. Not bad for anyone, actually. We talk about her start in comedy at the tender age of 15, a photo shoot that wasn't a whole lot of fun, hobnobbing at a Hollywood Emmy Awards party, and she explains why Woody Allen is innocent. And funny.

Listen before it gets any older. You can click on the link below or go download the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you go to get your podcasts.

Oct. 23: Steve Bays

Tonight rock 'n' roller Steve Bays joins the 5-timers club. Coincidentally, while in a Gastown tourist shop this very afternoon, I heard his band, Mounties, playing over the speaker. Last time he was with us, I heard him playing at a coffee shop the same day. Kismet, baby. But his other group, Hot Hot Heat, just released their latest and last album and it's fantastic. So we'll talk about that, play a couple of tracks for you, and I'll find out why they say this is their last album and why they're not touring it. Maybe I'll convince him to keep the band going. I'll do my best. We'll also talk comedy because Steve is a huge comedy fan who has composed music for various comedy shows.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If your old-timey radio is on the fritz, you can livestream us at coopradio.org.

Oct. 16: Sean Kent

We survived the storm of '16. Someone make the t-shirts. Just before it "hit" yesterday, I spoke with Texas comic Sean Kent, who was headlining the MIX all weekend. I thought I better turn it around quickly because we mostly talked about Donald Trump, a figure Sean has contempt for (for proof, see the photo below of him flipping the bird to Trump at a rally – and he tells us the story behind the photo in this episode). I figured if I sit on this and run it in a few weeks, twelve other Trump scandals or controversies could emerge. Or Hillary, for that matter. So that'll air tonight. Sean's been on the program once before. I told him I thought it was in 2006, but a careful search of the archives proves I was wrong: we spoke in 2010. So you can go find that one to listen to it to warm up for tonight's show.

We're on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. You can livestream us at coopradio.org, too, if you'd rather.

Podcast episode 436ish: Efthimios Nasiopoulos

Tune in to this podcast episode just to hear me nail the name Efthimios Nasiopoulos. Efthimios joined us at the last minute when our regularly scheduled guest fell ill. I ran into him at Yuk Yuk's on the night when he told me he just moved to town the week before from Toronto so I dragged him down to the studio and we faked it for an hour. He talks about glaciers out west (he considers anything west of Toronto to be "out west"), he opens up about his two broken engagements to be married, reveals how he retired undefeated from boxing, and discusses jobs like limo driving and serving summonses to unsuspecting folk.

Here it is. Have a listen to my conversation with the biggest name in comedy (tied with Costaki Economopoulos) by clicking below or finding us on iTunes or Stitcher or the like. And give us a rating, why don't you?