My guest, Bill Kirchenbauer came of age during The Comedy Boom of the 1980's.   Bill had been on the road ever since he was born in Romania, in 1953 as the son of a career military man and his wife. Once in the U.S. the army kept Bill and his family on the move, where they lived in almost all fifty states and he attended 20 different schools in 13 years; one year he attended 3 schools.     As an only child, Bill loved television as it was his companion, teacher, friend and University for his future comedy career.  He became quite good at puppet shows and was entertaining his friends and classmates shortly after entering public school.  Before starting stand up Bill trained for three years as a mime and  concurrently for three years in improvisation, which was akin to getting his masters in comedy.  Many stand ups perform for the first time as a novice with little or no preparation! Bill made it to The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson by age 25 and went on to do movies, game shows, Mork and Mindy and went on to star as Coach Lubbock in ‘Growing Pains’ starring Alan Thicke and from that spun off to his very own show ‘Just The Ten Of Us’ which was a big hit on the network. For those stories and more please welcome Bill Kirchenbauer !

We discuss Gilbert Gottfried, Redd Foxx, Slappy White, SCTV, Robert Klein, Woody Allen, Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, Norm Macdonald, Lenny Bruce and where John thinks comedy is going and how important it is for the young comics to know about and respect all the greats that came before them. 

Please welcome a great comic and Philly Legend:

John Kensil

John hosts his own very popular podcast show"Kensil Culture" which has been streaming online since 2022. 

Please welcome:  John Kensil

We also discussed her directing of so many icons of comedy in both sitcoms and specials, including, but not limited to:  Martin Short, Bernie Mac, Chris Rock, John Leguizamo, Nikki Glazer, Wanda Sykes, Robert Klein and Robin Williams, who besides his comedy genius, Linda says he was the kindest and most humble person and unlike any other human she had ever met.

ladies and gentlemen: Linda Mendoza

Chip started Comedy as an amateur at just 15 years of age. He performed stand up through high school and into college where he was active in Theater, film and video classes and he produced and starred in his own documentary at Miami University in Cincinnati titled “From Here To Fraternity’l

After college Chip worked at the CBS TV affiliate in Cincinnati as a cameraman and later won an Emmy for “on air reporter” in the Midwest region.

By twenty four Chip had been an amateur Comic with over 100 sets under his belt so he decided to quit his bank job and work one complete year just doing stand up to make his living.   It was this experience which he would journal and compile to write his first book:  Charging Mount Stand-Up.

From 1989 to 1990 he started as an opening act/ MC and made it to where he could feature or middle by the end of the year.

By the 90s he decided to move to Los Angeles and go full time into the business; taking acting and improv classes, and he slowly started getting commercials, sit com and  film roles; Third Rock from the Sun, the Drew Carey Show and he did a very memorable Seinfeld as well as Curb, That 70’s Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Big Bang Theory and dozens more.

A pleasure to welcome a man who put all his chips on the table and through his own hard work, spirit and determination, He Made It! ladies and gentlemen welcome Chip Chinery.

Bob has done everything in this business from comedy clubs to television sitcoms, dramas, mini-series and films.

A longtime member of the Friars and Lambs, Bob has Won Best Actor Awards for Jimmy Breslin: How To Read The Newspaper and The Stella in two New York Theater Festivals.

A talented character Comedian and  impersonator, he regularly portrays Jackie Gleason, Lou Costello, Oliver Hardy and many other notables in stage shows and comedy performances.  His talents have brought him to Conan O’Brien’s show as well as The David Letterman Show and Saturday Night Live.

Off Broadway plays include The Jazz Singer and  films include Big Money Hu$tla$,  Maid In Manhattan and Disclosure Day;  a film directed by Steven Spielberg and just released within the last month.

Please welcome a gentleman who is not only a great actor, comic and artist, but a patron of the arts as well: Bob Greenberg

Jimmy attended a magnet  high school for the creative and performing arts and he was a professional working magician by age 15. He especially liked taking the acting classes

Jimmy started performing stand-up comedy right out of high school in the local Philadelphia area. He moved out to Los Angeles during The Comedy Boom of the eighties and after being noticed by Sam Kinison, he became one of Sam’s outlaws and performed with them in Las Vegas casinos, showrooms and at the Universal Amphitheater in front of 6500 people

In 1997 JIMMY did well enough at the Montreal "Just For Laughs" festival to get a holding deal to develop a sitcom for 20th Century Fox

JIMMY has performed all over the United States twice, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Mexico, and along with Drew Carey performed for the troops in the Middle East and Afghanistan for Armed Forces Entertainment.

JIMMY Polkes holes and political correctness from a working man’s point of view. His latest album released on iTunes, Apple, and Amazon Music depicts that being a Comic in today’s culture is like walking through a minefield wearing clown shoes! His fifth Comedy album produced by Grammy Award nominated Dan  Shlissel is entitled : "Clown Shoes!"

Jimmy kicked off his very busy acting career in 1999 playing Vic Jr, the bouncer in the movie “GO” directed by Doug Lyman. That movie became a cult hit and catapulted Jimmy into many other high profile films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Bran-gelina, Jerry Bruckheimer‘s Coyote Ugly, One Hour Photo starring Robin Williams and The Italian Job starring Charlize Theron.

On television Jimmy did fifteen  King of Queens over five years, several appearances on Entourage and guest starring roles on Monk, E.R.,  Two Broke Girls and  Disney’s hit show Zeke and Luther.

Jimmy has been in all the big Documentaries about Comedy from 'Dying Laughing' to

'I am Sam Kinison' to the three part masterpiece by Mike Binder, which shows the entire history of comedy from the early 1970s until present time simply entitled "The Comedy Store!"

Please Welcome a man who has truly been through every phase of show business from television, movies, stand up, magic  and he is still going strong:

Jimmy Shubert

Linda’s love of stand-up started at an early age.  Later her opportunities working with artists like Robin Williams, on 'Robin Williams at the Met', Billy Crystal’s 'Midnight Train to Moscow' and Martin Short's  "I Martin Short, Goes Hollywood" allowed her to learn the art of Stand-Up from the best. The 'Chris Rock Show' for HBO would help her transition to full-time directing and the 'Bernie Mac Show' would be her break into narrative, episodic television. Since then, Linda’s gone on to direct over 130 episodes of comedy including, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Black-ish, Grown-ish, 30 Rock and Scrubs. She has directed two features.  Chasing Papi for Fox 2000 and Relationship Goals, which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

She is so thankful to her family for all the love and support. Her husband, Tim, for being the perfect life partner.  The beautiful young men she was blessed with, her son, John, and her nephew, Marccus.  And of course, her best friend and sister through it all, Dora. She is so grateful to God, for guiding her and helping her succeed.  Despite herself!

Linda is proud to be a working member of the Director's Guild of America for over 35 years.

Please help me welcome my very special guest today,  Director of comedy from sit coms to specials and the coveted Mark Twain Prize for American Humor:

Linda Mendoza.

Please welcome: Tom Ryan...

 "Don’t Call Us, We’ll Kill You!"     It will be on the Roku channel.

In addition to his work for Disney, Hanna Barbera, and many others, he has also taught animation for over 25 years at the Art Institute in Marin County.

He is also promoting his new online  course where he will teach animation from conception to completion.    In this class, Gene will take you through all the components of animation, voices, special effects, storyboards and you will be able to learn by the end of this course everything that it takes to complete your animated film. The course will be available very soon on Animation A2Z.com 

Please welcome the always busy and very animated Gene Hamm.

Andy Huggins always loved Comedy and has a vivid memory of the sound  the audience made laughing hysterically in a huge movie theater, when he first watched the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup.

After graduating from high school in Virginia, he started doing Open Mic nights and telling jokes between the musical acts.

He moved to Los Angeles after Johnny Carson kept mentioning that all the wave of new comedians came from The Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard.

After working in LA for a couple of years, some comics he made friends with told him he should move to Houston,Texas to get way more stage time than in Los Angeles. He took their advice.

Andy's story is different than most, even Rodney Dangerfield, who broke into Comedy in his 40s! Andy literally made it at age 68 when he brought over 40 years of doing one- liners in front of an international stage.

His look and voice along with his integrity, work ethic and love for the craft of Comedy, ensures his third act to be a real barn burner!

Ladies and Gents,

Andy Huggins

He also wanted to be an actor and he was in the road company of Toni and Tina‘s wedding.

Joe had a building and construction background which gave him another side hustle;

He started getting hired on prank and hidden video shows as a builder and prop-master.  Due to his positive demeanor and leadership he worked his way quickly up the crew ladder because he was a guy who had the ability to hire the right people and get things done.

He worked for years on Ashton Kutscher‘s show Punk’d and went from  PA to Show Runner and appeared on many episodes.

He has also worked on all of the Jackass films in every capacity and personally built the “BIG HAND”  Which  famously slapped everyone big and small. He can also be seen in the upcoming Jackass Five!

He is also on a show currently running on Netflix called FOUL PLAY, with Anthony Davis; I saw it on my queue as I was scrolling last night.

After all that, his love and desire to do standup comedy still prevails and he is still out there hitting the stages; ladies and gentlemen, please Welcome Comedian, Joe Dalo.

TED Lange is a  GRADUATE from LONDON’S ROYAL ACADEMY and is  also a MEMBER of the  AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE!

Ted went on to write and direct a dozen episodes of  THE LOVE BOAT  and once that hit show wrapped, he has gone on to act in hundreds of different roles in television, film and the stage.

While Ted has remained active and very visible on film and television over the years, his real passion is writing and directing for the live stage. He has penned at least a dozen plays for theater and has become a much sought after producer and director as well. Currently he is producing his passion project he wrote entitled:   "Shakespeare Over My Shoulder;"  where he spent years researching, interviewing and lecturing about his theory that Othello was not written by Shakespeare but by someone else.  So keep your eyes out for his new play and other projects Ted is involved in such as The Love Boat podcast and many charitable endeavors in which Ted participates. Ladies and Gents: I am proud to introduce Comic, Actor, Writer, Director: Ted Lange

Vince was dancing a lot as a teenager and inspired by his older brother, he started pursuing it full time.

From a young man, he had joined a dance group that performed on the stages at Disneyland and eventually they were good enough  to perform on TV shows, American Bandstand, Dance Fever, The Midnight Special as well as the Merv Griffin Show.

His group known as  "Dancin Machine" eventually was performing for the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas and soon after the group got a gig at the Chicago Playboy Club before Vince was legally old enough to drink.

VINCE was drafted by some old friends to start a Chippendale style version of male stripping and he was doing that around the time he started seeing more and more stand-up comedy legends like Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, and Bill Hicks inspire him to start trying to add a little Comedy to his stripping routine.

Once he started doing Comedy guest spots at all the new comedy clubs that were exploding in the eighties, he had been bitten by the bug. He happily traded shedding his clothes for slinging his jokes.

He quickly took his years of experience as a dancer and started doing stand up all across the country and he has never stopped doing it and that puts him in the 40 plus year Comedy Club.  Please welcome my guest who is still telling jokes for paying crowds:  Vince Harper.

My guest on the podcast this week is Mr. Jay London. Raised in the Bronx, Jay’s two passions in life have both served him well:  stand-up comedy and boxing.

In both enterprises you are fighting for your life and in both you can kill or bomb out and die.

Jay fought his way through the Bronx neighborhoods and school yards and later through the local comedy clubs and  “Live at the Apollo!”

He fought his way into the house on season two of “Last Comic Standing” where he first came to national attention. He became a fan favorite where in an unprecedented move the producers brought him back for a wildcard shot on season three. 

To say Last Comic Standing was a big deal in Comedy would be an understatement;  there have always been Star Search type shows, but on L.C.S. stood the best and the brightest of club comedians as well as stars, young and old, who came on the show to be mentors, celebrity talent scouts and judges, as well as hosts of which there were numerous over the nine season run of the series. In addition to appearing on the “King Of Queens” as well as several other films and television series we will talk about what Jay is doing now as he proclaims He is Still in the Fight because it Ain’t Over Yet! Please Welcome: JAY LONDON

After college, he decided to head west to Los Angeles, which is where I first ran into George.

He was only in LA for the years 1985 through 1991,  but he rose up the ladder from opening act to feature act and met many people and definitely made his mark.

George is  proud to say that as an Arab American, he relied heavily on his ethnicity.

 Personal drama forced him to leave the business but currently he is writing a book on his experiences which is part cathartic, part humorous and ALL TRUE;  Entitled: 

“I Could Have Been A Great Comedian, But Took Myself Too Seriously.”

Please welcome my guest and old friend, George Hamaty 

Linda gained much notoriety during the pandemic when she interviewed not less than 1000 comedians for her podcast "The Comics Spot."

Since the end of the pandemic, Linda has worked tirelessly rising up the ranks in the Las Vegas Comedy Clubs and Casinos.   Just over a year ago she decided to make the move back to her native homeland, New York City.

Linda has worked very hard over the past year to build up her Comedy Chops in the many Comedy Clubs of the New York "Tri-State Area."

Linda, as a proud army veteran is very passionate about raising awareness for all military personnel as well as veterans who may be in need of helping out or lifting up.

To this point, as part of her Comedy Journey, she is very passionate about booking her own shows for military audiences as well as booking Comedy Shows where Military veterans and their families may benefit from the money raised from these shows.

We also draw attention to the shows, dates and places that Linda will be performing at and producing over the next year.

We will announce those locations and dates at the beginning and the end of this podcast. Thank you for listening and please welcome my special guest:

 Linda Marcus Smith.

Welcome Dan Rosenberg to the podcast .

In 1992, Dan moved to Los Angeles to start a stand-up career at age 22. 

He sold cars in the daytime and did stand up at night.

When the Northridge earthquake hit in 1994,  he took that as a sign to leave LA while he could still catch a plane that had an accessible runway.

He moved back to Pennsylvania to coach basketball and  after that he ended up teaching Comedy traffic school in Orlando, Florida, which basically jump started his return to stand-up comedy .

A born salesman, and entrepreneur,  Dan started his own company, called “humor vision” where he went to, and performed at The “Just For Laughs” premiere comedy showcase in Montreal for seven years in a row.

In 2001 he saw Rick Springfield at the Universal Amphitheater and thought,( he’d be perfect for my sitcom!)

This is a story of how dogged determination, hard work and seeking out the right people can actually lead to dreams coming true.

Not only did he get Rick Springfield to star in his movie , but it has now won awards at multiple film festivals and Dan is now a full-time standup and working on his third hour long special for streaming on television

Welcome Dan Rosenberg

He earned his degree and has been working as a comedian for eight years now and without the assistance of a day job. To understand how you could visit:

https://www.daviduhlfelder.com/    as well as  https://www.cal comedy underground.com/ 

Not only can you see his credits and comedy history but you can also peruse the locations where he produces comedy shows at myriad locations from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. David goes on the road as much as possible where he works as a Feature act and has been starting to Headline shows as well. Please welcome to my podcast this up and coming Comedian, Producer and Showrunner;  David Uhlfelder!

Brenda Pontiff

Born, Robert Tetrault in West Covina, California; the family later moved to the Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys section of the San Fernando Valley.

With two older brothers and one younger sister, Bob was Ensconced well into middle child status, but the family unit was close and parents very supportive of their brood.

Bob Zany started out in Comedy at the tender young age of 15 on none other than "The Gong Show" starring Chuck Barris 

The Gods of showbiz smiled down upon young Bob that day as he was not given the GONG but rather he was paid $125.98 as a "specialty act!"  In addition to that, he also gained a membership into AFTRA (the union) and was awarded a waffle iron as his take-home prize.

From that point on Bob was in show biz and he worked tirelessly from booking his own shows to working at the Ice House and wherever else he could get on stages before reaching  the age of 18

Among Bob’s many credits are:

Seven appearances on A&E’s AN EVENING AT THE IMPROV STAR SEARCH POLITICALLY INCORRECT with BILL MAHER WORKING WITH RODNEY DANGERFIELD FOR TWO YEARS and filming a special with RODNEY!

Television series appeared on: ROSEANNE THE DREW CAREY SHOW THE TONIGHT SHOW with JAY LENO COMICS UNLEASHED   FILMS: JOE DIRT  THE INFORMANT   (Matt Damon’s attorney)

DOCS:

I AM COMIC CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

One of Bob’s personal victories and a turning point in his career was auditioning with scores of other comedian at The Improv, in 1991 to perform on the JERRY LEWIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND TELETHON FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

  As Bob was a throwback to the Comedians of Jerry's era, if he auditioned well, he was sure to score the show.  Once again his years of experience and dedication paid off as Jerry Lewis loved him and he performed on the telethon from 1991 until “ they fired the other guy” as Bob always said.  

So close to twenty years on the TELETHON and once he became part of "JERRY'S FAMILY as ED MCMAHON called it, Bob Performed on the Last Twelve years as a CO-HOST during the overnights which were the prime time Comedy Slots!

A true comedy legend at this point, having tread  the boards for 48 of his 63 years, Bob has gotten to rub elbows and work with the likes of Milton Berle, Jan Murray, Red Buttons, Rodney Dangerfield and Steve Martin. Additionally he has worked with Norm McDonald, Jim Carrey, Jordan Brady and Ritch Shydner, just to name a few of the modern era. 

After all this success, his most current special for the Dry Bar Comedy Channel has 10 million views on YouTube and over 40 (that’s FOUR O) million views on all social media, making Bob Zany one of the top 10 comedians for all the comics who have been seen on the "Dry Bar" specials.

A fitting benchmark for a man who has been working hard at his craft for close to 50 years.

Please help me Welcome, "The Most Sarcastic Comedian 0f All Time":

 Mr. BOB ZANY!

          Walter Lantz, Tex Avery  and has also been teaching young people animation at

             the Academy of Art for over 15 years.

Though he attended the University of Hawaii as his father wanted him to pursue a professional career, Wyatt decided early on the collegiate life was not for him and against his father‘s wishes he quit school and decided to start doing something he really loved, which was stand-up comedy.

At the tender young age of 19 years old, he started going to Open Mic. nights in Los Angeles. While his early attempts were hit and miss, he put everything he had into stand-up comedy, going out to clubs night after night and grinding out his material and  within a fairly short time he started to see and feel that he could really make a go at this stand up comedy life.

Now here he is eleven years later, barely thirty years old and those early dues he paid are really bearing fruit.

He generally features or headlines comedy clubs all across the country as well as performing at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, which is the Crown Jewel of Clubs where only the top comedians perform. In addition to that he won First Place in World Series of Comedy Competition in Las Vegas in 2021.

Help me, Welcome a guy who is really going places in Comedy and someone who a lot of comedians both young and old could learn something from, Wyatt Cote.

Max Dolcelli is a man who has had to claw and fight for anything he ever had in life.  Born in Liguria, Italy the first son of a ship builder, he lost his father when he was but five years old but under him were a 3 year old sister and a baby brother. Life got immediately harder as mom couldn’t raise three young children without a job so Max and his sister went into a catholic orphange and mother moved in with Grandma with her infant and they would put one foot In front  of the other to cope with the loss of the husband, father and breadwinner.  Fortunately for Max and his little sister after six months they were rescued from a torturous place where Max was made to kneel bare legged on rice for hours and his sister left bruised and both were psychologically scarred.  Mama Angela would marry Papa Jimmy a year later and he took the entire family to America by way of New York Harbor.  It was no longer Ellis Island but for these native Italians who could not speak English, it was kind of a 1959 Ellis Island revisited.  Plus Papa Jimmy was a black man and that would also make their assimilation less fluid.  Max’s journey to comedy was a long one ( as he was barely six when he landed in New York) and many kids gripe about when their family moved and they had to switch schools a few times. Max said his tough childhood made him tougher and he learned how to fight to defend himself and he learned how to get laughs to disarm his combatants altogether. Max took the stage at the New York Catch A Rising Star and through sheer guts and strength he did well enough on his first shot that the club owner told him to keep coming back that he could get regular stage time. Like many comics who I have had on my show, his desire was so great that he rose through the ranks of opener to headliner very quickly.  He worked hard at his craft and has never really stopped over the course of forty plus years. He has been working the cruise ship circuit since 1989 which in Cruise years alone is a career and then some. Max still loves getting on stage and that is the most important asset in any comic over 70 who still chooses to perform.  I guarantee if you listen to this just to hear his Sam Kinison story alone you won’t be disappointed.  But there is so much more to Max than just the Sam story. He has had a long and successful career and has made and kept many friends along the way Ladies and Gentleman please welcome Max Dolcelli to the podcast…

Just a young woman in her early twenties and comedy was barely one to two years away from experiencing a BOOM! Comedy clubs would be opening in every major city in the country, with smaller satellite clubs putting on amateur and open mic. night comedy nights in every bar, restaurant or room where they could set up a mic. stand and hold people's attention for an hour or more!

So Erin's timing could not have been better. Her experience in Advertising helped prepare her as she had always been comfortable presenting and speaking in front of clients and her life long love for comedy and comedians she loved also helped incentivize her to dive in head first and start hitting the clubs frequently. The one thing that ALL COMICS agree on and it may be the ONLY THING comics agree on is that the  way to get better, learn your craft and develop your skills as a comic is by getting STAGE TIME and LOTS OF IT!!!

Erin prepared her set for her very first spot and unlike a lot of comics ( myself included) who did not have their first set down cold, Erin went up and did well; well enough she was offered follow up work for the following week. 

Erin's Dad had been a sportswriter for all the major teams in The Bay Area and Erin had  worked in Silicon Valley during her career in Advertising. Living and breathing in the shadows of Apple, Google & Microsoft teaches you very quickly that business is not for the faint of heart but for people who are ready to strap in and go for the Gold.  Oddly enough, Comedy may not be that much different for the ones with the ambition to go all the way and try and make it to the top of the mountain.

The truth is only very few comics make it to the height where everyone knows their name.  There are many who made it to the top and couldn't handle it and ended up quitting or getting out when their mental health took precedence.

I say that because Erin is also in a special class, as she has been able to work for her entire life and make a living doing something that she loves. Many more folks have done it and quit or done it as a sideline, but to do it full time and make a living at it is truly the most commendable and honorable addendum anyone could add to their career.

  Erin has been married to COMEDIAN  BOB ZANY for thirty years.  They often work together on radio and television shows and hosted their own podcast.  In addition to  being successful stand ups, they both work with many charitable causes including the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada PET RESCUES.

Please welcome to the mics of CUWC, my conversation with Erin O'Connor 

John Caponera grew up in a large family on the south side of Chicago.  The family home sat just across the street from a large park which became a playground for him and his friends. No matter what season, they played baseball in the warm months and when the pond froze over in winter they played hockey and fit in every other sport in between. John went to college wanting only to play baseball but he felt he wasn’t getting enough playing time so he took his English Professor's request and auditioned for a main stage production of “ One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” He not only was cast but he was bitten by the acting bug. He would act in all the MainStage theater productions until his graduation.  When he couldn’t afford to move to New York where he could study acting at the level he wanted to, he moved back to his hometown and started tending bar. Once again providence kicked in and he was coaxed by friends to enter a comedy contest for $500 prize money.  He won first place and took the laughs and the cash! His final exam in acting was to perform a ten minute comedy act and he had not only gotten an A+ and the reward of honest laughter and applause from his teammates but an additional spark went off in his head that he was getting laughs and encouragement from classmates and teachers who are not always an ideal audience and will be the first ones to tell you if you are barking up the wrong tree.  John's journey from this point parallels what every person who ever decides to do stand up for a living should and must do! Get stage time as much as possible even 4-5 sets a night which is why the early stand ups from cities like New York, Boston, San Francisco and others got better faster because in their formative years they are going up five times a night to different crowds and grinding it out. The  second key is to always be writing, never let your act atrophy as John says on this podcast.  Keep writing, keep pushing yourself to not rely on the same jokes that work, because as you go on more and more television shows, repeating material is the sure sign that you are coasting along and just getting by. John, who I have been a big fan of from the first time I saw him on television and live on stages rarely repeated material on successive tv spots and he was always working on new stuff if you saw him performing at the Comedy Store. Beyond doing the Tonight Show, dozens of episodic shows like ER,  L.A. Law, The Drew Carey Show, he even had his own sitcom titled: THE GOOD LIFE which is the brass ring that all stand ups aspired to get at that time.  Without any nepotism or connections to show business in the least, John is a great example of what you can achieve if you put your mind to something and work very hard at your craft and always keep learning and keep your eyes on the prize. John was and still is one of the funniest guys I have seen come out of my generation of comedians. Check him out on you tube and the next time you are in Las Vegas where he performs regularly there at the clubs and casinos!

Please welcome to CUWC: John Caponera

There are many people who have stories of going to high school in LA with people who later became famous or infamous. 

We took a little tangent and talked about Yellowstone and Kevin Costner for a bit with a little Ray Liotta mixed in for variety.

Denny recalls a few falling outs with comedians but so many more that he admires including but not limited to Sebastian, Bill Burr, Louie CK, Anthony Jeselnik and others. 

When you think that Denny was just starting out when Laugh-IN and The Smothers Brothers were on the Television and The Vietnam War was dividing our country.

 He is still getting on stages  but no longer going on "the road" as that is the one thing that all comics must give up at one point otherwise they will end up dying on a road gig; which for some is what they have chosen either intentionally or not. 

So sit back and listen to a guy that has been doing stand up for fifty years and counting and still does it with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

Ladies and Gents:   Denny Johnston

 Denny became friendly with Steve Martin, Gary Muledeer and other comedy acts who used musical instruments, lyrics, and singing to add variety and entertainment to their act.  As this was the era of The Smothers Brothers and other anti-war musical acts, It was not uncommon to use songs and musical accompaniment to spread your message however Denny, Steve and Gary were not trying to forge any political statements and if anything they were there really just trying to spread humor, laughs and bring some joy and happiness to a nation and a world that was already feeling the effects of war and a growing sense of hostility between the youth and the older generations.

Denny has worked as a comic for over fifty years which is why I am featuring him in  two separate podcast recordings. His story is quite unique as he never really made the millions that some comics who achieved sitcom level fame and notoriety but as a comic myself and a student of comedy I never saw him do anything but kill on the live stages when I worked on the bill with him or I watched him from the audience. He was a throwback to when comedians of the " olden days" went out every show to KILL, lest they be pulled from the stage with a hook or a hoop or worse yet LOSE a gig or a FUTURE gig if word got out that you failed to produce LAUGHS!

You will hear stories today of his start ups at THE TROUBADOUR in Los Angeles/ reconnecting with his father who had been a famous crooner with Jimmy Dorsey and had a successful film career for a period of time. Denny getting his Carson Spot but with John Davidson and getting his Letterman spot as well.

 His Las Vegas Years, Placing NUMBER ONE and Beating out four other famous comedians for The NATIONAL LAFF OFF in 1980, and second place the next year out of 109 entrants in the highly coveted and respected SAN FRANCISCO COMEDY COMPETITION.

Denny Johnston regularly played all the television shows that featured the top comedians of the time such as EVENING AT THE IMPROV, SHOWTIME COMEDY CLUB NETWORK, THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW, DR.DEMENTO 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION and many many more.

Where Denny truly shined, like many other great performers such as Shecky Greene, Don Rickles et al was on the live comedy stage. Some entertainers, and often some of the greatest could not be captured on the small screen as their talent was being in the moment and performing for that crowd that was assembled in front of them that night.

In our discussion here, many reasons why the live performance is the true barometer for what makes a GREAT COMIC, come out organically in Denny's stories of the things that worked in his career and the things that did not. 

I was honored to have Denny on my podcast and if you are a fan of comedy and comedians Denny is a living time capsule on stand up comedy, with over a half century of time where he performed to audiences and with a very high batting average of laughs and success..

Please Welcome to the mics of CUWC/ 

DENNY JOHNSTON

Pete came from a musical background as his Dad played the accordion, which has spawned its share of jokes over the years but he was the first accordion soloist at West Point, and in the course of his duties he played for Presidents and heads of State.

While Pete could play the accordion, he gravitated more towards the guitar and being from Cleveland ( the future site of the Rock and Roll HOF, which he also helped campaign for to be in his home town) he ended up being in many bands in his formative years and always figured the rest of his life would be playing music professionally. 

Well, he was certainly half right. He still plays music professionally but it is presented in the context of his stand up comedy, which he is happily in the thirty plus year club in that profession.

Pete's Uncle, Don George certainly was a big deal in music as he worked for big music companies for his entire career including: A&M, Universal, MCA, Mercury Records and many more. He gave Pete some jobs before he started comedy which gave him invaluable experience on the Business side of show business.

Pete has great stories of coming into comedy and winning a fifty dollar contest on his first shot. He had talent from the start but is quick to point out that luck and good fortune didn't hurt either. Kerry Pollock, a seasoned Comedy/magician took him under his wing early on and from there he was introduced to weeks of continuous work on a circuit above what an opening act would generally be immersed in. He just put his head down and worked hard while keeping his eyes and ears open to what a Pro like Kerry could do with an audience night after night and week after week.

He has quite a story on how being cast ( as a principle extra) in the Film: The Shawshank Redemption, pretty much gave him better experience than he might've gotten had he spent the money and years getting a degree in film.  

Plus some sordid tales he witnessed but never really embarked in from Ye Ole Comedy Road and how he still loves doing comedy but is also enjoying continued acting parts.

Pete never turns down a gig but his management has requested he stay in town ( LA ) more so he can be available for casting in the many streaming series which have really become the best delivery system for comedy and short form episodic shows.

Please welcome my guest: Pete George to the CUWC microphone today! 

She not only got on those early stand up TV shows like "An Evening at The Improv" ( 4 appearances) but also performed on "Caroline's Comedy Hour" and was the lone female comic on what has long been considered one of the best Years/ Versions of "The Young Comedians Special" which aired on HBO yearly and had become the  premier and most coveted spot to show what you had to a national and worldwide audience. Jann appeared on   "The 13th Annual Young Comedians Special" ( 1989)

As her star continued to rise she appeared twice on The Tonight show with Johnny Carson, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, The Late show with David Letterman as well as spots on episodic shows like: ER, Mad About You, Diagnosis Murder, Norm and two of the greatest comedy series ever: Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  We discuss her Seinfeld spot which is considered one of the top episodes ever where Jerry and George try to figure out how to break up with one roommate, to pick up the other one, would best be solved by requesting a menage a trois to which both girls accept.  Jerry scarily rebuffs shrieking, "I CAN'T DO IT, I'M NOT AN ORGY GUY...I'd have to grow a mustache and get all kinds of robes and lotions....I'd need thick carpeting and weirdo lighting and get orgy friends...No, Im not ready for it!"

 It was probably one of Jerry's best line deliveries even with the smirk and smile he still pulled it off and George even caved and said,"Yeah, Me neither!"   So Jann Karam as Sandi, one of the potential partners of Jerry, entered into what has been called in SEINFELD LORE and on IMDb one of the top 73, or female dates, girlfriends, encounters with Jerry in the series no matter if it was brief, a date or anything in between.

Jann also discusses her roles on CURB Your Enthusiasm, which due to its long run has had an equally strong impact in terms of comedy as dealing with popular culture and the always changing line of comedy and how close you can get to it and in Larry's case, cross it. 

We also discuss Jann's independent roles and features that she has written and or produced as well as some of the many independent projects she has appeared on to support her friends and colleagues.  

Please welcome to the mics this week:

Jann Karam

It was a Vegas lounge comic named Vinnie Favorito who would ultimately bring these two men together in a joint project of producing a film for the big screen about someone who had risen to headlining clubs and lounges in Las Vegas and becoming the heir apparent to Don Rickles as the premier insult comic" of his time.  Along the way Vinnie had acquired a bit of a gambling problem and had a penchant for borrowing money from folks without reimbursing them in a timely manner.  On July 28th, 2025, their film "Vinnie Plays Vegas: The Con Man of Comedy". will premiere at the Crescent Theater in Beverly Hills and open wide on Amazon Prime streaming services August 11, 2025. Pre Buy on Apple TV -VOD starts on August 5th. Also available on VUDU and will be available in the UK and Ireland.

 Please welcome Brian and Mickey to the mics of CUWC:

Tommy is one of those rare folks who has mastered just about every discipline in comedy from Clown, Mime, Prop Comic, singing, dancing, jokes, gags, impressions and anything else that the club promoter decides to add on three minutes before show time.  In Addition to that he is a Great STORY TELLER in every sense of the word.  Every great story teller also needs great stories and lucky for Tommy and his audiences, most notably, WE LUCKY DUCKYS, ABOUT TO EMBARK HERE ON PART TWO:  

THESE ARE HIS STORIES, THAT HE LIVED, which gives them the

AUTHENTICITY

that ultimately makes them so believable, so funny and so real.

please welcome back to the CUWC mics:   TOMMY MOORE

In this first episode # 38, Tommy regales us of stories that predate the comedy clubs which slowly started appearing in the seventies. Then a comedy boom started across the country in the eighties and by the nineties the clubs started to disappear due to many factors, a few of which there were more comedians competing for less dollars and other socio-economic figures that came into play, which Tommy explains.  

Tommy was a local Philly boy, born and bred and while he was never a "made man" in the "Good Fellas" sense, he was street wise and business wise enough to know how to deal with them, as well as all the other myriad club bookers, managers, agents, and wanna be show biz types that one encounters in the always wacky and always changing business of show. 

I know you will enjoy this PART ONE episode Of Tommy Moore as he tells tales only like a master story teller can.  Ladies and Gents;

The Great TOMMY MOORE:

In his early days he worked on the road at comedy clubs as well as the college circuit. After getting into Las Vegas and getting more of a name for himself he was a top opener for the Temptations and other high profile music acts for a period of time between the nineties and the early two thousands.  He has funny stories about some Las Vegas gigs, working on Everybody Loves Raymond and going to lunch with Peter Boyle, his idol since watching “ Young Frankenstein” as a kid …

He shares a little heartache and a few hiccups along the way but his indomitable spirit and Never Say Quit attitude took him past any detours that he encountered. We also discussed how prevalent depression and mental illness and stress is in the entertainment business and what mental health issues did to top comics like Rich Jeni, Robin Williams and countless others and Kivi is thankful and grateful for his entire  journey; Sometimes just pinching himself for being able to make a living and raise his kids and support his family in a manner that he may have only dreamed of while growing up as a child in South Central, Los Angeles.  Please welcome to the CUWC mics today,  Mr. Kivi Rogers

In 1978, she took an under grad degree from ( CAL) Berkeley, and to the sheer delight of her parents,  started doing stand up comedy at what she, nor anyone else knew, was to be the advent of a comedy boom unlike any other time in American or modern day history.

 Many things contributed to that timing but Carrie was actually hopping on to a train that had been slowly chugging along since 1972, when The Comedy Store first opened its doors and within five years, every major city would have comedy clubs and most minor cities would have comedy in bars, saloons, restaurants or wherever someone could convince an establishment to let three novice funny people talk into a microphone at least one day per week.

 Carrie went further than most in the biz and ended up as a television writer, producer and talent in addition to being a much sought after stand up comedienne in Major Comedy Clubs in the U.S. and the greater planet Earth!

Please welcome the rather saucy and outspoken: Carrie Snow! 🎙️🤣🎬

He went on to write and produce his own comedy specials, television series, Films and he was named  Comedian of the Year at the American Comedy Awards. While many might be resting on their laurels after all that he has been mentoring younger comics in sobriety and  inviting them into his circle by letting them tour and open for him and see what life is like in the higher levels of the comedy world.

Craig has authored two books and through his Laughter Heals Foundation and Laughter Worx  he has been bringing the power  of laughter to the business and corporate world and raising the bar from stand up and trying to help people really experience the healing powers of laughter.

Craig was getting pulled by his business partner so this is a somewhat abbreviated podcast today but all things Craig Shoemaker are easy to find online. He is still a busy touring comedian, as since recording  this podcast he just returned from Headlining at the Tempe, Arizona Improv and knowing him he is probably already off sharing the love and the laughs with another lucky group of humans somewhere in the world.

I hope you enjoy ( as much as I did hahaha) the dynamic comedy of Craig Showmaker!

Before long he wrote a screenplay and moved back to LA and was accepted into the UCLA Film Dept. based on Bruce's screenplay and their ever growing list of gigs they were performing around town. 

AS Bruce says on the pod this was all pre comedy club and comedy explosion but his timing was spot on as no less than Robin WILLIAMS, DAVID LETTERMAN, GARRY SHANDLING et al were featured in his early student films.

As fate would have it Bruce was just starting to cook as the infamous Sunset Strip was giving birth to The Comedy Store and with it the first wave of comedians who were  born and bred there, most of whom traveled from the four corners of the USA as well as Russia ( Yakov ). Bruce was one of those original types who wasn't just telling jokes or doing a monologue on stage, rather he used props and played musical ditties and created more of an audio/visual panorama of comedy from the stage. 

His class of Comedy (1976) gave stand up a Turbo boost by doing comedy in syndication on the show "MAKE ME LAUGH" hosted by Bobby Van.  It played the same comedians for five days straight and in smaller markets that did not yet have comedy clubs. By the early eighties every major, medium and small city had COMEDY CLUBS EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY IN A BAR, SALOON, RESTAURANT OR BANQUET ROOM.  Comedy had exploded and Bruce and his comedy colleagues were riding the perfect storm.  Bruce went on to headline at comedy club, casinos and night clubs for the rest of his career all the while writing, producing for television series as well as appearing on Hollywood Squares, Match Game, Arsenio Hall, The Simpsons and creating his own brand of short films and independent features which were always and still to this day his passion. 

Look for " BRUCE BAUMS PERSONAL STASH" soon to be streaming on your favorite services as well as all his award winning shorts and films that were featured on Fox television, Comedy Central, SHOWTIME, HBO, as well as his student films with Robin, David and Garry and his epic Clown Away starring George Carlin, Garry Shandling and Carrie Snow.

When in doubt go to BruceBaum.com where you can access his Facebook, Instagram and Youtube Channel which will link to all of his comedy content, films and merch.

please welcome to our mics this week,  Bruce "baby man" Baum 

That sounds more like the start of a Farrelly Brothers comedy film but for Mark it was the start of a new life and his comedy career has been going strong for 40 plus years.

Mark had been working as an insurance salesman for Liberty Mutual, but once he found comedy he attacked it with the type of perseverance that one truly needs to not only make it but have a sustained career as a comedian.   I first ran into Mark at the Newport Beach LAFF STOP where they ran a Monday ZOO nights for the up and comers, first timers, and guys like us who had a little experience but needed a room to practice and work on " The Act!"

We kind of fell out of touch until social media came around, but we reconnected as Fbook friends and it was easy to see that he has worked his entire adult life as a stand up in comedy clubs, colleges, and on the corporate circuit, which is a very coveted and niche market for any comedian to maintain.

I always remember Mark as a friendly and good guy who always had a smile on his face and it seems like his confident and friendly demeanor has served him well throughout his professional life.

We catch up and chat about the glory road days of the eighties and nineties and how he stays closer to home now and in addition to headlining clubs and opening shows for big name stars, he also does many benefits and shows for causes to help out folks who need some assistance or a little more attention to their programs.

Mark was also happy to bring me up to date to his son Drew and daughter in law Lauren and their three children who have made him a proud Grampa.

I only wish the hour didn't go by so quickly but it was great to catch up with not only a great comedian but just a great guy; Please welcome to the CUWC's mics this week:

Mark Knope

Bruce graduated from Boston University with a business degree in marketing in 1988 and quickly headed to Los Angeles to try his hand at stand up comedy and acting.  From the first time I met Bruce he always had a smile on his face and a positive spirit and determination that whatever he was doing it was going to work. He took his training in competitive wrestling (Freestyle State Champion) and Powerlifting ( He set National Records) and used that ambition to drive him to success in stand up comedy as well as writing for sit coms and Variety shows. 

Bruce readily admits that the timing of coming to Los Angeles and breaking into stand up in 1988 could not have been better.  Stand up was still in its first boom and they were handing out sitcoms to whichever comic, male or female was funny enough and powerful enough to lead a sitcom ensemble cast.

  Bruce early on was one of three MC’s at the Santa Monica and Melrose Improvs and consequently was not only bringing up all the brightest and best comics who were on the fast track to their own sit coms but he was also being seen by the agents, managers and show runners in Hollywood who cast those same shows.  Before long Bruce was promoted from MC to regular spots and then he was noticed by comics who were a few years ahead of him and liked what they saw.

The Wayans brothers brought Bruce into their group and he started hanging with them, pitching jokes, bits, ideas and over the course of many years Keenan, Damon, Shawn and Marlon were instrumental in Bruce getting staff writing jobs on all three of their respective talk shows and sitcoms two of which made the 100 plus  episode mark. Bruce was nominated for an Emmy for his work producing The Wayne Brady Show! 

Earlier in his career,  Bruce’s own comedic and stand up talents got him great spots on Arsenio, Star Search, Evening at the Improv, LCS and finally on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  He also scored TV Guest Star shots on Married with Children, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Weird Science, Men Behaving Badly, The King of Queens and the MTV Video Music Awards, The Critics Awards and Comedy Central

Bruce’s comedy resume had so many television and writing credits he went on to headline clubs, colleges and casinos in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City. In 2009 he created, hosted and produced over 200 live shows of THE LAUGH PACK with all the best comedians around. ( See clips on YouTube) Also checkout  www.brucefine.com 

Bruce joined his family business about 12 years ago and is now a Financial Registered Representative and Insurance Specialist. He helps friends and folks in and around the entertainment industry become more fiscally safe and sound.

Please welcome to my podcast this week:

Bruce Fine

After a while he started getting a  lot of  work on cruise ships. While they used to have a negative connotation, ( Boat Acts) now every comic of his generation always asks “ Hey, can you get me on the ships?” About fifteen years ago he moved to Las Vegas where he found he could live cheaper than in Los Angeles and have nicer amenities. Now after working for Royal Caribbean cruise line steadily for 20 plus years he calls the Lake Tahoe area his home with a wife three kids and fresh air, skiing and and less stress and strife from the city life. Rick is one of the good guys and counts himself as one of the lucky ones to be able to make a living at comedy for all of his adult life. I hope you enjoy the podcast!

He grew up on the east coast but visited his Dad in Los Angeles when he was 22 and decided to just stay and see what he could do in the LA theater scene.  From doing impressions and impersonations as a waiter he landed a role on  Rick Dees late night talk show and everything kind of snowballed after that. 

He worked hard and networked and he was getting announcing jobs and warm up comedy gigs for sitcoms and it all stemmed from his talent for using his voice and all the impersonations he was able to do which was just starting to become a real commodity in the business of entertainment. 

He booked a number of jobs on television shows as a voice over actor or character part but he also started doing voice and singing impressions as a cruise ship entertainer and that has served him well for over thirty years. He met his wife, Marlise through his theater work and now, their daughter Juliette is a young woman  and also doing well working behind the camera and editing booth in the technical aspects of the business. 

Never one to sit around waiting for the phone to ring, Paul and Marlise have worked in tandem on many projects they have written and created themselves and they produce, edit and make them all happen right down to the red carpet and award shows for talent. Paul also works in collaboration with friends  to write and produce entertainment for film and television.  Just check out his IMDb page! I was quite inspired by all that Paul and his friends and family have created from starting out with no show biz connections or wealthy uncles in the biz. A great example of how anyone with the talent, desire and drive to take a shot can create whatever they want to be a success. 

Often times comedians are their own harshest critics and Ritch in this episode talks about the inequity of talent vs breaks vs luck and all the myriad stressors, behaviors and personal challenges that can make or break any career and certainly the fragile plane where “ show biz success “ is just one blog, post or reel away from getting one cancelled. Ritch has done whatever he had to do to keep going and keep producing laughs on stage, television and film whether by writing, producing or performing it himself. He is a cherished personage and commodity in a business that has generally not been kind to those of a certain age.   Ritch has helped many comedians when they needed assistance in their last years whether it be with go fund me’s or benefit performances or helping out on documentaries and it’s good to see him now busier than he has ever been with not only his history of comedy show but performing in shows with comics of his generation or in his local community where he champions the up and coming comics who he feels are some of the greatest young comics he has seen to date. Please give a listen to one of the greats from the boomer generation who not only honors the legendary comics on whose shoulders we stand but also gives a leg up to the next generation of comics who are just now entering the  fold. Ladies and gentleman: Ritch Shydner

While most comedians start off from scratch he already had a fair amount of time speaking and performing in front of audiences and at many different venues.

He loved comedy and the whole art of stand up so he was hungry and caught on fast.  He has been working steadily as a standup comic since the early nineties and has long since not only become a headliner but a headliner that is a “ draw” where people are coming to see him specifically which is the ultimate credit that every comedian seeks to attain.  Darren did his first Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2002 and has added numerous more television credits such as Premium Blend, Comic View, Dry Bar Comedy and he is currently in the comedy film “ Holy Cash“ at AMC Theaters and streaming networks.

  Darren is a stand up who has risen to the highest levels and maintained a humility and likeability that is not always the case in the comedy world.   Not only has he hit close to 20 million views on his short comedy clips he features on Instagram  but is most proud of his happy marriage to his wife as well as their son Austin, aka "AusTheBassBoss" who is an accomplished musician and following quickly in the entertainment footsteps of Dad.

Please welcome to the mics, Darren “ the PARTY STARTER” Carter!

This was a fourteen day cruise and the first one we had gone on without friends, relatives or castaways so we were determined to see every comedy show and as many of the large shows as we could fit in.  

Phil who wisely whittled his last name down to TAG, ( after countless teachers, coaches and cruise directors had no doubt been butchering it for years) hit the stage in great voice, energy and a take no prisoners delivery.  

The wife and I both liked him immediately and saw not only his early show but his later, more spicy show as well.  I'm proud to say that of the few comics I passed my card to, he was the first to respond and the first to come on my podcast.

There are a large number of comics and entertainers that hail from New Jersey, The Boss, Eddie ( lives there) Dave Attell, Jeff Ross, Artie Lange and one could easily add Phil to this list. 

Entering comedy during the 80's BOOM, he was a working club comic within two years and quickly added a Showtime stand up Comedy credit and many writing credits early on. He eventually landed Evening at the Improv, Star Search, and at least one Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as writing for Norm Macdonald for two seasons of "Weekend Update!"

It was really fun talking with Phil as he regales a very busy career on the road, in Major Casinos, a Muti-year contract working for the MGM-Disney studios in Florida as well as  close to twenty years as a top tier Cruise ship comedian.

Next up, Phil will throw down anchor in New York City and start calling out markers for TV and Movie writing gigs as well as performing on all the top stages in the Big Apple.

Please welcome to the mics this week:  PHIL TAG 

Born and raised in Dubuque,Iowa, David was on his way to the west coast when he stopped in Colorado on advice from his brothers and that has been his homeland and home base in comedy ever since.  

He is a member of the 35 plus year club in stand up.  He has always enjoyed and loved the driving and scenery of being a road comic.  After years of doing carpentry and furniture making as a hobby he switched to photography and you can see the pictures yourself on his social media pages and his photos are award winners and now make up his annual calendar selections.

Please enjoy the experiences and stories shared this week as we welcome David Testroet to our mics.

Most comics weren't working much, if at all, so her timing was perfect.  She had no agenda other than to just interview comics and hear their stories.

She had only started her comedy career maybe five years prior to the Pandemic so she was a newbie and relative unknown, which was also a plus for her because comics far and wide were not intimidated or suspect of someone who greeted you with a smile, a laugh and charming demeanor.

So here we are close to five years later and she has amassed well over one thousand ( that's correct 1000) ZOOM PODCASTS for COMICS SPOT and shows no signs of slowing down.

On my podcast ( I was a little intimidated by interviewing the Queen of podcasting) she tells of her early days in Portland and going into the Army and being stationed in Germany and her working life which her longest employment was in banking.  

She really found her niche when she started in stand up comedy close to ten years ago, and has made her bones in Las Vegas and only recently decided to return to her place of birth and take on The Big Apple.    please welcome to the mics : Linda Markus Smith .

 In College, beyond simply acting, he also took to learning the technical and theater production sides of the business.  Before long he was a union stagehand working on Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews and other television programs.  As with most artists, Steve became bored quickly and left a secure job with the Art Department at Rockwell and started a period where he became a beat poet, bartender, magician and working pro and decorated member of the Magic Castle.

  As time went on and he found himself married with child, an opportunity came up for him to teach acting and comedy and soon after the Academy of Comedy was born.  Steve has been a mensch to me and all my comedy brethren from the first years we met and started working for him and his many comedy rooms, venues and clubs.  The only person who ever had a bad thing to say about him is spoken of toward the end of the podcast.  Please welcome to our mics, Steve Klasky

Always a funny kid he did what he could as a smaller lad to keep his classmates and friends laughing as opposed to giving beat downs. His natural friendliness was his best anti-fight kryptonite as he said the fighting part was never much of a problem in his life.

From his earliest jobs at places like McDonalds , he was a go getter and learned the value of a hard work ethic and cooperating with employees and bosses so that everyone came out ahead.  

A long time businessman involved in mortgage loan companies and real estate, he started getting on stage later that some but that hasn't stifled his progress or enthusiasm. Scott's material and delivery aided by his natural sales acumen has made him a sought after act for testimonials, benefits, fundraisers and the local comedy club circuits in Los Angeles. I even learned he has an entire history with rap music and music writing and production. I will share some of his original songs on the link.

Please help me welcome the always up tempo, multi faceted comic and entertainer to our mics today:  Scott Shimamoto

He caught the bug immediately and within a short time he let his realtor license lapse and told his guys he was burning the boats and they replied that he could always come back if he wanted to.....  that was over 35 years ago and he has not only made a living in comedy but done it on his own terms.

Mark's up tempo personality  and  cheerful demeanor combined with his natural skill for sales were the perfect ingredients for a man to switch careers at thirty years of age.  Many comics start out young before they have had much life experience whereas there have also been more than people realize who don't get into comedy until they've lived a little and frankly I think they become better comedians because of that. There are always exceptions but the comics who are great enough to come right out of the gate would never have made it in any other job anyway. 

Mark's quick success got him bookings with the major road clubs with folks like George Lopez, Davis Spade and others giving him high marks to club owners and national comedy chains.  When the clubs faltered a little in the nineties he naturally added corporate comedy to his resume and eventually made his way onto the premiere cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, which have served him well, and he works as much as he wants to even though he is at the age where he could slow down if and when he wants to.  

Mark's own creation and brand show is titled " THE SPOUSE WHISPERER!"  and he performs that show all around the country and the world for whatever club, convention or corporate sponsor wants a show specifically for their audience.  

If was really fun to catch up with Mark after working with him in Portland over thirty years ago.  He is just a wealth of information and any comic young or old would do well  listening to his road tales and sage advice.  Some great Norm MacDonald stories in here as well as Jimmy Fallon and others.

Please welcome to the mics, the always funny and entertaining...Mark Cordes. 

Chris has been continuing to audition and act in commercials and indie films while also making a name for himself in the L.A. stand up comedy circuit.

Once listening to Chris I'm sure you'll agree that his charming personality, youthful demeanor and quick wit are all ingredients that will help ensure he will continue to entertain audiences and make a name for himself in stand up comedy!

He candidly admits to refusing a record deal when he should have accepted it. He explains how even the Beatles got a lousy deal and they were the greatest band ever.  Fortunately his comedy career was greatly enhanced by his musical talents and Adam Sandler was one of many people who helped Chance out by making him one of the four singers who performed a special song in the film" Eight Crazy Nights"  

Listen to this amazing man tell his stories of the twists and turns in his music career which name Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, BMI, EPIC and ARISTA records just some of the folks he encountered along his journey.... Ladies and Gentleman,  Chance Langton

Greg paid his dues at the Westwood Comedy Store and came up alongside Sam Kinison, Argus Hamilton, Dice Clay, while watching his idol Freddie Prinze lose his life! Greg was there to witness first hand Jay Leno, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr and others shoot to the Stratosphere.  Greg was happy to just be one of the comedy family and decided early on he didn't want to spend his life out on the lonesome road which had  laid claim to more than its share of bodies and souls over the years. Greg had a fine career on his own terms and worked when and where he wanted until calling it a career after 18 years. He sure has a lot of stories though and still might have a screenplay or two left in him before the last roundup is called.

Please welcome to our mic this week, Greg Hilbers

His story reads like a Screenplay if not a documentary; first generation Canuck, middle child, parents emigrated from Macedonia and made a life for their family of five by hard work and old world values. 

Mike moved from Windsor to Vancouver at 21 to try his hand at the crew side of show biz. On this podcast he will talk of growing up, playing sports, pursuing pro hockey but ultimately the acting bug caught him.

For all his young years he worked behind the camera but with the same passion and dedication he now puts in front. In a relatively short time he has appeared in television commercials, Inde. films; he is currently shooting a feature and he has also appeared in a commercial during the Super Bowl and he has been nominated and won top awards for performances in the independent film market.  How can you not root for a guy with his passion and heart and on top of all that, he posts clips, shorts, reels and gags on social media every day. 

Ladies and Gentleman: Coming up to our mics, please welcome, JOVO 

I took no time at all for Willie to fall in love with the comedy life, night life and getting paid to tour the country with comics and friends and get paid well to do it.  He opened for Jay Leno early on at the Houston, Texas LAFF STOP and that credit served him well all the way up until he became a road headliner which wasn't too many years after he had started.

I know you will enjoy listening to Willie talk about his many appearances opening for big name singers and appearing on just about every cable comedy show that employed comics steadily through the eighties and nineties. Still the same nice, humble guy he  has always been, he discusses a few health hiccups and detours but life has brought him full circle back to Claremont with his wife and his son who is about the age now that Willie was when he started his journey.    Ladies and Gentleman, coming to the mic, it is my pleasure to introduce to you,   Willie Randolph....

Watching Sam perform is akin to watching a happy tiger prowling the stage as he is always in motion and is very physical sometimes leaping from the stage into the crowd or running across the stage to make a point or just have fun.

Sam started going on the road and worked the national circuit of comedy clubs.  As a former marine he eventually added the military tours to his comedy caravan working such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait and many others to entertain the troops. 

He has additionally become a much sought after comedian working the cruise ship circuit as well as opening for Celebrities such as Ray Romano, Brad Garrett and many others. He performed alongside Brad Garrett on a very funny week of Celebrity Family Feud and Sam will be performing at Brad Garretts Comedy Club at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at the end of July. I know you will enjoy the great spirit and fun chat I have with Sam about his great ride in stand up comedy.

"You Can Only Do One Thing!"

Gene loved Drawing, Acting and Music, so one day he wrote them all on a piece of paper and threw them into the air and when they landed they opened up the portal for ANIMATION. 

Gene had some great mentors early on and along the way he has worked for and with everyone from Hanna Barbera, Disney, Walter Lantz, Tex Avery, Art Klokey to his own company... HAMMINATION!

In Addition to that, he taught ANIMATION for ten years passing along his artistry to the next generation of animators. Like many actors and creatives, he spent enough time at The Improv and The Comedy Store in LA, to eventually develop his own comedy routines and I for one can attest to seeing his act in Los Angeles in a theater not even six months ago and he is like a Gentle Giant morphing the one liners of Stephen Wright with the wacky style of Jonathan Winters. I know you will enjoy hearing the wisdom and wit of my guest, Gene Hamm.

All these years later and Brad has carved out quite a career as an actor, writer and comedian. One of those rare beings who has successfully avoided a day job because he uses many talents and trades to make his living.  The author of more than a dozen plays, he earns his royalties whenever these plays are performed on a stage. He has written for episodic television as well as acted in many shows such as Parks and Recreation and a two year turn on The Young and the Restless, where he played Izzy Adams, the Scoundrel!

As a comic he worked for years in a group called Moving Violations as well as part of a two man team with comic Buzz Belmondo. Brad continues to perform as a stand up comic as he is now in a position where he can choose the gigs he will enjoy doing.  He also has worn the hats of producer, director and editor so he sets a great example to both young and old in the business; Don't wait for the world to come to you, but rather produce the best stuff you can and get it out there for the world to see!

After moving from the Lake Tahoe area down to LA to break into stand up and learn her craft in 1987, she left LA in 1992 to return back to her home in Carson Valley, Nevada where she would start a family and continue to perform, produce and teach comedy all while raising her kids in the place where she has called home for most of her adult life.   She produced her own comedy show at the Carson Valley Inn Casino for fifteen years all the while teaching comedy workshops to people of all ages, to help others find their empowerment through humor.  Kat is also very passionate about animals, the environment and her entire community. I know you will enjoy hearing just some of Kat's stories and memories from her truly inspirational and unique comedy career!