Here’s more on Lynne:

Lynne Koplitz is a graduate of Troy State University in Alabama and did community theatre in Nashville, Knoxville and Atlanta before moving to New York City where she tried stand-up comedy on a whim. She’s a regular at Stand-Up New York, Comic Strip Live and Gotham Comedy Club. Lynne co-starred on SONY’s syndicated talk show Life and Style with Jules Asner, Kimora Lee Simmons and Cynthia Garrett.

She has her own ½ hour comedy special on Comedy Central Presents: Lynne Koplitz currently in rotation on Comedy Central. She performed at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival twice. Lynne was also the co-host of the comedy cooking show How to Boil Water on the Food Network and a co-host of last year’s Shop & Style on NBC. Lynne was first noticed as the host of Telepictures Change of Heart, the nationally syndicated relationship show.

She has appeared as a guest host of NBC’s Later, has had a development deal with NBC for her own sitcom, was a featured comedienne on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, and guest starred on NBC’s Extra and NBC’s The Other Half.

Check out her website - www.lynne-koplitz.com

Here’s more on Lord:

Lord Carrett’s comedy is like an iceberg. There’s a lot that doesn’t immediately meet the eye, both in the jokes themselves, and the way he puts them together.

Lord says: “People don’t realize how much they really learn about me from the jokes. Ninety percent of my subject matter is the truth: my dad did own a bar, my sister is super religious, and my second wife did tell me “I want my life back” 90 days after I moved cross country to start our life together. Most of my comedy comes from my trying to make sense of nonsense, or vice versa.”

He’s a ‘recovery artist.” Lord elaborates: “There are a whole lot of jokes that don’t have a set place in my act… they ‘float’—they’re insults to the audience, or jokes about my own discomfort, or the situation I find myself in, and I fall back on them when a joke doesn’t get a response.”

One of Lord’s biggest influences, Johnny Carson, was famous for the same ability. Lord maintains: “Anyone my age that says they weren’t influenced by Carson is lying.” His other influences include radio comedians Groucho Marx, and W.C. Fields, which seems fitting, because radio is where most people know Carrett from.

Lord’s managed the rare feat of headlining theaters without a sitcom or major television exposure. While he’s appeared on television ranging from Showtime to”A Dating Story,” radio is where he’s made his reputation. His ability to work within that medium’s verbal confines without sacrificing any of the impact led The Baltimore Sun to describe him as: “A cross between Sid Caesar and Sid Vicious.”

He’s made eighteen appearances on the nationally syndicated BOB & TOM RADIO NETWORK–reaching more people with each appearance than he would on The Tonight Show. His CD “UNSWEETENED” is in heavy rotation on both XM and SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO’s comedy stations. He also had his own comedy special on XM. All the exposure led to his first CD: UNSWEETENED being re-released on the KOOL KAT imprint and receiving international distribution. (Ask for it at a major retailer near you!)

The idea behind “UNSWEETENED” is as unique as Lord himself. It was recorded in one show, one take with no editing or laugh track added. It’s the only comedy CD with “the heckling left in and a woman thrown out!” Lord explains the concept (from the liner notes:) “Why UNSWEETENED? I figure any idiot can record a couple of week’s worth of shows and edit them into a killer comedy CD, but it takes a special kind of idiot to record and release a single show intact. This is one show, one take, exactly as it went down, with the mindless heckling left in (and a woman tossed out!)”

Lord reaches 5 million listeners with each appearance on the show, which is heard on 150 stations, and many more download the show or listen online. The Bob and Tom Show is now on television, as part of WGN America, one of the largest cable networks in American television. The TV show is an edited version of the radio show, which is being filmed in HD every morning, edited, and then broadcast each evening. Lord’s also guested on the TV show.

For more on Lord… check out www.lordoflaughs.com

Here’s more on Jim: Clubs Improv - Cleveland, OH Pickwick and Frolic - Cleveland, OH Helium - Philadelphia, PA Ground Floor Theatre - Cleveland, OH Bassa Vita Lounge - Lakewood, OH

Radio Heard on Maxwell’s show WMMS 100.7- Cleveland, OH

Misc. Recently, Jim wrote and directed a promo for NBC’s “The Office” and entered it in a contest run by the network. Jim’s promo was selected as a semi-finalist from over four-hundred entries and was featured on NBC.com. This past September, Jim performed in the Boston Comedy Festival. Writer and performer for “Detention”, live and taped sketch comedy show. Jim produces a video podcast available through iTunes and other RSS readers.

For more on Jim… check out www.jimtews.com

Dan Tessitore is our guest this week. He plays colleges, bars, and comedy clubs all throughout the Midwest. During the day, Dan is a college professor at Eastern Illinois University. We talk about being a college teacher, his professor ratings, and setting up your own comedy shows. Check out his website: www.dantessitore.com

Michael Kosta joins us on the show this week. You’ve seen him on Comedy Central and Showtime. You’ve also heard him on Bob and Tom. He’s a former professional tennis player and we talk about the transition from tennis to comedy. We also talk about the number one rule in comedy and his comedic influences.

Here’s more on Michael: Michael Kosta has appeared on Comedy Central’s ‘Live at Gotham’, and at the HBO/ US Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colorado. His stand up has been seen on TBS during commercial breaks and he’s be showcased on Showtime’s ‘Live Nude Comedy’ (no he won’t be nude) and at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. Michael can also be heard on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show and on the Playboy Comedy Channel on XM/ Sirius Satellite radio. Michael recently hosted his second season of “CCHA All Access” on the Fox Sports Network, where he won a Michigan EMMY as a performer/host. Michael lives in Los Angeles where he hopes to soon become famous and forget all the little people.

Check out his website: www.michaelkosta.com

Tommy Johnagin joins us on the show this week. He’s been on The Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, and he’s a regular on Bob and Tom. We discuss dropping out of college to pursue comedy, advice from Mike Birbiglia, and why hard work pays off.

Here’s more on Tommy:

Tommy Johnagin started stand-up at the age of eighteen, dropping out of college at twenty-one to become a full time comedian. Tommy vows he will one day make enough money to pay his parents back for the six semesters of college he wasted.

Tommy is an autobiographical comedian who doesn’t curse on stage and has a gift of finding something funny in everyone he meets and everything he does. Tommy takes great pride in his writing. Tommy is already a favorite at comedy clubs all across the country working almost every week. In 2007 Tommy was invited to the prestigious “Just For Laughs” comedy festival in Montreal, Canada where he was the highest reviewed “New Face.”

He has also appeared at Comedy Central’s “South Beach Comedy Festival”

TV credits include: Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”, CMT’s “Comedy Stage” and “Last Comic Standing”. In May of 2008 he made his debut on “The Late Show” with David Letterman and has already made his second appearance in just over a year. In 2009 he had his own 1/2 hour special on Comedy Central that re-airs regularly.

He has also been a guest numerous times on the nationally syndicated radio program “The Bob and Tom Show”.

Check out Tommy’s website: www.tommyjcomedy.com

Chris Schlichting is our guest this week. He’s played colleges and comedy clubs all across the country. In the first half of the interview, we talk about being a teacher and a new dad and how that impacts his comedy. In the second half of the interview, we talk about Teen Wolf, pro wrestling, and Paranormal Activity.

Here’s more on Chris:

Growing up on the mean streets of Iowa, Chris knew that he either had to take up stand-up comedy or join the notorious Iowa gang known as “The Farmers.” Chris has been entertaining audiences ever since a first grade holiday concert where his “six geese a laying” solo stole the show and really frustrated the girl with the “five golden rings” solo. Described as “hilarious” by his mom and as “not having a real job” by his dad, Chris takes pride in his goofy, yet sincere stand-up style. This unique comic is quickly gaining a reputation as the best comedian on the planet, if by “planet” you mean “his street.” With the confidence of a lion, the agility of a puma, and the intelligence of a really smart house cat, Chris is sure to be a comic that will leave you wanting more.

Be sure to check out Chris’ website: www.schlickcomedy.com

Here’s more on Tom:

Tom Simmons does an unbelievable job of blending comedy and philosophy into one of the best all around comedy shows that you can see. A true comedian in every sense of the word. He has toured practically non-stop for ten years developing his act and himself.

This is truly a great comedian who has a unique ability to make you think differently, question cultural and personal beliefs- all while being incredibly funny. Seriously spit-take funny. Tom’s goal as a comedian is not just to be funny and make you laugh, but to genuinely be one of the best- to be mentioned in the same sentence with greats like Chappelle, Rock, Carlin, Seinfeld.

Come see this show and see what constant work and dedication means. Tom’s comedy takes chances that most comedians won’t take all while embracing the audience and genuinely caring that they laugh and enjoy themselves. The show will entertain with subjects from being a new father and relationships, to socially relevant issues like violence, war, racism, and frustrations we all have with the world and one another. It is easily relatable and seriously funny… Like a Blue Collar Tour for people that read.

He has appeared on Comedy Central, Showtime, BET, NBC, and has written for numerous comedians. Tracks from all four of his comedy CD’s can be heard daily on both XM and Sirius radio. He has appeared on Bob and Tom, at the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, The Boston Comedy Festival, as well as performing with Comics on Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Check out Tom’s website: www.tomsimmons.com

Here’s more on Heywood:

Heywood Banks is simply one-of-a-kind, almost impossible to describe, with a style his very own. Equal parts genius and buffoon, this songwriter-comic-singer-poet-musician has become a cult hero and a pop icon, with a show that appeals to college students, stoners, businessmen, yuppies, rednecks, punks, kids or your grandmother.

Heywood intersperses his humorous observations of life with twisted, inventive, bizarre songs, sung and played in a variety of styles, from folk, to country to rock to pop, and way beyond.

You have to be pretty smart to get Heywood at his deepest level (he demands a high level of pop culture literacy), but you can also enjoy him just for his vocal style impersonations, expert musicianship and just plain silliness.

Heywood has been featured in “Rolling Stone Magazine” and “People Magazine.” He won First Place in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search Contest.

Heywood Banks has appeared on A&E’s “Evening at the Improv,” MTV’s “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour,” CNN’s “Hollywood Minute,” “Caroline’s Comedy Hour,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Showtime Comedy Club Network,” “Dr. Demento Show,” “12th Annual HBO Young Comedians Special with Paul Rodriguez” and is a frequent guest on the national Bob and Tom radio show.

Stuart Mitchell, the creator of Heywood Banks, tells us that his character was born on a mountaintop in Tennessee and lived for many many years in a log trailer. Heywood’s biological parents, Hank and Heyena Banks were killed in a freak revolving restaurant accident back in the sixties - someone had hit the Puree Button by mistake…grisly! Eventually raised by mathematical parents, Heywood was working in a Kroger bagging groceries when he was hit in the head with a can of lunchmeat, giving him spamnesia. This caused him problems for years as he became afraid of the dark, but couldn’t sleep with the light on. “Did that ever happen to you???”

For more on Heywood, check out his website… www.heywoodbanks.com

It’s the Halloween edition of The Stand-Up Chronicles with our guest Greg Lausch. In honor of Halloween, we talk comedy horror stories, rituals, superstitions, and Bruce Springsteen (even though he has nothing to do with Halloween). Greg is a nationally touring stand-up comedian. He’s performed at comedy clubs, colleges, bars, frat houses, living rooms, hotels, restaurants, and probably every bowling alley with a liquor license in the continental United States.

Here’s more on Greg:

At the tender age of 21, disillusioned with college, ‘regular life,’ and doing things the way he always thought they were ’supposed’ to be done, Greg decided to follow a long-held dream and hop on a comedy stage to see what would happen. What happened changed his life forever. That was the beginning. Greg never looked back after that first night. Working two lousy jobs to keep afloat, he got on any comedy stage he could find for three years, working to build an act that would take him on the road.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. I went down to the best club in Baltimore and got a spot on their ‘open mike’ night. I didn’t have any idea how it all worked or what I was doing, but it was something I wanted to do. It was something I thought I might be able to do. Honestly, it was something I had to do.”

For the past ten years, Greg Lausch has been delighting audiences all across the United States with his unique brand of stand-up comedy, rugged good looks, and dashing charm. Well ok, mostly with his stand-up comedy. Ten years out on the road have served Greg well. His live show is something to see. His high energy act and inviting personality take his audience on a ride that guarantees to please. On stage Greg talks about the things that are important to him - things that define him. Greg Lausch is a real guy. He’s got a unique outlook on life and the world around him. He knows who he is. He knows where he fits. And he’s just plain funny.

“I’m not one of those comics who thinks I’m any better than my audience. I don’t pretend to know more than they do. I don’t preach or try to change anybody’s mind about anything. I just get up there and let them know what’s going on with me. I want to connect with the audience, let them get to know me, and have fun with them.”

And he does it all effortlessly with an exuberance and an edge that set him apart from the rest.

Check out Greg’s website: http://www.greglausch.com

Comedian Mike Armstrong sits down for an interview with us this week. You’ve heard and seen him on “Bob and Tom”, HBO, Comedy Central, CMT, and BET. He’s a former police officer. We talk about transitioning from being a full-time cop to a full-time comic. We also talk about the business side of comedy and why he’s never been scared on stage.

Here’s more on Mike:

Raised by loving parents in the conservative mid-west in a small town near Louisville, Kentucky, Mike Armstrong enjoyed a fairly normal childhood. So, what went wrong?

He’s an ex-cop - the kind of cop that most people hope for when they get pulled over. “I’d stop cars and warn the speeding drivers about the speed traps up ahead.”

“I think that when I quit the police department three other cops lost their jobs. They simply didn’t need that many internal affairs officers anymore!” “I’ve been married so long, I don’t even look both ways when I cross the street.”

Mike and his wife have a small herd of children (five). The kids are clones of their father. They’ll say and do just about anything to get attention.

When a teacher asked son Christopher “…is that a lucky rabbits foot?” He responded, “…it was the only thing left in the trap… pretty lucky huh?” When the teacher called Dad to complain about the youngster’s behavior, Mike offered his true feelings… “Shut up! I’m not married to you!”

Check www.mikearmstrong.com for more information on Mike.

Our guest this week is Dan Conlin, the owner of the Jukebox Comedy Club. The Jukebox has been open for nearly 20 years and Dan has run the club for almost 10 years. We discuss his career in radio, what he looks for when booking headliner and feature comics, and he tells the tale of the time he got into a fist fight with a customer.

Tim Bedore joins us on this week to discuss working in radio, moving out of LA, and discovering animal conspiracies. You’ve heard Tim on “Bob and Tom” and NPR and you’ve seen him on HBO, Comedy Central and NBC.

Here’s more on Tim:

Over the past 20 years Tim Bedore has spent thousands of hours entertaining audiences, first on the radio and then as a comedian, headlining comedy clubs across the country. One of the few young comics to have combined the disciplines of stand-up comedy and broadcasting, Tim knows the rigors of working within demanding parameters.

Tim has kept his hand in the radio business through his radio commentary feature Vague But True®, which is heard (since 1997) regularly on public radio’s prestigious Marketplace program by over six-million people. Tim has written and recorded over two hundred-fifty installments of Vague But True. Producing these weekly commentaries for the radio keeps Tim’s stand-up comedy material fresh and topical.

Unlike many comedians whose material is only appropriate for night-clubs, Tim has been able to work very successfully in many different situations, including charity and corporate events as an entertainer and host.

Tim Bedore is a stand-up comedian whose unique background has produced a very professional entertainer who knows how to cut across the boundaries of individual attitudes and get an audience to enjoy his way of looking at the world.

For more on Tim, check out his website www.vaguebuttrue.com

Costaki Economopoulos joins us on the show this week. You know him from the weekly Economonologue segment on “Bob and Tom”. He’s also performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival. We talk about poker, writing the Economonologue segment for “Bob and Tom”, and balancing hobbies and babies.

Here’s more on Costaki:

In the spring of 1993 Costaki was doing graduate work at the University of Georgia. He spent most of his time hammering out a thesis on the influence of political satire on our feelings about government. His off time was spent honing his stand-up skills in pizza joints and bars around town. When he had to turn down a couple of gigs to work on the paper, it made his stomach hurt. He hung in there, finished the thesis, got his master’s degree, and within a year was a full-time comic on the road. He has been creating funniness for audiences all over the country 40+ weeks a year ever since.

His humor has been described as smart, pointed, hip, sharp, insightful, socially relevant, and gut-laugh funny. A fellow comic once referred to Costaki as a “casually brilliant joke philosopher.” His take on politics and religion will leave you thinking and laughing. And his light swagger, playful squint, and wry smile tell you that perhaps there’s more to this multi-layered joke than you first recognized.

Costaki began to make some noise in the business by reaching the finals of the Seattle Comedy Competition, where he was discovered and invited to the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival. He was just one of ten finalists in Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots national talent search. Over the years, Costaki has performed in 47 states, covering the country’s best clubs, dozens of colleges and private shows, and some of the worst bars in America.

Also a talented writer, Costaki’s jokes have appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, and Best Damn Sports Show Period. He was a writer for BET, where he was staffed on two of their hit shows. He wrote jokes for Bette Midler’s Kiss My Brass tour. Costaki spent Spring Break one year in Cancun writing on the MTV show Parental Approval. He also wrote daily for The Complete Sheet, a DJ prep service that goes out to almost 500 stations worldwide.

But he is easily best known for “The Economonologue,” a weekly segment on the syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show that reaches some 5 and half million people in 150 markets. This national exposure has opened the door to Costaki’s dream: people coming to see his live performances “on purpose.”

After a recent performance with Jake Johannsen, Costaki’s mother said, “You were better than that other guy.” And really, is there anything more to say after that?

For more on Costaki, check out his website: www.costaki.com

Tom Segura joins us this week to discuss luck in comedy, the difficulties of starting your comedy career in LA, and finding feature work. Tom has been on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and can be seen in the short film “Cutman”. You can see “Cutman” at atom.com.

Here’s more on Tom:

Born in Cincinnati, Tom Segura has never stayed long in one place. After fleeing Ohio at an early age, Segura soon followed his parents fledgling business ventures and volunteer work to 12 U.S. states and 6 foreign countries. Segura eventually settled in Los Angeles to pursue a career on stage and television. You may have recently seen him sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy: Dave Attell, Jay Mohr, Robert Schimmel, Charlie Murphy, and Sarah Silverman, just to name a few. Tom continues to tour the country performing for audiences with his unique perspective and filthy charm.

Check out his website: www.tomsegura.com

Jake Johannsen joins us this week to talk about being on the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist”. We also talk about his writing process and the strangest places he’s ever done comedy. Jake has been on Letterman 38 times and had his own HBO special called, “This Will Take About An Hour”.

For more on Jake, check out his website: http://www.jakethis.com

Our guest this week is Dale Jones. You’ve seen him on “Last Comic Standing” and heard him on “Bob and Tom”. He just performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Chicago. He joins us this week to discuss starting his comedy career in Nashville, his comedy influences, and his experience on “Last Comic Standing”.

Here’s more on Dale:

Since 1993 Dale Jones has been perfecting his craft and has become one of the most wild and energetic comics in the country. He has entertained audiences at comedy clubs throughout the United States and Canada. His zany on-stage character always sends club patrons to the exits with lots of questions but no disappointments.

His machine gun style of delivery and animated facial contortions combined with quick improvisations and non-stop physical comedy leave the audience wishing they had his energy. Forget “high energy”– this is frantic! His shows are always a most memorable comedy experience. Club owners and managers have gotten used to fielding questions about when Dale will be returning.

Dale has had numerous television appearances including NBC - Last Comic Standing Season Six, Fox Television’s 30 seconds to Fame and The Comedy Network in Canada. He also appeared briefly in the 2003 MGM movie “Out Of Time” with Denzel Washington.

Dale started his career in Nashville, Tennessee. While working (mostly wasting) his days away in a factory, his co-workers dared him to try his hand at his life long dream, making people laugh. He stepped on stage for the first time at a Zanies Comedy Club’s open mike night. Two years later, Dale turned a dream into a reality and started doing stand-up full time.

Dale has worked hard to develop an act that’s truly original and non- stop funny, Dale has fashioned a show that reminds his audience of the great comedians that have influenced him. Abbott and Costello, Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway and Don Knotts.

These influences along with Dale’s unusual observations, only enhance his unique gift for physical comedy and animated facial expressions.

He can be heard on 2 nationally syndicated radio shows; THE BOB AND TOM SHOW and The BOB AND SHERI SHOW. He was one of 8 finalists in “The Great Canadian Laugh Off and he was invited to perform at THE BOSTON COMEDY FESTIVAL, which is a great honor for any working comedian.

Check out his website: www.dalejonescomic.com

Robert Hawkins joins us on the show this week. He was a writer and actor on “Titus” and he’s had his own Comedy Central Presents. We talk about comedian head shots, writing for “Titus”, and getting started.

Here’s more on Robert:

You know, an enormous number of comics–including the vast majority of those who pass through the friendly little place we like to call Cap City–maintain career objectives that include aspirations toward acting in a sitcom, or writing for one. But, hell, Robert Hawkins has already done both–in the same series, no less: the late, lamented “Titus.”

Indeed, he was hired as a story editor, which means he wrote a script or two per season, and contributed mightily to the scripts written by his colleagues, adding jokes, improving dialogue, etc. Before long, his work in the writers room so impressed the Fox show’s producers–who also knew of his acting aspirations and abilities (a few years prior, he had landed a development deal with Fox)–that they cast him in a recurring guest role as Titus’ brother-in-law, Michael.

So when it comes to working in network television, while we wouldn’t exactly say “been there, done that”–we’re guessing that under the right circumstances, he might be persuaded to return to such work–he has logged that experience, and his passion for stand-up has never wavered.

Not coincidentally, perhaps, he’s always had a tremendous flair and a considerable gift for it. One measure of this would be his results over the years in comedy competitions, or similar enterprises.

For example, in 1993, he won the California State University Comedy Competition, while the next year he was a finalist in the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, a contest as venerable and prestigious as Funniest Person In Austin. Then, in 1996, he wowed audiences and industry figures in Montreal at the Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival, which led to Robert being awarded the aforementioned Fox development deal.

In 2001, he was voted one of the 25 top comics in the country in a poll of comedy club owners nominating candidates for the American Comedy Awards. And, perhaps needless to say (given all these victories, achievements and accolades), he’s starred in his own Comedy Central half-hour special, appeared on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” and a slew of other TV shows.

Still, when all is said and done about his work–cable TV, network TV, writing, acting, etc.–Robert Hawkins’ first love is performing comedy in a club in front of a live audience, and obviously he’s pretty damn good at it. Do you want to miss that? Didn’t think so.

Check out his website: www.roberthawkins.biz

Here’s more on Greg:

In his more than 20-year long career in comedy, Greg Morton has been described as “Mr. Standing O”, “a whining cross between Jerry Seinfeld and Jerry Lewis” and “bizarre, original, slick and hilarious.” But when you see him perform, there is one other description that you can add to what Greg Morton is all about “The Ultimate Stand-Up Comedy Act.”

Greg regularly performs in front of packed crowds at comedy clubs across North America, where his shows are always highly anticipated, are greeted with loud, uproarious laughter and are constantly sold out. And he is a fan favorite at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, in Atlantic City and at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. And if you can’t catch Greg on the club circuit, you probably saw him do his original brand of stand-up comedy on the tube, in particular “Premium Blend” on Comedy Central, and “Comics Unleashed” with Byron Allen on the CW network.

But what makes up Greg Morton’s “Ultimate Stand-Up Comedy Act”? First of all, there’s his wide-eyed, anxiety-ridden style of observational comedy. Whether it’s politics, children’s toys, or even hurricanes, he pokes holes at what in the world bothers him in an approach that can best be labelled as “there’s a lot of stupid and absurd things in the world today and this is my stern warning to you.” Second, Greg also has a talent for impersonating voices of celebrities and fictional characters which has transcended into his two trademark routines ‘ condensing the Star Wars saga and the Lord of the Rings trilogy in two minutes each, complete with voices, mannerisms and sound effects. Finally, there’s his fast-paced musical salute to the 1980s, where through accurate lip-synching and quick costume changes, Greg transforms himself into the decade’s pop icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Aerosmith.

A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, Greg began his career not telling jokes, but drawing cartoons, as an illustrator for such animated shows and films like “Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo” and “Heavy Metal.” However, a career at the drawing table was not enough to satisfy Greg’s extroverted, restless nature. So he put down his drawing pencil and took up the microphone as a mobile DJ, and performed at clubs where he played records, told jokes and did comedy skits between the songs. It was following one his DJ gigs at an Edmonton, Alberta club that provided the genesis of his signature Star Wars routine. While the club was being cleaned up after closing time, the bartender, a Star Wars fan, decided to play the movie’s soundtrack over the sound system. Greg then adlibbed some jokes into it, which convinced the bartender that Greg should include it in his act.

In 1986, following stints doing voicework and directing animated productions, Greg combined his talents for joke telling, voice imitations and spinning records and made the transition to stand-up comedy.

And Greg hasn’t forgotten his cartoon roots, as his talents as a voiceover peformer is much in demand, and he can be heard in such animated productions as “Police Academy”, “Super Mario Bros. 3″, “Hammerman” and “Hello Kitty.”

Three kinds of comedy - one comedian - that’s Greg Morton, the “Ultimate Stand-Up Comedy Act.”

Check out his website: www.gregmorton.com

Our guest this week is the host of “Great American Road Trip” on NBC, it’s Reno Collier. Reno is also part of the next generation of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and he’s had his own Comedy Central Presents. We talk about hosting a reality show, his days as a teacher, and how to handle hecklers if you’re a politician.

Here’s more on Reno:

A former P.E. teacher, West Virginia native Reno Collier has endeared himself to a wide range of audiences from college students to church softball teams. With a contagious laugh and friendly, almost intoxicating demeanor, Reno’s observations often find him recalling mishaps of his West Virginia cousins, his Scottish heritage, unruly in-laws and alien abductions.

Reno’s journey began at the Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta, GA where he tended bar to supplement his day job. One night he found himself on stage during the weekly open mic night. His unique outlook on life - mixed with a six-pack - was instantly popular and provided a platform to launch a career as a comedian.

Reno has built a reputation by selling out comedy clubs and colleges nationwide. In 2004 he joined Larry The Cable Guy on the hugely successful “2004 Tour of America”.

Reno’s other national tours look more like a comedian’s wish list than a resume, including theater and arena tours with the legendary Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. In January 2007, he re-joined Larry The Cable Guy for his wildly successful arena tour currently spanning the United States and Canada.

Reno’s past TV credits include NBC’s “Late Friday”, “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher”, “The Martin Short Show”, VH-1’s “The List”, and Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend”.

In 2005 and 2006, Reno headlined the “Comics on Duty” tour for American troops stationed in Iraq. He is a regular fixture on the Bob & Tom syndicated radio show and Country Music Television (CMT), hosting various specials for the network. He has performed at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO and the Montreal Comedy Festival, and in 2005, taped his own “Comedy Central Presents” half-hour special. He can currently be heard during his weekly call-ins to the Blue Collar Comedy Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.

For more on Reno, check out his website: www.renocollier.com

Here’s more on J. Scott:

A Southerner by birth, J. Scott Homan’s eclectic, homespun style has audiences “workin’ up a stain” allover the country. An earthy perspective, quirky wit and modest charm make J. Scott Homan ideally suited for comedy and/ or snake-charming. Talents which should serve him exceedingly well in what is expected to be a long and illustrious career in entertainment.

Check out his website: www.jscotthoman.com

Here’s more on Matt:

The story of his life begins with the good fortune of being raised by humorous parents and being surrounded with a wonderful cast of misfits, felons and fugitives who just happen to be related to him. Who could ask for more? Today, Matt is married (his friends like to call him a “repeat offender”) to a wonderful and supportive woman. The scars, shadows and memories of his past have not been forgotten. It is from this grounded but chaotic life history that Matt has developed and honed his comedic sensibility. He bases his humor on these experiences and never misses an opportunity to laugh at himself and the world around him. Audiences appreciate Matt’s quick, razor-sharp wit and his relaxed style.

Check out his website: www.mattholtcomedy.com

Our guest this week is the brilliantly funny Drew Hastings. He’s been on “The Tonight Show,” he’s a regular on Bob and Tom, and he has a 1-hour Comedy Central special called, “Drew Hastings: Irked & Miffed.”

We discuss starting a comedy career after age 30, working with Bob Odenkirk, and the differences between a stand-up show and a one-man show.

Here’s more on Drew:

“Isn’t it ironic that the finest coffees in the world come from countries where no one has a reason to get up in the morning”?

This is a typical observation from Drew Hastings as he surveys the crowd and begins his show in a recent stand-up performance. At 6′6″ tall, clad in a tailored black suit and trademark black horn-rimmed glasses, Hastings is a commanding presence onstage as he launches into a study of the human condition that is both hilarious and self-deprecating. Though his angst can be easily sensed, he is obviously at home onstage.

Raised in Ohio by a British mother, Drew brings to every performance a down-to-earth Mid-western sensibility tempered – or, rather, contradicted with typical British aloofness and condescension.

Drew Hastings is a raconteur with a lot of stories to tell. Before becoming a comedian at age thirty-one, Drew’s escapades included owning a trucking business (his story “Homo Truck” is a must-hear), running a document shredding company that never actually shredded any documents, leading archaeological expeditions (some would call him “looter”) to South America, and playing polo with stolen horses at polo clubs in Washington, DC and Cincinnati, OH.

And, his foray into psychedelic drug dealing in the early Seventies using a pyramid marketing scheme modeled after Mary Kay Cosmetics is hilarious, though like most of his stories, one never knows when he’ll tell it again.

Drew moved from Ohio to Los Angeles in the early 1990’s, where he was quickly noticed by the entertainment industry. His acting talent landed him a number of guest-starring roles and he has done television pilots for some of the big networks including Fox, NBC, and HBO. He has also made many stand-up appearances on television and is one of a very elite group of comedians to have received a standing ovation on “The Tonight Show.”

His storied and colorful life has been the subject of three different one-person shows, “Commencement Speech,” “Life & Other Short Stories” and “The Business of Living,” a satire of the success/motivational industry. His character from that show, Jack Freeman, found an immediate cult following in Los Angeles, and in 2001 caught the attention of the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show, where the hilarious Freeman was introduced to a much wider national audience. Drew’s initial appearances on the Bob and Tom Show were so well received that he soon became a regular guest, regaling listeners with his stories, questioning his life and everyone else’s, and giving his comedic opinions on just about any topic that comes up. Drew spends much of his time headlining with “The Friends of the Bob and Tom Show” which has played over 70 cities thus far.

“The Bob and Tom Show has been a perfect outlet for me,” says Drew. “I tend to have a no-nonsense Mid-western attitude and their show is a Midwest-based show with a huge National reach.” He adds, “Hollywood has never figured out what to do with me, so I’m just doing it myself.”

When he’s not touring he can be found on his farm in Ohio.

Check out www.drewhastings.com for more information

My guest this week is comedian Dan Telfer. He’s worked with Maria Bamford and Paul F. Tompkins. He just made his first appearance on Bob and Tom and he’s teaching Second City’s first ever stand-up comedy class. We talk about teaching that class plus lots of nerd stuff like video games, comics, and time travel.

Here’s more on Dan: I’ve been acting, writing plays, and performing improv comedy in Chicago for over 10 years, and these days it’s mostly stand-up comedy. I’m a performer and a producer for Chicago Underground Comedy, and I’m often seen around town at places like The Lakeshore Theater, The Lincoln Lodge, and the Belmont Burlesque Revue.

For more on Dan, check out www.dantelfer.com

Here’s more on Tim:

CAPITOL RECORDING ARTIST 1998 - PRESENT

SOLD OVER 500,000 COMEDY CD’S “IT’S A SORRY WORLD” “GETTIN MY MIND RIGHT” “HILLBILLY HOMEBOY” “I SHOULD”VE MARRIED MY FATHER IN LAW” “CERTIFIED ALUMINUM” “SUPER BAD SOUNDS OF THE SEVENTIES” “THE TWANG THANG” “CHURCH LEAGUE SOFTBALL FIST FIGHT”

PRODUCER - “ALL NIGHT ALL STARS” - CAPITOL - (FEATURED GREGG ALLMAN,LEVON HELM,JIMMY HALL)

SOUTHERN TRACKS RECORDING ARTIST

“TOUGH CROWD” “WAKING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD” “LOW CLASS LOVE AFFAIR” “SONGS FOR THE MUSICALLY DISTURBED” “TUNED UP”

TELEVISION

THE TONIGHT SHOW - NBC AMERICAN REVOLUTION: COUNTRY COMEDY - CMT “GRACE UNDER FIRE” - ABC LAS VEGAS COMEDY FESTIVAL “PIT STOP COMEDY” - TBS “MOST WANTED LIVE”- CMT HOST ON MOTOR MADNESS - TNN EVENING AT THE IMPROV - A&E CROOK & CHASE - TNN PRIME TIME COUNTRY - TNN THE GRAND OLD OPRY - TNN

RADIO

JOHN BOY AND BILLY BIG SHOW - A REGULAR GUEST FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS

BOB AND TOM SHOW - A REGULAR GUEST FOR 14 YEARS

Check out Tim’s website - www.timwilsonamerica.com

Here’s more on Greg:

A favorite on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show. He has appeared on Late Night with Conan Obrien, Comedy Central, CBS, ABC, FOX, MTV and CMT.

Greg Hahn has parlayed his absurdly energetic, all out style of physical humor, one liners and crowd work, into an act with no waiting for the funny, just immediate pandemonium and panic. His massive likeable and wild stylings have led to numerous television, club, corporate and now theater appearances throughout the country.

Developmentally arrested, Greg was raised in South Florida where in high school he amused the Catholic nuns by poking holes in his pockets enabling pens and pencils to shoot out of his pant leg.

As a college basketball player his tendency for half court shots got him benched.

As a Captain in the Marines Corps, Greg kept his men highly motivated and could not overemphasize that camouflage is continuous.

While a buyer for Lockheed Corporation, he thought “Why make $200 a day, when I can be a comedian and make that in a week!”

After several serious jobs where he refused to be serious, Greg turned pro as a stand up comedian and landed the absurd gig as emcee for a lumberjack show at Six Flags Great America. This show supplied him with a microphone, four huge audiences a day, drunk ax swinging lumberjacks, and a log rolling dog.

Soon afterwards, he worked as an actor in the Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show at Universal Studios. For $20 an hour, he’d run out, fall down a few times and get hit in the head with a stick.

He continually honed his unique style of comedy and headed to New York City.

While in New York, Greg developed into a touring headliner and costarred in the independent film Tomorrow Night which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Then, after successful shows at the Montreal and Chicago Comedy Festivals, Greg enjoyed hit television appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC), Premium Blend (Comedy Central), Make Me Laugh (5 episodes, Comedy Central), Louis CK’s Pulp Comics (Comedy Central), 30 Seconds to Fame (Fox), Cedric the Entertainer Presents (Fox) and Star Search (CBS).

When appearing on Star Search, Greg was spotted by Tom Griswold of the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show. Greg has since established himself as a favorite guest on the show and starred on the Bob and Tom Comedy Central Special. He also headlines the Friends of The Bob & Tom Theater Tour, which included a stop at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. Country Music Televisions’ “Comedy Stage” and insane appearances on “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” have also added to Greg’s popularity across the country.

Continuing to advance his career in film and television, Greg now lives in Los Angeles where in between shows and acting classes he goes ballistic on the drums and destroys his pathetic fellow comics in ping pong.

Check out Greg’s website: www.greghahn.com

Here’s more on Tom:

Tom Mabe the comedian nationally recognized for getting revenge on those annoying telemarketers, is now going after junk-email, bad customer service, high gas prices and anything else that ticks off Americans. He has been dubbed the troubleshooter-troublemaker and comic with a cause by several national magazines and TV shows. You may remember hearing about the telemarketing convention in Washington D.C. where hundreds of telemarketing big wigs were hoping to get positive press for telemarketers and ultimately discourage any laws being passed that prohibit telemarketing. Mabe checked into the same hotel the telemarketers were staying, found out what floors they were on, what rooms they were in and started calling the telemarketers in their rooms at 3 a.m., trying to sell them stuff like sleeping pills. Everyone from Paul Harvey to The New York Times called Mabe their newest hero. Tom is an award winning songwriter and composer, he tours the country doing stand up comedy.

Check out Tom’s website: www.tommabe.com

Here’s more on Pat:

A person’s birthplace says a lot about a person and Pat Dixon is no exception. Pat Dixon was born in Flint, MI AND Danville, KY as late as 1978. He grew up in the hardscrabble mining town of…I don’t know, somewhere in Pennsylvania. He lived briefly in your town. Now he’s got an apartment above the Ha-Ha Fresh, but why does this matter?

Pat Dixon has a distinct stand-up style and voice which discerning comedy audiences have come to know and love. His comedy is smart but not in an annoying way. Like, he doesn’t think he’s smarter than you, or whatever. If you have average or above average intelligence, and you’re not a dickhead, then you’d probably really like his show. And even stupid dickheads have quite often enjoyed his comedy, too. So even if you’re one of those, then you shouldn’t dismiss him out of hand.

Dixon’s comedy is really subtle, like a gentle breeze against your face. I know, what’s so funny about a gentle breeze on your face? Did I mention the breeze was driving a clown car? And that when the breeze runs over your face, a bunch of other breezes (but not so gentle!) are going to jump out and squirt you with seltzer?

I know. What’s so subtle about a gentle breeze running over my face in a clown car and a bunch of other breezes jumping out and squirting me with seltzer? Do I have to spell everything out for you? It’s a artistic paradox, you stupid dickhead. Two opposing aesthetics, united. That’s the point. Like “Iron Butterfly” or “Led Zeppelin” or “Pink Floyd.” Damn!

Pat Dixon is known from his many performances in clubs, theaters, colleges and casinos across the U.S. as well as his numerous television appearances which include his own half hour special “Comedy Central Presents: Pat Dixon” which debuted to rave reviews from his friends and family in 2006. He has also been seen on “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Premium Blend,” “Very Funny Live!,” and is known for his work as a correspondent on various shows on the E! Network and, most recently, the Fox News program “Red-Eye.”

Dixon is also heard on the radio by hundreds of thousands of loyal listeners each week who tune in for his comedy movie reviews in select markets. If you live in a select market, you are very lucky. Because he only does radio movie reviews in towns that totally rock ass! That’s why they are “select.”

Here’s more on Carmen:

Carmen Lynch is a half-Spaniard who fell into comedy by accident. She wasn’t getting any acting roles because all the boys getting cast were shorter than her…and no one wanted to cast a tall female w/ a short male

“What’s wrong w/ that” she asks “I see comedy all over that”. Unfortunately she had to go for something she could do alone - stand up was the answer.

Carmen Lynch also got to the finals of Last Comic Standing Season One, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, and the Aspen Comedy Festival.

Check out Pat’s website: www.youaretheenemy.com

You can find more information on Carmen at: www.carmenlynch.com

Here’s more on Dan:

After a seven-year stint of headlining San Francisco clubs in the comedy duo Murphy-St.Paul, Dan launched out on his own with a solo act that was to land him in the finals of the nation’s toughest comedy competition, The San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition.

Soon after, Dan moved to Los Angeles and appeared on several episodes of “An Evening at the Improv”, plus numerous shows on VH-1, MTV, and Comedy Central. Since then, he has opened for such superstars as Jerry Seinfeld, Natalie Cole, Dwight Yoakum, Smokey Robinson, and Vince Gill. In a testament to the class of his act, Dan even opened for the San Francisco Symphony (”These guys are great! I knew them back when they were just a garage band.”) .

He appeared in the movie “Flubber” with Robin Williams, and signed a recording deal with MCA records. His CD, “Natural and Good for You” contains one the most requested comedy pieces on radio, “The First Baseball Game”. He also is the star of his own one-man play, “Outer Mission, Middle Class - The Comic Diary of an Immigrant’s Son”.

The Los Angeles Theater and Entertainment Review said about Dan, “Combining a sharp, clean wit with an outstanding talent for creating characters, Dan’s show appeals to audiences of all ages…what sets Dan apart is that he doesn’t just tell jokes, but rather creates a series of comedic events.”

Armed with a Bachelors Degree in Italian from UC Berkeley, a teaching credential from San Francisco State, and a Masters Degree in special education, the majority of Dan’s material comes from being a suburban husband and father and dealing with the frustrations of everyday life.

Corporate clients include Hewlett Packard, National Semiconductor, IBM, Intel, Nations Bank, Philips Magnavox, Chevron, Blue Cross, and many, many more. He customizes his material for each client and event.

Check out Dan’s website at www.danstpaul.com

Here’s more on Paul and Storm:

Paul Sabourin and Greg “Storm” DiCostanzo have been writing and performing original funny music together for a long, long time. They hope their music will make you laugh and feel good for a little while, and believe that this aim is noble, right and just.

Millions are familiar with Paul and Storm and their material from the years they spent as one-half of the widely acclaimed a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook. Bravely picking up instruments in 2004, Paul and Storm continue to write original material as they continue to appear in clubs and at major festivals across the country.

No subject is sacred to this energetic pair as they keep audiences laughing with their humorous and satirical original songs. Paul and Storm’s songs are as catchy and musically interesting as they are funny, and in live performance their harmonies draw comparisons to the Everly Brothers, while their stage presence evokes the Barenaked Ladies.

All of their music is available from their website (www.paulandstorm.com) in CD format or as downloadable mp3’s.

Paul and Storm’s music is often heard on the “Bob and Tom” syndicated morning radio show, and has been heard on “The Drew Carey Show”, Comedy Central, XM Satellite Radio’s “Dr. Demento” show, and on the popular web cartoon site Homestarrunner.com.

Here’s more on Marge and Susan:

Marge Tackes spent her formative years in Chicago, developing her Yankee bitch approach to life. She has a biting, head-on style that results in wild, unabashed comedy. Marge has a wide variety of entertainment experience. For the past ten years she has made a living in comedy, music and acting. Her television credits include Comedy Central, Wake Up Chicago and “Puttin’ On The Laffs”

A former female wrestler, Susan Smith represents the sweet southern belle gone bad. Her act has all the energy you’d expect from this red-headed Amazon. She does impressions, sings and involves the audience with hilarious results. Susan is a seasoned performer and has graced stages throughout the country. She has also appeared on the Disney channel, USA Network and The Nashville Network.

Check out the Untamed Shrews at their website: www.untamedshrews.com

Check out Brett’s website - www.bretterickson.com

Here’s more about Dwight: Despite his youthful appearance, Dwight Slade has the privilege of already being a comedy legend in American stand up. Born in Seattle, Washington, Dwight moved often in his early years, living in San Mateo, California; Wilton, Connecticut; Marietta, Georgia and Houston, Texas.

It was while in middle school in Houston that Dwight became friends with Bill Hicks, an intense young man with a secret dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. The two quickly developed a partnership that has lasted a lifetime. The two became enamored by comedians on The Tonight Show and began writing jokes to try out on friends. Soon they were sneaking of their parent’s suburban homes and riding their bikes to auditions and open mikes. At 14, Bill and Dwight had an 8X10, an agent, and lofty dreams of stardom.

In 1978, a small improv theater opened in Houston called the Comedy Workshop. The two 16 year olds conned school friends into giving them rides to try out their stand-up on open-mike night. The under age performers were often asked to wait outside the club before their show. The duo’s career faced another obstacle when Dwight’s family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Throughout his high school years, Dwight continued to focus on stand-up. As a freshman at the University of Oregon, Slade finished 3rd in the Euphoria Comedy Contest, and full of ambition, moved to Hollywood.Slade reunited with Bill Hicks in 1981 in Los Angeles to write a screenplay. The two, now working as separate stand-ups, began to crack the world of Hollywood. At 18, Slade became one of the youngest performers to ever perform at the famous Comedy Store.

In 1983, the comedy boom was underway and Dwight found he could garner more precious stage time in Portland, Oregon than in Los Angeles. “Why should I live in Los Angeles when I can be just as miserable and unknown in Portland?” Slade moved to and soon established himself as the premier stand-up in the Northwest opening concerts for Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld.

Slade finished his degree at Portland State University in 1985 and hit the road, touring comedy clubs all over North America. 1988 marked the birth of his first child and Dwight made his national television debut on A&E’s Good Time Cafe.

The young family now faced an interesting dilemma: how do you travel on the road as a working comedian and stay together as a family? The solution took the form of a 36 foot fifth wheel travel trailer that the young family toured and lived in for four years while Dwight headlined comedy clubs across the US and Canada. With the birth of their second child, the Slade decided to hang up the nomadic lifestyle and settle down in Portland. “My second child was born in the RV,” says Slade, “We were pulled over at the time.”

It proved to be a good decision.

The 90’s found Dwight moving into new arenas of creativity. Radio station KXL-AM billed him as “The Northwest’s Most Dangerous Mind” as he became a noted talk radio personality who used humor instead of rage to engage listeners. He released two comedy CD’s on Humor Ink recordings, “Weird State,” and “Shut-up.”

Slade’s feature film debut came in 2000 in the movie “Inconceivable,” which enjoyed a run on Showtime and is available for rent at Hollywood Video. Slade also co-starred in the gritty family drama, “My Way Home” which won the Platinum Award at the 2001 Houston International Film Festival.

2002 Proved to be a banner year for Dwight Slade, becoming the first stand-up to make appearances at the three major North American Comedy Festivals, Aspen, Chicago and Montreal in one year. On the heels of his performances, Slade signed a development deal with Warner Brothers Television. Slade was chosen to appear on HBO’s “Best of the US Comedy Arts Festival” and made an appearance on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.

Slade’s stand-up has gained international stature after earning a five star review from Scotland’s Minister of Culture at the prestigious 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and appearances at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival in 2005 and 2006. He followed this with a tour in Afghanistan performing for US Troops and a tour of Israel. He performed in concert with guitar god Jeff Beck and the legendary Lynryd Skynryd and appeared on Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed. Dwight is currently living in Portland, Oregon and is a single father with two children. He continues to touch lives with his comedy and, yes, he is an Aries…

Check out Dwight’s website - www.dwightslade.com

Nick Griffin is our guest this week. You’ve seen him on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and heard him on “Bob and Tom.” We talk about the differences between the New York and LA comedy scenes, the best comedy show he’s ever seen, and how the economy is helping or hindering comedy club shows.

Check out Nick’s website: www.nickgriffin.net

Check out Patti’s website: www.pattivasquez.com

Here’s more on Patti: Patti Vasquez, a Chicago native, got her start over a decade ago after leaving graduate school at Northwestern University to work as an emcee at Zanies Comedy Club in 1995. While she disappointed her parents by never completing her Ph.D in history, she has gone on to star in two hit one-woman shows- “Pregnant Party Girl: From Stoli’s to Stirrups” and “Mamacita: Tales of a Diaper Diva” written by Patti and performed for theater audiences throughout the United States.

Patti’s unique perspective on family and relationships has been described as “Comedy with a Heart.” Her stories about growing up in a multi ethnic American family cause laughter at the unique but all too familiar situations. Patti also exposes the truths about pregnancy and shares the comic moments of giving birth and raising children. She is not afraid to mock, poke fun and examine all the myths, half truths and innuendo most people shy away from. Patti brings everyday events to life in each performance and has become one of the hardest working women in comedy today.

Patti, who is an outspoken advocate for Breast Cancer Research, has created a clever tongue-in-cheek campaign to get women and men more involved and interested in breast cancer research and events. She has participated in fund-raising events with groups such as Gilda’s Club and the Brain Research Foundation in Chicago. She also helps raise funds for Avon’s Breast Cancer Crusade, Y-ME & the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Check out Patti’s website: www.pattivasquez.com

Here’s more about Jeff:

“Funny and smart.” That’s what George Carlin had to say about Jeff Caldwell after a show at Caroline’s in New York. “This guy is incredible,” said Dennis Miller. CBS showed that they agreed with George and Dennis by giving Jeff a deal to develop his own sitcom, and CBS employees David Letterman and Craig Ferguson just had to have Jeff on their shows.

Jeff Caldwell’s quick wit, good taste, and clever material have made him a favorite nationwide. Jeff has shown his comic wares on TV, as a performer and a writer, for corporate clients across America, in colleges (traveling with Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart), and in comedy clubs from the Improv in Hollywood to Big Ben’s Rib Crib in Baltimore. Jeff moved to New York in 1999 and has since become a favorite at the Gotham Comedy Club and the Comic Strip.

Jeff prepared for greatness at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in civil engineering, not traditionally considered a “funny” major. After a shockingly undistinguished nine-month stint with an engineering firm, Jeff decided he was unsatisfied with his student loan debt-load and returned to Johns Hopkins for a Ph.D. program. After two years of pretending to read texts he leapt fully into the hurly-burly of professional stand-up comedy, and ushered in America’s brief love affair with “Engineering Humor.”

Since then Jeff has toured nationally as a comic, building a body of clean and funny material and a warm, witty stage presence. At one Washington, D.C. show, Al and Tipper Gore raved “very funny, very funny” before jealous Secret Service agents rudely swept them away. Jeff is a rare comic who can make the audience double over with laughter without resorting to sleazy, stupid material. It may be his scientific background that enables Jeff to avoid the four-letter words, constructing his show exclusively of five- and eight-letter ones and the occasional semi-colon.

Check out Jeff’s website - www.standupguy.com

This week we are talking to Bobcat Goldthwait and John Evans. Bobcat Goldwait is one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Comedians of All-Time. He’s been in several Police Academy movies and is known for controversial talk show appearances. Recently, he has been spending time behind the camera. He directed “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for three years. He just wrote and directed one of Sundance Film Festival’s most talked about movies. It’s called “World’s Greatest Dad” and stars Robin Williams. It’ll be out this summer. We talk about starting his comedy career at age 15, directing for television versus directing for film, and his time with Nirvana.

John Evans is our second guest. John started doing stand-up in 1996 in Tulsa, Oklahoma with an Andy Rooney impression and a dream. A few years later, John dropped the Andy Rooney impression and landed a spot at the Montreal Comedy Festival “New Faces” show. 2007 proved to be a breakout year for John, with appearances on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”. In 2008, John was again featured on “Last Comic Standing”, this time making it to the Las Vegas semi-finals. Today, John is a regular on the syndicated Bob and Tom radio show, and headlines comedy clubs all over the country. He performs regularly at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California, and has opened for such comedy legends as George Carlin, Mitch Hedberg, Lewis Black, Dave Chapelle, and Gary Shandling. We discuss Last Comic Standing, what makes a good emcee, and featuring for George Carlin. Head to www.johnevanscomedy.com and pick up his CD “High Plains Thrifter”.

Here’s more on Maria from her website www.mariabamford.com: Maria started her performing arts career in Duluth, Minnesota at the age of 11 where she starred in the Chester Park Elementary production of “How the West Was REALLY Won!” (Conservative message that didn’t include the perspective of indigenous nations). A short 24 years of self-discovery and secretarial work later, look at her now! She is certainly on some kind of predestined journey!

• NETFLIX “The Comedians of Comedy Tour”

• Comedy Central’s “The Comedians of Comedy Tour”

• Los Angeles Magazine’s COMIC TO WATCH (2005)

• LA WEEKLY Pick of the Week

• Variety’s Top Ten Comics to Watch

• Late Night with Conan O’Brien

• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

• Comedy Central Presents…Maria Bamford

• Comedy Central: Premium Blend, USO Tour, World Comedy, Tough Crowd

• International TV: ROVE LIVE, THE GLASS HOUSE, THE GALA

• Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor on PRI

• Best in the Festival Melbourne Comedy Festival Winner

Here’s more on Auggie from his website www.auggiesmith.com: So now you ask yourself, who am I? And what qualifies me to be your new daily sherpa? Well, I could tell you the basics: that Auggie Smith is a 14-year veteran of stand-up comedy stages who has won praise for his originality and energy. During Auggie’s set, pop culture targets ranging from the Barbie Doll to celebrity game shows are dissected, piece by piece, into intelligently written, manic rants delivered in a seamless rapid-fire style. He has crafted an honest opinionated, innovative mix of politically incorrect mass appeal, sure to be remembered and guaranteed to entertain.

Or, I could show you what others have said:

“His energetic, hysterical rants leave audiences breathless with laughter.” The Oregonian

“When Auggie Smith takes the stage, get ready for a nonstop barrage of fantastic rapid fire comedy. Auggie’s show is always filled with raw edged, intelligent laughs…The man whose cult following and comedy is quickly giving birth to a new religion.” Comedyspeak.com.

“Auggie Smith resuscitates stand-up with a dose of pop culture and jaded hip…his style will be part of a youth movement attracting younger, hipper crowds to stand-up.” Willamette Week

“Brilliant, non-stop laughs!” Seattle Times

Instead, let’s compare my life to yours. While you were in high school, wasting your time going to parties and having sex with the opposite gender, I was president of the speech team, preparing for my adult role as leader, fine tuning my skills of motivation and discipline. While you were in college, seeking enlightenment and foolishly pursuing your higher education, I was going to comedy open-mics, honing my skills as a public speaker and prophet. When you turned 23 and were planning your wedding to the first of many “soul-mates”, I was winning the Samuel Adams Comedy Competition, which included the prize of appearing on “An evening at the Improv”, my initial introduction to national exposure. A few years later when you were getting out of rehab for the first time, I was doing work on TV and radio commercials as a pitchman, selling my soul and convincing you to buy tacos and cable television. When you were in your late 20’s, I was performing at the Montreal Comedy Festival where organizers included me in 3 different showcases: New Faces, Danger Zone and the Nasty Show.

Now, a few years later, as you look at the mistakes you have made in your life, you find Aug, a national touring headliner who has just released a wildly popular DVD and CD. I think from this day forward, things are going to start working out for you.

Be sure to pick up Auggie’s DVD, “Cult Following,” at his website.

Here’s info on Robert’s new book: “Cancer on $5 a Day (Chemo Not Included)” is stand-up comedian Robert Schimmel’s edgy, hilarious, and poignant musings on his battle with cancer. It is a platform in which he tells his story of overcoming major personal and career obstacles with the power of humor. In the spring of 2000, Robert Schimmel was riding high. He’d won the Stand-Up of the Year Award, his HBO special was a huge hit, and his pilot had been picked up as a series. And then it all came crashing down. Diagnosed with Stage III non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, he was told he would have to undergo chemotherapy immediately. His once white-hot career started to slip away. Being close to death, Robert never lost his sense of humor, and used his sense of humor to get him through an incredibly difficult disease and subsequent medical complications. Robert takes an audience on a journey, from growing up the son of Holocaust survivor parents, to becoming a well-known comedian, and ironically working to make people laugh as his own son was losing his battle with cancer. The fortitude, determination, and humor that got robert through these incredible events in his life are applicable to many of life’s obstacles that so many people face. robert will show how many difficult events in one’s life are survivable - using humor. Alternately laugh-out-loud funny and profound, Robert’s speech is an honest account of how, after the loss of a child, career ups and downs, and himself being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, life is still worth living. Robert’s message demonstrates how his humor got him through all of it and shows the audience that what worked for him can be extremely worthwhile motivator for all facets of anyone’s life.

Be sure to check out Robert’s new comedy special, “Life Since Then”, it just came out on DVD.

Check out Robert’s website: http://www.robertschimmel.com

  Here’s some background on Greg and Eric: Greg is on a new comedy series on Nickelodeon called True Jackson VP. Mr. Greg plays Max Madigan president of Mad Fashion. He hires the teenage True as Vice President and mayhem ensues. Keke Palmer, NAACP Image Award winner, stars as True. Greg joined long time cohort Ryan Stiles in a two-man improvised show, “Unplanned.” They performed for sell out crowds at the Just For laughs Festival in Montreal and taped a gala for the CBC. The Proopdog is best known for his unpredictable appearances on Whose Line is it Anyway? The hit, improvised comedy show on ABC hosted by Drew Carey. Greg is also a regular on the long running British version of WLIIA? Whose Line is currently seen on ABC Family Channel. Mr. Proops is a frequent guest on Chelsea Later on E! and on Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld on Fox News. Proopworld provides the announcer voice for the forthcoming game Mad World for SEGA. He can also be heard as the bad guy Tal Merrick in the animated TV series Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. Greg can also be heard as the voice of Bob the Builder on the popular children’s series seen on PBS. Mr. Proops other television sightings include, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Last Comic Standing, Ugly Betty, The Bigger Picture with Graham Norton on BBC, Mock the Week on BBC2 and The Drew Carey Show. Mr. Prooples regularly hosts his own live comedy chat show at the ridiculously hip Hollywood rock joint Largo. Guests have included Flight of the Conchords, Jason Schwartzman, Russell Brand, Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Joe Walsh, Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Margaret Cho, Dave Eggers, Joan Rivers, Aidan Quinn, Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Griffin, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt and John C. Reilly. Providing musical magic is genius and imp Jon Brion. Mr. Greg was spotted hosting his own syndicated, national dating show Rendez View. He also hosted the now cult classic game show Comedy Central’s VS. Senor Proops threw down an original half-hour of stand up on Comedy Central Presents. Which is repeated ad infinitum. Mr. P. has toured the UK four times, sold out the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 28 years running and has kicked it live in Paris, Turkey, Milan, Aspen, Montreal, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.

“The village is full of idiots, and I’m one of em.” Eric has used this all inclusive philosophy to find his voice as a comedic writer and performer. Eric has worked as a producer, head writer, and performer for more than 30 original, multi-media sketch shows. Currently, he is a contributing writer on the Emmy Nominated Flak Radio podcast. Eric is always on the look out for new collaborative opportunities with artists of any discipline and strives to create original performance pieces and uniquely funny films.

This week we talk to Pat Godwin about nerves, Last Comic Standing, and doing comedy on a bus full of kids. Pat Godwin has been writing songs, performing in clubs and releasing CD’s since he was 20 years old. It was only when Pat’s style took a turn, and he began adding more humor to his live act that people started taking notice. Before long, his banter with the audience was funny and his songs were even funnier. Pat plunged headfirst into comedy and discovered his true calling. Though Pat’s been charming audiences in clubs for years and has been featured on every major radio morning show in the country, his greatest achievement came just recently with the release of his new comedy album Under the Bed. Godwin wrote and recorded an eclectic compilation of new tunes, live favorites as well as exorcising some of the demons left behind from a relationship gone wrong. But don’t let that dark description scare you, Under the Bed is hilarious, and getting heavy rotation on the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.” It contains the Number 1 most requested song, “Gangsta Folk” as well as the smash hits “First Date,” “Nobody Speaks English, Anymore,” and “Voices in my Head.” It’s comes as no surprise that Godwin is enjoying some success, seeing as how he possesses one of the most entertaining and original live shows in the business. Because he’s got such strong material and highly developed improvisational skills, no two shows are ever the same… not even close. And don’t let that sly boyish smile fool you; it only takes about three seconds on stage to realize that Pat’s comedy has an edge to it. With a mix of quirky, personal musings and off the cuff remarks, Godwin can segue in to any one of his songs, performed in an endless array of musical styles. Aside from his standup career, Godwin has blossomed into one of the most clever and prolific comedy songwriters in the business. Pat first broke onto the scene with his holiday classic “Let’s Put Christ Back in Christmas” from the album Reindeer Games, which received airplay all over the country. After that, it wasn’t long before Godwin’s talents were being used on radio morning shows; a medium Pat is more than familiar with. He’s appeared on every top morning show you can think of, worked for six years on Philadelphia’s “Morning Zoo” and was a frequent guest and contributor to “The Howard Stern Show”.

In our second episode, I talk to Henry Phillips about his song writing process, his new movie, ‘Punching the Clown’, and dealing with radio DJs. Henry Phillips, who has been seen performing his hilariously twisted songs and stories on Comedy Central, ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and NBC’s ‘Late Friday’. He can also be heard regularly on the Bob & Tom Show, performing such songs as ‘The Guitar Pill’ and ‘She’s Talking Again’. His nationally released CDs, fusing mellow folk-rock ballads with taboo-smashing lyrics have earned him mention in Billboard magazine’s ‘Critic’s Choice’, as well as acclaim from the king of novelty music himself, Dr. Demento, who referred to Phillips as “The funniest young singer-songwriter to come our way in quite a while.”

In this episode, we interview stand-up comic Mike MacRae. We discuss what makes a good comedy club, how he got started, his first appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, and his writing process. A native of St. Louis, Mike MacRae moved to Houston in 1995 where he started performing stand-up at local college events. After getting out of school in 1999, Mike started going up at the legendary Houston Laff Stop and soon developed his trademark combination of insightful social and cultural commentary with uncanny, unique impressions. In 2001, Mike made his television debut on Comedy Central’s ‘Premium Blend’, and a year later he was selected ‘Best Local Comedian’ by the Houston Press. 2003 saw Mike’s debut on the nationally syndicated morning radio program ‘The Bob and Tom Show’. Mike is now a regular favorite on the show and is a part of the “Bob & Tom Comedy All Stars” theater tour. In May 2007, Mike made his network television debut when ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ invited Mike to perform as part of “Impressionist Week”. In addition, he was the national spokesman for “IvyBlock” and has lent his distinctive voice to dozens of popular anime cartoons, including “Super Milk Chan” on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. His first CD, ‘Hovercraft’, was released in 2007. In 2008 Mike got the call to join the cast of the popular late-night sketch show “Frank TV” on TBS. Along with Frank Caliendo and Freddy Lockhart, Mike uses his impression skills to explore the zone of insanity where politics, pop culture, and the media collide. Mike MacRae continues to be a regular performer in comedy clubs all across the country, and splits his time between Los Angeles and Austin, TX, where he lives with his fiancé and her fucking cat. For more on Mike, check out his website: http://www.mikemacrae.com