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#39: C.J. Sullivan
C.J. Sullivan has been a staple in the Chicago comedy scene for many years. He was chosen as one of the “Top 12 Rising Stars to Look Out For” by Chicago Magazine and he won the “Comics Choice” award for ‘Best Comic in Chicago’ and for the past five years he’s been the host and writer of “Visitor’s Locker Room” sports comedy radio show. You can also listen to him on Sirius Radio’s – Blue Collar Radio show. He’s done commercials for Old Style Beer, Mickeys, and Jose Cuervo, and most recently, C.J. appeared on “Mash Up” for Comedy Central. What makes C.J. so unique is that he is a comedian AND a poker player—and not some wanna-be schmuck who tries to hustle you and your buddies at your Sunday night house game. C.J. has a World Series of Poker 3rd place title to his name. BEFORE WE GET STARTED… The C.J. Sullivan interview was bit different then any previous piece done thus far. Rather than at a comedy club, C.J. requested that this interview take place at Richard’s Bar—a bar C.J. says is the best dive in Chicago. And after my experience there, I couldn’t agree more. Richard’s Bar is a special place. They’ve got Sinatra on the jukebox. The walls are decorated with Rat Pack memorabilia, Goodfellas stills, and portraits of Al Capone. Not to mention, it is the only place where you can still smoke indoors. PRE-INTERVIEW MEAL Does this place have food specials? Maybe get a plate of nachos before we start? […]
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#38: Nore Davis
Nore Davis is a rising star in the world of comedy with a recent performance in the 2014 New Faces Of Comedy showcase at the Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival, along with appearances on Comedy Central, MTV, and Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV. He also has television-acting roles in Inside Amy Schumer, Last Week Tonight, and the Emmy Award winning HBO series Boardwalk Empire. To add to his list of accomplishments, he just released his debut album, Home Game, which is now available on iTunes. Nore was nice enough to share his story, talk shop, and give some advice & wisdom about the comedy journey. Enjoy! BACKSTORY So you’re what, 9-10 years in? Hm…going on 10, but who keeps track?! [laughs] Just keep writing and keep being funny. And make money doing what you love. ‘Cause if you ain’t makin’ money, it’s a goddamn hobby! And hobbies don’t pay. What got you into comedy? In college, I did improv, but I sucked at it! So I didn’t like it. [laughs] I felt like I had to find my own way. Then, Ben Bailey came into my college and he was FUNNY! And now, I perform at colleges and kids come up to me like, “How’d you get started?” And he was the one who did that for me when I was in college! It’s really cool seeing that. Who were your comedy inspirations? I studied Pryor and Murphy and Cosby because the guys I look up to looked up to them. But, those guys weren’t […]
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#37: Chris Porter
Chris Porter is a Los Angeles comedian who originally came out of Kansas City. Only 6 months after moving to L.A., Chris became a third place finalist on season 4 of Last Comic Standing. Since then, he has appeared on The Bob & Tom Show, Live At Gotham, Comedy Central’s Live Tour, along with Comedy Central Presents. His one-hour stand up special Ugly and Angry is available on Netflix. In the middle of touring the country, Chris was kind enough to share his story along with advice on moving to Los Angeles for comedy, what it means to find your voice, and what it was like to tour with Mitch Hedberg. HECKLERS You tweeted about one your shows and how some people got kicked out, but on their way out they demanded that you be drug tested? W.hat happened? Ah, well it was a Christmas party and they thought they could just come in and talk during my show, and when they realized they couldn’t do that, they got upset and got asked to leave. They said that about me while they were being taken away—like how when people try to argue with the cops after they’ve been busted, but they have nothing to argue about. So that’s when they shouted out, “Well he’s on drugs!” And I mean yeah, they were right… [moment of laughter] BACKSTORY You got your start in Kansas City. How long until you moved to L.A.? I had done comedy for about 7 years. I didn’t leave Kansas City until there were no other options. A lot of people […]
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#36: Joe Bartnick
Joe Bartnick is a 17 year veteran out of Los Angeles who frequently travels to perform with Paul Virzi, Jason Lawhead, Kevin Shea, and Bill Burr. He is one of the original members of the Bill Burr Presents: The All In Comedy Tour. Joe hosts the Puck Off hockey podcast with Frazer Smith, and is also the host of the Insensitivity Training comedy show with Cort McCown at the Ice House in Pasadena, California. Joe was great to talk to and left behind some really valuable advice on moving up in the comedy world, making the right friends, performing in theaters VS clubs, and what it was like to go on the road with Mitch Hedberg. Enjoy! BACKSTORY Where did you get your start in comedy? I started in San Francisco, which was a very warm comedy community. But of course, everybody’s always nice to you when you start. It’s when you start getting GOOD, they start getting jealous. [laughs] But no, there’s very few places that are great to START comedy, and San Francisco is one of them. What was it like when you started? I started off in coffee shops and laundromats—in fact, I came in third in a laundromat comedy competition! [laughs] And Al Madrigal won the competition! But hey, that’s how we started. You just have to play EVERYWHERE. When you’re starting out, the only way to get better is if you do something like 7-10 sets a week. Networking is a big part of this business. […]
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#35: Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson is best known for being one of the original stars of the hit TV show In Living Color, working alongside Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, The Wayans Brothers, and even Tupac! Tommy went on to play numerous roles in a variety of films and TV series, and never stopped doing stand up. He has three Showtime comedy specials: Takin’ It To D.C., Illin’ In Philly, & On The Strength In NYC. Tommy is in town performing this weekend at the Chicago Improv. He was nice enough to talk about advice for comics, fame & success, what it was like to work with Tupac, and of course, sharing his wisdom from the other side of the barricade. Enjoy! TALKIN’ SHOP You’re a very animated comedian. Where does that come from? There’s a few things: 1) I’m natural like that. I always used to be the kind of kid that was real descriptive about things. So that’s somethin’ that’s just in me. It’s like a natural part of how I am. 2) WATCHING. The comedians that I liked and the comedy that I’m attracted to is somebody who moves a lot and can convey a lot of ideas in a short amount of time. I never was attracted to the kind of comedians who go, “Sooo…I’m from Kansas City…annnd in Kansas City, we have this and we have that…” [laughs] I like something loud and fast-paced and energetic. And 3) LEARNING. Learning from stage and learning from improv, how […]
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#34: Kyle Kinane
From the suburbs of Chicago to now living in Los Angeles, Kyle Kinane has an impressive resume of performances that include the comedy festivals of Vancouver, Leicester, Washington D.C., Portland, Aspen, and Just For Laughs Chicago. Kinane has two recorded albums to date: Death of the Party and Whiskey Icarus. His TV credits include: Last Call with Carson Daly, The Very Funny Show on TBS, The World Stands Up on the BBC and a part in Judd Apatow’s Funny People. Oh, and he’s also the voice of Comedy Central. Kinane has one hell of a busy schedule, but he was still was cool enough to spare his time for a quick Q&A. BACKSTORY You played in punk rock bands growing up with dreams of being a musician. What instrument did you play? And how do you feel about comedians who incorporate music in with their act? I “played” guitar. I wouldn’t say I gravitate towards musical comedy, but there are some folks who do it well, and I’m a fan of anything done well. Nick Thune, Garfunkel and Oates, etc. There’s a group called the Fringe Riders in L.A. who always crack me up. If it’s good, it’s good, regardless of genre. I know it’s a cliché question, but who are your comedy idols? And who were your comedy mentors? Most everyone from my generation in Chicago emulated Dwayne Kennedy at some point. Hedberg was a big influence early on. Patton Oswalt. Maria Bamford. You started in Chicago, and then you moved to […]
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#33: Yannis Pappas
Yannis Pappas is an international headliner from Brooklyn, New York. He has been featured on CBS, ABC, BET, MTV, AXS TV, VH1, and Comedy Central. He is well known for his characters, Maurica Rodriguez and Mr. Panos who have become internet sensations generating millions of views on YouTube. Yannis is bringing his variety show to Chicago at the UP Comedy Club this weekend. Yannis’ comedic journey has been nothing close to ordinary. He survived being shot. He’s also been struck by lightning! A true survivor who is one of a kind, and was nice enough to share his crazy tales, along with tips on how to prepare for a TV special, and what it takes to have a long, successful career in this industry. LIGHTNING STRIKES So you’ve been shot before AND you’ve been struck by lightning?! [laughs] I have. I’ve been the luckiest and the unluckiest person! Maybe I fucked God’s wife in another lifetime and he’s trying to whack me! [laughs] [Laughing] I’ve read the story about you getting shot. But what’s the story behind the lightning? I got struck by lightning when I was away at camp. I must have been like, 12 years old. Was it just you? Or did kids around you get struck, too? Yeah. It was three or four of us, I can’t remember. But we were being idiots! [laughs] There was a lightning storm that night, and it got so dangerous that the camp counselors brought all the kids inside to take cover. But then, me and my friends just run […]
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#32: Jeff Ross
Jeff Ross, AKA “The Roastmaster General” is a 25-year veteran who has done it all: He has performed on late night with Leno, Letterman, Kimmel, Fallon, and Ferguson. He has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, including his own show, The Burn with Jeff Ross. He has two recorded stand up specials, No Offense and Jeff Ross Roasts America. He is the author of I Only Roast the Ones I Love. He is heavily involved with the USO as he wrote and directed the documentary Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie in which he starred in with Drew Carey. To top it off, he was the very first guest on the debut episode of the WTF podcast with Marc Maron, one of the top podcasts in the country. Yet, that’s only half of it! Jeff Ross’s nickname comes from his blistering performances of high-profile celebrity roasts that have included Pamela Anderson, Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump, Bob Saget, Charlie Sheen, and James Franco—just to name a few! He is a staple of the New York Friar’s Club, and having been part of the last 11 Comedy Central roasts, he is easily one of the best insult comedians in the business. But as mean as he may seem on stage, off stage Jeff Ross could not have been nicer. Beat with a bad flu, his voice was nearly gone, yet he still insisted to have the interview go on. Given his conditions, it was extremely […]
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#31: Chris Lamberth
Chris Lamberth is stand up comic currently in New York, host of The Mundane Festival podcast. He is a regular at Levity Live comedy club who has gotten the opportunities to work with big name comedians such as: Chris Hardwick, Marc Maron, Paul Virzi, and Bill Burr. An all-around entertainer, aside from stand up comedy, he has a masters in theater from Roosevelt University in Chicago, he’s done improv at New York’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade, and on top of that he can sing! He also recently appeared in a comedy sketch by JL Cauvin. This is a fun interview where Chris tells his story of how he got started in stand up, and how he got to where he is now. Through his journey, he discussed what it was like to open for Chris Hardwick in a sold out theater, how he met Paul Virzi, as well as, music, relationships, comedy advice, and of course, The Mundane Festival podcast. Enjoy! BACKSTORY You joke about how you have a masters in theater. On a serious note, what did you do with that masters? I did theater professionally all over Chicago. The work ethic I learned in Chicago was that you had your day job, then you went to rehearsal, and then you did your show. You repeated that week after week after week. And you created art. That’s what that city’s about. After doing that, I moved to New Jersey from Chicago in 2007. Trying to figure things out, I did a community theater production […]
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#30: Joe Matarese
What can be said about Joe Matarese that hasn’t already been said? A comedian out of New York City who’s done it all: Letterman, Ferguson, Kilborn, Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central Presents, Premium Blend, Gotham Comedy Live. He’s done the Montreal Comedy Festival multiple times, he’s been on Howard Stern, and he’s performed with Artie Lange. And these are just to name a few! Matarese recently performed on America’s Got Talent. In his controversial appearance, Matarese received a standing ovation from the sold out crowd as well as all four celebrity judges, with his beloved wife and children alongside him. Yet, in the very next round, Matarese was eliminated after learning just moments before that he would have to perform in front of only the four judges, and no audience. On top of that, the show edited his performance by cutting out crucial parts of his act. The incident left a sour taste that spread throughout the comedy community, which now serves as a cautionary tale for younger comics. Fortunately, the 25-year veteran did not let the negativity get the best of him. He has a very successful podcast called ‘Fixing Joe’ along with a very funny web series also called ‘Fixing Joe’, available on the Official Comedy network. Having the opportunity to meet Matarese was a pleasure, made possible by fellow New York comedian Paul Virzi, host of The Virzi Effect podcast. Matarese could not have been more genuine as we talked about the America’s Got Talent incident along with comedy advice & wisdom, what it is like to work […]
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#29: Paul Virzi
Paul Virzi, host of the The Virzi Effect Podcast, has been a guest and is frequently mentioned on the Bill Burr Monday Morning Podcast. Virzi was also part of Bill Burr Presents: The All In Comedy Tour with Joe Bartnick and Jason Lawhead, and he recently toured with Bill Burr, performing in sold out theaters all across Canada. Talking with Virzi about comedy was both inspiring and entertaining. Virzi opens up to share stories of his dark and troubled past, along with the obstacles he overcame throughout his journey. He also talks about his first time on stage and takes us all the way to opening for Bill Burr at Carnegie Hall, and everything else in between. And most importantly, Virzi shares his knowledge and wisdom with some good ol’ fashioned shop talk, giving advice for other comics. Paul Virzi learned from the best, and it’s time we learn from him. He is recording his debut album this Halloween weekend in Indianapolis at Morty’s Comedy Joint. TROUBLED YOUTH On the podcast you mentioned how you had a troubled childhood. What kinds of things did you go through? For me, my childhood wasn’t GREAT, but I know a lot of people had it worse than me. My parents got divorced when I was five years old, my brother was ten. And that was a brutal divorce, man. It was BRUTAL. My dad just talking about things my mom did wrong, and my mom talking about things my dad did wrong…me and my brother in […]
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#28: Cash Levy
Cash Levy is not just any regular stand up comedian who goes up on stage and tells jokes. Cash incorporates an incredible amount of crowd work that puts his sharp wit and his improvisational skills to the test. His expertise has allowed him to be seen on Comedy Central, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comics Unleashed, and Comedy.TV. Cash most recently produced and released his one-hour special, Cash Levy: Crowd Control which was sold to Mark Cuban’s network, AXS TV, becoming the first stand up ever on that network. Cash also hosts the widely popular podcast, Cashing In With T.J. Miller. Cash had just come from an audition, and was nice enough to take the time to talk about his career, comedy advice, and how he snuck into multiple super bowls. AUDITIONS Cash, how was your audition? Eh well, you never really know with an audition until you find out. Some auditions can go really well, you walk out and get excited, but then you never hear back. And others you think hadn’t gone so well and then you end up gettin’ it, so ya never know. After the audition, you have no choice but to just sit around and wait for the big answer. What is that in-between waiting period like? Well, I try not to think about it much afterwards. Nothing can be done about it at that point anyway. You get a lot better at not even thinking about it much. There’s no rhyme or reason behind it. So I just always kind of assume I’m not gonna […]
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