#48 Michael Grandinetti

The greatness of Michael Grandinetti began at the age of five when he received a magic set for Christmas. From that day forward, he dove right in and never looked back. 30 years later, his accomplishments include: Professional halftime performances at numerous sporting events. A number of television shows and appearances including: NBC’s The World’s Most Dangerous Magic II, The CW’s Masters of Illusion, Fox’s Bones, Pop TV’s Don’t Blink, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, ESPN’s SportsCenter, NBA on TNT, CNBC’s Make It, and The Conan O’Brien Show where he magically made Zack Galifianakis appear during his panel interview. Some of his major sporting events tricks include: Making the Philadelphia Phillies mascot magically appear in center field of Citizens Bank Park. He once threw the first pitch at a Miami Marlins game—only after making the game ball magically appear. During a Chicago Bulls playoff game, he levitated at center court in front of the sold out United Center. He successfully predicted the exact score of Superbowl XXXVII, two weeks in advance, live on Los Angeles radio. And to top it all off, he has also performed at The White House. BACKSTORY How did you go from being the five year old who fell in love with magic, to pursuing magic professionally? Well, because I started so young, I was lucky to have some time to figure everything out. It allowed me to start small and build. My earliest shows were for my neighbors, in my hometown of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, for their […]
#47: Big Jay Oakerson

Big Jay Oakerson is one of the most recognizable comedians in New York City if not the country. He’s been featured on Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening with Ari Shaffir,Comedy Underground with Dave Attell, Louie, Inside Amy Schumer, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Jay has two comedy albums: An American Storyteller and The Crowdwork Sessions: What’s Your F@#king Deal!?! He co-hosts two widely popular podcasts: Legion of Skanks and The Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll Show. He also co-hosts The Bonfire on Comedy Central Serius XM Radio Mondays & Wednesdays from 6-8PM. Big Jay is on tour right now with the humongous Oddball Comedy Festival, featuring Aziz Ansari and Amy Schumer. Right before hosting the Redd’s Apple Ale Festival Stage in Chicago, Jay was nice enough to take the time to discuss comedy, bad jobs, his creative process, and how he handles hecklers. BACKSTORY You used to be a bouncer. How did you go from a bouncer to a comedian? Well, I was young and somebody offered me a job driving strippers to bachelor parties. I thought it would be cool to get paid to watch girls get naked, and I could drive them home. How was it? It wasn’t that cool because all I would do was go be put into a dangerous situation, and then drive home with girls who really were not into the job. Some had kids in social services, or a really abusive boyfriend who didn’t even know they did this. It was […]
#46: J.F. Harris

Named one of the “Comics to See Before They Are Famous” by The Chicago Tribune, J.F. Harris is a road comic based out of New York, who began his comedy career in the iO and Annoyance theaters in Chicago. He also trained at the UCB theaters in New York as well as Los Angeles. He has performed in the New York Comedy Festival, The Wild West Comedy Festival, and the Just For Laughs festival in both Calgary and Winnipeg. J.F. performs all over the country, and just recently performed at Comedians You Should Know in Chicago. In this interview, J.F. shares what it is like to live as a road comic, being a sober comic, and advice on dealing with writer’s block. BACKSTORY You joke about growing up with disabilities. Care to talk about it? When I was young, I was riddled with disabilities. In a bit that I do, I list them off—in fact there are things I don’t put on that list because after a while people are just like, “What the hell?!” Do you think your sense of humor stems from those experiences? Ya know, I don’t remember a lot from my childhood, probably because I just blocked it all out. I think I had a sense of humor, but I don’t think I developed actual comedy skills until much later in life. All the guys in my group were really funny, and everyone was really good at “ball bustin’”. I’m from the East Coast tradition where everyone just makes fun […]
#45: FLUFFY & FRIENDS

This is the most interesting interview done to date. In what was perceived as a failed attempt to interview Gabriel Iglesias himself, ended up being a fantastic interview filled with advice and wisdom from the comedians who tour and open for Gabriel Iglesias regularly. The way it happened is, Gabriel Iglesias sold out the entire Toyota Center arena, and then the very next night, Iglesias put on a free show at the Improv for the first 300 fans who showed up with proof of tickets from the previous night. On this show titled “Fluffy & Friends”, Gabriel Iglesias showcased his favorite up-and-coming comedians open and tour with him–comedians who have appeared on Comedy Central, and so much more. The comedians in this interview include: Shaun Latham: Shaun appeared on the first season of “Gabriel Iglesias Presents: Stand Up Revolution” on Comedy Central. Shaun has traveled all across the country opening for Gabriel Iglesias. G. Reilly: Performs in every major club in Los Angeles, and travels all across the country with Gabriel Iglesias. He also appeared in “Aloha Fluffy: Gabriel Iglesias Live From Hawaii”. Dillon Garcia: Dillon appeared on “Gabriel Iglesias Presents: Stand Up Revolution” on Comedy Central. Aside from opening for big names like Gabriel Iglesias, Dillon has also opened for Nick Swardson, Dave Chappelle. SHAUN LATHAM What’s the best advice you can give to young comics? Best advice? Just keep doing it. JUST. KEEP. DOING IT. Don’t listen to the punks that are on your level. The last thing you want is […]
#44: Maria Tornberg

Maria Tornberg is a Swedish-born actress who is perhaps most widely known for her role as “The Hot German Girl” in the comedy classic, Super Troopers. The popularity of her role sparked a petition to bring her back for Super Troopers 2, which is rumored to be in the works. But aside from that, she is also a model, a writer, a poet, a director, and she also has her own photography business! In this interview, we talk about Maria’s journey from Sweden to Hollywood, and the horrific obstacles she had to overcome before living out her dreams. Through her experiences, she shares wonderful wisdom and advice on what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry today. SUPER TROOPERS Does it ever get old being known as “The Hot Girl from Super Troopers”? No! It never gets old! That movie was a great experience for me. It was my very first film that I did in the United States. It opened up so many doors for me, and it’s a part of my life. But, I have SO many other things that I’m working on that people will know me for as well. Super Troopers 2 is supposedly in the works. There is a petition for them to bring you back. Why bother with the petition? You should be in it no matter what, right?! [laughs] I don’t know, I’m just going with it. It’s funny to me. I didn’t even know there was going to be a Super Troopers 2 until somebody asked me […]
#43: Azhar Usman

A former attorney and dot-com businessman, Azhar Usman is a Chicago-based stand up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. CNN called him “America’s Funniest Muslim”. As the co-founder of the comedy showcase “Allah Made Me Funny––The Official Muslim Comedy Tour,” he has toured over 20 countries, on five continents. His comedy has been profiled & reviewed by over 100 major world media outlets including: The New York Times, The Economist, BBC, The Guardian, NPR, TIME Magazine, The Times of India, USA Today, Fox News, and Nightline on ABC. In 2003, Azhar released his self-produced comedy album, Square the Circle, which gained a cult following among Muslim communities worldwide. It also got the attention of Dave Chappelle, whom Azhar frequently opens for. Azhar’s recent performances include: JFL audition at UP Comedy Club, SCOUT Chicago Festival, and NBCUniversal Second City Break Out Comedy Festival. In this interview, Azhar shares his stories of performing all over the world, opening for Dave Chappelle, and advice and wisdom to live by. “Azhar Usman is untouchable.” –Dave Chappelle BACKSTORY In the beginning, who were your influences? An impactful moment was seeing Paul Rodriguez make fun of the word ‘Hispanic’ saying, “How would you like to be part of an ethnicity with the word PANIC in it?!” [laughs] I remember thinking, “Wow, this guy is a Latino in America getting them to laugh at his pain as a minority. AND he’s saying some real shit! What was your first open mic experience like? Acme open mic, Minnesota. I wanted to do stand […]
#42: Dave Foley

Dave Foley is one of the founding members of the comedy troupe Kids in the Hall, which developed a cult following and earned widespread critical acclaim. The show was nominated for several Emmy Awards and won Canada’s Gemini Award multiple times. He was also one of the leads on the TV sitcom News Radio. Foley came to the Second City in Chicago to conduct a friendly Q&A session hosted by Second City Chicago’s Main Stage performer Katie Rich, who now writes for Saturday Night Live. In this interview, Foley talks about where Kids in the Hall originated, overcoming rejection, his personal writing process, writing for stand up VS writing for TV & movies, and of course, general advice and wisdom. KIDS IN THE HALL ORIGIN STORY So can I say that you dropped out of high school? I did. You CAN say that. [audience laughter] Yes but do you…uhh…encourage that for others? [audience laughter] Yes! I think it’s a complete waste of time, obviously. I say drop out! [audience laughter] Get a career in television, get a couple of ex-wives, and then start doing stand up! [audience laughter / applause break] You and Kevin McDonald founded Kids in the Hall together. How did you guys meet? We met at a Second City workshop. I was randomly paired with Kevin for a mirror exercise, and we had to make each other laugh by doing the mirror exercise and that’s when we went, “Oh, we both think this is stupid!” [audience laughter] So by the end of that class he […]
#41: Michael Palascak

Michael Palascak has an outstanding resume: Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Conan, a Comedy Central half hour special, and also an album titled Job Opening, which is available on iTunes. In this interview, Michael shares his story, his wisdom behind his writing process, and professional advice on preparing a TV set. Enjoy! WRITING PROCESS Your material is extremely tight. What are some ways to make jokes tighter? Well, I would do a lot of open mics, so I think doing it a lot and seeing where people don’t laugh makes you get rid of those lines that don’t get laughs anymore. For me, it hurts my self esteem to not get a laugh over and over again, so I stop saying those words that don’t get laughs. Is there such thing as writing a joke that works every single time? Or is that an unrealistic expectation? When I started out, I thought I could write a joke that would work everywhere, really well, no matter what. Yet, everybody brings their own point of view to the joke. Therefore, some crowds will love it, and some won’t. I think the goal should be to appeal to what your sense of humor is, and hopefully people notice that. Is there more to a joke than just the writing and the delivery? I think a lot of things go into it: Where you are in the […]
#40: Alia Janine

Alia Janine is an ex-porn-star-turned-New-York-comedienne, with a fascinating story. Having once lived the life of a dancer, a model, and an actress in the adult industry, she had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the adult business: Nina Hartley, Ginger Lynn, Sean Michaels, and Ron Jeremy. Retired from adult entertainment in 2012, Alia moved to New York the following year to pursue comedy. She’s accomplished so much in a short amount of time: Performing at The Stand, The Comedy Cellar, Stand Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club. Working with Dave Attell, Big Jay Oakerson, Christian Finnegan, Brody Stevens, Yannis Pappas, Jay Pharoah, & Duncan Trussell. Alia Janine also hosts a comedy podcast: The Scatterbrains Podcast, which is part of her own podcast network, The Misfits Network. She also runs a monthly show, Cut Throat Comedy, at the world famous Cutting Room, in New York City. On top of being a well-rounded entertainer, Alia Janine is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, having been inducted in numerous national and international honors societies. Alia Janine is without question, the most interesting interview thus far. We talk a lot about comedy and porn and how the two relate. Enjoy! COMEDY VS PORN pt. I What do you think is more terrifying: Doing comedy or doing porn? Definitely being on stage telling jokes! Even being on stage when I was a stripper, I had more control over the audience. Even though I’m getting more comfortable with comedy, it’s definitely more nerve-racking. Is stripping like “open mic” […]
#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? […]
#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 […]
#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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