Wise beyond his years, the innocent-seeming Matt Kirshen has an extraordinary breadth of experience in UK comedy, even before “Last Comic Standing” introduced him to an American audience.  As well as some very vigorous technical analysis, the perky polymath gives us a uniquely transatlantic perspective on how it all works, and goes hog-wild for tagging jokes…

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Filed Under: Amy Saunders, Andrew Maxwell, Bill Burr, Carey Marx, Carl Donnelly, Chris Martin, Comedy Central, Ed Byrne, Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Gein's Family Giftshop, Glee Club, Glenn Wool, Hannibal Buress, Henning Wehn, Interview, Jim Jefferies, Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson, Last Comic Standing, Lenny Henry, London, Louis CK, Maria Bamford, Nick Doody, Paul Byrne, Phil Nichol, Podcasting, Quality Control, Richard Herring, Russell Howard, Sarah Millican, Saturday Night Live, Setlist, SNL, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stephen K Amos, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, Tom Stade, Trevor Noah, Up The Creek, USA, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

Wickedly spiky and dry as sand, controversy-courting stand-up Jena Friedman has writing credits for “Letterman” and “The Daily Show” under her belt.  We discover her unusual origin, as her thesis on Chicago’s improv scene drew her into the undertow of the comedy world, and talk in depth about the courage required to “own” difficult material...

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Filed Under: Controversial, Criticism, Dark Humour, Edinburgh, First Open Spot, Improv, Jewish Comedy, Reviews, Risk, Sketch, Stage Persona, Structure, Success, Twitter, USA, Viral, Writing On Stage

Alarmingly successful for one so young, tender wee boy Daniel Sloss likes to get his teeth into an argument on stage. We discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of really committing to an angle, as well as learning who urinated on whose bag…

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Filed Under: 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr, Bridget Christie, Conan, Controversial, Dark Humour, Dave Chappelle, Edinburgh, Festival, Festival Comedian, First Open Spot, Fringe, George Carlin, Inspiration, Interview, Kai Humphries, Lee Evans, Live, Live At The Apollo, Louis CK, Mark Nelson, Observational Comedy, Quality Control, Rob Brydon, Sofie Hagen, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, The Stand, Tiffany Stevenson, Tig Notaro, Tom Stade, Twitter, USA, Writing Jokes

An extraordinary education in stand-up from someone who’s been doing it since the seventies! San Francisco-based Will Durst mixes observations about life in one’s sixties, as well as political fire-brandery that swirls from column to stage. We talk about: the backbeat of jokes; escaping the responsibilities of adult life; “running twice as fast just to stay in the same place” and getting kicked out of the White House…

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Filed Under: Bill Hicks, Carson, Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, George Carlin, Greg Proops, Inspiration, Interview, Lenny Bruce, Live, Nightmare Before Christmas, Observational Comedy, Political Humour, Quality Control, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Saturday Night Live, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Steve Coogan, Steve Martin, Success, USA, Woody Allen, Writing Jokes

Known for years as being the guy whose unchecked anger screwed up his career, Dave Anthony has resolved his issues and enjoys a career which straddles standup, podcasting, and being a writer on Maron. We talk about self-sabotage, the dangers of being “solid”, and his desire to break with the US tradition of non-themed comedy shows. Has podcasting vanquished the old gatekeepers, and have new ones have emerged, including perhaps Dave himself?

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Filed Under: Controversial, Criticism, Fear, Festival Comedian, Greg Behrendt, Greg Proops, Inspiration, Interview, Jim Jefferies, Jimmy Pardo, Kyle Kinane, LA Podfest, Marc Maron, Podcasting, Quality Control, Radio, Richard Pryor, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Storytelling, Success, The Dollop, Todd Glass, TOFOP, USA, Walking the Room, Wil Anderson, Writing On Stage, WTF

In the second part of our conversation, Jimmy Pardo discusses his incredibly successful “Never Not Funny” podcast, the super fans who regularly go to great lengths to see the show, and the “misfitness” of the podcast audience. That’s you people.  We love you.

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Filed Under: Brian Regan, Compere/MC/Hosting, Conan, Dawn and Drew, First Open Spot, Greg Behrendt, Greg Proops, Inspiration, Interview, Keith and the Girl, Kumail Nanjiani, Matt Belknap, Nerdist, Never Not Funny, Paul F Tompkins, Podcasting, Quality Control, Ricky Gervais, Seinfeld, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Storytelling, Success, The Onion, Todd Barry, Todd Glass, USA, Write Now, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

Sick of being told he was the funniest guy off-stage, something had to change for lightning-fast wise-cracker Jimmy Pardo.  Fortunately it did, and he became the “self-deprecating blowhard” America knows and loves today.  We talk about the pros and cons of opening for Conan O’Brien, and explore the irresistible allure of TV, even in the face of new media.  But can you ever escape feeling like you can’t write a joke?

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Filed Under: Alison Rosen, Andy Richter, Comedy Central, Compere/MC/Hosting, Conan, Craig Ferguson, Criticism, Improv, Interview, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Kyle Kinane, LA Podfest, Never Not Funny, Podcasting, Rachel Quaintance, Stage Persona, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Todd Barry, Todd Glass, USA, Writing On Stage

In this second part of our conversation, blisteringly funny Todd Glass issues a passionate call to people to “keep evolving”. He also details the cash wager with comedian David Cross that saw him push a piece of material to its limits, and reveals a cunning plan for some technological trickery to make his arguments onstage more resonant…

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Filed Under: Andy Kindler, Blake Wexler, Brian Regan, Comedy Central, David Cross, Eddie Pepitone, Fear, George Carlin, Inspiration, Interview, LA Podfest, Netflix, Observational Comedy, Phil Donahue, Podcasting, Quality Control, Stage Persona, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Todd Glass Show, USA, Will Ferrell, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage