Here’s Part 2 of our interview with Ross Bennett.

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Episode 208 | Ross Bennett

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Ross Bennett has been performing stand up comedy since the late 70s. His career has taken him all over the world and landed him at the Montreal Comedy Festival and Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. Ross is a consummate professional and a wealth of knowledge so we wasted little time diving in. We learn what it was like to start stand up in a world before comedy clubs, why killing is sometimes not enough, and who helped Ross get over his fear on stage. Thanks for listening and check in next week when we find out about the artist formerly known as Eddie Strange.

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Episode 207 | Ross Bennett

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This is Part 2 of our double episode with Comix co-owner Harlan Halper.

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Episode 206 | Harlan Halper

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It’s another double episode. Shaki was out, so Kelly sat in on the fun as we recorded with Comix co-owner Harlan Halper. In Part 1, Harlan shares how to service all the genres of comedy, what makes a great comic, and what could be an alternative name for alternative comedy. Plus Dan reminds us about the importance of trust between a producer and an audience.

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Episode 205 | Harlan Halper

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This is part 2 of our double episode with Christian Finnegan. We pick things up as Christian sets Dan straight.
Then we find out what your favorite album says about you, when it’s hard to be original and, how to answer the question “are you somebody?”

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Episode 204 | Christian Finnegan

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Rachel Feinstein has been seen on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and has her own Comedy Central half hour special airing on April 2nd. This week we learn how Rachel handles sexual advances on the road, why it may not be fun to follow Tracy Morgan on your birthday, and how to dress the part. Plus, Rachel gives Dan Allen a new nickname that will probably stick.

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Episode 202 | Rachel Feinstein

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Lenny Marcus has been seen on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and is a fixture in the uber competitive New York City comedy scene. We learn which comedians made the cut for Dice Clay’s furniture shopping extravaganza, who makes comedy look hard, and what advice Lenny gave to Dave Attell. Then Lenny turns the tables and asks Jon and the Dans some questions.

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Episode 201 | Lenny Marcus

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We were locked out of Dan Allen’s Sunshine Suites‘ office. So we ventured to the comedy cellar and recorded upstairs at the Olive Tree café amidst the background noise,which was mostly that night’s MC Ardie Fuqua.

This week’s guest is Julian McCullough. Julian just taped a half hour special for Comedy Central and is a favorite performer at New York City clubs like the Comedy Cellar and Carolines.

We learn the best way to walk into any audition, how to get your girlfriend to move out of your apartment, and what not to say at a prom show.

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Episode 138 | Julian McCullough

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We are dealing with some internal strife at IN THE TANK and are desperately in need of some neutral intervention. That’s why we welcomed therapist Nora Fayerberg to try to save the podcast. It’s the second half of another double episode.

In PART 1, Nora examined our relationship issues with each other. In PART 2, she is nice enough to evaluate our issues with the ladies. This is all very embarrassing so feel free to make fun of us when you see us in person.

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Episode 137 | Relationship Therapist (PART 2)

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We are dealing with some internal strife at IN THE TANK and are desperately in need of some neutral intervention. That’s why we welcome therapist Nora Fayerberg to try to save the podcast. It’s another double episode.

In PART 1, Nora examines our relationship issues with each other. In PART 2, she is nice enough to evaluate our issues with the ladies. This is all very embarrassing so feel free to make fun of us when you see us in person. It’s also pretty exciting so Shaki decided to bring his guitar in for the intro. Enjoy what’s hopefully not our last episode of IN THE TANK.

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Episode 135 | Relationship Therapist (PART 1)

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This is PART 2 of our double episode with Eddie Brill. First Eddie sets Dan straight. Then we learn why Eddie wasn’t saved by the bell, who Eddie gets advice from for his letterman appearances, and why it’s always good to give a comic a second chance. Enjoy!

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Episode 135 | Eddie Brill (PART 2)

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Eddie Brill has been appearing on comedy stages since the late 70’s. He has taped more than 100 television shows in six different countries and is a 3-time MAC Award Winner for Best Male Stand-up Comic in NYC. In addition to his successful stand up career, Eddie works for the David Letterman show. He is the audience warm up and the talent coordinator for the comedians that appear on the show. With all of this experience and insight, it is no wonder that this podcast will be a double episode. In PART 1, we learn how Emerson College started and restarted Eddie’s comedy career, how a comic never forgets, and why honesty really is the best policy.

Tune in next week for PART 2 when Eddie sets Dan straight and we hear what it takes to be a Letterman comic.

Enjoy!

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Episode 134 | Eddie Brill

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Lee Camp joins the fun as we record at Comix in New York City. Lee was the star of Comedy Central’s Fresh Debate ’08 and will be featured on the new Showtime show “Paul Provenza’s Green Room”. This week we learn which celebrity started a standing ovation for Lee. What is the distinction between a political comic and a cultural commentator and why that dude is using a pad. Enjoy!

http://jonfisch.com/inthetank/wp-content/audio/episode133_leecamp.mp3

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Episode 133 | Lee Camp

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Jessica Kirson is the guest this week as we record at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Jessica has appeared on the Tonight Show and has her own comedy special on the Logo Network. Learn which celebrity heckled Jessica. Why it can help when you “just don’t care” and what’s Jon’s favorite activity at temple. Stay tuned for bonus audio when Sherri Eldin brings in freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

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Episode 132 | Jessica Kirson

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This week’s episode marks the return of Shaki!
We record at the Sunshine Studios in New York City wth guest: Costaki Economopoulos. Costaki has performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival and can be heard on the popular Bob and Tom Radio show in his weekly segment: “The Economonologue.”
First, Costaki chimes in on some joke disputes that Shaki is having with other comics. Then we learn which city hurt Costaki’s feelings, what it means to have comic range, and how being a comedian is like being a cowboy.

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Episode 131 | Costaki Economopoulos

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This week, Jon and Dan were joined at Comix in NYC by guest Victor Varnado. Victor’s stand up has been featured on Late NIght with Conan O’Brien and Comedy Central. You may also recognize him from the films Julien Donkey Boy and The Adventures of Pluto Nash.
In this episode, Jon and Dan reveal their gayness. Then we learn how stand up comedy can improve your academic standing, what’s the appropriate attire when opening for Eddie Murphy and how the original latin divas of comedy fueled Victor’s idea for the Awkward Kings.

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Episode 130 | Victor Varnado

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Rick Jenkins helped fill a comedy void in the Boston area by joining forces with two fellow comics and starting The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square. Over the past 15 years, the club has become one of the coolest places to perform and watch stand up comedy.
Jonny Fisch and Dan Allen sit down with Rick on the 3rd floor of the Hong Kong restaurant in Cambridge, MA, which is The Comedy Studio. Sorry folks, no Shaki this week but there are still plenty of laughs as Jon reunites with his comedy teacher. We learn how Louis CK saved the club twice without even knowing it, who are Rick’s favorite comics to watch develop material and what happens to the club walls when a comic is slated for a 7-minute set and stays on stage for 9.

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Episode 129 | Rick Jenkins

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We are very happy to announce that after 344 days of homelessness, Dan Allen has found an apartment. If u do not know the story of Dan Allen’s homeless stint, here it is in its abridged version (aka the one Dan Allen is unable to tell due to incredible long windedness).

After a particularly rough breakup, Dan assesses his past relationships. He comes to the realization that he is rather fond of Jewish women and joins Jdate. Due to his incredible shmoozing abilities, he scores a free weekend getaway for Jewish singles in Connecticut. Here he meets and falls in love with a Parisian Jewish woman that lives in London. After she gets over the fact that she met a non-Jew at a Jewish singles retreat, she falls in love with Dan.

The lovebirds agree that Dan will move to London and convert to the tribe. Dan quites his job, gives up his room in his apartment and buys a plane ticket to London. Three days before Dan is set to board the plane, the charming English woman informs him, in a charming English accent that his presence is no longer requested in London.

Without a home or a job, the apartment surfing begins. In a constant spiral of dog sitting, cat sitting, couch crashing and staying at comic friends apartments when they are on the road, Dan establishes himself as the premiere homeless comedian on the circuit.

Only a group of highly trained professionals could ever explain how Dan made it to 344 days. Oddly, Dan was disappointed with himself for not making it to a full 365 days. This episode of in the tank is a celebration of Dan finding an apartment and a chance to look back on this incredible yet ridiculous experience he likes to call a social experiment. We are joined by some of the many folks that got Dan through this past year.

Don’t worry, even though he is no longer homeless, there is plenty more about Dan to make fun of.

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Episode 128 | Dan Allen Finds a Home

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Due to a last minute guest cancelation the boys were forced to think quickly on their feet. With Dan Allen at a call back audition and Shaki under time constraints, Jonny Fisch made an executive decision: Sit down and podcast it up with Shaki, then meet up later with Dan Allen and do the same. But since Shaki and Fisch got in a groove and filled the hour by themselves, this episode is unfortunately sans Dan Allen. So enjoy finding out who Jon Fisch’s Jon Fisch is, why Shaki and his Mom decided to “just be friends”, and why Dan Allen can never be replaced. Don’t worry, the Dan Allen centric In the Tank is coming soon.

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Episode 127 | Dan Shaki

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You probably recognize Brian Scolaro from the sitcom Stacked with Pamela Anderson and Elon Gold. Brian found it refreshing that we did not bombard him with Pamela Anderson questions. Instead we chose to focus on the progression of his stand up career. We learn what ingredients are in the Brian Scolaro cocktail, how jealousy prompted him to do stand up for the first time and what nugget of information Tom Papa shared about performing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
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Episode 126 | Brian Scolaro

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Vic Henley has been seen on The Late Show with David Letterman, his own Comedy Central special, and most recently the movie Bruno. This week we record for the first time at Comic Strip Live on the upper east side of Manhattan Vic joins us as we discuss:
when it’s appropriate to wear shorts on stage, if stand up is getting too sterile and the lost art form of hosting. Stay tuned after our theme song for a bonus story from Vic.

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Episode 125 | Vic Henley

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Hannibal Buress has been seen on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. We sat down with Hannibal at Comix to discuss taste in comedy, developing bits, and the possibility of Xbox stand-up.

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Episode 124 | Hannibal Buress

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This week we welcome stand up comedian and writer, Laurie Kilmartin (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Best Week Ever, Comedy Central). The show kicks off with Laurie giving Shaki some swimming advice. Then we delve into why Laurie was escorted off a studio lot, what made her a blogging pioneer, and how Colin Quinn influenced her style. Stick around to the end to find out which Ted Alexandro joke, Laurie wishes she had written.

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Episode 123 | Laurie Kilmartin

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We’re back In the Original Tank this week to welcome Astoria neighbor Keith Alberstadt.

Keith has been seen on the Late Show with David Letterman and is a regular guest on the Bob and Tom Radio Show. He is also a contributing writer for both Saturday Night Live and The Jimmy Fallon Show. Keith shares with us how a comic can earn a free month’s rent from his landlady and why the song Brick House means so much to him. Plus, we get to hear the process that landed Keith his appearance on The Letterman Show.

For those of you that want a little extra, stick around after the closing song for some extra footage, it’s our false start to this week.

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Episode 122 | Keith Alberstadt

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Robert Kelly joins us at Comix for this week’s In the Tank. Robert is widely recognized from HBO’s Tourgasm, regular appearances on the Opie and Anthony Show and his own Comedy Central half hour special. We get to find out why Bobby had an easier time in juvie hall than two months at Fisch’s Jewish summer camp. We find out who’s couch he crashed on when he moved to NYC from Boston and we discover what it means to perform a guilt-free set.

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Episode 121 | Robert Kelly

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This week we recorded our second episode at Comix. Todd Barry manned up and muscled through an ear infection to join us before heading off to Tennessee to perform at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Todd is one of the most original and well respected comics in the business as evidenced by his numerous appearances on Letterman and Conan, as well as two half hour Comedy Central specials. You probably recognize him from HBO’s Flight of the Conchords and the film The Wrestler.

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Episode 120 | Todd Barry

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In our continued effort to provide insight into the world of stand up comedy, we present our second episode with a guest from behind the scenes – Tom Ingegno runs the New York office of the Omnipop Talent Group, which is currently a management company and has in the past been a talent agency.
We discuss the difference between a manager and an agent as well as how the relationship between a manager and a comic evolves.

We find out which major film producer was a dishwasher at a comedy club tom used to book. We learn why it may be necessary for a host to bomb for the good of the show. and we hear which comic tom would send to perform for the Red Hat Society.

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Episode 119 | Tom Ingegno

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This week, Comix gave us the vip treatment as we recorded our first episode down in Ochi’s Lounge with guest Amy Schumer. Find out how Amy and Shaki’s first encounter comes back to bite him in the ass, why you shouldn’t listen to the stylist on a TV set and who is my BFF.

See her perform on Dan’s ¡Sacapuntas! on June 3rd (First Wednesday @ 8PM).

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Episode 118 | Amy Schumer

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We’re happy to welcome the very funny Tim Young. Tim has appeared on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing and if you’ve gone to college, he’s probably performed at your school. Find out how stand up can improve your vocabulary what the sweet spot is, and how far Tim will travel to get away from Dan Allen.

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Episode 117 | Tim Young

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This week we welcome Nate Bargatze back as our first repeat guest because Dan Allen ruined his first podcast. Nate tells us why it’s important to bomb to get ready for a TV set. Joe List takes a couple of hours away from his girlfriend to tell us why he loves his girlfriend and Joe and Nate finally solve racism in America and reveal who is the most racist man in comedy.

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Episode 116 | Joe List and Nate Bargatze

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This week Jon talks with Jamie Lissow on location in Rochester. Find out what brought Jamie back to his hometown, his unique approach to recording a comedy CD, and how he’s coping without his workout buddy Ted Alexandro.

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Episode 115 | Jamie Lissow

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Special thanks to Michael Weingartner for getting us in touch with Barack.

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Episode 115 | Barack Obama

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This week we step into the world of Tony Camin. Tony has made many appearances on Comedy Central and is currently a correspondent on the media project for the IFC channel. He is one of the founding fathers of the Marijuana-Logues. Hear how Arj Barker’s idea sprouted into a vehicle for Arj, Doug Benson and Tony to perform on television, at the Montreal Comedy Festival and an off Broadway show. He also had plenty of advice about Dan Allen’s current living situation which is going on 216 days of homelessness. Enjoy.

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Episode 114 | Tony Camin

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Myq loves Myka and performs with Micah (and vice versa). He’s receiving his master’s degree in linguistics – finally, plays the guitar and is considered a ping pong expert. Comedy-wise, he was a semi-finalist in the 2006 Boston Comedy Festival and the 2006 Seattle Comedy Competition. He won Boston University’s Funniest Student Contest and most recently the 2009 March Madness at Caroline’s Comedy Club. He’s also appeared on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham.

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Episode 113 | Myq Kaplan

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Originally from South Jersey Kurt started his stand up career in Philadelphia and in 2001, he moved to NYC. I think we could have left Kurt alone in my kitchen with a 6 pack of Budweisers and a list of topics and pressed record. But luckily we were there to be the laugh track. After listening to this podcast, it will be easy to see how Kurt’s unique brand of humor has led him to numerous writing jobs and appearances on Showtime’s White Boys in the Hood, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and most recently his own half hour Comedy Central Presents.

Please enjoy this very adult episode of In the Tank.

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Episode 112 | Kurt Metzger

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This week we welcome New York native Becky Donohue. Ever wonder how Becky makes sunshine? We found out. Also learn about my new use for hand sanitizer, how Becky deals with “gentle violations” on the road, and how Shaki triumphs over diversity. Dan Allen you ask? Approaching his 200th day of hobo status.

Be sure to check out Fisch performing on Allen’s ¡Sacapuntas! on April 1st.

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Episode 111 | Becky Donohue

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This week we welcome Queens, NY native Ted Alexandro. We ease into the tank by catching up on Dan’s squatting and my pledge for better dental hygiene. After Jon surprises us with an old picture of Ted and Jon both with hair, we have Ted answer some listener submitted questions. From there we delve into Ted’s life and views on comedy covering such topics as the importance of being able to adapt to different environments, the comedy coalition, Ted’s first comedy vehicle, the advantages of starting stand up in NY, and how growing up has changed Ted’s act. Lastly Ted tells us about his fondness for Jamie Lissow and the trials and tribulations of their current long distance relationship. Thanks for listening and enjoy.
-Shaki

Read about the time Dan Allen slam dunked on Ted on the Astoria Basketball Association blog (sort of).

Be sure to check out Fisch perform on Allen’s ¡Sacapuntas! on April 1st.

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Episode 110 | Ted Alexandro

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This week I was in Houston at the Laff Stop with my buddy Jason Kanter. Jason introduced me to Mark Babbitt. Mark is the former managing partner of the Houston Laff Stop and he’s the voice you hear introducing Mitch Hedberg on Mitch’s first CD, Strategic Grill Locations. Along with Mitch, Mark talks about Doug Stanhope, Margaret Cho, Greg Fitzsimmons and Richard Lewis.

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Episode 109 | Mark Babbitt

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Baron braved the snowstorm from the Upper West Side to Queens to talk about magic, Garfield, developing in Boston, commercials, college work and kicked off the show with a little beat boxing.

You can see him on Comedy Central here

Here’s Baron’s 2005 blog entry of getting schooled by Moody McCarthy and Dan Allen in basketball. It was his first and last appearance with the Astoria Basketball Association.

Check out Baron’s vocal range here:
FlockOfMullets.com

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Episode 108 | Baron Vaughn

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Sweet Ophira talks about Sweet Paprika, taping of her new DVD at Comix, leaving a boy in Canada, the woes of producing your own show and a deer committing suicide.

You can see her on Comedy Central here

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Episode 107 | Ophira Eisenberg

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“Andy Loves Balloons”
Andy Pitz joins us today and tells a tale about a kid getting his hand blown off by a homemade pipe bomb, his experience as a bouncer for exotic dancers and enlightened us with his expert knowledge of helium tanks.

You can see him on Letterman here

Definition of danallen-ing

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Episode 106: Andy Loves Balloons

Pat Dixon (not Dixson) joins us this week.

We are now are on iTunes. Find out how to subscribe in our FAQ section.

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Episode 105 | Pat Dixon Breaks It Down

Nate Bargatze stops by to talk about his recent appearance on Conan O’Brien, how he celebrates and how it compared to his other appearance as well as his experiences on Comedy Central and CMT.

Nate’s first Conan set

Stephen Bargatze – Nate’s dad, check out his site.

Dan Allen is an idiot and messed up the podcast.

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Episode 104 | Nate on Conan

Moody McCarthy kicks it off “in studio” with some guitar riffs on his Telecaster.

Jaime Lissow’s Comedy Central’s Presents premieres tonight.

Wendy Leibman thinks Friday the 13th is eery.

Brian Kiley and Jon crush in Staten Island.

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Episode 103 | Moody isn’t a Candy Ass

On second thought, we decided that it would be better to not mention the name of the comedy club I tell a story about. Shaki does a wonderful and hilarious job editing… check it out.

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Episode 102 | Shaki Edits Out a Comedy Club

Let there be light!

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Episode 101 | My Two Dans