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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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