The Laugh Button Podcast

For the third year in a row we're back at NY Comic Con for The Superhero Fantasy Draft. Four comedians go head-to-head in a fantasy football style draft to pick their Superhero fantasy team. This year Addie Weyrich, Derek Gaines, Greg Stone, and Monroe Martin square off, building their teams as they trash talk each other, steal picks, and battle it out for audience approval who ultimately decides who the winner is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We returned to NY Comic Con this year for another Superhero Fantasy Draft. Comedians Monroe Martin (Last Comic Standing), Jared Freid (JTrain Podcast, Adrift), Anthony DeVito (People Talking Sports, Comedy Central Half Hour) and Luis J. Gomez (Legion of Skanks, Real Ass Podcast) all gathered with us in room 1A21 of the Javits Center to slug it out and pick, debate, (and probably yell) about comic book heroes that they want on their team. In the end, only one comedian was victorious and the live audience selected him. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monroe Martin stops by The Riotcast studios to hang with Matt. The two talk about his career in comedy and the story of his childhood in the foster system. Then, the pop culture geeks in both of them gets exposed as they cover everything from comic books, the movies they've spawned, fashion, and of course, some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Sib wears a lot of hats, he's the former lead singer of the punk rock band WAX, he's the co-founder of the record label, SideOneDummy, and he's also been working on his stand-up comedy career for the last decade or so. Sib just released his debut album, "Nowhere Near The Top" on 800 LB Gorilla records and he sits down with Matt to talk about the trip to get to that first album, how his comedy has evolved, and he even tosses in a few good stories about a The Ramones, Bad Religion, and a semi-feud he had with the band Weezer, one that Weezer was unaware they were in. Listen, subscribe, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Simmermon is about to release his debut stand-up comedy album, "And I Am Not Lying." It's a culmination of many years working as a writer of stories, that have appeared on both The Moth and This American Life. Now he's following a true passion of his and turning said funny stories into works of stand-up comedy. Simmermon recounts his journey and lets us know a bit about where he's headed. Download, review, and tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Costaki Economopoulos and former SiriusXM comedy jock Aaron Hodges drop in on Matt to talk about Costaki's new comedy album and Aaron's new comedy record label. How are they related? Costaki will serve as the label's first release. It's a move that makes an incredible amount of sense because this duo are old friends and podcasting buddies, co-hosting the Quick Snaps podcast where they talk about football and bust comedy chops. It's a fun hour of three guys having a great conversation about everything from the Glass-Stegall act, sports, wives, and the life of comedy. Don't miss this one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bram go over all the big news of the week including comedy siblings and all the news about the upfronts including canceled shows, greenlit ones, and all in between. Then, comedian Greg Stone joins us on the podcast to talk about getting his start in comedy and where he's headed. The interview wraps up with a few embarrassing revelations. Download, review, tell a friend. podast@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He'yump! Jon Glaser drops by for an interview about season 2 of his Adult Swim TV show, "Neon Joe: Werewolf Hunter." The show is returning for a second season on May 22nd and with it comes more eyepatches, more guns with blades, and more neon green. Glaser tells us what to expect and talks about some of his other great TV shows like "Delocated" and "Jon Glaser Loves Gear." It's a total blast.... geaaaarrrr! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Email podcast@thelaughbutton and follow @thelaughbutton. Chris Gethard is about to make the biggest leap of his career and it's with, "Career Suicide." A one-man show about his battle with depression beginning in his teenage years at college and how he worked his way back to where he is today. Fully aware of his mental illness and making a show that he wishes was available to him when he was in college. Chris has a similar background as host Matt Kleinschmidt, so there's an instant report as they talk about growing up blue collar in New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the scene that put Gethard on his current path. Subscribe, rate, review, and share. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Email: podcast@thelaughbutton.com and visit www.thelaughbutton.com Comedian Anthony DeVito is having a moment. In about a month's time he landed his first late night stand-up spot, earned a half hour on Comedy Central and got passed at one of New York's most legendary comedy clubs. To say things are looking up for him are an understatement. But he started years before that, he attended comedy clubs as a child and got the stand-up spark, one that lasted him through college, travel, and even a moment of homelessness. We break it all down and hopefully introduce you to one of your favorite new comedians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bram are joined by Nick DeSimone on the podcast this week as they learn all about his secret talent. We discuss comedy movie sequels and Netflix. We're then joined by comedian Jim Tews, who just released his debut comedy album, "I Was In Band." Jim stares stories about his time in middle school band, his time in the Coast Guard, starting stand-up comedy in Cleveland, then we go deep into great comedy clubs. It's a kickass episode that you need to tell all your friends about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're coming in hot this episode. If you want to ease into a podcast, this is not the right one for you. Bram and Matt start right off with the barbs as they welcome Olivia Timm onto the show to give the "Millennial Point of View" whatever that is. Then Tim Dillon sits down with Matt to talk about how jury duty made him realize he wanted to be a comedian, giving unorthodox tours of NYC, the super-rich, politics, and a conspiracy theory or two. It's a wild conversation from front to back. Subscribe, rate, and tell a friend. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seth Olenick is a professional photographer who has spent the last 15 years or so photographing comedians. He recently finished a 7 year project to put together a coffee table book, "Funny Business" as he documented both established and up-and-coming comedians. Many of the latter who would later make it big time. Whether through chance encounters or referrals, Olenick chased down nearly 240 comedians for the project, and that's just for the one book, his career goes even deeper than that. Seth and Matt break it all down. Subscribe, rate, review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It all started at an open mic. Comedian Kevin Gootee was critiquing a comedian on stage and the idea struck him and the start of Comics Watching Comics was born. Think Last Comic Standing meets @Midnight, Gootee recruits his comedian friends to talk about other's stand-up. He sits down with Matt to break it all down and talk about his motivation to follow his dream to be a stand-up comic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back from SXSW and oh what great fun it was. Matt runs down the trip with Bram as they run down the week, followed up by a lot of half-hour special conversation. Then, guest comedian Shane Mauss joins us on the podcast to talk about his current tour, "A Good Trip" which is his one-man show out on the road talking about his experience with psychedelics. But Mauss isn't just out to get high, he's on a mission to talk about his experiences and maybe even find out about some of the science behind it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Goodman is a comical badass. She's a Feminist and mother. She also spent a large chunk of her life in the theater, cranking out hundreds of productions, formed women's comedy troupes, released comedy albums, written songs, teaches theater to children. She's given keynote speeches and put on events to raise money for Planned Parenthood. See, a badass! As luck would have it, she sat down with Matt on International Women's Day to talk about her latest comedy album, "Halfway Closer To Death" featuring songs with hilarious takes on many of these issues. Download, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bram talk about something Colossal that happened this week with comedy festivals and then take on recent news of comedians behaving badly. Then comedian Seaton Smith joins us to discuss, well everything, getting passed at the Comedy Cellar, how to start a cult, politics, our President, his time on "Mulaney," and his comedy heroes. We get into it! Download, rate, and tell your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Bram breakdown the news of Louis C.K. and Netflix and the super wild notion that Joe Piscopo might run for public office in New Jersey. We then welcome comedian Michael Palascak onto the podcast. Mark first met Michael at Gilda's Laughfest last March and he's releasing his new comedy album, "That One Thing" which premiered exclusively on Audible and is now available to the rest of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is once again joined by Metal Insider's Bram Teitelman to take the slow and sensual route to this week's podcast but those plans are scrapped pretty damn quickly. We're covering the big stories of the week including the Grammys (and maybe too much Beyonce), Rolling Stone's top 50 comedians, Wayne's World hitting a 25 year anniversary, and the enduring legacy of Beavis And Butt-head. We then welcome comedian Ryan Beck onto the show to talk about his career in comedy and keeping the eye on the prize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Laugh Button's editor-in-chief Matt Kleinschmidt is once again joined by Metal Insider's editor-in-chief, Bram Teitelman. Joining us this week is also, Brittany Brave from The Laugh Button who is also a UCB student and publicist living in NYC. The three of us break down the week in news and there's a lot of it. From Conan's joke theft lawsuit, Saturday Night Live's breakout this weekend, and festival season kicking off. Comedian Harrison Greenbaum joins us for an interview about his career in comedy which began from his days at Harvard, writing for MAD Magazine, clown college, and magic. He also happens to be a big fan of playing Escape The Room. Subscribe, rate, review, and tell your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt welcomes Metal Insider's Editor In Chief Bram Teitelman on the show to co-host as they talk about how comedy got a bit political this week as we breakdown Jon Stewart making a return to late night, Neal Brennan dropping some politics, and how this is all shaking out. The comedian Joe List joins us for an interview about his life in comedy, particularly his last year on the road opening for Louis C.K., his album "Are You Mad At Me?" and his weekly podcast, "Tuesdays With Stories" that he co-hosts with his buddy Mark Normand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Mark start things off with a tangent about Super Mario Bros. leading to the very important discussion of who would portray our favorite video game heroes if a live action movie were to be made today. The after that debate is settled, comedian and musician Stephen Lynch swings by the TLB Towers to talk to us. Lynch is currently out on the road testing out some new tunes as part of The My Old Heart Tour. The night before the interview, The Laugh Button presented a show of his in front of a sold out crowd in New Jersey. Lynch and his bandmate Rod Cone break it all down for us - the tour, his history, his future, and the the unfinished symphony that is the Dickface! Download, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Mark talk about the "big dog" comedians on the heels of a very large announcement about Jerry Seinfeld. Then, they weigh in on the odds of an Eddie Murphy return to stand-up comedy. Comedian Cristela Alonzo then joins us to talk about her time on her sitcom, Cars 3, and her new Netflix special, "Lower Classy." The conversation might also decay into total fandom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt breakdown the trailer for "I'm Dying Up Here." Showtime's new series centered around stand-up comedy in 1970s Los Angeles after that we talk about the abundance of stand-up comedy coming to streaming platforms. Our guest Carrie Keagan then joins us to talk about her new book, "Everybody Curses, I Swear." A book about her time hanging out with Hollywood types as she's interviewed them over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year to you all! Mark and Matt return after a few weeks off for the first podcast of 2017. Yay! We made it? After a recap of their lives they talk about what's in store for the new year. Then they welcome comedian Sarah Colonna to the podcast. During a recent visit to NYC, Sarah Colonna stopped by to catch up with us. Colonna is an accomplished comedian with a stand-up comedy special, "I Can't Feel My Legs," she was a writer for "Chelsea Lately" and has written two books - "Life As I Blow It" and "Has Anyone Seen My Pants?" Download, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2016 is ending. Many can't wait to see the year die, for its been a weird one for many in the pop culture and entertainment community. Mark and Matt once again welcome some of their comedy journalist friends to sit down and discuss the major comedy stories of the year. We're joined by Katla McGlynn (Vanity Fair, truTV, Splitsider), Sean L. McCarthy (The Comic's Comic, Decider) and Jesse David Fox (Vulture) at the Comedy Cellar in NYC to run down the biggest comedy stories of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's our Christmas episode and Mark and Matt talk about some of their favorite Christmas moments. Including pop culture and what they do for the holiday. Also welcome onto the podcast, we mark the return of "Comedy Knockout" host and comedian, Damien Lemon. The show just began its second season so he came back onto the podcast to talk shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, we made it to our 100th episode folks. Mark and Matt take a quick look back at the 100 episodes they taped with Riotcast. Then, the perfect guest to help celebrate episode 100 is the one and only Robert Kelly. Robert is the co-founder of the Riotcast podcast network in which we reside on. We talk to Robert about how the podcast started and heap a bit of praise on each other then get into the business of comedy, particularly Robert's great career as a stand-up comedian and actor. He just had a series based upon his life placed into development at FX and we discuss the project, along with his True Story tour, which wraps this week and The Laugh Button has presented this entire fall. Tune in, and tell your friends. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes a memorable comedy movie? Well if you ask Mark and Matt it needs Scott Backula and Sinbad returning to college to play football. After that debate is settled they welcome Aaron Beam from hard rock band Red Fang onto the podcast. Aaron is the bassist/vocalist in the band who recently put out a new record, "Only Ghosts." The band are also big fans of comedy. During a recent trip to NYC for some shows, Beam stopped by the studio to talk about the new album, his comedy idols, Croakies, and we learn there's a neurological addiction that gives people a tendency to make too many puns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanksgiving is over and we have some announcements, we then reminisce about Patrice O'Neal on the 5th anniversary of his passing. Then Dan Schlissel, the founder of Stand Up! Records joins us on the podcast to talk about his career in the business and how he helped discover some of the finest names in comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt welcome comedian Kurt Braunholer to the podcast. Kurt is about to release the double vinyl live album for Hot Tub, his long-running comedy show with co-host Kristen Schaal. We discuss his various projects, comedy, and just be delightfully weird with the man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Stiller, the guy has an impressive body of work, Mark and Matt feel his best work was either in Dodgeball and Cable Guy. It's been a week since the election of Donald Trump, Mark and Matt try to figure out how a new President will effect comedy for the next four years. Our guest this week, Kevin Pereira is a TV host, popular podcaster, and fan of geek culture. He sits down with us to discuss the balance of all things nerdlife and how to hack it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Election is over and the world is still standing. Mark and Matt wonder how it will effect SNL. Then, they discuss the Naked Gun movies, and how watching them as an adult nets different jokes than watching as a child. We then welcome comedian Shane Torres onto the show to talk about how he's working to make it in stand-up comedy. Sometimes it's the grind that makes you great. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're live from SONOS' flagship store in New York and we welcome Kevin McDonald. A founding member of The Kids In The Hall sketch comedy troupe. One of the most influential sketch comedy shows of all time. McDonald tells Matt and Mark how they came from Canada, shared fun behind-the-scenes stories, and discussed his new music-themed podcast prompting a music geek out of some of our favorite bands. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark is back from his travels abroad and Matt fills him in on what he's missed in pop culture while he was out. Particularly the recent reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show that aired on FOX this past week. They then welcome comedian/actor Baron Vaughn to the podcast. Baron was recently cast as Tom Servo on the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Baron is a nerd and just recently started to describe himself as that. Thought the description is a recent revelation, you'll find that his roots in nerd culture go way back to his childhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark is in Japan this week so Bram Teitelman, the Editor In Chief of Metal Insider joins us to talk about comedy in politics. We also dive into the Spinal Tap lawsuit filed this week. Then, comedy legend Norman Lear joins us to talk about the American Masters PBS documentary, "Just Another Version of You" which premieres this week and covers the life and expansive career of the 94 year-old producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt both had an encounter with Steven Merchant this past weekend at NY Comic Con. The only problem is, Mark remembers it much entirely different than Matt does. While they don't really come to a conclusion, they do recap the Superhero Fantasy Draft. Comedian Ahmed Bharoocha is about to release his debut comedy album for Comedy Central. This is in conjunction with his Half Hour set to also air this weekend as well. Ahmed offers a few alternate pronunciations of his name as we talk about the art of comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Derek Waters returns to the podcast for another hang. We talk about what to expect in season 4 of his hit show, "Drunk History" which just premiered on Comedy Central. Waters talks about his diehard love for a good story, how the show has reconnected him with his childhood teacher, and who is still on his list to have on the show. Subscribe, rate, review, and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Andrew Santino joins the podcast to talk about his new show coming to Showtime called "I'm Dying Up Here" about the comedy scene in L.A. during the 70's. Mark and Matt talk about their upcoming New York Comic Con panel and all of the shows The Laugh Button are presenting throughout the rest of the year. Subscribe, rate, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Lisa Lampanelli returns to the podcast to talk about her new play, "Stuffed." Lampanelli also earns the distinction of being the first returning guest to the podcast. In addition to Stuffed talk, Mark and Matt talk about comedy tours and there are a lot of them. Most notably, Robert Kelly's "True Story" tour which The Laugh Button is presenting. Subscribe, rate, review, tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt geek out a bit about comedy, what makes some go down as legends and what makes some disappear into the annals of history. Comedian Daniel Sloss then joins us to talk about his rocketing career and how he approaches taking it to the United States. Rate, subscribe and tell your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the Roast of Rob Lowe happened, and well, Lowe isn't the appearance everyone is talking about. Mark and Matt discuss the history of the roasts and try to determine what makes them best. Our guest comedian this week is Caleb Synan. He sits down and breaks down comedy, the best kind of interviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss the legacy of Gene Wilder upon the news of his passing. When someone great passes, it makes you remember just how good they were, even if you haven't thought about them for a while. Then we welcome two absolute comedy legends onto the show – Jeff Foxworthy and Larry The Cable Guy. Both of which just released a dual Netflix stand-up special, We've Been Thinking. We were able to get some time with both of them to talk about the special and their careers in comedy. Giddyup! Remember to tell your friends about the show, subscribe, rate, and review. For advertising opportunities email advertise@thelaughbutton.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Laugh Button is turning 10. Let's reflect. There a lot of stand-up comedy on the horizon between now and the end of the year. Comedian Justin Hires joins us on the podcast to talk about comedy and talk about starring in the TV adaptation of the hit movie franchise, Rush Hour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt talk about the sudden cancellation of "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," what it means for late night comedy, and what does it possibly mean for political comedy. Then, comedian Sean Patton joins us to have a really in-depth conversation about comedy. Sean is one of the wittiest and unique comedians working the game right now and we're psyched to have him on the show. Shenanigans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're presenting another show, so get some tickets. Mark and Matt talk about the news of the big SNL shakeups and all the tours happening this summer. Then, we kick things over to Canada's own K. Trevor Wilson. We caught up with Wilson at Just For Laughs in Montreal to talk comedy. Wilson was just about to start his run on Roast Battle and went very far in the competition. Rate, subscribe, review. Tell your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We just returned from Montreal for the Just For Laughs festival. They recap their time across the border which included the last of Trump v. Bernie, The Goddamn Comedy Jam, British comedians, new faces and Roast Battles. While there, we sat down with David Mandel, a comedy luminary and the current showrunner of HBO's "Veep" and former runner for shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Saturday Night Live," and "Seinfeld." Download, subscribe, and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Matt talk about race. What do they know about it? Not much really, so they go to the experts, comedians Sherrod Small and Christian Finnegan. Both star in the new A&E series "Black And White" which talks about these issues in America with special guests and sketches on the topic. The premiered this week and airs Wednesday nights at 10:30 ET. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's an all Colorado episode up in here as Mark and Matt make a big announcement about comedian T.J. Miller and The Laugh Button. We also welcome Andy Juett and Kayvan Khalatbari the duo that make up Sexpot Comedy, a Denver based comedy production and podcast outfit that helps put on killer comedy shows that have helped grow Denver into one of the most thriving comedy scenes in the Nation. We get into the roots of the scene and what it's about for a comedian like Andy, as well as Kayvan's other work as a pizza mogul, entrepreneur, and advocate for Cannabis reform. We end with an R.I.P. for the late, great, Garry Marshall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The year is half over, where does the time go? A stoned Mark (MarkSaysHigh?) and Matt check in and make some picks for their favorite comedy specials of the year. What did they like? What are they looking forward to. Comedian Hari Kondabolu then talks to us about his new TruTV show and his upcoming album on the highly influential indie label, Kill Rock Stars. Subscribe, rate, and tell your friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's festival season so Mark and Matt debate what comedians can fill what rooms and who'd they'd like to see on the road. Reader feedback prompts the conversation about the departure of Jessica Williams and her impact on The Daily Show. Writer Scot Armstrong has a new movie out Search Party starring TJ Miller and Thomas Middleditch. Armstrong joins us to discuss what it was like coming up in Improv world as he learned from the late, great, Del Close. He's written on some of the best modern comedy films like Old School, Road Trip, The Hangover 2, and School For Scoundrels and how he met director Todd Phillips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices