What's So Funny?

Our fourth and final episode with the late great Darryl Lenox. This is from 2017. I hope you enjoyed the look back at the man and his career.

The late Darryl Lenox always loved to help younger comics. In this episode, we see it in action as he co-hosts and asks the questions (often Socratic) to Paula Antil. This hasn't been heard since it aired on April 29, 2012.

From 2009, here's the Odd Couple of standup, the late great Darryl Lenox with his former roommate, the irascible Richard Lett. It's a fun one.

Darryl Lenox passed away earlier this week. He was a guest on our show 4 times over the years, and we're going back to his first time with us waaaaay back in 2007 to rerun. He was a great one, both as a comedian and a person. He'll be missed.

It's been a tough calendar year, with the deaths of former WSF? guests Norm Macdonald and Matt Billon. We lost another one this weekend when Bob Saget passed away at the age of 65. He was a super guy and we were lucky to have him guest with us in September 2020.

Eddie Izzard stops by the What's So Funny? virtual studio on her Canadian tour. We talk about the real names of Biblical characters, making humanity great again, gender fluidity, and gaming the system.

Norm Macdonald was just the greatest guest... and the greatest guy. In this, our most-listened-to episode, we had a semi-serious (okay, almost completely serious) 1.5 hour conversation ranging from family to science to God to comedy to literature to death to cancer. Some of it is especially hard to listen to now that he's gone. Recorded in 2012.

Darcy Michael makes his sixth appearance on the program. The break-out star of the Halifax Comedy Festival explains Tik Tok to us, talks about his High School Sucked podcast, we discuss who'd make the best Jeopardy host, and the host promises to get a new computer.

Jacob Samuel has had a great year, Covid be damned. His album, Horse Power, was nominated for a Juno Award. We talk to him about it, jokes, Zoom, cats and dogs, and Larry Sanders. Plus we play a track from his album – it's legit funny.

Jackie Kashian has us in the palm of her hand in this episode. The former Wisconite comedian and host of two podcasts dorks out on The Dork Forest, extols the benefits of Zoom standup, talks of Kinison, Rickles, Burr and Bamford, and tells us where she got her optimism from.

Michael Teigen joins us from his cabin but it was the host's computer in civilization that wonked out for half the show. Still, we get unfiltered Teigen, which is always fun. He's an actor with 94 (count 'em... I did) imdb credits and a couple more coming soon. And he's a mainstay on the Vancouver improv scene. We talk about life without social media, William Shatner, Luke Perry, Bruno Kirby, and donating a kidney.

Jimmy Pardo lives up to his long-running podcast's name. The guy really is never not funny. In this episode, we relive his glory days doing community theatre, debate the term 'yacht rock', inform him on some great Canadian bands, draw a connection between Woody Allen and Chekov, discuss the proper way to hold a bass, and talk about his smart mouth in high school.

Sean Lecomber has been with us from his hotel room, the host's car, and now from the comfort of his home in Alberta. He doesn't care how you pronounce his name. The stay-at-home dad talks about what he has in common with Ricky Gervais, Derek Edwards, and Amy Schumer, and why he prefers doing a podcast to doing standup. And more, of course.

Peter Kelamis was last with us in 2010. We know him mostly as a standup comic but most of his work these days comes from acting. We talk about how Greek he is, Hallmark movies, voice acting, cosplay, Robin Williams, and Dane Cook.

Jon Dore becomes the first guest of 2021 (we're a little late getting started). And what a great guest he is. He speaks with us from his home in Juneau, Alaska. He's here to shill his new TV program called Humour Resources with Jon Dore on CBC, but we also talk about his job in a butcher shop, his best memory at the Ottawa Bluesfest, his similarities to Chris Elliott, and we relive an old tweet of his.

Todd Van Allen isn't above any pub in this episode. Todd is the host of one of the longest-running podcasts in the country, but we clear up that it isn't THE longest-running (ahem). We talk about butterflies, magic, cable access stardom, math, ICQ, voice-over work, and approaching celebrities.

Brian Aylward is big in Asia. But at 6-3 and 260 pounds, he's pretty big in all 28 countries he performed in. We speak to him from his home in Bangkok where he is convalescing from a scary motorcycle accident. The Newfoundlander and former Canadian Comedy Award winner has a new special, aptly titled Big in Asia, which he filmed in front of locals in Mongolia.

Dylan Rhymer, the old man of comedy, returns to the program in his 25th year of doing standup – even if he didn't do a whole lot of standup this past year. But he's okay with that. In this episode, we talk about Friday the 13th, watching movies all day and night for charity and fun, various other scary movies, his uncanny hack impersonations, and his State of the Week satire site. This episode is with 50 percent less Sam Tonning!

Kenny Robinson is on the road again, bringing his special brand of blue comedy to the socially-distanced comedy clubs around the country. Yet he very thoughtfully censored himself in this episode. We talked about his early years in Chicago and Winnipeg, his brushes with racism in Canada, thoughts on a young Arsenio Hall, cheap millionaires trying to save eight bucks., and working swingers conventions.

Stuart Jones, the pride of Rutland, joins us for his second go-round on the program. We talk all about his new album, "By The Slice" on 604 Records. We also get into universities vs colleges, Christopher Cross, and tattoos.

Blaine Thurier returns to the show after a nine year absence. He reveals the news (to us) that he's no longer in New Pornographers after a nice two-decade run. We also talk about his evangelical background, classical music, time machines, and Teen Lust, among other things.

Mike Wilmot returns 13 years after his first appearance on the show. It's a new Uncle Mike now. He's lost a ton of weight, but is as filthy (and funny) as ever. We had a lot of fun on this one talking about lightweight drinkers, industry showcases, fears, Pete Tong, and, of course, his father's penis. Recorded September 22, 2020.

Bob Saget is a prince of a man. He took time out of his busy (no really!) quarantine to talk to us. We even made him late for his own podcast, "Bob Saget's Here For You." In this episode, we talk about him forgetting me but remembered a bad review he got in 1978 from the Toronto Star – and the reviewer's name. We also chat about his penis, he tells stories of Richard and Rodney (Pryor and Dangerfield, natch), and my brush with greatness: Mrs. Miller.

Ian Bagg last joined us a decade ago, when he was deported from America and had to slum it in his home province for six weeks. He's back safely ensconced in Southern California . In this episode we talk about his early days in New York (and getting animated on Dr. Katz) and even earlier days getting started in Vancouver. Also doing crowd work at drive-in shows and abusing cyclists at beach shows. Recorded August 20, 2020.

Shirley Gnome marks her fifth appearance on What's So Funny?, but first remotely. The songstress has always played for us in studio in the past, and she doesn't disappoint this time, either, offering us two live songs. And we talk about depression, hecklers, Nickelback, and cunnilingus.

Jeremy Hotz has been miserable on-stage for 30 years, and miserable off-stage for his whole life. But boy is that misery funny. Hotz, who's been living in LA the last 23 years, is one of Canada's best standup comics. In this episode, we talk about being a curmudgeon, murder, and Ernest Shackleton.

bbno$ is a rapper, not a comedian. But his songs are pretty funny. They make you want to open up TikTok, point your camera at yourself, and start dancing. Millions do that, anyway. Some of us have no rhythm. But we have a fun chat with Baby No Money, aka Alex, aka Gucci.

Derek Edwards comes out of hiding to join us in the Isolation Studios of What's So Funny? Edwards barely has electricity, but we got a hold of him in his bunker and it was a delight talking to him again. We discussed great Canadian televised fare such as Open Mike with Mike Bullard (he was the first comic to appear on that late night talk show), Red Green (he played the funeral director on a few episodes), and Corner Gas (he "tripped down the stairs" in the audition and never appeared). And we reminisced about the disastrous Trailer Park Boys theatre show he was a part of in 2004.

Sugar Sammy is back, all the way from Montreal. It's his fifth visit with us. It's nice to see that as big as he is now, he's still got time for us. We talk about him being the French Simon Cowell, and how that prevents him from taking the Métro in Paris anymore. And he tells us about Les Dragons, his ball hockey team that never got to play anyone. It's always a good time with Sammy. Recorded July 6, 2020.

Dave Hill is a comedian, author, musician, actor, podcaster and part-Canadian. A very small part, granted, but his intentions are good. In his latest book, Parking the Moose, the Cleveland-born, New York-residing Hill travels across the frozen tundra to better learn about his grandfather's people. He quizzes me on the book and I quiz him on some important Canadian trivia. He also discusses Norway's darlings Witch Taint. Recorded July 5, 2020.

Ron James brings his blistering vocabulary and arcane Bonanza references to What's So Funny? for the first time. The quintessentially Canadian comedic icon regales us with his thoughts on the role of comedian in culture and talks about his bittersweet TV experience. It's an enlightening conversation with a real wordsmith.

Ellyn Marie Marsh must never sleep. How the Broadway star/podcast host/cabaret diva/trivia host/voice teacher/single mom had time to sit with us for an hour, I'll never know. But we're glad she did. We talk about her sporting youth, true crime obsession, being fired from her singing waiter job, and she fires a few trivia stumpers at us for good measure. Check out her newish podcast Obsessed With: Disappeared. Recorded June 23, 2020.

Darren Frost is back for his sixth go-round with us. He can't tour the country, as he was planning to do, but we've got him. We talk about crowd work, dark humour, cartoon voices, and Hairspray (the movie, not the product).

Lachlan Patterson was last with us in 2005, as far as our records go. It takes a pandemic to get him back with us, but oh the fun we had. We talk about why he's glad he lost on Last Comic Standing, his worst Zoom show experiences, his reminiscences of Vancouver, he pitches his surfer caveman script, tells us why he still surfs, discusses his lady, baby pockets, and standup subtitles. Download his new special, Dark White, at lachlanpatterson.com.

Bonnie McFarlane hates earnestness, but we brought out some in this episode. She started her comedy career in Vancouver and we reminisce about the old days and the lessons she learned, the comics she dated. We also talk about living under Trump, living with Rich Vos, and performing for hecklers. She's also the only guest we've had who's been sung about by The Pursuit of Happiness.

Colin Mochrie finally makes his WSF? debut! It was fate. The improviser opens up (thanks to a bottle or two of malbec) and discusses a little politics, talks about his accidental standup set, his intellectual pursuits, explains why silence is golden, tells us which 1970s sitcom star brought him to tears, talks about acting opposite Paul Giamatti, hanging out with Donny & Marie, playing the Pyramid, doing mime, and his weirdest night in Hollywood.

Michael Gelbart (call him Michael) returns to the program, this time with 100 percent more Sam Tonning! In our Isolation Studios, Michael makes several pledges during this hour. He also fills us in on the ins and outs of leaving an 8x10 glossy at an establishment, discusses Byron Allen and Norm Macdonald, and explains the difference between being overly picky and just discerning. He also gives us a scoop!

Marcus Ryan joins us in the social isolation studios all the way from Wonthaggi, in the great state of Victoria, in the wonderful country of Australia. We thought it was his third or time on the show. Turns out it is his fifth. We talk about what Oz is looking like under lockdown, what his new routine is, and discuss his myriad adventures in the 60-odd nations he's visited. This episode brought to you by snooker and jailbirds.

Dwight Slade joins us in the What's So Funny? Isolation Studios from his home in Boise, Idaho. We talk about how he's spending his days in his home hoarding toilet paper. We also talk about his work on cruise ships, his early days as the comedy partner and best friend of the legendary Bill Hicks, and seeing a flying saucer.

Eddie Brill was holed up in his Manhattan apartment while host Guy MacPherson and sidekick Sam Tonning were holed up in their respective Vancouver mansions. It was all in an effort to flatten the curve. Eddie talked about today's Gotham, as well as the state of late night TV talk shows, his salad days at Emerson college, the Comedy Club Network, meeting big names, doing drugs with Sam Kinison, and much, much more.

Carl Turnbull has comedy in his blood, as you'll learn in this episode. Sidekick Sam Tonning takes over the reins, but it's not because regular host Guy MacPherson was sick, as he incorrectly stated. He just wasn't there. No further questions. Carl and Sam talk about 90 Day Fiancé, Jay & Dan, school detentions, and relationship advice.

Paul Myrehaug and Damonde Tschritter are pals from way back. One still lives in Vancouver; the other now lives in the comedy hotbed of the south of France. But they've been touring Canada with the Snowed In Comedy Tour when they came by for a visit. In this episode, Tschritter is on fire, ripping into everyone, living and dead. Myrehaug tells us about his standing ovation while longboarding. And we all have a grand old time.

Eddie Ifft live in studio! How exciting. He's says he's not a people person, but clearly he is. The podcast king talks about cleaning up his act for his family legacy, tells tales about Last Comic Standing, we relive two of the top 75 jokes of all time, discuss sunning buttholes, Australian monsters, and identity politics.

Ed Hill is back for his fourth go-around. The dumb announcer on this episode said third. You can't get good help these days. Ed talks about why he needed to change his name, his upcoming special taping, and the Corona virus. The episode brought to you by Flunky cereal.

Andrea Jin makes her WSF? debut, but that's understandable because she's only 24 years old. But she's moving up the proverbial comedy charts quickly. She tells us about growing up in China eating worms for cheap laughs, her homeless grandfather, who her favourite Friend is, and peeing her pants. And we come up with a name for her upcoming album.

Lars Callieou makes the long drive from Edmonton to our Vancouver studios. Okay, he was in town for a corporation performance, but still made time for us. We talk about life on the road both as an adult and a child, and we get a special listen to his parents' country band. There are all sorts of other topics, too.

Jon Bryant is all alone with us this time around. The Nova Scotia-born singer-songwriter is all Vancouver now. He stopped by the show just prior to his cross-Canada tour to talk singing, being a former jock, comedy, OCD, and UFOs.

Jimmy Shubert knows how to get on a good rant. The Los Angeles-based standup tells us about performing in Canada and India, heckling at the ballet, opening for Sam Kinison, his closeted career as a close-up magician, and goes off on cancel culture.

Harry Doupe returns for his tenth go-round on What's So Funny? It's become a tradition that he is the last (or thereabouts) guest of the calendar year. He tells tales of his work on awards shows, his time living in San Francisco, and gives his opinions on Family Feud Canada and Don Cherry.

Brigitte May may be a first-timer with us but she used to work in college radio so she's no stranger to the airwaves. That was a loooong four years ago, though. The young improviser works with a group of fellow Asian improvisers called Fistful of Kicks that puts on a live anime show once a month. But she's getting Shakespearean on us this month with a show about that word that shall not be said in the theatre.

Steve McGowan isn't called "Shooter" because he loves to drink shooters. But he does love to drink shooters. He tells us how he got the nickname and what he thinks of it. He tells us of his long-lost days managing a comedy club before committing full-time to his special brand of party comedy.