Open Mic Night
June 7, 2007 · Print This Article
We’re 30 episodes in and with all of the topics that have been brought up on the show, the bulk of today’s discussion is…Is David Spade really a dick. Other audience suggestions include an honest review of females in stand up and supply and demand, did comedy screw itself with over saturation.
Ryan Valeriano from the Stand Up Orlando comedy podcast stops by to discuss open mics. They are a painful necessity for everyone dreaming of a career in comedy, but hopefully with a few tips, they can be tolerable.
Finally, a recap of B-Mo in the big city, and our first listener requested comic showcase of the month.
Email: brianmcomedy@gmail.com
I watched the premier episode of “The Next Big Thing” impressionist show last night. I’d love to hear your comments on it. I don’t see how they’re possibly going to make a series out of this. It’s moderately entertaining now, but as the weeks go on we’re going to be hearing the same shit over and over. Plus, IMPRESSIONISTS ARE IRRELEVANT! The winner of this contest better hope Danny Gans dies, because there’s no other market for it.
I don’t particularly have a “top 10″ list of favorite comics. However, I am very partial to the comics who have something that makes them stand out. Not quite a hook or tag line. Just something that makes them unique. For example, Zach Galifinakis and the way he may just stop doing his set to interview audience members. But, the comic I’ve really been into lately is Russel Peters. What makes him stand out to me is the way he interacts with his audience. It’s an integral part of his act, and without it, I don’t think he’d have made as big of a name for himself. I think what makes him so great is that it’s almost like a mix of stand up and improv to make this perfect blend of comedy that’s not done very often or well - his act is comparable to that of Lisa Lampanelli’s (why do all the good comics seem to have the hardest to spell names?).
Favorite Comedians.
1) Bmo
Bmo
2) Bmo
3) Bmo
4) Bmo’s Wife
5) Bmo
6) Bmo
7) Bmo’s Wife
9) Bmo
10) all other MSR podcasters I stalk.
Ok, that last one was me too. But I can TOTALLY see it.
Anyway, I don’t have a top ten, but these are a list of comedians that would probably make it. I’ll have some explaining to do on some. This is also no real particular order.
Mitch Hedberg
Steve Wright
Bobcat Goldthwait
David Cross
Jim Gaffigan
These two may need some explanation
Ellen DeGeneres- I love her “tangents”
Gallagher- This is more of a nostalgia thing. Growing up my folks and I would watch him all the time. Granted we did see him in vegas, but he sucked. Would I watch him now, probably not, but thinking back lots of good family memories.
Props to you Joe for dropping a Gallgher sighting in your favorites. Definitely not a popular choice, but I can’t deny that when I was younger my buddies and I would regularly rent the Gallagher videos and laugh our asses off. Of course those were simpler times. Who would have thought that smashing things with a giant mallet would have a shelf life?
Steven Lynch, Steven Wright, Steve Martin… All these Steves who use guitars in their acts. Hmmmm….
And let’s not forget Robert Klien, He’d always bookend his HBO specials with musical numbers. I always thought he pulled it off quite well. Granted there are some comedians who just play music over their acts like Demitri Martin, and some who, as you said would rather just musicians (I’m looking at you, Robert Wohl…)
Back in the oooooooooold days comedians used to do it all the time, they had to be double/tripple/quadruple threats in order to set themselves apart. Henny Youngman, the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, all were musicians and used it in their acts. Some better than others.
Damn! All kinds of old schoolers popping up on the boards. Robert Wuhl.
“I’m my own grandpa” could be the worst comedy song ever.
Hey Brian, Big fan of both your shows been listening since the start, I work as a school janitor up in British Columbia, leaving me with plenty of time to listen to many shows a night if I find myself behind. Here is my list of current favorites.
1.Bill Maher
2.Hedberg
3.stanhope
4.Carlin
5.Chappelle
6.Rock
7.Wright
8.David Cross
9.Attell
10.silverman
My top ten, no particular order:
Bill Cosby
George Carlin
Johnny Carson
Ellen Degeneres
David Letterman
Eddie Izzard
Rodney Dangerfield
Lewis Black
Bill Hicks
Jerry Seinfeld
Honorable mentions to Eugene Mirman, Brian Regan, Bob Newhart, Albert Brooks, Larry Miller, Dave Attell, Dave Chapelle, Denis Leary, Pre-90s Dennis Miller, Harland Williams, Henny Youngman, Jim Gaffigan, John Pinette, Chris Rock, Marc Maron, Maria Bamford, Maryellen Hooper, Mitch Hedberg, Bill Maher, Norm MacDonald, Patton Oswalt, Robert Schimmel, Don Rickels, Woody Allen and Todd Barry.
Hey guys,
I’ve been out the loop for a while due to my job (I’m in politics and the UK has just had its local elections) and would love to hear some Doug Stanhope;
I don’t think he’s been played on the show and he’s definitely one of, if not, the best comics around in my opinion. He goes up and doesn’t give a fuck, controls and rants and shocks people but at the same time he makes some EXCELLENT points about society and government that are pretty inspiring on matters such as drugs and liberty. Another reason he should get played is because he WAS vying for the candidacy from the Libertarian Party to be their presidential candidate but as of May 3rd he has had to drop out since he can’t campaign and tour as a comedian due to election law…..so Im sure it will soothe his pain if you play him B-mo.
I had the pleasure of seeing him at the Edinburgh Fringe last year where he caused his usual havoc with the rest of the Unbookables (Sean Rouse is going to hell!) and he comes highly recommended…..go see him!!
On of his shows (which begins in pure chaos) is on Google Video.
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=673251974666965596&q=doug+stanhope+duration%3Along
My top comedians in no particular order:
Bill Hicks
David Cross
Dave Attell
Doug Stanhope
Chris Rock
Bill Maher
Eddie Izzard
Jesus, all but one of them are American………….you guys do something right!
Forgot to add some,
Chris Rock
Auggie Smith
Mike Birbugaboo.
I just watched “The Benchwarmers” and I take back my defence of David Spade. You know you’re in a bad movie when the running time is 78 minutes (animated movies do not apply to this rule) And Jon Heder, get rid of you “hook”. It’s lame as hell. Have fun working at a car wash in 2 years. Seriously though, if I had, without exaggeration, 100 people coming up to me every day, it would get tiresome.
I also defended Larry the Cable Guy being on 60 Minutes. I either love a good debate or need to stop self-medicating.
heya bemo just thought id stop by and say thanks for another quality show mate. Made me laugh (and cry … damn allergies) keep up the good work!! you never really told us about how it went in NY or maybe you did and im just losing the rest of my mind. i dunno anyhoo i dunno where im goin with this sooo props to you for the great show speak to you later sometime.
btw im gonna bug you till you spotlight them!! INTERNATIONAL COMEDIANS hense anyone who ain’t american. All your comments you seem to spotlight seem to be american be the men or women of any ethnic background but all american! INTERNATIONAL ALL THE WAY.
*comedians ( i should double check this stuff but im lazy)
My Favs are definitely old school, because, well I’m kind of an old guy. In no particular order, with no particular intelligence:
Bill Hicks
Bill Cosby
George Carlin
Rodney Dangerfield
Richard Prior
Steven Wright (I was recently listening to him on a headphone audio channel on an overseas flight and he deadpan delivered “Things are going too fast these days. Faster and faster. Yesterday I put a cup of instant coffee in the microwave and went back in time.” I laughed out loud like an idiot. )
Chris Rock
Dennis Leary (Based mostly on MTV spot for Cindy Crawford)
Triumph the Insult Dog
Least Favorites:
Sam Kinison (odd isn’t it)
Emo Phillips
Judy Tunuta
Paulie Shore
Sara Silverman (again odd)
Ten Ten:
10. Ralphie May (I realize I will be shunned hereafter but I think he’s hilarious)
9. David Cross
8. Steven Wright
7. Jay Mohr
6. Larry Miller
5. Chris Rock
4. Hedburg
3. Chappelle
2. Eddie Murphy
1. Bill Cosby
Not particularly different than most, but accurate.
Top 10 you ask?! Here we go…
1. Bill Hicks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMB5L0VoszI&NR=1 - Imagine if The Daily Show existed, and this guy was a part of it. That’s all I gotta say. Another comic genius taken way before his time.
2. Eddie Izzard - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPML-n1kRnY - I don’t think this guy gets enough credit, and thank you NYComedy for mentioning him. Obviously the humor is british, but his train of thoughts make me near piss myself. If you don’t know who he is, he was the “tech genius’ in Ocean’s Twelve and the main villian in Mystery Men. He currently has a drama on FX called The Riches (don’t know if it’s still on air though).
3. Mitch Hedberg - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u0aDF2tsc4 - Need I say more. First time I saw this guy I cried laughing. His jokes still make me laugh. It’s a damn shame he’s gone, and I’m sure as hell gonna miss him.
4. Patton Oswalt - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_EUieIzLQk - “Movie producer Robert Evans. He will save us!”
5. Daniel Tosh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K-jNnPQeqc - This was a random iTunes purchase for me. I brought it to work on my iPod, and got funny looks from people looking into my lab because I was laughing so f’n hard.
6. Lewis Black - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC2WSztYT78 - Just once, I wanna see this guy blow a blood vessel in the middle of a set. Just once. I dunno why, I just do.
7. Steven Wright - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prKjfVhJ6KU - I got hooked on him in college when my roommate shared a Steven Wright joke with me. I’d share the joke here, but I’d probably butcher it, even in text form. Won’t lie, if Brian hadn’t mentioned him in the show I wouldn’t have thought to have him here. I started listening him again and my love got renewed.
8. Jim Gaffigan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP_Xp-VY7f4 - I won’t lie, my first impression of him wasn’t good. But then I sat myself and listened to a whole CD, and he came out as one of my favorites. Dare I say he made my top 10!
9. Brian Posehn - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HVF2hFC77E - I’m a nerd, and we have rage, dammit! NERD RAGE!
10. George Carlin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy4Tg_uR_Bg - I had to put him on my list. Won’t lie though, hadn’t listened to him for a while, so he came up low on my list. He actually bumped Joe Rogan when I thought of him.
I must say Leonardo, Ralphie May makes my 10 LEAST favorite comics of all time list, but the fact that you included Larry Miller who is overlooked as a fantastic comic makes it a push.
Hey again,
I was just listening to a Dwight Slade interview on Comedy Speak (which is an awesome site for interviews: http://comedyspeak.com/interviews.php) and he was talking about how shitty comics get paid and half suggested that all headliners should refuse to work for the current money they get paid; thought it was interesting!
Another interesting point he made was that the current situation and what happened in the 1990s with comedy is partly to do with the attitude of the comics in the 80s onwards in that so many of them just wanted a sitcom, fame and money and putting up with shit rather than perfecting their craft. Are comics relentlessly shit on….or are they a bunch of moaning wimps!!??!!
Dwight Slade by the way if anyone doesn’t know was Bill Hicks childhood friend and they both did their first comedy gig (at the age of 15 or something like that!!) and is a very very funny comidean who I’ve had the pleasure of seeing when he came to the edinburgh fringe last year. He comes highly recommended!!!
N
****sorry that should say ‘How comics get shitty pay’ not the other way around!!*****
top ten
Bill Hicks
Mitch Hedberg
Dave Chappelle
Dave Attell
Daneil Tosh
Brian Regan
Doug Stanhope
Zach Gilifinakis
David Cross
Patton Oswalt
I also really like Loui C.K
Brian,
Great show. Although I haven’t posted any messages on the boards, I have been listening. My head is finally starting to clear after the move, Ikea furniture is almost all put together, and so I thought it was time for a post.
Having been doing at least one open mic a night here (NYC) since my arrival I feel compelled to pass on what I have learned so far.
-Don’t blow the light. If you have 5 min. do your 5 and get off lest ye be banned. Arrrrrrghhhhhh (sorry, just watched Pirates of the Caribbean 3).
-Sometimes they’re just not going to laugh. Everybody wants to be the next big thing and, to some comics, laughing at your jokes is admission that you’re funnier than they are.
-Be nice to everyone at open mics. It not only helps your career, it keeps the guy who screams at the top of his lungs the word “pancakes” during his set, from including you on his people-who-are-going-to-pay-for-hurting-me list when he finally flips out.
-Open Mics in strip clubs may not be the best place for comedy but remember, if you bomb, a pair of tities always beats out a club full of jaded comics.
That’s it for now. If anyone wants any more advice/info. you can reach me through myspace (www.myspace.com/coryjarviscomic). Take care.
Cory Jarvis
I also really like Norm Macdonald
Glad to see you made it back safe Cory and are kicking off your American tour. Be sure to keep us posted on how things go.
Did anyone catch the new Brian Regan special “Standin Up” on Comedy Central this weekend? It was fantastic. Even as bitter as I’m becoming, that guy makes me laugh out loud every time I see him. I got a chance to open for him once in New Jersey, and he was one of the nicest guys I’ve met in comedy. He got into it for the stand up and still loves everything about it. If you didn’t see it, fear not, Comedy Central is sure to show it another 850 times this week.
Brian Regan was great on Comedy Central the other day! He’s apparently signed a deal with Comedy Central to do a 40 city tour and 2 specials, so more greatness to come from him.
My 10 favorites list (in no particular order)
David Cross
Brian Regan
Norm MacDonald
Chris Rock
Bill Cosby
Ellen Degeneres
Rodney Dangerfield
Bob Newhart (his delivery kills me)
Joe Rogan
Louis CK
Funniest guy I can’t stand to watch do stand-up:
George Carlin - I like Carlin and the content of his material, but I CAN’T STAND his delivery. I’ve never made it through a full show.
just wanted to drop by and say OI it been awhile for me
Welcome back belly. Next time call if you’re going to be away. You know how we worry.
My top ten in no order becuase thats impossible for me to do:
1) Conan O’brien- Now i know he’s not a stand up per se but i really like him and i think he’s doing a good job at spotlighting comedians and comedy in general.
2)Christopher Titus- I love the way he can make dark stuff funny. im also constantly amazed that he hasnt become a psycho killer with all the crap he’s gone through
3)Bill Hicks- He said what he wanted and made it funny. also he’s one of the few comedians that are still relevant despite being dead.
4)Patton Oswalt- just fall down funny.
5)Lewis Black- the fore most commentator of all the bullshit my generations gone through.
6)George Carlin- My Hero, The grand master wordsmith
7)Rodney Dangerfield- Old school King
8)Chris Rock- the inheritor (right next to chapelle) of pryors legacy.
9)Jim Gaffigan- “HOOOT POOOCKET”
10)Woody Allen- some of the best writing ive ever winessed
Speaking of Patton, I for one am looking forward to Ratatouille!
sorry brian other things at you fromer
podcasting place spit more so i been at other places muchless school let out for me i would get on your site when i had my break in the morning.
I have a Top 10 Best (Not greatest) and then a Top 10 Favorite.
Top 10 Best
Woody Allen
Richard Pryor
Eddie Murphy
Rodney Dangerfield
Steven Wright
Jonathan Winters
Chris Rock
Jerry Seinfeld (sorry)
George Carlin
Bill Cosby
(Steve Martin is 11th; I feel like I’m putting too much bias into the list if I put him in my Top 10)
My 10 Favorite
Steve Martin
Brian Regan
Daniel Tosh
Norm MacDonald
Stephen Lynch
Bill Cosby
Eddie Murphy
Drew Carey
Chris Rock
Mike Birbiglia/Steven Wright/Mitch Hedburg/Ellen DeGeneres/Sarah Silverman
Okay, it was a Top 14.
Sorry I didn’t post on this earlier, I haven’t had Internet at my apartment for the last few weeks. I’ve been trying to catch up on the last 4 episodes, which is hard because I’ve had a lot of shows recently and I just got a summer job a month ago. Great show, B-Mo.