Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Comedifans - Episode 043
Sumukh and Golak are back with 2 guests! Former guest (and former Sumukh and Golak roommate) Jon Perry and our first call-in guest, Nirish Doshi, are in studio. The four fellas talk pre-season football, the Browns' 2012-2013 outlook, the less sad Packers' 2012-2013 outlook, Dwight Howard, the new NBA playoff picture, LeBron, Olympics, Blade Runner, surgical procedures, dating, and cold opens.
Remembering J. Medicine Hat
Comedian J. Medicine Hat has passed away. I didn't know J. Medicine Hat. I can't call him a friend. I can only recount the one night that I worked with him, and how it still stands out as a strangely memorable night in my comedy life.
To begin with, I had no idea who J. Medicine Hat was until I started doing stand-up comedy. As a new comedian in Columbus, I'd check out The Funny Bone's schedule and would often see J. Medicine Hat's name on it and this picture of him:
This headshot kind of scared me. Who was this mean looking guy who had to be quite a draw considering he worked several weekends out of the year in Columbus? I was told he was a hypnotist comedian. For some stand-up comedians, that probably left him open to criticism, but I've always been intrigued by hypnosis, so I checked out a show, and was part of a crowd that loved every minute of it.
I had the opportunity to open for J. Medicine Hat as a fill-in on some Saturday night shows at the Funny Bone. I got asked to do it the day of the show. It was a weird night for me. My girlfriend at the time and I had planned a date night. As a comedian, if I'm given an opportunity and I'm available to do it, I'm going to do it. I explained the situation to my girlfriend, she was understanding of it, and we spent our date night having drinks at the Funny Bone. It was made stranger because one of my best friends and his girlfriend came into town as well and met us up there. So, here I was, having a double date while also doing comedy at the same time. It was the first time that my personal social life came to a head with my comedy life on the same night. I juggled doing a few minutes of stage time in front of complete strangers with conversations with some of the closest people in my life in the bar area.
Besides conversations with my friends, I also had conversations with J. Medicine Hat. He was very kind. He was a fan of boxing. We talked about the Mayweather-Marquez fight, and our hope for Mayweather-Pacquiao, which still hasn't come to fruition. The most touching moment was when he was aware that my girlfriend was out in the bar area. He asked to meet her and was nothing but complimentary with both of us. It's all that you can ask for as an opener – to work with another comedian that's nice and, even better, with his experience and conversation, you are able to glean and learn more about comedy and the lifestyle that comes with it.
I guess I remember that night because I always reference it as one of the many reasons that my relationship with that girlfriend ended. I still have a difficult time juggling my personal life with what I want out of comedy. But, I also remember it equally for my interaction with J. Medicine Hat, and how highly opposite it was from whatever impression I may have gotten from his headshot. After that night, I looked at that headshot with even more intrigue. Simply put, J. Medicine Hat had decades of experience on stages, made tons of people laugh, was a constant draw that had his fans coming back every time he was in town, and was extremely nice to an opening act he had never met before and would never see again. There's not much more that you can ask from a comedian.
Rest in peace, J. Medicine Hat.
To begin with, I had no idea who J. Medicine Hat was until I started doing stand-up comedy. As a new comedian in Columbus, I'd check out The Funny Bone's schedule and would often see J. Medicine Hat's name on it and this picture of him:
This headshot kind of scared me. Who was this mean looking guy who had to be quite a draw considering he worked several weekends out of the year in Columbus? I was told he was a hypnotist comedian. For some stand-up comedians, that probably left him open to criticism, but I've always been intrigued by hypnosis, so I checked out a show, and was part of a crowd that loved every minute of it.
I had the opportunity to open for J. Medicine Hat as a fill-in on some Saturday night shows at the Funny Bone. I got asked to do it the day of the show. It was a weird night for me. My girlfriend at the time and I had planned a date night. As a comedian, if I'm given an opportunity and I'm available to do it, I'm going to do it. I explained the situation to my girlfriend, she was understanding of it, and we spent our date night having drinks at the Funny Bone. It was made stranger because one of my best friends and his girlfriend came into town as well and met us up there. So, here I was, having a double date while also doing comedy at the same time. It was the first time that my personal social life came to a head with my comedy life on the same night. I juggled doing a few minutes of stage time in front of complete strangers with conversations with some of the closest people in my life in the bar area.
Besides conversations with my friends, I also had conversations with J. Medicine Hat. He was very kind. He was a fan of boxing. We talked about the Mayweather-Marquez fight, and our hope for Mayweather-Pacquiao, which still hasn't come to fruition. The most touching moment was when he was aware that my girlfriend was out in the bar area. He asked to meet her and was nothing but complimentary with both of us. It's all that you can ask for as an opener – to work with another comedian that's nice and, even better, with his experience and conversation, you are able to glean and learn more about comedy and the lifestyle that comes with it.
I guess I remember that night because I always reference it as one of the many reasons that my relationship with that girlfriend ended. I still have a difficult time juggling my personal life with what I want out of comedy. But, I also remember it equally for my interaction with J. Medicine Hat, and how highly opposite it was from whatever impression I may have gotten from his headshot. After that night, I looked at that headshot with even more intrigue. Simply put, J. Medicine Hat had decades of experience on stages, made tons of people laugh, was a constant draw that had his fans coming back every time he was in town, and was extremely nice to an opening act he had never met before and would never see again. There's not much more that you can ask from a comedian.
Rest in peace, J. Medicine Hat.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Comedifans - Episode 042
Sumukh and Golak bring in guest Aaron Nemo for some sports talk. The group talks Olympics, Usain Bolt, Natrone Means, Wham!, B-Team Basketball, Judaism, wings, bars, MLB, Seether, and cartoons.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Deke Wilson's Mini-Mysteries
On Saturday, I found out a great fact:
all episodes of the TV show Deke Wilson's Mini-Mysteries are now available on YouTube! Deke Wilson's Mini-Mysteries was
a Canadian kids show that revolved around teenager Deke Wilson
solving mysteries around his neighborhood and school. It was kind of
like a Canadian television version of Encyclopedia Brown as Deke had
his own detective agency, friends, and cases.
You may be asking
yourself: how could a kid who grew up in Cleveland even know about a
Canadian kids show? In middle school, our cable provider had the
Encore network's package of channels, which included WAM!, a channel
devoted to programming for children. WAM! was in its earliest
incarnation and other than family films that Encore had the rights
to, they clearly had some space to fill, which they did with Canadian
shows from the late 80s and early 90s. This included both Deke
and Kerrisdale High, a show most well known for kicking off
the careers of now recognizable actors Devon Sawa and Sarah Chalke.
The show's premise
was pretty simple. Deke has a detective agency where kids can ask him
to help solve a mystery for them. With his humorous sidekick Arthur,
Deke looks for clues and solves the mysteries. There's also their
mutual friend Zane, who is perhaps most memorable for being kidnapped
in one episode. In addition is Deke's pesky younger sister (because
it can't be a children's show without an annoying sibling) and
Jennifer, Deke's main squeeze.
Deke Wilson's
Mini-Mysteries lasted only one season. It was filmed in Windsor,
Canada, and contained local child actors in the leads. None of these
actors have gone on to careers in the field. Check out this episode
of Deke as he exposes who sent a threatening message to a
teacher and a suspicious new kid who is trying to pick up Deke's date
to the dance. This episode is particularly awesome because it
contains plenty of cheesy scenes in a 1980s middle school dance!
As a fan of the
show, I can't help but sit back and ask, “Where Are They Now?” so
I of course spent way too much time for this blog post trying to find
that out.
Eddie Hawkeswood,
who played Deke, is now known as Edwin Hawkeswood. He appears to have
continued to work in theatre and film in some capacity, but according
to this article, he then moved on to be the floor director for games
for various Toronto sports teams. He also went bald (we have something in common!) and has a family (we don't have something in common!).
He also seems to like beer as he's participated in a beer race. Simply put, I want to hang out with Edwin
Hawkeswood.
James Brejcha, who
played Arthur, was a lead singer for a popular band in the
underground Windsor scene according to this site. The same article
claims he moved West, and this still shows that he has a mySpace page
for some reason (I'm not sure why anyone still has a mySpace page).
Zane Handysides,
who played Zane, is now a lawyer in Windsor. Also, his brother Brook
recently got married. Congratulations Brook and Sarah! This is where
the Internet has made things insane. By just doing research, I ended
up on the wedding website of the brother of a supporting character in
a short-lived Canadian children's TV show. That's ridiculous. I have
no business knowing this information, but now I know this
information, and all of you do, too.
I couldn't find any
other information about anyone from the show. Strangely, the episodes
of Deke that have been posted that I've watched do not contain
credits, and so I don't recall the names of the other actors on the
show.
But, if you love
mysteries, being a kid again, Canada, and the 1980s, it's worth
checking out Deke Wilson's Mini-Mysteries.
Wow. This makes me
really want to go up to Windsor, gamble at the casino, hit up the
bars, and hang out with the entire cast from this show. Let's solve
the mystery of how much money we can blow at our favorite place
across the border!
Friday, August 3, 2012
That Familiar Olympics Theme Song
You may be asking yourself: who is this
guy? The answer is Randy Edelman. If you're watching NBC's coverage
of The Olympics and you hear the music in the background during any
commercial break, that's Edelman's work.
But, what you may not know is that this
song is nearly two decades old. It originally appeared on a
short-lived FOX show, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Though a forgettable show, its theme song was one of the best of
all-time in my opinion.
My first knowledge of Edelman's collaboration with NBC came when he composed the NFL on NBC's theme song beginning in 1995. This was a weird time for me as this was the season that Art Modell announced the Browns would move to Baltimore. I then filled my football fandom void with the Kansas City Chiefs, who not surprisingly blew two Divisional Round playoff games in 1995 and 1997 to the tune of this song.
NBC was smart. They knew how awesome of a theme song The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. was that they re-used it in their sports coverage. Unfortunately, that sports coverage was the 1997 World Series. Edelman, why must you torture me with your excellent theme songs?! After Edgar Renteria knocked in the game winner in the 11th inning to give the Marlins the title over the Indians, these credits ran (FACT: I was asleep at this point. My parents forced me to go to bed after Jose Mesa blew the save. I found out the results of the game the next day on WKYC Channel 3's morning news prior to going to school).
After re-watching those credits, there's two initial thoughts. First, screw Moises Alou. He won a title with the Marlins, and then to be in part the cause of the Steve Bartman play? Second, the Cleveland Indians won this World Series as far as I'm concerned.
So, as much as Randy Edelman may have been a part of some torturous experiences for me as a fan, at least the torture is accompanied by some great music. I can now know that the music is only associated with The Olympics where America has a tendency to always do well unlike most teams I normally cheer for.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Comedifans - Episode 041
Original Recipe! Sumukh and Golak sitdown and talk Olympic coverage,
swimming, women's basketball, possible women's basketball rule changes,
new Olympic sports, the sale of the Browns, the Corey's, Todd Bridges,
and where Wendy Williams falls in line with a previous discussion we
had.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Celebrity Run-Ins Of Louis C.K.
If you scour the depths of YouTube, there are many gems to be found. A particular group of videos that I have come across recently are videos (a term used loosely as you will soon see) that feature Louis C.K. recanting hilarious run-ins he's had with a variety of celebrities. My favorites are below.
Matthew Perry
Gotta love asshole celebrity stories! I also love the acknowledgement that comics are particularly adept at handling free drink situations.
Martin Sheen
...and a close second, celebrity silly/ridiculous/eccentric stories.
Eve and Vin Diesel
This made me slightly change the way I feel about (negatively) Eve and (positively) Vin Diesel. Kudos to the poster for adding the MTV footage to the end of this video that he/she knew we'd all be frantically searching for at the conclusion of the story.
Rip Taylor
Similar in set-up to the Eve and Vin Diesel story with a hilariously swapped turn of events.
Barbara Walters/The cast of The View
Louis talks about his infamous appearance on The View while he was going around doing press for the first season of Lucky Louie. (Check out the appearance HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2))
Dennis Leary
A hilarious and revealing story about Dennis Leary and the genesis of his famous "Asshole" song. A pretty big charge for Louis to wage against Leary, but his choice to remain relatively mute on the Dane Cook joke-stealing charges, when that was big, makes me tend to believe something like this when he offers it up voluntarily. But you can go ahead and choose not to believe it and just be content with the other 127 stories about Dennis Leary being an insufferable hack. (Leary does offer a short response back HERE).
Matthew Perry
Gotta love asshole celebrity stories! I also love the acknowledgement that comics are particularly adept at handling free drink situations.
Martin Sheen
...and a close second, celebrity silly/ridiculous/eccentric stories.
Eve and Vin Diesel
This made me slightly change the way I feel about (negatively) Eve and (positively) Vin Diesel. Kudos to the poster for adding the MTV footage to the end of this video that he/she knew we'd all be frantically searching for at the conclusion of the story.
Rip Taylor
Similar in set-up to the Eve and Vin Diesel story with a hilariously swapped turn of events.
Barbara Walters/The cast of The View
Louis talks about his infamous appearance on The View while he was going around doing press for the first season of Lucky Louie. (Check out the appearance HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2))
Dennis Leary
A hilarious and revealing story about Dennis Leary and the genesis of his famous "Asshole" song. A pretty big charge for Louis to wage against Leary, but his choice to remain relatively mute on the Dane Cook joke-stealing charges, when that was big, makes me tend to believe something like this when he offers it up voluntarily. But you can go ahead and choose not to believe it and just be content with the other 127 stories about Dennis Leary being an insufferable hack. (Leary does offer a short response back HERE).
Friday, July 27, 2012
Philosedy
Social commentator. Revolutionary. Genius! Maybe. When a comic reaches certain heights, many people tend to want to add addendums to the "comedian" moniker--feeling that "comedian" no longer encapsulates the work the artist is now producing (or has produced). Perhaps a compliment to the artist. Perhaps a slight to the art form. Either way, I like a comic who can wear more than one hat (unless it's a silly one, because that's so fucking hack). I enjoy--and feel like this one sometimes gets lost in the shuffle--when a comedian can take on the role of a philosopher.
Speaking in taught, grandiose language about the world--trying to give it some hope and meaning. Now most "philosedy" is rather broad and, usually opposed to the rest of the performer's act, somewhat naively optimistic. But maybe that's the point. After taking the better part of an hour telling an audience how there's no god, the government's lying to you, and your life is mostly a shell, maybe a comic want to prove to you--and perhaps to themselves--that it's all not that bad.
I know the clips below don't glow with the most revealing introspection you've ever heard or read, but maybe I forgive their broadness because I know they are being said by men who have proved to me, through every other word they've ever said and/or spoke, that they are some of the truly great minds we, as a society, have ever known. So, while these clips below may be only a half step above a "Live, Laugh, Love" picture frame or a shared photo from George Takei's facebook feed, they make me happy.
Bill Hicks - It's Just A Ride
A great end to a great special. I always imagine life at "The Raptor" from Cedar Point while listening to this.
George Carlin - The Big Electron
Taken from Carlin's bit, Saving The Planet. I have the video cued up to the relevant segment, but if you get a chance, give the whole clip a listen. Like most great pieces of material, just as relevant today as it was round-about 2 decades ago.
Lenny Bruce - The Truth
Short but sweet.
Speaking in taught, grandiose language about the world--trying to give it some hope and meaning. Now most "philosedy" is rather broad and, usually opposed to the rest of the performer's act, somewhat naively optimistic. But maybe that's the point. After taking the better part of an hour telling an audience how there's no god, the government's lying to you, and your life is mostly a shell, maybe a comic want to prove to you--and perhaps to themselves--that it's all not that bad.
I know the clips below don't glow with the most revealing introspection you've ever heard or read, but maybe I forgive their broadness because I know they are being said by men who have proved to me, through every other word they've ever said and/or spoke, that they are some of the truly great minds we, as a society, have ever known. So, while these clips below may be only a half step above a "Live, Laugh, Love" picture frame or a shared photo from George Takei's facebook feed, they make me happy.
Bill Hicks - It's Just A Ride
A great end to a great special. I always imagine life at "The Raptor" from Cedar Point while listening to this.
George Carlin - The Big Electron
Taken from Carlin's bit, Saving The Planet. I have the video cued up to the relevant segment, but if you get a chance, give the whole clip a listen. Like most great pieces of material, just as relevant today as it was round-about 2 decades ago.
Lenny Bruce - The Truth
Short but sweet.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Comedifans Post-Game - Episode 040
As mentioned in “Comedifans”
Episode 40 and previous “Comedifans” episodes, I agreed with
Golak to eat ribs after 17 years of never doing so. That happened
this past weekend at the Jazz & Ribs Festival in Columbus.
I stopped eating beef and pork back in
elementary school. It was a combination of decisions that prompted
it. First, I was grabbing a further understanding of my religion, and
felt that if my mother wasn't cooking any beef and pork as part of
our cuisine and it wasn't a part of their cultural upbringing either,
why should I be eating it? It also was a time when Mad Cow Disease,
e.Coli, and other bacteria in beef products were becoming big deals
and constantly covered in the news. To me, I could sacrifice those
meats and live a healthier lifestyle, and I've kept up with that over
the years.
When I did eat beef and pork, I loved
ribs. That was because of Geppetto's, a Cleveland tradition known for
their award-winning ribs. Like most Clevelanders, I loved Geppetto's,
so when I made this decision, that was the toughest of those meats to
sacrifice. A Big Mac didn't matter. Bacon wasn't a big thing. But,
Geppetto's ribs, that was going to be difficult.
Nevertheless, I've gone so
many years without it, so it was nice to get out at a big event like
the Jazz & Ribs Festival and eat some ribs again. There were a
lot of options to choose from, so I obviously had to rely off Golak
for the decision making. Every ribs place was award-winning. It just
depends on the award and the part of the country. It was like going
to the local showcase at the Funny Bone where half the comics you see
get introduced as a finalist or the winner of “The Funniest Person
in Columbus.” Well, I guess they'll all be at least good. So, our
buddy Duffy had tried Pigfoot on Friday night, so that's where we
went to as well as Famous Dave's, a Golak selection. I got a sampler
at Pigfoot and a sampler platter at Famous Dave's.
All in all, it was nice to eat ribs
again. Both ribs were good. I guess they are deserving of winning
awards, but then again, I haven't eaten them in 17 years, so what do
I know? I enjoyed a $5 lemonade with my ribs, which brings up the
fact that I should quit comedy and open up a lemonade stand at
festivals. The overhead that company got is ridiculous. Though, I
must say, the lemonade really hit the spot on such a hot day, and the platter made me want to go home and make more cornbread.
On a side note with this “Comedifans”
episode, I wanted to do the Jim Thome comparison. Take a look at Jim
Thome photos from 1992 and 2011. Hmm, maybe it's just baggier clothing. You make the decision.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Comedifans - Episode 040
Sumukh and Golak sit down and chat with Jason Clemmer. The trio talk Penn State, Paterno statue, The Open Championship, sandwiches, ribs, jazz, MLB, steroids, Paul Sorrento, and Rick Nash.
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