What's So Funny?

Bobby Slayton may be billed as the Pitbull of Comedy but he's a real pussycat. But even though he's a big fan of vanilla, he's no vanilla comic. In this episode, I get hung up on An Evening at the Improv from the 1980s so we talk about those early days, and venture from there to L. Ron Hubbard, Fox News, his pop star daughter, and tattoos. This episode brought to you by Too Much of Everything.

Goldie Hoffman is no shrinking violet. Hence our extendo-episode. The actress/comedian (and pretend doctor), who is between the ages of 16 and 65 - chronologically young but with an old soul – isn't afraid to rock the boat. In this episode, she explains why Vancouver isn't a real city but one filled with "townies," discusses the problem with progressives, and rails against taxes on tampons. She also talks about growing up in what she calls the "cult" of Hasidic Judaism and being one of ten children. This episode brought to you by the Truth.

Aaron Read is a triple threat: improviser, musician, and visual artist. No wonder he was a couple minutes late to the show. When the man with buns of steel showed up, we talked about kissing Ryan Beil, his obsession with beaded curtains, top phone mime techniques, noise music, burnt pubes in Finland, and we end it with the big closer: racism and misogyny. This episode brought to you by Duffin's Donuts.

Dino Archie may be a Choosy Lover but he's indiscriminate when it comes to doing this show. This is his fourth visit as guest (he also hosted one episode). In this one, he gets down with us about softball, gratitude and having a good attitude, being a heckler whisperer, the Dubai/Mumbai connection, delivering ice cream to Charles Manson, and bike lane/weight room assholes. This episode brought to you by bonus tracks.

Paul Anthony returns to talk about his recent foray into European game show hosting. That's right, the unilingual actor/comedian just did a stint in Austria. What was that all about? Good question. Just remember, loopholes are part of ze fun! We also talk about Talent Time, peeing on Mozart, doing Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in LA, and the pros and cons of Gallagher. This episode brought to you (unofficially) by Red Bull.

Daniel Chai and Chip Ellis are co-founders of the improv troupe The Fictionals. They really should go by the name Chip and Chai. Regardless, they stop by to play a round of Cards Against Humanity with me and tell us about their monthly show at the Vogue Theatre based on the game. It's called Improv Against Humanity. We also talk about karaoke and find out who the most horrible person in the room is.

Jacob Samuel is our first New Yorker contributor. He's a single panel cartoonist with two contributions to the esteemed publication. Not only that, but he does standup comedy, too. We discuss the differences between Toronto and Vancouver, he tells us about Jewish summer camps, and coming face-to-snout with a bull in Kenya.

Craig Northey has been in a lot of bands in his life and they all get a mention in this episode, especially Odds. Or is it The Odds? We also talk about his association with Kids in the Hall (or The Kids in the Hall?) and Brent Butt. Yes, the Brent Butt. I also mentor him on the correct pronunciation of Corner Gas and his own name. He speaks of his love for Abbott and Costello and how his vocabulary was aided by his old boss, Warren Zevon.

Ryan Hamilton becomes the first guest in What's So Funny? history to record a whole episode while being driven around Vancouver in my car. The conversation becomes part travelogue. He talks about his Norman Rockwell-like upbringing in Idaho, we debate how hard Drew Carey works, he reveals who his best roommate was, discusses repeating jokes, I teach him a useful tidbit about the UK, and he opens up about his standard regret about doing podcasts. Come along for the ride!

Tanyalee Davis returns to our studio after a 4-year absence to tell tales of her little 'gina, relocating to small town North Carolina, and hanging out with big stars like the Bay City Rollers and P Diddy. Your regular host was contagious and in the isolation booth so manservant Colleen Brow took over to ask the tough questions with occasional input from MacPherson.

Garrett Clark returns to our studios a mere five months after making his What's So Funny? debut. Why so soon? Because he's off to seek his fame and fortune in the City of Angels and wanted to say goodbye. He talks about his love of AC/DC, his adult circumcision, and his opinion of background actors. And along the way drops some impressions off, including Hank Hill, Jiminy Glick, Damonde Tschritter and our absolute favourite, Richard Lett.

Glenn Wool is baaaack! Both in studio and living in Vancouver. Well, Surrey, but that's a lot closer than England and Los Angeles. He's fitting right in, too, going for long walks around the seawall and taking yoga classes. We talk about immortality, his battle with Aasif Mandvi, and his bromance with Frankie Boyle, among other things.

Diana Bang is best known for her role as Sook, Kim Jong Un's propaganda minister, in the movie The Interview. But maybe you also recognize her for her work as Coffee Shop Server in No Clue, Barista in Miracle in Manhattan, or maybe even Market Cashier in Guess Who's Coming to Christmas. We talk about her surreal ascent to the red carpet, Seth Rogen's luscious lips, and learn why you should never trust an acting teacher. Also, this marks her very first appearance on any podcast anywhere!

Ron Vaudry is a Canadian standup pioneer, in the game since 1979. He talks about an early foray across the frozen tundra back in 1982 with Mark Breslin and his stable of stoned comics, doing comedy at Foxy Boxing, his bad luck with competitions, his ten years abroad, and his beef with the Canadian entertainment industry. Check it out!

Harry Doupe returns for his annual year-in-comedy review. We start off with the old chestnuts: Canadian Comedy Awards and YYComedy Festival and quickly branch off to The Interview, Corner Gas: The Movie, and The Grand Seduction, move over to the year in comedy deaths, talk about Demetri Martin's response to hecklers at the JFL stop in Vancouver, Harry's worst experience with hecklers, Christmas specials from Russell Peters and Dave Foley, Lachlan Patterson's appearance on Last Comic Standing, and the upcoming Schitt's Creek.

Matt Besser loves to talk about comedy. And we love to listen. The co-founder of Upright Citizen's Brigade (UCB) in New York is also a comic, first and foremost. In this episode, he throws out sports analogies aplenty, we learn what a Razorback is, talk about Steve Martin and Andy Kaufman, I stick my foot in my mouth in regards to Tim Meadows, why if-then is better than yes-and, and he tells us who the greatest Canadian band is.

Ken Lawson returns to walk us through some improv games and exercises. If you've ever considered taking improv courses, have a listen. At the very least, you'll come away more confident knowing you're better than the host of this show.

Mark Forward opens up! The very private standup comic and actor gives What's So Funny? an exclusive about being canned from CBC-TV's Mr. D. And he talks about his sensitive childhood and how therapy helped him become less angry. It sounds so serious but this is a really fun chat.

Darren Frost returns. Could this be the last time the Toronto comic is in Vancouver? Would he dare retire from comedy? These are questions we can't know the answer to. But he can ponder them, as he does in this episode, his fifth appearance on the show. Lotsa good stuff here in this one.

Mike MacDonald has been through a lot in the past two-and-a-half years. But as you can hear in this episode, he's back, baby. As sarcastic as ever! We talk about his bout with hepatitis C and subsequent liver transplant, mental illness, and heroin addiction. But there's even more talk about other things: young comics, starting out in rock clubs, touring with a band, sloppy editing in televised comedy, his asshole years, his wife, talking to him before a show. We're happy he's happy as he can be. (Listen to find out which word should be stressed.)