What's So Funny?

Dave Nystrom returns to his pseudo-hometown and tells us all about life in sunny Southern Cal. Dave's last visit to our show was way back in 2004 so we had lots of catching up to do. He talks about the funny looks he gets in LA when people see his wedding ring... not to mention his three kids all under the age of six. And we get a vicarious ride on the Hollywood roller coaster.

Brian Regan is a very funny man (as the song goes). What song? I've sampled a bit at the beginning of this episode. Regan was kind enough to talk to What's So Funny? prior to his show in Vancouver. We spoke to Dr. Regan for just over 30 minutes about his numerous degrees, his love of reading short books, and an invention he's thought up that really should be made. All that plus Brian Regan comedy clips to fill out the hour!

Ryan Hamilton ventures into our studio for the first time despite not being asked by a teacher. It seems he can never say no to a teacher. He'll explain that as well as talk about other Ryan Hamiltons, discuss peddling booze and his favourite missionary position. This episode brought to you by McMahon and Tate.

Jeff McEnery has spent the last two years living in Vancouver. We meet for the first time and he tells us he's moving back to Toronto in a couple of months. That's a fine how-do-you-do. The rhubarb genius from Acton tells us about avoiding hard labour at all costs, dishes the dirt on film sets he's been on, waxes poetic about Williams Lake, and stuff like that. This episode catered by KFC.

Ewan Currie of The Sheepdogs has the rough-hewn exterior of a rock star but the sensitive interior of a jazz musician. That's where we bonded. We spoke to the former Rolling Stone cover boy about his Aussie beginnings, band squabbles, shampoo, Tim Horton's, and he fails miserably at The $20,000 Pyramid. This episode regretfully recorded on Wii Rock Band mics.

Paul Anthony goes waaaay back with Arsenio Hall. But it was an unrequited love, it turns out. We get busy talking about his experience on the new Arsenio Hall show, his macabre thoughts on becoming a dad, his unease at performing standup, and mysteriously talk about his latest film work (hint: this is the first bleeped WSF? episode).

Steve Bays, the raw dog, returns for his annual check-up. He tells us why he's averse to the definite article, reveals his anxiety dreams, explains why it's Mad over Cracked every time, brainstorms potential band names and famous Gords, and names his all-time dinner guest list.

Kyle Bottom makes his solo debut on What's So Funny? We relive the time I busted his balls, him dancing in front of Pete Holmes, a horrible set that led him to step away from comedy for 3.5 years, and his dreams of an all-heckle comedy show.

Kevin Foxx teases me about our Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best Podcast. He also explains astrology and sets a show record for most number of c-words dropped in a single episode.

Dave Merheje developed his comedy on the mean streets of Detroit. Throughout his forays down south, the Windsor native was given some tough love by the border guards and had a couple of run-ins with firearms. The payoff? Winning the Irwin Barker Homegrown Competition at Just For Laughs and being recognized by a stripper.

Darrin Rose is more than just a Jason Sudeikis lookalike. The likeable standup, actor, writer and host of the Match Game talks about playing the UK, boozing it up on TV, running his own software company, and trying to get secrets out of his tight-lipped family.

Mark Leiren-Young is a playwright, journalist, comedian and trained singer. We talk to the Leacock Award winner for Never Shoot a Stampede Queen about all those things, including crime in Williams Lake, BC, writing quickly,cheap shots in reviews, and his love of Doug Henning. His newest book is called Free Magic Secrets Revealed but he doesn't reveal any in this episode.

Marcus Ryan has performed in 25 countries. In this episode, I try to get him to settle down. Pick a country and stick to it. But the Aussie standup's got a bad case of wanderlust. So instead we hear about his travels and I troll his tweets and offer him some sage career advice.

Shaun Majumder had never done a podcast prior to this momentous episode. Go figure. In it, he talks about comedy workshops, gives us a glimpse into the psyches of his fellow Newfoundlanders, makes the case for optimism, tells us why acting isn't as easy as it looks, and discusses getting fired from a TV show and the words of wisdom from a comedy legend that saw him through it.

Matt Davis brings his southern charm to What's So Funny? The Alabama boy talks about the history of the south, dressing for success, starting stand-up at 17, playing the Middle East, reading, and the meaning of offence.

Karen O'Keefe finally got to play Vancouver so we scooped her up to commemorate the big weekend. The Toronto-based Yellowknife native teaches us as all about the Northwest Territories and discusses her dysfunctions, which may or may not include being an enhanced redhead. If you need a visual aid, think Christina Hendricks meets Geena Davis meets Laura Kightlinger.

Darren Frost and Kenny Robinson are together again for the first time. The first time on What's So Funny?, that is. They've each been solo guests before but now that they're touring the country as Rank and Vile, we thought we'd talk to them together this time. What do we learn this episode? We learn that Kenny loves cruising, but cruising doesn't love Kenny. We learn that Darren landed a role on TV's Mr. Dee by tweeting an insult to the star. For added fun, take a drink every time Kenny drops a musical reference. Enjoy the buzz.

Nelson Giles is a veteran Canadian standup comic who's been away from the scene for over a year. But he's back. And he's a new person. Largely because he dropped 60 pounds. He talks about the excitement of getting back on the stage, and what led him to take a break from it. And Jack Nicholson makes a cameo appearance!

Hari Kondabolu picked a good time to be a comedian. Thirty years ago there was no place for him in show business. And not only because he was just a newborn 30 years ago. In this episode, we deconstruct Hari and talk about progressive comedy, take apart controversial jokes (and tweets), and discuss the middle ground an ethnic comedian can take on stage.

Dino Archie and Sunee Dhaliwal are two amigos on the Vancouver stand-up scene. In this most lively of episodes, the Indo-Canadian Dhaliwal acts as translator for the African-American Archie to the old white guy host. Together this United Nations of a gathering comes together – pause – to talk about thespianism, shameless plugging, stank and growth as a comedian.