Comedy Salad with Buddah #20 Ken Sevara

'Comedy Salad with Buddah' is really starting to take off. This is a new blog about comedians and their world of standup comedy. Today I interviewed long standing Chicago comic, Ken Sevara who I recently worked with at Mason City Limits comedy club. Ken landed the gig as he called it, using the "comedian exchange program" while MCL club owner/comedian Chris Speyrer headed to work a room Ken runs in Rockford. Ken in turn headlined Chris' club. So there you have it. Networking minds making standup comedy continue to do it's thing, make people laugh. You may have seen Ken on FOX television, Comedy Central and ESPN or heard him on The Bob and Tom Show. He is available for corporate shows and has shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Billl Murray, Jay Leno and George Carlin. I tossed six questions to Ken and asked him to send me one back. Here are the results...



BUDDAH: Who has inspired you standup comedy career more than anyone else?



KEN: Comedian Tom Dreesen taught me the business on and off stage. He was an enormous influence.



BUDDAH: Knowing your act, I have to ask, how much do you miss the loveable Harray Caray?



KEN: I miss Harry because he was an irreplaceable personality in an era of "cookie cutter" broadcasters.



BUDDAH: What else are you passionate about besides standup comedy?



KEN: Family, friends, radio, politics, the stock market, baseball, hockey, music and history.



BUDDAH: Would you rather visit the president at the White House or attend a baseball game and why?



KEN: A baseball game, because it sucks less money out of my wallet.



BUDDAH: If you could time travel where would you go and who would you like to meet?



KEN: I would love to meet Julius Caesar during the height of the Roman Empire.



BUDDAH: I think it's no secret that some of the greatest food in the world is in your hometown of Chicago. So, where is your favorite eating establishment in the Chicago area and what dish do you prefer to order for a meal?



KEN: Due's Pizza on Ontario Street in Chicago. Their deep dish pizza is the best I have ever had!!



This is the point of the interview where Ken was supposed to send me one question back but he forgot. And that's okay. I will serve one up on his behalf.



KEN: Buddah, what is one thing that most people don't know about you?



BUDDAH: When I was a young boy I was a Chicago Cubs fan (mom and dad forced it on me) until about the age of 8. That's when I discovered the St. Louis Cardinals and players like Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Joe Torre, Kenny Reitz, Curt Flood and Ted Simmons. I have been a Cards fan ever since. I also root for the Red Sox.


Due's Pizza, huh? It looks like Buddah has a new pizza adventure the next time I visit the windy city. You can catch Ken Sevara as he has is own radio show, "Fly By Night" on AM 560 every Saturday evening at midnight (on line 560wind.com). And as always, Be on the lookout for Ken in comedy clubs accross the Chicago area and the greater midwest.

Regular Suspender Ken

Animated Ken

Comedy Salad with Buddah #19 Chris Speyrer

Buddah is hitting the road for an out of state gig this weekend so here is a mid-week Comedy Salad interview. The first thing I have to say is many of the previous 18 interviews would not be possible if it were not for meeting them through this week's guest. It's the one and only, Chris Speyrer! Chris is the owner/operator of one of the best kept secrets in the Illinois comedy scene, Mason City Limits comedy club. This club is where I have earned most of my standup comedy chops. I am not really interviewing just a club owner. Chris has been a standup comedian for 20 plus years and he knows just about everybody in the biz. Here is a recent quote from comedian Todd Yohn to me, "Chris Speyrer is one of most under rated comics in the business". I (Buddah) can say that he helps local comics out when and where he can, whether it's guest spots and/or feature sets at his club or even just giving an up and coming comic a line for a joke. Chris knows just how much time local comics are worthy of when he calls them in from the bullpen, which is why the local talent has had some good success on his stage. Headlining comics such as Drew Hastings, Emo Phillips, Bob Zany, Alex Reymundo, Nikki Glaser, Nick Griffin, Costaki Economopolous, Mike Armstrong, Donnie Baker and many others have worked his club multiple times since it's opening in 2006. The club has even had spirits from the past drop in for a show as evidenced on film by this comedian's better half. I rustled up six questions for Chris, a native of Dayton, Ohio and had him toss (like a salad, get it?) one back to me and here is what we have waiting for you...



BUDDAH: Being a club owner, I know you get a lot of requests for stage time. What are you looking for in a comic when booking feature acts?



CHRIS: For out of town comics, it's usually a headliner bringing somebody with them. It's important that the feature act is an appropriate set up for the headliner and of couse they travel together, which helps them budget wise. Locally, I like to throw the comics a bone who I know are working hard to get better. I'll use two locals to split the feature time when it helps to get the comics that deserve it, more stage time.



BUDDAH: What did George Carlin say to you when you met him that one night many years ago in Lexington, KY?



CHRIS: He asked us questions, where we were from, how our show went. Didn't speak long, but was nice enough to meet me and the other comic I was with (Ray Thomas), who I was performing with next door at Comedy on Broadway, before he excused himself to get ready for his 2nd show.



BUDDAH: Your club is hosting an all weekend event Friday-Sunday called "Mason City Limits Comedy Palooza". This three day event will consist of five comedians performing each day. So, who are the 15 comics who have been selected to perform at this epic event?



CHRIS: (I would prefer to limit this to five all time favorite comics so I don't have to exclude/offend any of my current comics.) All time favorite show:

Steven Wright

Steve Martin

Sam Kinison

George Carlin

Richard Pryor



BUDDAH: If you were not a standup comedian and didn't operate a comedy club what would be your dream career?



CHRIS: I would like to do color commentary for the Cincinnati Reds broadcast next to Marty Brennaman or an NFL draft analysis ala Mel Kiper with a bit less hair.



BUDDAH: You just traded your comedy club (damn you!) for a radio station. What are the first three song you will play on the airwaves?



CHRIS: ABE FM out of Springfield had a 'guest DJ' thing for a while and you got to play five songs. I was fortunate enough to do it twice, don't remember all the songs but these were some of the songs I played:



Open My Eyes - The Nazz

Tempted - Squeeze

Boom, Boom, Boom - (cover version) by Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Two of Us - The Beatles

Cold Hard Bitch - Jet

Up To Me - Jethro Tull

Don't Change - INXS

Hey Bulldog - The Beatles



BUDDAH: Baseball time! being from Ohio it is no big secret that you are a Cincinnati Reds fan. So what is your all time Reds team (C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, 3 OF's, DH and one starting pitcher to take the mound)?



CHRIS: The Big Red Machine pretty much covers it, Tony Perez 1B; Joe Morgan 2B; perhaps Larkin over Concepcion at SS, Frank Robinson at 3B. Outfield of Griffey Sr. RF, Eric Davis CF, Pete Rose LF. I'll have Joey Votto DH. Johnny Bench catching and Jose Rijo as my starting pitcher. But if it was up to me there would be no DH since I am a National League guy. Consideration also given to Johnny Vandameer, Tom Seaver, Paul O'Neil, Vada Pinson, George Foster and Ted Kluszewski.



And of course as always, one question to Buddah...While you were growing up, when in life did you realize you were funny?



BUDDAH: The first person to ever call me a comedian when I wasn't one was my Mom (R.I.P.) at age 11 or 12. She said, "you always make me laugh" (except when I was skipping school). I guess I always tried to make my friends laugh when I was growing up, but was mostly an inverted (and perverted) child.



Well, I thought for sure Chris Sabo was going to be penciled in at 3B on the all Speyrer team. Chris Speyrer and Mason City Limits are back in full swing after a much deserved summer break this weekend with the return of Donnie Baker. Call the club at (217) 482-5233 to make reservations for this and future shows. The website is mclimits.com. Josh Alton headlines the following week w/Buddah as his feature act! And of course, Chris will on stage too. Look for the return of the highly popular Nick Griffin and Emo Phillips among other great talents in the coming weeks ahead. You can also check out the new renovations at the club complete with a new bar area at the front entrance of the club. Tell the straight guy door man with the queer eye that Buddah sent you.

Chris Speyrer

Where all the funny happens.

Cartoon Chris!

Comedy Salad with Buddah #18 Jimmy Pardo

Once upon a winter night four scores and a few years ago, Buddah and fellow comedian Rich Mansfield ventured off to Peora, IL to participate in the weekly proam because standup comedy is all about stage time, right? Not on this night. It was all about Jimmy Pardo when he is within a 100 mile radius of two of his bigger fans. That's right, Jimmy Pardo is my guest on this week's Comedy Salad. Rich and I did go to the Jukebox Comedy Club on that particular Thursday night to catch one of our comedy hero's do his thing, and I can say this comic was in awe of what he saw, which was 20 minutes of crowd work up front before he rattled off a written joke. We were impressed to say the least. Jimmy Pardo is a comedian every up and coming comic should watch if given the chance to see him live. You will say to yourself, this is the way I should be doing standup, even though you may never reach his level. These days Jimmy spends a lot of his time as the warm up comic on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and recently spent time right along side of Conan as the co-host. He has appeared on "The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno", The Late, Late Show w/Craig Ferguson" and a one time appearance on the sitcom "That 70's Show". Jimmy can also be heard regularly on "The Bob and Tom Show". He also has a new comedy CD due out any day. Jimmy is married to fellow comedian Danielle Koenig, daughter of Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame, known for his role as Pavel Chekov. I will go out on a limb and even say that Jimmy Pardo probably has one of the largest collections of cardigan sweaters known to mankind. As usual, I hammered out six questions to my guest and asked Jimmy to fire one back to me, and I was astonished by his question so much I wanted to call him and ask him if had read my diary. Here we go...



BUDDAH: Do you remember the first joke you ever wrote and what was it?



JIMMY: Yes...I had this happen to me today...I ran out of toilet paper, you know how awful that is when you are sitting there and realize you are out of it...so now you gotta walk around looking for it with your pants around your ankles. Man, I gotta tell ya by the time I got to (insert local drug store) my legs were really cramped. (Not a bad joke for a beginner, but as I look back now, I cringe).



BUDDAH: What shows have you written for past and present?



JIMMY: The only show I ever "wrote" for was for a game show called "Hype". Other than that, it's all been in the moment hosting or remote type things.



BUDDAH: How has working as the the warm up comic for Conan O'Brien changed your standup career?



JIMMY: It has made me travel FAR less than I had been doing. I perform every day in font of a terrific audience. That seems to fill the stand-up performing void.



BUDDAH: What advice do you like to give to up and coming comedians?



JIMMY: Stay true to who you are. Don't try to follow trends. It may take longer to succeed (and one may never succeed)...but at least you are succeeding or failing on your own terms.



BUDDAH: If you could bring back one comedian that has passed to do one final show, who would it be?



JIMMY: I would love to see Johnny Carson host the Tonight Show one more time.



BUDDAH: You just inherited your very own radio station. What are the first three song you will play on the airwaves?



JIMMY: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin

             Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings

             Beginnings - Chicago        


And now we turn over the interview to Mr. Pardo to ask Buddah one burning question.....I'm trying to figure out if it was a regional thing...so...where did you grow up and did you collect beer cans for a hobby as a kid?



BUDDAH: I grew up in a small town called Riverton in good ol' politically corrupt Illinois, just 5 miles away from the state capitol, Springfield. I collected baseball cards and beer cans, like a kid with a hard core beer drinking family (about 220 cans the last time I counted). The most unique item I have is a sealed 7 UP tin can (not that aluminum shit) with about 2-3 drops of soda still in it that I have owned since 1974. Ironically, my beer can collection sits on a closet shelf about six feet from where I typed this.



WOW! How the hell did Jimmy know I collected beer cans? One would think Jimmy is too busy in television to do many road gigs but here is what dug up for you, so be on the lookout for him soon: Skyline Comedy club in Appleton, WI Sep. 20th, The Strand Theater in Shlebyville, IN Sep. 21st, Wise Guys comedy club in Salt Lake City Oct. 11th & 12th, Zanies comedy clubs Nov. 1st in Chicago and Rosemont, IL Nov. 2nd, both near his hometown. Jimmy also has a widely popular podcast called "Never Not Funny" and if this is not enough he has a weekly web series interviewing celebrities on "The Pardo Patrol". You can also visit his website at JimmyPardo.com. SIDE NOTE: He is no relation to TV announcer Don Pardo, so don't ask!

The signature Pardo sweater look.

Laid back Jimmy.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #17 Scott Long

Scott working out an eye brow cramp.

Long live Scott Long!

The Indianapolis area is a great mecca for standup comedy, so why not check out a man who loves his job. That guy is none other than Scott Long. He originally hails from the corn fields of Iowa. I have never worked with Scott but came close once upon a time until the venue pulled standup comedy off the stage two weeks before I was to emcee Scott's show. Damn the luck. But I did manage to catch his act live at Mason City Limits a few years ago and was truly impressed. Scott Long has been heard on the "Bob and Tom Show" and ESPN radio. He spent several years as a writer for Frank Caliendo's FOX NFL Sunday pre game sketches. You didn't think Frank made all of those funnies by himself, did you? Scott even asked this comedian if he could borrow a line I wrote about Brett Favre when he was retiring...unretiring (I still to this day don't know if my joke was aired on FOX). And of course, Scott has been a veteran road comic for years. As usual, I fired six questions at Scott and anxiously awaited for him to shoot one back to me. So here is how it all went down...



BUDDAH: How long have you been a standup comic and take a wild guess as to how many shows you have performed as a headliner?



SCOTT: I started doing standup in 1992, right when the biz started going down the tube from TV over-saturation, been headlining since 1999. I guess that means I've headlined close to 2,000 shows. I've seen a lot of faces and I've rocked most of them. (I'm not quite as cocky as Bon Jovi)



BUDDAH: I know you have taught comedy classes in the past. Do you still do this and what teaching methods, writing exercises etc... would an up and coming comic learn when attending a Scott Long workshop?



SCOTT: I've taught comedy classes. Here's what I promise and I've delivered. I will make you a couple of years better on stage in regards to performing. When you start, most comics make the same mistakes time after time, stuff like bad body language, using the mic stand as a crutch, etc. These things make you look like an amateur. Your stage craft can make you look like you know what your doing, even if you don't. Writing exercises are trademarked and only learned from my class. I can't make you a professional touring comedian, but I can make you a lot better at communicating with people and getting to the point. This will help you with all facets of life.



BUDDAH: When you were working with Frank Caliendo on FOX NFL Sunday how was that grind different and did it have any new affect on your standup comedy during that time?



SCOTT: Writing for Frank Caliendo's FOX NFL Sunday sketches (and the past season with Rob Riggle) is using a whole different muscle than standup. It's more like writing stuff on social media, lots more topical and not really relevant for my standup. It was really frustrating at times during the first few years as I would submit so many jokes that I thought should have been used, but as time goes by you start learn that is just the way TV works. I'm proud of a lot of the sketches that I've added to, but ultimately it always came down to Frank Caliendo is an amazing talent and I've been really lucky to work with him.



BUDDAH: Who are a few of your favorite comics you have worked with over the years?



SCOTT: I haven't worked with a lot of great headliners because I started headlining pretty quickly. On some fronts this was probably a mistake because I didn't build friendships with bigger names and that hurt me in regards to larger opportunities. It's something to consider for comics who are pushing really hard to headline. I will say that Dan Cummins and Tommy Johnagin were comics that featured for me in the past that I think are great headliners now. I think David Crowe and Nick Griffin are the 2 best comics in America that are under the radar to too may people.



BUDDAH: How do you and your wife raise a family while caring for a special needs child, all while juggling your comedy career?



SCOTT: I'd love to answer you question about raising kids, especially a child with special needs, with the depth it deserves. Unfortunately, because of this exact reason, I don't have the time to do it. I would suggest just go to my scottcomedy.com blog and take a look at a couple pieces in the past I've done. Or come out to my 1 man show that I've written discussing life as a Good Dad, not a Great Dad. My site for this is itsanautismthing.com and features my beautiful girl Maddie, who loves to say Happy Monday.



BUDDAH: You are the frontman for a rock & roll band. What is your stage name and what is the name of your band?



SCOTT: Stage name: Stig Riffs. Band name: No Cover. This works on many levels. First, on the marquee people would walk in thinking there is no cover. Second, when people would come up to ask for a cover tune, it could be mentioned that the band is called No Cover for a reason. Only negative, it does sound like a bad 80's band that might have opened for the Outfield.



Okay, Scott's turn...Buddah, if you could do things over, what would you have done differently in your efforts to be a professional standup?



BUDDAH: There are a few answers here, but mainly I would try not to force myself to do a certain set list (which often ended up in me using that dreaded set list on stage...bad idea) on a given night and just let the jokes flow that were in my head at the time. This is a mistake I made for far too long that I care to mention, but once I got away from it the better I have performed. I also wish I had implemented more facial expressions sooner, which I have just recently started doing. They can often help sell a joke to your audience. Oh, and I have also learned that clean underwear helps people like you better. Rock on, Stig Riffs!



I loved the Bon Jovi reference. Catch Scott and his one man show at comedy clubs across the country. How dedicated is he at making people laugh? Scott has been touring North Dakota this week and is currently gearing up for a show in Bismark at Dakota Stage Ltd. as I type this. He also has a blog called Fly Over Comedy. Scott has two comedy CD's and two comedy DVD's. If that isn't enough he has also written a book of comedic essays for you literate types, titled "Dysfunctional Thoughts of a 21 Century Man".

Comedy Salad with Buddah #16 Sonya White

Funny, pretty, personable...the complete package.

I'm gonna need to see some ID, please, young lady.

Where do you find a big city girl with a dash or two of southern sass? Chicago, the last time I checked. Originally from the south, Sonya White has graced comedy stages for years and she is extra special to me as she was the first headliner I ever worked with when I was offered a surprise guest set at Mason City Limits Comedy Club on a cold winter night back in 2008. Even though I slightly bombed you never would have known that when I met her immediately off stage. She was professional and gracious to me to say the least. Since that night I have hosted a pair of shows she has headlined and last year I was her feature act at that very same club, upon her request, which made me feel a bit fuzzy on the inside. Enough about Buddah. Sonya White has a star spangled comedy career which includes appearances on "Last Comic Standing" (season 4), CMT's "Southern Fried Chicks", "Star Search", Oxygen network's "Girls Behaving Badly", WGN TV, HBO and Comedy Central. And I am sure you have heard her voice over the airwaves on "The Bob And Tom Show". She has worked with comedic talents Lewis Black and Kathy Griffin among many others and over the years has several comedy festival appearances under her belt. Her unique comedy stylings have led her to sharing stages with musical acts such as Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Naomi Judd, The Robert Cray Band, Gloria Gaynor and The Drifters. I caught up with Sonya and asked her six questions and then she threw a real thinker back at me. Read on to see what we had to say...



BUDDAH: What is the proudest moment of your standup comedy career, to date?



SONYA: My proudest moment? HMMMMM...when I realized I could make a living doing comedy- eat, drink, travel, buy a home, a car and meet nice people all under one umbrella...my job to make people laugh.



BUDDAH: What made Sonya White want to be a standup comic?



SONYA: What made me wanna do standup came by accident. I was an improv artist first, and once we were running late due to technical difficulty. I was asked to "entertain" the crowd with some jokes or impersonations until show time. I did and got a good response. I grew from the experience and thought wow, now I don't have to split my paycheck five ways! It was then I became a standup artist. (Growth came from doing a second show that same night years later. The troupe said "hey, go out and entertain the crowd again. That went well with you opening." I did and when I stepped out on stage IT WAS THE SAME AUDIENCE ALL OVER AGAIN- gulp!)



BUDDAH: When you go out on the road what is the one thing you always take with you and what is the one thing you leave behind that you wish you could take with you?



SONYA: When I go out on the road I always take my dog "Lovey" if I can- and if I can't I wish she was with me. She is my companion.



BUDDAH: We are making a movie about your life. So what would the title of this flick be and who would star as you?



SONYA: If we were making a movie about my life the title would be "Dancing Alone" and it would be a Dramedy. Someone who can make ya laugh and cry will play me...audition PINK.



BUDDAH: Where is your dream vacation spot and why?



SONYA: My dream vacation is staying home and being with friends or family cause all I do is travel.



Okay, maybe an all expense paid trip to Hawaii for a week of sun and surf and exotic food. A massage once a day and relax and let come what may...no sharks please.



BUDDAH: Where would you like a gift card from? (no I am not buying you one!...haha).



SONYA: I would like a gift card from any spa in the country as I love to relax with body pampering. I really enjoy infused water with lime or cucumber and love calming effects of pan flute music.



Sonya's turn...Question for you Buddah? Do you plan on moving to a bigger city to pursue comedy? Where do want to be in the next five years? For me it has been a "riding waves" ebb and flow where the tides kinda bend like a palm tree success story in comedy. Willing to try different venues mold to the type of crowd in these places. I never thought I would do cruise ships but have added them to my repertoire.



BUDDAH: I dig the big cities like Denver, St. Louis and Chicago but my current day job keeps me entrenched in central Illinois where our former governors learn how to do inmates laundry and make license plates (I believe Gov. Rod Blagojevich made my current vanity plate). If I am able to retire from my boring day life (IN THE NEXT 3-5 YRS) I plan to hit the road further away from home much more often, but unlike you I am leaving our dogs Dick and Dick Jr. (that's really what I call them) behind.



Sonya has had a busy summer working her craft on Royal Carribean Cruise ships during July-August. Lets hope her canine friend Lovey isn't sea sick. What's on deck for Sonya? Vegas, baby! And after that during October thru December 1st she will begin a theatre tour with Southern Fried Chicks. Go see her spot on impersonations of female country stars and other celebrities. Her show is a fun ride for all. Now cue the pan flute music.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #15 Todd Yohn

Todd is a guitar God, really.

Todd Yohn leaving them in stitches.

The Time Flyers. Hat sold separately.

This is Comedy Salad #15 already and it takes us to North Carolina this time around. Everyone wants to hear what a 32 year veteran of standup comedy has to say, no that's not me. It's time for some Todd Yohn on this edition of Comedy Salad with Buddah. Todd has worked in this biz so long, he began his standup career opening for Socrates and Moses. Okay, someone is a little full of himself. However, Todd has opened for several comedy greats early on in his career including Joan Rivers and musical artists, The Four Tops, Glen Campbell and the Charlie Daniels Band. He was one of the original "Bob and Tom Show" regulars. And he has also taken time in his career to help several up and coming comics by teaching his very own comedy college. Todd has been seen on HBO, Showtime, VH1 and Comedy Central. There is not a greater blend of standup comedy, crowd work/improv, facial expressions and musical bits out there on the road in today's world of standup comedy. His signature songs including "Orange Barrels", the "Feminine Hygene Song", "Siamese Twins" and "Daddy Please Don't Go" stand out as a few of the memorable hits. I have seen and worked with Todd a few times and can tell you he is quite the accomplished guitar player, which is why he has a brand new project which he is excited about, but you will have to read on to find out what it is. I asked Mr. Yohn six awesome questions, with Todd firing one back to me at the end. Here we go...



BUDDAH: I have seen as many of your shows as any other comic I know. So my first question to you is what is an average time of a Todd Yohn comedy show and what is the longest you recall performing?



TODD: Usually an hour to an hour and a half...the longest was 3 hrs. 7 min. in Wichita...3 encores, 4 standing O's...no one left...go figure.



BUDDAH: Which part of your act do you enjoy performing the most, standup or the guitar bits, and why?



TODD: Stand up...improv is more fun without the guitar...more freedom.



BUDDAH: If you recall a conversation we had after a show, you told me about the day you had dinner with Red Skelton. What type of advice did Mr. Skelton give a young comic like yourself?



TODD: He said at 72 years old he was still learning the craft...and there were bad comics, good comics and great comics...bad ones just weren't funny and didn't get it...good comics "spew verbage and were sometimes funny...but great comics "listen before they speak a word and are always funny"...



BUDDAH: I believe you have been in the comedy scene for 32 years now (correct me if I am wrong). What has been a few of your personal career highlights and how much longer do want to continue this wonderful ride?



TODD: 31 (years). Meeting Red Skelton, George Carlin and Joan Rivers...as far as gigs...too many to mention...the ride is over with comedy...I'm done...had a ball...but time to move on...lost my taste for comedy about 5 years ago.



BUDDAH: I have just signed you as the new star of "Buddah's Bump and Grind All Male Revue." What is your male stripper stage name?



TODD: Dusty Muffshooter.



BUDDAH: I know you love music and have started another adventure in your life. What is the name of your new band and how often do you get a chance to get out and do this new gig?



TODD: The band is full time...playing as much as we care to right now...the band is the Time Flyers.



At this time Todd has a question for Buddah...Why did I answer these questions?...(that really was his question).



BUDDAH: You answered these questions for the love of comedy, music, Buddah, justice for all...and because I never once mentioned the Twilight Zone episode I heard you appeared in a few moons ago.



Well, there you have it, the scoop on a comedy legend that has hung it up the love of his music. I have seen the the Time Flyers band perform their original material mixed with some great cover songs in a bluesy, funk, rock and roll style and I recommend you check them out too. For the record, I have never seen Dusty Muffshooter perform...yet.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #14 Brian Hicks

It is time for a Sunday morning edition of Comedy Salad which takes us back to Chi-town to visit with my buddy, Brian Hicks. A lot has happened for Brian in the past year. He is fresh off the annual Comedy 10k competition (field of 72 comedians) and takes away with him...a 1st place finish! Brian also finished 2nd in the Chicago regionals in the World Series of Comedy in 2012. Yes, standup comedy has a World Series. It's not every standup comedian that accomplishes feats like these with just over 12 years of experience in the game. One thing I have noticed about Brian is that he is always dressed for success every time I see him at a comedy club. And success is finding him...or is it the other way around? Brian and I haven't spoke in a while and I thought it would be tough for me to nail down a half dozen questions for him but it turns out I was wrong. So here they are...



BUDDAH: After doing standup all these years do you solely write your own material or do you get together with a comedy friend sometimes to write jokes?



BRIAN: Actually both, I do not get together with my friends nearly as much as I did in the beginning, but still try to do it once every couple months. It always helps to have a few funny people riffing with each other to get the most out of a premise...



BUDDAH: Congrats on winning the Comedy 10k. Has winning this competition opened other standup comedy doors for you?



BRIAN: Thanks Buddah. Actually it has, I got a chance to co-headline the Funnybone in Omaha. The club manager was one of the judges and asked to have me out at the club. I have also been pushing for more headline work. I have headlined in the past and I certainly do not think I am a headliner just because I won the competition. I always felt I could do a good job, however I never really pushed myself to do it!



BUDDAH: What are a few of your favorite comedy clubs that you enjoy performing at and why?



BRIAN: The Jukebox Comedy Club - Peoria. I have been working there for about 10 years. It was the first club out of town I featured at. I have always had good sets there and the crowds have always been fun.



The Improv - Schaumburg, IL. It seats about 500, just a beautiful venue for comedy.



Barrel of Laughs - Oak Lawn, IL. no longer there, but the club I cut my chops at, so many distractions in that room. I learned so much there from open mics to weekend gigs. I really believe learning to do well in that room made it easier to do well in other rooms.



BUDDAH: Do you have any pre show routine you do before you take the stage?



BRIAN: I like to stand outside and hold the door for people. When they say "thank you!" I make eye contact so when they see me on stage they think "that's the nice guy who held the door", it gets them to like me, and makes them more likely to laugh at my stuff...



BUDDAH: What television shows no longer on the tube to you miss?



BRIAN: Simon and Simon, Dukes of Hazzard, The Flinstones (that Barney Rubble, what an actor.....)



BUDDAH: If we road tripped together to a gig and had several hours to kill before our show, what would you want to do during our down time?



BRIAN: I like to catch up on movies when I am out of town. Sometimes I will see two or three on a weekend.....



Well, that was fun but we are not quite finished yet, as it is time for Buddah to field one question from Brian...What is the one single most important thing you have learned in comedy by watching someone else?



BUDDAH: I will go with the first answer that popped into my head and that is...it's okay to bomb on stage. It helps build character and I have even seen headlining comics bomb a few times, and if it's good enough for them...well then...I can't wait to get on stage soon and let the jokes fly and the audience response fall where they may.




Brian Hicks is a working comic and you can find him on stage dedicating himself to the art of standup comedy on just about any given weekend. His website is funnybrian.com. I hope my Peoria friends caught Brian at one of his favorite clubs, the Jukebox last weekend. He just finished this weekend at Riddles in Chicago. But you can catch his act at Zanies in Rosemont Aug. 21-24 or Zanies downtown location on Wells Aug. 27-Sep. 1st. Look at the guy holding the door open for you the next time you walk into any comedy club. It just might be Brian Hicks.

Brian Hicks

Is that a harmonica joke B is telling?

Comedy Salad with Buddah #13 Johnny Kavanaugh

Today's Comedy Salad takes us to the great city of St. Louis to visit with this week's guest. Being the host/emcee of a comedy show takes a certain personality and flair to make an audience comfortable as soon as the show starts. You also have to give a proper intro for the comics. My friend Johnny Kavanaugh is the comedian who taught me how to properly introduce a comedian when I first began as an emcee and is this weeks interview. Johnny's shows are usually pretty clean and he touches on family situations with his dad and also beling a father, himself. And I have to admit one of the biggest pieces of comedy advice I have received to date came from Johnny Kavanaugh. All he said (about standup) was "it's all about confidence and attitude" and he was right. So going forward, I always try to carry these two words with me just before I hit the stage. I asked Johnny six questions and he shot one (weird) question back to me too. So, without further ado, here they are...



BUDDAH: I'll get right to the point, Johnny. What does it take to become a headlining comedian?



JOHNNY: It helps to have a comedian friend who opens a comedy club. All of the rooms I have headlined offered me the gig. Most of the time it was after working that room as a feature or even an emcee. I guess that they would see I was getting better. I was not an asshole or I would work for what they paid. I guess it is a combination of those. You have to make it tough to follow you and be able to follow anybody they put up in front of you. How you get to that situation, I have not a real idea. Also it is hard to stay a headliner than become a headliner.



BUDDAH: Where has been your longest road trip for a gig and where did you go?



JOHNNY: If you mean mileage I guess the farthest I have driven is down to Tucson a few times, I have flown to New York and Vegas. If you mean time wise, I did a few three week runs where I was gone for three weeks but home after that. I did that to the south west and to Florida. The three weeks in Florida seemed like a year.



BUDDAH: What is the best line you have heard from a comic to shut down a heckler?



JOHNNY: I honestly cannot think of one that is not a standard line that a bunch of comics do. I have heard about some great ones but was not there to verify. I do know Dale Jones uses this, "I am trying to be the only an idiot in the room and you are trying to make it a contest."



BUDDAH: What are a few of your favorite comedy clubs to work at?



JOHNNY: As far as walking on stage and that 30-45 minutes you are up there my favorite room is Wits End in Denver. Every show I ever did there went great (them not me) the audiences would be quiet till you got to the punch line and laughed at every tag. Now as far as the whole "club" experience there are a buch that I love to work, Loonees in Colorado Springs, Funnybone in Omaha. they had a great staff and managers, and shows were always fun.



BUDDAH: You are the front man for your very own band. What is the band called and what is your stage name?



JOHNNY: Not once in my life has this thought crossed my mind. Wait, that seems like a pretty long name for a band. So, I will go with the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger.



BUDDAH: Would you ever work a club again with Buddah after this whole comedy blog fiasco? If so, why?



JOHNNY: Sure I would, because I don't have enough pull in this business to veto my opening act. So yeah, there is a chance. I am just kidding. The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger (that is my go to answer). I had a bunch of laughs when we worked together before and don't see why that would not be the case again.



And now it is that time in the interview to turn it around on Buddah. Here is Johnny's question to me.....Did you know that on my high school diving team, I also went by the Buddah, even had it sewn on the back of my sweats?



BUDDAH: Sadly, I had not researched your high school years until just now. Getting bullied and pushed into a pool does not constitute "making the High School Diving Team" just because you never drowned. However, I am requesting that you wear those sweat pants at our next gig. And thanks for having my name tattooed on your ass, my friend.


Another Comedy Salad is in the books thanks to Johnny "Mick Jagger" Kavanaugh. If you are into wine (and jokes) John has upcoming gigs at Grafton Winery August 10th in Grafton, IL and later at Weingarten Winery in Belleville, IL. He also is availabe for private and corporate shows. And you can always catch his act at clubs in the St. Louis area and who knows, maybe he will venture back to Florida or Tucson someday.

Sizing things up, and notice the ring. He is married, ladies.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #12 Dr. Gonzo

It's salad time with the incomparable Dr. Gonzo a.k.a. John Means. To put it in music terms, I have dubbed this week's interview "Double Live Gonzo meets Live at Buddahkan." Dr. Gonzo bolted from central Illinois to find his way in the San Francisco Bay area music scene in the 1970's. Sometimes people fall ass backwards into a profession they didn't know they were destined for. That's the case for Dr. Gonzo who one day showed up with his guitar in tow for what he thought was a musical open mic, which was actually a standup comedy open mic. So, what happened? You will have to read the interview for the full answer. (Did he become a comedian?)...that is exactly what he did and then some, as he went on to headline many comedy clubs across the country. His musical background was blended with standup comedy which led him to opening for several music artists from Joe Walsh, The Beach Boys, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jerry Garcia, Gene Simmons, Huey Lewis & the News, Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez (he even dated Joan's sister) and Rick Nelson to Meatloaf, Night Ranger, Todd Rundgren, Greg Kihn, ABC, Haircut 100 and Pablo Cruise. Gonzo, as I call him (never saw his medical degree) shared the stage with comedy legends such as Sam Kinison, Drew Carey, Rodney Dangerfield, Robin Williams, Tim Allen & Will Durst. Later in his comedy career he took a young Rob Schneider under his wing. And I just scratched the surface, as there were many more household names (including a few of these I mentioned) that never came up in our in depth conversation. Dr. Gonzo retired from comedy in 1999 and moved back to his roots in central Illinois where he began a new chapter in life when he and the lovely Mrs. Gonzo (Peggy) opened up PJ's, a restaurant specializing in pizza and Italian cuisine located in his hometown, Mason City, IL. He is a jack-of-all trades of sorts when he also made time to teach at a local college and filled in on a morning radio show from time to time. Many of us have gone out and painted the town but Gonzo literally PAINTED the town after purchasing a handful of buildings (see pic below) which he restored and painted store fronts in an old town feel. Artsy culture came to town in the 2000's when an art gallery, book store and and of course, a comedy club came to town. Man, I am windy as hell and I still haven't started the interview. So here it is...



BUDDAH: Your start to standup comedy was a bit different than most. How did you become a standup comedian and where did you get your start at?



DR. GONZO: I went to what I thought was a music open mic. It turns out it was a comedy open mic. I went up anyway, winged it and got some laughs. "Hey, this is awesome!". I sucked the second time and went home and wrote some new bits.



BUDDAH: As a veteran of the comedy game, how has standup comedy changed since you began your career?



DR. GONZO: There were a shitload of comics in a ton of clubs and just like the baseball expansion of the 1960's with the Expos and Padres and later again with the Rockies, Devil Rays and Diamondbacks, the competition wasn't bad. Then it got really good, when along came the Patton Oswalt's and Jim Gaffigan's of the comedy world.



BUDDAH: What was the strangest moment you ever had while on stage?



DR. GONZO: There was a couple. Opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan or the Beach Boys, in the middle of my set a guy threw a large cup of beer and nailed security guards and me. Then he started coming after me over the wall. Don't screw with the comics! Another night a woman flashed her tits in a club.



BUDDAH: Dr. Gonzo has opened concerts for many bands and shared the stage with countless big name comedians. Who are some of musicians and comics that you have worked with which lasting friendships were developed?



DR. GONZO: Garry Shandling was good to me. He always wanted me to give him relationship advice so he could find a use for it in his act. He was one of the comedians that also told me to be sure and help out the next guy (comics) coming up behind me. Drew Carey was a crazy guy to hang out with. I also developed a long lasting friendship with Rob Schneider. I enjoyed hanging out with Craig Chaquito of Jefferson Starship and Paul Kanter too.



BUDDAH: You are a college professor and you teach the oddest course on campus. What is your class called and would Buddah pass or fail?



DR. GONZO: Creative Writing Jingles 101. Everbody should pass this.



BUDDAH: You are the winning run in game 7 of the World Series. Who do you want at bat (any player past or present) to bring you home to score the winning run (hint: he's a Giants fan)?



DR. GONZO: Willie Mays or Orlando Cepeda.



And here comes one question from Dr. Gonzo to Buddah (he actually threw me two questions). You are on an island with only one other person. Who is it going to be?



BUDDAH: My ultimate comedy hero, Johnny Carson. Alone time with Johnny can only make me funnier.



DR. GONZO: You are still on the island, so who will be your sexual partner?



BUDDAH: Sorry Johnny. Time for you to go. Mrs. Buddah has allowed me to get busy with only one other woman....my celebrity crush since the age of 12, Valerie Bertinelli. I still dig her.



I was fortunate enough to emcee one of Dr. Gonzo's last shows when he made a comeback a few years ago (raising money to renovate those Mason City buildings). At this time he and his wife would love to sell you a restaurant complete with a loft living space above the business in small town America.

It was the 80's. man!

Bag o Jokes?

Comedy Salad with Buddah #11 Patti Vasquez

his week on Comedy Salad I visit with one of the sweetest and funniest ladies in standup comedy or anywhere, Patti Vasquez. I first met Patti a few years ago at a club and was lucky enough to work with her recently at my home club, Mason City Limits. Patti is a wife, a mother, a radio talk show host and of course, a standup comic and one of the best in the biz in this man's opinion. Patti is a regular performer at Zanies comedy clubs in the Chicagoland area. You may recognize her from the series "My Life is a Joke", "NickMom Night Out" and the "Bob & Tom Show" which she has even co-hosted. And "The Patti Vasquez Show" a radio show on WGN 720. We actually started this interview several weeks ago. I mention this because I believe Patti Vasquez is one hard working road comic. She recently traveled from Chicago to San Antonio for weekend shows and frequently jets off to LA where she has projects she is working on. I asked Patti six questions and requested that she fire one back to me. Here is what we have for you...



BUDDAH: What made you want to be a standup comedian?



PATTI: I have always wanted to be a standup comedian. When I was a kid my dad used to let me stay up to watch Johnny Carson and my favorite shows were the ones that had performances by comedians. In high school I collected CD's - George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, Steven Wright. In those days, if you got in my car there was no music, only comedy. But it never occurred to me to try it myself until I got into grad school at Northwestern studying to get my PhD in history that it even occurred to me to give it a shot. I was watching Margret Cho and I thought. "Oh my God. I have to do standup." Her attitude, her humor, her intolerance for injustice-all struck a chord with me and that was it. I dropped out of grad school 2 months later.



BUDDAH: What do you think are the most important elements of getting to the point of being a successful standup comic?



PATTI: I think the most important elements of being a successful comic are different for everyone. I'm working on moving forward, finding new ways to tell my story and I strive to be as honest as possible on stage.



BUDDAH: Do you recall the strangest moment you have had on stage?



PATTI: I think my strangest moment was at the Zanies in Nashville. During the middle act's set we heard a loud crash from the street. The comic made a few jokes and the show continued. Ten minutes later, during my set I saw the manager heading for the sound booth and she proceeded to annouce that a car had hit a gas main. We had to evacuate in case the building, you know, blew up.



I laughed when I saw a few people milling around the back of the club smoking cigarettes. I could barely see them as I was running AWAY.....



BUDDAH: Do you mind working with a blue comic even if you are clean?



PATTI: It depends on the situation. If it's a crowd that clearly is not digging the blue material you need to be flexible enough to change gears. I mind if any comic makes an audience regret their choice of entertainment and makes them never want to see live comedy again.



BUDDAH: Besides your comedy career what else is near and dear to your heart at this time?



PATTI: I feel like fighting for families like mine. Families raising children with disabilities. I am trying to take small pieces of legislation to build a foundation for what we are all going to need in the next few years, in the next few decades. The diagnosis of Developmental Disibilites is growing at a crazy rate and if I can be one of the loud voices drawing attention to it, I'm there.



People flinch at serious topics in comedy clubs and wonder why a comedian would go there but in reality comedy is a commentary on society. Most comedians draw attention to injustice. We just do it with sarcasm and exaggeration.



BUDDAH: Where would you like to take the kids on the next Vasquez family vacation?



PATTI: DISNEY WORLD !!! of course... my older son Griffin loves magic and grandeur. Declan, who has Autism, is in love with everything Disney. They may both implode from the experience but I think we can take our chances!



And now I turn it over to Patti... Buddah - what is your favorite on stage memory?



BUDDAH: A few years ago I would have said performing with a favorite of mine, Maria Bamford. Here's the surprise, sorry Maria, I dig hosting Mason City Limits monthly open mic for one reason. And that is the comradery that develops between the comics. I introduce them and say anything I want which is often laced with sarcasm, humor and even insults knowing they know me and know I am just teasing them. It's fun to watch up and coming comedians grow on stage as performers. That's what it's all about.





It's nice to see Patti and I have something in common. We both loved staying up late to watch Carson and his comedian guests unknowing we would also someday become comics ourselves. I only hope one day to reach the Patti Vasquez level of standup comedy. Hey Chicago peops, you catch Patti right now at Zanies downtown location on Wells. She is there thru Thursday July 25th. Tell her Buddah sent ya!

Patti V. in action

Patti's million dollar smile.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #10 Dale Jones

"Comedy Salad with Buddah" is a comedy blog about comedians and their world of standup comedy. Each week I will interview headlining comics and ask them six questions about the biz mixed with a couple of personal questions. This week I got to have fun with a comedian I met nearly six years ago, my pal Dale Jones. Dale is one of the brightest stars on the circuit. And I will even go out on a limb and say that he is my favorite comedian working today. At the end, Dale will fire one question back to me. Wait til you see Dale's question to Buddah. Here we go...



BUDDAH: How often do you write material and where do you get your inspiration from?



DALE: I write constantly. Always scribbling down funny words or phrases. Not sure where inspiration comes from. I just try to stay aware.



BUDDAH: Who are your favorite comics to watch, past or present?



DALE: Anyone funny and creative from Abbott & Costello to Louis CK. I have always leaned more toward physical and goofy. But I'll watch anyone to gain a different perspective.



BUDDAH: You recently told me, after 20 years of comedy I think I have finally figured it out. Even though I thought you had figured it out long ago, what did you mean by that statement?



DALE: I just feel more confidant since the 20 yr. mark. Very proud of that milestone. I'm learning to let go and have more fun. Not every gig is THE gig that will catapult me to the top. It's day by day. I'm learning to enjoy the ride more. Of course, I'll say this now and then tomorrow I'll be a basket case again.



BUDDAH: What television sitcoms do you miss the most?



DALE: Bosom Buddies, Seinfeld. I thought I missed Mork & Mindy then I watched a couple of episodes and remembered the last time I saw it I was 9.



BUDDAH: What was the first car you ever owned?



DALE: 1977 Camaro. No rust. Just holes.



BUDDAH: Is the rumor true that you eat ice cream every day and if so what is your favorite flavor?



DALE: Yes. Favorite flavor is Napolean. The correct name is Neapolitan but that just sounds stupid.



And now, one question from Dale to Buddah - Would you rather punch a baby or tickle a dinosaur? Think it through.



BUDDAH: I would never punch a baby unless said baby stole my pork chop to use as a teething devise. So I will have to go with tickle a dinosaur since I have always loved a good ticklepalooza. Wait! Unless the said dinosaur is a bit Carnavorish (meat eating) bastard.



Dale Jones next gig may be THE gig to catapult him to the top as he will be performing in Port Charlotte, Florida June 12-15. Dale has a DVD "Escape From Nashville" and coming soon...look for his new DVD "I have a Prescription." For more info please go to www.DaleJonescomic.com. Do yourself a favor and catch him live at a comedy club near you.

Dale Jones on the mic.

Wacky Dale's fishing bit

Comedy Salad with Buddah #9 Pat Kilbane

Bizzaro Kramer, indeed.

I hope you have enjoyed Comedy Salad thus far. This time around I was able to interview a very down to earth Pat Kilbane. You may recognize Pat from his days on "Mad TV", "Seinfeld" Bizzaro Jerry episode as Bizzaro Kramer and he has had a guest appearance on "Spin City" too. He also can be seen in the movies "Semi-Pro", "Meet Dave" and "Eurotrip". But lets not forget what an outstanding standup comic he is. And before I forget, Pat Kilbane has launched "Dorks of Yore" a channel he has recently created with his brilliant new bride, Melissa McQueen. Pat says, "Dorks of Yore mixes science fiction, fantasy and comedy for the over-thirty introvert". I managed to come up with six questions for Pat to ponder with one question back to me from him and here are the results...

BUDDAH: How often are you able to perform standup comedy at this time?

PAT: I'll probably do 8-10 weeks over the course of the coming year. I love the feeling of performing and it's critical to performing to calibrate your comedic intrument periodically with a live audience.

BUDDAH: What was your favorite role in television/movies and do you have any upcoming projects/roles?

PAT: I don't really have a favorite role. Mad TV was my best overall experience in TV/movies. There were so many talented people on the show (including writers and art department) and having a regular TV gig 20 minutes from your house is a Hollywood dream.

BUDDAH: What made you want to be a standup comedian?

PAT: I think it's probably the same for most of us...it's some primal inner feeling that you have something to say and a compulsion to say it. Some people, when they watch a comedy show, think "Thank God I'm not the one up there on stage." Others think "I want to be the one up there leading the circus."

BUDDAH: Who has been your biggest influence in your standup comedy career?

PAT: Jim Carrey. He was breaking out into bonafide movie stardom just as I was making my move from Dayton to LA. I felt like I saw something of myself in him.

BUDDAH: Who is your favorite super hero and why?

PAT: The Punisher. Skill and dedication are things I admire, and he is a mortal human being with both. No superpowers, no fictional gadgets, just training, conviction and grit.

BUDDAH: We are going to a bar tonight and I am buying. What drink do you want to have tonight?

PAT: Tonight? A "delirium tremens." What  a beer! A one pint DT will loosen me right up.

And now Pat is shooting one question back to Buddah. What will it be...What's the deepest piece of wisdom that you've gleaned from picking the brains of comics?

BUDDAH: Wow. I probably have at least three answers for this one. I try to take at least one thing away from conversations, advice and tips from headliners such as Pat, whether it's about the business side of comedy, stage tips, writing exercises or just networking. But I would say mostly it is has been throwing all of that into the mix of allowing myself time to develop a 30 minute set to be the feature act which was my goal from the beginning of this comedy ride. Many headlining comics have gone through the same things I have and have gained tremendous success from being focused on the task. I haven't always had that focus. It can't be done in a year for most comedians. In the beginning, there is a lot of trial and error with performing new material and dedication to traveling 80-100 miles just to do a 5 minute open mic set. 


Thanks to Pat for his time and candid answers. Dorks of Yore has a Facebook page which you can "like". Pat has a limited comedy club schedule right now so please take advantage of seeing him live if he travels to your area.

Pat, as I know him.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #8 Will & Debi Durst

Will Durst, a standup that will knock you out.

What a comedy team!

Today's 'Comedy Salad with Buddah' takes on a new twist as I interview a pair of comedians who also happened to be married, it's Will and Debi Durst. Debi perfoms a lot of improv comedy and Will is a nationally known comedian who always has an interesting view of what's going on in the world. The Durst's are based in the San Francisco Bay area but were recently in the midwest. Each time I am around them the more I get to know them and the more fun we have. Today we talk comedy, baseball and it's not Will Durst if we don't touch on politics too. I co-interviewed Debi and Will and here is what we have for you comedy fans...



BUDDAH: Will, being known as a political comic, how many presidents have you had the pleasure of writing about and who was in office when you began your standup career?



WILL: I have had the extreme pleasure of mocking and scoffing and taunting every president since Gerald Ford. I started my little standup career right after Nixon had abdicated. And then Ford was okay, good target. Carter was too sad to make fun of but Reagan turned it around, mostly because he had a sense of humor about himself, which allowed us to poke and prod. George Herbert Walker Bush was prime territory and so was his vice president. Quayle- lush like a tropical rain forest. Clinton- corpulant womanizer- what more could you want? Dubyah- the golden age of of political comedy. It was rip and read. he was a Wheel of Fortune president in a Jeopardy world. Obama is tough, but the anomosity around him is so extreme its funny. I actually performed for three elected presidents. George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton and Al Gore.



BUDDAH: Debi, how many years have you been in the comedy biz and what percentage would you estimate is devoted to performing improv in recent years?



DEBI: I have been doing comedy for at least 30 years. The last 10 I've been doing more as president of the board of the Board of Comedy Celebration Day (a yearly festival held in San Francisco) and also, I've started acting more. I do have a degree in acting and directing from SF State. This summer I will be directing for the first time.



BUDDAH: Debi, I see the two of you performed together Memorial Day weekend. How often do you get to perform together these days?



DEBI: We used to perform together all the time. My improv partner Mike and I (as the team Deb & Mike) would open for Will all over the planet. Now not so much. The audiences have gotten younger and we've gotten older. Clubs don't have the same allure.



BUDDAH: If the two of you could invite three celebrity guests (living or deceased) to a dinner party who would get those invitaions and which one would pass out drunk in the punch bowl at the end of the evening?



WILL: Abe Lincoln, because who doesn't love Lincoln, Chuck Jones who created Bugs Bunny and one of those toga wearing guys, like Aechylus or Socrates just for a different perspective.

DEBI: Mmmm--celebrity guests--I'd like to invite George Burns and Gracie Allen for starters. Find out how they did the magic that was their shtick. Ingenious and funny to this day. And then maybe Amelia Earheart to speak to a real woman pioneer. I would be the one face down in the punch bowl of course.



BUDDAH: Just hanging out with you, I have noticed the spark between the two of you. So, what would an ideal date night for Debi and Will consist of?



DEBI: Ideal date night--very boring!!! Movies and popcorn with our two cats, Madaleine and Eloise on our laps all snug-a-bug. Yeah, boring but we'd be all together!1



BUDDAH: I know that both of you are avid San Francisco Giants fans. Could each of you tell me a few of your favorite players, past or present?



WILL: Favorite Giant player? Hard to nail down. Used to work for the nascent cable network the Giants were trying to get started, GiantsVision and I got to interview Willie Mays, who was a bit of a cranky old man. But the fact that he took the time to talk to this young punk with a modicum of humor always impressed me and Mike McCormick because I performed at one of those fantasy camps and got a hit off of Mike who was throwing these god awful slow curves, but I lined out to Willie Mays who was playing 2nd at the time, but still. And Will Clark who sat down with Debi and me in Scottsdale and started drinking with us. That was much fun. Today it would be Brandon Crawford, our shortstop, just like his gumption.

DEBI: My first Giants game ever: My dad is driving him and me to Candlestick Park. All the way in the car he's telling me how the Dodgers are our enemy. This is the game where Juan Marichal hit Tommy Roseboro in the head with a bat. A famous incident in our rival history. I'm 10 years old watching a 14 minute brawl on the field thinking "Man!! We REALLY don't like the Dodgers!" I've been an ardent Giants fan ever since. I live the Old Guard of Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal with some Orlando Cepeda thrown in. I can say I'm very fortunate to have met them all individually through the years. Great players.



And as always, it's time for someone to ask Buddah a question on any subject you like, and yes, it is baseball! One of my favorite things to talk about.



DEBI: Gee...a chance to ask Buddah a question...When you comin' out Frisco way? We could take you to a game!!!



BUDDAH: I would love to come out to San Francisco! (especially during Comedy Celebration Day)...but only if it's a Cardinals/Giants game or even better yet...a Dodgers vs. Giants basebrawl game. I'll root for the Dodgers just to keep it interesting. BONUS ANSWER: I love me some old Giants players too, like Willie Mays, Frankie Frisch, Mel Ott, Jeff Kent and Matt Williams. Will Clark had a sweet swing. And no one crushed the ball like McCovey back in the day of the ol' swirling winds of Candlestick.


I hope you all enjoyed this round of questions as much as I did asking them. Will Durst is a nationally touring comedian and I am sure you will see him in your area soon. You can also check out Will's book "Elect to Laugh!" Look for the improv duo of Deb & Mike in the standup comedy circuit too. Peaceout.

Comdey Salad with Buddah #7 Rocky LaPorte

It's a special Independence Day Comedy Salad interview with one of my favorite comics, Rocky LaPorte. I met Rocky a few years ago and did a guest set in front of him. I was an instant fan of his standup. He is one of my favorites to watch and is a genuinely nice guy. You may have seen Rocky on "The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno", "Cheers", "Comic Strip Live" or Comedy Central. Rocky also has a CBS pilot titled "The Rocky LaPorte Show". I asked Rocky six questions and asked him to fire one question back to me. Here is how it unfolded...



BUDDAH: How many years have you been a standup comedian and what jobs did you hold prior to performing standup?



ROCKY: I've been doing standup for 25 years, and before that I drove a tractor trailer and worked on the docks.



BUDDAH: Who has influenced you the most during your standup caeer?



ROCKY: I would say womens breasts have influenced me the most over the years.



BUDDAH: Some newer comics have trouble writing material. What in your opinion is a good writing exercise for any comedian to use to get their creative juices flowing?



ROCKY: I find that right after a show is a very highly creative time for me to write because your brain is still in that mode. But I also get together with some comic buddies of mine and write also, and I love that.



BUDDAH: If you could bring back one deceased comedian to perform one final show who would it be?



ROCKY: I would say Rodney Dangerfield or Lenny Bruce.



BUDDAH: If you could go back in time where would you go and who would you be?



ROCKY: I'd like to be Abe Lincoln...great man and for all he did for our country. And I think it would be fun to be Elvis for about a month.



BUDDAH: Who is your favorite cartoon character and why?



ROCKY: I used to love Yogi Bear when I was a kid and still do. When the movie came out a few years ago I was probably the only adult in there by myself, but I was laughing my ass off. He's just funny. I think it's funny that he walks around naked but wears a tie and a hat everywhere.



And now it's time for Rocky to interview Buddah.



ROCKY: Buddah, how long have you been doing comedy and what do you love and hate about it?



BUDDAH: This question has made me realize that in two weeks from now I will have been doing standup comedy for six full years (of which 9 months I have actually been funny). Time does fly! I truly love capturing an audiences attention and seeing people laugh at my goofy antics. Applause breaks are a confidence builder and I feel it helps build momentum as I go. One of my favorite things aside from stage performances are the car rides to gigs while getting to know other comics that you might not have anything else in common with. I also dig writing sessions with my comedy buddies. What do I hate about the business? Jealousy (we comics are all on the same team) and long car rides to a show, especially alone.

Rocky owns the stage.

Well, Rocky and I have one more thing in common than I thought. We have both been influenced by ladies breasts. After celebrating the 4th of July you can catch Rocky live and in person near his home turf, at the Improv (inside the Woodfield mall) in Schaumburg,IL, July 5-7.

Comedy Salad with Buddah #6 Vilmos Branyik

Hey comedy fans, it's that time of the week for another interview. 'Comedy Salad with Buddah' is a comedy blog about standup comedians and their world of comedy. This time around I talked to a comic who has the distinction of taking Buddah on his first true out of state "road gig" as I ventured to Iowa a couple of months ago with Vilmos Branyik. Vilmos started his career in one of my favorite vacation spots and we dig the same rock & roll drummer (see below). I threw a half dozen questions at Vilmos and here is how it went down...



BUDDAH: Where did you start your standup comedy career and how many years have you been in the business?



VILMOS: I started in Colorado Springs at what was then Jeff Valdez's Comedy Corner in late September of 1992. I started out in the weekly workshop they had for people wanting to be a comedian. My first time on stage was Janurary 31, 1993, right after Super Bowl XXVII. It was a very small crowd and I didn't do well.



BUDDAH: In your opinion what is the best way to get book with most clubs?



VILMOS: Be famous, very...very famous. Email is the most common form of communication with bookers these days, which is a curse and a blessing. It is a blessing email can be anywhere you are. It's a curse because it has removed the personal component of the process.



BUDDAH: How many years were you a feature act before headlining opportunities came your way?



VILMOS: I never pushed to headline and even today I still enjoy working as Feature act. I don't remember exactly when but it was sometime around 2001. It was at the South Bend, Indiana Funnybone.



BUDDAH: Who area few of your favorite comics that you enjoy hanging out with outside of the comedy grind?



VILMOS: I'm not good at hanging out and don't live close to anyone else that does comedy. For the most part I'm a recluse when I'm not working.



BUDDAH: What's the best thing for you to blow $100 on?



VILMOS: Gas for my motorcycle. One of these day I'd like to get out on a 30 day road trip. No plan and no more than 250 miles a day so I can really enjoy the time and see plenty of new things.



BUDDAH: Where and which three people (celebrity or not) would you like to have dinner with?



VILMOS: Frank Beard (the drummer for ZZ Top), Carl Hiaasen (author) and Clint Eastwood are who I would have dinner with. As to where it would have to be, Keens Steakhouse in New York City.



And now it is time for Vilmos to turn the table on Buddah and ask him one question. If you were given the choice between being a full time comedian making just enough to support your family or working a decent job with a mid 6 figure income and could never do comedy again which would you choose and why?



BUDDAH: I thought this was a tough question until read it for the second time and saw the "could never do comedy again" and my choice would be an easy one. Screw the mid 6 figure $$$! I have supported my family most of my married life with a decent job with benefits while my wife has been an at home mother the majority of these years. Family has made me a well rounded happy man. Standup comedy has been the icing on the cake but I can't eat the damned cake anymore because of my arch nemesis, diabetes. At this point in my life, subtracting standup comedy would leave me empty inside.

Give the Green Room a listen, won'tcha?

As an added bonus we learned today ZZ Top's only non bearded band member is a guy named Beard. Vilmos has long standing podcasts titled 'The Green Room', 'The Ambivalent Podcast Show' w/comedian Dale Jones and a one final podcast called 'The Spew'. So please check them out. And of course look for Vilmos Branyik down the road at your local comedy club venue.

Vilmos looking for an exit.