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Lights Up at 10th Chicago Sketch Comedy Fest

After watching a lively performance at the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival several years ago, a woman approached a fest staffer and asked if she could have a word with Brian Posen, the fest’s Executive Producer and founder. The woman, whose age suggested she might be old enough to have appreciated …

Ira_Glass 2006

Quirky Life Finds Success on Radio and TV

The dots are scattered. There’s an interview, for example, with Mother Jones Magazine in which Ira Glass talked about the art of interesting radio. The host of This American Life, the popular National Public Radio show now finding fame as a TV series on Showtime, had this to say: “The …

Pat Kilbane

MadTV Alum Makes Wackiness a Tall Order

One popular web site says Pat Kilbane stands 6’7 and “is one of the tallest comedians in the entertainment world.” Well, at least they got one thing correct. Kilbane, formerly of Fox’s MadTV, is indeed one of the tallest comedians – which says more about the comedy industry than actor …

David Brenner

Multifaceted Brenner Adapts To Change

Ask comedian David Brenner how many times he’s appeared on The Tonight Show and he’ll tell you it’s a record 158 times. Ask him how much comedy material he’s burned through during those appearances and he’ll come up with that number, too – 28 hours. Some years ago the Philadelphia-born …

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Returns to Stand-Up, And To Fans

In interviews and onstage, Roseanne Barr is always very forthcoming about her personal life and career – even beginning last year’s HBO standup special Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin’ with some self-deprecating humor: “I know what you’re saying: ‘(Roseanne) what has a has-been of your magnitude been up to?’” Barr …

vowell

Comedian and Essayist Makes History Humorous

Every successful writer has a niche, some more unusual than others. For author Sarah Vowell, the focus of her writing is the decidedly un-sexy subject of U.S. History. You know, the stuff of 1850 or 1939. But unlike some history writers, Vowell’s takes fresh, funny perspective best exemplified in her …

Martin Book Jacket

Book Review: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

When Navin Johnson, Steve Martin’s character in the movie The Jerk, announces he is leaving his wife and doesn’t need her or any of their extravagant possessions – then abruptly concedes he needs the ashtray, and well, the paddle game, and maybe the remote control – ardent Martin fans recognized …