People laughed at me—again!

I did stand-up—again! A few days after my last performance (which was detailed here), Augsburg held another open mic night. This one was sponsored by KAUG, Augsburg's student radio station.

Me, excited to tell some jokes. Photo by Alex Behrns.

The environment was better this time, but the crowd was not. The event was held in the lobby of Augsburg's freshman dorms. Although the crowd was larger, I did not really get a better response this time. Partially because people were funneling in and out, and some were talking during the performances.

The main problem with the crowd, though, was that I got my first experience with hecklers. Hecklers can be a comedian's worst enemy or their best friend. Either they can totally disrupt your set, or they can give you some laughs when you take them on.

In my case, it was a little of both. This particular group of hecklers was comprised of four cocky freshman boys. Boy, did they think they were hot stuff. They came in right after my brand new opener (which I will talk about later—I'm really proud of it), and tried to draw all the attention to themselves.

Me, downtrodden because of the hecklers. Photo by Alex Behrns.

I brought egg nog on stage and drank it during my set as a sort of visual gag. Being obnoxious freshman, they of course had something to say about this. Then there was the typical loud, forced laughter. One of them responded to my "Groundhog Day" joke with "you have to see the movie."

This was where I got my biggest laugh out of the hecklers. After his response, I said sarcastically to the audience "Glad these guys showed up, huh everyone?" It did not get a huge laugh, but the audience hated these guys just as much as I did, so a few people responded.

Me, taking on the hecklers. Photo by Alex Behrns.

The best part, though, was that they decided to go up after me and try and be funny. They did not tell jokes, instead they rapped and then sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The audience gave no response, which was incredibly satisfying for me.

Anyways, let's talk about my actual set. Like I said, I tried out a new opener (a seasonal one!). I went on stage with my egg nog and said "Merry Christmas! Or, for all of you non-Christians—screw you!" It got a pretty good laugh and one audience member told me it was his favorite joke.

Me, telling a joke. Or maybe doing a bit. I don't remember. Photo by Alex Behrns.

After the opener, I told a lot of the same jokes as the other night. I was not being lazy, though. This is how stand-up works. You tell jokes, gauge the reaction, tweak them and tell them again.

The experience with the hecklers was certainly valuable, even though I was really annoyed at the time. Though I did not get the response I was hoping for from the different environment and larger audience, it was fun and worthwhile to go up again and get some more experience. Christmas break is coming up, and I am going to try to build up the courage to go to a real comedy club. If I do, I will update you guys.

A star is born. Photo by Alex Behrns.

"Freddy Got Fingered" podcast

Hey readers! Here's a short podcast I did with Alex from The Boring Tree, Mike from Mic'd Up, and Casey from Culture Cuts. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Here are the links to my companions' blogs:
The Boring Tree
Culture Cuts
Mic'd Up

People laughed at me

I did stand-up! I really did it. My college, Augsburg, held an open mic night on Friday, Dec. 6, and I did about five minutes of stand-up. It felt great to finally get up in front of people actually perform the jokes I have written.

I was incredibly nervous; even more so when I showed up and found it was a poetry and spoken word open mic night. Sensitive girls with guitars and passionate spoken word artists surrounded me, and I had to make a decision: do I give up or go through with it?

I decided to do it. A couple of poets went before me, and when my name was called I went up to the mic expecting to bomb. After all, why would a bunch of soft-hearted, lovesick poets laugh at my jokes?

Me, trying to make poets laugh. Photo by Joe Vokracka.

Something weird happened, though. I killed. I mean I got a lot of laughs, way more than I expected. One joke in particular, which I won't repeat here because of it's vulgarity, made one woman laugh so hard she actually had to leave the room. That was the highlight of the night. No matter how long I do stand-up, I will always remember that moment.

The crowd was pretty small, and the cleaning staff kept coming by with loud machines, so the environment was not the best. But I did not care, and the crowd did not seem to either. I went up and announced I was not a poet, but a comedian, and I expected derision and rejection. Instead, I got applause and acceptance. Sure, some of this applause was friends I invited to watch me, but some was also from the other performers and audience members.

Me, actually making poets laugh. Photo by Joe Vokracka.

I opened with a pregnancy joke I am really proud of, and then just worked through my limited repertoire. There were some jokes I thought about not telling, because I felt it was not the right crowd for them. Knowing and adapting to your audience is a key skill in stand-up, after all. But in the end I decided to go for it, and told every joke I wrote down in my little notebook.

Only one was met with disgust, a particularly crass joke about Chuck E. Cheese. I knew it was not going to go over well though, so I was not disappointed.

This was good practice for when I go to a real comedy club, but ultimately the most valuable thing I received from this experience was a confidence boost. I had done stand-up once before, and it went alright, but this time was completely different. I really felt like a comedian. I went up in front of an audience and got genuine, loud laughter. It was an incredible feeling, and now I am itching to do it again. I have heard about this feeling from other comedians, but did not feel it after my first performance.

Now, though, I cannot wait to get back on stage. Next time, however, I will probably go to a real comedy night rather than a poetry reading.

Here's proof that I'm a comedian. Photo by Joe Vokracka.

Bill Cosby is truly "Far From Finished"

Legendary comedian Bill Cosby's newest special, "Far From Finished," premiered this past weekend, and it was everything I hoped it would be.

This is going to be the least subjective review ever, so bear with me.

Cosby hasn't released a special in three decades, so this is a big deal. I was worried that Cosby's age and his safe, classical comedy would negatively affect his new special, but boy was I wrong. While "Far From Finished," doesn't quite hit the heights of Cosby's other works, it is still hilarious and shows that Cosby isn't ready to give up yet.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first so I can gush about seeing one of my favorite comedians return to the stage. Cosby has always had a particular brand of humor, one predicated on family-friendly, but still funny, material. Though most of it still works, some of it feels a little dated in this special, particularly a bit about finding a girl who will "drink beer" and "watch sports" with you. It's still a funny bit because of Cosby's delivery, but coming from any other comedian I think it would've failed.

OK, on to the good stuff. The best bit in the special is an extended story about Cosby trying to sneak some chocolate chip cookies while out to dinner with his wife. It showcases all of Cosby's trademark talents: his facial expressions, his impeccable timing, and his ability to make the mundane funny. Cosby is the only comedian who could pull off a bit like this and he does it marvelously. Every Cosby fan knows that he's at his best when talking about snacks, and this is yet another addition to his pantheon of cake and cookie based comedy.

Here's a short preview of the cookie bit, but you really need to see the whole thing. It's a thing of beauty.


 Side note: this cookie bit is also one of the few in the special that feature a lot of movement from Cosby. For the most part, he is seated in the middle of the stage. It doesn't really negatively impact the special though, because Cosby is so naturally funny.

"Far From Finished" also features quite a bit of crowd work, which is rare for a special of this size and ceremony. Cosby asks the audience to finish punchlines regularly, and it works very well.

Most of the material is about Cosby and his wife, and though this is well-trodden territory for Cosby, it's all fresh and new. Cosby is a true master of stand-up, and "Far From Finished" is no exception.

In the end, you're probably going to enjoy this special more if you are a fan of Cosby like I am. But then again, who isn't a fan of Cosby?

"My Girlfriend's Boyfriend"

I have never seen a special with more serious, dramatic moments than Mike Birbiglia's "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend." These moments, however, are almost always punctuated by Birbiglia's unique and hilarious punchlines. Birbiglia's newest special is an honest, heartbreaking, and hilarious journey through his personal relationships.

"My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" was released through Netflix Comedy, much like Marc Maron's special, 'Thinky Pain." The two specials actually have a lot in common. Both are intensely personal and feature long stories rather than short, punchy jokes. Both comedians display their insecurities by spilling their guts on stage. But Birbiglia's special is much more energetic and has a greater focus on the audience than Maron's.

Birbiglia has always been less of a traditional stand-up and more of long-form storyteller with a penchant for hilarious phrasing. His last special, "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing," was a hilarious collection of stories about Birbiglia's childhood and early stand-up career.

There are moments in this special where you are not going to be laughing. Some of Birbiglia's stories border on depressing, and there were times where I was shocked he was able to pull this off in a comedy special. I know that sounds weird, and you're probably wondering why you would ever want to watch this, but Birbiglia does pull it off and it's wonderful. He has a unique talent to punctuate dramatic, sometimes uncomfortably honest stories with a hilariously phrased, perfectly timed punchline.

This is much more like a one-man stage show than a comedy special. Birbiglia jumps back and forth between stories of his formative romantic experiences (first kiss, dating a "bad girl") and stories of his relationship with his wife, Jenny. Birbiglia always uses big transitional moments, sometimes dour and slowly delivered, sometimes funny and yelled out, to signal a shift between stories.

The comedic highlight of the special is Birbiglia's story about taking a girl on a carnival ride called The Scrambler. It's a pretty predictable bit (we all know what happens when you combine greasy carnival food with high-powered machinery) but Birbiglia tells it in an exciting, engaging way.

The great strength of this special is Birbiglia's use of the stage. He has a ton of energy, using the whole stage to act out his stories (and not in a hackish way like Dane Cook). He even leaves the stage at one point to draw attention to an audience member in his bare feet, which has to be one of the strangest audience interactions I have ever seen. Later, the lights dim as Birbiglia is spotlit during one of the special's most dramatic moments. He's not just performing on the stage- he's using it as another tool in his storytelling arsenal.

"My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" is more than a comedy special, but it is funny enough that I can recommend to fans of stand-up. Really though, I think Birbiglia's latest show has some important things to say about love and relationships that most people will enjoy.


Check out this preview of the special, which is available on Netflix or for pre-order here.

Bill Cosby returns to the stage

Bill Cosby's first comedy special in 30 years, "Far From Finished," will premiere on Comedy Central on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Ok, now that the lede is out of the way, holy heck am I excited for this. As you know, "To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With" is my favorite album of all time. Though Cosby's been touring consistently over the past few years (I still haven't seen him...I need to fix that) he has not released a new special in what seems like a million years.

Check out this preview of the new special:


OK, I do have a few thoughts.

With Cosby seated in the middle of the stage, this looks more like sit-down comedy than stand-up. It's understandable since Cosby is 76 years old, but he still seems to have the same energy and timing that made him a legend. Besides, I would watch a special where Cosby lies down behind a curtain if it meant I got to hear him do new bits.

Does anybody do faces better than Cosby? Just look at the expressions he throws out in that video. I don't know if anyone is better at making you laugh without saying a single word. I lost it at the 1:34 mark of the video. That may be the funniest face in comedy history.

He does bring up a really interesting challenge in this bit. In today's world, where a lot of comedy is based on shock value and who can be the most vulgar, is there still an audience for Cosby's family-friendly clean comedy? I think so, since obviously I will be watching, but I think people who are just being introduced to Cosby will not appreciate this special as much as die-hard fans. People who got into comedy through guys like Louis CK may see Cosby as too safe or boring. They're wrong, but I think some people will have that reaction to the special.

Regardless, I will be watching this special with my best Cosby sweater on and a pudding in my hand. "Far From Finished" airs at 7 pm Central time on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Acme Comedy Company open mic night

Acme Comedy Company's open mic night is one of the most popular comedy events in Minneapolis. Here's a short audio story about the event with input from an audience member and an amateur comedian. Photo courtesy of Tiger Girl, retrieved from Flickr.

Marc Maron's "Thinky Pain" is a different kind of special

Have you ever watched someone spill their most personal secrets on stage? That should be awkward, shouldn't it? How, then, did Marc Maron make it so unbelievably funny?

"Thinky Pain," Marc Maron's newest comedy special, plays out like a meeting between Maron and his therapist, but it never makes you feel uncomfortable.

In this 90 minute performance, Maron eschews many of the things we have come to expect from comedy specials. Rather than a large theater, the setting is a small, plain basement of a club in New York. The focus is entirely on Maron. There are no insert shots of audience reactions. This adds to the intimacy of the event.

That intimacy is the greatest strength of "Thinky Pain." Maron is one of a select few comics who make you feel like you are just having a conversation with them. He is a less-rehearsed Louis CK (which is not an insult- I actually think Maron pulls off the unrehearsed style better than CK). Maron talks and looks like your creepy uncle (complete with uncomfortable porn references), only he is much funnier.

He adds to this intimacy by being painfully honest. It never feels uncomfortable though, because Maron is so likable and easy to listen to. There is a reason Maron's podcast is so popular. He knows how to talk.

Those who listen to Maron's podcast, "WTF," will find this special oddly familiar. Partly because he uses some of the material from his podcast, and partly because Maron has such a distinctive voice and personality. It will not feel stale though. If anything, podcast listeners will probably enjoy this special more than the average person because it gives you a better picture of Maron as a comedian.

The special has some flaws. Though it has many laugh out loud moments, there are stretches where Maron can get lost in his own storytelling and forget to be funny. Also, the last bit seems out of place when compared to the rest of the special. It is much more rehearsed. It's like Maron decided he would do whatever he wanted for 80 minutes, but he needed to end on this bit. It is a funny bit, but it does not match the tone of the rest of the special.

Maron's special is completely atypical of most comedy specials. Everything about it, from Maron's performance to the direction and camerawork, creates an intimate and personal atmosphere not found in other specials. Though you may not be laughing the entire time, "Thinky Pain" will make you look at comedy in a new, exciting way.

Here's a clip from the special:

My Favorite Comedy Albums

I recently listened to Bill Cosby's legendary stand-up album "To Russell, My Brother Whom I Slept With." Now, I consider this the best stand-up album ever, and a lot of other comedy fans would agree. This got me thinking, though, about my other favorite albums, and so I am going to list here some of my favorite stand-up albums of all time. For the purpose of variety, I am only going to include one album from each comedian, otherwise this list would be half Cosby and half Steve Martin. This is not a definitive list either- it is just so you folks can get an idea of my taste.

Louis CK's "Live at the Beacon Theater"

I could have picked any one of CK's albums, not only because they are all great, but they are all very similar. CK is a great comedian because he is so honest and he has developed such a relatable persona. It really comes through on this album, whether he is talking about how much he hates playing board games with his kids or how sick he is of having constant sexual thoughts. This album will make you laugh out loud from start to finish, but it will also make you reconsider some of your everyday behaviors. That's the genius of Louis CK: he knows exactly what is wrong with the average American, and he knows how to make that funny.

John Mulaney's "New In Town"

Mulaney has been working in the comedy world for several years, both as a stand-up comic and a writer for SNL, but he has just recently broken into the mainstream. Mulaney's great strength is that he is eminently likable. His charming, small-town sissy persona is hilarious and spot-on. The standout track on this album is "The Xanax Story," a nine-minute bit in which Mulaney relates how his attempt to get a Xanax prescription goes awry. I don't want to spoil it, but it takes a left turn and becomes one of the funniest long-form bits of all time. Mulaney is probably the best modern storytelling comic. He knows how to do long bits without boring the audience. He knows exactly where to place punchlines to keep the audience engaged, and this talent shows on "New in Town."

Steve Martin's "Wild and Crazy Guy"

Nobody does absurd stand-up like Steve Martin. This is his strongest album and also his most famous. Martin knew how to make audiences laugh, and he would do anything to do it (without coming off as hackish). Whether it's singing his hit song "King Tut," or telling a joke about lesbians to a baby, Martin is an absolute force on this album. He does not let up and you will be struggling to catch your breath by the end of it. Martin is a huge influence on my comedic sensibilities. Jokes come at an incredible pace and he does not stay on any one topic for too long. Martin has had a huge influence on modern comedy (especially absurd acts like Kristen Schaal) and this album shows why.

Bill Cosby's "To Russell, My Brother Whom I Slept With"

This album is truly my favorite stand-up performance of all time. In the 26-minute title track about Cosby and his brother avoiding sleep one night, Cosby hits all the marks of a great stand-up bit. His timing is flawless, his storytelling is vivid and funny, and the ending is arguably the greatest callback in stand-up history. I have listened to this album multiple times and it only gets funnier with each listen. Though the bit is long, it is never boring. Cosby is just naturally funny, and so the almost half an hour long bit just flies by. Cosby knew exactly how to work an audience and this performance is a master class. Any comedy fan should listen to this album, and any hopeful comedian should study it.

My prized possession, "To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With" on vinyl.

What's So Funny?

“The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can’t fake it...try to fake three laughs in an hour- ha ha ha ha ha- they’ll take you away man, you can’t.”

            -Lenny Bruce 

I am not going to bore you with the details of my life or the history of stand-up comedy. This is a comedy blog, you want me to be funny, right? All you need to know is that I love to laugh and I love to make people laugh.

Before the punchline, though, here is the set-up. I am drawn to comedy because, like Lenny Bruce said in the quote at the top of this page, comedy is honest. Comedy is the purest form of performance, because it is only the performer, his or her words and the audience. No tricks, no B.S., just a skilled performer choosing each word carefully to play with the audience. When it works, stand-up comedy can be the most exhilarating and magical art form there is.

 I know what you are thinking, "Comedy as an art form? Who is this clown?" Disagree all you want, comedy is one of the toughest performance arts there is.

Anyways, here is the nitty-gritty: this blog is dedicated to news, reviews, and opinions from the world of comedy. I will talk about specials, albums, tours and local comedy clubs and comedians. Occasionally, I will tackle the heavy stuff, like "What's ok to joke about?" and "What's the best way to break a heckler's spirit?"

Eventually, when I gain some courage, I am going to start performing stand-up. I will be documenting my adventures in the seedy underbelly of comedy. I will post my performances so that you guys can laugh at me, whether for the right reasons or the wrong ones.

Most importantly, I am going to be funny. Whether it is a straight news piece or a comedic article or story, I promise to always try and make you laugh. So please, stick around and laugh with me (or at me).