Catching Up With Comedians

Scott Shimamoto joins host Rich Stein

Scott Shimamoto the oldest of three boys was raised in the San Gabriel Valley and unlike many comedians he was a happy, energetic and industrious kid. 
Always a funny kid he did what he could as a smaller lad to keep his classmates and friends laughing as opposed to giving beat downs. His natural friendliness was his best anti-fight kryptonite as he said the fighting part was never much of a problem in his life.
From his earliest jobs at places like McDonalds , he was a go getter and learned the value of a hard work ethic and cooperating with employees and bosses so that everyone came out ahead.  
A long time businessman involved in mortgage loan companies and real estate, he started getting on stage later that some but that hasn't stifled his progress or enthusiasm. Scott's material and delivery aided by his natural sales acumen has made him a sought after act for testimonials, benefits, fundraisers and the local comedy club circuits in Los Angeles. I even learned he has an entire history with rap music and music writing and production. I will share some of his original songs on the link.
Please help me welcome the always up tempo, multi faceted comic and entertainer to our mics today:  Scott Shimamoto
 

comic Mark Cordes joins host Rich Stein

Mark Cordes originally, from the midwest, had made a good living in  real estate with Coldwell Banker and one night he took the dare to go up at a comedy open mic night.  
He caught the bug immediately and within a short time he let his realtor license lapse and told his guys he was burning the boats and they replied that he could always come back if he wanted to.....  that was over 35 years ago and he has not only made a living in comedy but done it on his own terms.
Mark's up tempo personality  and  cheerful demeanor combined with his natural skill for sales were the perfect ingredients for a man to switch careers at thirty years of age.  Many comics start out young before they have had much life experience whereas there have also been more than people realize who don't get into comedy until they've lived a little and frankly I think they become better comedians because of that. There are always exceptions but the comics who are great enough to come right out of the gate would never have made it in any other job anyway. 
Mark's quick success got him bookings with the major road clubs with folks like George Lopez, Davis Spade and others giving him high marks to club owners and national comedy chains.  When the clubs faltered a little in the nineties he naturally added corporate comedy to his resume and eventually made his way onto the premiere cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, which have served him well, and he works as much as he wants to even though he is at the age where he could slow down if and when he wants to.  
Mark's own creation and brand show is titled " THE SPOUSE WHISPERER!"  and he performs that show all around the country and the world for whatever club, convention or corporate sponsor wants a show specifically for their audience.  
If was really fun to catch up with Mark after working with him in Portland over thirty years ago.  He is just a wealth of information and any comic young or old would do well  listening to his road tales and sage advice.  Some great Norm MacDonald stories in here as well as Jimmy Fallon and others.
Please welcome to the mics, the always funny and entertaining...Mark Cordes. 

Chris Lewis joins host Rich Stein

Chris Lewis started out his show biz career as a child actor which he describes in the podcast. He was even a contestant on a famous kids show which is even more interesting given the  career trajectory of the once popular host.
Chris has been continuing to audition and act in commercials and indie films while also making a name for himself in the L.A. stand up comedy circuit.
Once listening to Chris I'm sure you'll agree that his charming personality, youthful demeanor and quick wit are all ingredients that will help ensure he will continue to entertain audiences and make a name for himself in stand up comedy!

Frances Dilorinzo joins host Rich Stein

Frances DiLorinzo one of four siblings never fancied a comedy career but with encouragement from a professor at Saddleback College she found out she had a gift for public speaking and getting some laughs.She plowed through her Undergraduate degree thinking it was just a phase but the spark was re lit when she stopped by the Laff Stop comedy club one night. Before long she was hooked and one of many who joined the eighties comedy boom. While many fall by the wayside she kept plugging away and has been a working pro for many years performing standup at corporate events, banquet halls, cruise ships, and the top comedy clubs.  Along the way she managed to raise two sons and they made it onto the comedy stages for a season or two.  Please welcome the energetic, and always in motion…Frances DiLorinzo

Chance Langton talks MUSIC & Comedy with host Rich Stein

Chance Langton had been writing and playing music since a young boy. Long before his comedy career, he was a working musician and his journey took him from Massachusetts to New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and many parts in between. His story is interesting, to say the least and Chance is such a great storyteller that I felt it very important that I capture as much of his story as I possibly could.  From Doug Westin's Troubadour in Los Angeles and all the way down to the Mussel Shoals hitmakers in Nashville, Chance tells stories of players, producers, record companies and all the characters it takes to make it in the music biz.   
He candidly admits to refusing a record deal when he should have accepted it. He explains how even the Beatles got a lousy deal and they were the greatest band ever.  Fortunately his comedy career was greatly enhanced by his musical talents and Adam Sandler was one of many people who helped Chance out by making him one of the four singers who performed a special song in the film" Eight Crazy Nights"  
Listen to this amazing man tell his stories of the twists and turns in his music career which name Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, BMI, EPIC and ARISTA records just some of the folks he encountered along his journey.... Ladies and Gentleman,  Chance Langton

Greg Hilbers joins host Rich Stein

Greg "Hilby" Hilbers a proud Oregonian and fan of comedy made his way to the Comedy Store in 1974, just two short years after it opened its doors on April 7, 1972.Although getting laughs and a strong response on his first stage performance, he headed back to Portland to develop more in his local scene but returned in 1976 to re establish his stand up career at The Comedy Store and became a paid regular within a pretty short time. He was part of that early wave of comedy pioneers who came from all parts of the country to risk it all and attempt to join what in previous generations could only be learned only in Vaudeville, burlesque, saloons and strip joints. 
Greg paid his dues at the Westwood Comedy Store and came up alongside Sam Kinison, Argus Hamilton, Dice Clay, while watching his idol Freddie Prinze lose his life! Greg was there to witness first hand Jay Leno, David Letterman, Roseanne Barr and others shoot to the Stratosphere.  Greg was happy to just be one of the comedy family and decided early on he didn't want to spend his life out on the lonesome road which had  laid claim to more than its share of bodies and souls over the years. Greg had a fine career on his own terms and worked when and where he wanted until calling it a career after 18 years. He sure has a lot of stories though and still might have a screenplay or two left in him before the last roundup is called.
Please welcome to our mic this week, Greg Hilbers

Comedienne Julie Kidd joins host Rich Stein

Julie Kidd raised three kids as a single mom, taught dance at night and started doing comedy once she re connected with her step sister Cindy Burns. They struggled for years but eventually helped form The Laff Pack and that led to co-founding The Funniest Housewives of Orange County.  It took off pretty quickly and they were soon filling up large venues for monthly shows and corporate shows all over So.Cal. and beyond.  Julie and Cindy started getting spots on The View, The Tonight Show, opening for Joan Rivers and so much more. Sadly she lost her sister and comedy partner Cindy Burns to cancer just a few years back.  Julie decided to honor Cindy's strength and vision by keeping the Funniest  Housewives brand going, bringing in some of the brightest and funniest comics from OC, LA and beyond.  Julie also wrote a book about the Funniest Housewives and it is currently being made into a documentary by Julie and her son, who is also a successful film maker/ editor.  Julie is a force of nature, she just had another book come out this week ( about: How To Write A Book ) and she has some others coming up quickly right behind. Please welcome to our microphones, the dynamic and unstoppable Julie Kidd.

Michael Jovanovski. aka JOVO joins host Rich Stein

Please welcome JOVO to the podcast today. After working as a Set Designer/ Decorator and Lead dresser behind the camera for thirty years, Jovo threw caution to the wind and took the plunge into full time acting in 2020. The first time I met Jovo was on a movie set and I could instantly tell he had the chops of an actor and a funny one at that.  The man is from Windsor Ontario, Canada for goodness sakes, so just add him to that already long list of funny Canadians.
His story reads like a Screenplay if not a documentary; first generation Canuck, middle child, parents emigrated from Macedonia and made a life for their family of five by hard work and old world values. 
Mike moved from Windsor to Vancouver at 21 to try his hand at the crew side of show biz. On this podcast he will talk of growing up, playing sports, pursuing pro hockey but ultimately the acting bug caught him.
For all his young years he worked behind the camera but with the same passion and dedication he now puts in front. In a relatively short time he has appeared in television commercials, Inde. films; he is currently shooting a feature and he has also appeared in a commercial during the Super Bowl and he has been nominated and won top awards for performances in the independent film market.  How can you not root for a guy with his passion and heart and on top of all that, he posts clips, shorts, reels and gags on social media every day. 
Ladies and Gentleman: Coming up to our mics, please welcome, JOVO 

Comic Willie Randolph joins host Rich Stein

Willie Randolph was fresh out of the air force and looking to go pre-med when he strolled into the Claremont, Ca. Laff Stop one night.  An Ohio native, his family had transplanted to San Bernadino, California and Willie had never planned to be a comic but his natural talents, charm and likability gained him quick amateur status and before long he became a dependable and sought after emcee, host and booker.  
I took no time at all for Willie to fall in love with the comedy life, night life and getting paid to tour the country with comics and friends and get paid well to do it.  He opened for Jay Leno early on at the Houston, Texas LAFF STOP and that credit served him well all the way up until he became a road headliner which wasn't too many years after he had started.
I know you will enjoy listening to Willie talk about his many appearances opening for big name singers and appearing on just about every cable comedy show that employed comics steadily through the eighties and nineties. Still the same nice, humble guy he  has always been, he discusses a few health hiccups and detours but life has brought him full circle back to Claremont with his wife and his son who is about the age now that Willie was when he started his journey.    Ladies and Gentleman, coming to the mic, it is my pleasure to introduce to you,   Willie Randolph....

Ron Coleman joins host Rich Stein

Ron Coleman started his comedy career in southern California around 1989. He found success quickly and before long he was a sought after opening and feature act on the road. Once he started working he was picked up by The Improv, Catch a Rising Star and other chain clubs and he was working week long engagements.  By the late nineties comedy had cooled off from the boom of the eighties. Ron married and moved to Las Vegas around the year 2000. Before long his family grew to four and he started his own trucking company called Ron Coleman Transport and he had a booming business working with the convention center business in and around Las Vegas. As time went on he missed his comedy days and decided to go back to it while maintaining his trucking business. Before long he had started getting enough comedy work just in Las Vegas that he and his wife decided it was time to cash in their chips, sell the trucking company and Ron returned full time to stand up comedy. Ron has been one of the best friends I ever made in comedy. He works hard and has always been a friend and support system to many up and comers and always a faithful friend from our original group which I was proud to belong to with Ron always as our "Sarge!" You couldn't meet a nicer and funnier guy who also is a fan of any comic who puts themself out there and takes that chance every night on stage.  Ladies and Gentleman:  Ron Coleman