Catching Up With Comedians

Stand up Comedian, writer and show biz historian RITCH SHYDNER comes on the podcast this week.  A native of Pennsville, New Jersey, oldest son of a large family and his Dad  was funny and showed his oldest boy the comedy of Jackie Gleason from his first sketch show on TV.  By the time Ritch was of college age he was a fan of the brilliant comedy of Pryor, Carlin, Klein and other up and comers and he himself worked as a bartender and was known as a funny guy among his friends and bar patrons.
 
He went to law school after college and was on track to go into law after passing the bar but along the way, not unlike most comics he started doing open mics almost as a whim or to just say they he took a stab at it but also not unlike most comics he was instantly hooked and like most alpha type A’s he not only tapped out on his promising law career but he started getting up on stages like all comics must do with consistent regularity and commitment to even be able to get stage time on what was still a slowly burgeoning  “Pre boom era“  stand up comedy explosion.
 
He was getting some stage time in Washington DC and New Jersey but before long did what it took to make the move to New York City which was then and still remains to this day one of the most important and visible stand up markets where a young performer can get the most stage time nightly, and make their bones in more clubs than any other city at that time or even today as well.  
 
His move paid off because he was a regular emcee at all the same clubs that other comics who were already working and making strides also worked at such as David Brenner, Robert Klein, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, et al.  He was constantly writing and adding material to his already growing act and his high energy and passion for comedy was quickly helping him to get more emcee spots and showcase spots not only in New York and New Jersey as well as all the satellite clubs that were slowly opening up to get young up and coming comics to get paid work while also giving them the experience and stage time that all comics need to find their voice and develop a workable act.
 
Ritch worked tirelessly at his craft and was never shy about taking as much work as he could get and he often mentions he went on the road as an opening act but after an extended tour of some of the toughest bars, saloons and clubs in Alaska he returned to the states as a closing act with a solid hour of material suitable for any comedy club in the states.Ritch went on to do Evening at the Improv, The Smothers Brothers comedy special, a dozen Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson as well as numerous David Letterman appearances. When he remarried and had young kids he turned to writing for sitcoms and comedy specials for other comedians and quickly became a coveted sitcom staff writer  script doctor, editor and consultant for shows such as Roseanne, Titus, The Mind of the Married Man, Becker, Blue Collar Comedy Tour and the Jeff Foxworthy Show and his Comedy Specials
 
Ritch has done about everything a comedian could do throughout a long career where generations come and go and tastes and material travel through different points of reference.For the last five years he has  toured the country with his “ History of Stand Up Comedy Special.
Often times comedians are their own harshest critics and Ritch in this episode talks about the inequity of talent vs breaks vs luck and all the myriad stressors, behaviors and personal challenges that can make or break any career and certainly the fragile plane where “ show biz success “ is just one blog, post or reel away from getting one cancelled.Ritch has done whatever he had to do to keep going and keep producing laughs on stage, television and film whether by writing, producing or performing it himself. He is a cherished personage and commodity in a business that has generally not been kind to those of a certain age.  Ritch has helped many comedians when they needed assistance in their last years whether it be with go fund me’s or benefit performances or helping out on documentaries and it’s good to see him now busier than he has ever been with not only his history of comedy show but performing in shows with comics of his generation or in his local community where he champions the up and coming comics who he feels are some of the greatest young comics he has seen to date.Please give a listen to one of the greats from the boomer generation who not only honors the legendary comics on whose shoulders we stand but also gives a leg up to the next generation of comics who are just now entering the  fold.Ladies and gentleman: Ritch Shydner

Darren Carter joins me this week on Catching Up With Comedians.Darren is a natural upper and one of those people who represent the comedy profession in the most positive way.  Despite his youthful appearance and high energy style, it’s hard to believe he has been performing for over thirty years. Growing up in Fresno, his first years in comedy were in San Diego but he was on the  "ROAD” quickly as an opening act due to his many years of performing comedy style raps around California. He also took his many years of speech and prose competitions in his College days where he ended up in the Nationals in Minneapolis.
While most comedians start off from scratch he already had a fair amount of time speaking and performing in front of audiences and at many different venues.
He loved comedy and the whole art of stand up so he was hungry and caught on fast. He has been working steadily as a standup comic since the early nineties and has long since not only become a headliner but a headliner that is a “ draw” where people are coming to see him specifically which is the ultimate credit that every comedian seeks to attain. Darren did his first Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2002 and has added numerous more television credits such as Premium Blend, Comic View, Dry Bar Comedy and he is currently in the comedy film “ Holy Cash“ at AMC Theaters and streaming networks.
 Darren is a stand up who has risen to the highest levels and maintained a humility and likeability that is not always the case in the comedy world.  Not only has he hit close to 20 million views on his short comedy clips he features on Instagram  but is most proud of his happy marriage to his wife as well as their son Austin, aka "AusTheBassBoss" who is an accomplished musician and following quickly in the entertainment footsteps of Dad.
Please welcome to the mics, Darren “ the PARTY STARTER” Carter!

Welcoming Steven Lolli to the podcast this week. Steven is a big personality and a very strong comedian who after 20 years is headlining around the country and really starting to create some heat.He performed on NETFLIX IS A JOKE last summer on the same bill as Whitney Cummings, Nikki Glaser with Howie Mandel and Arsenio headlining.  He has a starring role in “Last Chance” a Film opening in 2025. As a writer he has worked for Katt Williams, Eddie Pepitone and was a regular on Eddie’s podcast. He will be headlining Jimmy Kimmels Comedy Club in Las Vegas on Feb. 21 & 22. Shows at 730 and 930. Please welcome to the mics:Steven LOLLI 🎙️🤣🤣

Phil Tagliaferri bounced onto the stage of the Emerald Princess this past October while the wife and I were celebrating our second honeymoon// empty nest vaca.
This was a fourteen day cruise and the first one we had gone on without friends, relatives or castaways so we were determined to see every comedy show and as many of the large shows as we could fit in.  
Phil who wisely whittled his last name down to TAG, ( after countless teachers, coaches and cruise directors had no doubt been butchering it for years) hit the stage in great voice, energy and a take no prisoners delivery.  
The wife and I both liked him immediately and saw not only his early show but his later, more spicy show as well.  I'm proud to say that of the few comics I passed my card to, he was the first to respond and the first to come on my podcast.
There are a large number of comics and entertainers that hail from New Jersey, The Boss, Eddie ( lives there) Dave Attell, Jeff Ross, Artie Lange and one could easily add Phil to this list. 
Entering comedy during the 80's BOOM, he was a working club comic within two years and quickly added a Showtime stand up Comedy credit and many writing credits early on. He eventually landed Evening at the Improv, Star Search, and at least one Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as writing for Norm Macdonald for two seasons of "Weekend Update!"
It was really fun talking with Phil as he regales a very busy career on the road, in Major Casinos, a Muti-year contract working for the MGM-Disney studios in Florida as well as  close to twenty years as a top tier Cruise ship comedian.
Next up, Phil will throw down anchor in New York City and start calling out markers for TV and Movie writing gigs as well as performing on all the top stages in the Big Apple.
Please welcome to the mics this week:  PHIL TAG 
 

David started out as a deejay but as is often the case it  took only a dare from friends for him to try out comedy and take second place on his very first try.
Born and raised in Dubuque,Iowa, David was on his way to the west coast when he stopped in Colorado on advice from his brothers and that has been his homeland and home base in comedy ever since.  
He is a member of the 35 plus year club in stand up.  He has always enjoyed and loved the driving and scenery of being a road comic.  After years of doing carpentry and furniture making as a hobby he switched to photography and you can see the pictures yourself on his social media pages and his photos are award winners and now make up his annual calendar selections.
Please enjoy the experiences and stories shared this week as we welcome David Testroet to our mics.

Comedienne Linda Markus Smith came to national attention during the pandemic when she started her Zoom podcast "Comics Spot."
Most comics weren't working much, if at all, so her timing was perfect.  She had no agenda other than to just interview comics and hear their stories.
She had only started her comedy career maybe five years prior to the Pandemic so she was a newbie and relative unknown, which was also a plus for her because comics far and wide were not intimidated or suspect of someone who greeted you with a smile, a laugh and charming demeanor.
So here we are close to five years later and she has amassed well over one thousand ( that's correct 1000) ZOOM PODCASTS for COMICS SPOT and shows no signs of slowing down.
On my podcast ( I was a little intimidated by interviewing the Queen of podcasting) she tells of her early days in Portland and going into the Army and being stationed in Germany and her working life which her longest employment was in banking.  
She really found her niche when she started in stand up comedy close to ten years ago, and has made her bones in Las Vegas and only recently decided to return to her place of birth and take on The Big Apple.    please welcome to the mics : Linda Markus Smith .
 
 
 
 
 

Steve Klasky grew up in Los Angeles and remembers using his early school years as his first stage for entertaining his peers.  Always looking for laughs and vying for the attention from the fairer sex, he found theater and drama in high school and became his high school’s most celebrated actor.
 In College, beyond simply acting, he also took to learning the technical and theater production sides of the business.  Before long he was a union stagehand working on Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews and other television programs.  As with most artists, Steve became bored quickly and left a secure job with the Art Department at Rockwell and started a period where he became a beat poet, bartender, magician and working pro and decorated member of the Magic Castle.
  As time went on and he found himself married with child, an opportunity came up for him to teach acting and comedy and soon after the Academy of Comedy was born.  Steve has been a mensch to me and all my comedy brethren from the first years we met and started working for him and his many comedy rooms, venues and clubs.  The only person who ever had a bad thing to say about him is spoken of toward the end of the podcast.  Please welcome to our mics, Steve Klasky

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
 

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 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!