Corbett Monica

In the 1960s and 70s Vegas and the Catskills were still in full swing, the Rat Pack still ruled, and Corbett Monica was there for it all. Known as a "professional's professional" Corbett was best pals with Joey Bishop -- to the point he was considered a junior member of the Rat Pack. And it sure paid off when Joey cast him in his early 60s sitcom, plus helped him to a career as a solid opening act for singers ranging from Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme. His family friendly, barely blue style endeared him to crowds and to tv hosts like Ed Sullivan where he was a frequent guest. Along the way, Corbett picked up acting credits in a slew of tv shows but his best credit of all might have been as part of the group of old-school comics reminiscing at the Carnegie Deli in Broadway Danny Rose. We hope he tried the Reuben and Cole slaw. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Corbett Monica? This is fun -- from back in the days when tv shows had a real theme and opening credit sequence. Here's Corbett as a co-star on his pal Joey Bishop's early 60s sitcom. https://youtu.be/rFQB63vHT7Y?si=bPcFGmv_S0AN7UoT Corbett was a favorite of tv hosts -- he was polished, prepared, and never went blue. Here's one of his 18 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.https://pluto.tv/.../episode/63322d890eb13d00139e9325/ When Woody Allen wanted to make a movie paying tribute to the old school Catskills/NY comics he couldn't have done better than Corbett. The whole movie is a delight, and you can see more of Corbett bantering with fellow comic Morty Gunty at the start. https://tubitv.com/movies/304800/broadway-danny-rose  

Meet Ronny Chieng, one of the brightest standup stars and comic actors to emerge from the Daily Show in recent years. Trained as a lawyer, Ronny didn't feel the legal love (poor grades will do that) so he began performing standup in Australia back the early 2000s, winning awards right from the start. Ronny's sharp wit, combined with his pithy cultural observations won him a growing fan base. A meeting with Trevor Noah at the 2013 Just for Laughs Festival led to him being hired as a correspondent when Trevor took the Daily Show helm. Ronny has continued as a correspondent and host since Jon Stewart returned, as well as building a formidable comic acting career. Standup also remains on Ronny's plate with sold out tours and Netflix specials attesting to his popularity. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Ronny Chieng? Ronny has become a stalwart of the Daily Show, first under Trevor Noah and then continuing after Jon Stewart returned to take the helm. https://youtu.be/i9EJPcb36ws?si=9EYLMG8enQyvW8w4 Here's some early standup from Ronny at the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. https://youtu.be/5UmYwBTWoL8?si=xSJr9i6qWFizvMtW Ronny had a juicy role in the film Crazy Rich Asians playing an obnoxious banker with a "punchable face". https://www.tiktok.com/@ronn.../video/7381940360550829354... Ronny's acting chops were on full display when he played a waiter in the Hulu series Interior Chinatown. Make sure to order correctly! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC-GlAcpROi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&dlrf=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  

Listen closely and you'll hear a voice getting louder and louder and LOUDER.  Since we are talking comedy, that must be the voice of Jo Anne Worley who charmed America with a brash and bawdy persona -- and who has continued to be an audience favorite for 7 decades.  Jo Anne hopped in the rocket to stardom after she moved to Los Angeles and came to the attention of producer George Schlatter who was then casting his new Laugh In show.  Jo Anne was a smash with her loud singing, over the top punchlines, and crushing on attractive mail guest stars.   After Laugh In she became a regular on talk, game, and variety shows, along with making nightclub appearances.  Later in her career she provided the voice of the Wardrobe in Disney's Beauty and the Beast and she returned to the stage in 2008 playing Madame Morrible in the LA production of Wicked.  As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.   Want more Worley? When Disney wanted a familiar voice for the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast who better than Jo Anne? https://youtu.be/l4y2IoAqWZQ?si=Fca8uDJCJqLbg-eG Love American Style (like the Love Boat) was stuffed with guest spots and this one had both Jo Anne and fellow Legend Sandy Baron! https://youtu.be/FMTE3VHO0cU?si=7D31U0xlbd4aJ8fT On Laugh In, Joanne would shamelessly flirt with the attractive male guest star of the week -- here James Garner. https://youtu.be/MQbVBfWybRI?si=ScxV72dC1mXwC5Sr OK, we said Jo Anne could be LOUD.  Here's evidence! https://youtu.be/kHTvgfj5-RY?si=jXX7gVisbvt0-elV

Grab a skateboard and roll on over to say hello to Paul Rodriguez who is as proud of his professional skateboarding son Paul Jr (known as P-Rod) as he is of his Mexican heritage. Born in Mexico but raised in East Los Angeles, Paul has become a legendary stand-up performer and comic actor the old-fashioned way -- by working his butt off. Starting with small movie and tv roles, Paul eventually got noticed by talk show bookers and broke out to a larger audience. Since then he has recorded numerous comedy specials, including one at San Quentin prison, continued with film and tv acting gigs, and remains a relentless touring comic, including a residency at the Long Beach, CA Laugh Factory. He also is known for his extensive charity work, winning numerous awards in the process. As always find additional clips below and thanks for sharing our show. Want more Paul Rodriguez? If you watched the X-Games back in the day you might have noticed that Paul Rodriguez was competing (and winning medals). That Paul is Paul's son -- P-Rod -- and here's the proud dad talking about him. https://www.tiktok.com/@laug.../video/7199729968358804782...   In 1984 Paul got the booking every comic dreamed of -- The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. https://youtu.be/8CtX2SJBH3Q?si=MReKlXIoeGUSsDHa   Paul remains a master of the stand-up stage as shown in the 2009 special Comedy Rehab. https://dai.ly/x80733e    

After Johnny there was Jay -- Jay Leno that is, who took over the helm of the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson retired back in 1992. No pressure there! But Jay was used to pressure having ascended from class clown, to scrapping standup working the clubs, to guest host,and finally to the big chair. Jay put his own spin on the show, eventually leaving for a prime time slot only to return in a few months (much to Conan O'Brien's consternation). Along the way there was a feud with David Letterman (humorously addressed in a classic Super Bowl ad), a spectacular interview with Hugh Grant, and a slew of awards. After leaving The Tonight Show, Jay has hosted a show on classic cars, a reboot of You Bet Your Life, and -- still a workhorse on stage -- weekly comedy gigs in the LA area. And if you live near Burbank you might just see him tooling around in one of his beautifully restored vintage cars. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Jay Leno? Here's a bit of Jay's interview with Hugh Grant shortly after Hugh MADE A BIG MISTAKE! https://youtu.be/LtItMwwoiVY?si=mlT1qdY87Mwt90Ob Jay's first Tonight Show appearance is a real time travel experience -- dig the suit! https://youtu.be/rxmXpzcl4MI?si=g4TxU02ptFE2vT-T Jay had a lot of fun on the Tonight Show with Don Rickles who would come out in full flamethrower mode -- only this time Jay got the better of it. https://youtu.be/NUAnbLPAJPE?si=ulYR3_plHmuITeld They say Tostitos, we say Doritos. We name-checked the wrong snack (oops), but this Super Bowl commercial is just as fine as ever.https://youtu.be/ls8d5Kw9qAQ?si=mE5PhTNqrDgPm1Cy

Tig Notaro will always be known for the fearless way she dealt with a tough cancer diagnosis -- by including it in her stand-up act just four days later. Of course, that was just an extreme example of Tig's deadpan but sharply pointed style which she has turned into a stellar comedy and acting career. A native of Mississippi, Tig first came to Los Angeles as a musician and music promoter, but soon discovered standup -- and standup crowds soon discovered her. In 2015, Tig co-wrote, produced, and starred in a semi-autographical Amazon Prime show (One Mississippi). And in 2019 she began a role that guarantees her a slot at any ComicCon she wants to attend -- that of Jett Reno, a deadpan but delightfully snarky engineer on Star Trek: Discover and Starfleet Academy. No doubt that will continue to take her career and "boldly go where no one has gone before." As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Tig Notaro? Tig has also established a fine acting career including a recurring role on Star Trek: Discovery and Starfleet Academy. https://www.tiktok.com/@star.../video/7543667167225597198... Tig's breakout moment was a true exercise in comic courage as she took a devastating diagnosis and immediately worked it into her act. https://youtu.be/9Kz-lV4t-3w?si=7NNX-1YBJq_UbsQQ Tig's style was evident from the start -- as in this early appearance on Comedy Central Presents. https://youtu.be/sRjjNC85Cjo?si=FZ29uRLTaCg9AVLX Here's a longer clip of Tig discussing how she went from class clown to standup star. https://youtu.be/i17O1YK2AJA?si=3N7VMzVRq84PVm3c

We frequently say that "comedy keeps you young" and today we present exhibit #1 -- George Burns -- who went from vaudeville to radio and tv, to movies (often with his comedy and life partner Gracie Allen). Then, at an age when most of us are looking for a rocking chair, George managed to score a hit country song, win an Academy Award, play God, and headline top clubs across the nation. One of the best-loved of the old school comedians, George killed with sly wit and timing rather than bluster. And famously, George signed a lifetime contract in Vegas ensuring he would have a show on his 100th birthday. That didn't quite happen, though George lived past 100 and when he passed Hollywood paid tribute and Vegas dimmed its lights in his honor. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more George Burns? In 1980 George climbed the country charts (in his early 80s) with this nostalgic classic. https://youtu.be/vxuvFGbh9TI?si=dZ_FPSFtgFEvyi0l George Burns and Gracie Allen were inseparable and their comic timing superb. Here they recreate an old vaudeville sketch for television. https://youtu.be/nfdS8c7Bj7o?si=jPVFtf2Ysp5NMTWV When his close friend Jack Benny took ill, George stepped into his role in movie of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys. This trailer has a bit of old Hollywood flavor. https://youtu.be/ZADVjV3_W_0?si=FtulkDPz0TQQDBMw George was a favorite of Johnny Carson and this clip shows why with some great storytelling. https://youtu.be/gffET3fOJlo?si=kyCf9NA0SOHUWbsZ

Happy September comedy fans -- we have a treat for you this week. You may not know the name John Paragon but you sure know his work. Paragon was part of the Groundlings Improv Troupe that spawned such huge stars as Paul Reubens and Cassandra Peterson. He helped Paul turn into Pee Wee Herman and Cassandra into Elvira, Mistress of the Night. For Pee Wee he also played Jambi the Genie, a character carried over to the television version of the Pee Wee Herman Show. For Elvira, Paragon wrote many of her most famous lines and on her Movie Macabre show he appeared as a phone-in fan called "The Breather." John also had his own comedy special and worked steadily as an actor, writer and director. No wonder his special called him "The Paragon of Comedy." As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more John Paragon? For Pee Wee Herman John played Jambi the Genie who would lead everyone in a very special chant -- all together now! https://www.reddit.com/r/Xennials/s/45EKQIxFKB John scored his own special in 1983 called The Paragon of Comedy. We've marked the clip to start with the full Ramon Azteca bit, but the whole thing is worth watching. https://youtu.be/lpL_Svu7o6M?si=76aZwVd2K8N7cmE4&t=2826   John was a close friend of Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira, and wrote many great lines as well as playing The Breather on Elvira's Movie Macabre. https://youtu.be/QuLKSXe8Ah0?si=PX0MmEN8-GdYRipm

If you like your comedy laced with strong and sharp observations about our current politics and culture, look no further than Bill Maher who has made a career out of serving up just that. After early work as an actor, Bill really found his path doing standup comedy. He turned that into a long-running series ("Politically Incorrect"), another longer-running series ("Real Time"), a hit documentary ("Religulous"), and best-selling books and standup tours. Along the way he has become a vocal proponent and consumer of cannabis as well as an animal rights activist. Maher's gift for stirring up controversy on both sides of the aisle has made his show a magnet for people wanting smart conversations laced with acerbic wit. (To be fair, Maher's other gift for stepping over the comedy line has also come back to bite him on occasion). The recipient of this year's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Bill shows no signs of slowing down -- good news indeed for comedy fans. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Maher? Does Bill have something to say about Ronald Reagan? Of course he does -- as in this bit from 2007's HBO special The Decider. https://youtu.be/j8FrNEGO7q8?si=SBbfrYZcndlUppFK Bill's first Carson spot showed the outlines of the career that was to come. (And it reinforced Carson's enormous role in highlighting new comedians). https://youtu.be/V__wp4xvTjI?si=wzjq8d2vxrs7XXah Since 2003 Bill has hosted Real Time on HBO. One recurring segment (and one spun off into best-selling books) is New Rules where Bill provides helpful suggestions for the nation. https://youtu.be/6dMOfwUP0F0?si=x9dujP71LLfyO4GZ  

This week we meet Anthony Jeselnik who has turned a "lightbulb moment" into a booming career as the modern prince of dark comedy. Originally intending to be a novelist, Anthony discovered a stand up comedy course in LA and his new career trajectory was set. Gaining experience and exposure as a writer and roaster on Comedy Central's roast series, Anthony developed a comic persona that is can walk you right up to the line -- and then step over it in a way you didn't see coming. A well-named Comedy Central show (The Jeselnik Offensive) further established his style and though a short stint as host of Last Comic Standing didn't click, a continuing run of Netflix specials, comedy tours and podcast episodes keeps Anthony at the top of the heap for those who like their comedy with an edge. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Anthony Jeselnik? Anthony is a top standup draw with a style that is perfect for his dark observations. https://youtu.be/iTUNOw5bo48?si=2TioTDa02tykNpYN Anthony's big boost came from his work as a writer and roaster on Comedy Central's no-holds-barred roasts including this one of bad boy Charlie Sheen. https://youtu.be/jqzFTuuOHyk?si=E5ae8DNW6vLrUall Anthony had a two season run as host of the Jeselnik Offensive which found him in unusual situations -- such as performing standup for an audience made up entirely of members of the Church of Satan. https://youtu.be/a-UBqlEHcr8?si=Wta_8VRV5-fB9AhG