February 8, 2010 – 7:11 pm
Comedian Mike Birbiglia is the force behind three "Comedy Central Presents" specials and an acclaimed Off-Broadway show, "Sleepwalk With Me," which was called 'Comedy of the Year' by Time Out New York. A regular contributor on "This American Life" and "The Bob & Tom Show," Mike has become synonymous with smart comedic storytelling.
Next week, he'll return to Traverse City - where he played a sold-out show in 2007 at the City Opera House - to perform at the TC Comedy Arts Festival. We caught up with Mike via email during his busy tour to discuss his upcoming appearance at the festival, which acts he's excited to see while he's here, and how he got his start in the roller-coaster industry known as comedy.
Traverse City Film Festival: Most people don’t attend Georgetown University to pursue careers in comedy, yet in your sophomore year, you won the title of “The Funniest Man on Campus” in a school contest, which led to a gig at the D.C. Improv. What were you actually majoring in at the time, and what sparked the sudden interest in launching off in this new direction?
Mike Birbiglia: It’s true. I have a joke in "Sleepwalk with Me" where I say, “My dad worked his whole life to send me to college, and I got a job making fun of him in front of strangers. So that whole plan kind of backfired.” I actually studied writing and Fine Arts, and, while I was barely scraping by in most of my classes, I had a tremendous dramatic writing prof named John Glavin who really made a positive impact on my writing. As for the comedy, I mean I was involved with theater and the improv troupe and really, I spent most of my time on stage or writing stuff for John’s classes. I didn’t “party” much, as they say.
TCFF: Your sleep disorder – and honesty about living with it – led to a breakthrough in your comedy, notably “Sleepwalk With Me” and stints on “The Moth” and “This American Life.” Although it’s an uncomfortable subject, and though you’ve joked you specialize in making “awkward situations more awkward,” have you found that filtering that material through comedy turns it somehow into something non-awkward and actually meaningful?
Mike: Well, there’s a long answer that will probably give me carpal tunnel, so here‘s the short answer: The closer I’ve gotten to the truth on stage, the funnier it’s been. And I’m going to keep going in that direction until it stops working.
TCFF: You were in your ‘20s when your career skyrocketed, but your comedic tastes have always seemed more sophisticated than your age – favoring a long-form storytelling format, appearing on Letterman at age 24, debuting an Off-Broadway show, appearing on PRI. Do you feel like an old soul?
Mike: I have an old joke where I say, “I don’t party a lot. My parents call me an old soul and my friends call me a…p*ssy.” I forgot about that joke. I should put that in something maybe.
TCFF: What makes you laugh the most?
Mike: What makes me laugh the most are YouTube videos of cats playing the piano. Second place goes to Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Mitch Hedberg, and Doug Stanhope.
TCFF: When comedians like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are taken more seriously by the public than news anchors or media pundits, what does that tell you about the role of comedy in American commentary and culture?
Mike: I love what those guys do, and I think it’s a testament to the quality of the comedy that they’re taken seriously. Their bits can be off the wall, but they’re really grounded in facts and reveal a sometimes unspoken truth. Also, if they weren’t funny, no one would take them seriously.
TCFF: There’s chatter online that you’re working on book and film adaptations of “Sleepwalking.” Can you talk about where those projects are at?
Mike: Yes, I am working on a book for Simon & Shuster called “Sleepwalk With Me and Other Stories,” that should be out in the fall. And yes, I am working on a "Sleepwalk with Me" narrative film. People always ask me if I’m going to cast myself as myself, and I’m like, “No one else will.”
TCFF: The comedy festival won’t be your first time in Traverse City – you played a sold-out show at the City Opera House in 2007. What are you looking forward to when you return next month to TC, particularly in regards to the festival?
Mike: I love Traverse City. The first time I went, I was like, “This exists? Wow, I’m an idiot.” It’s a beautiful town. The lineup is so well put together. I want to see that group Teenager of the Year because they gave me a shout-out. Also, I love TJ & Dave. They’re brilliant. And obviously Jeff. The lineup is phenomenal. I just want to see as much as I can.
Mike Birbiglia will be performing at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 20 in Traverse City. His show is currently sold out; however, a stand-by line will form at the door before the event. For more information on Mike and his act, visit www.birbigs.com.
February 3, 2010 – 8:32 pm
TC Comedy Arts Festival co-founder Jeff Garlin will appear on Interlochen Public Radio tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. for a live call-in show with host Brad Aspey. A recorded interview with legendary filmmaker and Comedy Fest guest John Waters will round out the hour-long program. Be sure to tune in to 91.5 FM to catch the show!
February 2, 2010 – 2:11 pm
After weeks of anticipation and excitement, Michael Moore and Jeff Garlin released the schedule today for the inaugural TC Comedy Arts Festival, coming up Feb. 19-21 here in Traverse City. Here is their email reproduced in its entirety. (Note: If you just want to see the schedule, and not read the descriptions, skip directly to the bottom). Look carefully below for instructions on buying tickets - they go on sale Sunday, and there are a few different ways you can get them.
Enjoy!
"Here it is! Schedule for the First Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival"
Friends,
Here it is! The official schedule of the first ever Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival, February 19-21. You are the first to get a look at this, and I think you'll agree that we have shot out of the gate with a line-up that any other festival would be lucky to have in their fifth year, not their first!
How about this for our live shows?
– The legendary comedy icon, Roseanne Barr, in concert.
– The founding father (and mother) of independent cinema, the outrageous John Waters, performing his acclaimed one-man show, "This Filthy World — Dirtier and Filthier."
– The man who finds more comedy material in Traverse City than he does fudge, Mr. Jeff Garlin, star of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
– The brilliant comic Mike Birbiglia, performing his comedy stand-up show that has been selling out across the country.
– A comedian who will have you laughing till you fall in the Bay, the incredible and irreverent JB Smoove (he also plays Larry David's houseguest on "Curb Your Enthusiasm").
– You heard it here first: everybody we talk to in Hollywood says she's gonna be the next big mega-star of comedy: Whitney Cummings.
– From the Windy City, Mike Toomey, with his one-man show "TV&Me."
– The sketch comedy duo, also from Chicago, "Teenager of the Year."
– And the best improv you'll ever see, veterans of the renowned "Second City," TJ & Dave.
All of that and more, coming your way in just a little over two weeks, right here in Traverse City — complements of your own non-profit Traverse City Film Festival!
And speaking of films, we've got some great comedies we'll be showing on the silver screen at the State during the comedy fest:
– A sneak preview of a big Hollywood comedy that many are saying will be the comedy hit of the summer, a la "The Hangover" (it's so big, we can't even say its name, but you'll be the first in the world to see it!).
– The first ever outdoor film festival, in the middle of friggin' winter! Ok, it's not really a festival, it's just one film, but we're really going to show it outdoors, no matter how much snow, no matter how low below zero it goes! Let's show the world what we're made of here in TC. Bring your chairs, your hot seats, your ice fishing gear, your frostbite first aid kit. The movie? Maybe the best comedy ever, and one of the only films ever made that is set in the month of February — "Groundhog Day."
– A classic silent film comedy, Buster Keaton in "The Cameraman." Playing along on the organ, in person, Mr. Steven Ball of Ann Arbor's Michigan Theatre.
– Traverse City Comedy Shorts Contest, two hours of the most hilarious short films we've found from around the world — and you'll be the judge.
We also have a couple great events for the kids:
– We'll have a wonderful surprise comedy film for kids on Saturday morning at the State Theatre.
– And we'll have a special treat for the kids and people of all ages Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning: ComedySportzKids, improvisational comedy played like a competitive sport, complete with lots of audience participation from the kids.
That's probably enough, but we've got more:
– An opening night party where you can meet, up close and in person, some of our comedy stars.
– On Friday and Saturday at midnight, we'll turn the lower level of Horizon Books into a free "after-hours" comedy club with Jeff Garlin hosting a number of surprise guests in something he calls his "Late Night Combo Platter." These events will not be ticketed — we'll let in the first 100 or so people who line up.
– On Saturday afternoon, Jeff Garlin will sign copies of his new book, "My Footprint: Saving the Planet One Pound at a Time," at Horizon Books.
– And on Saturday afternoon we'll salute the comedy site created by Will Ferrell, "Funny or Die," by showing a compilation of their greatest internet video hits.
The schedule for these events, as it stands now, is below. We have several To Be Announced slots, and we'll let you know when those are filled. Most events will run 90 minutes or less, so you should be able to catch back to back events.
We're keeping the ticket prices reasonable so that there will be something for everyone — events will be priced at $9, $15, $20, $25, or $30, and we'll have some free events, too. ComedySportzKidz will be $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
The venues will be the same places we used for our first film fest: the State Theatre, the City Opera House and the Old Town Playhouse. We'll add Horizon Books, and the free outdoor movie — the "Traverse City Film Festival on Ice" — will be held in the Wade Trim parking lot around the corner from the State Theatre on Park Street.
We have plans in place so you won't have to stand outside in line in the cold for hours on end waiting to get inside. More on that later.
Some people have asked if the comedy shows will be appropriate for all ages. The simple answer to that is no. Just about everything is OK for most kids ages 16 and up. Parents will need to make up their own minds about the maturity level of children who are younger. Mike Toomey's one-man show is OK for all ages, and so is ComedySportzKidz. Most of the movies will have ratings on them. We hope that helps.
Now let us explain how you can get tickets for all of this. Our phones have been ringing off the hook, so we're guessing that a number of these shows will sell out quickly. If you become a sponsor of the comedy festival (sponsorships start at $500), we'll fill your order before public ticketing begins. For everyone else, here's how the ticketing will work. At 9 am on Sunday, February 7, tickets will be available for purchase in three ways:
1. Online at www.comedyartsfest.org. This is going to be the best way to get tickets. We have a new ticketing system that we're going to put through its paces. And our new system won't crash, right? That wouldn't be funny.
2. In person at the State Theatre. Because online ticketing will start at the same time as in person ticketing, and since we'll only have four terminals running, you'll have a better chance of getting the tickets you want online. But if you prefer to get tickets in person, you can come to the State Theatre on Saturday, February 6 between 5 and 11 pm and get a number. Then you can return to the State on Sunday morning at 8 am to get in line by number, or to join the end of the line. We'll help everyone in line as quickly as we can.
3. By phone. We won't have many phone lines going, and we won't be returning messages or allowing them to be left, but we will be answering two phones, 231-947-3446 and 231-392-1134, and we'll fill all the orders we can.
Ticketing will continue after February 7 until the tickets are gone, online and at the State Theatre from noon until 8 pm every day. You'll also be able to call 231-947-3446 for tickets.
Look for more info in tomorrow's Record-Eagle, for a printed schedule in Friday's Record-Eagle, and tune in to Jeff Garlin this Thursday morning at 9 am with host Brad Aspey, taking listener questions live on IPR's "ArtForms." A taped interview with John Waters will round out the hour-long show. That's on Interlochen Public Radio, 91.5 FM. It will also be rebroadcast later in the day, probably after 8 pm. And, by all means, check out our web site at www.comedyartsfest.org.
We could all use a few good laughs right now. Please join us for this inaugural Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival, Friday, February 19th through Sunday, February 21st. It will be unlike anything you've seen north of Romulus or Remus.
Yours,
Michael Moore
Jeff Garlin
Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival Schedule
Key:
STATE = State Theatre
COH = City Opera House
OTP = Old Town Playhouse
HORIZON = Horizon Books
WADE TRIM = Wade Trim Parking Lot
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19
5:30 pm
Opening Night Party - COH $25
6 pm
Mike Toomey - OTP $15
7:30 pm
Whitney Cummings - STATE $20
8 pm
Teenager of the Year - OTP $15
10 pm
Jeff Garlin - STATE $25
TJ & Dave - OTP $15
12 midnight
Late Night Combo Platter - HORIZON Free
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20
10 am
TBA Kids Movie - STATE
12:30 pm
Sneak Preview Movie - STATE $9
1 pm
ComedySportzKidz - COH $5 kids, $10 adults
3 pm
Jeff Garlin Booksigning - HORIZON Free
4:30 pm
"Funny or Die" Movie - STATE $9
6 pm
Jeff Garlin & Whitney Cummings - STATE $25
Mike Birbiglia - COH $25
Mike Toomey - OTP $15
TCFF on Ice: "Groundhog Day" - WADE TRIM Free
8:30 pm
JB Smoove - STATE $20
John Waters - COH $30
Teenager of the Year - OTP $15
10:30 pm
Roseanne Barr - STATE $30
TJ & Dave - OTP $15
12 midnight
"Pink Flamingos" - STATE $9
Late Night Combo Platter - HORIZON Free
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
11 am
ComedySportzKidz - STATE $5 kids, $10 adults
1 pm
"The Cameraman" Silent Film with Organ - STATE $9
5:30 pm
Comedy Shorts Contest - STATE $9
February 2, 2010 – 2:14 am
I walked into last night's screening of "District 9" with a full-on pit in my stomach. An accidental viewing of "Nightmare on Elm Street" at age 5 has left me embarrassingly sensitive to violence and gore over the years (as well as tragically prone to awkward movie dates), and science fiction - particularly R-rated science fiction - has a nasty habit of utilizing both. Also, a quick scan of reviews showed an ominous adjective trend that predicted a rather unpleasant viewing experience. "Bleak," "disturbing" and "grim" don't usually headline promo posters, and for good reason. Nonetheless, word-of-mouth about the film has been exceptional, often focusing on the surprising debuts of both director Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley, and given the frequency with which the movie is bantered around in awards circles right now, I figured it irresponsible not to see or review it.
I will say this: I was right to be nervous. If you're on the squeamish side, "District 9" is going to push your buttons in some shockingly visceral ways. That said - there's the strong heartbeat of a great story thumping underneath the gore, and if you can get through the violence, you're in for a highly intelligent ride.
"District 9" succeeds on two major levels. The first is the "we're-not-even-going-to-try-to-pretend-this-isn't-a-metaphor-for-apartheid" commentary on issues of racism (alienism?), segregation and fear of the "other" running throughout the film. The second is the film's pseudo-doc cinema verite style and tightly wound plot. A spaceship appears in the sky over - not coincidentally - Johannesburg, South Africa, and when its doors are opened, a group of injured and severely malnourished aliens are discovered huddled on board. These are not the empowered extraterrestrials of "Independence Day" or "War of the Worlds" - the creatures here are on the brink of death, and feebly subject themselves to life in makeshift refugee camps while the world figures out what to do with them.
Wikus van der Merwe (played by Copley) is an overeager pencil pusher at the Multi-National United (read: U.N.) and is shown touring through the slum-like camps with a documentary crew. The MNU is notifying the aliens of their eviction from the camp to new barracks further removed from the city's increasingly tense population. All manners of apartheid references are touched upon here, from anti-"non-human" signs at local establishments to derogatory nicknames for the visitors ("prawns," a nod to the creatures' crustacean-like appearance) to greedy street runners who exploit the newcomers for personal gain. Wikus - whose bumbling character initially calls to mind Murray of "Flight of the Conchords" - is tasked with leading the relocation effort, and he does so excitedly, as detached as everyone else from the aliens' plight. That is until, during a seemingly normal raid, he becomes infected with a virus that suddenly and violently begins to turn him…well…definitively non-human.
The storytelling here is first-rate, helped along the way by clever repackaging of several major science-fiction cliches as well as nods to the film's cinematic forebearers. Wikus' crumbling transition into a prawn immediately calls to mind "The Fly," with several similar gross-out sequences as that film, and secret test labs, hothead military commanders and shadowy governmental agents are about as time-honored of traditions as you can get in sci-fi.
What makes "District 9" particularly intriguing is seeing it just a month after watching blockbuster smash "Avatar" in the same theater. While "Avatar" is like a Disney ride for preschoolers compared to the viciousness of "District 9," both films center on a protagonist who has comfortably demonized a different species and is blithely unsympathetic to that species' flight - until he (willingly or not) takes on the form of his foe and experiences life through the looking glass of his once-enemy. As Wikus becomes literally dehumanized, he grows figuratively more humane - aware for the first time of the consequences of hatred and hostility on a race outnumbered and outmaneuvered by its oppressors.
The degree to which I loved "Avatar" visually was considerably mitigated by my disappointment in its lackluster plot. With "District 9," thankfully, audiences end up getting the best of both worlds. This isn't a particularly expensive nor expensive-looking movie (the budget was $30 mil, surprisingly low by Hollywood standards), yet the gritty cinematography completely enhances and is enhanced by an intelligent story. Story, at the end of the day, is why we go to the movies - and if both films make the short list this morning of Oscar Best Picture nods, as I suspect they will, that is the reason I'll ultimately pull for "District 9." Because the best science fiction films don't just make you jump out of your seat, or scream, or slump dazzled in a stupor in front of a screen. They make you think - a feat "District 9" pulls off exceptionally well.
"District 9" is playing now through Thursday at the State Theatre. For showtime and ticket information, click here.
January 24, 2010 – 8:51 pm
Mike Toomey grew up glued to the tube, and his one-man show “TV & Me” is the manifestation of his obsession. His ability to remember his favorite programs verbatim and impersonate the voices of his favorite characters made Mike popular with his classmates - if not his teachers - growing up. His show features over 300 slides and sound bytes, plus Toomey’s dead-on impersonations of TV celebrities. The Chicago Tribune calls Mike “one of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in Chicago.”
Next month, Mike will add the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival to the roster of festivals and shows he's been a part of, which includes HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour and A&E's Comedy on the Road. The talented comedian took a few minutes out to discuss his popular act and how he made a career out of "watching television."
TCFF: You’ve performed throughout the country and at national comedy festivals, but you seem to be especially known in the Midwest for your stints on WGN-TV in Chicago and your act “TV & Me,” which you often perform at local venues. Can you talk about both those projects and how they came about?
Mike Toomey: I first started doing comedy when I was a teenager fresh out of high school. When you’re 18, you don’t have a lot to relate to in terms of adult experiences. So all I had to reach an adult audience with were these observations and impressions of TV characters I had grown up with. As I got older and matured, I started gaining more life experiences and matching the age of my audience, and my act shifted to different topics. But I always liked the TV material I had developed. I realized I could build a show specifically around that. The first time I performed “TV & Me” was in 1997, and it took about a year prior to write and build the show.
WGN came about after I started promoting “TV & Me.” I was living in Chicago, so I appeared on a bunch of local news shows. This particular channel - WGN - was one I was watching every morning anyway, and I struck up a friendship with one of the producers. I pitched him some ideas of bits we could do, and pretty soon I became a regular. That was back in 2003.
TCFF: For your act “TV & Me,” which pokes fun at ‘60s and ’70s television, do you find yourself wanting or needing to incorporate newer references to be inclusive to younger audiences? Or are these classic shows – and “TV Land” – prolific enough in our culture that Gen X or Y gets the references?
Mike: There are a couple ways to look at that. One is that the show was created for a specific audience – one around my age and from my era, who gets all the references. But I also try and make the jokes universal enough that younger audiences find it funny regardless of whether they catch all the references, and I do a good job of explaining the shows and providing context for the jokes. Plus, a lot of these shows I didn’t see myself until they went into rerun, and with syndication and “TV Land” most people are familiar with them.
I haven’t updated the material much, though, or tried to bring it into another decade, because the show is really about my experiences growing up and what I was watching as a child.
TCFF: So no plans to include any “Jersey Shore” references in upcoming shows then?
Mike: (laughs) No, that’s a whole different act.
TCFF: Your act has been described as "clean" and "appropriate for all ages." Having a show like that seems to require a conscious decision on the comedian’s part to keep the material at a certain level. What’s your take on “dirty” versus “clean” humor, and why did you make the decision to keep your show family-friendly?
Mike: “TV & Me” is pretty PG. I suppose you could take a left turn with that material and make the shows filthy and have a funny side to that. But the subject matter is such that you don’t really need to go there to be funny.
For the most part, I do work pretty clean. Don’t get me wrong – a lot of comedians out there work dirty, and they’re very funny. As long as the material is funny, it works. But when you do something just for the shock value, it tends to not be as good. Sometimes if I’m working a club or a late crowd who’s been drinking, I can go there with my stand-up. But “TV & Me” is a pretty determined set.
TCFF: On your website, you mentioned that a principal told you as a student that “no one ever made a career out of watching television,” and you set out to prove her wrong. Did you ever reconnect with her to let her know you did just that?
Mike: No, but that’s funny you bring that up. That’s the whole basis for the show. I’m told TV is not going to get me anywhere, and the rest of the show is me trying to accomplish something and prove the principal wrong. Near the end, we get to have a conversation about it. It’s fictional, but the show does answer that question.
TCFF: You started performing stand-up in 1982 straight out of high school. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned about the business in the ensuing years? And what words of wisdom would you offer to someone young starting out now in 2010?
Mike: I guess the main thing is that nothing surprises me anymore. I’ve learned that no matter how long you’re doing this or what level you reach, you’re never “above” comedy. You could do this for 50 years and get yourself to a high level, but there’s still a chance you could blow up and the crowd will hate you. You’re never foolproof, and you have to remember that every time you take the stage.
Especially for someone young starting out, my advice is to not throw all your eggs into one basket. Make sure you have something to fall back on. I was lucky – I started in the early ‘80s, just before comedy really took off. I had a few years to hone my craft before comedy clubs started cropping up and jobs were available. So make sure you have something else that works for you and gets you money, and then perform every opportunity you get. People can give you all the tips and pointers in the world, but the only way to get better is for you to do it over and over and over again. That’s how you find your identity on stage, and only you can get yourself there.
TCFF: Have you ever visited Traverse City?
Mike: I have. There was actually a club there 20 or so years ago I performed at. It was a strange situation really. This old guy with a toupee ran it – his toupee was jet-black, so it wasn’t even like he was trying to hide anything. I don’t think that place is around anymore. I’ve visited or been through TC a few times since then.
TCFF: Anything you’re looking forward to at the festival?
Mike: There are a few acts on the lineup I’m looking forward to. I’ve known Dave Pasquesi (of TJ & Dave) for a long time time, and I know he’s a friend of Jeff (Garlin)’s, too. It should be a good time.
Mike Toomey will be performing at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 19-21 in Traverse City. You can learn more about Mike's act and watch some of his bits at www.mike-toomey.com, or become a fan on Facebook here.
January 22, 2010 – 5:19 am
Teenager of the Year is the brain child of Chicago natives Joe Avella and Tim Racine. The infectious sketch comedy duo has performed at Sketchfest, the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, and the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. But perhaps the group's best description comes from the performers themselves: “Teenager of the Year is the best group in Chicago. Better than everyone. Waaay better. In everything. Best group, best band, sports team, restaurant, car wash. Doesn’t matter. We are the best everything. If you don’t get us, it’s your fault. The end.”
To put their awesomeness to the test, we grilled Teenager of the Year on everything from the benefits of social media to the indefinable "je ne sais quoi" that makes Chicago the king of comedic cities. Utilizing a tag-team strategy - and some well-timed puns - the duo soared through the exam with flying colors. Final grade: Awesome.
TCFF: Let’s start by talking about your individual careers, and then Teenager of the Year and how that came into existence. Joe, how did you get your start and what are some of the projects you’re working on right now?
Joe Avella: I started working in independent film and short comedy about five years ago. Some of the shorts I wrote have gained national attention – one was featured last year at South by Southwest, and I won a few local and national film contests. During this time, I wanted to meet other comedians - mostly so I could recruit them to be in my films - so I started performing at the Improv Olympics.
That's where Tim came into the picture. I was performing in a Second City show, and Tim came to visit one of the other cast members. At the after-party, we had a few beers and ended up hitting it off. I wanted to be a solo performer, but I kind of lied and told Tim I was starting a sketch comedy group. So then, of course, I had to scramble and actually put together a group. The other members eventually dropped out, and it was just me and Tim left. We officially became Teenager of the Year in early 2008.
TCFF: Tim, we attempted to dig up some factoids on your website (www.timracine.com), but were immediately confronted with a long page of bizarre and frightening images. We’d hate to make deductions about your career based on that, so you can explain what that site is all about?
Tim Racine: You described it pretty much how everyone I know has described it. People aren’t sure what to make of it. It’s supposed to be five days’ worth of pictures all focused around a central theme, which basically allows me to tell the same joke five times. The theme last week was about getting pregnant – it was essentially making an off-color joke about how children will ruin your life. Which I don’t necessarily believe! But as far as the Internet goes, you have to be over the top to get anyone to notice you. The website is basically a plea for attention – or help.
TCFF: Describe your act and what audiences can expect from a typical Teenager of the Year show.
Joe: It’s a stream-of-consciousness type of comedy. We strip sketch comedy down to its basic elements. One of the things Tim and I bonded over was that we both thought too much of sketch comedy was stale and repetitive. We wanted to do a live show that throws convention out the window and just write what we think is funny instead. Our show is very high energy – we skip from idea to idea, and feed off each other a lot.
Tim: We wanted to make our act less like a theater show and more like a band performance. Our sketches are our songs. We banter with the audience in between and have room to improvise in our performance. We keep it loose and fun.
TCFF: Fan interaction on social media is a popular trend with performers these days. Teenager of the Year has embraced that technology by answering fan questions on your website – however, in answering the questions, you utilize an interesting formula: 1) mock the fan’s question, 2) post a photo of something awesome (like kiteboarding, or a Camaro) and 3) end with basically telling the fan to shut their trap. How’s that working out with your followers?
Tim: (laughs) It’s worked out great. The funny thing is, after we answered the first question that way, we got way more questions after that. Fans seem to dig it.
TCFF: Who usually answers the questions?
Tim: I do. I’m pretty obsessed with checking the website.
Joe: I couldn’t ignore it more. I get to it maybe once every six months. But if you ever need to contact Tim, just ask a question on the website. He’s all over it.
TCFF: We've been asking everyone to weigh in – Team Conan or Team Leno?
Tim: Here’s the thing: We’re not really established in show business yet. We’d like to get on TV one day. And we’ll have whoever will have us, so we hate to choose sides.
Joe: We should just both pick a different team.
Tim: OK.
Joe: Let’s see – I’ll be Team Leno, because that seems like the underdog vote.
Tim: And I’ll be Team Conan.
TCFF: He does seem to be the more popular choice.
Tim: That’s because I’m the hip young one.
Joe: And I am the older one with a car. I love mediocrity, so I’ll stay with Team Leno.
TCFF: Short of the Second City factor or a water supply issue, what is it about Chicago that creates such a breeding ground for comedians?
Joe: What I’ve noticed is that Chicago is not an industry town like New York or LA. Everyone who comes here does it with the purpose of discovering their voice and with a specific goal of launching their career. Most of the showcases here are run by comedians or producers who aren’t getting rich from it, but are sacrificing their time and money to support the comedy scene. Everyone in the Midwest who wants to do comedy migrates here, so you get this great mix of people coming from all over.
Tim: That was a very elegant answer.
Joe: Yes, it was. Can you please note how elegant that was?
TCFF: Let the record show… Tim, do you have any thoughts on Chicago?
Tim: I can only give my own reasons for coming here. It's like this: When you first come here, without knowing how the comedy scene works, you think, “I’m going to work in Chicago for a while, and then in a few years I’ll be on Saturday Night Live.” And then you quickly realize that that’s not going to happen anytime soon. So then you’re surrounded by all these equally talented people who’ve realized the same thing, and you start doing shows together. You get influenced by all these great future stars around you, and eventually you have loftier aspirations than becoming famous. There seems to be a good emphasis here on artistic integrity.
TCFF: Have either of you visited Traverse City before?
Joe: No, but I looked up pictures online and it appears quite quaint.
Tim: I read the Wikipedia entry. It looks like you’ve got a lot of nice history there.
Joe: I wonder if we’ll have the chance to go cherry-picking.
Tim: Cherry-picking? In winter?
Joe: Skiing maybe? Will we have a chance to ski?
TCFF: There’s a good chance you'll end up needing to ski from your hotel to the venue. We get snowed in a lot.
Tim: In that case, we can say “Ski you at our show!” and “Ski you later!”
Joe: This is just a taste of the excellent comedy we'll be offering.
TCFF: Anything you’re looking forward to at the festival?
Tim: I’m really looking forward to seeing Mike Birbiglia.
Joe: Same here. I would like to see every single person who’s performing at the festival, but Birbigs is at the top of both our lists.
TCFF: We offered Whitney Cummings the chance to start a feud with another comedian before the festival started, but she couldn’t settle on anyone. Care to give it a go?
Tim: Hmmm. OK, I’m ready to start this kerfuffle. Listen up other performers! I’m willing to see your shows, and maybe even enjoy them. So, let’s agree that the way we get back at each other is by helping each other along in our careers.
Joe: Yeah, that’ll show them! I am completely behind this.
Teenager of the Year will be performing at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 19-21 in Traverse City. You can follow Joe Avella and Tim Racine on Twitter at @JoeAvella and @TimRacine, or visit their website at www.teenageroftheyear.org.
January 19, 2010 – 7:39 pm
One of the fastest rising stars on the comedy circuit, Whitney Cummings and her one-woman show, “Live! Nude! Comedy!” have received rave notices around the country. Variety calls her one of the “Ten New Comedy Stars to Watch,” and she’s one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Comedy Stars of Tomorrow.” Whitney got her start as a series regular on MTV’s “PUNK’D,” has starred in major films and on popular TV shows, and has since gone on to roast Joan Rivers and to write for some of the top comedy shows in the business.
During a recent torrential downfall in Los Angeles, Whitney escaped the rain long enough to talk about her experience working in the new era of female comedy, how Michael Moore inspired her career, and what audiences can expect from her no-holds-barred show next month in TC.
TCFF: For those not familiar with your act, or who have only had a chance to see you on “Chelsea Lately,” talk a little bit about what you’ve been up to recently and what you're working on.
Whitney Cummings: Well, I do appear on “Chelsea” pretty regularly, which people seem to really respond to. I also performed on the Joan Rivers Roast last summer, and was a writer on two previous Roasts – Bob Saget and Flavor Flav – before that. Last week I was on the Tonight Show with Conan, catching what's probably the tail end of his reign there.
Coming up in May, I’m doing a one-hour special on Comedy Central, so I’m working on my material for that. I travel almost every weekend and do a lot of stand-up. My material is really focused on modern relationships, dating and sex. One fan described “Emotional Ninja,” the album I put out this year, as “exploring the games men and women play with each other” - which I thought was intriguing. I just try and be honest and share my opinions on what I see happening based on my own experiences.
TCFF: Female comedians – like Joan Rivers, whom you mentioned you roasted – used to be a rare species as recently as a few decades ago. Now you’ve got everyone from Ellen and Tina Fey to Kathy Griffin and Sarah Silverman rocking the comedy scene. Do you feel like it’s getting easier for female comics, or is there still a boys club in play?
Whitney: I think there’s a boys club in some respects, but that’s changing. I don’t think women are any more or less capable now than before – they’ve always been capable. It’s just become more socially acceptable to have women who are aggressive and opinionated now. That’s what’s so intriguing and great about this time we’re in. It was hard for comics like Joan and Phyllis Diller starting out. But now, the atmosphere in television particularly is so wonderful for comedians.
I will say, though, that that atmosphere can be something of a blessing and a curse, because female comics tend to get attention now before they’re ready. That’s my explanation of why women are sometimes not as successful as men. No one is good in their first two years of comedy. Yet, because they’re female, women tend to get attention really early on, and it makes it challenging for them to grow in their careers.
TCFF: There’s a fun contrast that happens with comics like you and Sarah and Chelsea, where you’ve got these gorgeous, uber-feminine women who just so happen to say incredibly vulgar things. Is there anything off-limits for female comics nowadays? Or has that bar been lifted?
Whitney: I love that question, because when I first started, I used to dress down and wear sweat pants and sweatshirts. I didn’t want men to see me as a sexual being, and I didn’t want women to think, “Look at her trying to be cute” or feel threatened by me. I just wanted people to see my comedy. But now that I’ve started experimenting with my wardrobe and dressing up and looking nice, women actually relate to me now more than they did before.
That’s true with Sarah and Chelsea, too. Women are badasses now. They like seeing performers who dress up and talk straight about their husbands or boyfriends and what it’s like being a modern woman. We went through a time where women had to be unattractive to be funny, but that’s turned around, and women have rallied around that. I mean, Chelsea was on the cover of Playboy. She took s*** for it, but not from anyone whose opinion matters. It’s great now that women don’t have to sacrifice their femininity to be taken seriously as comedians.
TCFF: You were featured on the Tonight Show last week. We’ve been asking guests to weigh in – Team Conan or Team Leno?
Whitney: Oh God – I can’t do it. I’m Team Comedy. I think the whole situation is unfair. Neither of them did anything wrong – they’ve both worked so hard and are so talented. They both were wronged. It saddens me when there’s any kind of division in the comedy world, and situations like this make people forget we’re all on the same team. It’s a bummer when the business gets in the way of the creative.
TCFF: When you received the invitation to perform in Traverse City, which is not a normal stop on the comedy circuit, what was your initial reaction?
Whitney: Well, I’m usually a pretty mellow person, but I literally freaked out when I got invited to this festival. Because it just so happens that I am full-on obsessed with Michael Moore. I’ve worked with a lot of celebrities, and I’ve never been starstruck or impressed with fame. But I have been a fan of Michael’s since “Roger & Me.” I wish I could find this letter I wrote in college – I sent Michael a 5-page email talking about how much he changed my life and begging him for a job. When I was starting out, I initially wanted to get into journalism and do something important. After interning at some news stations, though, I realized politics and the news world is a total joke.
But when I saw Michael’s films, it hit me: “This guy is using humor to get to people.” He’s so honest and ballsy, but yet he lubricates these indigestible tragic issues with humor so you can process it. I honestly feel that he inspired me to get into comedy. In my mind, he’s the documentary version of George Carlin.
TCFF: What can audiences in Traverse City expect from your show?
Whitney: Hopefully they can expect funny. I’m not a dirty comic; I’m an edgy comic. I don’t swear incessantly, but the topics I discuss are conceptually edgy. We’re going to have fun, and some of the material might be shocking and some of it will be relatable. I think women will realize that they’re not alone in their experiences and how they think.
TCFF: What are you looking forward to most at the festival?
Whitney: I cannot wait to see JB Smoove. I absolutely love him. I’ve seen him perform recently, but I can’t get enough of him. I’m excited to see Roseanne, too. She is probably one of my top three heroes of all time, so seeing her will be completely surreal. I will probably embarrass myself that weekend, but I’m preparing to do that pretty much the entire festival.
TCFF: Is there anyone you’d like to start beef with before you arrive in TC? We could get some good press going and help drive ticket sales.
Whitney: Well, you’ve seen my roast, so you know I can be a total a**hole. But you don’t have any idiots coming, so there’s no one to pick on. Except - maybe the Traverse City weather guy. If he tells me it’s 12 degrees and snowing all weekend, I wouldn't mind brawling with him.
Whitney Cummings will be performing at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 19-21 in Traverse City. For more information on Whitney and her act, visit www.whitneycummings.com.
January 18, 2010 – 2:43 pm
Second City veterans TJ & Dave (TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi) have dominated the improv scene since they debuted in Chicago in 2002. The New York Post has called them "masters of their genre," and in a review of their act, The New York Times said, "Besides being consistently amusing, the show was satisfying as a feat of mental athletics and for the observations that popped up in the heat of the moment." The dynamic duo has won Best Improvised Show by the Chicago Reader and Improviser of the Year at the Chicago Improv Festival.
(David Pasquesi & TJ Jagodowski)
We caught up with TJ & Dave, who will perform at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival next month, to discuss the ever important Leno v. Conan debate, the thrill of crashing in front of a live audience, and who will get top billing on the Traverse City marquees next month.
TCFF: I want to start with a serious question – a bit of a hardball if you will. This seems like an important issue for comedians right now. TJ & Dave: Team Leno or Team Conan?
Dave: Personally, I am Switzerland in this debate. Like Switzerland, I've actually chosen a side, I just won't say who it is. No, but seriously – I’m on Conan’s side. Or let me put it this way: I’m not on Leno’s side. Ever. Like, I’m genuinely for Conan in this instance, but if it was Leno versus anything else, I’d be on the anything else side.
TJ: We both agree on that one.
Dave: I hope these questions get easier.
TCFF: Let’s try this one: How did the two of you meet?
Dave: We got thrown together at an improv festival in Chicago. There was a group that was supposed to perform, including - funnily enough - some of Conan’s writers, but they couldn’t make it, so we wound up performing together.
TJ: It seems to me there was a strike, maybe the Writer’s Guild or a SAG strike, and it suddenly ended, so a bunch of folks who were supposed to be coming in had to back out. They knew Dave and I were in the city, so we got called down to the theater to perform instead. That was in 2001, maybe 2002.
TCFF: Did the act known as TJ & Dave evolve out of that performance?
TJ: That performance was so terrible that we had to play together the next eight years to get the taste out of our mouths.
Dave: We did seem to get along well and have similar interests, even on stage. We thought it might be a good fit to try and see if we could continue working together.
TCFF: Describe each of your improvisational styles. Do you have similar sensibilities, or do you play off each other?
TJ: We both like working a little more slowly than most folks. In a way, we perhaps think similarly enough that we work well together, and think differently enough that we still find each other intriguing.
Dave: We have common interests, but a different point of view. If we were the same guy, it’d be uninteresting. But as TJ said, we’re comfortable moving at a slower pace. We look at improv as something that is greater than the performers.
TCFF: What does “working slowly” mean in terms of comedy? Do you avoid taking the cheap joke in favor of a longer buildup?
TJ: That’s a large part of it. If you go for the quick laugh and it sells out the scene, you’ve got to sit in that pile for the next 45 minutes. We trust something interesting will come up if we take care of the scene as best we can.
Dave: Rather than going for the joke, we go for the relationship. The comedy and story will take care of itself if we do our job, which is to find out what our relationship is.
TCFF: How do audiences used to the rapid-fire improv of shows like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” react to your long-form type of show?
Dave: We’re really lucky in that we’ve been doing this in Chicago, and audiences here are used to improv and have been respectful of us from the beginning. Then we started going to New York, and even there the audiences were good, but it took more time for them to figure it out. They enjoyed the shows; I just don’t think they knew at first what they were getting into.
TCFF: Improv is dangerous in that if you fail, you’re failing spectacularly in front of a live audience, but if you succeed, there’s an adrenaline rush in pulling off that kind of comedic feat. Talk about what draws you to improv and makes it worth that risk.
Dave: You basically summed it up right there. What draws us to improv is that there is an actual risk. We don’t know what we’re going to say when we get on stage. When you’re a comedian and you’re performing scripted material you know is good, and the audience doesn’t laugh, it’s on them. With improv, if they’re not laughing or interested, it’s on us. There’s certainly a risk of going down in flames, and you’ve got to claim that.
Actually – I’d say that it’s our fault if it doesn’t go well, and it’s not to our credit if it does go well. It’s a no-win situation really.
TCFF: What is the golden rule of improv to you?
TJ: Listen.
Dave: Listen, and pay attention.
TCFF: How long do you plan to keep working together?
TJ: We’ve said we’ll stay together until we get it either really right or really wrong. I don’t see an end in the foreseeable future to us improvising together.
Dave: I do see an end. When is the festival again?
TCFF: February 19-21.
Dave: I think we’re going to wrap it up around Feb 18. That way we can have our big reunion show at the festival.
TJ: Then if we break up again on the 19th, our show on the 20th will be even hotter.
TCFF: Have either of you been to Traverse City before?
Dave: I used to visit there as a kid on family vacation, going around the lake. That was a long time ago. I’m old. (sighs) I remember when we used to just pack up the Model T and head up north.
TJ: You were visiting the territory called Traverse City back then.
Dave: We were trapping, actually. We’d call it vacation, but we were really just trapping.
TCFF: What are you looking forward to most at the festival?
Dave: Jeff (Garlin) said he always has a great time up there. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the other acts you have. I’m excited to see Mike Birbiglia. I’ve been trying to get to one of his shows and it’s never worked out, so it will be great to see him.
TJ: I’m looking forward to landing some of that Michigan strange.
Dave: What time zone are you guys in again?
TCFF: Eastern – one hour ahead of you.
Dave: Ooh. What's the future like? (To TJ) We should play the stock market after Traverse City. I’m surprised no one has thought of this before.
TCFF: This might be a delicate subject, but how did you decide on TJ & Dave? Why not Dave & TJ?
TJ: I came up with the name of our duo. Really, having top billing was the only way for me to get on an even playing field with Dave. It’s alphabetical by last name, look at it that way.
Dave: I’m not that bright, so I hadn’t even noticed it until right now. But now that you mention it, that’s probably going to be an issue.
TJ: Just watch. When we play at the festival next year, we'll be performing as Dave & TJ.
TJ & Dave (Dave & TJ?) will be performing at the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 19-21 in Traverse City. The two are also the stars of a new documentary called "Trust Us, This is All Made Up" by director Alex Karpovsky, which will be released on DVD February 16. For more information, visit www.tjanddave.com.
January 15, 2010 – 3:51 pm
Legendary comedienne and actress Roseanne Barr will be headlining the inaugural Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival February 19-21, Michael Moore announced today. Barr, whose show "Roseanne" dominated TV charts for most of its run, has returned to her stand-up roots in recent years, developing a caustic and hilarious routine on life in America. "I've seen her show and there is no better observer of the state of the affairs we're in than Roseanne," Moore said. "It is an honor and a privilege that she has agreed to kick off our very first comedy arts festival."
Roseanne Barr
Joining Barr as a headliner at the festival is the godfather of independent filmmaking, John Waters. Waters has directed some of the most cutting-edge comedies of all time, including "Hairspray," "Pink Flamingos" and "Serial Mom." 'Hairspray" was a Broadway smash, winning Waters a number of Tony awards. At the festival, Waters will perform his critically acclaimed one-man show, "This Filthy World."
John Waters
Moore announced that a full roster of notable comics will round out the festival lineup, among them Jeff Garlin, a favorite film festival guest and co-founder of the comedy festival with Moore. Garlin was recently nominated for a SAG award for his work on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and will perform his stand-up live at the festival. TCFF attendees know Garlin has no shortage of local material to use, including his infamous ongoing battle with the Great Wolf Lodge. Expect a lot of great TC references in Garlin's routine.
Jeff Garlin
In addition to as-yet-to-be-announced film screenings, as well as a kids show, at least five other comic acts have been announced for the festival…
J.B. Smoove, who play's Larry David's lovable houseguest Leon on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and has contributed on everything from SNL to Late Night With Conan O'Brien, is frequently called a "comic's comic" for his acclaimed stand-up act. Recently, Smoove opened up for legendary comic Richard Lewis.
J.B. Smoove
Mike Birbiglia should be a familiar face to Northern Michiganders…he's performed at several sold-out shows in the region over the years. The rising star was compared to Jerry Seinfeld by Esquire magazine - that is, if "Jerry were remotely conversant with hip-hop." Birbiglia's most recent album, "My Secret Public Journal Live," was named one of the best comedy albums of the decade by the Onion AV Club.
Mike Birbiglia
If you think the lineup is starting to look a little male-dominated, Whitney Cummings is here to break up the boys club. Just don't expect her to hold back. A former cast member of the MTV show "Punk'd," Cummings has received rave reviews for her act "Live! Nude! Comedy!," which aired on Showtime in July. In addition to appearing on Conan this week, Cummings has also been a frequent guest on shows like "Chelsea Lately" and "The Howard Stern Show."
Whitney Cummings
Chicago duo Teenager of the Year, founded by Joe Avella and Tim Racine, is a two-man sketch team self-described as the "best group in Chicago. Better than everyone. Waaay better." The group has performed at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, and recently screened their short film "Scatterbrained!" at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
Teenager of the Year
Second City vets TJ & Dave (TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi) have dominated the improv scene since they debuted in Chicago in 2002. The New York Post has called them "masters of their genre," and in a review of their act, The New York Times said, "Besides being consistently amusing, the show was satisfying as a feat of mental athletics and for the observations that popped up in the heat of the moment." The dynamic duo recently won Best Improvised Show by the Chicago Reader and Improviser of the Year at the Chicago Improv Festival.
TJ & Dave
Schedule and ticketing information for the festival will be released next week, along with the list of movies and kids shows. Venues for the comedy festival will include the State Theatre, the City Opera House, the Old Town Playhouse, Horizon Books and the downtown outdoor venue, the Wade Trim parking lot.
The comedy fest will be a volunteer-run event, like the film festival, and local donors and sponsors will be asked to help cover expenses. Tickets will range in price from free to reasonably priced headliner tickets, so all people, no matter what their income, will be able to participate.
For more information on the TC Comedy Arts Festival, including the latest news and updates, visit the festival website here.
January 10, 2010 – 12:12 pm
The Traverse City Human Rights Commission will present a free screening of "Soundtrack For a Revolution" at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 18 in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. "Soundtrack," which was an audience hit at this year's film festival, tells the story of the American civil rights movement through the music that defined the era.
Vintage footage and interviews with witnesses who lived through the movement are combined with stirring musical performances by some of today's most influential artists, including Wyclef Jean, Joss Stone, John Legend, TV on the Radio, the Roots, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and many more. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman (co-directors of "Nanking"), "Soundtrack For a Revolution" is a powerful look back at one of the most important periods of American history.
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