Not To Be Confused with "The Big Unit"
When comedian Rodney Johnson (not to be confused with "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson) takes the stage, he’s got two goals in mind. One is to untie diverse people of vast cultures and backgrounds, the other is to get them to laugh. And hopefully if things are going right, he can do both at the same time. Rodney’s comedy is a nice mix of spontaneous humor and religious oriented jokes, which is no surprise considering that when he’s not on performing as part of the Black Comedy Tour, he’s a deacon at his church in California.

The Guy We Love to Hate
Comedian Jimmy Pardo commands respect, and maybe some day he’ll get it. Even though he’s a well-accomplished standup comic with a number of impressive credentials on his resume, Jimmy still feels like audiences, other comedians and even BOB&TOM don’t always give him the love he deserves. Pardo's got a reputation for getting into fights with the our other guests, and has been known to walk off the show from time to time, including his infamous exit during a broadcast in the Bahamas. Though Pardo's great on the radio, his face is the real money maker which is why you should make sure to see him perform live when the opportunity presents itself.

FACTOID - Along with standup comedy, Pardo also performs in the one-man show Attention Must Be Paid: The Jimmy Pardo Story.

Give Us a Minnitte
Joe Minnitte decided to become a standup comedian because there weren’t many other professions that allow you to perform on Saturday Night Live and Comedy Central. Well that, and the fact he wasn’t very good at showing up on time or doing work early in the morning. Originally from Pittsburgh, Joe’s moved his base of operations to been New York City in order to break into comedy. Since Minnette’s been able to make it there, he figures he can make it anywhere (just like the Sinatra song implies) which is why he’s now branching out and playing clubs and colleges across the country.

Keeping 'em Laughing
Before the Cameras Start Rolling
Comedian Ron Pearson is comedy's equivalent to a fluffer on the set of an adult film. He’s the guy other comedians go to when they need someone to keep their sitcom audiences entertained between tapings. Ron has performed for over 1,500 shows including The Drew Carey Show, Two and a Half men, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Rodney, According to Jim and The Ron White Show. When he’s not working on other people’s shows, Pearson will occasionally appear in front of the camera as both an actor and performing his standup comedy.

Vague But True
Tim Bedore has been on a hot streak lately with his weekly Vague But True editorials, which is why we're so eager to find out what his next installment will be about. Over the past year, these musings have helped us learn a lot about Tim, including his predictions on the upcoming year, the joy he finds in defacing SkyMall magazines, an odd dream he had about Bea Arthur and his theory on how animals are trying to wipe out our species. But no matter the topic, we're happy he'll be reporting on it from his new home up north, where the introverts stare at their shoes and the extroverts stare at your shoes. Plus, make sure you stick around for the conclusion of VBT because Bedore now has a catchy little outro that was performed by his talented neighbors.

Eric Clapton's Cowboy Shirt Connection
Not just for guys on horseback or the Goodwill racks anymore, old time cowboy shirts are now highly collectible-treasured pieces of Western Americana. And like with any good collectible item, there’s got to be a guide available to help people know what to look for, and what distinguish the good from the bad. That’s where Steven Weil and his new book, Western Shirts come in. The book contains some of the fascinating facts and history behind the shirts as well as a complete list of 250 cowboy shirt labels so you can identify the manufacturer of your prized possession. And nobody is more qualified to write a book like this than author Steve Weil who has not only been wearing these duds since 1958, he’s also the third generation to run his family's firm, Rockmount Ranch Wear Mfg. Co.

FACTOID – Not long ago, Weil received an e-mail from Eric Clapton asking for more of his famous shirts. Not only did he place an order, Clapton also flew Weil out to the Cream Reunion concert, the same one attended by Tommy G.

And Now a Reading By Mike Birbiglia
For weeks now Mike Birbiglia has been sharing his stories from the road in a little segment he likes to call his Secret Public Journal, now accompanied by a snappy little intro featuring a full horn section. We're very excited to say that this week he'll be calling in to read his newest installment, and maybe do a little standup comedy as a added bonus. Recently, Mike's been taking part in a huge comedy tour with fellow friends of the show like Drew Hastings, Henry Phillips and Pat Godwin. You can sign up to have Mike's Secret Public Journal e-mailed directly to your in-box by clicking here.

FACTOID - In case you didn't notice him, Mike is one fourth of the now famous "Bob's Wedding Mystery Boobs" photo along with Tommy G. and the mystery breasts.

NASCAR On
the Half Shell
NASCAR racing, once considered no more than a regional circuit of moonshiners pounding around low-country dirt tracks in a cloud of red dust and cliché, has somehow become the fastest-growing spectator sport in America -- and the buxom, bumpkin darling of Madison Avenue. With 75 million fans and its popularity soaring in every corner of the country, NASCAR is a 200-mile-an-hour traveling tent-and-revival show, a platinum-plated, multibillion-dollar V-8 hero machine -- a sports entertainment empire built at the very crossroads of pop culture, corporate commerce, and American mythology. Smart, funny, and profane, Sunday Money is the kaleidoscopic account of an entire season on the NASCAR circuit. Driving 48,000 miles in a tiny motorhome, writer Jeff MacGregor and his wife, an award-winning photographer, covered 36 races at 23 tracks in 18 states, from Daytona to Darlington, New Hampshire to California, from the Wal-Mart to the Waldorf, profiling the lives of superstar drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, their crews, and their fans, across the grinding reach of a 40-week season.