Monday
Billy Gardell
Billy Gardell took the long road to Hollywood, stopping at every small-town lounge, military base and comedy club along the way. His comedy act took him to Los Angeles, where his dedication to acting, along with touring as a stand-up comedian, allowed him to grow consistently in both arenas. After appearing in a number of television programs including “Yes, Dear,” “Judging Amy” “My Name is Earl” and “Monk,” Gardell is also the star of the hit sitcom “ Mike and Molly” which airs Mondays on CBS. He’s starring in the new Showtime special, “ Billy Gardell Presents: Road Dogs” along with Don Learned, Bob Zany and Earthquake. Visit his website here. (Photo Credit: Guy Viau)
Chris Bowers
Bowers won the Midwest Ultimate Funny Championships and the Louisville flight of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. He has a universal appeal to men and women of all ages. Bower’s ability to break down human behavior into relatable and hilarious truths is the key to his humor. He is a crowd favorite at colleges all across the country. Check out his podcast, the TNT Dynamite Party Hour.
Tuesday
Costaki Economopoulos
Costaki Economopoulos is a comedian, true, but he’s also a football fan. Those two factors alone make him the perfect candidate to give us a comedic look back at the NFL each week with his new feature that’s also been picked up by The Huffington Post and Bleacher Report. With his Greek heritage, it’s not surprising that he’s been described as a “joke philosopher,” and we’re sure he’s not the only one saying that. Costaki is also a talented joke writer who’s punchlines have been heard on “The Tonight Show,” Showtime, BET, and MTV. Follow Costaki on facebook and twitter. Visit his website here.
Thursday
Ms. Pat
Let’s start with Ms. Pat hasn’t lived the life of your typical comedian. Born to a single mother of 5, living on welfare in a tough West end neighborhood of Atlanta, Ms. Pat learned early on she would have to fend for herself in this world. Her Grandfather ran a “bootleg” house where as a kid Pat learned how to roll the drunks for food money. She had her first child at 14 and her second child at 15, “I knew I wasn’t going to college so I figured why not get an early start on my family”. She became a drug dealer in her teens known by the street name “Rabbit”. “I figured there were two things I could do in my neighborhood to earn money, either sell drugs or sell p*@#$y”. At 16 she purchased her first Cadillac. During her teens she was shot twice and arrested numerous times. At 19 years of age she met a man, and with his help and encouragement decided to get out of the “life”. “I was so tired, I thought for sure I was going to end up dead. He was 21 and a military vet and he showed me a way out”.
At 19 with two toddlers and a new husband she is handed 4 more young children from her sister who was struggling with drug addiction. The next 10 years of her life are spent raising those 6 children. Part of that process included visits to the welfare office for food stamps and Section 8 housing assistance for her sister’s children. It was during these visits that Ms. Pat was first told she had a talent for telling funny stories. In 2003 with her case-worker’s encouragement she decided to go on stage and appeared at the Open-Mic-Night at “The Pub” in Atlanta. From the moment she stepped on stage she knew she had found her place. She began pouring punch lines across stages at the rate other moms pour milk at the counter.
With a comedy career now spilling over 9 years this powerful woman brings an honest, in your face, and hilarious perspective to her shows. She has appeared on TV Guide Network’s “Standup in Stilettos”, and Nickelodeons “Mom’s Night Out”. She has an upcoming appearance on BET’s “Comicview” this fall. She is a regular guest on the syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show, and appears on Katt Williams DVD “Kattpacalypse”.
Ms. Pat currently resides with her husband and three children in Indianapolis. Follow her on twitter and facebook here. Visit her website here.
Friday
Jason Stuart
When you think one of the most prolific character actors, who’s also an outrageous openly gay stand-up comedian, one name comes to mind…. Jason Stuart. Stuart has been making people laugh out loud with “Gay Don Rickles” performances all over the country since coming out in 1993. He has accomplished what few other gay comics have ever achieved: brutal honesty with humor in a world that’s not always kind. Not only is Stuart an all-out crowd pleaser, but he transcends the boundaries of race, gender and sexual orientation with his edgy comedic style. Stuart’s material about his experiences as a single Jewish gay man living in Hollywood is original, cutting edge and just plain funny!
Stuart has performed at all of the top comedy clubs & comedy festivals and hundreds of gay events & prides, colleges & universities, and even on Broadway. Since Stuart makes such a strong connection with his audience, he is in high demand by corporate programs with his lecture, Coming Out In Hollywood, on being openly gay in the workplace. He’s appeared on Night Stand-Up, Wisecrack & Comics Unleashed. In addition to his own hour stand up special Making It To The Middle and his comedy CD, Gay Comedy Without A Dress.
Although his semi-celebrity came via stand-up, Stuart is also well-known for his work as an actor playing gay & straight roles on over forty popular television shows as Sleepy Hollow, Entourage, The Closer, Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Everybody Hates Chris, House, Will & Grace, George Lopez, My Wife and Kids, Charmed and the Lifetime’s Home Invasion.
As a character actor, filmmakers say his talent is a cross between the depth of Philip Seymour Hoffman, the comedy timing of John Ritter and the quirkiness of Steve Buscemi. He has worked with heavy hitters George Clooney, Faye Dunaway, Angelina Jolie, Damon Wayans, Drew Carey, George Lopez, David Spade and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stuart was featured in the comedy hit A Day Without a Mexican, Puff Puff Pass,and the HBO award winning drama Gia. Among the big studio pictures he appeared in Kindergarten Cop and Vegas Vacation are favorites among TV fans.
Stuart has become a major player in the independent film world after being nominated for a Glitter Award for best supporting actor in Coffee Date. He was just completed in the drama LOVE IS STRANGE from Ira Sachs (Keep The the Lights On). He will act with the awarding winning cast, includingMarisa Tomei, John Lithgow, Alfred Molina and Cheyenne Jackson. He will play the man who marries the longtime couple of Lithgow & Molina’s characters. Proving that he is more than just an actor and comedian, Stuart also produced and starred in his own totally improvised independent film 10 Attitudes. This award winning romantic comedy proved to be a huge success both in the U.S. and abroad. He has acted in an array of roles in the last few years. Recently in a remake of Edgar Allan Poe’s horror film, The Pit & the Pendulum as villain “Father Divay”, Bear City 2 starring KathyNajimy, K11 starring Goran Visnjic, POSEY starring Sally Kirkland & Ray Wise, Tangerine fro Sean Baker & The Dupluss bros., The cop drama Dirtyas a dive bar manager, The comedy parody Hush Up Sweet Charlotte?starring Varla Jean Merman & Mink Stole, from producer James Franco, Holy Land, playing a “hoarder”, the rom com Big Gay Love and Baby Steps as the Jewish doctor!
Stuart uses his talents as an openly gay actor and comedian to support the community by performing at countless benefits for issues from AIDS to the homeless. After recognizing the lack of support in Hollywood for his LGBT brothers and sisters, Jason co-founded The SAG-AFTRA LGBT Committee. Since 2006, Jason has been its national co-chair. He says, ”When you’re out, it supports all gay actors”. The SAG/AFTRA Committee is conducted a survey with The Williams Institute at UCLA on openly gay actors in film & television. This is a groundbreaking study, the first of its kind in the world.
For 6 year he produced and performed in the LIFEWORKS mentoring program. This gave him the impudence to create his latest project. The web series MENTOR with Alexandra Paul (Baywatch) and his mentee actor & comedian 25 year old actor/comic Paul Elia. now on Gay Direct.
And lastly, currently he host’s a chat show on TradioV.com, Absolutely Jason Stuart. Visit his website here. Follow him on twitter.
