Monday
Kevin Pollak
For the most part, audiences only knew Kevin Pollak as one of Hollywood’s finest character actors, forgetting that he is also one the best standup comedians in the country. But that would all change when Kevin, performing as Christopher Walken, uttered the sentence, “Frankenstein never scared me; marsupials do, because they’re fast.” In that instant, he had created a catchphrase that would remain in our usage for years to come. This isn’t meant to downplay his fine film work in movies like A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects and The Whole Nine Yards, but we’re talking about a piece that remains among B&T’s most requested bits. You can also buy Kevin’s new book How I Slept My Way to the Middle. Follow Kevin on twitter. Visit his website here.
Ross Bennett
Ross Bennett’s entertainment career began when he dropped out of West Point during his sophomore year in order to take up a life of comedy and theater. He claims this is the best thing he’s ever done for his country. Though his parents didn’t find the career change all that humorous at first, who’s laughing now that Bennett has been able to make a name (or two, he used to be known as Eddie Strange) for himself doing work he loves. Ross recently released his a brand new DVD, Alive and Floatin’, and you can watch the trailer for his new special, “On the Road” by clicking here. Follow Ross on twitter. Visit his website here.
Tuesday
Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale, college basketball’s top analyst and ambassador, joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season — just after the network’s September 1979 launch — following a successful college and pro coaching career. In 2008, Vitale received the sport’s ultimate honor when he was selected as an inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Vitale’s also authored nine books, including one children’s title. Follow Dickie V. on twitter.
Wednesday
Paul Mecurio
After walking away from a sweet Wall Street job, Paul Mecurio turned to a life of comedy and hasn’t looked back sense. He started as a staff writer for Jay Leno and soon found himself collecting awards for his work with the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” where his duties included warming up the crowd. Now, along with being a top-notch headlining comedian, Mecurio also has a featured on the B&T Show (as well as a new CD) called Image Makeover, and starred in an online video sports series on HBO.com called “Got No Game.” Check out Paul’s new podcast, “The Paul Mecurio Show.” Some of his guests include rock legend Paul McCartney, Stephen Colbert, and Bob Kevoian! Visit his website here. Follow him on facebook and twitter.
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.
Thursday
Nate Bargatze
Growing with with a father that was a world class magician, entertainment was in Nate Bargatze blood. As a stand-up comedian, Bargatze has starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special and has appeared multiple times on “Conan.” He has also performed at Bonnaroo, on CMT and in Iraq and Kuwait for the troops overseas. Follow Nate on twitter and facebook. Visit his website here.
Geechy Guy
For Geechy Guy, it’s not just his look that’s unique, he’s also got a comedy style that is all his own. Geechy is a veteran of the industry, having appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and ending up on the original “Star Search” with Ed McMahon (where he defeated rival comic Ray Romano). He made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for telling the most jokes (676) in one hour. These days he’s working in Vegas, performing in his stage show “ Dirty Jokes.” Geechy was also recently seen competing on the NBC game show “America’s Got Talent.” Follow Geechy on twitter.
Mark Klein
Mark Klein is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. This Colgate University graduate (B.A. English—let this be a warning to your children) has been making laughter his living for 30 years. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in comedy clubs from Alaska to Florida, headlining top rooms across the country. Mark expanded his schedule to include corporate and cruise ship entertainment. His performance calendar now comprises shows in venues ranging from special events to dinner theaters to comedy clubs. He is able to customize his show to accommodate his clients’ needs for both content and context.
Mark, who is married and has a son, is also a Thoroughbred racehorse owner, real estate investor, writer, bourbon aficionado, and the official walker of the dumbest dog in the world. Visit his website here.
Friday
Jeff Dunham
His television specials and series have been the highest rated programming in Comedy Central history, his DVD sales have reached seven million units, his videos have received a half a billion views on You Tube, and his live concerts have become mega-events played in front of sold-out arenas worldwide. No wonder Time Magazine wrote that he is “the most popular comedian in the United States” and Forbes named him to its Celebrity 100 list of most powerful entertainers three years running.
Today, Jeff Dunham is a phenomenally successful global entertainment brand. Dunham has, of course, plenty of help on-stage: his entourage of signature characters who are there to challenge and chastise his every sentence. There’s Walter, the grumpy retiree; the beer-swilling, NASCAR-loving and resolutely red neck Bubba J; the furry and manic Peanut; José Jalapeño, the spicy pepper from South of the border; the bumbling skeletal Achmed the Dead Terrorist; the almost as dead long-lost son of Achmed, AJ; and Peanut’s own ventriloquist dummy: Little Jeff. They may have all been conceived and hand crafted by Dunham, but his characters, who are anything but dummies, have now taken on a life of their own, each with their own legion of fans.
Watch Jeff and his debut animated film, “Achmed Saves America” which premieres Friday March 28th (10PM/9c) on CMT. “Achmed Saves America” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on 3/18. Follow Jeff on twitter. Visit his website here.
Jeff Caldwell
Jeff Caldwell is known to audiences nationwide as a clean, clever comedian with one of the brightest standup acts around. Whether at a comedy club or a corporate event, Jeff delivers smart, funny jokes on topics ranging from the daily news to the daily grind, subtly tailoring his material to fit any crowd.
Jeff is a house favorite with five performances behind him on The Late Show with David Letterman, has made three appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and made his Comedy Central debut on Live at Gotham. Jeff has appeared with Keith Olbermann, Dennis Miller, on SiriusXM Radio, toured with Jon Stewart, and is a regular on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio show. A former civil and environmental engineer, he also blogs at the Huffington Post, commenting humorously on scientific topics affecting the world today. Follow Jeff on twitter. Visit his website here.
Andy Woodhull
Andy made his television debut on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham.. This came the same year that he was invited to perform at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, and The Great American Comedy Festival. He has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio show, and was a semi-finalist in CMT’s “Next Big Comic”. He also won the Best of the Midwest Competition at Gilda’s Laugh Fest in 2010. His 2012 album release “Lucy” was named top 10 comedy albums of the year by comedyreviews.com
In 2004 Andy won the St. Louis leg of the Laugh Across America Contest and was invited to perform at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. In 2005 Andy’s unique sense of humor won him the Carnival Comedy Challenge in Chicago. In 2008 Andy won the Butterfinger Comedy Showdown, an online joke-writing contest that ended with a live show final round at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.
Andy who is a former resident of Chicago, where he was named one of four comedians to watch by the Chicago Tribune now lives in Los Angeles. Andy prides himself on his writing, and always delivers with great new material so if you have seen him once come again and see what is new. Follow him on twitter here. Visit his website.
