Apr. 15: Ivan Decker

Ivan Decker was with us in December and he's back again so soon? When he was last on, it was shortly after his debut on American TV on Conan. We said that we'd have him back any time there's a big milestone in his career. Well, 2018 was really a great year for the Vancouverite. A few weeks ago he became the first Juno Award winner in the comedy category in 33 years. Pretty impressive. He won for his album I Wanted to Be a Dinosaur. He was in Winnipeg this weekend and is flying back today. He gets in 75 minutes before we go on the air (fingers crossed) and will come directly to our studio to talk about big win and anything else we can think of. And if his flight is delayed... well, Sam Tonning and I will wing it.

But let's count on Ivan arriving in time. We'll be on the air at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM, as usual. Listen on your old-timey radio, or livestream us at coopradio.org or on the TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 491ish: Tom Green

Look at this quick turnaround! This episode just aired on Co-op Radio and now it's out on podcast. Ain't technology grand? It's apt because this was the most high-tech episode we've ever done. I was in Vancouver and Tom Green was at his home in Los Angeles and we hooked up through the wonder of Zencastr. Also, Tom's old buddy Phil Giroux called in from Ottawa and gave a shout-out. What a time to be alive! In addition to talk about his varied career, Tom and I discussed/debated art criticism, he told us about drinking with Dennis Rodman and getting fired by Donald Trump, and throwing a dead raccoon in Mike Bullard's face (it never happened quite like that). And more!

Go ahead and listen already. Just click below or go download us at iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be there waiting for you. If you subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes, the latest episode will magically appear on your device.

Apr. 8: Tom Green

Tom Green is playing Yuk Yuk's here in Vancouver this coming Friday and Saturday (April 13 & 14) so we thought it was a perfect time to finally get him on the longest-running comedy podcast in the universe. He is a Canadian superstar, after all, so he deserves this big break. Tom may not have done it all in show business, but he's close. He first did standup as a teenager in Ottawa, then became a Juno-nominated rapper with his group Organized Rhyme, then... the rest is history. His public access show in Ottawa took the city by storm, moved to Much Music, then finally to the bright lights of Hollywood. He made movies, did commercials, hosted SNL, guest hosted for David Letterman, hosted his own talk show, and... well, I can't get into everything. He's been back doing standup for the last eight to ten years and that takes him all over the English-speaking world.

We've got him for the hour so tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM tonight at 11. Or if you're one of the millions of Green groupies around the world, you can livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on TuneIn Radio. And as a special surprise, the podcast version of the show will be available on iTunes and Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts right at midnight. How's that?

Podcast episode 490ish: Simon King

Photo of Simon King by Mike Bailey

On Juno Sunday, Sam Tonning took over the controls at What's So Funny? headquarters. Together with Simon King, they talked comedy and played some comedy clips from the Juno Award-winning I Wanted to be a Dinosaur by Ivan Decker, as well as clips from Simon's own albums. And they had a ton of fun.

Check it out below. Or go download the episode at your favourite podcast dispensary. If you subscribe to us at iTunes, it'll always show up when you need it.

Podcast episode 489ish: Mike MacDonald rerun

I had to rerun our Mike MacDonald episode from four years ago after learning of the passing of the great Canadian standup. He was one of my favourites. Maybe you heard it before but it stands up to repeat listening. I've also added two of his standup clips: one at the beginning; one at the end. I think you'll enjoy this frank, honest talk with the master.

You can listen here, as always (if you're good), or you can go download What's So Funny? on iTunes. Godspeed.

Podcast episode 488ish: Chris Gordon

It's generally conceded that Chris Gordon is one of the smartest comedians in the country, if not the world... Ah, who are we kidding? He's dumb as nails! But he sure is funny. And he's in full Chris Gordon mode in this episode, hawking merch with a raging boner. The Calgary standup – a two-time loser at the Vancouver Comedy Awards – name-drops throughout the show the likes of Bob Odenkirk, Key & Peele, and Colin Quinn. Great stories. Listen!

Check it out below or go find What's So Funny? on iTunes. And if you subscribe, you'll always get the latest episode immediately.

Podcast episode 487ish: Jo Dworschak

We've got stories and lies on this episode of What's So Funny? with our guest Jo Dworschak. She's the host of the monthly show Story Story Lie at the Rio Theatre (which doubles as a podcast). I assume she was telling the truth with me when she talked about riding her horse to the corner store to buy smokes, being a hobo, how giving a speech at a funeral got her into performing, how her naked body is emblazoned on a Japanese person's body, taking a cross-country road trip with her son, and tits. Oh, by the way, Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, just as I suspected.

Here you be. The episode in all its glory. But why not just go subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes already? I would.

Mar. 11: Chris Gordon

The comedy festival is over. If you're not too burned out on comedy, we've got a great show lined up. For the first time in the long, storied history of What's So Funny?, Chris Gordon will be joining us live in studio. He was a guest with us once before, four years ago, when we recorded from the lobby of a downtown hotel (sans permission) and they kicked us out in the middle of the show. Tonight, there will be no interruptions, we hope. Chris is a weirdo of the first order so it'll be lots of goofy fun. No doubt he'll have some merch to hawk.

We're on the air n CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver at 11 pm DST. If you're Chris's family in Calgary, r anyone else anywhere, you can livestream us at coopradio.org or find us on your TuneIn Radio app.

Podcast episode 486ish: Rod Crawford

Improvising veteran Rod Crawford didn't invent improv, but he's been involved with it for 35 years. He's also dabbled in standup, and has done lots of TV work, most notably his starring role in one season of Police Academy (now available on the YouTubes!). We talked to Rod about his life in and around comedy. He also tells us about meeting Guy LaFleur and asks "What's funny?"

Have a listen, please and thank you. Here or at iTunes or wherever you personally get your podcasts.

Podcast episode 485ish: Kathleen McGee

We had to get Kathleen McGee back on the program before she moves away in May and we got her. In this very enjoyable romp, Ms McGee talks about her favourite musicals, partying around sports, heckling athletes, telling vibrator jokes to her grandparents, dying pets, and she even manages to drop the c-word on our dear Co-op radio listeners. This episode brought to you by Kit Pellow.

Here you go. Have fun listening. If you don't want to miss an episode, go subscribe to What's So Funny? on iTunes. Highly recommended.

Feb. 18: Jo Dworschak

Tonight we have a first-timer on the show, but no stranger to Co-op Radio. Jo Dworschak is a programmer on CFRO so I see her around the station sometimes (okay, once). Tonight she visits What's So Funny? to talk about her life and career in general, and her baby Story Story Lie, in particular – a live monthly event that's two-thirds storytelling and one-third telling stories (it's also a podcast). The next instalment is Thursday, February 22... or is it??? (Yes, it is. There have been no lies in the making of this blog post.)

Tune in tonight to hear all about Jo and the show. We're on the air in Vancouver at 11 pm on CFRO 100.5 FM or you can livestream us out of town on coopradio.org. We can also be found on the TuneIn Radio app that can be found on your computing devices.