ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY IS...

Thank God for Ben! I think he provided 1/2 of our audience last night. Or at least 1/3 of them. Apparently, people realized I couldn't really deliver on that whole "tax break" offer. Either that, or the invite to Ben's after-party with "what-not" was more appealing. I know I was certainly intrigued by the idea of the "what-not" but I was reticent to admit defeat and thus did not attend. Sadly, I'll never know what the "what-not" was...

What I do know is that last night's gig was performed in one of the most unique venues and on one of the most unusual stages I've ever experienced. I imagine that was similar for the rest of the group, too. I've got to hand it to everyone though. We managed to pull it off rather well, all things considered. And tonight can only improve...or fail miserably. (I don't want to piss off the comedy gods by seeming too cocky. Right, Lord-o?) Either way, it should prove interesting to see what happens later. I'll be sure and keep y'all posted.

GAG ON iTUNES!

Got iTunes? "Gag Reflex Comedy Theater of the Air" is now listed in the iTunes Music Store directory!

Just download iTunes for Mac or Windows (it's free!), install, open iTunes and click on the MUSIC STORE icon. Then either type "GAG" in the "search all podcasts" field or click on the COMEDY category in the left-hand rail, then scroll down to our podcast. Once you find it, click the "subscribe" button and iTunes does all the work!

It's in heavy rotation on my iPod.

My Gagrifice

Hey All!

I just thought I'd let you know that I did NOT take the exciting new job offered to me today because it might have meant leaving Gag Reflex. That's right. I made the ultimate sacrifice and put sketch comedy before career opportunity.

I just hope I made the right decision. I've heard rumors of pending layoffs under that old "publish or perish" clause in our contracts. And although I technically have more seniority than the other newbies around here, I think my approval rating might be slipping since I only managed to bring in 4 audience members for the last round of Gag gigs. So I've secretly promised a tax break to everyone who tells the box office attendant that they came to see ME on-stage this weekend. I mean, there are still 43% of surveyed Americans who approve of the job "W" is doing according to this week's poll results. And I'm WAY funnier than that guy.

Wish me luck gaining audience leverage!

P.S. Yes, that means you're all stuck with me for at least a while longer. Unless you're willing to sweeten the deal they offered me at the competitor to get rid of me.

A Pre-Review of This Coming Weekend's Gag Reflex Show at The First Street Playhouse in Batavia, IL

What an amazing show. The audience was rowdy, bawdy and ready for us to hit the stage. They were lubed and ready to be topped off by Gag Reflex. When the lights first came up on Charlie, sitting reading a news paper, the fans went nuts. They knew what scene was coming and they were ready for it. Millie, being the professional, gave the audience a moment to settle down before making her entrance, which caused another thunderous response. And this is how Friday night went. The fans calling out dialogue and roaring with laughter. We simply ate it up.

Then there was that moment during MEG when Steve and I did the new soft-shoe routine that we've worked out. It was like God came down and joined us. The audience went bananas and the cast got caught up in the oozing, warm orgy of laughter and spirituality.

But that was only Friday night. Saturday night we had to turn nearly 300 people away as the sold out crowd from the night before turned up with friends. Again the sold out crowd seemed to be dangling from the teets of Gag Reflex. MAgic happened in that room. Life changing, pants wetting magic.

Saturday's most amazing moment was when we pulled an audience member out of the crowd (as usual) for LIKELY STORY, and the audience member turned out to be Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, a local boy who dropped by to see what all the fuss was about. So when the sketch began Ben and I went to town on him. Eventually we were both face down in his lap. And then he ad-libbed the line "I feel like Michael Moore at Cannes". You can't always tell on TV, but the guy is a cut up.

And then it was another standing ovation. Another lobby full of screaming men and women. Another night of people we don't know buying us vats of booze, just to keep the funny going a little longer.

A spiritual peak happened for hundreds this weekend. And for 10 humble comedians, our lives are fulfilled.

http://www.firststreetplayhouse.com/gagreflex.htm