Inside Vancouver

JFL NorthWest comedy profiles – Brian Posehn

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on January 18, 2017

Brian Posehn photographed at home August 2015. Seth Olenick photo.

Like fellow comics Patton Oswalt and Chris Hardwick, Brian Posehn has made a career out of being a nerd with a sense of humour.

Besides his stand-up, Posehn’s extensive resume includes three seasons of The Sarah Silverman Show, appearances on comedy TV series Mr. Show and Lady Dynamite and sitcoms like New Girl, voice-acting work for Bob’s Burgers and Adventure Time, and roles in movies like Funny People and the 2015 Christmas movie Uncle Nick. His work has also intersected with some of his beloved interests, including appearances in the 2007 comic-book movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and popular nerdcom The Big Bang Theory, as well as work scripting comic books, such as Marvel’s popular Deadpool series.

We talked to the comedian/actor, who performs with JFL NorthWest at Comedy Mix (1015 Burrard St.) Feb. 16-18, about working in Vancouver, his book, and the evolution of his stand-up.

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JFL NorthWest comedy profiles – Brian Posehn

JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Andy Kindler

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on January 9, 2017

Andy Kindler hosts The Alternative Show Feb. 24 & 25 at the Rio Theatre as part of JFL Northwest 2017.

Andy Kindler might be considered a comedian’s comedian, if so many comedians wouldn’t just as soon see him retire.

Actually, “retire” might be too weak of a word. When you’re as critical of your fellow comics as Kindler is – folks like Adam Carolla, Bill Maher and Dane Cook have been recipients of his on- and off-stage barbs – then you’re bound to make some enemies.

Besides his stand-up routines, Kindler is also known for his annual state-of-the-industry address at Just for Laughs in Montreal, as well as for hosting Hulu’s stand-up series, Coming to the Stage. He’s done voicework for Bob’s Burgers and played a fictional version of himself in the series Maron. At this year’s JFL NorthWest comedy festival, Kindler will host the Alternative Show (Feb. 24 & 25) at the Rio Theatre (1660 E. Broadway St.), which features a lineup of favourites from the festival. Among other things, we asked the L.A.-based stand-up about how he handles awkward backstage encounters with fellow comedians.

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JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Andy Kindler

JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Iliza

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on January 2, 2017

Comedian Iliza plays the Vogue Theatre Feb. 17 as part of JFL Northwest.

Big things are coming in 2017 from Iliza. The comedian, born Iliza Shlesinger in Dallas in 1983, already has three Netflix specials and her first headlining theatre tour (along with countless nightclub appearances) to her name.

But the new year will add a talk show and a book to the resumé of the 2008 (and, so far, only female) winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. More theatre dates are also coming, including an appearance Feb. 17 at the Vogue Theatre (918 Granville St.) in Vancouver as part of the JFL NorthWest comedy festival (Feb. 16-25). We chatted with the Dallas-born, L.A.-based comic about leaving politics out of her stand-up, fan-made swag, and keeping her dog Blanche warm on tour.

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JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Iliza

JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Piff the Magic Dragon

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on December 20, 2016

Piff the Magic Dragon has appeared on America’s Got Talent and Penn and Teller’s Fool Us, garnered millions of hits on YouTube, played comedy clubs and theatres all over the world, and even toured as an opening act for the platinum-selling British folk music act Mumford and Sons.

Today, when not at the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas – where he performs three nights a week – Piff (aka John van der Put) and his sidekick, Mr. Piffles, take their act on the road. He’ll be in Vancouver Feb. 18, performing at the Vogue Theatre (918 Granville St.) as part of this year’s JFL NorthWest Comedy Fest (Feb. 16-25). We talked to Piff about the World’s First Magic Performing Chihuahua, dragon costumes, and old tricks in new garb.

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JFL NorthWest comedy festival profiles – Piff the Magic Dragon

Top local comics make fun of wrestling clips!

by Shawn Conner in Entertainment, Uncategorized on April 26, 2016

Hulk Hogan Mr. Nanny

One of Vancouver’s best-kept comedy secrets is back. Wednesday night (April 27) at China Cloud (524 Main St.), two of Vancouver’s top comics make fun of wrestling in the semi-regular evening Ring a Ding Dong Dandy.

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Top local comics make fun of wrestling clips!

Fun (and unusual) things to do for Valentine’s Day in Vancouver

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on February 9, 2016

Forget Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. These are the two lovebirds you want to share Valentine’s Day with!

Looking for something fun yet unusual to do this Valentine’s Day? How about a burlesque show set to the music of Prince, a screening of Robocop (the original, not the remake, of course!) or an evening of female comics? We have all of those, plus a few more, listed below.

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Fun (and unusual) things to do for Valentine’s Day in Vancouver

Five reasons to get out of bed in February

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on January 27, 2016

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Whoo-hoo! Let’s hear it for February!

This underrated month – stuck between the post-holiday doldrums of January and the waiting-for-springness of March – has a lot going for it. Valentine’s Day and, uhm, well – it’s also the shortest month. So there’s that.

Plus, there’s always something happening in the worlds of theatre, dance, comedy and music. Here are a few highlights with nothing much in common but, perhaps, their ability to remind us that February isn’t so bad after all.

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Five reasons to get out of bed in February