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I’m Dying Up Here is one of the great books ever written about stand-up comedy. Unfortunately, the Showtime TV adaptation does it little justice according to Joel’s review of the first episode. There’s a few real-life correlations, but the fictionalization of the true story of the 1970s comedy scene comes off dull and uninspired. Hear why it’s too much like HBO’s Vinyl, and why moving a key element of the original story from the end to the beginning ruins the tension. Also, a former guest of this show appears on the show – naked! Listen to find out who it is. Also, Bill Maher and Kathy Griffin get in trouble for their jokes as Joel and Corey Hall debate which is worse for the country – the actual Trump presidency or the insane reaction of his opponents to it. Plus, a famous comic shows up unannounced at the Comedy Castle, Joel thinks pro wrestling terminology can explain how the world works, Planet Earth 2 is the most amazing film ever shot and Get Me Roger Stone on Netflix is a fair, honest assessment of a complete asshole.

A one word review of I’m Dying Up Here

Corey Hall is back discussing what happened to Amy Schumer’s career, celebrating recent TV cancellations, and eating more stunt-flavored Oreo cookies. Find out a few good things to stream – and one awful thing – as Joel checks out I Love Dick on Amazon, Tower on Netflix and Handsome: a Netflix Murder Mystery. I Love Dick is more than a clever title, it’s an art-house movie as a TV show and features some great acting and some top shelf nudity, too. The guys also discuss the rise of food trucks, including Joel’s multi-million dollar idea, and learn why Trader Joe’s beats Aldi even thought they they are essentially the same company. Plus, Joel checks out two big indie wrestling shows with the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor, and has a funny exchange with superstar Kenny Omega that inspires this week’s episode title. Corey went and had a good time, too, including being spit on by a wrestler and having his view blocked by a 300 lb, giant photographer. It’s a long, funny episode suitable for framing. Enjoy.

There’s either a funny story to these photos or pro wrestlers just don’t like Joel

It’s the return of Corey Hall to cover a wide range of subjects like the deaths of Don Rickles, Jonathan Demme, and Erin Moran, the ongoing scandals at Fox News (including a former guest of this show), and lots more. Joel explains why he’s not participating in the Facebook “Bands I’ve Seen” game, runs down some comedy shows he’s performed at recently and explains why he’s “breaking up” with his celebrity crush because he now has another. Also, Corey on the new MST3K, Marvel and Walking Dead have worn out their welcome, Joel takes another look at Rogue One, The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu is OK, but you’ve seen that before, and HBO’s Crashing nails the comedy stuff but misses with everything else. Plus, a complete guide to seeing quirky comedy actresses naked.

Actress Briga Heelan will be watched weekly by Joel on NBC’s Great News. Bad news is the show sucks

It’s been a long time since Joel met this week’s guest, Hailey Zureich. So long, in fact, that Hailey can’t even remember. Joel, however remembers how his invitation to improv people to do his comedy show let to a long time friendship. Hailey is surprised to find out that they went to the same high school, and though many years apart, both were bullied as kids and you’ll hear their stories of childhood trauma and ultimate redemption. You’ll also hear Hailey’s plan for her own podcast, her passion for yoga (and why Joel can’t bring himself to do it), and what it was like for both of them to grow up with weird names. Hailey’s a unique, delightful, and extremely positive person – basically the complete opposite of Joel! Plus, hear Joel’s farewell to the late Charlie Murphy, as he shares a wild, funny story about his one night hanging out with the star – not dissimilar to Charlie’s own celebrity stories that made him so famous. RIP funnyman.

Drè Murray is is one of the funniest guys you’ll ever see onstage or off. Joel and he met on 910 AM radio in Detroit and have become fast friends. Drè sits down on the podcast to talk his career, how he moved to Detroit from the East coast, his thoughts on the current comedy scene and much more. Drè has opinions on interracial dating, the current Dave Chappelle controversy, and why Shake Shack is overrated. Joel is pressured into doing a Jimmy Walker impression, shares his experience of accidentally pulling off girls’ wigs, and explains why being an angry New Yorker is both a survival instinct and quite therapeutic. Also, the future of Detroit and the downtown vs neighborhoods fight, remembering the great Chuck Berry, and Drè’s explanation of how Hillary Clinton was treated like a black woman. Plus, Joel sees the incredible Circus 1903 and you should, too.

Drè poses with his (partial) payment for doing the show

Joel welcomes old friend Mike Stanley for a sit-down interview discussing Mike’s career. Highlights including sneaking into comedy clubs underage, starting at Joel’s open mike, the big move to Chicago and the bigger move to L.A., recording your own comedy album, and the challenges and rewards of producing your own comedy show. Mike describes the rewards of commercial acting and how he was very close to being the voice of a national restaurant chain, until that chain decided not to be national. Also, Mike discusses how he was the last comedian to perform at a closing comedy and how the scumbag owners deceived himself and the staff – on New Year’s Eve, no less! Plus, Joel and Mike talk diet and exercise – a foreign concept to most comedians, for sure. We’d plug Mike’s Twitter, but he’s banned for the dumbest and most righteous reason of all time. Instead, check out the Detroit Comedy Underground Facebook page, and look for Joel’s debut at the show on April 9th, 2017!

Mike’s comedy album, Shiner……..

….and the picture from when Mike really injured himself jumping off the stage at Club Bart in 2005

After the debacle that was the 2017 Oscars, Joel does his annual movie review show telling you all the best films of 2016 that you might have missed and which Oscar picks were just plain wrong. He is joined in this by movie critic-at-large Corey Hall, who returns to the show for the first time in months. Corey liked Jimmy Kimmel’s performance as the host of the Oscars, but wasn’t surprised by the fossilized Warren Beatty’s screw-up. Joel is more offended by Moonlight winning best Picture as he thought it was the worst of the nominated films. Hear both guys’ list of best movies of the year and the worst of the year, too – now with more Melissa McCarthy! Plus, Crashing gets comedy right on HBO, and Comedy Central’s Detroiters gets the references right, but the comedy wrong.

The Oscars isn’t the only show with a big surprise

Joel Radio presents a contrast in comedy careers as Kevin Kramis, a veteran comedian, sports announcer and the former voice of the Michigan State Fair shares road stories and dispenses advice to Joel and Sophia Spagnuolo, a young comic with only a handful of shows and some improv experience under her belt. Kevin shares how he got started in the business, how he became the voice of the fair, and how comics are often stuck staying in the “comedy condo” or in the club owner’s garage!  Sophia tells of her burning desire to do comedy and how she met Joel in the most Millennial way ever – on a podcast. It’s a fun conversation that should inspire up-and-coming comedians and inspire others to never, ever even attempt a career in comedy. Also, Joel explains why Trump hysteria flies in the face of our system of government, why it seems like there’s so much bad news today, and how American politics has turned into College Gameday. Plus, Joel gears up for the Oscars by watching the awful Martin Scorcese-directed Silence, the overrated Moonlight, the dull-as-dust Loving, and has half-dozen other depressing, no-fun movies to watch in the next month. This is a good, fun, long listen which should kill some time as you wait for your immigration papers to clear.

Sophia, Joel and Kevin sitting exactly as they did while recording the show

Joel welcomes “young” comedian, radio DJ and good guy Ed Hunter to the podcast. Ed and Joel have known each other for a while, but Ed’s role in a major American historical event – the funeral of President John F. Kennedy is fascinating. Ed shares his story of being a precocious child and writing to the Army bugler that flubbed the playing of “Taps” at Arlington National Cemetery. That letter would become a memento of that sad occasion that would find Ed his fifteen minutes of fame some fifty years later. It’s an amazing, uplifting story that is in stark contrast to the divisiveness in Washington today. Speaking of Washington, Judd Apatow has some wise and funny observations about Trump, the internet and the election that Joel found enlightening. Also, feedback to the last few podcasts, Joel says Jackie is a good watch for JFK history fans, and the terrifying Oscar-worthy PBS documentary Command and Control can be seen right now. Plus, La La Land and Lion are really good, the Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds documentary is weird, and the new OJ documentary is OK, but last years OJ stuff was so, so much better.

The young Ed Hunter, Army bugler Keith Clark, and Ed today (in much nicer studio than Joel’s)

In a wacky podcasting experiment, Joel takes his field recorder down to the New Way Bar in Ferndale, Michigan for open mike night. The New Way is a notorious venue for attracting an audience and holding their attention – and it was the coldest night of 2016 – so what you’ll hear on this show is perhaps not a typical night at the club, but a typical night isn’t great either. Hear host Amit Jain’s (abbreviated) opening set and hear how his controversial way of setting the tone is unique in comedy. Joel tries some new jokes, too. Those were OK, but he stumbles badly on the closer he’s done hundreds of times making for an awkward landing. There’s also appearances from Detroit area comics Tanner Oliver, Wes Ward, Paul Pipitone and Adam Hirzel. There’s also before and after interviews with the guys. Hear their approach to such a weird show, what they get out of doing shows like this and Joel’s opinion on getting loose at open mikes versus sticking to the script. Is it compelling podcasting? You be the judge. But it is a real, fly-on-the-wall visit to a show which on this night desperately needed an audience – and now it has one.

Amit Jain kicks off the New Way open mike to a packed house