What's So Funny?

Ron Vaudry has been entertaining comedy audiences for 38 years. He was recently tweeted about by Norm Macdonald in a series of tweets about the early days of Toronto comedy so we talk about that, and what Norm was like in the early days. We also discuss Ron's net worth, his creation of the Crash 'n' Burn show at Yuk Yuk's, and squelching disabled hecklers.

Shirley Gnome has a new album out on 604 Records and came back to play some songs off it on her guitar. The album is called Taking It Up the Notch and we play a track off it, too. And we talk, as always. She tells us about going to high school with her album's producer, we count penises on her album cover, we teach her a classy new word for genitals, and she discusses playing the kazoo with her clam. This episode exudes class.

Shawn Farquhar is one of the greatest magicians in the world. And one of the greatest guys, period. He's fooled Penn & Teller twice, he's a two-time world champion of magic, and the past president of IBM! No, not that IBM – the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He tells us of his early days touring bars and comedy rooms around British Columbia, and how he shaved off his pencil-thin moustache and left his suave, debonair magician persona behind to become himself on stage. (Hint: it involves drinking.)

Wes Barker's career took off soon after his first appearance on What's So Funny? three years ago. He wowed 'em on America's Got Talent and he fooled Penn & Teller. The comic/magician tells us what that was like. We hope this latest guest spot bumps him up to even greater heights.

Randy Charach puts audiences to sleep. But that's what they come for. He's a stage hypnotist, who has also been a mentalist, magician and comedian. He talks about all these in this episode and gives a very special gift to What's So Funny? listeners. You're getting sleepy...

Alex Sparling is the greatest actor in the world (or so he'll tell you). Unfortunately, his acting career was derailed during a brutal attack. The Vancouver standup and proud Yellowknife son tells us all about it. And by the time you hear this, he'll be a Prince George comic. He also tells us why he's moving.

Leland Klassen is a standup comedian who happens to work clean and sometimes perform in churches. He's also a big-time thespian now that he's the star of a dramatic motion picture. He tells us what it's like working with Kirk Cameron, about the perils of running and running, and getting mistakenly handcuffed by the authorities.

Katharine Ferns has had her fair share of troubles in this lifetime. So what does she do? She laughs. Because you can't just cry all the time. Her Fringe show, Katharine Ferns Is In Stitches, ran in Edinburgh for a month before she brought it "home" to Vancouver. By the time you hear this, she's back in England, where she's lived the past few years doing standup and ignoring her painting.

Andy Cañete is back talking Fringe Fest. His show, in particular: The Cañete Chroñicles. He also tells us of the dangers of soccer in Chile, the secrets of Gloria Makarenko, how Chris Farley ages him, discusses some bad jobs, and tells tales of Mariel Hemingway.

Oh Susanna has another name when she's not performing her unique blend of alternative/country/folk/roots music. Suzie Ungerleider is how I knew her when we played softball together in the mid-late nineties, just as she was starting in on her music career. She moved from Vancouver to Toronto, where she's made quite the name for herself these last twenty years. We catch up in this episode and she tells us all about growing up in the 604 and how it inspired her latest album, A Girl in Teen City. We play a couple tracks from it, too.