What's So Funny?

Kyle Bottom is the last guest in the old What's So Funny? studios. Fitting seeing as Vancouver's Villain (as he likes to call himself) was on his way out of town forever. Or until September. We'll see how he likes Toronto. If you love anime, this is the episode for you. If not, there are plenty other points of interest for you.

Shirley Gnome and her guitar return after less than two months after her previous appearance. That's how good she is. She's got more new dirty ditties to sing. It's a seemingly endless supply of smut. It was totally hot. Possibly because the studio was a sauna on that night, hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Donovan Patrick Mahoney wasn't afraid to venture into our Downtown East Side studios. It's a neighbourhood he spent a lot of time in during his years as a heroin addict. He tells us his harrowing tale, from childhood to OD'ing to getting clean and getting into comedy. This episode brought to you by 9Lives.

Ross Dauk has been a long-time listener to What's So Funny? dating back to his days as a park ranger. But Ranger Ross is a standup comic now and a legitimate guest in his own right. Once Dauk spilt a full beer on me at a show but all is forgiven. We talk about Saskatchewan babes, encounters with grizzly bears, and overcoming shyness. This episode brought to you by Graham Clark's beard.

Shauna Johannesen and James Danderfer are the husband and wife team behind the hit Crazy8s short film, Bedbugs: A Musical Love Story. Shauna wrote the script and lyrics as well as starring in it, while James came up with the story and wrote all the music. In their separate lives, Shauna is an actress (she was the "Shut the front door!" lady in the A and W commercials) while James is one of the country's top jazz musicians. In this episode, we get to hear all four songs from the movie.

John Cullen is a man with passions. He loves standup comedy, curling, teaching and music equally. And it shows in this episode. We review Bill Burr, talk about Shakespeare, sweeping, bad poetry, good magic, his comedian uncle, and first dates gone wrong. Joining us in studio is teacher and curling fan Jack Showers to translate for me.

Mounties paid us a visit in this episode. Not the RCMP, but the Canadian supergroup featuring Hawksley Workman, Ryan Dahle, and Steve Bays. We talked about funny dads, memorizing comedy routines, the ugly side of the music business, Hall and Oates, boogie-woogie, the name 'Squamish', and growing up in the '40s. Rock on.

Kwasi Thomas joins us to talk about growing up black in Canada. He also lists what he misses and doesn't miss about his hometown of Montreal, reminisces about the idyllic Trinidad, discusses performing drunk, and he proudly trumpets his love for Celine Dion. We also play a track from his hero Montreal comic David Pryde's album, Googly.

Shirley Gnome returns, this time with Dino Archie asking the questions. It's just like the old days of The Tonight Show when guest hosts would occasionally take over. Shirley and Dino break out the booze and have a rip-roaring good time, taking jabs at the sick regular host who wasn't there to defend himself. And Shirley brings her guitar and serenades us all.

Mike Storck returns for his third visit to our studios. It's a long way from Baltimore. He missed us in 2013 for some unknown reason. The whole year was a bit of a haze for him. He talks about being at a crossroads in his career, the difference between doing racial material in Canada and the U.S., and, of course, Rob Ford.