What's So Funny?

Dino Archie and Sunee Dhaliwal are two amigos on the Vancouver stand-up scene. In this most lively of episodes, the Indo-Canadian Dhaliwal acts as translator for the African-American Archie to the old white guy host. Together this United Nations of a gathering comes together – pause – to talk about thespianism, shameless plugging, stank and growth as a comedian.

Gerry Swallow makes his triumphant return to What's So Funny? after a 7.5 year absence. The former stand-up comic has been busy in the interim penning novels and screenplays. On the episode we talk about them, as well as about a confrontation with Roger Ebert, homosexual simians, and Marisa Tomei's underpants.

Kyle Jones joins us in studio half-cut after eight hours of hosting a Super Bowl party. The Little Engine That Couldn't, as he describes himself, talks about being called fat, being one of Vancouver's most eligible bachelors, working with strippers, and his love of Jon Secada.

Monica Hamburg is a vulgarian. Of that there is no doubt. She's also the host of the Dazed and Convicted podcast. In this episode, we learn about her job as a projectionist in a porn theatre/bakery in Montreal. It's no wonder she describes herself as a weirdo magnet. We also listen to snippets from her show. It's big in Australia, you know.

Shirley Gnome has got the voice of an angel with the thoughts of a devilish, well, gnome. The c*untry singer brings her boyfriend Martin to the studio and sings some of the sweetest, filthiest songs you'll ever hear all without the benefit of auto-tune. Amongst the chit-chat, she plays three live songs and we listen to one off her latest album.

Paul Hooper, sans duck, managed to leave his hotel room and take public transportation to join us in studio for this revealing look inside his fragile existence. We talk about his love of Kenny Loggins, his hate of Pitbull, his refusal to pander, sharing a dressing room with a mime, the beauty of A-Rod's bod, performing with food poisoning, and parading around in public in his pyjamas.

Nate Bargatze pulls back the curtain on his act, revealing what's true and what's exaggerated. The Nashville native also lauds Lasik surgery, stews over being cut from his high school basketball team, and shows some well-deserved love for Sinbad.

Richard Lett has visited us many, many times, with varying degrees of sobriety. We thought this was his sixth appearance with us, but further digging has revealed it's actually his seventh. Either way, it may be the best one yet. At least the most lucid. Richard talks about his obsession with quitting things, his move to Toronto, and making amends. Along the way, he recites an original poem, deconstructs a fart joke, and itemizes his beefs with me over the years.

Brent Butt got the seven-year itch and finally made a return visit to What's So Funny? and he was on top of his game, as usual. Besides reminiscing about Corner Gas and Hiccups, Butt talks about his new feature film, No Clue. Plus we discuss bad corporate gigs, the best acting direction he ever received, getting soft comedically, his dreams of doing an adult-oriented stand-up tour, his love of portmanteaus and we learn if there's a future for the Butt Pod.

Kevin Banner makes his What's So Funny? debut and tells us about his lady-soft hands, travelling with giant novelty cheques, going undefeated between the ropes, and being snubbed by his comedy hero. This episode brought to you by Sooke Tourism.