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<p>Entries in seth herzog (8)</p>
<p>Tuesday Sep 06 2011  Seth Herzog's Sweet Celebrates 7 Years of Laughter and Transdance (Before It Was Cool)</p>
<p>Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 5:45PM Many will blame Chaz Bono for turning our precious babies into transchildren once they see him thrusting his concave pelvis for Bruno Tonioli's delight on Dancing With the Stars. But has America ever considered the gender-questioning damage done to our youngsters by Seth Herzog? Sweet, which is (probably??) the LONGEST RUNNING independently produced weekly comedy show in America run by a man shuffling in a Wonder Woman outfit, celebrates 7 years of existence tomorrow night with a good old fashioned birthday blowout at Webster Hall. Janeane Garofalo and John Mulaney will be there and Patton Oswalt might drop by too. But not because he wants to, he just needs to get away from all the stinky garbage surrounding his luxury LES hotel!</p>

<p>Tickets here!</p>

<p>The Apiary | 1 Comment tagged Sweet , seth herzog in Upcoming Tuesday May 03 2011  Inside the Party at Bin Laden's Farewell Sing-a-Long at Ground Zero</p>
<p>Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 4:55PM In his weekly email blasts to promo Sweet, Seth Herzog ruminates about current events and whatever else is going on in the world. This week, Seth shared a first hand account of the ticker tape parade at Ground Zero held in honor of Osama Bin Laden's body getting riddled with bullets and dumped in the ocean. He writes:</p>

<p>> Well, we did it, America. We killed Osama Bin Laden (But let’s be honest, his career has been dead for years). No more, "We can blah, blah, blah but we can’t find Osama" jokes. Judging from the reaction, it feels like America really needed this win. I live across the street from Ground Zero, so I’m reminded everyday of what happened. And when I heard that people were gathering down there. I decided to go downstairs and see the emotion for myself. Immediately you felt that rare NY vibe, where strangers are just coming up to you and introducing themselves, hugging you and saying, "It’s a good night" and "Finally" in proud yet somber tones. Once I got to the "ground zero of celebrating" which was at Ground Zero, everyone was excitedly staring at each other, and no one knew what to do. Like when a city wins a championship: There’s all this energy and no one knows where to direct it. So that’s when cars get turned over and businesses get burned. In this case, they sang. Boy did they sing. Anything that was remotely patriotic was sung, "The Star Spangled Banner," "God Bless America," "My Country Tis of Thee," and then when there was nothing else: the Pledge of Allegiance. No joke. And it happened more than once. People were climbing up the poles, waving flags, and yes, spewing champagne on the crowd like a rap video. Then as the crowd grew, so did the “attention seekers,” the kind that show up outside MJ trials or OJ hearings. There was a guy in a Captain America costume (ok, appropriate) and then a dude with an accordion and a Donald Duck costume (Um. Sure. I guess both Disney and Osama hated Jews, so that’s something). But once guys starting yelling at women, who were up on people’s shoulders, to "Show your tits" it was time for me to leave (only because I don’t think any tits were going to be shown). Its weird to cheer for someone’s death, it made me think this is what it must have felt like to be at the Roman Coliseum. Sometimes I think we’re sore winners.</p>

<p>The Apiary | Post a Comment tagged seth herzog in General Interest Tuesday Sep 14 2010  THE HONEY SHOT - SWEET</p>
<p>Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 9:00AM  Seth Herzog | Photo: Anya Garrett</p>

<p>* THE PLUG: Don't miss "Sweet" (feat. John Oliver, Jon Glaser, Will Forte, Jason Sudiekis, Todd Barry, Seth's mom, and others), happening TONIGHT @ 8PM at The Studio at Webster Hall | $5</p>

<p>Wanna plug? E-mail me photo & credit. And join our flickr group. Send 10 days in advance.</p>

<p>keithhuang | Post a Comment tagged John Oliver , Jon Glaser , Sweet , Todd Barry , Will Forte and Jason Sudiekis , seth herzog Monday May 03 2010  The Slipper Room is Closing; Sweet Searches For a New Home</p>
<p>Monday, May 3, 2010 at 6:51PM  In his weekly address to all his fans and email subscribers, Seth Herzog is saying that the LES burlesque venue where he's been hosting Sweet for the past 6 years, The Slipper Room, is scheduled to be demolished.. unless of course he shackles himself to the radiator and makes an emotional plea to sway the heart and mind of the approaching bulldozer operator:</p>

<p>> So Yes, it's come time. The Slipper Room is closing in the first week of June. But not for good, they are tearing down the building and rebuilding it with the Slipper Room on the second floor. However that is going to take about a year (if it gets done at all). SO these are the LAST Five shows at the old Slipper Room. Will it move? Yes, I'm currently looking a new spaces. If you have any ideas let me know. Come down to the shows before its all over!</p>
<p>The last of the great Manhattan alt stand up rooms, Sweet has enjoyed an incredible run--there's no doubt these final shows will be huge.</p>

<p>The Apiary | Post a Comment tagged Sweet , The Slipper Room , seth herzog in Venues Friday Apr 23 2010  URDB Live @ Joe's Pub - 4.21.10</p>
<p>Friday, April 23, 2010 at 4:24PM The Universal Record Database held its friendly and spirited monthly live show at Joe's Pub on Wednesday. A wide variety of astounding records were set, but which will stand the test of time?</p>

<p>NOTES</p>
<p>--Box office profits and $525 dollars worth of items auctioned during the show were donated to the Boys and Girls High School basketball team of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn who can be seen here setting a URDB record on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last month.</p>

<p>--The MOMENT OF THE EVENING belonged to birthday boy, Paymon Parsia (pictured above), who successfully snagged the Most People To Kiss One Person At The Same Time record. Also in that photo: the hand of Opus Moreschi giving a thumbs up.</p>

<p>--CollegeHumor's Jeff Rubin attempted the record for Most Trivial Pursuit 90's Edition Movie Questions Correctly Answered in 60 Seconds but he was answering them so quickly I think he more accurately set the record for Most Trivial Pursuit 90's Edition Movie Questions Correctly Memorized in 60 Seconds. Judges??</p>

<p>--Late Night's warm-up comedian, Seth Herzog, was pumped and gunning for The Most Audience Members' First Names Rhymed in 30 Seconds By a Dude in a Wonder Woman Unitard. As the clock started, Seth was immediately derailed like a night train off a scenic bridge when he called on some guy who might as well have been named Orange. This unfortunate opening stumble ate 20 seconds of time, leaving the door wide open for every other man dressed like Wonder Woman to go after Herzog's glory. Stay home, people with names that are hard to rhyme!</p>

<p>--MESOTHELIOMANIA: Joe's Pub's parent company/next door neighbor, The Public Theater, had notices posted on their entrance warning theatergoers that asbestos is going to be removed from the space. Oh good!</p>

<p>Owen Biddle of the legendary Roots crew set the universal record for Jamming With the Most Crybaby Pedals Plugged Into a Bass Guitar... 2! The Apiary | Post a Comment tagged Dan Rollman , Joe's Pub , Owen Biddle , URDB , seth herzog in Reviews , Show Recap Wednesday Mar 10 2010  Chicago Checklist</p>
<p>Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10:01AM A few words/bits/baubles from Chi-City, pals. (And if you are reading this and involved in a scene outside of CHI or NYC and are thinking to yourself, "Hey, there's cool things HERE too ya know, what's up?" Then please, PLEASE drop us a line! We're looking for ALL the bits AND the baubles, nationwide. Feature interviews, too. Stunning photos. Hilarious video shorts. What's your crew doing? Drop us a line!).</p>

<p>Lakeshore Theater Manager Chris Ritter with Doug Stanhope and Junior Stopka | Photo by Brian Jarreau, courtesy of the Lakeshore Theater</p>

<p>Early yesterday morning we saw that Doug Stanhope dropped a big ol' props via Facebook on one our local underground superstars, Junior Stopka, who opened for Stanhope in four shows at the Lakeshore Theater this past weekend. You can peep some photos from the show here and here.</p>

<p>Mick Betancourt's got his hands on the new Web site Actually Funny, and tapped CHI comedian Ricky Carmona to submit the hilarious and inspiring blog, "Brad Pitt vs. Bootsie Collins." As Ricky says, it will do you no harm! Check it out!</p>

<p>Photos from the inaugural Laughing Skull Comedy Festival have emerged, granting us a little voyeur access into this new comedy hot spot. Props to Michael Palascak, Prescott Tolk, and expat Jena Friedman, representing CHI in ATL.</p>

<p>Local comedy writer Steve Heisler has been slowly and surely making his way to national reporting, and a few days ago he unveiled his new monthly column for the A.V. Club, called Laugh Track, that seeks to "round up new and noteworthy stand-up, sketch, and online video, much of it courtesy of under-the-radar comedians with a little too much time on their hands." Suitably, it features many Chicago folks, both here in town and those that have flown away for the coasts.</p>

<p>And finally, we'll leave you with a new video by comedian Paul Thomas, featuring comedians Jet Eveleth and Dan Telfer, and directed by Chad Wilson.</p>

<p>Creep from Paul Thomas on Vimeo.</p>

<p>EDIT: We just received word that Seth Herzog will be performing at the cozy Gallery Cabaret this Saturday, March 13, 7 p.m., as part of the new showcase, The Two-Hour Comedy Hour. Fun!</p>

<p>--Kristy Mangel</p>

<p>kristymangel | Post a Comment tagged Paul Thomas , chad wilson , chicago comedy , dan telfer , doug stanhope , jena friedman , junior stopka , michael palascak , mick betancourt , prescott tolk , ricky carmona , seth herzog Wednesday Oct 28 2009  D.C. MONUMENTAL: A 2009 BENTZEN BALL WRAP-UP</p>
<p>Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 12:03PM Reggie watts, Ruby Wendell, A.D. Miles and Morgan Murphy | Photo courtesy of Morgan Murphy By: Aparna Nancherla</p>

<p>You may have already heard some of the buzz about the Bentzen Ball, the 4-day comedy festival named after Ole Bentzen, who died in cardiac arrest while watching A Fish Called Wanda. The all-star comedy cavalcade was "curated" by Tig Notaro and presented by the Brightest Young Things, and also featured activities for comedians, including a White House tour and champagne and cupcake reception. Indeed, the inaugural festival promised to be atypical in myriad ways.</p>

<p>As soon as the Bentzen Ball comics arrived in D.C., they segued onstage and Segwayed through town, and, on the way, they conquered the hearts of many. But the audiences also conquered the comics' hearts. The whole weekend was such a mutual love fest of community and good times, it's hard to describe it in any other way than how the founder herself, Notaro, did: Comedy Camp. Also, a portion of ticket proceeds went to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.</p>

<p>I caught up with a handful of the comics to get some of their thoughts post-Ball:</p>

<p>TIG NOTARO Photo: Tig Notaro by Jeff Martin</p>

<p>1. What was one of your favorite memories of Bentzen Ball? I just loved always looking up and seeing the faces of all of my favorite people in the world everywhere I went. I love that comedians enjoy hanging out together at home AND in other cities. It's the best job. We're lucky. Oh, and I also loved watching Natasha Leggero dance like an old Russian man in a skirt for seven hours straight with eyes totally dead to the world. That was at an after party. I WISH I was describing her show.</p>

<p>2. What did you think of D.C.? The audiences were so into the shows. They were everything you dream of as a comedian. I actually never remember my dreams, so who knows what I'm talking about right now. But yeah, the audiences and the city were stellar. See you in a year? I can't wait.</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? "I don't know you. Give me back my purse." [Ed. Note: These were the proclamations a girl in the audience advised Tig to say if she ever got attacked on the street.]</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform? Sarah Silverman was destroying the city with her Godzilla-style attack on the finale show. It was pretty magical. She's pretty magical. I love magic. Jesus is magic.</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again, would you do anything differently? I wouldn't do anything differently. I mean, I guess I always wished I had focused more on my calves at the gymnasium.</p>

<p>DAVE HILL Photo: Dave Hill | Matt Braunger | Todd Barry by Morgan Murphy 1. Favorite memories? It’s hard to narrow it down to just one because it was such a delightful weekend full of good folks, good fun, uncomfortably long hugs, and also free burritos. I did get to meet Ian MacKaye from Fugazi after The Sound of Young America show, which was really nice since I am a big fan and have totally seen Fugazi more than any other band I’ve ever seen ever, something I mention to make myself seem cool. Ian was very smart, funny, and interesting, as one might expect.</p>

<p>2. What did you think of D.C.? I’ve spent a lot of time in DC, so I was pretty familiar with the city already. I dig it there. There are a lot of nice folks and great restaurants, especially Ethiopian restaurants, which are relatively scarce in NYC. I didn’t have any Ethiopian food on this trip, but it was nice to know that I totally could have if I wanted. I tend to avoid Ethiopian food when I have shows to perform as it often makes me explosive in ways that I would rather not be when I’m onstage. Also, I forgot to pack a spare pair of pants for this trip, so I really couldn’t take any chances. In short, I think Mayor Marion Barry is doing a great job and the people of DC were wise to elect him.</p>

<p>As far as the audiences go, I thought they were great. Everyone was really nice and at no point during the weekend did anyone pelt me in the head with anything, something I always have in the back of my mind as a thing that could easily happen at any point. Thank you for not pelting me, people of DC. It has been noted and will be reflected in the tip.</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? I feel like there might be something about how I forgot to pack a spare pair of pants and —as a result —was especially wary of the possibility of shitting my pants at some point during the weekend. When I have spare pants with me, I am much more inclined to just let loose if the mood strikes me as I know I am prepared for the situation.</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform? One of my favorite things about the festival was that it was full of comedians that I am both a friend and fan of, so I saw tons of folks I really enjoyed. And don’t even get me started on the wild backstage antics! I can’t tell you how many times I whipped out my privates for comedic effect or to mess with someone’s food or drink when they were onstage.</p>

<p>As far as who I enjoyed seeing perform, I hate to mention any one person because I will totally forget a million people I meant to mention and then I will hate myself forever, but I will take my chances and list some names anyway and say I enjoyed seeing Steve Agee, Todd Barry, Mary Lynn Rajskub, David Huntsberger, Eli Sairs, Tig Notaro, and everyone from The Sarah Silverman Program show on Sunday night at the 9:30 Club.</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again, would you do anything differently? If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed better hydrated and maybe told a few more dick jokes. Also, I would have demanded that the DJs at the after parties didn’t turn the music up so loud. Why do they have to turn it up so loud? I don’t understand the volume = fun equation that seems to be out there with the kids today. So yeah, I would have gone over and said something to the DJ. In fact, I would like to use this interview to tell everyone everywhere to just turn it down, whatever it is. It’s driving me crazy. Seriously, I’m tired of it—turn it down.</p>

<p>RORY SCOVEL Photo: Rory Scovel | Seaton Smith by Dakota Fine 1. Favorite memories? Just loved getting to hang out and joke around with comics that I love watching perform. It's an amazing experience. It's also very inspirational for going on stage as a more confident performer. Laughing with other comics makes me perform more confidently and the Bentzen Ball gave me that.2. Thoughts on D.C.? I used to live in DC so I love coming back and performing here. I think its fun to see friends and family and hang out. I have always found the audiences to be a lot of fun. I don't really have stuff that I consider smart but I have stuff that is weird and the audiences seem to go with me when I go into it.</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? I didn't come up with anything. I think my brain stopped working most of the weekend.</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform?</p>
<p>I always love watching Reggie Watts, Todd Barry, Kyle Kinane, Tig Notaro, Hampton Yount, and Ben Kronberg. So many people. I loved every set that I saw. I'm missing some names here cause my brain still doesn't work yet.</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again... I would request to perform "in the round" [Ed. note: He is referring to a special panoramic theater with audience on all sides of you] every single show of my life. I wouldn't change anything else though. The experience was awesome.</p>

<p>KYLE KINANE Kyle Kinane by Morgan Murphy 1. Favorite memories? Seeing the White House. Having lived in Los Angeles for the past six years, it's nice to experience some American history that isn't "and this is where Mork & Mindy was filmed." We caught up to our group late in the tour and the secret service tour guide nonchalantly let us walk through a roped off room to greet them. I hope he didn't get in trouble.</p>

<p>2. Thoughts on D.C.? The shows were all great. The audiences were smart and allowed for the comics to ease into their style, which sometimes isn't the case with other crowds. A lot of times you have to jump in right away and prove yourself, but the DC crowds definitely seemed to be up for whatever the performer was going to offer which made for really organic good times.</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? One of the many awesome activities for the comedians was held in the Presidential Suite at the hotel we stayed in, which I was thinking must be a hard sell. You can't really tell people "and this is where the President stays whenever he's in DC." The Marriott was an excellent hotel with deceptively named accomodations. That and how I often confuse the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum with a Hard Rock Cafe. The rocket ships are cool and all, but where's the room with David Lee Roth's pants?</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform? A lot of friends were there that I only get to see in mutual travels like Rory Scovel and Alex Koll. Also, to see Andy Wood being able to relax at a festival for once is great. Normally I only see him during the Bridgetown Comedy Festival he helps produce, so to see him kick back for once was good.</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again, would you do anything differently? Personally, I'd make a better effort to get on the Segway tour next time. I heard several people crashed, and that sounds funny to me.</p>

<p>MORGAN MURPHY Laura Silverman, Jen Kirkman and Morgan Murphy | Photo: Morgan Murphy</p>

<p>1. Favorite memories? Figuring out who got shitfaced Saturday night, by counting everyone who didn't show up for the White House tour Sunday morning.</p>

<p>2. Thoughts on D.C.? The city's history is amazing. I like when the monuments are unavoidable, because you don't have to go to too much effort to see old things that make you feel smart and cultured. There's something outwardly very serious about it. Everyone on the train heading down there was using a Blackberry. Probably because their jobs are important—too important to care about the new iPhone app where you can blend your friends' faces with animal faces, and make animal-people. I think Ben Bernanke would like it if he gave it a chance.</p>

<p>The audiences were fantastic. I'm always excited to get out of LA and NY, just because it seems like cities that aren't inundated with comedy are so much more enthused about it when it comes around. One show in particular at the Studio Theatre stood out as my favorite show in a long, long time. The crowd was in it for the long haul, and loved everything. You'd think they were all young folks by the sound of the response, but you looked out at them and there were people of all ages. Old people, middle aged couples...I think I even saw a black person.</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? I have to try to figure out how to tell the story of how I gave Steve Agee a hand job in the bathroom of Ben's Chili Bowl...but somehow make it anonymous. It's a funny story, but I just don't want people to know it's about Steve Agee, so I'm going to make up a name. I'll probably change his name in the bit to something generic, like Timothy Geitner. Or I'll change the word "hand job" to "high five," and keep the name "Steve Agee."</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform? I enjoyed watching myself perform when I was practicing in my hotel room. But when I left the hotel I liked everyone I saw. That's hard to say at a comedy festival. But it's true. Todd Barry was awesome at the Lincoln Theater in front of what seemed like a thousand people (but it may have been six or seven). Kyle Kinane made me LOL so hard that I accidentally wrote LOL just now with no irony whatsoever. Chelsea Peretti did something funny with a recording device that you should ask her about if you see her walking around. A.D. Miles was the best White House tour guide a gal could ask for, and his "crotch shot" photo gallery from the capitol building should qualify for a grant or something. (It's linked on his Facebook page.)</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again, would you do anything differently? If not, would you do anything twice given the opportunity? I would definitely have given Steve Agee a handjob twice, if he hadn't started crying after the first one. As for what I'd do differently, I think it's not up to me to make changes. I may not have let some guy interview me while I was drunk, but it was my birthday and I needed to do something regrettable so that a year from now I can say that I've grown up. For first fest, the whole thing was shockingly professional, and well organized. I bet things will be tweaked, but I'd count the whole thing as a huge success. Any bumps in the road were obvious but benign. I think some comics were worried about certain shows being too long (10 or so people), but the crowds didn't seem to think they were and that's what matters. Then again, maybe someone lost a million dollars sponsoring it. I don't know. I shared a hotel room, so I did my part. If the biggest issue in a night is that a bunch of comics can't figure out where to get drink tickets, I'd say that's a pretty good sign.</p>

<p>Brightest Young Things and Andy Wood can't be thanked enough, and sooo much of the credit goes to Tig for bringing together a group of comics who complemented each other so well. No assholes in the whole bunch. I liked the folks I already knew, and I liked the folks I met. Montreal, Aspen, Edinburgh, etc...there's an underlying agenda at those festivals apart from just hanging out with comics, doing shows, and having fun. Hopefully this new crop of festivals...Vancouver, Portland’s Bridgetown Fest, Eugeme Mirman's festival, and the Bentzen Ball, are a sign of things to come. Or maybe the world will blow up tomorrow. I don't know.</p>

<p>SETH HERZOG Photo: Seth Herzog by Rachel Eisley</p>

<p>1. Favorite memories? Definitely doing the Segway tour of the Mall. I wasn't going to go, but after the original White House tour was canceled, I had no choice. Now I can't imagine having not gone. Just seeing Jimmy Dore and Steph Escajeda wipe out was worth it alone. Not to mention the looks from everyone who thought we were a gang from the future. Also taking a #2 in a restricted bathroom in the White House is a memory I will hold dear for life. I now truly understand how it feels to sit in the seat of power.</p>

<p>2. Thoughts on D.C.? It's a very pretty city. Lots of nice old townhouses, even boarded up ones, have plenty of charm. We were there during Howard University Homecoming. It was nice to see Dwayne Wayne and Whitley again. Over all, I thought the audiences were very smart—you didn't have to spell out everything for them. Half the time, you would do the set up and they'd already be laughing cause they were three steps ahead...or maybe it was because I was wearing a spandex Wonder Woman outfit...</p>

<p>3. Did you come up with any material during Bentzen Ball? I came up with stuff for the shows specifically about D.C. For example, how the white supremacist who shot up the Holocaust Museum— while lying on the museum floor bleeding—had no choice but to check out the exhibit. I did come up with a bit about our Segway tour we did around the Capitol but I haven't figured out a way to ease into the topic...</p>

<p>4. Whom did you enjoy seeing perform? There were a few of comedians I'd never seen before that I really enjoyed watching like Jimmy Dore, Kyle Kinane, and Rory Scovel. Natasha Leggero is always fun. And watching Kyle Dunnigan deal with 50 teenage Brits walking across the stage while he was performing was a treat.</p>

<p>5. If could you do it all again, would you do anything differently? Well, the tours were great, but I would have liked to have had even more exclusive tours than we had. I wanted to nap in Malia's bed. I feel short changed. If I had to do it twice, I would have snuck into the Spy Museum through the roof and spent more time at the Howard University Homecoming party.</p>

<p>--Aparna Nancherla is a Washington D.C.-based comedian whose credits include NBC Stand Up for Diversity finalist and Last Comic Standing. More importantly, she is on Twitter and her stand up and improv performance schedule stays current here.</p>

<p>kristymangel | 2 Comments tagged bentzen ball , brightest young things , dave hill , kyle kinane , morgan murphy , rory scovel , seth herzog , tig notaro in Show Recap Monday Aug 27 2007  Inside With: Seth Herzog - By: Eliot Glazer</p>
<p>Monday, August 27, 2007 at 10:58AM A veteran of the city's comedy scene and host of Sweet every Tuesday night at The Slipper Room, Seth Herzog can always be counted on to keep a crowd in stitches. We gabbed it up with 'Zog about how his mom became a part of his act, his immortalized apartment, growing up with Michael Showalter, and where he got all his dance moves from. Nobody on "So You Think You Can Dance" can do the Wonder Woman better than Seth, you'll see.Seth, you're well known in the comedy scene for your long-running show Sweet. How did that show come to fruition?Well, I had been performing downtown and at in the clubs since moving here in '94. I was doing a lot of theater (real acting), and generally just partying, and then in 2000 I started to take stand up really seriously. And right at that time, comedian Josh Weinstein asked me to join the weekly alt comedy show he was starting called the "Industry Room", where in I would write and perform a new set each week. My friends really loved coming down and watching me do new stuff each week and it became a real hangout for us. In Sept of '02, Josh and John Viener who were the guys behind the industry room, left for LA. I spent 2 years just doing other people's shows, and was constantly getting asked when I was going to start my own show again. I was hosting the burlesque shows at the Slipper Room (which I still do occasionally) and they had nothing on Thursdays, so in the summer of '04 I started Sweet as a place for me get the creative juices working to generate new material every week and showcase my favorite comedians, who I love to my fans and friends. I try to create a real fun vibe, almost like it's a party (but everyone is listening). Its very spontaneous, and silly and people tend to hook up.Your amazing mom, Kera, is now part of the weekly line-up. How did you incorporate your Mom into the show? Was she at all reluctant? She's become the hook of the show. It began back on the third Industry Room show, wherein I did a whole set just of stories about my mom. She happened to be in the audience that night and I got her up on stage at the end of the set, after everyone had heard the stories. We bantered for a while about the veracity of the set and then did a spontaneous dance together to the Wonder Woman theme. It was surely something special, the audience really responded to the warmth and impromptu feel of it. Since then we've done bits together every once in a while and I started Sweet. It was monthly and then it just became a weekly bit because people loved it so much. And now the "What's on my mom's mind?" bit has become a destination of people. We used to rehearse stuff, but I find it's always better when we just have real spontaneous moments on stage rather than come up with bits to do. Cause once its written, mom will forget the line or deliver it like it was written. I feel like everyone's mom is sort of nutty and everyone has similar relationships with their parents so when we have those moments on stage, everyone can relate.You were an early fixture in the so-called "alternative comedy" world. Take us back. It was really fortuitous. I moved to NY in 1994 the same year the alt comedy scene in NY--as a separate world from the clubs--was born. The show that became "Eating It" began on Monday nights in the back of Rebar, a space on the NW corner of 16th St. and 8th Ave. The rule was that you could do anything but 'your act.' And no one knew what that meant or what that could be. It was sometimes fascinating in terms of what that could be. Michael Ian Black once laid down a sheet, put a bunch of belongings down and just sold them one by one. Interesting? Definitely. Funny? Who cares? I remember one time Toby Huss (of King of the Hill) told the most incredible story about his prom night in rural Indiana. He's an amazing storyteller and it was profoundly funny, scary and sad at different times. The whole room was so blown away. After that everyone tried to tell stories about their youth for the next month. It was always 'a scene' from day one. A Comedy Central exec named Scott Schneider started that show, so there was always industry around it. Every comic who was looking for something else outside of the clubs, or who thought they were cool would flock to this show each week. However it created a very exclusive, schmoozy atmosphere. ...Not very welcoming at all. However, I really feel like as the community has grown and expanded exponentially over the years, and there are now 4 to 5 shows outside of the clubs each night. It's become more supportive and friendly and inclusive vibe. Which is what it should be. It should be about fostering creativity and taking risks, not pandering to the audience, where the club system is set up for the opposite.As a comedian, your comedic sensibilities fall within a wide range from - correct me if I'm wrong--the more mainstream (anecdotes, stories, observations) to the awesome perverse, weird, and eccentric (costumes, dancing). Is that something you've set out to do or is it just what you've always naturally found funny? I grew up loving the old Steve Martin records. In fact, for the 5th grade talent show I just recited a lot of side two of "Let's Get Small." I didn't even get half the jokes. So I really appreciate the absurd. The dance and movement stuff comes from my dance and background. But as anyone knows, it's all about commitment. Absurdity is a harder nut to crack but if you have total commitment you get anyway with anything. Also, I love good stand up. There's nothing cooler than a guys with a mic just telling you what's in his head. I've always been enamored with people who can tell one story for 5 or even 12 minutes and keep you invested and laughing the whole time. I feel like the laughs are so much more earned that way. You always leave remembering that story. I used to be much more of comedy snob than I am now. Anything that anyone did that smacked of hackiness I'd dismiss. So in a way, I have tried to always do things that people don't normally see in a way that's totally personal. It's also important for me to do comedy that's straight forward but very much my voice and personal.Speaking of dancing, it's no secret that you are a pretty talented dancer. Did you ever consider the idea of dancing professionally? Or did you always want to be an actor/comedian?If you ask my mom, I think she would say I've squandered my dance gift. I say, I've just used it for good instead of evil. I have always loved to dance and been attracted to dance scenes in movies and in theater etc. I have a real knack for picking up moves and memorizing choreography. I went home after seeing the movie Grease and did the whole 'greased lighting' dance on our back porch using picnic table as the car. I believe its on Super 8 somewhere. That would great if you could put the music to it. For five summers, I studied theater at Stagedoor Manor. I also took 2 years of Jazz class growing up. ("Nah, I'm too cool for ballet, sign me up for JAZZ!") Yes, I considered a career in dance, but it's a short career with little or no options, so I went for comedy instead: an obvious choice.</p>

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