Staying Up with Dave Attell

by Drew Snyder

Back to the venue where he had his very first performance, Dave Attell brought his unique, self-deprecating form of comedy to Governor’s in Levittown Wednesday night. Most are familiar with the comic from his Comedy Central show Insomniac with Dave Attell, which aired from 2001 to 2004 and his various stand-up specials, which include “Skanks for the Memories…” “Hey, Your Mouth’s Not Pregnant!” and “Captain Miserable” which aired on HBO in 2007.

Opening sets by comedians Chris Roach and Big Jay Oakerson brought a sense of involvement to fans in the VIP section. Moments later, Attell hit the stage and had the whole crowd in the palm of his hand to say the least.

His set makes human imperfections inviting. It’s in his style and presentation which gives an air of unpretentiousness. Some comics just have that magnetic pull and before you know it, an hour has passed and they’ve had you laughing the whole time. Dave Attell is one of those comics and on Wednesday night he proved once again why he’s known as one of the best to ever hit the stage.

Attell is a mainstay on the USO and New York comedy club circuits and can be seen in Dave’s Old Porn on Showtime.

New Children’s Book: Do Witches Make Fishes? by Jason Mayo

Last October I interviewed Jason Mayo and his family about his comical and successful blog Outnumbered. I asked Jason…

Christine – Do ever think about writing a book one day?

Jason – I was thinking about writing some sort of a humor memoir about parenting but also anything I can do that goes to charity. So if anything getting more involved in Garden of Dreams, has inspired me to sort of think about possibly doing something to take the blog thing to the next level and turning it to some sort of charity effort.

Within one year of this interview, Jason amazes us with his brand new children’s book Do Witches Make Fishes? With bold and colorful illustrations by Justin Wolfson, Jason tells the tale of a little boy who prefers candy over his mom’s healthy dishes. The boy brings us on a new journey after he wishes that his mother disappears only to learn that moms always right! Jason captures the eyes of a child with humor and tackles a very familiar subject that all parents can relate to. From a successful blog and  now a successful book, Jason Mayo is unstoppable and writes with his heart. When you purchase his new book all profits will go the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

NEW YORK – Oct 13, 2010 – Author Jason Mayo announces the release of his latest children’s book, Do Witches Make Fishes?

Do Witches Make Fishes? is the moral tale of a young boy who favors candy over his mother’s outlandish but healthy dishes. When faced with an ultimatum from his mother, the boy has to make a difficult choice. What ensues is a series of extraordinary and fantastical events that takes the reader on a magical journey through the imagination of a child.

In the end, the book teaches an important lesson to children about eating healthy, as well as, learning to make responsible choices. The book is fun to read for both parents and kids and boasts eye-popping, color illustrations. It is most appropriate for children ages 4-8.

All of the profits from the sale of the book are being donated by the Author to The Garden Of Dreams Foundation; Garden of Dreams is a 501c3 non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, including the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Media, MSG Entertainment and Fuse Network “to make dreams come true for kids in crisis”.

What People Are Saying:

“Just in time for Halloween, Mayo crafts a story that is both fun and engaging while remaining a little bit twisted and deliciously ghoulish as it tackles the topic of picky eating.” –Honest Baby

“Do you have a kid who won’t eat his vegetables? Would your kids rather have candy at every meal? Well, perhaps you should check out Do Witches Make Fishes? by Jason Mayo and see if they change their minds.” – My Book Retreat

“The illustrations are beautiful and are geared towards a child’s eye. It is not at all scary, but very fantastical and imaginative and completely different than ALL THE OTHER BOOKS YOUR KIDS HAVE. I promise.” – MamaPop

About The Book:

Do Witches Make Fishes? by Jason Mayo

ISBN-13: 978-1452069449

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Date of publish: August 23, 2010

Pages: 36

S.R.P.: $12.99

About the Author:

Jason Mayo is the author of the children’s book, Do Witches Make Fishes? He is also the author and creator of a popular dad blog and has written for the pop culture website, MamaPop and is a regularly featured blogger at www.honestbaby.com .  He was recently chosen by BlogHer as one of the Top 100 Voices of the Year. In real life, he is the Managing Director and Partner of the award winning NYC Digital Media Boutique, Click 3X.

Jason is married and has two amazingly smart and beautiful daughters. They all live together and give each other much love and headaches. Do Witches Make Fishes? is his first children’s book.

For more information about Do Witches Make Fishes? please visit: www.dowitchesmakefishes.com or email witchesandfishes@gmail.com

Roasted by BoneheadBlog.com

Last night we went to see  Jeffrey Ross at Caroline’s on Broadway.  My thoughtful wife got us the tickets as a Christmas gift.  If you haven’t already noticed we really enjoy stand-up comedy. We do like to laugh as often as possible, and a live comedy show is a great way to partake in our little hobby.  With us, there’s always a side story to our adventures, and last night was no exception.

The past year has been a mini comedy tour of our own.  We’ve managed to get ourselves involved in some shows – usually inadvertently.  I was invited to show off my dance skills at a show last year on our family vacation. We’ve had opportunity to meet some of our favorite comics, Lewis Black, Jon Reep, Josh Blue, Susie Essman. We went to last night’s show fully expecting to be roasted. That is of course what Ross is known for, and, as typically is the case with us – we managed to get seats right near the front. Well, we didn’t get picked on – but my wife wound up being a part of the show – as the piano player.

It was a great show. The emcee for the evening was Rachel Feinstein, a local comic who lives in Brooklyn, and she was really funny.  James Smith, whose shtick seems to be that of an Australian slacker, was absolutely hysterical. Jeffrey Ross did over an hour and had us cackling like a couple of demented schoolgirls. He was brutal – just like we had hoped.

Towards the end of his set – he asked for a volunteer to come up to the piano that was at the side of the stage to accompany him as he read some “poems”. The place was packed, probably three or four hundred in the room, yet there didn’t seem to be any piano players available, or frankly, anyone brave enough to step up and risk being insulted by the guy who’s known as the Roastmaster General.

No problem, the Giddys are in the house.

Chrissy can tickle the ivories, and occasionally actually plays the piano. I can see her looking at me as if she was saying “Should I go up there?” What she actually said was “Should I go up there?” Not to be accused later in the evening of volunteering her, I discreetly pointed in her direction and mentioned to the couple sitting next to us that my wife plays the piano. They of course took the bait and further encouraged her to go up to the piano – which she did.

So she sits down and answers the usual questions and comments; where are you from, who are you here with, you sure have some  big fucking tits …she mentioned that she had gotten me the tickets for Christmas, for which Jeffrey wished me a Merry Christmas. As too then did pretty much everyone in the place on the way out, and at the bar after the show. It was nice.

She’s playing some poetry music; actually it was Stu’s song “Doug” from The Hangover. She’s been recently teaching Junior Miss Giddy to play it. One of the ways that people get themselves into trouble at a comedy show is by trying to “out-funny” the pros. Having been to enough shows, she knew full well to just play it straight and she’d look much better, although I know how hard it must have been sitting there knowing there was a live mic right in front of her.

Each of the poems in the bit had ridiculous titles. One of them Ross entitled “I Think we should See Other People” to which Chrissy could hold back no longer. Upon hearing the title she instinctively said “Can I sing that one?” A well timed zinger designed to roast me got a great response from the room and from Jeff.

Figures, she gets me tickets to see an insult comic and she’s the one who ends up roasting me. Just another typical Saturday night out.

Check out Boneheads Stand Up debut on the Giddy Mystery Cruise

Beers with Josh Blue

Chrissys interview with Susie Essman on SpotOnLI

Goodbye Soupy by Mick DuRussel

On Thursday, October 22nd, we lost a true legend of the entertainment business. Soupy Sales, the slapstick- pie throwing comic, was 83 years young when he passed away at a hospice in the Bronx. He had been in failing health for many years though he continued to make appearances at local memorabilia shows until earlier this year. His comedic genius brought him broad appeal to children and adults alike throughout the land. It is estimated that he tossed well over 20,000 pies during his long career. And his on air capers in front of his children’s audience would sometimes get him in hot water, which in turn would only boost his popularity.

One event in particular is probably his most famous blunder. It was New Years Day in 1965. Soupy was almost done with his show at 7pm when the producer told him he had a minute to kill. Soupy walked up to the camera and said “Listen children, your mom and dad are probably tired from last night and they’re laying down in their bedroom. Go in the room quietly and look in your mom’s pocketbook and your dad’s wallet. Look for any green paper that has pictures of men with beards on them. Take those funny green papers, put them in an envelope and mail them to me at the TV station. Once I get your envelope, I will send you a postcard from Puerto Rico!” Soupy was suspended for two weeks!
I had the pleasure to meet Soupy a few years ago at my buddy Gary Lyons’ “Gotham Super Collector’s Show” in NYC. He was very happy to be meeting his fans and signing autographs throughout the day despite showing the effects from a stroke he suffered a few months earlier. The photograph above is myself with Soupy at the show. A trooper to the end.
Goodbye Soupy. I wonder of St.Peter gave you a pie in the face as you went through those pearly gates!