S01E19 Tribute: Margaret Cho

We start the podcast with a sad message about the end of the semester of The JK Around podcast (season 1). We mention School’s out for the summer by Alice Cooper. It’s time for summer vacation! It’s time for recess.

We discuss the different climates in other parts of the world and how they don’t build very much character from whence to draw one’s comedy. We list many things that the Nation has which makes us richer of character.

Garry Shandling said, “As a comedian, you need to have something to pull from. You need to have life so you can pull comedy from it.” And we confirm that there’s no comedy in basketball, even in the film “White Man Can’t Jump”. And a city like New York is rich with Latinos, Delis and snow: it’s funny!

And then it’s time to draw the name: Margaret Cho!

Winner of the Last Comic Standing, she is a big, loud, scary, ambiguously female comedian! We discuss her subtle surprise comedy which comes from cultural stereotypes. What are they?

To set the stage for Cho’s comedy, we first discuss her rich heritage from the history of China to amazing Asian cuisine!

We get into the rich discussion of gender classifications. And how these things get confused with the various Asians with ESL speech. This leads naturally to an interesting discourse about bigotry and the moral slip and slide of various cultures. It’s hard to talk about these things without mentioning black slavery, so yes, they go there!

Cho wears a lot of make-up like Mimi from the Drew Carey show. To help understand Cho, we describe Drew Carey’s career and that of Wayne Brady! Using the genius of Wayne Brady, we can see where Cho gets her depth.

Then we ground our students and John Travolta.

Then the gang describes some of the lovely gifts that they’ve received because of the show. This leads to honouring the brilliance of blond jokes. And then there’s a sneak peak into how the boys conduct their business meetings with Gil, their manager.

Assignment: Expose your arsenal to us on Facebook or twitter. Send us images and jokes that are inside your arsenal.

Assignment too: Treat us like the teachers and abuse us online. Send us rude jokes. “Put the gum under the desk” as Kevin said. Because this is a classroom. Be irreverent!

And then we do “What If?” What if Margaret Cho were the stinger on a bee? Would it destroy the comedy infrastructure?!

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.

Theme Song Lyrics

Comedy Soup
We give you ingredients for a comedy joke
And you make the soup
Where’s the soup?

Can I Be Your?
Times were crazy, but I was happy
I held your hand and we walked by the sea
Can I be your? Can I be your?
Can I be your?

Tweets
That comedian, oh, why’s the guy so funny?
Comedian, oh, why are they so funny?
Comedian, I don’t get the joke
Explain the funny to me

Give Us a Handle
Give us a handle on a circumstation
Give us a handle what you would do
What you would do
Give us a handle

What’s the Difference Between Me and You?
What’s the difference between me and you?
You tell a good joke, but it’s slightly different than the jokes I do
My act’s the way it is and I land certain poses
You wear dope shades, but I got rose coloured glasses
What’s the difference between me and you?

Comedy Soup (reprise)
You made the soup
That’s the soup

What If?
What if you were somethin’
Not just a comedian
Let’s use imagination!

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

S01E18 Interview: Justin Laite

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This episode begins with a bit of a weather report, which is unusual for our podcast. It’s the rainy, snowy, beach-weather season in the Nation.

For the second time, a guest begins to talk before they’re introduced on the podcast and it excites the dynamic comedy duo that is the JK Around. The guest is another comedian from Canada, this time Toronto (city).

Our comedian today is Justin Laite! They get right into the conversation by discussing the sure fire, 100% score of a joke which is a pun on his last name. Every comedian needs these jokes in their arsenal. Justin describes himself as creative AND clever.

Then the team gets into discussing a literal gravy train which ends up leading us into the fact that Justin used to be a little overweight. Spoiler alert: he is now straight built like a brick house.

Before getting too much into the weight story, we meet Jay Freebourne who came to the nation with Justin. He’s also a comedian and sits in on our podcast. We didn’t shun him or treat him like he was imposing, Joel and Kevin welcomed him gladly. Don’t worry, he doesn’t say much.

Justin has a Twitter account and so does Jay (Jay’s Twitter), but they don’t use them much. Still… follow them.

Joel then asks the important question about whether getting fit was a negative in Justin’s comedy. You have GOT to hear his answer! It will ASTOUND you!

We then discuss the people of poverty in the nation who throw parades, confetti and celebrate incoming tourists for tips.

Then we get the skinny (hilarious pun intended) on Justin’s Japanese Sumo wrestling days. This was when he lived in a Cape Breton Trailer Park. And the reveal comes that he is the HULK HOGAN of comedy! This is only the first reveal. There’s an even bigger one later!

Then we hear a beautiful story about a commercial Justin did for which he gained a sample of the deodorant he was selling and a ROYAL BLUE towel (as seen in said commercial)!

Then they discuss dreams and who you can be in your dreams (whoever you want)! And what Kevin would do with muscles and if Justin feels alienated because comedians are ugly, but he’s hot now.

And then we learn that Justin is the king of the riffs in Toronto. He takes a subject and riffs on it! We learn HOW! He also writes on stage, which we discussed in earlier ‘casts. How does that inform his riffs? And then the idea of crowd work comes up. How does that fit in?! (Tune in!)

They discuss the comedy of Zack Galifianakis Live at the Purple Onion and how Justin is basically a fit Zack.

So, then they get into the segments starting with “What’s the Difference Between Me and You?” Through this segment, there is a very incredible reveal, which I won’t give away here.

Then we get into “Give us a Handle“!

The next segment is “Tweets” and it sucks again.

Kitt from Knight Rider was the original Siri.

— Ben Schwartz (@rejectedjokes) March 10, 2014

Then we do “Can I Be Your” with a bit of an urban slant to it. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty dope!

Next we get right into “Comedy Soup“!

You can befriend Justin on his PERSONAL FACEBOOK!! (click that sentence)

Or find him on Twitter here!

Or follow Jay Freeborn here!

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.

S01E17.5 Extra Credit: Ylvis – Stonehenge

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

We talk about the song Massachusetts and break it down line by line. Enjoy!
(You can DOWNLOAD the song on iTunes, LIKE them on Facebook and watch the video below).

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Assignment: Give us your ideas of what the purpose of Stonehenge could be!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.

S01E17 Tribute: Demetri Martin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The episode begins with Joel and Kevin suggesting that Prince could do a cool rock and roll version of their theme song. That gets Joel talking about hippity-hop and how he doesn’t enjoy the “music” or lyrics, but really loves the sexy videos they make to go along with those things.

Then the JK Around exposes their other exploits that go far beyond this comedy podcast. We discuss Kevin’s scoliosis.

And then it’s time to draw the name out of the comedy hat! From Chris Farley to Sam Kinison, we’ve had such great diversity on the podcast out of the hat so far!

Today’s comedian is: Marmaduke! But, apparently, we’re not allowed to celebrate a drawn animal comedian. Kevin argues that if we tributize Marmaduke, we need to tributize made up characters like when Ray Romano’s dad played Young Frankenstien by Mel Brooks.

Joel concedes to Kevin and this week’s comedian is: Demetri Martin! As an aside, Marmaduke has only one name like Madonna, Axlrose or Slash.

Demetri had a show on HBO called “Demetri Martin and the Special Things“. He was doing Drawing Comedy. We explain what that is. And then it comes out that all good comedy has its foundation in reality. All this points back to Marmaduke.

Then the duo discusses their hatred for certain sounds and textures. Joel doesn’t like chalk, Kevin doesn’t like typewriters.

The lesson turns to musical comedy which is something that Demetri practises in the discipline. But is he like Tenacious D? Or is he more like Folk music? Is he Arj Barker doing the Doggy Bounce? Is he anything like Flight of the ConChords (the Australian (New Zealand) version of us)?

They discuss the sparsity of his comedy atmosphere. How he doesn’t have a lot on his sets or tshirts… or expressions on his face (no one actually says that last one). A question for our students would be: Why the sparsity? What is the affect there? Joel’s question to the students would be this: If you look at the show of Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, is that also funny?

Demetri was recently in the film “In a World…”, not to be confused with “The World, End of the World“. We were very upset that the Oscars snubbed comedy and Seth Rogan and his movie. We prove that we are connected in a comedic spirituality to Seth Rogan.

And then we do “What If?” What it Demetri Martin were sidewalk chalk art?

Assignment: Give us some drawings of Demetri Martin type sidewalk chalk art or any kind of art or painting. OR just post your favourite comic of Marmaduke on our Facebook or Twitter!

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.

S01E16 Interview: Matt Ker

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

What a beautiful Monday for the JK Around Podcast. We don’t waste much time to introduce our guest: Matt Ker!

Matt is an old, not particularly current, friend of Kevin’s. We start in by talking about the history that Kevin and Matt share. It’s pretty underwhelming. The joke they shared didn’t even seem that funny, so it’s not clear why it’s such a “rich history”. However, Kevin does remember, with a slight prompting, Joel’s first hilarious, well honed internet bit.

They talk about the Offenders of Comedy which was a washed up group of comedians that didn’t even have a podcast or have the kind of chemistry Joel and Kevin have. Maybe Matt and Kev still workshop jokes, but Joel and Kevin write their skitches and do some real world friendship stuff. It’s an exciting time of changed traditions and new, richer friendships!

They discuss being raised in a small, useless, uninteresting town called Nee-lmyr. It’s a one badger town outside of the Capitol City. Matt tries for a shock value joke in the moment which falls flat and doesn’t work. Kevin is supportive of it, as you would be of an old family friend who you don’t plan helping grow or get better. Joel has to explain that this isn’t the forum for a bunch of jokes, it’s an educational programme.

Then there is an explanation of shock comedy. One of them uses a great metaphor from This Is Spinal Tap. Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Miley Cyrus: these all did shock rock (and comedy when it comes to Miley). And funny dress ups inspired by Lady Gaga and Carrot Top.

A story then comes out about a hilarious comedy joke that Matt wrote which was taken by Joe Rogan (comedian, philosopher, scientist). This joke featured the comparison of Alien and the female vagina. Joel uses a Chuck Norris joke to illustrate how comedy is about philosophy, because Matt insists it’s not about science, but in describing that, it appears science is very necessary in the best jokes (like Norris jokes). So, he’s wrong. Matt is wrong. And then Sherlock Joel with his Watson Kevin solves the case of the stolen joke. Matt doesn’t have much to do with it.

Then Matt tells us about Caleb and their comedy thing called “Bad Idea Comedy” which seems like a really great idea for them. Matt should stick with Kelland and not bother with Kevin so much. It’s a bad idea because it’s like Tim and Eric, but the joke is that it’s a GOOD idea! You can see them on YouTube and Facebook!

Then Kevin does a masterful job of describing his jokes using puns. That’s how you know it’s good material. Bill Cosby’s material can be describe in a pun as Joel shows and that’s how we know his comedy is brilliant!

Then we do “What’s the Difference“! What’s the difference between Matt Ker and Rick Moranis (Mel Brooks‘ “Spacebars“, “Honey I Shrunk the Kids (2)”, “Ghostbusters“)?

Then we have Matt “Give us a Handle“!

Then we try “Tweets“, the ongoing tweet segment which is constantly evolving. This week: Rob Huebel (Human Giant, Childrens’ Hospital)!

Keep laying those Cadbury Creme Eggs my pretty rabbits or I will put Fatal Attraction back on

— Rob Huebel (@robhuebel) February 23, 2014

Then we have another installment of the segment “Can I/we be Your?” It gets kind of dramatic, but it’s very much a telling experience for Matt and Kevin.

Of course, they do your favourite segment: “Comedy Soup“!

Before we go, we have to enlighten Matt about taking the magic out of comedy magic shows. Joel goes into great detail to explain the subtle differences we’re talking about in that statement. It’s unclear if Matt gets it by the end, but he might just be too dumb.

Assignment: Litter our walls and Bad Idea Comedy wall with all sorts of offensive shock comedy!

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.

S01E15 Tribute: Sam Kinison

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The podcast cracks off on an interesting conversation about time, death, tragedy and comedy. They immediately turn the comedy plus time equals tragedy equation on its ear.

Then we reiterate what we’re doing with the show, interviewing amateur comedians in order to stay away from just discussing WHO the people are, but rather, WHAT they do (the comedy). TMZ can enjoy taking strange pictures of what these celebrities are eating, but we’re going to educate our students. This leads to discussing how the paparazzi are run here in the Nation, which is a sensible way of doing things. Hopefully America will bring these ideas in with Obamacare.

Assignment: How many comedians are in the hat (by sound alone)! Please guess on facebook or twitter! hashtag: favourite jellybean flavour.

And this week’s tributee is announced: Sam Kinison!

The tribute unfolds first with his iconic beret, that special look that Sam had. This was his “calling card” (we go to great lengths to describe what that is). He’s in good artistic company with Van Gogh and the guy from myth busters. Yet, other people might imagine Sam in the same camp as a director, a French person, a mime or someone who rides a tandem bicycle.

Is Sam an angry comedian like Lewis Black or Louis CK? Maybe there’s something different. Kevin explains what that might be.

Then the team gets into a very interesting conversation about long hair on a boy. This was forbidden from 1983 to 1995 in the nation. Of course, Sam lived in that place of rebelliance. We discuss Kevin’s history of long hair and a beautiful Old Yeller-type memory.

We then discuss “black comedy“. Ice Cube‘s “Friday After Next“, Shakespeare‘s “Measure for Measure” or Blake Edwards‘ Pink Panther film (and Leo DiCaprio as Inspector Clouseau) “Blood Diamonds“. Is Leonardo sacrificing his comedy career for Oscar?

Then we talk Ben Stiller at the Oscars with his Secret Life of Walter Mitty (originally with Danny Kaye). Okay, maybe you’ve got Sean Penn to replace Owen Wilson, but still don’t be so desperate for an Oscar. Take a lesson from Lego Movie 2014. Please give us a bit more Zoolander!

We want to see Zoolander and Mr Angry from Mystery Men. Or the Avengers and Zoolander! Captain America and Zoolander! Will Ferrell should get some Zoolander in his Anchorman movie and he could reprise the role of Magneto. Forrest Gump 2 and Zoolander… or Zoolander 2!

And we don’t need Owen now that we have Matthew Mcconaughey. Shanghai Nights? No thank you. Although, we do like Jackie Chan.

So, Sam is described as a Wham Bam Thank You, Ma’am Bowie-esque impregnator of comedic ideas. Which will explosively come out of you like in Alien. Ridley Squat should email us for a Zoolander Alien movie which will rival Prometheus.

Then we do “What If?” What if Zoolander could travel to any point in time and space?

Check out our YOUTUBE page, share our podcast clips with your friends!

Subscribe on iTunes!! And RATE and REVIEW us!!

Questions or comments? Email: thejkaround@gmail.com

Our twitter: twitter.com/thejkaround

Facebooker? Like: facebook.com/thejkaround

Kevin the Great’s Blog: http://itskevinthegreatblog.tumblr.com

Have a great week! Class dismissed.