Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Apr 19, 2018 at 5:37 PM

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Courtesy of Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried is disgusting — and proudly so. In reviews of the 2005 documentary film The Aristocrats, which chronicles the supposed dirtiest joke in the world, the squinty-eyed comic with the famously grating voice is often cited as stealing the film with his rendition of the obscenely taboo joke during a Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner in New York City shortly after 9/11.

"One of the reviews said, 'Of the hundred or so comedians in the film, no one is more disgusting than Gilbert Gottfried,'" the comic recalls. "And I thought, You know, that's really an honor."

But as another, more recent, documentary reveals, Gottfried — who performs at Burlington's Vermont Comedy Club this Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21 — is something else, too. He's thoughtful, sweet, devoted to his family and more than a little cheap, especially when it comes to hoarding hotel freebies.

Tags: standup , Gilbert Gottfried , Image , Web Only , Video

Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 3:19 PM

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Tara Arseven Photography

Krish Mohan

Krish Mohan tackles a big topic on his latest standup comedy record: mental illness. Approaching  Happiness was released in August and features some of the sharpest material to date from the India-born, Pittsburgh-based comedian, writer and self-described social vigilante.

Throughout the album, Mohan is in full command of the wit and thoughtfulness that has made him an underground favorite at comedy clubs and festivals around the country.  It's an hourlong exercise in breaking the stigmas associated with mental illness. But Mohan also identifies the ways in which mental illness and other societal ills — such as racism and gun violence — intersect and feed one another.

Tags: Krish Mohan , Nicole Sisk , Eric Dreiblatt , Joel Klein , standup , Vermont comedy , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 2:30 PM

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Courtesy of Jenny Zigrino

Jenny Zigrino

Jenny Zigrino is one of comedy's truly ascendant young stars. The standup comic, writer and actor recently scored a featured role in the movie Bad Santa 2 alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Christina Hendricks.

She costars with her pal and fellow comedian Jen Saunderson in the IFC web series "The Filling Is Mutual." That's a cooking show in which the duo concoct offbeat recipes based on their friends' standup bits. (Our favorite: White Devil Eggs, a take on deviled eggs inspired by a Langston Kerman bit about racism.)

In March, Zigrino dropped her debut comedy record, JZ's New Album.  And later this month — September 23, to be precise — her first half-hour standup special will air on Comedy Central. Zigrino tours nationally — she headlined the Vermont Comedy Club earlier this year. She's on the road again and heading back to Burlington this Thursday, September 14, to perform at the Flynn MainSta … wait, what?

Tags: standup comedy , Jenny Zigrino , Kendall Farrell , Nicole Sisk , Image , Web Only , Video

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Aug 15, 2017 at 5:59 PM

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Courtesy of Steve Lemme

Steve Lemme

Super Troopers fans, the wait is nearly over. After years of speculation and rumors — and a ridiculously successful 2015 crowdfunding campaign to get the movie rolling — Super Troopers 2 is really happening. The long-anticipated sequel to the 2002 comedy classic about a group of bumbling Vermont State Troopers is unofficially slated for a spring 2018 release.  We know, we know: You want it right meow.  But according to actor Steve Lemme — aka trooper MacIntyre "Mac" Womack — it's gonna be worth the wait.

"It's going to be our widest release," says Lemme in a recent phone call with Seven Days. "And it's testing better than any movie we've tested. It came out fantastic."

Tags: Steve Lemme , standup comedy , Broken Lizard , Super Troopers , Super Troopers 2 , Vermont , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 9:44 AM

Tags: Cat Klarich , humor , standup , Vermont comedy , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Jun 6, 2017 at 4:18 PM

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Phil Provencio

Adam Mamawala

Adam Mamawala has a way of tackling weighty subject matter with equal measures of insight and charm. The New York City-based standup's laid-back affability allows him to soften his punches on touchy topics from race to relationships — and, occasionally, bodily functions — without ever softening his punchlines.

Relatable and hilarious, Mamawala is a rising star in NYC's standup scene. He was named one of Funny or Die's "Top 30 Under 30: Comedians to Watch" and finished as a semifinalist or finalist in prestigious comedy contests such as Carolines New York's Funniest Competition and the Laughing Devil Comedy Festival. He's also appeared on MTV's "Girl Code" and is one of the most in-demand comics on the college comedy circuit, having headlined more than 200 colleges in 35 states.

Tags: Adam Mamawala , Aziz Ansari , standup , comedy album , Vermont Comedy Club , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, May 9, 2017 at 5:02 PM

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Courtesy of Russell Howard

Russell Howard

Russell Howard is bigger than Barry Manilow.

OK, he's maybe not that big. But, earlier this year, the British comedian and television host did headline 10 straight nights at London's famed Royal Albert Hall, breaking the record previously held jointly by Manilow and some guy named Frank Sinatra. That ain't bad.

Tags: Russell Howard , standup comedy , Image , Web Only , Video

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 3:00 PM

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Courtesy of Mike Finoia

Mike Finoia

This just in: Mike Finoia hid a bunch of weed somewhere in Burlington back in November.  At least that's what the NYC comedian claims on the opening track of his new comedy album, Live in Burlington, which was released last Friday, March 17.

"Somewhere in this city I hid a full jar of amazing weed and it's up to you to find it," he tells a hysterical crowd. "So tomorrow, just Pokémon Go yourselves around Burlington, follow your nose. Champ helped me hide it, so it might be by the lake. It might be at Nectar's. I don't know."

Calls to Champ and Nectar's regarding the hidden weed were not immediately returned … or made.

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Album Art By Bruno Tracy

Mike Finoia, 'Live in Burlington'

Finoia recorded the album over a two-night, four-show run at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington in November, just days after the election. Naturally, Trump comes up occasionally, alongside sharp riffs on love, marriage and aging. But Finoia's favorite topic might be the Queen City itself.

As Finoia told Seven Days before the recording, he's had a crush on Burlington since college. He even plans to call BTV home someday.

"Everybody has their own definition of success," he said in that interview. "Mine is just to have a place on the lake in South Burlington and live amongst the great people of Burlington."

Finoia's affection for Burlington is on display throughout his new album — not to mention on the cover, which was designed by local artist Bruno Tracy. But that doesn't mean he's above skewering some of our more insufferable Vermont-y traits.

"I love Burlington. I love coming up here," says Finoia as he takes the VCC stage. "I love being reminded of how shitty and unhealthy I really am by you jerks. Just when you start to feel good, I see a Subaru Outback with a 26.2 sticker on the back and I wanna fuckin' kill myself."

Listen to the first track from Live in Burlington below.  The album is available for purchase at iTunes.

Tags: Mike Finoia , standup comedy , Image , Web Only

Posted By Sadie Williams on Sun, Mar 19, 2017 at 6:30 AM

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Courtesy of Steve Waltien

Steve Waltien

Steve Waltien has a pretty funny boss: Jon Stewart. But Waltien is no slouch himself. The 38-year-old comedian and Shelburne native is an alum of the famed Chicago improv comedy theater, the Second City, and a member of the Improvised Shakespeare Company. He's now a writer on Stewart's new animated HBO series. While there is no official air date yet for the former "Daily Show" host's news parody show, Waltien says it will come out "soon."

In the meantime, local comedy fans can look forward to the Vermont expat's homecoming this week. Waltien returns to the Queen City for Laughter for Learning: Stern Center Benefit, a four-show, two-night run of improv comedy at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington on Wednesday and Thursday, March 22 and 23. Proceeds from the shows benefit the Stern Center for Language & Learning in Williston.

Tags: Stern Center , Steve Waltien , Ben Rameaka , Kate James , Andrew Knox , Katie Rich , Allison Stanger , improv comedy , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 4:05 PM

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Todd Rosenberg

Alonzo Bodden

Alonzo Bodden is likely best known as a regular panelist on NPR's "Wait Wait … Don't Tell Me." The nationally syndicated radio show plays to the comic's strength as a purveyor of sharp social and political commentary — not to mention his rich baritone voice.

Bodden entered the national spotlight as the winner of the "Best of the Best" competition on season three of "Last Comic Standing" on NBC. He's parlayed that into two hour-long Showtime comedy specials, most recently last year's brilliantly biting "Historically Incorrect." Bodden also hosts his own acclaimed podcast, "Who's Paying Attention?" where he riffs on everything from politics to cars to his love affair with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Bodden performs this Thursday through Saturday, March 2 through 4, at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Seven Days recently spoke with him by phone from Los Angeles.

Tags: Alonzo Bodden , Donald Trump , health care , Image , Web Only