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Michael Palascak

7/27/2016

 
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​After moving around the Midwest during his early years, Michael ended up in Wabash, Indiana-- “The First Electrically Lighted City in the World.” He spent his formative years there, and then, after college, moved to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy and living at home with his parents.

Michael made his network debuts on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the same year.  He followed that up with performances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central's The Half Hour and most recently Conan.  Currently you can see Michael as a contestant on NBC's Last Comic Standing. 

Jimmy Brogan

7/27/2016

 
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​Jim Brogan is the son of John and Anne Brogan.  He was born in New England, but at the age of six moved to Chicago and then to Cleveland.  In a short period, he saved enough money with a paper route and a pyramid scheme to pay for his parents to join him.

Jim grew up in a Catholic family and went to Catholic schools all the way through.  His parents sent him to an all boys high school (St. Ignatius) and an all boys college (Notre Dame).

It was a good life for the young lad, his Mom stayed home and made his school lunches and his Dad sold landing gear for a living.  But Jim had other ideas of what to do with his life.

Armed with his degree in Sociology, he moved to New York City to pursue his dream of scaling skyscrapers with suction cups on his hands and becoming a Human Fly. His fear of heights quickly put an end to that dream.

While working day jobs as a tutor, a bartender and in advertising, Jim turned his attention to standup comedy.  His first appearance on stage was with his Chinese-American friend, Larry Lee.  They billed themselves as The Brogan Brothers.  After one disastrous appearance, Jim struck out on his own.  

His first act was an impression of a priest from Notre Dame.  That lasted two performances.  His second act was about going to an intellectual high school.  That lasted six months and even longer for the audience.

After four years of doing standup comedy, Jim was taken under the wing of legendary comedy manager Jack Rollins (Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, Robert Klein, Nichols and May).  Soon Jim was moving to LA to star as an Angel in an ABC sitcom called Out of the Blue.  They made thirteen episodes and aired nine.  They are evidently still saving four for the next sweeps period.

Jim continued to do his standup comedy and did guest appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. He recently was in the movie Bridesmaids.

He also got other TV jobs.  He hosted Laffathon (Showtime), Comic Strip Live (Fox) and You Asked For It, Again (Family Channel). The perfectionist that he is, he won't be satisfied until he has been cancelled by all the networks.

Deciding that he could save a few dollars by not hiring a lawyer, he worked for nine years as an indentured servant on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  His areas of responsibility included being a writer and talent coordinator (booking comedians for the show).

Since leaving The Tonight Show, Jim has been busier than ever.  Besides doing his standup, he has written two movies and seen three others. 

He also was a creative consultant on Yakov Smirnoff’s one-man Broadway show, As Long As We Both Shall Laugh.  He found out exactly how long we both shall laugh.  It was 24 performances.    

Suzy Soro

7/27/2016

 
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Suzy Soro is a comedian, actress, and author. She’s best known as the girl who got the last chocolate babka on Seinfeld. She also appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Good Advice, An Evening at the Improv, Star Search, Standup Spotlight, and on many other shows. She toured the world entertaining the troops for the United States Army and for eight years performed in the US with her own standup group, ​

Jan Maxwell Smith

7/21/2011

 
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Currently, I am a Talent Manager/Producer (1999-present) as well as a consultant for the legendary Ice House Comedy Club and talent producer for the Ice House Comedy Club main showroom (2008-present).  In addition, I talent produce tapings for Comedy Time (2005-present) at The Ice House. 

History:  Following graduation from Hollywood High School, three years at Valley State, then two years at UCLA and graduated from their film school.  I spent nearly a year’s tour of duty in Vietnam while serving in the Navy reserve, then 11 years in market research for the entertainment industry before purchasing The Ice House in Pasadena, CA in 1978 with partners Bob Fisher and Marc Weingarten. In 1982, I sold my interest in the club to Bob Fisher, who still owns the club.  While I was there, stand-up comedy became the main source of success for the club, before that it was basically variety, folk music, etc.  

In 1984, I opened my own comedy club in West Los Angeles, IGBY’s Comedy Cabaret.  Top comedians and celebrities were regulars at the club.  IGBY’s enjoyed lots of notoriety with multiple television shows for Fox, and various HBO and Showtime specials and single artist tapings.  I sold it in 1996.  In 1998, I scouted talent for NBC in the U.S. and Canada.  In 1999, I signed his first clients to a management contract and guided them to become series regulars, one on Reba and one on Reno 911.  I was also a talent producer on Fox Television’s 30 Seconds to Fame (2002), Fast Track to Fame (2010) on the Speed Channel and Staan’ Dup (2013) for STARZ.  I have also been a talent consultant on various television projects for NBC, FOX, HBO and Showtime; and a producer of both stand-up comedy series and pilots e.g. L.A. Comic Strip, Comic Strip Live, Comedy Express and Comedy Outside In.  I Executive Produced radio shows and filled in as an on air host on CRNi (2000-2001).  I was one of the Executive Directors of the 3rd, 4th and 5th annual Las Vegas Comedy Festivals and was a consultant to the New York Comedy Expo in 2007 and 2008.  In addition to all this, I’ve scheduled talent for military bases as well as comedy clubs in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Texas.  
​

And my current client, Will Vought seen on Bones, The Good Wife, Wilfred, writing on a spec project with Paul Reiser and consultant for Wayne Brady.  Soon to be seen on Gotham.

Dennis Regan

7/20/2011

 
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​Audiences all over the country have experienced and embraced Dennis Regan's observational comedy, from nightclubs and cruise ships to colleges and corporations. His universal appeal has landed him appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, A&E's an Evening at Improv and Showtime's A Pair of Jokers with his brother Brian.

Dennis Regan was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He held a variety of jobs and owned a business before becoming a comedian in 1987. Starting out in small local clubs, he soon moved to New York, where he worked his way through the Manhattan comedy scene over a five year period.

Dennis Regan (ree' gan) has since been living the bizarre and quirky life of a road comic, spending some nights taking a spin in a stretch limousine, while spending others watching the spin cycle at the local Laundromat. Audiences all over the country have experienced his comedy, from nightclubs and cruise ships to colleges and corporations

Joby Saad

7/21/2010

 
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Growing up in Nashville Tennessee, Joby worked in the family business assisting his father in the collection of used motor oil. We were part of the earliest Environmentalists although were we’re called other names. Joby read of Harry Houdini, the stage and was performing children’s magic shows most weekends by age 12.  Joby say’s “Dad would build the props, and mom would give me props”.

When the tricks didn’t work the laughs started flowing giving Joby the outlet to do what he really wanted, comedy.

Movies/Television
  • Thou Shalt Laugh   -Warner Brothers- Los Angeles Ca.
  • Comedy Central- Los Angeles Ca.
  • Bananas with Thor Ramsey -Sony Studios
  • Comedy @ Large w Thor Ramsey- Guardian Studios
  • CMT -40 sexiest Videos-Guest comentary  Nashville TN
  • ABC News Now-Alphabet Soup w/ Alyse Mandel -New York NY
  • Vidiots-  All ages, all nations  Creator, Producer.    Mackinac Island MI.
  • Crook and Chase- Nashville, Jim Owens Productions
  • Abraham and Sarah    (The Movie)   “Egyptian Slave”  EFM Productions   Miami Fl.
  • Stand up for Families Chonda Pierce Presents- Dove Channel
  • Stand up Nurotica TV Pilot for Netflix  - Comedy Club Headliner  Lubner Productions.

Being beat up too often on the basketball court by his High School classmates for going for laughs instead of points for the team drove Joby to compete as a bodybuilder winning the Mr Mid Central USA Title at age 19.

Returning to the stage it was comedy writer Mike Price and Disney Star Jim Varney that encouraged him to leave Nashville to pursue stand up after becoming a regular at Zanies Comedy Club. Zanies and Zanies manager Lenny Sisselman gave Joby the opportunity to perform with the top comedians at the time, Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Rob Schneider, Paula Pondstone.  Concert promoter Steve Moore hired Joby to open for his concerts, Steve Moore later becoming head of CMA Association. Soon Joby was headlining all the top Comedy Clubs and was a regular guest on Nashville Networks Ralph Emery, Crook and Chase and many others.

Living in Los Angeles, working as a comedian, Joby Saad started a company called Village Entertainment. He instructed his roommate to answer the phone that way — “Village Entertainment” — whenever anyone called.”Frequently, what would happen is, the phone would ring and Rob would answer and say ‘hello.’ And I, in the background would shout, ‘You idiot!’ And then the caller would say, ‘Let me speak to the Village idiot.’”

“My father used to give me a hard time. He would always call me an idiot. Or, sometimes, he’d say, ‘You’re a fool,’ and I’d get upset. ‘I thought I was an idiot?’… ‘Well, you’re both!’ ‘Great! Now I have to redo my résumé.’”

Thus a concept was born. Saad became the Village Idiot. He was destined for it, he says, thanks to his dad.

George Shapiro of Shapiro/West Management (Jerry Seinfeld’s management) took notice of Joby’s talents at a performance at the Ice House in Pasadena California. “George made calls, and the next thing I know I’m auditioning for network sitcoms, say’s Joby”. Joby’s big break came from his starring role on an episode of the family friendly television series Bananas Comedy in 2005. Then in 2006 came the Warner brothers “Thou Shalt Laugh” starring Patricia Heaton from “Everybody loves Raymond”.  Featuring seven of the nations top clean comedians it went on to become the highest selling comedy DVD within its genre.

There were moments in my career that may not seem that significant to others but mean a lot to me. Like being introduced by Jay Davis at Dublins on Sunset blvd and having to follow Dane Cook, or just to hold my own in the same room with the same audiences with so many of the best comedians of the day.

From that Joby launched his own television series “Vidiots”  ”It’s silent comedy.  I love being able to tell a story and reach an audience of all ages and all languages.  The humor is universal and continually reaching an international audience. Having been broadcast on cable, however its popularity on youtube is what has gotten Joby stopped and recognized on the streets of New York city.

Known for his expressive, rubbery face. Makes sense that he’s a big fan of physical comedians such as Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, and Tim Conway.

His stand-up, like his films, involves a lot of physical comedy. He frequently closes his shows with an inspired bit where, in pantomime, he removes one pair of pants after another, becoming a new character each time. But everything he does is clean.

“The smartest dumb guy comedy I’ve seen- comedycritic.com

Joby has had the honor of performing for our troops in Honduras, entertaining the children of 101st airborne, Fort Campbell Ky, The children and families of St. Jude Hospital, and Le Bonheur children’s Hospital in Memphis is what I’m most proud. Five years on the stage at Lifest, the largest Christian music festival in Oshkosh Wisconsin.

Recently Joby has performed on several Moth shows in Santa Monica Ca. which is that gold standard for storytelling and launching storytalks.org with fellow comedian Alyse Kenny in New York City.

Radio/Live performances. Frequent guest on the syndicated  “Daren Streblow  comedy show” on I-heart Radio.

Most recently Joby was chosen out of hundreds of comedians to be featured on a new television series “Stand Up Neurotica” that follows the behind the scenes exploits  of a comedy club staff, Joby being the night club comedian. Shot on location at New York city’s famed “Stand Up New York’ on the upper west side, where Seinfeld and many others built thier reputations. Look for “Stand Up Neurotica” in 2016 on Netflix.

Joby’s is constantly growing and touring and challenging himself with new ideas to bring to his audiences. This is a show from someone who loves his mother and has lived and breathed comedy.

(www.JobySaad.com)



 

We look forward to seeing you all at The Clean Comedy Challenge!


Cities and Dates

Gutty's Comedy Club
​July 15-17, 2021
Other Dates TBA
  • Home
  • About
    • About The Challenge
    • 2021 Clean Comedy Challenge at Gutty's
    • Past Challenges >
      • 2020 Challenges >
        • Nashville 2020
      • 2019 Challenges >
        • Nashville 2019
        • Pasadena 2019
      • 2018 Challenges >
        • Chicago 2018
        • Carson City 2018
        • Nashville 2018
      • 2010-2017 Challenges
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