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The Bob Show Presents "Interview Xtra"! Xtra features interviews with comedians,actors
and entertainers! Check it out!
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1.Tell us how you got started and then got your big break in the entertainment business?
DC:I've
been a jock my whole life and have played ice hockey since I was a little tyke. To me, sitting in a locker room is always
like having an audience of twenty guys who just want to laugh and have fun. So I started by being the funny guy in the locker
room. I would do impressions of my fellow teammates and coaches. Then I started doing impressions of teachers and students
at school. By senior year of high school I was doing shows in the cafeteria before classes started. It was then (after four
years of college prep at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Michigan) that I decided to forego college and start in the
comedy biz. I started writing commercials and doing voice-overs for radio commercials at WABX. Then two comedy clubs opened
in the Detroit area--The Comedy Castle and The Delta Lady. It didn't take long, but soon I was doing standup 7 nights a week.
9 months later I was a regular at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. I shared the stage nightly with the likes of Jay Leno, Garry
Shandling, Dana Carvey, Bob Saget, Robin Williams, Dennis Miller, Jerry Seinfeld, Louie Anderson, Jim Carrey, Sam Kinison,
Paul Reiser, Howie Mandel and Steven Wright, to name just a few. It was an exciting time during a great boom in comedy. I
treated my time onstage like it was 'comedy college.' I learned a great deal from working with and watching such incredible
talents. In 1984 I reached the pinnacle of every standup at the time and did my first 'shot' on "The Tonight Show" hosted
by Johnny Carson. That same year, I hosted my first TV series called "Out Of Control" on Nickelodeon. All the while I was
doing voices on cartoon series--"Scooby Doo," "The Jetsons," "The Real Ghostbusters" and "The Muppet Babies." I got to work
with some of my heroes on those shows: Mel Blanc, Dawes Butler and Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. In 1986 I screen-tested
at NBC for "Saturday Night Live." And as it came down to the wire, I ended up not moving to New York City to be a 'featured
regular' on the show. Then I auditioned for a pilot titled, "Full House" and the rest is television history.
2.From
Out of control to Full House to America's funniest people. What has been the most fun for you in television?
DC:They've
all been really fun but with "Full House" I made some friends for life. We all still see each other and I know they will be
my dysfunctional family forever.
3.What are your thoughts on being on VH1's the Surreal Life?
DC:"The Surreal
Life" was just that: surreal! When they first asked me to be on the show I thought, "No way!" Then it sort of became a personal
challenge for me. It was so out of my comfort zone that I just had to do it. The shooting of the show was 13 days, being on
camera 24/7. It was really uncomfortable. I just wanted to leave from the first day but as we plodded along, I started to
really like some of the people there in the house. I got along with Flav the best and we still keep in touch. He's one of
the most genuine people I have ever met and has a big heart. People who saw the show often say to me: "You seemed so normal
on The Surreal Life." And my answer is always the same: Did you see who I was living with? How could you not appear normal.
4.You
did lots of characters on many cartoons in the 80's. What do you think about the change of today's cartoons?
DC:I think
there's some really great cartoons on TV. I'm a huge Spongebob fan. My friend, Tom Kenny does Spongebob's voice. In my opinion,
I think Spongebob Squarepants is of the greatest cartoon characters ever.
5.Tell us about "Clean guys" and how people
can check out you out on the internet and see what you have been up to?
DC:I've been involved with family programming
for 30 years (insert picture of the 'sands of time' here). So many people have said to me over the years as I've walked offstage
after a standup show: "Thanks for doing a clean show. I was here for my mom's birthday and it's just great that you didn't
make us feel uncomfortable." Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that people really appreciate good, clean fun. The
CleanGuys Of Comedy has been an idea in my head for years. The idea is to create an entire 'clean' brand that people can trust.
We off to the races now with a tour for 2008. We'll shoot some of the shows this year and hope to have a one-hour standup
TV special on air by years end.
We're also in the process of ramping-up our website (www.cleanguys.TV) which has clean content featured throughout--a safe haven for comedy on the Internet...what a novel idea!!! And of course,
we have a MySpace page (www.myspace.com/cleanguys) which keeps us in touch with fans. And we'd love to hear from you so send us a message or an email. I try to answer every
bit of email myself. And yes, it really is me responding. Hopefully I'll see some of you on tour this year or next!!!
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Doug Benson
1.Tell us some of your influences in the comedy field?
DB:My favorites growing up were
Bill Cosby, Geroge Carlin and Steve Martin. Today, not so much.
2.How is your comedy style,different from others?
DB:I'm just as me as I can be. Nobody else is me, so that makes me different.
3.What did you like the
most about "Last Comic Standing"?
DB:When it was over. Actually, I had a pretty good time. I got along well with the
other comics, and I got lots of exposure that I wasn't getting from my years on basic cable. Older people approach me on the
street now, which never used to happen. Senior citizens can't watch "Best Week Ever." It's too fast paced and full of references
to youthful things, like Vanessa Hudgens' vagina.
4.Tell us about the tour,you are on now?
DB:I'm in the
"Last Comic Standing Live" tour bus as we speak. We're driving from Baltimore, MD to Beverly, MA. It's a long drive, but the
bus has wireless internet, satellite television, a fridge, and a masseuse. It doesn't really have a masseuse, but Lavell Crawford
will give you a good rub if you give him a cookie.
5.What advice to give to other people doing comedy?
DB:Listen
to all advice, but only use the advice you like. Ultimately it's just you up there on that stage, so you have to like what
you are doing. Oh, and have fun with it!
Doug Benson's Myspace
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Billy Gardell
1.How did you feel as a comedian to be working with and opening for such greats as George Carlin
and Dennis Miller?
BG:Amazing. Watching Miller and Carlin work,you realize how much you don't know about the craft.
2.In addition,you have worked with a lot of big name talent in front of the camera. What has been the biggest
highlight so far?
BG:I would say,Stallone. Being from Penn and meeting Rocky was surreal.
3.In 2006,you
released your first comedy album,Billy Gardell:Throwback. Tell the people,why they should pick up this album?
BG:So
I can continue to feed my family.
4.You play Jimmy Hughes buddy,Billy Colivita,on the hit show,"Yes,Dear". How
was that experience and working with Anthony Clark?
BG:"Yes,Dear" was a cake gig. I liked everyone I worked with there.
5.What does the future hold for Billy Gardell?
BG:I have a Comedy Central Special. I am taping August
23rd that will air this fall.
6.What website can fans check out your work?
BG:Yes,my Myspace page.
Myspace.com/BillyGardell
Best wishes,BG!
Billy Gardell's Myspace
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Jim Florentine
1.What inspired you to become a comedian?
JF:I knew I had a talent when i was a kid
talking about my penis. I talked about it for free for so many years that I decided to have people pay to hear my dick jokes.
2.Who are some of your favorite comics?
JF:Jim Norton, Nick Diapolo, Rich Vos, Artie Lange, Dice Clay
and Dane Cook.
3.How did you develope your style?
JF:Watching Rodney Dangerfield and Dice Clay.
4.How
did you come up with "Special Ed" for Crank Yankers?
JF:I've been doing that character back when i was a kid. Something
good would happen like watching someone fall down the stairs and I would go, "Yaay".
5.What has been the highlight
of your career so far?
JF:Working with Dice Clay, Howard Stern, and being on Inside The NFL for a season.
6.What
goals would you like to accomplish?
JF:I make a good living at what I love to do so my goals are fulfilled.
7.What
advice do you have for comics and actors who are just starting in the entertainment business?
JF:Don't get into it
for the money. If you are worried about when you are going to make enough to quit your day job,get out of the business. Do
it for the love and passion.
Check out www.JimFlorentine.com
Jim Florentine's Website
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