The show that I created for PBS Chicago (WTTW) has been nominated for an Emmy!  I am very excited and very lucky to have been teamed with such a great group of people.  I want to thank Bert Haas, Executive Producer, and Vice-President of Zanies for believing that this concept could be a TV show.  Thank you also to VJ McAleer and Dan Soles (Executive Producers) at WTTW for getting behind the idea and putting it on air.  Huge kudos to Ana Belaval (Host) who drives the show and is always a pleasure to work with.  I also want to give shout outs to our participants, who without their courage, humor, and faith, we would not exist, from season one: Ron Kittle, Susanna Negovan, Shani Davis & Amy Freeze.  Our season two participants as well: Jarrett Payton, Lana Bramlette, Val Warner, and Fr. Tom Hurley.

Thank you to team WTTW and team Zanies, our cameramen, editors, behind the scenes people.  We have a ton of fun shooting this show!

Finally, I want to give special thanks to the man that works the absolute hardest, Producer/Writer/Editor Eddie Griffin.  Eddie works tirelessly on this show and it his talents and creativity that have shaped “TCSUP” to what it has become.  I could not have asked for a better partner to take this show from an idea to a reality.  Way to go, Eddie!

In case we don’t win the Emmy, I will finish up my acceptance speech here…I’d also like to thank my family, most specifically my wife Sara.  She’s my best friend!

http://www.wbez.org/blogs/onstagebackstage/2012-10/daily-rehearsal-iceman-cometh-takes-home-six-jeff-awards-103157

I am very excited about the new Zanies in Rosemont!  The original club on Wells Street in Old Town will always be home but this new club is really something to see.  It is a state of the art comedy club with outstanding lighting and sound.  The staff is incredible and it is part of a very cool entertainment district in Rosemont.   Come see me as House MC in July, August & October 2012.  Here is a review from the Chicago Tribune about the opening:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-0709-zanies-rosemont-20120709,0,6916972.column

The second season of The Chicago Stand-Up Project is a wrap!

We had a great time shooting this show.  Many thanks to everyone that participated and worked hard to make this a reality.

Check out all 4 episodes here:

http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=78,2

Tonight is the big night!  After a lot of hardwork by many people “The Chicago Stand-Up Project” premieres tonight at 8:30pm on WTTW.

The first episode will feature Shani Davis & Amy Freeze.

The second episode features Ron Kittle & Susanna Negovan and will air Friday, July 23rd at 8:30pm.

Check out this site to learn all about the show:  http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=78,1

Also, please be a fan of the show on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/chgostandup

The show I created, “The Chicago Stand Up Project”, recently taped it’s first two episodes at Zanies in Chicago. The show will air this summer on WTTW-Chicago.

Each episode features two well known Chicagoans, not known for comedy, attempting the art of stand-up for the first time.  The first taping featured White Sox Legend Ron Kittle &  Editor-in-Chief of Michigan Avenue Magazine, Susanna Negovan.

The second taping featured Olympic Champion & Chicago native Shani Davis and Fox-TV meteorologist Amy Freeze.

Ana Belaval of WGN Morning News is the host of the show and I am the comedy coach.

Both tapings were a ton of fun and I am excited to see the final cuts from our Producer-Extraordinaire, Eddie Griffin.  Many thanks to Bert Haas and the great people of Zanies as well as the crew and producers at WTTW for all of their hard work!

Please keep checking my site for the air dates.  I should be posting them soon.

In the meantime, take a look at the great press that the show has garnered so far…

USA Today

Chicago Tribune

NBC Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times

Check out the media page for pictures from the tapings.

I am very excited to say that I was invited to perform at the Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk, NE from June 17-20th.  The festival is held in Johnny Carson’s hometown!  I will be performing with 20 other comics from all over the country.  For info on the festival, click here.

This article about a show that I am part of ran in the Pioneer Press this week.  I am working with 3 other great comics (John DaCosse, Andy Woodhull, & Haji Outlaw).  Come on out and laugh!

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/entertainment/1481441,dl-laughs-031909-s1.article