Transcript
petgordon: Hi. Well, good afternoon and welcome to Laughing Liberally Arizona. We've got a special broadcast today. which we do when we have a Fine comedian to join us.
petgordon: And today joining us is Mike Harris. Dave Margolis is with us, of course. Welcome, Mike.
Mike: Hi, good to be here. Thanks for having me.
petgordon: That's just great. um We are, of course, normally doing our show where we talk about local politics. We often get into subjects about local entertainment. We focus on comedy and, you know. we we always feel dave that we have a lot of young comics watching us that are try to get a little insight into the comedy scene. um
petgordon: Why don't we ask Mike before he goes ahead and demonstrates a little stand -up comedy. Tell us a little bit about the comedy scene in Phoenix.
Mike: Yeah, it's great. i I find it very friendly. I started comedy later in life. I started when I was 52 years old. And so when i go I started going to open mics and...
Dave: this
Mike: you know i I find most people up here are very accepting and helpful. and It's not always the case, but but I find the majority of people really get along and and want to help each other out.
Dave: you
Dave: Mm -hmm.
petgordon: Dave, uh... How would you contrast that to the Tucson scene?
Dave: Little trouble hearing you, Phil. What's that?
petgordon: How would you contrast that to the Tucson scene?
Dave: Well, I think ah in Phoenix is probably um greater number of comedians. It's bigger. overall it's nice to hear that they're supportive of each other because am My i only other experience in...
Dave: open mics and and doing comedy before I came to Tucson was in Los Angeles and um ah times Times have changed, I can't say it the same way then, but it was somewhat competitive.
Dave: in LA. I think because if you're in Los Angeles, you know, you actually had a not a reasonable, but somewhat of a chance to actually Make it. into you know get booked somewhere or do you know, get booked on a TV show or something like that. So it was more competitive, certainly, than in Tucson. and i imagine it' so Maybe a little more competitive in Phoenix because it's a bigger city. I can't really say.
petgordon: You know, I often travel to Chicago, which is my hometown, and I was in that Chicago comedy scene for a long time. And it's a very good scene there, a very active.
petgordon: open mics. And getting back to Phoenix. Mike, you and I share a very good friend in common, Kristen Levanway.
petgordon: which is how you and I got put in touch.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: She does. Some great shows. so One of them is aimed at older adults, and that's how I got involved. Tell us how you work with Kristen.
Mike: yeah it's the same thing um she booked me on a couple of her shows called who you calling old And i've done I've done several of those now. And those are always fun. She brings in a great crowd. So it used to be at a a little coffee shop in Mesa called Jared's. But unfortunately, it appears that Jared's just went out of business.
Mike: um because the economy hit them pretty hard so i think she's still looking for other locations And I just did another show with her at a retirement community. So.
petgordon: and
Mike: yeah She's great. and yeah i always I always love being on her shows. and It's also nice being you know with comics that that share. things in common with us like i'll go watch some of the younger comics who are out there and sometimes i know what they're talking about but not always i mean there's a lot of stuff There's a lot of stuff that they reference that I don't even understand.
Dave: perhaps
Mike: so It's nice to be around people my age.
petgordon: That's great and you've got, oh go ahead Dave.
Dave: So... so Oh, Mike, so when you were doing the... route retirement community was this um people who were simply people who were tired or these people who were um I mean, what I'm getting at is I did a set one time at a...
Dave: a memory care unit.
Mike: Hmm.
Dave: ah And that was very, very difficult. to do
Mike: Yeah. So this this is a step, a couple of steps before that. So this is an independent living community.
Dave: oh
Mike: It's a building like ah apartments.
Dave: that
Mike: and um this ah comic friend of mine named Keith his mom recently moved in there and so they had asked for a comedy show and um This is my second time doing a show at a retirement community. The first one was one that I booked and it did not go well. That one, um I think the the place gave the people the wrong time. And then so they they came and then they left and then their routines were off and they weren't happy when they came back. And they yeah they let us know it, even though it wasn't our fault particularly. so Anyway, that one didn't go well, so I was a little nervous doing it again. But this last one, people stayed after. They shook our hands. They thanked us for being there. And they really loved being entertained.
Dave: Mm -hmm.
Mike: Okay.
Dave: i think the one the one that i did well for one thing when we when i so I started. Uh... Well, were you were you alone? Did you have other comics with you as part of the show? or
Mike: Yeah, I had other comics. There was Keith and then Kristen Levanway was there and then a few other comics. I think there were five or six of us.
Dave: Yeah. That was probably good because I was on my own there and I had nobody to bounce things off of or anything like that. And also, I think when I showed up, it seemed like they were all gathered in the. ah in the in the social room and they were very much involved in a movie on tv so I can't say they were too thrilled when we told them to stop watching TV and pay attention to me.
Mike: Yeah.
Dave: ah But as I said, they were a little farther along, and ah my my brother went, you know, has since passed away, but he went through that stage there, and I... Now that, you know...
Dave: ah there is a tendency of people who have reached that stage to be a little reluctant to respond or to say things. I think they're a little self -conscious that they may say something wrong. So they they were very quiet. So it was very tough.
Dave: to see well i could never tell whether i had them i don't think i ever had them but i got some response to them but but it's it's tough i i think it's important to do those things i think those are people that definitely are assisted by having humor in their lives because There's not much of it normally in their day to day.
Mike: okay
Dave: But I couldn't crack the nut on exactly how to get through to them. I think I need to have assistance when I go.
Mike: Well, the one the one that I booked, I got immediate feedback. Like I said, the last one was great, but the one that I booked... ah There were people grabbing their walkers and walking out slowly. was it was like a They didn't even walk out quickly.
Mike: they just It was like a slow parade of exiting. and then And then one one guy looked at me i and I was holding the door open for people saying, thank you for coming.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: And one guy looks at me and he goes.
Mike: again but but
Dave: You got a reaction then?
Mike: Yeah, we got
petgordon: Oh boy.
Dave: almost
petgordon: Well, I tell you what
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: There's going to be no walkouts on here today, we can assure you, Mike.
Mike: <unk> happened
petgordon: and If you would. Be so kind. We'd love for you to. Favor us with a little comedy that you do. I know that you've... kind of accented for us a little bit of a political bent to some stand -up. So without any further ado, folks.
petgordon: Let's hear the stand up of.
Dave: It's three o 'clock.
petgordon: Mike Harris.
Mike: Yeah, I don't do a lot of political stuff in Phoenix because I don't want to wake up in El Salvador. so There's that.
Dave: the description
Mike: But I am excited we did it.
petgordon: okay
Mike: We did it. We brought back measles.
Dave: that's right
Mike: You know, when I was a kid, there was ah an episode of Scooby -Doo where the bad guy was called Mr. Measles. And he scared the shit out of me because he would break into people's homes and throw measles at their kids.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: That was terrifying. But at the end of the episode, Scooby and the gang, they catch him and they rip his mask off and they're like, Zyker Scoobs, it was RFK Jr. all along. um You know, I I know a lot of people who voted for Trump who said ah that they were you know voting for him because he was entertaining.
Mike: Wow.
Dave: not
Mike: Now they get to entertain themselves by connecting the dots on their measles on their kids backs. Okay. ah The new Pope, you guys you guys can you guys can um love this.
Mike: The new Pope is a Chicago White Sox fan.
Dave: Yes.
Mike: Which means his prayers don't work. No, I'm kidding. I wrote that joke two years ago when he cut when the White Sox were terrible.
Dave: Yeah.
Mike: And now he's been Pope for two years and they've gotten so much better. So maybe I was wrong about this whole religion thing. I'll have to rethink it.
petgordon: yeah
Mike: but um You know, he had the choice growing up in Chicago between the White Sox and the Cubs, and usually Catholic priests like Cubs.
petgordon: No!
Dave: pieces
petgordon: who
Mike: i I am very excited because my I have a son who just turned 21 and I call him my miracle baby because my wife and I didn't think we could get pregnant. So finally we went to a fertility doctor and the doctor thankfully figured out the problem and she sat my wife down and she said, look, if you want to have a baby, you're going to have to sleep with him.
Mike: Absolutely.
petgordon: All right.
Mike: She was like, isn't there another way?
Dave: and And five years later, you had a kid.
Mike: Okay.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: Yeah, that's right. Yeah, the one time. It only took once. um But the doctor gave her a book of positions that we could try to help her get pregnant. So she she looked through it. And after that, she referred to it as the book of nope.
Mike: it's
Mike: So she's my ex -wife now.
Dave: oh
Mike: Um, Yeah, I was on that.
petgordon: we've all got one of those
Mike: So after. Yeah, after the divorce, I was on the dating apps for a while. And. You know, I'm a little bit embarrassed to say this, but sometimes I would send pictures to women you know, pictures of, ah you know, famous dicks, like Dick Van Dyke.
Dave: this
Mike: Dick Nixon. Andy Dick. I sent a picture at Trump once, so that's three dicks and an asshole.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: i dated I think the first woman I dated on the dating apps, I'm pretty sure she was in prison because her profile said, enjoy his long walks on the yard. Romantic dinners of Top Ramen.
Dave: but
Mike: Amen. and Hanging out at the bars.
petgordon: No!
Mike: I also dated a woman who stutters, which is good because I don't pay attention and she always repeated herself.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: That was good. So I am remarried, though. I'm remarried. And um yeah, so my my current wife, she and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. And here's a tip, guys.
Mike: Don't call your wife your current wife. that all like
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: Right. We went to Hawaii. While we were there, we went to Pearl Harbor. Are you are either of you veterans?
Dave: Hmm. yeah No, Philz works a lot with the VA though, yeah.
Mike: Yep, yep. Oh yeah, the the closest, I'm not brave enough to serve. The closest I ever got to serving was when my wife and I got in a fight at Pearl Harbor.
Dave: bit
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: It was the second biggest fight at Pearl Harbor. You know, that was an emotional day, though, to be honest. I cried twice that day. The first time looking into the water and just thinking about the warplanes that came in and they killed 2 ,400 members of our military.
Mike: Yeah. And then I cried again in the gift shop when I saw you could buy a Hello Kitty Pearl Harbor Memorial coffee mug. So the Japanese won twice. good Um... my ah My wife can be loud in bed sometimes. She was so loud the other night that our neighbors called the cops, and I probably would have gotten arrested if I'd been there.
Mike: something
Mike: But I find kids, kids she has she has a son.
Dave: what year
Mike: um So my stepson, i I find kids to be entitled these days. You know, he wanted a car, but he doesn't have a job or any money. So he asked me to start a GoFundMe for him. So instead I created my own app called GoFundYourself.
Mike: When you open it up, it's just job listings.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: I don't really talk too much about Donald Trump, but because especially the climate here in Phoenix, it's kind of hard to talk about him. But um this joke is neutral.
Dave: yeah
Mike: It's not positive or negative about him. It's just an observation is that six years ago during COVID, he was president and. You couldn't find toilet paper. And now he's president again and eggs are really expensive.
Mike: So he stopped teenage vandalism.
petgordon: a
Mike: We'll see what happens to spray paint during his third term. do There are a couple of conspiracy theories that I like.
petgordon: Okay.
Mike: One is called Birds Aren't Real. And I don't know if you've heard of this, but people think that birds...
petgordon: Bye -bye.
Mike: Yeah, some people think birds have been replaced by government drones that are up in the sky spying on us. And I don't know if it's true or not, but my car is covered in drone shit.
Dave: yes
Mike: food And there's an old conspiracy theory called pizzagate. where people thought that like a bunch of politicians and actors Their dad kidnapped all these children and they were keeping them in the basement. of a pizza place called Comet Ping Pong.
Mike: but this This guy showed up heavily armed to save the children that were locked in the basement at Comet Ping Pong.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: And he went in with his guns and he learned that. they don't even have a basement at Comet Ping Pong. So he realized that he'd been misled, but it was too late. He had already gone and he turned himself into police. That guy's still in prison today. And in the meantime, the children are still locked in the attic.
petgordon: a
Mike: you And then I just got a Yelp review, which is weird because I don't own in a business. Yeah. And it turns out I opened it up. I read it. It was from my ex -wife and said one star would not recommend.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: So now, so I showed it to my new wife and now I have a second Yelp review. And she said, oh man, I should have read that first review.
Dave: laughter
Mike: All right, that's all I've got today, guys.
Dave: Very good.
petgordon: Hey!
Dave: It's that. Yeah.
Mike: Thank you. Thank you
petgordon: Fantastic!
Dave: See
petgordon: Dave, is that you or were we joined by a Bond villain with a cat?
Mike: Thank you.
Mike: Yes.
Dave: I have a cat here for a second. all right Hey, Mike was mentioning earlier that his wife is is a singer. And, Mike, I was going to mention that you guys, if she comes down and performs here, I'd love to go see her sometime. Sounds like... ah uh she's got a great voice and then a wide variety of songs she does and i'd love to see her so let us know You're welcome.
Mike: Yeah, so there' it's fun.
petgordon: Oh that sounds fantastic.
Mike: Yeah, there's a bar that started up here. It's a wine bar called Turquoise. And um she sings there. And then they asked, they found out I did comedy and they asked me to put on a show there.
Mike: So that was a couple of years ago. And now they've expanded, they've franchised out. And I've been doing shows at the different turquoise. ah My wife sings at them. I do comedy shows there.
Mike: And we just did one a couple nights ago. And so there's a new one that's opening or just opened in Tucson. So I think we're going to be coming down there. She'll be singing. Hopefully I'll be able to set up a comedy show.
Mike: and Yeah, and have some fun.
petgordon: Well, we will be there for sure.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: We will be there for sure. the many shades of The Many Shades of Turquoise.
Mike: I'll have to book you guys
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: ah mike before we get lost in more conversation i know you've got a couple of shows coming up uh at uh in the phoenix area wanted to tell us about him
Mike: Yeah, so I've got some some big shows and I've got some also smaller shows that are going to be super fun. But ah the the the things that I'd like to talk about, um I would love people to come out to Stir Crazy, at which is at Westgate, October 9th and 10th.
Mike: I'll be hosting four shows for a national touring comedian named Monroe Martin, who's very funny. So, yeah, so I'm looking forward to that. This will be my second time hosting at Stir Crazy and it's super fun.
Mike: it's It's such a great room. I really love it.
petgordon: I'll be gone.
Mike: And then I'm also, I'm on a showcase at JP's Comedy Club in Gilbert.
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave: Oh sure.
Mike: October 22nd. And that's a bringer show. So i need to I need to bring at least three people. So if anyone watching this wants to come.
petgordon: Hey, come on out.
Mike: If you want a comp ticket Yeah, follow me on Instagram, photoaz. PhotoAZ33.
petgordon: Oh yeah.
Mike: on Instagram and I'll get you a comp ticket. There's a two -item minimum, but they're ah they're not very expensive, and it's always a great show there. And then um I have a show at a... ah a wine bar called grapes and hops and forgive me but i don't i don't remember the date offhand Um,
petgordon: Okay, check your website, hi your Facebook page.
Mike: and then um Yeah, on on my Instagram page, yeah. And then... Um, I'm also, uh, I'm, I'm heading to, I, so the last time I posted at stir crazy, the guy who was featuring his name is Mark masters. He has a podcast and he's out of Denver. And um he's he booked a show in Beaver, Utah.
Mike: at a bar called the bearded beaver and he asked me to go with him so i'm gonna be performing at the Bearded Beaver in Utah a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Done.
petgordon: Okay I, you know. want to just say before you go further you've hit on a couple of our favorite places uh jp's of course is the initials for Jim Perry.
petgordon: who is both the owner and the stand -up comic, and he was a guest here on Is This On? when we did this as a radio show.
Mike: Oh great.
petgordon: We put out a call for stand -up and... Jim is known as the comedy cop.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: He's a former cop, and he does a lot of jokes. You recall this, Dave, of course. But he was great. And then you mentioned stir crazy. I am a very good friend of the owner of one of the owners of Stern Crazy, Tom Simes.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: who is a great comic himself. And he and I go way back. I can picture myself standing in a line. at the open mic at the comedy spot. years ago that's what i got to know tom
Mike: Oh wow. Yeah.
petgordon: And I must say, I think I've shared this with you before, Dave.
Dave: That kind of stuff, mm -hmm.
petgordon: Everybody has their complaints about different open mics, you know, and I love Comedy Spot. Sean Dillingham, who ran that, did a great job, I thought. but Tom had a few complaints, and when we'd be in line, he'd go, I'll tell you what.
petgordon: I'm going to run a comedy club one day, and I'm going to do it right. And darn if he hasn't done that.
Mike: Oh yeah.
petgordon: What a room. Stir Crazy is a Vegas showroom.
Mike: Yeah
petgordon: It's just beautiful.
Mike: I owe a lot of my comedy. I've been doing comedy for about four years. And I owe a lot of it to Tom and Disturb Crazy. I took a comedy class there with a woman named Deanne Kincaid, who unfortunately passed away right after my class.
petgordon: Oh, I know her. Yes.
Dave: Hmm.
Mike: Yeah, so I i was...
petgordon: That's like but quite recently, right?
Mike: Yeah, it was almost four years ago now. but
petgordon: Oh God, it seems sooner.
Mike: Yeah. Time goes so quick now, doesn't it?
petgordon: She was great
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: She was great
Mike: but She was great. And yeah, and so she taught she was my first comedy teacher. And then she passed away right after the class that I was in.
petgordon: Wow.
Mike: She started another class and then and then b Brian Kahatsu took it over for her.
petgordon: Oh my God.
Mike: um b briant's Brian's great too.
petgordon: I had a good friend too, a great improviser also.
Mike: Yeah. And so um I, but I owe a lot to Tom and to stir crazy because after that uh tom tom would do these workshops with touring comedians that wanted to come in and talk to people about joke writing.
Mike: um ah Dennis Regan came in and he gave us a workshop and Tom invited me.
petgordon: oh
Mike: And then Tom did a hosting workshop and he invited me to that. And so he's helped me build my career throughout. And then he gave me a chance. I want to show you something. If I can grab this real fast. Sorry.
petgordon: Please do.
Mike: um This is, I don't know if you'll be able to see it very well. This is um the first time I hosted at StarCase.
petgordon: yeah We see it.
Mike: there's There's my check. My first professional check.
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave: that Great.
Mike: And then... um This is Monique Marvez, who is a ah brilliant.
petgordon: oh
Mike: Torrent comic.
Dave: Mm -hmm.
Mike: And Mark Masters there, that's who I'm going to Beaver, Utah with.
petgordon: Yeah, and there you are.
Mike: but i had this I had this framed and I had them sign it for me and I kept my check.
petgordon: Oh wow.
Mike: Because that made me a professional comic right there.
petgordon: wow Okay.
Dave: Nice.
Mike: Sam.
petgordon: well you might you might be able to pass that electronically and still keep the check like You shouldn't get...
Mike: ah i I deposited the check. yeah I deposited it first, yeah.
petgordon: Oh, very good. We're happy to hear that. we're happy to hear that
Dave: So, Mike, before we let you go, you meant you know, your wife is a performer like you. Do you ever do you ever consider teaming up and doing ah an act with her?
Mike: No, no, she doesn't find me funny yeah i' I'm kidding.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: She does.
Dave: That's perfect.
Mike: she She does like my humor, but um no, she. She is has been a professional singer for a long time, and I'm still pretty much a novice comic. you know So i I think I'm pretty good.
Mike: I get good feedback. but i'm I'm not in her world yet. So.
Dave: I like that. I'll bet you get more laughs than she does.
Mike: Yeah, I hope so.
petgordon: ha
Mike: I hope so.
petgordon: well that's funny well we think you're
Mike: She she carries a tin.
Dave: No.
petgordon: We think you're just great.
Dave: Looking forward to hearing her sometime.
petgordon: We enjoyed your set.
Dave: That'd be great. yeah
petgordon: what you you talk Mike, about the classes you've taken and the importance of writing. Who, um other than the folks you mentioned that you work with, how about, you know, the big dogs?
petgordon: What comics have influenced you?
Mike: So I would say probably, I don't write a lot of long stories. this is You asked about my wife, Dave. My wife really likes storyteller comics. And so I'm more kind of a setup punch.
Mike: And yeah, and so um she she does think I'm funny, but I'm not her favorite style.
Dave: one -liner
Mike: She wants to turn me into a storyteller.
Dave: That's what it is.
Mike: but im
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: I... I think that would be great, but I'm not there at this point. I do a little bit different. So um so I love people like Stephen Wright and Mitch Hedberg.
Dave: Mm hmm.
Mike: Yeah, i think I think those guys were brilliant.
Dave: Yeah. Yeah.
Mike: um So. Yeah, Mitch Hedberg, are you familiar with him?
Dave: Absolutely.
petgordon: Absolutely.
Dave: Yeah, love him.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: Yeah.
Mike: Yeah, so those are those are probably my...
petgordon: And Stephen Wright, of course. Of course, Stephen Wright, not exactly a storyteller.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: He's certainly a setup and a punch.
Mike: Yeah, for sure, for sure. and then ah
petgordon: Ah.
Mike: i i Growing up, I loved Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor and you know all all those guys, but I don't feel like i don't feel like they're necessarily...
petgordon: oh yeah yeah
Mike: ah an influence on my style at all they just wanted me they they just made me want to become a comic but i i am to completely i don't have the energy for robin williams or the improvisational skills or you know and and just yeah eddie murphy brilliant and
petgordon: Yeah. Sure.
Dave: It was good.
Mike: Yeah, if i could if I could be one one -millionth what those guys are, I'd be happy.
Dave: Yep. Yep.
Mike: Yeah.
petgordon: Well, that'd be great.
Dave: Absolutely.
petgordon: I'll tell you, we're so happy you joined us today. and i won't share too much with our audience but you're a very patient man we had a few technical difficulties getting this going so you've got you've got the the patience i'm sure your second wife appreciates Hey, we will look forward to seeing you both when you come down to Turquoise.
Mike: um
Dave: Which we appreciate, yeah.
Mike: That's okay. it was it
Mike: yeah
petgordon: here in Tucson, and hearing your wife sing and seeing you do comedy again. And well we won't force you to do political comedy. It's been great to have you with us. Mike Harris is here.
petgordon: go support him out there go to his jp shows he needs to Put a couple of bucks in the seats. We all know how that goes. Dave any closing thoughts?
Dave: No, I just think we had a really nice time visiting with your bike. you're very funny and we look forward to seeing you on stage and uh i looked up turquoise it's not far it's i think it's on grant it's not far away from us so
petgordon: Oh, fantastic.
Mike: Oh great.
Dave: Okay.
petgordon: Already open.
Dave: We'll have to check check it out sometime, yeah.
Mike: is
petgordon: Good to hear. yeah you We like wine, Dave.
Dave: Yeah.
Mike: Great. Yeah.
petgordon: All right. We'll see you there. If we don't see you before that. ah We've been just delighted to have you. Mike Harris. Phoenix Comics, soon to be worldwide. Thanks for joining us Mike.
Mike: Thank you. Thank you guys for having me. I appreciate it.
Dave: Yep.
Mike: It's been fun.
petgordon: Bye Dave.
Dave: Our pleasure. Our pleasure.
