Join The Sixth Borough as they explore a Philadelphia neighborhood that few have dared to explore and even fewer have survived: Fairmount!

Hi, Dave here, the guy that writes pretty much all of these posts. Just wanted to let you know that I was recently on the UsedWigs Radio podcast. We played songs, talked about comedy and music and I tried to be funny. There was also an interview with Greg Fitzsimmons. You can listen through iTunes or here. Thanks Jeff, Russ and Todd!

Admit it, you felt something deep down inside this morning and you know what it means. It’s time again for THE MINISTRY OF SECRET JOKES at Fergie’s Pub (1214 Sansom) hosted by stand-up Doogie Horner.

Tonight’s show features Powerpoint Wizard Jon Goff, Justin Williams, and Pete Kuempel, music by Emily McGraw of The Sixth Borough, an Omniana battle between champ Brendan Kennedy and Mike Rainey plus The Three Faces of John Kensil (see above).

And wouldn’t you know it, tonight is the one-year anniversary of the showcase. Yep, it’s been a year since we put up the original poster of the show that has captured the hearts of many. Oh how far we’ve all come, right?

R.O. Manse

Reginald Orland Manse is a British new wave singer that has a new Best of R.O. Manse compilation out now on AST Records. In this interview with Dave Walk of The C vs. A Radio Hour, he discusses the ups and downs of his career and the inspiration behind some of his hit songs.

Subscribe to the podcast feed (iTunes)

If this doesn’t directly take you to iTunes, copy and paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/cvsa_podcast_feed into iTunes through Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast…)

(Feel free to write a review in iTunes!)

Subscribe to the podcast feed (in another podcast reader)

Listen to this episode (40:19):

Download this episode (as a .mp3)

Check back later in the week for a bonus podcast with R.O. Manse!

PAOLI, PA: The economy may be down, but spirits were up today at XMarx Accounting, where human resources secretary Candy Ferber received almost four compliments on her new kelly green lady’s jumper.

“It’s like treat day- and it’s only Wednesday!” beams Ferber, a squat, jolly woman in her mid-forties, as she applies foundation makeup to her glistening jowls.

“Doesn’t she look lovely? That shade of green really brings out your beautiful eyes, Candy!” exclaims 72-year old Janine Warzak, from across the break room. “The men will be lined up at your scrapbooking class tonight!”

Ferber has been an employee at XMarx for 12 years, not counting the six months she took leave in 1999, after finding her fiancee had hung himself in her foyer. “She’s had a rough go of it”, loudly whispers Warzak. “All’s she’s got in this world is this job and those four cats of hers. And at least none of ‘em can fashion a noose, if you know what I mean”, confides Warzak, while not-so-subtly pantomiming hanging herself.

“She looks… very… professional. Very… nice,” states Ferber’s boss, XMarx Human Resources VP Mark Ingraham. “Candy has worked for me for three years now, and does a real… bang-up job.” Ferber was assigned to Ingraham in 2006 after it was revealed that Ingraham was having and extra-marital affair with his former secretary, 22-year old Allison McCarthy. “The board of directors… and my wife… felt that Candy would be a perfect match for me. And she sure can… make a… strong cup of Joe,” offers Ingraham as he gazes downward.

When asked how much she’d paid for the green corduroy dress, Ferber bellowed, “Not a penny! When my Aunt Barbara died, my mother and I were cleaning out her closet at the home, and it jumped right out at me! I guess why they call it a ‘jumper’!” she chuckled as she tugged at her orange turtleneck and fixed her bob haircut.

“Well, it suits you just perfectly. Earth tones are really your look!” gushed office gay-guy Jeffrey Combs.

Not all the reviews were positive though. “I mean, she looks like an island of sadness wrapped in a Home Depot smock”, laments salesman Jim Mullin. “Call a spade a spade. Don’t toy with its emotions. She’ll turn on you, like that one circus bear on When Animals Attack Their Owners or whatever the hell it’s called.”

“At least she’s not wearing yellow again”, states receptionist Gail Kensil. “What a terrible day for her. I have never seen adults be so cruel.”

Some employees were unaware that Ferber was even wearing a new outfit today. “Wait- Candy? That’s her actual name?” asked accountant Peter Chin. “I thought people called her that because she’s always eating Milky Ways. No shit.”

Kelly green is a drastic change for Ferber, who usually dons denim frocks or long, gray sweatshirts over black stretch pants.

“At least I THINK they’re stretch pants- who knows?” adds Mullin, as he crushes a cigarette butt in the water fountain. “I mean, I thought she was a man for the first few months she was here. I got her a copy of Girls Gone Wild for Secret Santa that year. How the fuck was I supposed to know?”

Luckily, those sentiments were not shared with the gal in green.

“I have an extra spring in my step today! Ferber boasts. “Which is weird, because this is the first time I have worn dress shoes since my color guard reunion dinner in January!”

So, the question is: Will the kelly green jumper be making more appearances to the office?

“Are you kidding?! This is my new lucky outfit! I might win the office raffle tomorrow! SHOW ME THE MONEY!”

What a positive outlook. This reporter is just green with envy.

Chip Chantry is a Philadelphia stand-up comedian

This evening, the Japanese Association of Greater Philadelphia is putting on what they believe to be the first Rakugo event in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Sq.) starting at 7PM.

Rakugo is a Japanese storytelling format that is believed to have begun in the 18th century. The lone storyteller (Rakugoka, 落語家) sits on stage and with only a paper fan (扇子, “sensu”) and a cloth (手拭, “tenugui”) as props telling a comedic story from multiple points of view. The story usually ends with a final punchline called an ochi (落ち, lit. “fall”) or sage (下げ, lit. “lowering”) that is the culmination of the entire tale. Because everything leads up to this final laugh, its a significant amount of commitment on the storyteller’s part to “setup” the punchline.

Naturally there are Rakugo performances on Youtube and here’s one from California:

Sanyutei Kyouraku and Sanyutei Jinraku from Toyko will be performing tonight (with English subtitles) and tickets are still available.

Previously mentioned in this recap of their live show “Depression Isn’t Just A River in Egypt”.

Our bi-weekly comedy talk show returns tonight from 7-8PM EST with our friends at Gtownradio.com (The Sound From Germantown).

Your host Dave Walk will be talking to comedians, playing not-funny songs and other great stuff, so make sure to set your internet dial to Gtownradio.com. Who will be on the show this week?

R.O. Manse is a legendary British new wave singer that has a new “Best Of…” compilation out now on AST Records.

Plus we’ll play clips from the new stand-up comedy CDs by Jim Gaffigan and John Mulaney.

Remember, that’s 7-8PM TONIGHT Eastern Standard Time U.S.A., streaming at Gtownradio.com. If you want to join in, instant message us in the studio on AIM, or Gchat at CVSARADIO or through Twitter (@comicvsaudience).

By the way, you can listen to G-Town Radio on your iPhone or iPod Touch!

There were funny comedians at the monthly Chip Chantry’s One-Man Show w/ Special Guests this past Monday, but none if it quite compared to retired Fastball Pitcher Bob Gutierrez. Bob first came to the stage to talk about his career in the Chicago Cubs and Canadian minor league farm systems, share some tips on cheap living, read from his still-unpublished autobiography and even to sing both parts of a duet.

But the real highlight of the night was the ‘Ask Bob’ segment at the end of the show where audience members asked Bob for life advice. One of Bob’s most important lessons: wear a cup everyday of your life and in the video below Bob shows why.

Apologies for the shaky camera work, this was my first try with the Flip cam.

Ladies and Gentleman, it’s happening again! THE COMIC VS. AUDIENCE COMEDY SHOW is coming to a town near you, specifically Philadelphia! ComicVsAudience.com and the Philly Improv Theater present a night of engaging and hilarious stand-up comedy with FIVE comedians this time.

Details:

The Comic Vs. Audience Comedy Show!
Monday, May 4th, 2009
8PM
at the Shubin Theatre
407 Bainbridge St.
ONLY FIVE AMERICAN DOLLARS (tickets on-sale soon with no creepy service fees!)

Featuring stand-up comedy by:
Johnny Goodtimes
Tommy Papa
Jack Martin
Kerri Lendo (from Austin, Texas)
Andy Nolan

And hosted by Dave Walk (he’ll have some jokes too)

And did we mention it’s BYOB?!?!?