Sorry for the breaks, hope you had a good Christmas. The Top 5 Lists continue this week…

The Top 5 Character comedians of 2009 by John Kensil

5.) Jackie Lincoln – The only Abraham Lincoln Impersonator comedian seen at two Chip Chantry One Man Shows At the Khyber Pass as portrayed by John Kensil (sorry if it seems ego stroking on my part but so what? it’s funny)

4.) Johnny Goodtimes as the 1920’s Comic at Chip Chantry’s one man show salute to history special. Lines like- ” I like my women like I like my airplanes….BI”

3.) Roger C. Snair a real character who is Brendan Kennedy’s own Larry Bud Melman/Play write extraordinare/political/ social/flea market vendor Libertarian commentator

2.) Bing Supernova, Chip Chantry’s alter ego and invincible soapbox pontificating pseudo intellectual Ignatius J. Reilly.

1.) Fastball Pitcher Bob Guitteriez, brilliantly funny and mesmerizing motivational speaker, with a Chicago accent so thick you could cut it with a chainsaw, that could talk and mingle and captivate a crowd all night.

-Notable mention- WID

-Notable mention – The guy who walked out behind Pat House all year as about 20 different characters as per the Youtube Videos.

Aaron Hertzog’s 5 Favorite Shows of 2009

Chip Chantry’s One Man Show (With Special Guests) Moon Landing Spectacular
Don Montrey’s excellent Die Actor Die show at the Khyber is thought of by many in the city as the beginning of the “new” Philly comedy scene. The show is really responsible for bringing together sketch and stand up and helping form the tight knit community that continues to grow with shows like Bedtime Stories, The Ministry of Secret Jokes, the great PHIT lineup at the Shubin, and numerous other independent shows in the city. When Die Actor Die finally ended its run at the Khyber, Chip Chantry stepped up to keep the tradition of a Monday night variety show alive. Another tradition Chip kept alive was a summer sketch contest (previously DAD’s Dirtiest Sketch contest.) When his July show fell on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the topic for his sketch contest became clear. The night was filled with great sketches from some of the mainstays of the sketch community along with sketches put together by stand ups. The show was a hit from beginning to end as all of the sketches were well received by the packed in crowd. After the show, many of the performers stayed and hung out at the bar and sang karaoke. I posted on my Twitter after the show: “nights like tonight remind me why i want to do this forever” because it was one of those magic nights where everything comes together – a great crowd and a great show with the people that make doing comedy fun.

The Ministry of Secret Jokes: Bachelor Party Edition
Doogie Horner was getting married, and he decided to celebrate by bringing back The Ministry of Secret Jokes from its temporary hiatus – and he brought it back with a bang. The show was packed with great games and bits – from the team comedy of Mike Rainey and Roger Weaver – to the worst man speech competition bringing the worst out of Gregg Gethard and Chip Chantry – to Emily McGraw completely baffling Brendan Kennedy, James Hesky, and Pat Barker in “What’s Wrong.” The night ended with The Legendary Wid taking the stage at Fergie’s and destroying – literally and figuratively. He stormed the stage armed with buckets of his visual aids and his razor sharp, super quick wit. His usual manic act was intensified by the fact he was performing in such a small stage area and the crowd reacted with laughs, applause, and in the ultimate act of praise, a chant of “Wid, Wid, Wid…”

Johnny Goodtimes’ Backyard Extravaganza
A show in someone’s backyard might sound like a recipe for disaster – but when you combine great comedians, a keg of beer, about 30 crowd members eager for comedy and willing to go along wherever the comics take them – and its all done for a good cause – you get one of the top nights of the year for comedy in the city. JGT’s backyard is the ideal size for a get together like this – and the crowd he attracted for the show was ready to laugh and have a great time.

Brendan Kennedy’s Guilty Pleasures presents: Fructose: A play by Roger C. Snair
I have seen the rotating cast of Brendan’s show perform this script twice, and each time I laughed so hard I cried. The story takes place in a gay bar name Fructose, and the cast of characters range from the bizarre to the even more bizarre. The play is filled with great moments, sometime characters will speak in rhyme, there is one point when two characters in separate places long for love (or lust) and don’t realize there is someone out there looking for the same thing as them, and the monologue delivered by a priest presiding over a wedding at the end of the show will make you want to stand and hum the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Brendan has talked of making a short film from the script, and I pray that he does.

Chip Chantry Presents: Stay With Me at The Shubin Theater
Chip Chantry had a plan: a plan to take comedians and put them in front of a crowd to deliver their deepest, darkest material – and instead of receiving moans and groans be loved for their morose thoughts. His plan came to fruition at the Shubin Theater, where a well informed crowd who definitely knew what they were getting into gathered to watch comedians take the stage and talk about the dark side of life. I performed on this show, and there is a real feeling of catharsis that comes from saying things you usually can’t – and having people agree with you (or at least laugh at it.) Everyone on the show had great sets – and one of my favorite new jokes of the year was born in Kent Haines’ “Playing House/Playing Guns” bit.

Amie Roe, improviser

1.) Chip Chantry as Bing Supernova. Love the delivery, love the beret.

2.) M@&. Brilliant. Matt Holmes. Improv. Consistently one of my favorite improv shows in the city.

3.) The rise of Fletcher. Kudos to the consistent growth of what I consider to be Philly’s top act in long form improv. My favorite Fletcher moment? Their amazing set representing the Philly Improv Theater at the 2009 Del Close Improv Marathon in New York City to an absolutely packed house. Anyone there will remember this set for its unwavering focus on Kristen Schier’s nipples.

4.) Dirty Jokes Every Man Should Know, edited by Doogie Horner. Oops. I read this and I’m a woman. I still loved it.

5.) Murmurings of a permanent home for the Philly Improv Theater (PHIT). No matter what happens, its fucking fun to see PHIT in the City Paper gossip column. Regardless of what 2010 brings, these kinds of efforts make me optimistic about the future of Philly comedy.

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