Tired of the Conan vs. Leno wars and just want to see some sweet video interviews? Local stand-up Pat Barker has been filming his talks with other Philly comedians lately and putting them up for all of the world to see on Youtube. Here’s one with comic Aaron Hertzog where Mike Jones pops in. No, not that Mike Jones.

And here’s another after Chip Chantry’s Santa Hangover show with Pat House.

There are more interviews with the likes of Joe Murdock (feat. Stu Kamens) and Bing Supernova on Pat’s Youtube page.

To learn more Pat Barker and where you can see him live, check out and join The Official Pat Barker Comedy Group. As an added incentive, Pat will donate $500 to charity if 2,000 people join in 2010.

As we count down the hours until 2010, here are the last of the Top 5 of 2009 lists from Philadelphia comedians.

The Top Five Bits By Philly Comics Of 2009 by Luke Giordano

5. AARON HERTZOG’S “SCIENCE TEACHER”

This bit is the summation of what Aaron Hertzog is onstage. It includes a fundamental misunderstanding of the opposite sex, the sexualization of food, the self-realization of his own absurd behavior, and not least of all, funny noises. This bit is so steeped in adolescent fantasy that Aaron actually uses pornographic movies as the logical basis for his assumption that his presumably middle aged science teacher wants to have sex with him as well as a justification for her insistence that he barter the answers to a 9th grade science test for sexual favors. And Aaron never really says that he thinks any of this is a bad idea. You even get a sense that porn is the ONLY point of reference for him from this bit. The very notion of all this would be ridiculous and absurd to the point of criminal if it didn’t make absolute sense from a male viewpoint. OF COURSE he should have made those two girls suck his dick for letting them cheat off his science test. OF COURSE his post-menopausal science teacher wanted to teach him the ways of lovemaking and usher him into manhood. Why wouldn’t she? But Aaron seals off the absurdity of the bit with an exasperated, “I’m a fucking idiot” at the end, acknowledging the reality after two minutes of fantasy, bringing us back down to Earth.

Also, he wiggles around and says “yum yum yum.”

4. DOOGIE HORNER’S “GENTLEMANLY CUSTOMS” / “EAGLES”

These bits really showcase the two different sides of Doogie’s style of comedy. In the first bit, he rips the carpet out from under the concepts of chivalry and gentlemanly sacrifice by sneaking up behind us rather than with a direct assault of. He uses examples in an extended flight of fancy to show us why these accepted practices are stupid rather than simply telling us that they are stupid. And as with a lot of Doogie’s longer bits, the comedy’s all in the precision and the details. He builds the scenario he’s created to a rapid fire climax and cuts the whole thing down with a bit of appropriate non-sequitur smut.

The Eagles bit is just a great short joke. And it instills the audience with a great visual — the mighty majestic eagle, that symbol of power, engaged in what has to be very awkward bird sex.

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As we count down the hours until 2010, here are more Top 5 of 2009 lists from Philadelphia comedians.

Doogie Horner, stand-up, host of The Ministry of Secret Jokes

5. Henry Foley vs. Luke Giordano at the Raven Lounge debate

The Raven debate is always entertaining, but this match was especially interesting because of the contestant’s diametrically opposite approaches. The debate was, Who would be a better wingman: Darth Vader or Scorpion from Mortal Kombat? Luke had Vader and Foley had Scorpion. Foley took an early lead as the crowd favorite, being very personable and friendly, and clearly having fun. Luke came in all business. He appeared confident that his superior knowledge of Star Wars would give him an edge, but it actually worked against him since the crowd didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about. Foley easily walked all over him until the final round when he suggested that Scorpion would use his trademark “Get over here!” move to snare women from across the bar. The crowd thought that was really funny until Luke—in a stunning comeback—explained that what Foley had described was basically ninja rape.

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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”

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If you live in the city of Philadelphia, no doubt you’ve heard about the return of NBA point guard Allen Iverson to the Sixers, which has electrified some of the city. His first game back was this past Monday and Gregg Gethard and Aaron Hertzog that I do The Holding Court Podcast with were there to take it all in. Enjoy!

Folks, in my free time when I’m not writing here (which is pretty much most of my day), chances are you’ll find me either reading, listening, playing or watching basketball. So the new podcast I’m doing with local comics Gregg Gethard and Aaron Hertzog, The Holding Court Podcast, makes sense. We just recorded our first show of this weekly podcast that will try to take a humorous glance at the National Basketball Association. You really don’t need to know a lot about the league, or even care at all, but hopefully we are being funny with it. So check it out, follow through Facebook and Twitter, and let me know what you think!

This week, Gregg Gethard performs on a new show in Philadelphia.

Last night was awesome.

It was one of those nights that reminded me why I love performing comedy so much. The guys from Camp Woods, this new sketch group who have burst upon the local comedy scene with the fiery intensity of 100 fireballs, have started up a show at the Starlight Ballroom. For those not in the know, the Starlight Ballroom is a really big local music venue that is usually home to decent sized indie bands touring through the area. Having a show at this place is huge for the Philly comedy scene.

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Working a big room like the Helium Comedy Club is a great experience in itself for a young comedian, but the chance to work with a big name takes it a step further. It happened recently to Pete Kuempel (profile) who had the opportunity to open for a “comedy hero” of his, Norm MacDonald. In the video below, Pete struggles to be a “co-worker” or “colleague” of Norm, if you will, while also being a big fan of a guy that he grew up watching. Luke Giordano (profile) and Aaron Hertzog (profile) follow him along the way to make fun and to hold the camera.

There were two shows of competition this evening, which means double the comics advancing to the next round.

From the early show, H. Foley, David Ray and Jared Gillespie will be moving on to the semi-finals on Saturday, August 8th.

And from the late show, comics Doogie Horner, Aaron Hertzog and Vince Patterson will be going on to the next round.

There is no contest show tomorrow (Kevin Nealon instead), but it’ll all resume Saturday with another double-header.

Sometimes the title says it all, right? Local comics Luke Giordano (profile) and Aaron Hertzog (profile) have a new web series called “Luke and Aaron are Comedians” in which the pair discuss their material and find ways to tweak it with the never-ending goal of being funnier. Or, as Aaron puts it, “it’s the Jerry Seinfeld movie Comedian but a view from the bottom.”

In this episode, Aaron tries to find a better way to end his King Kong bit while Luke and other comics Pete Kuempel (profile) and Blake Wexler jab at him.