Donta Touchee Jackson: June 4th, 1974 – July 1st, 2013
Hey bartender how much are well drinks? $10!?!
Well, I guess I won’t be drinking.
– Touchee Jackson
News of Touchee Jackson’s death came out of left field. Within hours everyone in the Houston comedy community came abuzz. A flurry of frantic calls and texting eventually confirmed the worst, we lost one of our own.
Laff Town Comedy and Saint Danes Bar and Grill have teamed up to put together a summertime comedy contest. It will take place at Saint Danes, 502 Elgin, on Thursdays starting July 11th. The competition is 6 weeks long with the preliminary rounds on July 11th, 18th, 25, and August 1st. The semi-final round is on August 8th and the Finals will take place on August 15th. Each night the contest will begin at 9 pm.
The contest is open to anyone 18 and over. Sixty is the maximum amount of contestants and the deadline to enter July 1st. The guaranteed prize money for 1st place is $1000, 2nd place $250 and 3rd place is $100. 2nd and 3rd place money may increase depending on number of contestants.
For more information and all contest rules visit www.lafftowncomedy.com.
Edited by: Magee Miller
Winner of The 2012 Boston Comedy Festival Paul Oddo is regular in New York’s alternative scene. During his first year doing comedy Paul Oddo tied with Sam Demaris for Funniest Person in 2002’s Houston’s Funniest Person Contest. A coin was tossed and Sam won that year.
Nominated Best Local Comedian by The Houston Press in 2006, Paul Oddo is comedian that even the most jaded local comedians love to hear. Paul took some time off from shows & self promotion to catch up and tell us what he’s been up to.
Compiled &Edited by Al Bahmani
Recently, John Wessling asked Houston comics, “What do you wish someone would've taught you before you started comedy?”.
Edited By Al Bahmani
I had to take a moment to point out this bit of irony.
The person who is offended by those who take offense to their offensive “jokes”.
Houston Improv Festival
Midtown Art Center
3414 La Branch
Houston, TX
April 18-21, 2013
Interview by David Gavri
Among most stand up comics there is general ignorance about improv. Some like Robert Klein and Joan Rivers embrace it and incorporate it into their act. Others sneer at it and see no value in it at all. Then there are those who just don’t understand it. Like it or not, turn on a television and flip it onto any channel improv is on. Go to the movies improv is on. Way before late funny man Johnathan Winters became the voice of Papa Smurf, he was known for his comedy improvisations. Homer Simpson was a Second City player. So was Academy Award winner Mike Nichols. So were Emmy Award winners Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, Tina Fey. So was John Belushi, Bill Murray and most of the original cast of Saturday Night Live were too. Jon Lovitz, Elvira, Will Ferrell, Pee Wee Herman and Phil Hartman were in the Groundlings. Amy Poehler was a founding member of Upright Citizens Brigade. Former stand up comic Larry David employs improvisation into every episode ‘Curb Your Enthusiam’. Recently Station Theater has acquired a studio space. We sit down with Station Theater artistic director Lisa Friedrich and Station Theater manager Antoine Culbreath and try to bridge that gap of misunderstanding.
July 7, 1965- March 14th 2013
Scott Kennedy had an impact on many lives. Look at his Facebook page and you will see how loved he was. He recently passed away. A great article by Dave Holmes was written in the Huffington Post recently highlighting his life and some of his accomplishments. There should be one more honor bestowed upon this American hero. The Presidential Citizens Medal. We can all nominate him by going to the official website. The deadline to nominate him is March 31. You need to fill out some information on the page about him.
Name: Scott Kennedy
Age: 48
City: Austin
State: Texas
Explanation of why he should be considered…
If you knew him, that should be easy. If not, just read the Huffington Post article.
Official Website
Get the word out about this nomination. Together we can make it happen!
By; Stephanie Fisher
Consistently one of the most enjoyable parts of my week is the day where I record a new episode of my podcast, Happy Human Hour. It’s a great deal of fun getting to spend time with a new group of comedians just riffing and goofing around each week. Something no one really tells you about podcasting is just how much work, time and responsibility deciding to do a weekly podcast is. Since starting Happy Human Hour in July of last year, I lost my podcast partner who was a close guy friend of mine and had to revamp the show entirely. Notice how I said he was my close guy friend. Continue reading
Comedy Scene In Houston 