Chip Chantry conducts this week's interview.

This week, Chip Chantry was kind enough to conduct an interview for our blog.  While the name Chip Chantry is most likely very familiar to any Helium fan, Bing Supernova may not be as recognizable.  Making appearances at Helium’s Tuesday Night Open Mic Extravaganza and shows throughout Philadelphia, Bing has started to earn a cult following.  In the following interview, Chip attempts to find out about Bing’s background and work in show business.

If you enjoy this interview (which I’m sure you will), be sure to check out Chip’s MySpace page or follow him on Twitter.  Bing Supernova can also be found on Twitter.

Bing Supernova

COMEDY LEGEND: This term elicits names as Hope, Bruce, Carlin, Pryor, Cable Guy, and Seinfeld. But in the world of comedy, there are other distinguished individuals who may not be a household name, yet possess a body of work so extensive, so exquisite, that the word “legend” surely applies.

Merely a local Philadelphia comedian with only a few years experience, I was honored to have the opportunity to sit down with a man who has, in fact, risen to legendary cult status in the comedy community. The following is a rare glimpse into the life of comedy legend, BING SUPERNOVA.

I told Mr. Supernova that we could meet at the restaurant of his choosing for the interview. He chose the lunch stand on the corner of Broad and Race. Mr. Armanjani, owner and operator, was kind enough to let Mr. Supernova and I cram into the aluminum trailer, pull up two milk crates, and get down to business.

CHIP CHANTRY: How did you get your start in show business?

BING SUPERNOVA: (As he reached for a powdered donut wrapped in cellophane while Mr. Armanjani wasn’t looking) I was drawn to the stage while attending Harvard University in the late 1960′s. My roommate, future Vice President Al Gore, encouraged me to act. Already a football star at Harvard, I decided to give it a go. I relocated to New York , and the rest is history.

CC: That wasn’t you. You just described actor Tommy Lee Jones.

BS: You have done your homework, young man. You’ve passed my test. NEXT QUESTION.

CC: OK… Onstage, you have a very commanding presence. But you never smile; in fact it looks almost as if you are not enjoying yourself up there.

BS: (after a few moments of silence). Oh, I’m sorry. Is there a question involved? Because I DO NOT ANSWER STATEMENTS.

CC: My apologies, sir. Do you enjoy yourself while onstage?

BS: Quite honestly, my boy, no. I do not find any of my “jokes” humorous. (Mr. Armanjani angrily grabbed the donut out of Bing’s hand. Bing defiantly licked his fingers). But for some reason, the imbeciles in this town find me hilarious. I merely state fact, and the masses laugh hysterically. Sheep!

CC: Well, then what DO you find funny?

BS: On summer days, I drive around in an old ice cream truck. Children hear me and come running. The little devils then order from the menu. I take their money, and instead of serving them their treats, I hand them a piece of paper that reveals the truth about Santa Claus. The looks on their faces are simply hilarious. I also greatly enjoy the 2nd season of Who’s The Boss. That Jonathan is quite a pip!

CC: Were you inspired from a young age to pursue a career in show business?

BS: Yes. As a young man, I would watch the film The Wizard of Oz over and over again. I would even recreate scenes with my sisters in our basement. My favorite scene was when Joan Wilder first meets Jack Colton in the Columbian Jungle.

CC: Excuse me?

BS: Yes, you remember- Joan’s bus breaks down, as she is heading to Cartagena to find her sister who has been kidnapped by Columbian drug dealers.

CC: That’s not the The Wizard of Oz. That’s the plot to the movie Romancing the Stone.

BS: It certainly is not! It’s the classic children’s story of a young girl named Dorothy, played superbly by the talented Kathleen Turner, who lands in a strange-

CC: No. Kathleen Turner is in Romancing the Stone. With Michael Douglas. Judy Garland was in The Wizard of Oz.

BS: You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The Wizard of Oz stars Kathleen Turner who, while in a strange land, befriends Michael Douglas, and they meet a munchkin played by Danny DeVito. At the end, the Wicked Witch has her hand bitten off by an alligator.

CC: If you say so. So, let’s-

BS: Was that sarcasm?

CC: What? No. I was just say-

BS: I was just saying-

CC: Let’s just move-

BS: Let’s just move on.

CC: Are you mimicking m-

BS: Are you mimicking me?

CC: Are you seri-

BS: Are you serious?

(We stared at each other, for what seemed like an eternity.)

BS: NEXT QUESTION.

CC: Fine. You are an actor as well as a standup comedian. If you could work with any comedic actor or actress, who would it be?

BS: It is my goal to someday work with the talented John Ritter. His brand of physical comedy is like none other. I have actually written a one-act play with he and I in mind. It’s an up-to-date Odd Couple meets Rent.

CC: You are aware that John Ritter passed away, right?

BS: What?

CC: Yes. He died in 2003. Here- look. (I showed him Ritter’s Wikipedia page on my iPhone).

BS: Surely this is some sort of… cruel joke. I… I… CURSES!!!!! ARRGGHH!!!

(At this point, Mr. Supernova, in a blind rage, leapt up and began tearing the lunch wagon apart. Mr. Armanjani, covered in ketchup and pieces of omelette, forced the two of us out of the trailer, while screaming something in his native language. Mr. Supernova was screaming back, also in a foreign tongue. The two men had a heated discussion, and then Mr. Supernova ran off.)

I caught up with him about a week later, in the front lounge at Helium Comedy Club.

CC: Do you have any regrets about your career?

BS: For six years, I only spoke in haiku form. What a waste. Oh, and I did a short time for involuntary manslaughter. I’ll never be able to look at a Christmas tree the same way again.

CC: If you could give some sound advice to the young comedians reading this, what would it be?

BS: One word: HYDRATION. Also, empty out a small tube of toothpaste. Refill the tube with cookie dough. Then tuck it into your sock. You’d be amazed at how many times this can get you out of a jam.

CC: Well, thank you Mr. Supernova. It’s been-

BS: And remember! Stop by the Hydrogen Comedy Club soon to witness Bing Supernova onstage! Can we take a caller?

CC: We’re not on the radio, sir.

 

Pat House is opening for Tom Rhodes tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.  Be sure to stop into Helium and see him perform!

Helium:  What made you decide to start performing stand-up?

Pat:  There were a few instances; I became interested in stand-up while in high school and thought ’that looks fun, I’d love to try that someday.’ Then during my freshman year of college I had seen a few live shows on campus, which pushed the idea even more, and then later that same year, I went to see Dave Attell, Lewis Black and Mitch Hedberg at The Tower Theatre and that was it. I knew I had to try it.

 H: When did you start taking interest in comedy at all?  

P: I remember being a kid and watching the HBO Comic Relief specials in the 80s. I had no clue what anything meant and I probably didn’t understand one thing the comics said, but I distinctly remember being amazed by the fact that these people were just making others laugh. I watched SNL and Letterman as a kid as well, but high school is really where my interest in stand-up peaked. I was watching a lot of Comedy Central and I began to take notice of certain comedians and I would quote their jokes.  It was definitely an interest I never had before because, it automatically felt like something I could do.

 H: Where do you get ideas for your material?

P: My life, really. I have jokes about drinking, college and situations that I’ve been in or that my friends have gone through. I like to think it’s sort of autobiographical.  

H: Who are you favorite comedians?  Do you ever get inspiration from them?

P: Ted Alexandro, Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Greg Giraldo, Christian Finnegan and Louis CK are definitely up at the top for me. I try to take a little bit from each of them because each one of them has their own unique style and a distinct voice in comedy. Whether it’s their ability to be honest and talk about everyday life or just great joke-writing, all of these comics have definitely had some sort of impact on me.

H: What is your favorite show that you’ve ever done?  Why?

P: Like my favorite comedians question, this one is also a little tricky. I hosted the “Comedy Central Live” tour with Giraldo, Burr and Birbiglia and that was just insane. It was my first theater gig, and if you haven’t quit reading this interview yet, you may remember that a few of my favorite comedians were on that show.

Then there are the nights where everything just goes perfectly – every joke hits, the off-the-cuff lines and the asides all hit, the crowd-work goes over perfectly, and you just think ‘no show can get better than that.’ It can be in front of 600 people or 12, when a crowd is ‘on’ and into what I have to say, it automatically becomes the best night.

 H: Do you have any advice for people that want to be comedians?

P: Stage time! Stage time! Stage time! Get on stage as much as possible. Any stage, anywhere (no matter how bad you think the room is). Hanging out at shows also helps too. Whether you didn’t make the list or you’re just there to hang out, it shows support – and people notice that. Also, try not to use the C-word too much.

H: Has there been any point in time that you have thought about stopping? 

P: No, not really. I’ve been discouraged many, many times but I don’t see myself ever quitting.  Comedy is constantly up and down.  And honestly, I feel that I’m in a bit of a slump right now, but that’s comedy. You learn to deal with it, you have your peaks and valleys, but you take the stage, do your best and hope for the best.

H: What makes you continue?

P: I just want to do comedy for a living. It’s definitely the dream job for me and I want to make it happen. Getting the crowd on board, getting them to see the world and experiences through your eyes and make them laugh is a rush I can’t even describe. I want that feeling every day.

 H: What is the writing process like for you; going from having a funny idea, to telling an actual joke?

P: I have no idea. I’m still trying to figure this comedy thing out. If someone could tell me, that would be great.

 I’ve done a million different things. I’ve written jokes and tried them that night, I’ve put jokes away for years before I even said them, I’ve gone off-the-cuff on-stage and prayed for a miracle. It really is all over the place.

Sometimes the best jokes come out of nowhere and they work the first time and boom – you got it, while other jokes (at least, in my case) need to do be done over and over for weeks or months to get it where I want it. 

H: What is your ultimate goal in comedy?

P: I just want to do stand-up for a living. If I were a nationally touring headliner with a solid fan-base, frequent gigs and a comfortable life provided just by telling jokes – that would be it for me!

Helium: What made you decide to start performing stand-up?

Pete: Making just my friends and family laugh was not enough for me.  I am constantly seeking other people’s approval and I like lots of positive attention.  Getting on stage was the best way I could think of to reach as many people as possible.
 
H: When did you start taking interest in comedy? 

P: I’ve loved stand-up comedy ever since I can remember.  I always enjoyed hearing all the different points of views and I just liked laughing with people more than anything else I can think of.
 
H: Where do you get ideas for your material?

P: Everywhere really.  I guess just every day interaction in the world.  You never know when an idea will hit. Generally, there are a lot of stupid things happening out there, or at least a lot of stupid things happening to me.  I just try to point it out to people in a humorous way and hopefully they find it funny.
 
H: Who are you favorite comedians? 

P: Some of my favorite Comedians are Norm MacDonald, Louis C.K., Greg Giraldo, Todd Barry and Zach Galifianakis to name a few.

H: Do you ever get inspiration from them?  

P: Yeah sure, each of those comics are hilarious and have original, unique voices. Whenever I see one of them, it inspires me to try and be just as original and funny.  Hopefully someday I will succeed.
 
H: What is your favorite show that you’ve ever done?  Why? 

P: I had the chance to open for Norm MacDonald here at Helium.  It was the high light of my comedy career.  He is a comedy hero of mine and it would have been pretty cool just meeting Norm, but having the chance to actually work with him all week was really amazing.  I actually made a short video documenting my weekend with Norm that got a little internet buzz and ended up getting linked on Comedy’s Insider Blog.  It was really fun and Norm was great.
 
H: Do you have any advice for people that want to be comedians?

P: Get on stage as much as possible.  Write every idea you have down, because you will not remember it the next day.
 
H: Has there been any point in time that you have thought about stopping? 

P: I don’t think so.  I’ve been discouraged lots of times, and I could see why some people might stop.  It can be tough, but I love it too much to ever totally quit.

H: What makes you continue?

P: I know it’s cliche, but when it’s going well, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.  It’s so immediately gratifying.  I get an entire room full of people’s attention and tell them what I think. Then they let me know that they approve right away with their laughter.  It can be pretty fantastic.
 
H: What is the writing process like for you; going from having a funny idea, to telling an actual joke?

P: I usually get an idea and try to write it down as soon as possible.  Occasionally that idea is ready to go just like that, but other times, I’ll mull it around in my head for a bit.  Then maybe I’ll sit and hammer it out on paper.  Eventually I’ll take it to the open mic and see what kind of reaction the crowd gives it.  From that, I can gauge whether or not its worth keeping or if it has potential and just needs to be worked out.  When I’m happy with a joke, I’ll bring it out on the weekend.
 
H: What is your ultimate goal in comedy?

P: I try to set a lot of short-term attainable goals.  Right now, I am working on doing longer sets and trying to feature more regularly. I’m also trying to get my name out there by participating in as many comedy events and venues as possible, for instance, this year I was fortunate enough to perform at the Boston Comedy festival. But ultimately, my goals are limitless.  World domination perhaps? I’ll also take Bill Cosby’s or Jerry Seinfeld’s career.  That might seem a bit lofty, but why not set my goals as high as possible? Being a household name and making a living from comedy sure seems like it would be great. Who knows what I’m capable of.  I didn’t know I’d get this far when I started.

You and I may remember him as Mr. Cooper, the ex-Golden State Warrior turned substitute teacher/high school basketball coach, but since his TGIF days, Mark Curry has earned quite a few other television and comedy credits. These credits include hosting “Showtime at the Apollo” for three years and having his own Comedy Central stand-up special. Curry’s material covers subjects ranging from fashion shows to Christopher Columbus. He will be performing at Helium November 19th-21st.

Here is a clip of his stand-up and the original opener of Hanging With Mr. Cooper.

Helium: What made you decide to start performing stand-up?

Ed: I was the worst student in the history of academics so I couldn’t do anything else.

Helium: When did you start taking interest in comedy? 

Ed: I would watch Abbott & Costello and Marx Brothers and think I was just as dopey as they were.

H: Where do you get ideas for your material?

E: Newspapers and things that happen in my pathetic life.

H: Who are you favorite comedians?  Do you ever get inspiration from them?

E: Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, David Letterman. I never get inspiration from them ’cause I know I’m nowhere as good as they are.

H: What is your favorite show that you’ve ever done? 

E: I was part of a radio show and the radio station did a show at The Electric Factory in front of 1200 people.

H: Do you have any advice for people that want to be comedians?

E: Instead of doing comedy you could try having a life. Maybe talk to a woman.

H: Has there been any point in time that you have thought about stopping? 

E: I think a lot of people who have seen me think about me stopping.

H: What makes you continue?

E: Look at me. What else would I do?

H: What is the writing process like for you; going from having a funny idea, to telling an actual joke?

E: I think of smart ass things I never have courage to say in real life, then say them on stage.

H: What is your ultimate goal in comedy?

E: Never being burned at the stake would be nice.

The first and most important step toward working as a comedian at Helium is to come to open mic night.  Helium’s open mic is every Tuesday.  Sign up for performers is held at the club between 6PM & 7PM.  Usually, somewhere around 40 people sign up, though the number ranges quite a bit.  From those 40 people who sign up, 20 are selected to perform on that night’s show.  The list of performers is posted at 7:30PM and the show begins at 8PM.  First time performers and newer performers receive 3 minutes on stage.

Secondly, be sure to show persistence.  Not only does this mean attending Helium’s open mic on a regular basis, but it also includes going to any open mic night on a regular basis, regardless of crowd reactions you receive from night to night.  Working as a comedian involves much more immediate feedback than most jobs, so don’t expect a huge amount of laughs every, single time you get on stage.  Bad crowd reactions or being heckled is just a part of doing stand-up.  All working comedians have dealt with it and have kept going.  Open mic nights provide a great opportunity to improve your set and to practice reacting to a tough crowd.

A great resource for finding open mics is Philly comedy blog, Comic vs. Audience.  In addition to comedy news the blog also has an extensive list of open mic nights in the area.

Finally, when you’re at open mic nights, talk to somebody who works as a comedian.  I gave you the basic steps, but someone who has actually been through the process is the most helpful.  In upcoming posts, Helium comedians will be giving their insights into the stand-up world, so be sure to check back.

Once we see you consistently performing at our open mic nights and consistently improving your set, your chances of working at Helium will increase.  Obviously, not everyone that performs at open mic night will be hired as a comedian, but we encourage everyone interested in being a stand-up to keep working.  Even if you don’t work at Helium, there are a growing number of comedy gigs throughout the area. Putting in stage time will do nothing but increase your chances of getting those gigs.

Helium:  What made you decide to start performing stand-up?
Steve Gerben:  I was a narcissist and convinced that I was funny.

H:  When did you start taking interest in comedy?  Was it just stand-up?
SG:  I always loved watching stand-up when I was young. I used to do Lewis Black bits at the cafeteria table in high school; it felt great getting laughs.

H:  Where do you get ideas for your material?
SG:  It’s a combination of personal experiences and observations.

H: Who are you favorite comedians?  Do you ever get inspiration from them?
SG: I think every comic has multiple favorite comedians for different reasons. As a story-teller, the headliner this week– Christopher Titus had a huge influence on me. Cosby as well.

H: What is your favorite show that you’ve ever done?  Why?
SG: I did one show when I was hosting the Philly’s Phunniest Person Competition in which I actually did decent crowd work. It was the first and last time. My friend who was taping the show was laughing in astonishment that I was able to produce a witty retort and accidentally dropped the camera ruining the footage. I’m not saying he did it, but ask Dave Walk.

H: Do you have any advice for people that want to be comedians?
SG: You’ve just got to keep doing it and doing it. I think being a good comedian is about the right combination of resolve, professionalism, and talent. 

H: Has there been any point in time that you have thought about stopping?
SG: Yes.

H: What makes you continue?
SG: I stabilized myself financially and all my friends are comics.

H:  What is the writing process like for you; going from having a funny idea, to telling an actual joke?
SG:  Because I’m more of a story-teller I usually test the story out on some close friends and then go through the unbridled terror of trying it on stage.

H: What is your ultimate goal in comedy?
SG: I don’t know my ultimate goal, but my short term goal is to put a solid thirty minutes together so I can travel and perform.

In addition to bringing you comedy news, we want to use this blog as a way to promote the Philly stand-up comedy scene as a whole.  We at Helium really enjoy hearing from stand-up comedy fans, so if you have any feedback, questions or information to pass along regarding stand-up in the Philly area, please feel free to get in touch with me at megand AT heliumcomedy DOT com.  Also, if you would like to put your comedy blog on our blogroll or provide a link to your comedy website, please contact me at that same address.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to bringing you comedy news!