Set List:
MILITARY
IN-N-OUT JESUS

AQUARIUM/ZOO
SCORPIONS

SELF CHECKOUT

When my friends, family, coworkers find out that I'm doing Stand Up, the first question they ask (after, Really?!, or Tell me a joke!) is who my favorite comedians are, who influenced me.  That's a tough question to answer.  I'm not sure why.  If you ask me my favorite band, I easily rattle off Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and the grunge group.  But when it comes to comedy, there are just so many.  I got hooked when I was, what 15 years old, on Eddie Murphy's Delirious.  I still sing, "Put a nickle...in your butt" and I rewound that tape so many times to hear him backing up over that bump in the road or to hear him say, "Yo man, somebody stole your batt'ry!"

I've been a fan of comedy ever since, and, now, I'm jumping up on stage to become one of them.  Below are a few lists, including comedians who inspired me, those I (surprisingly) don't really care for, those that make me want to drop my mic and walk away from an inferiority complex, and those local guys I aspire to perform with.

Feel free to comment.

Comedians who inspired me

• Eddie Murphy: Thanks, Eddie.  Nothing touches your material and it truly inspired me.
• George Carlin: His football/baseball bit will always be with me, but I truly appreciate his intelligent humor.  So much so, that he made two lists here.
• Jon Pinnette: what a master, anther comic gone too soon.
• Kathleen Madigan
• Joan Rivers: just before she fell into critical condition, I listed her as one of my favorites to somebody who'd asked.  Even I was surprised by my including her, but she was just such a master and hard worker.
• Bill Burr: I've seriously NEVER heard a Burr bit and want, 'meh.'
• Sarah Silverman: god, she scares me to death, but so freaking funny (and my wife says I can leave her for Sarah, saying, "You two'd just kill each other, anyway."
• Lachlan Patterson: he's new (on our TVs), but if I had to say I'd like to model my stuff after one person, yes, it'd be Lachlan.  I like his depth of smarts and his delivery.
• Alanzo Boden
• Maria Bamford
• Richard Pryor: holy crap, what timing and twists.  What a master.
• Mitch Hedberg
• Chris Rock
• Jerry Seinfeld: I used to watch Johnny Carson while I was in college just hoping he'd have Jerry on.
• Ron White: his humor is so self-deprecating, outrageous, and hilarious. 
• Lewis Black
• Joe Rogan
• George Lopez
• Aziz Ansari

Comedians you'd be surprised to know I don't like much

• Robin Williams: Sorry, I know this isn't popular.  I love Williams' acting and who he seemed to be as a person; but I just don't like zany improv comedy.
• Bill Cosby: loved his early stuff, but his shtick just wears on me now.
• Emo Phillips: that voice...
• Dennis Miller: his arrogance turns me off

Comedians so good they make me want to drop the mic and walk away

• Patton Oswalt: turns out we are from the same area (DC suburbs in VA), and I also fancy myself a geek.  But this guy is just way to deep and intelligent.  And his jokes...man, way too good.
• George Carlin

Local Comedians you gotta see: Coming Soon!

I'm doing the New Faces of Comedy show at the Tempe Improv.  RSVP at facebook, and I'll get you a ticket (or, just show up and say my name).

I'll be at the Open Mic event at the former Native New Yorker (now Native Grill and Wings) on Gilbert Road, just north of the 60.  Show starts at 8:30pm and I go on whenever I go on.

I am humbled by the talent at these shows (including Valerie Roberts, Christie Love and Diane Miner below).  This was a great show that ended with the amazing and unique Jonathan Gregory.  If you live in the East Valley, you gotta catch one of these shows!

Another awesome show put on by ComedySchools.com and the Tempe Center for the Arts.  The video is rough.  Look away.