"Does sexuality matter in the comedy business?" I asked Suzanne Westenhoefer, who has been credited as the first lesbian comic to come "out" in mainstream comedy. "I started my career as a lesbian before I was a comic," she said, "and started as an activist before I was a lesbian. I was one of those people in high school who would get into arguments with the sociology teacher and stand up for the 'misfits,' of which I was one of." Making a stand was what seemed to drive her forward. Westenhoefer did not always identify as a lesbian, however. Early on she felt that she was out of the mainstream but it didn't occur to her that she was gay until she was 19. "It was such a shock when it occu

A SacramentoComedy.Com Interview From homeless to headliner, Dat Phan knows what it means to work hard to achieve your goals. His story is another "American dream" come true for someone willing to put it all out there. Phan, the youngest of 10 kids, started in Saigon, Vietnam, and landed in the ghettos of San Diego with his mother. There were times when they slept on bus benches. "I credit my mom for keeping me out of gangs as a child,” Phan said. “My babysitter was Cox Cable, and it kept me off the streets." It was during this period that he was inspired by the celebrities he watched on TV. "It was during the time that Michael Jackson was still black and awesome!" This all was happe

Paula Poundstone is funny, smart, quick and has a profound friendliness about her. A steady flow of excited audience members streamed through the doors of the beautiful Crest Theater Saturday night to see Poundstone perform, filling the theater to it's maximum capacity. All walks of life and lifestyles seemed to be well-represented, making it clear that she has a very broad appeal. It became apparent just how much anticipation the audience had for this night when General Manager Sid Garcia-Heberger came onstage and asked that all cell phones be turned off for the performance and the crowd applauded. How could Poundstone follow that? Simple. She just jumped right in. "So, were you all cl

  A Sacramento Comedy.Com Interview Getting to the essence of veteran comedian Doug Stanhope is both easy and difficult at the same time. He's so simple, yet so complex. Because of that, he is also completely controversial. Actually, to say that Stanhope is "controversial " is a vast understatement. Many people only know Stanhope through his short-lived hosting of "The Man Show" with Joe Rogan and his participation in the late-night, titillating "Girls Gone Wild" infomercials, which he said was only for the money. Stanhope's true fans know him as an outspoken, uncensored, honest and libertarian comic who looks at the world and questions aloud how we have turned a blind eye to how we ar

Whenever I hear descriptive terms like "good clean fun" or "fun for the entire family", and the word "Disneyland" isn't included in the sentence, in my mind I think "boring!" Put the words "comedy" and "competition" in the same sentence and I just think of a "Yo Mamma so fat..." argument on the asphalt. But not anymore! Welcome to Sacramento Comedy Sportz, a very nice and intimate venue tucked away in an industrial area behind Arby's on Arden one driveway east of Howe. The sign, like the venue is small and tucked away, so if you weren't looking for it, you may only come across it when looking for carpet next door. So, what makes this comedy venue so different? It's not comedy about sport

This week's "Ask The Comedy Guy" question is: "How does a comedian handle a heckler from the audience?" Thank you for that question! As most of you know, The Comedy Guy is one of the most easy going people in Sacramento. But nothing gets my ire up like this behavior at a live comedy performance. So, if you read my angry hit piece; "The Things That I Hate" on the SacramentoComedy.Com website, then you know this is one of my personal vexations. I came to see the professional comedian, not you, the drunk audience member wanting to be part of the act. Laugh, respond only when spoken to and keep your comments quietly to yourself. Unless you have a good 15 minutes of solid, well rehearsed, st

Hey Mr. Comedy Guy, I think I am pretty funny. I would like to try my hand at stand up comedy. Where can I go as a beginner? -Richard "I know I am funnier than you" Joaks Thank you for this week's question Dick, this is a nice segue into the world of Comedy Showcases and Open Mics. I am glad to answer your question as it is asked of me often. First, let's define the difference between these two types of shows because even though they are often done at the same time, they really are different. A comedy open mic means that anyone who has a mind to, can come to the venue, register about an hour or so in advance (it is usually on a first-come, first-served basis), then go up on stage and do

  Did you realize that Sacramento is a comedy Mecca? Oh, trust me, you fortunate ones, it is. Within a microphone's throw of downtown Sacramento, you can find three major comedy clubs, two improv shows, a few smaller weekday venues and, for the aspiring comic or those of you wondering if you have the chops, some open mics and showcases to satisfy your comedy appetite. Because we report on the Sacramento comedy scene each and every day, we are constantly immersed and amazed at how much quality comedy is made available to you. In the last 60 days alone, Jerry Seinfeld, DL Hughley, Tim Meadows, Josh Blue, Gallagher and Ralphie May Jo Koy, Darren Carter and so many more headlined Sacrame

A stroll past the corner of 22nd and L Streets on Mondays from 7- 9 p.m. might cause concern for those unfamiliar with the location. It's typical to hear people screaming out as they're being chased, fits of anger, uncontrollable laughter, heated arguments and even opera singing. The unassuming Geery Theatre is home to the Midtown Players on Monday nights for Carrie Bray's improv class. This weekend will kick off The Midtown Players' very first performance. Carrie Bray, who has taken classes from Viola Spolin, performed simultaneously at comedy clubs with Robin Williams as well as at Budd Friedman's Improv, only just recently moved to Sacramento. In the 50's, Bray actually spent one ye