1/28/06
I'm in a funk now people, a bit depressed. I have to go back to Florida in a few days, family stuff. Bad family stuff. I guess I can open up a bit, it's my grandmother, she's sick and my family thinks that "this is it". It's really sad because she is my last grandparent that's still alive. I mean she is old and she has had a great life, it's time you know? God, I'm already talking like she's gone...fuck, I'm a shit. Actually, I do feel like quite a shit. When I was talking to mom today and she said that I should come back now, my first-knee jerk-initial response was not: "Of course mom" or "God, I need to say good-bye to Grandma", now I did think and say these things within 30 seconds of the news, but my first thought was, "Oh man, I don't want to fly again, I'm tired." Do you believe that? I swear to God, I have not felt like a lower, selfish shit in my life. And I know, it's human nature to be tired and to feel that, but it also showed me that in a desperate time, my first thought was me. Can someone change that about themselves? I feel that I am a nice guy who will help you if I can, but more times than not, my "initial" thoughts are for me. I mean I always come around in a few seconds to realize what's really important in these situations (ie-my family), but like I said, it's always me at first thought. I just want to think of someone else first in those moments. Then again, the only reason I want that is to feel better about myself, so there we go back to me again. Fuck, what a vicious cycle. I also got this news right before I saw King Kong today. Great movie, highly emotional and action packed...but the emotion got to me a bit hard today while having this other news on my mind. I don't want to give any spoilers away about the movie, (although I'm sure most everyone knows the basic story) but at one point Naomi Watts was on this island and she had been taken by Kong, attacked by giant insects and reptiles and then she got attacked by dinosaurs...I swear to God, I was waiting for her to scream out, "You have got to be shitting me! Come on! How much do you hate me God!?" Just a random thought. So, I have to repack now and head out to Florida probably Wednesday. I'm sad and self-loathing right now. Well, you know what my faithful bloggers, I ask you to send out those good vibes to my grandma Honey (real name, Helen). Of course being the classic Jewish grandmother she'll probably just say, "Why are you sending me the vibes now? I'm watchin Wheel. Just leave them in some tupperware and I'll have them later."

1/26/06
I know, I know, I am taking waaaay too much time in between these blog things...what can I say, I'm getting lazy. Well, I'm back in LA now and feeling great. For those of you on my Mailing List or who are my MySpace friends, you know that there was a bit of confusion the other day. Here's the story: Tuesday morning I get a call from my friend at the Jimmy Kimmel show, he asks me if I want to come in and play a "Simon Cowell" type for a sketch they're doing. Hm...let me think-YES! So I go and on the way he calls and asks if I can do a Scottish accent because this guy is going to be a Scottish Simon. Again, I say yes. So I get there and I meet up with my friend and the rest of the actors. I'm so excited that I call my brother and tell him that I am going to be on Kimmel that night and he needs to send out a mass mailing for me. So my brother (and my new publisist...kidding) sends out a whole bunch of emails...not to mention my mom telling my entire family. I find out later that it is not airing that night, it'll be airing in a few weeks...ooops. I figure that I'll just send out another email that night telling people they'll have to wait. Well as the day goes by, the rest of the actors get taken up to wardrobe and I'm still down in the green room. Eventually my friend comes down and tells me that there was this miscommunication between him and the writers. Apparently they want someone who looks Scottish as well as talks Scottish. I do not have both qualities. But he still paid me some money for being there, so the day wasn't a total wash. Oh the Jew. Tonight I did a gig at a bar in Huntington Beach. I've done this gig before, and it always seems like it's going to suck and I always do great. Tonight was different though, right from the beginning, it felt really bad. The crowd was loud and rawdy and it felt like it was going to be tough. The first comic, Darrick, did not do that well. There were a couple of loud assholes in there that eventually got kicked out. Plus Darrick is not a big energy act, very funny and smart, but not high energy. And in a place like that (bar) and being the first guy, you really need that. The next comic, Seth did really well. He is high energy and funny, got the crowd listening and laughing. But what was worrying me was that he was talking about some of the same things I talk about in regards to women and relationships. So now I'm starting to have a little panic. I'm wondering if I should change my act, not do those specific jokes. But then again, I really like those jokes and maybe I can still tell them. I decide to do the jokes, and they do well, but I did call attention to the fact that he and I feel the same on certain topics. All in all, it was a great show. Shows like that make me feel very confident. I'm telling you, there's something in the air, something so good. I'm trying to be happy and enjoy the ride, but I've always had the theory on life that it's all ups and downs. And when you're up, don't take it for granted because a down is coming, and when you're down, don't dispair; just learn from it and know and up will come eventually. Well now that I am very up, I can't enjoy it because I feel a down will be coming. I want to enjoy it, but I feel that the minute I do, the rug will be pulled out from under me. It's like the Kimmel thing that just happened, granted I still came out of it with some money, but the dissappointment was there. And it's like with Star Search, still got hurt and that one really stung...and lasted for a looong time. I guess that's the same with relationships, I'm scared to enjoy one now because I'm scared of being hurt like I have been in the past. I know I've talked about this before, but I'm on a roll, I can't stop. There is some potentially amazing things that are on the cusp of happening, if they do, then I think I'll bask in some good vibes. Tell ya what, keep sending those positive vibes my way and if those amazing things happen, I'll gloat like a community theater geek who got the lead in "Joseph and the Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat"...obscure anyone? Oh, and thanks for the positive vibes, they really are working. I should have some pictures from the South Beach Comedy Festival soon. OH, and you can see a clip from my show on the Comedy Central website. Just click where it says ROAD STAGE ROUND UP, another window will open up and the clips will start to play automatically. My clip is like 6th or 7th, but all the comics are funny, so you should check'em all out. Anywho, I'm off to bed.

1/22/06
What a fucking time I've had with the festival! First of all, the comics I worked with on the Lincoln Road stage were so great, what a way to spend the time , you know? Just wonderful comics, wonderful people, all of them: Josh Sneed, Bret Ernst, Jessica Kirson, Sebastian, Rob Stappleton, Ricky Cruz and Malik...whew, a lot of comedy. So last night was the last night of the fesival, and on the last show (9:00 PM) everyone went up and did a spot and the crowd stayed! They were fantastic (the crowd that is). I went last, closed the show, followed 7 amazing comics, and...with all modesty in check...I fucking rocked it. It was such an amazing way to end this experience. And then the after parties were just fun...I felt like I was back in LA at some "hip/celebrity" type party, you know? Beautiful people, over-priced drinks and I just didn't care...well, that's not true either, after spending $30 on 3 drinks the other night, I went to the free Budweiser table...thank you Bud-Light. I got some amazing feed back and I think the ball is rolling toward some great things this year. I'm just filled with this amazing positivity right now. But of course, being me, I'm also trying not to get too excited, because I've had smoke blown up my ass many times before, and all that left me was nothing but a charred ass. Nice analogy Flip...thank you. But again, I've had exciting things happen that I thought was going to take me to the next level of success, and then NOTHING. Eh hem...Star Search anyone??? Oh, I got a lot of pictures that I'll be posting in a few days. Right now I've got to pack, I go back to LA tomorrow...I can't wait. I mean staying here in Florida has been great both personally and professionally, but I want to get back to my bed in my apartment...aw hell, I even miss my cats. Yeah, I said it. I know I'm allergic to those little fuckers, but I don't care, bring'em on! So again, thank you Miami for everything. And to those still in the south Florida area, I'll be back in a few weeks with Pablo, so come on back. Later.

1/18/06
Evening all. Well, the first day of the South Beach Comedy Festival is over, and may I tell you, it was good. I did the first show at 6:00, it didn't look like it was going to be good. It's an outdoor venue where anyone can walk up and sit, and you have to be very clean. Well the show began and my friend Bret Ernst hosted it and there were four other comics, me going last. The crowd was tight at first, but attentive, I gotta give them that. So I'm watching them and I'm getting a read on them, that's the perk of going last, I get to see what works and what doesn't. So I go up and I pretty much know that this crowd has life in them, like I said, they started tight, but the other comics did really well and they loosened up. So I get on stage and just let it out, not too hard like in the clubs, but the energy was there...and so was the crowd. I had them from the beginning, and aside from a few hiccups, I had them the whole time. Now again, the other comics essentially warmed them up for me, so if I couldn't get a good reaction out of them at that point, I'm not much of a comedian. (not one word Mike Rane) So afterward I had great compliments from people including folks from Comedy Central. God, please let this get me a spot on that channel...pleeeeease. Now I'll tell ya what sucks, I've got a painful toe. Yes, this morning I had toe surgery and had an ingrown toenail removed ALONG with the actual root of the nail. So I've been walking around on a bandaged toe and tonight, after I got home, I had to put some medicine on it and, can I tell you, it's gross. The toe is still wrapped up, but there is a definete shade of red coming through it. That kinda stuff just wigs me out. The doctor asked if I wanted to see what he pulled out, I said, "Uh, no." And he told me that some people insist on it. Really? "Yeah doc, can I see that discusting piece of fleshy mess that you just ripped from my toe? Please, it's something I need to see. I can't rest until I can I gaze upon that gorey chunk of blood-drenched root that has been chopped from beneath my big piggie." Oh, imagine that in a New York accent, it's funnier. So now I'm lying in my bed, toe elevated and freezing my ass off...it got down to the 40s today....Oooo. I know, I know, I'm a pussy. Night. Oh, I think that when my video clip from this is on Comedy Central's site, people have to vote on it...so get ready my Flip Heads for another online voting frenzy. Yay!!!!

1/15/06
Hey, got a new video clip up now, it was from when I just headlined at the Improv and I did a bit of improv with comedianne Lisa Corrao. It's very funny...dirty, but funny. Anywho, I'm tired as a...uh...shit, I'm too tired to come up with an analogy. So I'll call it a night...night.

1/12/06
Man, my head is killing me. I've been feeling like shit these past 3 days, mostly allergies, but today it's been a bad migraine...well, not too bad, but it still hurts. But let's not talk about bad things, let's celebrate good things. Thanks to all of you (yes, that includes you) I won the competition and I am now showcasing in South Beach Comedy Festival next week! Again, thank you to everyone who helped me. I can only imagine how many people voted. I was on the local news here too, very cool. I know, I've been on TV before, but this was in my hometown, so it was a bit of a vindication, ya know? I am a little upset though, I had to cancel a week of work in Sacramento with Pablo that week. But I figure that even if I don't get paid to be in the festival, I'm getting exposure and Comedy Central is a sponsor, so I'll be seen by them. This is a good thing. I'm telling ya, I don't want to jinx myself, but 2006 is starting out fan-fucking-tastic. OK, I'm seriously in pain now and I took 2 tylenol pm's, so I'm about to go night-night. Thanks again everyone!

1/8/06
Wow, the new year keeps getting better. OK, first of all, the commercial shoot was great (aside from being god awfully early in the morning), I put up some pics on the Scrap Book Page. It's the one that says, "I'm Flippita Banana...". And there's still time to vote for me in the South Beach Comedy Festival Competition...please do and spread the word. So anyway, I was lying in bed today, feeling quite shitty, damn allergies, and just figured I'd stay in. Well I get a phone call from the Improv telling me that they have an emergency and could I come down and headline...uh-YES! Please, I could have a bullet wound in the head, be completely brain dead and I would still go and headline the Improv. So I went there and found out that the booked headliner, John Heffron got really sick. So the crowd was one of those polite but quiet type crowds, I knew it right away. The rest of the comics on the show were good (Lisa Corrao, Nick Cat and Louie Katz) and the the crowd was corjual to them, not overly responsive, but nice. Well, I knew exactly how to handle that kind of crowd. It's weird, I just know now how to approach a crowd. Be it big and energetic, small and quiet, talkative, whatever...I know how to taylor my show and energy to them. This crowd was no exception; I got up there, started in 2nd gear and slowly upshifted. Did a bunch of crowd work (which, as you know, I love to do), tried some new material (which did alright) and I actually brought Lisa on stage and we did (what I thought) was a very funny bit. I think she got it on video, if so, I'll put it up. Anyway, I sold a nice amount of merchandise and got a little money from the club...not bad for a day I was just going to spend in bed. I found out something tonight that really threw me off, but I won't get into it here. It's something that I don't agree with, but I also am not in the position to rock any boats right now. I'm hoping that the situation will work itself out, but I will say this, it's wrong...very wrong. Anyway, I am going to succumb to my allergies now and hit the sack. Night...and please vote for me...always the plugging Jew.

1/5/06
AMAZING NEWS!!!! I booked a national commercial!!!! I'm so fucking psyched, what a way to start the new year. It's for the Florida Citrus Growers and basically the commercial is a series of small scenes of people going through their day with big Carmen Miranda type hats on, but they are oblivious to it, while other people are thrown off. I am a guy playing basketball with the hat on, should be fun. I'm actually shooting it tomorrow morning (7 am in Miami Beach...yich), so I need to get some sleep, which I'm about to do. Anywho, I'll take some pics and post'em up. Also, I'm a semi-finalist in 2 competitions. One is for the South Beach Comedy Festival, and I could use your help on this. Please go to this site and vote for me. We have until Jan. 10, and spread the word. I'm also a semi-finalist in the Great Canadian Laugh Off in Toronto. I'll be going up there in February, but it's ok, you don't have to vote for that. Well, I'm on 2 sleeping pills now, so I'm going to bed. So far, 2006 is pretty fucking good! Positive vibes people, positive vibes.

1/1/06
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Wow, what a night, it's 2:00 PM and I'm just getting out of bed. My god, I'm getting too old for this shit. Well, being a new year, I want to start it by apologizing. My last blog entry I said that all the women in LA that I've met are screwed up, that is not true. There have been a few, but not all and I am sorry. I really hurt someone by saying that, someone whom I do like and who really is a wonderful person. So to her and to the other wonderful LA women that I know, please know that I am sorry for saying that. When I write this blog thing, I do it very stream of conscious and very much "in the moment". When I was writing that, I was kinda frustrated and was just writing in that mindset. Anyways, I just wanted to say that and try and set things straight. Well, now I'm off, got some serious family shit going on here. Send out those positive vibes. All the best in '06!