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6/30/08 Wow, just getting a blog in before the end of the month. Sorry for the lack of blogs; I've been busy...really busy. Which is a good thing. So let's recap, shall we? Excellent. First of all, I taped my episode of The Gong Show last week, and it went really well. I don't want to spoil anything (Ooo, did he get gonged???) but I will tell you that Andy Dick had some interesting comments for Little Skippy. Bottom line is that it was fun and I got another TV credit. Hehehehe...the show is going to start to air on July 17; don't know when my episode airs, but you can bet your bippy that I'll letcha know. The other thing I've been busy with is I've been shooting a music video for Skippy Greene's song, "Man About Town". Everything has been going really well; the people that are helping out have been doing an amazing job. Big thanks to Dawn Ashley Cook, Dan Anic and Lenny & Vensa Schmidt. Unfortunately the footage we've taped so far is pretty unusable. The director has been doing a great job setting everything up; he just didn't know how to use the camera and therefore didn't set the camera up right for most of the shots. Not his fault...he didn't do it on purpose. So we've decided to hire a cameraman and reshoot 90% of the video. It's kind of a bitch, but we think that this could be something huge and hilarious. I actually edited a rough cut with the bad footage, and even though it might look "off", the people who I've shown it to laughed. So the content is funny; that's a given, we just need to make it look right. So that's pretty much been my week as of late. Oh, I also want to thank all of you who've emailed me or commented on my MySpace page about what I wrote about George Carlin. It really means a lot to know that he affected that many people as much as he affected me. "Sigh" I am really tired now; I was up early...well, early for me, 8:00 am. I know most of you get up that early anyways and I shouldn't bitch...but guess what, I'm not used to getting up that early...so "bitch-bitch-bitch!" Oh, there was another thing that I mentioned earlier this month in the blog. As of now, I'm almost sure that I did not get it, but until I'm 100% sure, I'm still holding out hope and won't jinx it. But seriously, I'm down to the wire, so if you guys believe in miracles, send those positive thoughts my way and let's hope that divine intervention happens! OK kids, I'm beat so I'm off...hehehe, I guess that means I'm going to "beat" "off"...then again, that should be a given.
6/22/08 George was not a great friend, nor a family member, but I still knew him on a slightly personal level and respected the hell out of him as a comedian. Yet, I'm almost crying for him right now because I feel that the world has lost someone great. I almost feel like I'm mourning for the world. I know, I know, it sounds stupid and over-blown, but that's what I'm feeling. I haven't seen George in over 4 years (not in person anyways) but I have nothing but fond memories of him. I've told this story to friends before, but I'm not sure if I ever blogged about it. Back when I was being managed by Jerry Hamza (who is also George's manager) I was given the amazing opportunity to open for George a few times. The very first time was in Florida...Naples, I believe. Anyway, I'm backstage, nervous and pacing, when Jerry comes up to me and said, "You're on in 2 minutes." So the sweat is starting to flow and I'm just trying to remember my jokes. All of a sudden.... The doors swing open down the hall and George comes struting in and he's almost singing the following words, "Cock-suckers, you fucking cock-suckers..." And I just laughed and it totally put me at ease. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Hey Flip, I'm really looking forward to see your show, I'm just going to put my shit away" So I go onstage, do about 10 minutes and I did really well...despite the fact that I knew George was watching me from the wings; which made me very nervous. So I get offstage and George puts his arm around me and said, "Jeez kid, you're funny. You're like an ostrich on PCP!" Which has become my favorite quote to tell people. Actually, when I asked him if I can use that quote for my bio he said, "Sure...actually what's funnier? PCP or angel-dust?" I said, "I think PCP" and he said, "Yeah, PCP is funnier." I remember him telling me never to throw away an idea for a joke; you'll never know when you might figure out how to make it funny. He was a consomite professional, always honing his craft. Damn, I'm truly broken up about this right now. This might sound morbid or weird, but I almost feeling lucky that I was on stage performing when he passed. What I mean is that when someone like that dies; someone who was (literally) a comedy-god/legend, I'd like to think that before his spirit went out into the universe maybe it stopped for a second at every comedy club in the world to leave a bit of himself on every stage and with every comic...and he maybe even stayed a little longer at my show to tell me that I'm still an ostrich...or a cock-sucker. :) I'll tell you one thing, God is going to get a big talking to when he gets there. He was an atheist (George, not God) and even if there is a God, I'm sure George would still try to find a way to disprove it. "George, welcome to heaven. I'm God" - "Bullshit!" The one thing you have to admire (well, there are hundreds of things to admire) but one of them was that he never stopped doing comedy. He never stopped touring, he would still play clubs now and then to work material out. A professional (and a true comedian) til the end. Like I said before, I'm playing Vegas right now...and he was just here last week! How amazing is that? He's someone that, as a comedian, I can't help but yern to have the career that he has had. And you can't help but wonder how many more HBO specials he could've done. I guarantee that he had at least five to six more hours of material in his notebooks that he was working on for future specials. I remember him telling me that he had over 1500 files on his computer of shit he hadn't begun to workout yet. As a matter of fact, when I did work with him that time he told me that while he was working on an hour for his upcoming HBO special (at that time, it was "Complaints and Griveances") he had 15 minutes of material already worked out for the special AFTER that one! Seriously, an amazing man. George, I know I speak for the comedy world when I say, that we'll all miss everything you've ever said, and everything you hadn't said yet...you cock-sucker. :)
6/19/08 I'm chilling at a Krispy Kreme (only wifi around my hotel...that's right campers...NO WIFI IN MY ROOM!)...just enjoying a coffee before my first ever headlining week in Vegas baby! It's not a hotel on the strip, but it's still Vegas. It's been really great hanging out with my brother and sister this week; so wonderful to have family out west. Anyway, my computer is a little screwy, so I'm keeping this short. Hope you guys are doing well, ttyl...oh shit, I'm turning into a 17 year old valley girl! Oh, found this online, made me smile with 80's memories.
I am full of Panda Express right now. It's good food, but man oh man it can sit a little weird. So how many people saw the Dana Carvey special last night on HBO? Well if you didn't, you should see it when it airs again; it was really, really funny. And if you've been keeping up with my blogs, you know that Dana credited me in the special because I wrote some jokes for him. He actually ended up using 6 jokes that I wrote! How amazing is that?? And if you didn't see the credit, check this out:
 Not bad, huh? OK, so what else to report? Oh!... My brother and sister are coming in tonight; I'm sooo excited. I hardly ever get family to come out here, so this is really a treat. I think in the 7 years I've lived in LA, this is my brothers' third time coming here (my sister/his wife has never been to LA), my parents have been out here twice (once was on a 3 hour layover) and one of my cousins has been out here twice...that's it. Oh, another cousin did come here but I was out of town. OK, but that's it. I mean I still see them pretty regularly since I go back to Florida 2-3 times a year, but it's really great when they can come here and see where I live. See the life that I have made for myself. I guess I'm just proud of what I've done here and I want them to see. Oh, remember in my last blog when I mentioned something that is 99% real? And if you don't remember, just scroll down and read...then again, I just told you what I wrote, so I guess that's all moot now. Anyway, last night I kinda got the unofficial word that I'm all set in this project, but I'm still skeptical to reveal it...ah, what the hell. Here goes... I'm going to be a contestant on "The New Gong Show" on Comedy Central. But wait, that's not the funny part...I'm going to be doing ventriloquism with Little Skippy. For those who don't know the act I do with Little Skippy, here's a picture:
 It's going to be so stupid, but funny. I'm debating about using my real name; I mean this is the Gong Show. But on the same token, I think the people who know me know that I'm a good comedian and that this is just something silly to do. Whereas those who don't know me might find this funny, look me up and find that I'm a comedian and not a shitty ventriloquist. Yeah, that's a good point Flip. Thank you. Schitzo anyone? Either way, it's funny and another TV credit. :) Well I've got some more errands to run before my brother and sister get here. Hope you guys are smiling.
6/12/08 OK, well let's talk about the show I just did in Mill Valley...fantastic! Not just the show and the audience, but the experience on a whole. It starts when I get there and see that they put me up in an amazingly beautiful hotel; but not just in any room, in a suite! And it was a sweet suite! Yes, I did just type that on purpose. So the day of the show I meet up with a good friend of mine whom I haven't seen in a long time. We have dinner and they go to the theater...yes, theater. So I'm hanging in the green room with some of the other comics and then I find out that I'm closing the show. Wow, that took me by surprise. This is such a great gig where really amazing comics have closed the show before, comics like, Orny Adams, Jeff Burghart, etc. So I'm just a little nervous and a lot excited. Then, as I'm sitting there, who should walk in? Who? Just guess...nope. No. I'll give ya a hint...ROBIN WILLIAMS! No shit is right! He lives around there and drops in from time to time to hang out and sometimes go on. Well, for those of you who don't know, Robin is one of my comedic idols; really one of the reasons I wanted to get into stand up. So now I'm hanging out with him and just shooting the shit...and I did a little Skippy for him which he liked. And Robin says that he wants to go on and that he'll follow me. WHAT??? Just insane. So I go up and have a great show; I mean really good. I'm going to post some clips from it soon. But what was really cool was that from the balcony, in the darkness, I hear Robin laughing. That undeniable laugh of his. Cannot begin to tell you how incredible that made me feel. After I get off stage, he is in the wings and has a huge grin on his face and says, "Fucking great!" Wow-fucking-wow! He then goes up and does almost an hour of mostly off the cuff improv...and it was hilarious. What a show, what an experience. Oh, and at one point he was saying how hot it was on stage, so I tied my shirt up in a knot and walked out on stage (like a waitress) and handed him a bottle of water. He didn't miss a beat though; he just gave me a sexy look, rubbed my tummy and continued. But for a brief moment in time, I shared the stage with Robin Williams! The only thing that I regret is that I wasn't able to say goodbye to him. Luckily the guy who runs the show knows Robin and I left him a message on his cel phone. It was a kind of gay message, you know things like, "It was a thrill to share the stage with you...you're a huge influence on me...blah-blah-blah". I know, like I said kinda gay and cheesy; but who cares, it was sincere and something I've wanted to say to him for a long time. OK, so if that wasn't enough, check this out. Do you guys remember a few months ago when I worked with Dana Carvey? I wrote a few ideas for some jokes for him and he liked them and said, "If I use these on my special, I'll give you a credit". Well guess what? HE USED THEM AND I GOT A CREDIT ON HIS SPECIAL! When you watch it this Saturday, June 14, on HBO, during the ending credits look for my name under "special thanks to..." I believe there are only 6 or 7 names listed, and (if I heard right) I'm at the bottom...so you can't miss me. HOW INSANE IS THAT!!!??? OK, now there's one more big thing that might be happening. Actually, I was told it's 99% going to happen, but until I'm 100% sure of it, I'm not going to say anything...but I should know within a day or two. Seriously though...this has been the most amazing Tuesday through Thursday I've ever had. :) I'm telling you, believe in the possibilities of you. Believe in happiness, success and anything you want...and you will get it. You work and believe and good things come to you. I hope you guys are smiling. I'm off to the Improv (shocker!) to practice for this 99% thing. Keep those fingers and toes and tongues and eyes crossed. OH YEAH, there's one more big thing that, I would say, is 50% in the bag. Probably find out about that one in a couple of weeks. But you know what, I already see myself having it. Thanks again to all of you for the support. By the way, I forgot to tell you...Skippy will be doing his own show at the Hollywood Improv on August 12! How fucking awesome is that!? It's going to be called, "Who Do You Think You Are? A Night of Character Comedy". As you can guess, all of the acts will be comedians doing thier characters. Well, I just got off the phone and confirmed the first comic; Brian Dunkleman. Life is good people, life is good.
6/8/08 Tonight was a night that makes me so fucking proud and lucky to be a comic. Long story short, I did a spot as Skippy and it went well. But what was really cool was that a lot of comics were there (who had never seen Skippy) and they all said amazingly wonderful things about the act. Then we all went to the Improv, drank, laughed and remembered a comic who had recently passed away, Mitch Mullaney. God rest his soul. But it wasn't sad really; it was happiness. It was brotherhood. It was everything that makes you realize how wonderful your friends are. It was a night that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life.
6/6/08 First of all, I want to give a big congratulations to Corey Moosa and his one-man play, Herpes Tonight...yes, that's the real name. I saw it tonight and it was great. If you're in the LA area, I highly recommend it. OK, now to the Vegas story...not really much to tell, but I'll try to make it interesting. So it started when the plane we were on crashed on this weird island that seems to be able to time travel. OK, too interesting...and too much like "Lost". The weekend was really fun...well, it started out that way; isn't that the way every Vegas story goes? "Oh, it started out great...but then..." Anyway, my roommate, David, and I drove out there on a Friday. We checked into New York/New York and before I knew it, I was already was down $40. On the way up there I found out that my friend, Robert Schimmel was playing at the Monte Carlo. So I called him up and he got us tickets to the show. How cool is that? I mean I don't want to sound egocentric (no Flip, not you!), but I really thought it was cool as hell that I can call Robert Schimmel (who is a pretty famous and amazing comedian) and have him get me and friend in his show. Plus it felt very 'Rat Pack'...anyways. The show was great and afterward we met up with some friends at this hot night club and had a great time....not before I lost another $40. Normally those kind of places aren't my thing, but my friends had some pull and we got into the VIP section...and Dave and myself had some fun with some lovely ladies. "What happens in Vegas", afterall. So the next day I'm $80 down but figured, what the hell, it's Vegas, let's just have fun. Oh, and that night we got tickets to see Bobby Slayton at Hooters. Another brilliant comedian...and friend of mine. Yes, we got in for free. Incidentally I don't keep mentioning the free thing cause I'm cheap (well, not really cheap, but just because I think it's so fucking cool. After a great show, we go back to the blackjack tables...and people, I don't know what happened, but I started winning like I had never won before. I mean almost every hand! Seriously! I'd double down and win. I played the part where I'd get 15x1 if I was dealt pairs...and the three times I played that, I won twice! Just insane. I could NOT lose! I won't say exactly how much I won, but it was substantial. That night I could hardly sleep because I felt like I had a horseshoe up my ass; I was the luckiest man in the world. What else could I do with my newfound powers of luck? Heal the sick? Stop the war? Who knows, but I couldn't wait to get up the next day. That next day we rented a cabana at the pool and just relaxed and soaked in the sun, the girls and the overwhelming feeling of "We are the kings of Vegas!" Hey, what's that?...oh, it's an itch, and the only way to scratch it? Right, gamble and win some more! And that's where our little story takes a sad and obvious twist. Just as the night before I couldn't lose, that day I could not win for shit. It's truly amazing; nothing! I don't know what happened, but whatever powers of good luck I had turned to bad luck in an instant. Like a bunch of ripe bananas suddenly turning black over night. It got to the point to where I seriously thought I was truly bad luck. I'll tell you why...everytime I walked up to Dave while he was playing, he lost. But when I walked away, he would win big. I'm not joking; every fucking time. I was freaking out, I mean I really thought that I had a cloud of literal bad luck floating around my head. I would even walk up to strangers and stand by them to see if they would suddenly lose...and they did. So at this point I had given about half of what I won back to the casinos. Now a smart man would think, "Hm, I'm bad luck so I should just quit while I'm ahead and not play anymore." Obviously, I'm not a smart man. I did stop for a little while, but later that night Dave started to win again while I was standing there, so I thought, "Hell yeah! I'm back baby! I must only be bad luck during the day time." Like I'm sort of good luck vampire. Well, like a vampire, my luck sucked at night as well. It was almost comical how I could go from so high to so low in one day. I was really trying to figure out the logistics of it; I mean how can that happen? For real. How? How can I go from getting every card that I need every time, to getting shit cards and beaten every time. To the deal busting reguarly to the dealer pulling out a 21 every time? I thought for a brief second that the entire town conspired against me. Paranoid? Sure. But at the time, perfectly feasable. In the end I left only $100 down from with what I came to Vegas with...so it wasn't too bad. Honestly, it wasn't losing the money that got to me, I mean afterall, you go to Vegas with the attitude of "I expect to lose money, but have fun doing it." What got to me was, again, the fall from winning to losing. That stings more. To taste success and then failure right afterwards. Ouch. Anyways my friends, I'm tired of talking about losing, let's just keep that in Vegas...where it's supposed to stay anyways. Of course I'll be back there in 2 weeks...but this time I know I'm going to win all of the time. :) Night.
6/3/08 I'll tell you this much, when they say "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", they're right, because the money that I won in Vegas is still there.
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