DC Comedians: Send us your videos!

Hey team, tired of toiling away at your craft without the slightest bit of recognition? Wish that you could be a part of our DC Comedy Spotlight Mondays? Well then send us your videos, son! We are trying to highlight as many brilliant District-dwelling comedians as possible but we need to be made aware of your finished products. We're looking for filmed sketches, short films, animated films, even videos of live performances. It just needs to be made by someone who lives in the area and be funny and we will be more than happy to show it to the world! (Or at least the 4,000 people that read this blog) Let's do this, DC!

Send us your videos, comments, questions, and no suggestions to dccomedy4now(at)gmail.com

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DC Comedy Spotlight: Jermaine Fowler

Jermaine Fowler is one of DC's youngest comics, but don't let that fool you. At the age of 19, Jermaine has already performed at pretty much every spot in the city; DCAC in Adam's Morgan, 9:55 Comedy Club, The Laughing Lizard, Riot Act Comedy Club, Cafe Rendezvous, Chief Ike's, The Hyatt in Bethesda, Firehouse Grill, and Wiseacres. Just recently, Jermaine crushed it and placed 1st at the DC Improv's November 2007 Comedy Showcase. Kid is on fire, son!

I asked him what he thinks about getting his start in the DC Area:
"What I like about being in this area is that there are so many bad crowds. Learning how to handle an inattentive audience and control hecklers will toughen you for the future. I feel the more you bomb onstage the stronger you'll write and perform in front of better crowds. That's in itself is an advantage."

Check out some of Jermaine's videos below and make sure to catch him this Friday, Nov 30th at the Howard University Comedy Showcase @ The Cramton Auditorium.
[updated with interview]


Jermaine Fowler @ Hollywood Improv


bonus video: Jermaine @ Wisearces Comedy Club, VA

Jermaine Fowler Interview

*When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?

After watching Eddie Murphy Raw I started writing jokes. I kept them for a while before actually going onstage months later. The jokes sucked.

*Who were some of your earliest influences?

Bruce, Pryor, Murphy, and Chappelle were and still are my influences. Out of all of them I still look up to Chappelle. Now, CK, O'Neal, Burr, and Mulaney are my favorite working comics. What captivated me about them is what they find funny is what I find funny. Almost like the same sense of humor.

*Where did you first perform?

My first performance wasn't at a comedy club. It was at a Talent Show at my high school. I didn't get through my first joke because the panel of female judges didn't like my jokes about periods. Go figure.

*What was your first paid gig?

At the Hyatt. It was me and Doug Powell who were on the show. I miss Doug. Anyway, I did pretty well, and Curt slipped me a twenty, but I wasted it on Jerry Subs and Pizza.

*Do you prefer to write on or off stage?

offstage. I do most of my jokes in front of a mirror because you have nobody to make you have seconds thoughts about them. Just you, a reflection, and a dirty sink. I prefer to ad-libbing onstage because it exercises your wit.

*Do you enjoy the process of writing?

Hell yea! I love writing. I feel more comfortable doing a joke that has been written. I'm not that comfortable to just wing it onstage,yet.

*What about performing live do you enjoy?

Making drunk strangers laugh. Making a heckler look incredibly stupid so he can go back and think twice before trying to be funny in front his friends. When I started I wanted to convey a message, but I wasn't funny. I think as soon as you find what's funny about you the message will come out naturally. When you have that passionate moment onstage about something that pisses you off. And then when people laugh you wonder, "Why the hell are they laughing. I'm serious!" It's just a good feeling when you're not trying to be funny and people laugh anyway.

*What's hacky to you?

A fucker who steals and is unoriginal. Sometimes I hate audiences more than the hack. Some people are just stupid. Oh well.

*What is your day job?

I Temp. Mostly, I write jokes all day . I rarely work.

*Were your parents supportive of you doing comedy?

My father told me I can't do comedy because he doesn't want me coming home at different times of night. He kicked me out the house months after I graduated high school. My mother, I can't say. My girlfriend and her mother at the time told me to go back to college and quit comedy. My grand-mother is always behind me though. I love her. She's the coolest. Everyday if she does something stupid she'll tell me, "Don't be telling people about that when you get onstage, okay?"

*Where do you plan on moving next?

New York, son! It's the mecca of stand-up. I thought LA, but I like riding subways for some reason.

*How do you feel about the comedy scene in DC?

It's ok, but you have to respect where you start. Nobody respects someone who trashes where their from. If that's the case you should move and stop crying. So many talented people came from this area, but the thing is they never stayed here. It's a good place to start. There are so many original writers and performers here, too. I'd change the amount of venues and some of the people who book them. BLAGHT!
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DC Comedy Spotlight: The Big Honkin'

Good Morning True-Believers of DC Comedy,

This weekend I did some extra work for the newest The Big Honkin' production. For those unfamiliar with these guys, they are the creators of the Jesus Christ Supercop short films and more recently, the Channel 102 dominating Defenders of Stan. Austin Bragg and Hunter Christy both went to JMU with WIT's Mike Bass, who has appeared in many of their projects. 4 Now they are based out of Northern VA.

It is just too great of a show to not check it out from the beginning. Enjoy!

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YouTube Monday: "That is Not Funny" Edition

...They'll say, "you can't joke about rape. Rape's not funny." I say, "fuck you, I think it's hilarious. How do you like that?" I can prove to you that rape is funny. Picture Porky Pig raping Elmer Fudd. See! Hey, why do you think they call him "Porky," eh? I know what you're going to say. "Elmer was asking for it. Elmer was coming on to Porky. Porky couldn't help himself, he got a hard- on, he got horny, he lost control, he went out of his mind." ~George Carlin

Like most things regarding comedy & language (and life in general) Mr. Carlin is right. It all depends on how you construct the joke. What the exaggeration is. Because every joke needs one exaggeration. Every joke needs one thing to be way out of proportion. Want more proof?

Here is a great sketch by NYC's Derrick.


Bonus video: Hot new shades! by Jon Lajoe Read more!

You Tube Monday: Round 1 Fight! Edition

What ever happened to our favorite characters from arguably the greatest fighting game of all time? Well, the extremely well done web series entitled "Street Fighter: The Later Years" answers that question in hilarious fashion. I am a big fan. Here is the first episode to whet your whistle. Check out all the episodes out at collegehumor.com



From one of our favorite NYC sketch groups and regular guest of the DC Comedy Fest, this next clip comes from Elephant Larry.

"There will be no fire balls in this dojo!"

And finally I have a clip that has also been on the internet for a while, but I cannot help but go back to every two weeks or so. Now with the Street Fighter music overlayed, it will definitely be in my "ignore work" playlist for a bit longer.

Baby gets KO'ed, yo! Read more!

YouTube Monday: Day Late Edition

I know everyone who reads this blog finds the strength every Monday morning to get out of bed by looking forward to what awesome YouTube videos I will post for Monday. I failed you yesterday.

But today i have something very special. Our friends at GW's ReceSs has posted their new video, entitled "Bruce Mobile." Not only do I get to see what the inside of a college dorm room looks like again (sob) but "Sweet Caroline" is also the #1 choice for my ring tone. That and "TNT" by AC/DC.



The next video is from one of my favorite nerds. The Angry Nintendo (Videogame) Nerd to be precise (fixes glasses)! He reviews sh*tty videogames with the type of spit fire enthusiasm we encourage here @ DCC4N. In this episode he reviews Friday the 13th for NES and since my name is Jason and it is Halloween this week i thought it was appropriate.



BONUS! Video(via bestweekever.tv):

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Youtube Mondays: "When You Gotta Go!" edition

Someone needs to get to the bottom of this case! HAHAHA! Oh my god, am I funny!


Oh, he is like the Little Mexican Chris Farley!

Fat Kid Dances La Fiesta - Watch more free videos

Lastest Improv Everywhere Prank!
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