Hosts Keith and Chemda (of Keith and The Girl) ask comedian friends and performers about their first time on stage. Listen to popular comics telling embarrassing stories of their first performances as they share some of their most terrible opening lines, awkward executions, and epic fails.
51: Siobhan O'Loughlin's First Time
Feb 15, 2020
Show notes
Siobhan O'Loughlin, host of the news-making traveling bathroom show Broken Bone Bathtub, discusses what it was like growing up in a family that supported the arts (WHAT?!) and the shows and situations that led to a documentary about her global immersive theater project about trama, vulnerability, and connection.
50: Joe DeVito’s First Time
Jan 18, 2020
Show notes
With 20 years of hard-learned experience and advice, stand-up comedy staple Joe DeVito talks about his work as a journalist, advertising writer, praised comedian of stage and screen, and funnyman on cruise ships.
49: Hannah Berner's First Time
Dec 07, 2019
Show notes
Summer House's Hannah Berner began her entertainment career studying drama in a performance arts middle school before creating her own viral sketch videos and memes. After her intense work with the popular media company Betches, she joined the Bravo reality show and recently began performing stand-up comedy. While making her own way and creating her own rules, Hannah became a force to be noticed in drama, comedy, and reality TV.
48: John F. O'Donnell's First Time
Nov 10, 2019
Show notes
Keith and The Girl legend and Redacted Tonight correspondent John F. O’Donnell shares his stand-up beginnings at age 12, taking his show on the road, and being a featured act on Comedy Central. Even mental breakdowns couldn’t stop John’s creation of 50 First Jokes from taking off in multiple cities, and he reminisces about the highs and lows working as a political correspondent on television. Then he tells you how to watch his new hour-long special The Manic-Depressive Chocolate Fountain Operator for free.
47: Kyle Ocasio's First Time
Oct 13, 2019
Show notes
Keith’s girlfriend (and a comic who has performed worldwide for over a decade, including multiple military tours) discusses early stand-up influences including Rita Rudner and the blatant sexism that has carried over from then to now. Guest Kyle Ocasio talks about her first performances as a new mom in a miserable relationship with newly deceased parents. She talks about Keith’s yearly stand-up show, having Vinny from Jersey Shore as an MC, and receiving lightbulbs as a gift from Keith. She discusses working on Fox News’s Red Eye, working with staunch conservatives, performing stand-up about her 3 kids in front of them, and upsetting family with jokes.
46: Gina Brillon's First Time
Aug 30, 2019
Show notes
HBO stand-up veteran Gina Brillon is here to discuss her early days performing in front of fellow students into a hairbrush, professionally starting stand-up at 17 with her identical twin sister, and the lesson on how she became comfortable in her own skin. Gina describes the worst heckling of all time, her mistake in trying to handle it, and the host that literally ran to the stage to dismiss her. Gina takes us through her journey that includes The Latino Circuit, the politics of diversity, Just for Laughs, television, and teary-eyed parents.
45: Katharine Heller's First Time
Jul 21, 2019
Show notes
Whether it’s starring in commercials, acting in voiceover work, entertaining an audience through improv, written sketches, or songs, Katharine Heller is as well-rounded an artist as they come. But she’s on this show now, so you know you’re about to hear about her insane beginnings. This time The Beginnings include an artistically jealous and competitive father and, unrelated, unknowingly eating male ejaculation on stage. Enjoy. Not the ejaculation. I mean this episode.
44: Andrea Allan’s First Time
Jul 04, 2019
Show notes
After her first stand-up experience (at an open mic night while plastered), Andrea Allan still knew she wanted to perform stand-up comedy. After a roast battle (where she bombed on stage while literally being completely naked), she still knew she wanted to perform stand-up comedy. After this and that (all heartbreaking and jaw-dropping), she still knew she bla bla bla. Despite established creeps and verified assholes, she’s come out the other side with her debut album and a skill and presence like no other.
43: Lenny Marcus’s First Time
Jun 22, 2019
Show notes
From putting together a bringer show of 60 people to performing multiple times on late night TV, Lenny Marcus covers the highs and lows of his decades in comedy, including his first televised standup show and writing for SNL’s Leslie Jones. And find out why he wouldn’t do it all over again.
42: Dave Hill's First Time
Jun 08, 2019
Show notes
Whether it’s stand-up, TV, books, or music, Dave Hill’s fun and quirky personality has branched out into so many avenues of comedy and art. Dave talks about self-doubt, believing in yourself, and what Twitter called his permanent ban. Spoiler: the last involves your mother.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
