Funny Tweeter:
Matthew Russell (@Mattsimoto)
Matthew Russell is the kind of guy who live-tweets at a funeral. Russell, who formerly worked for Advance Newspapers, is now the content facilitator for The Rapidian and is also the mind behind Wednesday Evening Cookies, posts Twitter nuggets such as “The economy isn't bad in Grand Rapids until Black Castle goes under.” Recently, Russell has been recovering from a broken femur and sternum after an incident between a car and his moped. Anyone else would pull a Kerrigan. Not Russell. He’s tweeting hilarity from his hospital bed while doped up on morphine and spending some quality time in rehab (not the kind celebrities go to). On June 9, Russell tweeted “There's a lot you can learn while in rehab at Metro. I sig[n]ed up for C-walk classes.” A few days later, he posted “I just ate a calcium pill almost as big as yo momma.”
Funny Gal:
Sarah Jean Anderson
She’s loud, in-your-face, and she loves to talk about boobs — and that’s when she’s offstage. Sarah Jean Anderson has been making people laugh since she joined Super Happy Funtime Burlesque (see related story) as an original member five years ago. From there, she went on to act in local films, musicals and the Murder Mystery Company. Anderson and her husband, Phil, host amateur cabaret night at Diversions, and help out with judging and manning (and womaning) the door at Dr. Sketchy’s Anti Art School. She’s as animated in real life as she is onstage, and has never turned down a camera flash or a chance to be in the spotlight. (In case you missed it, read the full story about Sarah and Phil from our "Love Issue," Feb. 2010.)
Funny Guy:
Stu McCallister
Stu McCallister wants you to hire him. The funny guy launched a Facebook campaign called “Betty White is Busy…Hire STU!” to get him a job on the “Todd Chance Radio Show.” Looks like it worked, because McCallister now has a two-mornings-a-week segment called “Talk Stu,” however, he wants to be known as a “regular guy” instead of a “segment guy.” In between, he tours locally and nationally performing stand-up. Recently, he performed in Kentucky and Minnesota and has July dates at the Kalamazoo State Theatre and the Globe Theatre in Kalamazoo. When he’s not touring, he also has a gig as an emcee at Dr. Grins. If you want to hire Stu, you’d better do it now, before he becomes as busy as Miss White.
Funny Barista:
Ryan Van
You could stop in to 76 Coffee for the drinks, but we recommend stopping for the sardonic humor of Ryan Van, who owns the coffee shop. Van not only provides witty banter while you order your latte, but puts snarky phrases and drawings on coffee cups for customers to use and purchase. Some mugs have knives on fire, others have boom boxes, a few have odes to metal, and all are clever. Be sure to check out the mugs that say, “HEY KIDS! Needles are for records, NOT DRUGS!” and “To be honest, I hate John Cusack for kissing Lisa Bonet.” Don’t we all.
Funny Media Personalities:
Free Beer and Hot Wings
Only a couple of things are required for a positive experience while listening to the “Free Beer and Hot Wings Show”: a sense of humor and thick skin. The nationally syndicated morning show that calls Grand Rapids 97.9-FM WGRD its home features ruthless hosts who both prey on each other and unassuming callers to crack up your weekday mornings. Expanding at a torrid rate over the past couple of years, the show has garnered a cult-like national following shown while in its Facebook fans that topple 30,000, and features high-profile guests keeping its roots firmly planted in the local here and now. The funny doesn't stop at 10 a.m. either, as the show's website, freebeerandhotwings.com, offers humor from around the net as well as access to show archives, podcasts and more.
Mix one part comedy roast with one part improv Olympics, throw in a dash of local celebrity and what do you get? The VIP Comedy Show. Launched a few months ago at GR's Dog Story Theater by comic Joe Anderson and the Pop Scholars improv troupe (see related story), the show follows a simple formula. A local celeb is invited onstage, interviewed about his or her life, and then the comics create 45 minutes of short sketches mocking said celeb's life. So far they've skewered local celebs such as FOX TV entertainment reporter Emily Richett, florist/political candidate Bing Goei, Mars Hill pastor Rob Bell and about a dozen others. It's an inventive and often hilarious show with only one downside: It's on Monday nights. The crowds can be sparse given the 8 p.m. showtime on the first day of the work week, but it's an hour well spent. A $5 ticket buys you entrance to the 9 p.m. show, another improv act called "Cabbie," as well as the 10 p.m. Open Improv Jam.
Photos: Steven de Polo, Jon Clay, and Tim Motley
