Had it not been for the sage advice of a Cape Cod innkeeper, Wade Rouse may never have set foot in Michigan. After learning that Rouse and his partner had driven all the way from St. Louis for a vacation, the woman wondered why they hadn't just gone to Michigan instead.
Daniel Tosh brings his blend of crude humor and popular culture to Grand Rapids' DeVos Performance Hall on June 7 as part of his "June Gloom" tour, along with special guest Jerrod Carmichael.
Paula Poundstone makes being funny seem effortless. Whether she's providing commentary as a panelist on NPR's new quiz show, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!," performing stand-up or simply having a casual conversation, she nonchalantly drops jokes left and right like it's second nature.
Cruise your closet for a LBD and something red because two themed parties hit Grand Rapids, and clothing is key. On Feb. 7, Cygnus (187 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids) hosts the 2nd Annual Red Party. The event partners with Valentine Vodka out of Detroit for a night of specialty cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dancing in a sea of red.
Ted Fox is a wiseass, but if it weren't for life's little ironies, he never would have thought to make a living as one. After graduating with a degree in economics from Notre Dame, he was lucky enough to land his dream job at ESPN, only to find it nothing short of nightmarish.
"It was a classic case of, 'If you like sausage, don't visit the sausage factory,'" Fox said.
In February, movie goers have some of the following titles to choose from: Warm Bodies, Beautiful Creatures, A Good Day To Die Hard, Dark Skies and more.
It's a new year of new stores and luxuries galore. If you aren't suited up in fleece-lined tights and reek of Moonshine cologne, you just aren't doing it right...
With movies like Texas Chainsaw 3-D, Gangster Squad, Zero Dark Thirty, Mama and Movie 43, there is certainly no shortage of entertainment to kick off the new year.
Congratulations! You have not only survived the apocalypse and outwitted the Mayans, but you've also stumbled upon a treasure trove of films with culture, fresh starts and yes, even puppies. Allow me to explain, West Michigan.
At the beginning of his comedy career, Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr. felt his name was a bit of a mouthful for open mic nights around town. So, for the sake of simplification (and memorability), he decided to shorten it. Thus was born the comedian known as Godfrey.
In 1995, after a few years of building up his comedy chops at local Chicago comedy clubs, Godfrey took on a job as warm-up comedian for the show "Cosby," which was no small task for a young performer.
January has that "NOW WHAT!?" desperation to it. The holiday mania is over and there's a depressing slow creep toward spring. Keep the kids busy dreaming, doing and basking in that New-Year feeling with some activities.
Michael Kosta may currently reside in L.A., but Michigan will always hold a special place in his heart. He grew up in Ann Arbor, served as the assistant men's Tennis coach at University of Michiagn and flaunts his Michigan Emmy on the cover of his live comedy album, Champion. He even got Michigan love at Grand Rapids' first Laughfest: Kosta won $10,000 in a stand-up comedy competition at Dr. Grins.
Before Kosta made a name for himself in the comedy world he played professional tennis, won four Big Ten championships and published a book, 101 Tips for Winning More Tennis Matches. While he was the assistant coach at University of Michigan he would perform at comedy clubs on the side, often for only twenty or thirty dollars a night.
Brian Regan doesn't have to lace his comedy with obscenities to be funny. In fact, to do so would be counterintuitive. "I have no problem with blue comedy from a fan perspective," Regan said. "But it's not natural for me as a performer."
Matt Braunger has been all over the place. He grew up in Portland, Ore., studied theater at Manhattanville College in New York, did improv and stand-up in Chicago, and finally, moved to Los Angeles to solidify his career in comedy.
Braunger has had a solid career in standup for a few years now, with appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman," a Comedy Central hour-long special and his digital album Soak Up the Night. But even with all of this standup success, Braunger is still probably most often recognized for his acting career.
