Barry Crimmins, on satire and Boston comedy

The political satirist often faces a paradox: The best of times for the satirist may be the worst of times for others. Which brings us to Barry Crimmins. Crimmins — former booker for the legendary Ding Ho comedy club in Cambridge and Stitches in Boston, now writer for Air America …

David Sedaris supports future planet of the apes

Yes, really. That’s one thing to take away from last night’s talk by David Sedaris at Symphony Hall. Sure, there were the amusing essay readings. About an hour’s worth of Sedaris. But then…the monkey. (Cue the flashback) The supposedly sold-out appearance by essayist David Sedaris at Boston’s Symphony Hall on …

Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story

Docucomedy or mockumentary? Either way, Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story is an amusing look at the people who play paintball — and Rob Corddry is at the center of it all as the movie’s comeback kid. The film starts a weeklong run at Cambridge’s Brattle Theatre. Corddry, 35, said filming …

Dane Cook on the night of “Vicious Circle”

I’d interviewed Dane Cook in 2005 upon the release of his breakthrough CD/DVD "Retaliation," but hadn’t really talked to him in-depth in person until April 15, 2006, the night he’d tape two sold-out shows at Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden for HBO’s "Vicious Circle." Cook took some time in his dressing …

NYC open mics

Don’t know why I thought New York City open mics would be somehow different (read: better) than open mics in every other city, but they are, if anything, worse (read: soul-suckingly worse). I returned to the Big Apple to take part in a reunion of sorts of the "Funniest Reporters …

Eugene Mirman, the face for radio?

When several radio stations across the country decided to adopt the "Mike," "Jack" and "Wolf" formats, they turned to comedian Eugene Mirman to be their on-air face to promote the song-shuffle concept on TV ads. The ads showed Mirman, who went to Hampshire College and began comedy in Cambridge, Mass., …

Mike Birbiglia’s “Medium Man On Campus” tour

Comedian Mike Birbiglia has been performing to packed college auditoriums this spring. Which made his return to Georgetown University, his alma mater, all the more triumphant. Or not. "It was one of the smaller shows, actually," Birbiglia told me. "I don’t want to downgrade their experience like they didn’t have …

Greg Behrendt moves to daytime TV

A couple of years ago, Greg Behrendt found himself telling jokes to a few dozen people at a Baltimore comedy club. Now he’s a household name. Give credit to (or blame) him for co-authoring the best-selling relationship book, "He’s Just Not That Into You," which came out of his consulting …

Frisky Feline Fool: Erin Judge

(part of a series of April Fools profiles of comedians worth your attention) Who are you? Erin Judge How old are you? 25 Where do you live? Somerville, Mass. What’s your story? She has her own night at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge’s Harvard Square (since January 2005) and also …

Thinking Man’s Fool: Baratunde Thurston

(part of a series of April Fools profiles of comedians worth your attention) Who are you? Baratunde Thurston How old are you? 29 Where do you live? Somerville, Mass. What’s your story? Originally from Washington, D.C., Baratunde Thurston is a Harvard grad who bills himself as a vigilante pundit. His …