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THE SPOTLIGHT: ELIZA BAYNE (@ELIZABAYNE)

This (long overdue) edition of ‘The Spotlight’ features writer, comedian, actress, producer, and badass-sweetheart: Eliza Bayne (@ElizaBayne)

Eliza Bayne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LET’S GET TO KNOW: Eliza Bayne (@ElizaBayne)

What’s your name and where do you currently reside?

My name is Eliza Bayne and I live in Los Angeles, THE CITY OF DREAMS.

How long have you been doing comedy?

I’ve been dabbling in comedy for years but I’ve only really focused on comedy writing in the past year. I wasn’t really using Twitter for jokes until a comedian friend of mine told me that I needed to start writing down all the silly things I was saying. And I was like WHAT and he was like YEAH and I was like OKAYYYY. So I began writing down ideas, and then more ideas and then tossing them out in the twittersphere. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to write and act in some fun sketches, write humorous articles and just recently booked a supporting role in a romantic comedy coming out later this year. I’m also writing an original pilot. Can I get a hell yeah?!?

What do you honestly think of Twitter?

I think Twitter is a great way to get your stuff out there, network and hone your writing skills. All without ever having to leave your house! I’ve also met some really great people off of Twitter. A lot of artists and comedians and other deranged people I adore. I love that Twitter creates a direct line between you and your audience. No more agents or producers telling you “no.” Let the people tell you “no” and “you suck!” HUZZAH.

Sharks or bees and why?

Sharks. No question. Is there a Bee Week? No. Who’s cooler? Quint from Jaws or Macaulay Culkin at the end of My Girl? Bees can suck it.

Who’s your favorite comedian right now?

Amy Schumer or TJ Miller. I realize those are two but sometimes you gotta break the rules. Right now I am also wearing horizontal stripes, which is a total no-no for my body shape. RIDE OR DIE MAN!!!

What magazine would you like to see published?

A magazine with beautiful women sucking on lollipops and trying to yank off their tank tops. Not to brag but I think I’m onto something here.

What would you do with $50,000?

SO MUCH! Ooh! I’d do a big shopping spree. Just like Pretty Woman except I’m not a hooker. That would be amazing. Ugh. Now I’m depressed I don’t have $50,000.

What’s the worst part about comedy?

Feeling pressure to always be funny.

What’s the best part about comedy?

Comedy is a great stress reliever. It’s also a great way to get people to see things in a different way when you can find the humor in a situation. There’s a quote: “If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.” I’m pretty sure they’re talking about anal.

What are the five topics you tweet about the most?

Fried chicken, pizza, depression, life, anxiety. Whoa. WHAT A CATCH!

How often do you tweet?

Twitter is basically World of Warcraft for me. I try to do about 6 tweets a day and then go outside and talk to people in real life. LOL. JK!

What do you wish more people would joke about?

I think if more people had the ability to laugh at themselves, the world would be a better place. Which is why I love Celebrity Roasts. Being able to sit there, roll with the punches and get roasted shows a lot of character to me. We’re all flawed individuals so why not laugh about it?

What celebrity would you like to arm-wrestle?

Nic Cage. Even regular wrestle! Throw me in the UFC Cage with Cage! I think I could take him.

What would stop you from doing comedy?

Sometimes when I’m going through a difficult time, it’s hard to feel funny and make jokes. Conversely, it’s also the reason why I make jokes.

Do you any advice for people, just in general?

STOP BEING JERKS.

For more info about Eliza and what she’s working on, go to her website here.

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THE SPOTLIGHT: NICK STADLER (@Nickadoo)

This week in ‘The Spotlight’ I chose a very funny guy that I haven’t met yet but he cracks me up EVERY day. Nick Stadler is a cartoonist, a graphic designer, stand-up comedian, and a prolific writer.

@Nickadoo

LET’S GET TO KNOW: Nick Stadler (@Nickadoo)

What’s your name and where do you currently reside?

My name is Nick Stadler and I live in Los Angeles. More specifically, I live in an area called Historic Filipinotown, although I’ve yet to meet any Historic Filipinos.

How long have you been doing comedy?

I’ve been doing stand-up off and on for about two years, but a lot more off than on because I find the process of performing to be so incredibly nerve-wracking. I’ve been writing and creating comedy in some capacity for much longer. I began with animation and, currently, I write greeting cards.

What do you honestly think of Twitter?

I think it’s the greatest terrible thing to have ever happen to me. I once tweeted, “Before Twitter, I used to be stupid in the privacy of my own mind.” I think that pretty much sums up the way I use it. But it’s afforded me the opportunity to meet some pretty remarkable people.

Sharks or bees and why?

Definitely sharks because Jaws is one of the greatest movies of all time. Even Jerry Seinfeld couldn’t make an interesting movie about bees.

Who’s your favorite comedian right now?

For pure, unadulterated, laugh-out-loud cry-funny, no one can touch Eddie Pepitone. I had the privilege of meeting him at the National Lampoon Twitter Awards – and, because I was a nominee, he actually read one of my tweets on stage!

Why don’t we have time travel yet?

Because we’re afraid our moms will try to fuck us.

What would you do with $50,000?

I’d probably just get practical things like decent furniture then blow the rest on booze.

What’s the worst part about comedy?

A lot of humor comes out of some very unhappy places. I often worry that, while attempting to write new material, I’ll find myself dwelling in some pretty dark mental and emotional areas for far too long. That can’t be healthy.

What’s the best part about comedy?

Laughter. It really is a great feeling to know you can connect on some level with a room full of complete strangers.

What are the five topics you tweet about the most?

Pop culture, and more specifically pop music, is a fun and simple target because it’s both so universal and so patently absurd. I also enjoy tweeting about politics because it’s such a potent source of anger and frustration. Sex, dating and socializing are also great because we’re all insecure about those things to some degree.

How often do you tweet?

I’ve been trying to limit myself to two to five tweets per day. I’ve also been trying to force myself to stay off of it altogether occasionally, because it can become a source of frustration. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s supposed be fun.

What do you wish more people would joke about?

Honestly, I don’t really have an answer for that. Humor relies on the element of surprise, so I don’t think I’d want to see more people joking about any one specific thing because I think it would get boring pretty quickly – we see that happen when a big current event happens and everyone decides to jump onto a single topic.

What celebrity would you like to arm-wrestle?

Ryan Gosling. And it wouldn’t so much be “arm-wrestling” as “aggressive hand-holding.”

What would stop you from doing comedy?

A sudden realization that I’m not actually funny.

Do you any advice for people, just in general?

No. I can barely take care of myself.

FOLLOW NICK STADLER

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A man was spotted driving drunk inside a Wal-Mart in Florida, let this be a wake-up call for everyone: if you drink, you will end up in a Wal-Mart.

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THE SPOTLIGHT: ANDY ERIKSON

I’m pleased as punch to have this space to show off my talented friends! Sometimes I’ll be introducing you to people that I’ve never met in real life (This is not a catfishing excursion, though that’s exactly what someone would say if it WAS a- never mind). I couldn’t be happier that this week the Spotlight is shining on Andy Erikson, one of the funniest, most prolific writers/performers that I was lucky enough to befriend in Minnesota right before I moved to New York.

Andy Erikson
Andy Erikson

LET’S GET TO KNOW: ANDY ERIKSON

What’s your name and where do you currently reside?
My name is Andy Erikson and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. More specifically I live on a cat farm.

How long have you been doing comedy?
I started doing comedy on August 27th 2007. So about 5 and a half years.

What do you honestly think of Twitter?
Twitter is amazing. It is one of my main forms of entertainment. I could seriously go on Favstar and read and laugh and star and RT tweets all day. It’s also one of my most useful tools in writing and comedy. I love it.

Tigers or bees and why?
Tigers, because they have less legs and they remind me of the movie The Lion King.

Who’s your favorite comedian right now?
I could mention like 30 comedians but I’m going to follow the rules and go with Maria Bamford.

Why don’t we have time travel yet?
We’re probably not responsible enough to have time machines. I mean we have to be constantly reminded to turn our cell phones off at comedy shows, people regularly drink and drive, and the first thing I’d do if I got a real lazer would be to put a cowboy hat on, and a nice pair of crocks, and try to shoot all the clouds that look like bunnies. I don’t even want to know what I’d do with a time machine… It would probably involve too many croutons.

What would you do with $50,000?
Stuffed animals and candy. Bouncy castles. SPACE CAMP FOR ADULTS. Roth IRA? A dinosaur with rollerblades. The Oregon Trail!

What’s the worst part about comedy?
The mean comments on youtube, and the message board where real people had a real discussion about whether or not I had down syndrom. (not joking)

What’s the best part about comedy?
All the friends I’ve made, and all the cool places I’ve gotten to go. I love getting to express myself, and get paid to be weird and have fun. It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy even the parts most people would think are boring. Also that feeling you get on stage when a new joke works. I love that.

What are the five topics you tweet about the most?
Animals, drugs, boners, Martin Luther King Jr., and hamsters.

How often do you tweet?
It definitely fluctuates. Sometimes around 7 times a day when you include Retweets and @replies. But I try to tweet at least twice a day. Ever since Favstar did their whole redesign I’ve found myself tweeting less, and it seems like other people have as well.

What do you wish more people would joke about?
I wish more people would joke about scientific discoveries, technological advances, and History. Basically smart things. Not only because I find these things fascinating, but I often get my news and information from twitter and from my friend’s jokes. I like to learn when I laugh.

What would stop you from doing comedy?
I don’t think I will ever stop “doing comedy.” I will always be writing and trying to make people laugh in some form. But I guess if I ever got a TV show or a writing gig, I might take a break from standup, but I can’t imagine it would be a permanent break. I mean, if the countless hecklers, shitty gigs, sleeping in cars at rest stops, and seeing Chad Daniel’s old sweaty balls haven’t convinced me to stop doing comedy yet, I don’t know what could.

FOLLOW @ANDYERIKSON and SEE HER PERFORM LIVE!