The Commissioner of Comedy with James Mattern
Episodes
72 episodes
On to The Next One
I just had arguably the biggest week of my career. And then….. what? This will happen a lot in this business. Spend days, weeks, months even years trying to accomplish something then the panic of a scary question. “What’s next?” This week I dis...
The Check Spot
The check spot is the most dreaded spot on a comedy show. It’s where the young act on the bill earns their keep. The audience doesn’t pay attention, the servers are loud, and one’s self esteem can get crushed. I talk about how important the che...
Losing my edge?
This week I ponder if getting mental health deteriorates a comic art? Does getting help take away one’s edge? And is it worth it?Production By “Slick” Nick AngeloArt by JSS.oneMusic by MDMD
Get The Funk Outta Here
I had a good weekend after weeks of misery. What got me out of it? Doing gigs I didn’t really want to do. I discuss how inspiration can come from the least likely places. Later I discuss how hanging with peers is so taken for granted.Pr...
Gripes of Wrath
WE ARE BACK!!!! I open by explaining why there hasn’t been an episode. I then go into things I’ve seen since the last ep that are driving me insane. Comics leaving the stage after two minutes and sitting in the audience before their set p...
Not Everyone is Andy Kaufman
Is it worth it to be different? Is there such thing as “pure comedy” or “traditional comedy?” In this episode I dig deep inside the pitfalls and potential gold mine of doing something outside the box in comedy.Production Nick Angelo...
TIME... IS ON MY SIDE
There is more to getting work than just killing. Comedy is a job. And jobs like punctual and easy to to work with employees. This week I discuss the importance of being on time, not blowing the light and being kind to the staff. And ho...
Do Your Homework
Sometimes you have to keep performing. And sometimes that is giving yourself a task to work on. It’s very productive to always work on something on stage beyond killing and developing new material. This week I look at how giving onesel...
Shut up and play the hits
When should a comic do their best material? It’s a frequently asked question. Is it beneficial to only kill? And does a performer owe it to who is booking them to crush every time? Production by Nick Angelo (congrats)Art by JSS...
Can I call myself a comic?
When are you an aspiring comic and when can you tell people you are a comic? Are there benefits to not getting onstage? This week I talk about the perception of people who only get a couple times a week and act like they have been paying their ...
Blah Blah Blah Blah
You have to act like a professional as comic. Even though it’s very fun and exciting. That means not posting pics and tagging every celebrity you share a stage with. I tell a story of how I almost fanned boy out and what that would have cost me...
DREAM ON
Living the dream? Sometimes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Sure the stories and friendships you create in this journey from all the bad times are unmatched, but you still have to expierence those bad times. And sometimes those ...
Passing me by
This episode is about not getting too discouraged when your peers start to “pass you by” in the journey. How to deal with it. And how to deal ITV gaining success without making your friends feel bad when they don’t get the same thing....
The Times They Are A Changing
I'm in the middle of a move, working new gigs I've never worked, and just like that New York City is back to being wide open. Is change a good thing? I don't know, but it sure can be a scary thing. But like the great Michael Jordan said, "Why b...
PINCH ME
Look I was lucky enough to get into the Chapelle Comedians ball. And it was beautiful and inspiring. And in this episode I explain why it was both. Production by Nick AngeloArt by JSS.oneMusic by MDMD
Thin Line Between Love & Hate
This episode is the struggle of liking someone off stage but not on stage or online. Is it ok to hate someone because of their act? Do you have to like everyone you work with? I reflect hard on this and tell some stories of trying to make peace...
What living the dream is really
Comedy is far from pretty. It’s awesome but it can make the rest of your life difficult. Is it worth it?This week I discuss it.Production by Nick AngeloArt by JSS.oneMusic by MDMD“So you want to be a writer” by Charles Bukow...
How available are you? With Alex Babbitt
Alex Babbitt has been doing standup since he was a teenager. He’s asked all the right questions and has been super respectful to the craft and the veterans of the business from the minute he started. That dedication has led to him getting on De...
Watch the other comics on the show with Rojo Perez
Everyone’s favorite NYC green room hang Rojo Perez comes on and talks about how we wants to teach male comics how to act when they have guest spots, and why it’s important to watch the show before you go on.Production by Nick Angelo...
LIKE A CAT ON A SCREEN DOOR ( with Brian Scott Mcfadden)
The absoute comedy killing machine Brian Scott Mcfadden stops by and I tell him how I used to be intimidated to work him because of how hard he crushes. He then talks about the importance of having fool proof closing bits because audiences tend...
THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION (with Jon Laster)
Jon Laster has been making crowds leave with their stomach’s hurting for years at the Comedy Cellar in NYC. He’s one of the pound for pound best comics in the biz, and one of my dearest friends. We talk about being grinders and not looking at t...
YOU'LL GET THEM NEXT TIME (with guest Greg Stone)
Greg Stone is a former writer on “The Break with Michelle Wolf” and is former roommate of mine. We start the show discussing how important living with another comic can be to one’s journey. Then Greg asks the question “ wh...
LET THE KIDS PLAY (with guest NEKO WHITE)
Neko White joins the show He’ been doing standup since 14 and has never had a day job. He discusses what it’s like to be a 14 year veteran and only be in his 20’s. We also discuss the importance of act outs in comedy durin...
Where are the UKE’s???? With Nathan Macintosh
This week is a special episode. Our first guest!!! None other than Nathan Macintosh. He’s been on Colbert, Comedy Central, you name it he’s done it. And today he discusses how after all these years and all his success He still wonders what’s th...
THE HORROR OF BOMBING IN FRONT OF FAMILY
One week back inside at clubs and I’ve already heard a million comics tell stories about HOW MUCH THEY HATE PERFORMING in front of their friends and family. So this week I tell some painful stories of dying a horrible death in front of peopl...