"Laff 4 Life" Interview with Founder, Jamie Alcroft Show #269

Jamie Alcroft, a renowned stand-up comic and philanthropist, has made significant strides in raising awareness about organ donorship through his personal journey and heartfelt initiatives. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, he authored "The Tin Man Diaries," which not only chronicles his transformative experience but also highlights the critical importance of organ donation. Alcroft's creation of "Laugh 4 Life," where free comedy shows are offered to organ donors, underscores his belief in expressing gratitude and acknowledging the life-saving impact donors have, with shows held nationwide to amplify this message. His ongoing efforts, supported by his wife, Sarah Kawahara, reflect his deep commitment to expanding donor awareness and fostering a community of gratitude and hope.

(00:02:54) "Tin Man Diaries: Transformative Heart Connection"

(00:08:01) Comedy Nights for Organ Donors Program

(00:12:48) "Comedy Shows Promoting Organ Donation Awareness"

(00:17:28) "Scott Hamilton's Philanthropic Impact and Achievements"

(00:20:29) Nurturing Creative Passions in Young Children

The Education News Comedy Quiz -- Some of the Above
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• 15:00 [Ad] The Education News Comedy Quiz -- Some of the Above
• 15:50 (Cont.) "Laff 4 Life" Interview with Founder, Jamie Alcroft Show #269

Transcript

Scott Edwards: 0:04

This is another episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and emcee celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business. Stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and emcee, Scott Edwards, Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to the podcast, Man. I'm getting some great interviews done. All these amazing stand up comics getting a chance to share their story and talk about what they're involved in. Right now. I have one of my best friends in the business. There's so much to talk about. I'm just going to introduce them and get into it. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the one and only Jamie Alcroft. Jamie, thank you so much for taking time to chat with us today. How are things?

Jamie Alcroft: 0:54

Thanks for opening for me, Scott. Thank you very much. You can leave the stage now.

Scott Edwards: 0:59

Well, I did.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:00

Let me.

Scott Edwards: 1:00

Let me lay down some quick foundation. This man.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:03

Oh, wait a minute. Okay. You're going to be here with me. Okay. Through the interview.

Scott Edwards: 1:07

Yeah.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:08

So this is like a back and forth kind of thing.

Scott Edwards: 1:10

Yeah.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:11

Oh, hell, I thought I had a whole hour and a half.

Scott Edwards: 1:15

Well, I want to make sure people know who you are because you're better. Very philanthropic.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:21

Listen, I barely know who I am.

Scott Edwards: 1:25

Well, ladies and gentlemen, if you don't recognize the name, he was part of the very successful comedy team Mac and Jamie, that for over 20 years were like the best in the country. They had their own TV show called Comedy Break. He ended up having some issues and a heart transplant, but it was really. I mean, that's a bad thing. But the good thing is he wrote a book called the Tin Man Diaries, which has been very successful and just lately, and we've talked about it before on the podcast, he is the man behind Laugh for Life, where organ donors can get some free comedy from Levity Live. Ladies and gentlemen, Jamie, you're doing it all.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:03

Hey, I'm doing some of it anyway. What can I tell you?

Scott Edwards: 2:06

Well, you've, you know, I've only got.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:09

I sleep for 16 hours a day.

Scott Edwards: 2:12

Well, it's amazing you get all this stuff.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:16

I only have a few hours to get all this stuff done, Scott. It's amazing. I don't know how I get it done myself.

Scott Edwards: 2:20

Well, we've had a chance to catch up over the last couple of years. Thanks.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:25

Yes, we have.

Scott Edwards: 2:26

Podcast.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:27

You keep calling me. I know. This is the kind of friend, ladies and gentlemen.

Scott Edwards: 2:33

Yes.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:33

Doesn't leave you alone.

Scott Edwards: 2:35

Annoying.

Jamie Alcroft: 2:36

Doesn't let you forget it. He's called me. He's called me once every five years. Well, I think. I think that's about it. But the regularity of it, though, let me tell you. Let me tell you. We're kidding around.

Scott Edwards: 2:54

Yeah. But it's because you're doing so many amazing things. I mean, you survived a heart transplant, but what came out of it was that amazing and very funny book. I'm sure it's doing well. It's called the Tin Man Diaries.

Jamie Alcroft: 3:07

It does well. Yeah. It's available on Amazon. A little pricey, $10.

Scott Edwards: 3:12

Oh, my gosh.

Jamie Alcroft: 3:12

Little pricey? Yeah. Kindle, I think, is$2.99 or something like. It's a little pricey. I'm trying to talk to Amazon about that, trying to get it. They've got some kind of tariff thing going on over there now, which driven the price of my book through the roof.

Scott Edwards: 3:29

Yeah, $10. But it's a great story because you talk about your experience going through the heart transplant, but you bring such humor to it all that it really is not only motivational, but very uplifting. But this is after decades of bringing joy and happiness and laughter to audiences on stages all around the world. And then the TV show Comedy Break. I mean, you've had so much success in so many amazing chapters. This latest chapter where you're working on Laugh for Life. And you got a partner in Levity Live, which has clubs all over the country, and I believe it's Levity Live.

Jamie Alcroft: 4:08

Improv.

Scott Edwards: 4:09

Improv. I didn't know that. Okay. Levity Live. Improv.

Jamie Alcroft: 4:11

Levity Live and all the improvs.

Scott Edwards: 4:14

And it kind of started with the Comedy Magic Club and Hermosa.

Jamie Alcroft: 4:18

It did. Let me tell you the story. I, you know, I was told my donor was killed in a motorcycle accident. And I had this empathy for him for eight years. And then about four months ago. This is my new book, by the way. About four months ago, I'm giving you a little preview here. I got an email and the subject line read from your donor's daughter. Well, I stared at that email for five minutes before I opened it. A year after my transplant, I was able to write to the donor's family and thank them for condoning the donorship of their loved ones organs. Whoever their loved one was, I didn't know. I didn't know who the family was. This all went through a proxy organization. So they knew who I was, but I didn't know who they were. Were. So fast forward eight years later, I get this email from your donor's daughter. I open it up. Her name was Brianna. She said, my dad's Name was Thomas William Miller. I finally had a name I could put to the man who gave me life. And I was just, you know, so more. Just so grateful and just overwhelmed at getting this letter. And I wrote a letter back, and. Well, I texted her. No, I wrote a letter back, and it was wonderful to touch base with her. And then because I knew my donor's name, I looked up his obituary, and it turns out he wasn't killed in a motorcycle accident. He was shot execution style by a Mexican cartel at an illegal pot farm in Forestville, California, ladies and gentlemen.

Scott Edwards: 6:04

No way.

Jamie Alcroft: 6:05

He had done time for grand theft auto. He had died for armed robbery. And he had not spoken to his daughter in years. She apparently was the one who decided to donate his organs. And, you know, because of that, I got to see my daughter, my eldest daughter get married. I got to see Haley perform at the Staples Center. I got to see her do all these great things. And I got to, you know, see my son grow. And I get to live with my wife. I got to be alive because of her decision. And it was just wonderful. I mean, it's an amazing thing. I love the fact that I have the heart of an outlaw. Don't get me wrong.

Scott Edwards: 6:48

Well, I just think that that was.

Jamie Alcroft: 6:50

My gun cocking right there.

Scott Edwards: 6:53

Well, Brianna reaching out and sharing Thomas Miller's name, and you. You being able to find out the story, which is very intriguing, and I want to hear more about the book.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:04

Well, there's no more about the book. That's the story. It's just closure.

Scott Edwards: 7:08

Yeah, but the way you share stories and your humor, it's going to be an amazing book.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:14

Well, it should be. Yeah.

Scott Edwards: 7:17

Have you come up with a title yet?

Jamie Alcroft: 7:20

I might make some. Well, my new memoir is going to be called I'm Going to Miss Me when I Die.

Scott Edwards: 7:28

That's a great title.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:29

That's all I could think of.

Scott Edwards: 7:31

Well, I think it's a.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:33

When, I think. Because I really am. I really am. I mean, that's what you're saying.

Scott Edwards: 7:36

You're gonna miss yourself, oh, so much.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:39

I can't tell you. The grieving period is gonna be very difficult for me.

Scott Edwards: 7:45

Well, we were talking about the various chapters and the fact that you learned about Tom and got a chance to interact with his daughter certainly is an additional amazing chapter in your already amazing life.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:58

Yeah.

Scott Edwards: 7:59

And so I thanked him.

Jamie Alcroft: 8:01

I thanked him every day, Scott. But I. He was. He wasn't here, and I didn't know whether he heard me, so I wanted to do something about that because there were millions of people out there right now who have that little donor sticker on their license. And they've made that promise to give life upon death. They are going to save the lives of up to eight people. They're going to give sight to and enhance the lives of 75 to 100 people upon their passing because they are organ, eye and tissue donors. Now. Those people should be rewarded, don't you think? Yeah, before they're gone. Before they're. Before it's too late. So I went to the Comedy Magic Club. I said, mike Lacey, who's a sweetheart of a man, this is what I want to do. He said, absolutely, let's do the first Thursday of every month. We did it for 10 months. And I had my proof of concept, because what people. It's about organ donorship for sure, but it's about dollars and cents for club owners. So I proved that I could put 50 extra people per show in the audience. Those 50 extra people who are donors and got in for free. Got in for free. But they ate and they drank and they laughed. They made it a better show for the audience. They made it a better show for the comedians. So it was a win, win, win all around. I took this idea to the improv and a wonderful woman over there named Erin Schoenfeld. I don't know if you know Erin, she worked with Judy Marmel over there at the improv and Allie Mitchell. They championed my cause and pushed it through. And the month of April, we had 44 free donor shows across the country. In all the improvs and levity lives, there are nine improvs and three levity lives in operation with this program. Laugh for Life. Just wanted to thank the people who said, yes, I will give life upon my death. That's all I wanted to do. And it's working because we're getting people shown. We had a show at the now, the Hollywood Improv. For those of you in LA that might be listening to this is a little more problematic. And I want both of you to know that if you want to go, you call the improv and you ask for a show. If you can look through the schedule, look through the event calendar. If you see a show you like, you call the improv. You say, hey, I'd like tickets for this show. I'd like donor tickets. And they'll tell you whether that's a special event. As long as it's not a special event, you have your tickets. So essentially any. Any. So it's not just the first Thursday anymore. We had 12 donor shows at the Ontario Improv last month. It's a little. April is Donate Life month, so it was a little more heavy in April, and it will be every year, but in May, I think we have about 20 donor shows across the country, and it'll probably be about the same every month from now on. They just. They just pick shows that, you know, they want to fluff up the audience for, and they make them donor shows and bingo.

Scott Edwards: 11:32

It's such a great project.

Jamie Alcroft: 11:34

Well, Scott, you were a champion of this from the beginning when I first mentioned it to you.

Scott Edwards: 11:40

Yeah. Because as a producer and a club owner, there's nothing more important than butts in the seats. And it's such an important thing to be a Life donor that, you know, and don't think about it as organ donation. Think of it as Life Life donation. You are giving life to so many different people. And we want to thank the people of Levity Live and the Improv and of course, the Comedy Magic Club, because making this happen, you. You're a force of nature, Jamie Alcroft, and you have brought this about. And we just want to thank everybody involved because it is such a great cause.

Jamie Alcroft: 12:16

It is a good project. I think. I'm really happy with it. I'm very proud of it.

Scott Edwards: 12:20

But it's just one of the.

Jamie Alcroft: 12:22

Very proud of the people. I must say that Victoria Brown at One Legacy and Christy Bethel at One Legacy really helped me. Tom Moan, the former CEO of One Legacy, which is the Donate Life ppo. Because California is so big, it's donate. It's divided up into four parts because it's critical to get the organs to the recipient asap.

Scott Edwards: 12:48

Yeah.

Jamie Alcroft: 12:48

Quickly.

Scott Edwards: 12:49

Right.

Jamie Alcroft: 12:49

So it can't be too far away. Like Texas has about 12 different zones, has 12 different organs organizations serving their Donate Life needs because it's so damn big. California, I got my organs from Northern California at the furthest reaches of the One Legacy limit. And One Legacy is the local chapter, so to speak, of Donate Life America that works the Southern California area. And they were instrumental in helping me, too. They just. And they're behind it. I think. They're donor shows this weekend. I haven't checked the schedule, but I could. It's really cool. It's really cool that club owners see the value of having more people, not just for the money that they bring in, but for how they make it a better show for everybody.

Scott Edwards: 13:46

Right. And you're really accomplishing two things. You're bringing awareness to people that may have thought about but were not Life donors. Yet and that there's a lot of positives to it. And as you said, you as the spokesperson, it gives you some way of showing your appreciation and thanking people like Brianna and others that have signed that form that allowed the donation of organs and saved so many lives. So not only are you the energy and the power behind the program, but it also gives back to you and you're able to say thanks truly. The other.

Jamie Alcroft: 14:27

That's all. That's what it's about. I'm just saying thanks.

Scott Edwards: 14:30

Right. And the other thing that I was bringing up when I talked about the various chapters of your life is that you have post heart transplant, a very full life. I didn't know about a new book in the works. That's really exciting. But you did mention Haley and you have a very talented, award winning choreography choreographer wife. You're involved. I get a chance to see your post in social media. There's been a lot of success in the family in show business as well as you.

Jamie Alcroft: 15:41

Indeed. Indeed. Yeah. My wife is a two time Emmy award winning ice skating choreographer which is a real niche.

Scott Edwards: 15:54

But she's so good.

Jamie Alcroft: 15:55

Only ice skating choreographer to ever win Emmys and also the American Choreography Award. So she got her first Emmy for Scott Hamilton's special Upside down, which she choreographed with Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning. Then she got her second Emmy for choreographing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Salt Lake city Olympics in 2002.

Scott Edwards: 16:18

And just to give her a good plug, her working entertainment name is Sarah Kawahara.

Jamie Alcroft: 16:26

That's. That's her name. That's her birth name. Sarah Kawahara. Canadian, Japanese. And being Canadian, she had to skate.

Scott Edwards: 16:38

Well, I knew it wasn't Sarah Alcroft in show business. So I want to make sure we get her name out there because obviously I have to be very proud. I mean you've had so many awards and accomplishments and success and then to have Sarah come along and have her own success in her own name, in her own right. And then Haley is doing amazing things.

Jamie Alcroft: 17:00

Yeah, I was with just to stick on Sarah for a second. Like I try to do as much as I can. I just was in New York with her. Scott Hamilton received the lifetime achievement award from the Ice Dance Theater of New York, a very prestigious organization in New York. And Sarah was asked to present him with his award because. Because Sarah choreographed his professional career. All of his costumes and music and ideas for numbers and so forth came out of that little lady's head.

Scott Edwards: 17:38

Wow.

Jamie Alcroft: 17:39

And I don't mean to call her my little Lady.

Scott Edwards: 17:41

No, she's a powerful, huge person in entertainment. Yeah. In fact, it's interesting how you guys formed a family because you are 2A personality. Power people and geniuses in your own fields. And I think it's made it amazing family situation.

Jamie Alcroft: 18:03

It was purely sexual.

Scott Edwards: 18:06

Okay.

Jamie Alcroft: 18:08

Yeah. Purely, purely, purely nothing to do. I can't remember last time I spoke with her. No intellectual stimulation there whatsoever. Yeah. It's been a really exciting life. I mean, I never knew that I'd get to hang out with Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill. And Scott Hamilton's a good buddy of mine. We went golfing together a few times out in Lake Sherwood. He's just a wonderful, wonderful human being. And the nice thing about him getting an award was his whole speech was about Sarah and thanking her for, you know, what she had done for his career and so forth. And, you know, and he went through all that cancer and he just. He's really an inspirational fellow because he raises literally millions of dollars a year for cancer research.

Scott Edwards: 18:59

Well, the fact that you're both philanthropic and giving back to the world that supported your art forms is really important. And then all this entertainment and talent genius got passed down to the. The kids as well.

Jamie Alcroft: 19:15

Well, yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, Sarah gave out that award to Scott in New York. And then I got back into town and my daughter Haley. Kyoko, who uses her first name and her last name. No, but none of the women in my family use their last name. Alcroft is just like disappearing off the map. I don't know what the hell is going on. Anyway, it's a couple. But anyway, Haley presented a lifetime achievement award to John Chu at the director of Wicked and many, many other great films at the Asian American Pacific island awards ceremony on Saturday night.

Scott Edwards: 19:56

Wow. The awards just keep on coming.

Jamie Alcroft: 19:59

That was pretty special for Haley to be able to do that and got to meet people like Ann Lee and so forth. Just some amazing cherry cola was there. I don't know if you know who she is. Very funny, talented young woman. So that was kind of cool. Words run in the family. Yeah. Haley is, of course, a little pop singer and a book writer. She wrote a book called Girls Like Girls and it was number one New York Times bestseller list on ya. That's. That means young adult as a YA category now.

Scott Edwards: 20:37

I didn't know that, but I'm not a young adult.

Jamie Alcroft: 20:43

No. That was a few years ago for you, wasn't it?

Scott Edwards: 20:46

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, that's amazing though, for Sarah and Haley. But you also have some other kids and they're doing well in their own right. I mean, it's got to be interesting for you, as the patriarch of the family, who also has just tons of success, to kind of keep everybody not only succeeding in their own rights, but keeping the family together, which you're really good at.

Jamie Alcroft: 21:09

And I just keep the family together. I can't help. You know, their success is just they're all on their own. It's really. I was able to set my kids free from a very early age creatively, and them being able to see their father make a living being funny and their mother make a living ice skating. And like my daughter said, growing up, she thought we were very wealthy, but now that she's an adult, she realizes we were just overspending.

Scott Edwards: 21:44

That's one way to seem wealthy, right?

Jamie Alcroft: 21:47

That is very true. That's right. Yeah. Live way beyond your means.

Scott Edwards: 21:52

Well, the whole point of this podcast is about stand up comedy. And what I think is the reason I like sharing your story, Jamie, is not only the amazing book, the Tin Man Diaries and Laugh for Life, this great organ donor program, but it all kind of started with that seed of stand up comedy when you and Mac connected in South Florida and were able in Key west and build.

Jamie Alcroft: 22:19

We were the only two heterosexuals on the island.

Scott Edwards: 22:25

Well, yeah. And the thing is, is that you've really done so well and I'm just proud of the fact.

Jamie Alcroft: 22:33

Oh, thank you, Scott.

Scott Edwards: 22:34

That you're so.

Jamie Alcroft: 22:36

You. My goodness. Well, but we're all just, you know, for us to be able to. Living in the arts as we have our life through our lives is just. Just pinch yourself every day because we're just so fortunate.

Scott Edwards: 22:52

Well, it's like they say, if you're doing something you love, it's not work. Right.

Jamie Alcroft: 22:56

It's never been work for me, ever been. I'm trying to get a couple of TV shows produced right now and you know, it's not work at all. If people call me back, great. If they don't call me back, you know, it's out of my control and I really, I really come to adopt that. Hey, something. If I can't control something. Yeah, I don't give it a thought.

Scott Edwards: 23:21

Yeah, right. Why stress over it?

Jamie Alcroft: 23:23

I totally let it go. That whole Zen thing, I just, I really, I like that I'm a follower of Mr. Zen. I don't know who Mr. Zen was, but I'd have to look that up.

Scott Edwards: 23:35

I'll look that up. Well, Jamie, I appreciate you coming back on the podcast, but more importantly, I appreciate all your years and giving of laughter at my clubs and other clubs around the country. The TV show Comedy Break, the Tin Man Diaries. You're a great author. I can't wait to see the new book come out. We'll have to do another podcast and plug it, but right now, you're gonna.

Jamie Alcroft: 23:56

Miss me when I'm dead. Remember that.

Scott Edwards: 23:58

I'm gonna.

Jamie Alcroft: 23:59

No, wait a minute. That's too harsh. I'm gonna miss me when I'm gone.

Scott Edwards: 24:02

Gone. There you go. I'm gonna miss me when I'm gone. But also, you just gotta rewrite, Rewrite. Check your local improv and levity live club and look for the Laugh for Life program set up.

Jamie Alcroft: 24:16

Well, there's a little donor sticker. It says donor up in the right hand corner. And if it doesn't, you can still call the club and see if that show qualifies.

Scott Edwards: 24:26

Well, it is an amazing program. You're an amazing guy, and I want to say thanks for sharing some of your life's chapters with my audience. It's been a real honor to have you on the podcast and tell your amazing family that we were able to share how proud you are of them and everything they've done.

Jamie Alcroft: 24:44

Well, I have a wonderful son, Thatcher, who's just the light of my life, pride of my life, pride of the Yankees. And I have a wonderful son, Elise, who's given me two beautiful grandchildren in the last couple years.

Scott Edwards: 24:58

Well, the grandkids, that's always the best part.

Jamie Alcroft: 25:01

Yeah, that's a lot of fun.

Scott Edwards: 25:03

Yeah. You guys out there, you need a pro. Well, Jamie, thanks for being on the show. Ladies and gentlemen, check out the Tin Man Diaries. Keep an eye out for his new book. And of course, go to a local club and check out Laugh for Life. And if your local club doesn't have the program, have them reach out to Jamie Alcroft. How can they reach you, Jamie?

Jamie Alcroft: 25:28

They can reach me at jamesalcroftgmail.com jamesalcroftmail.com.

Scott Edwards: 25:36

And let's get more clubs signed up. Jamie, thanks so much, man.

Jamie Alcroft: 25:41

Thank you, Scott, for your support all through the years. I really appreciate you. Thanks. You're a great friend.

Scott Edwards: 25:46

Oh, thank you. You're very welcome. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for joining us on this special interview with my good friend Jamie Alcroft. We'll be back next week with another great show. Bye. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and emcee. For information on the show merchandise and our sponsors, or to send comments to Scott, visit our website at www.standupyourhost and mc.com look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near you.