Comedy
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Find Out Where SNL Comedian Jay Pharoah Eats Cheesesteaks During PunchLine Philly Comedy Tour
Story by Cassie Hepler Jay Pharoah is not just an actor and stand-up comedian. Former funny man on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Pharoah is best known for his wide array of uncanny celebrity impressions, including former President Barack Obama, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Stephen A. Smith, Kanye West and Chris Tucker, as well as recurring character of school principal Daniel Frye. Now he’s coming back to chilly Philly to perform at Punch Line Philly on Thursday, Feb. 2 to Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. We caught up with him on a “phoner” interview, which can be hilariously misinterpreted through the sound waves by the way. Q: Is SNL like 30 Rock…
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Philly Family Tries Their Luck on Family Feud with Steve Harvey
Story by Cassie Hepler Check your local listings and cheer on the Wongus Family for the popular game show Family Feud with Steve Harvey set for Tuesday, Jan. 17th at 7:30 p.m. on CW Philly 57. We caught up with the Philly family for a Q&A to find out what it’s like and how your family can sign up to be on the show too. Q: Please list each person’s name who appeared on the show, their age, occupation and where they are from? Timothy Wongus, age 41, Auditor for a Healthcare Organization from Overbrook area in Philadelphia, PA Inez Mansaray, age 41, Childcare Provider from Lansdowne, PA Sherra Sowell,…
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Interview with Author Irene Levy Baker of 100 Things to do in Philadelphia Before You Die
Story, video by Whitney Ullman 100 Things to do in Philadelphia Before You Die, the latest in a national series of travel guides by Reedy Press, was just released. The guide was written by Irene Levy Baker, who has spent 25 years exploring Philadelphia. It includes tips she discovered while working with five local tourist bureaus, celebrity chefs, hotels and attractions. Baker is the owner of Spotlight Public Relations, a firm specializing in hospitality and restaurants. Prior to starting her public relations firm in 1998, Baker spent nearly a decade at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. EXPLORE PHILLY: Tell us about the inspiration behind writing this particular book? BAKER: I’ve been exploring…
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Former Buzzfeed Comedian Matt Bellassai Slays at Punch Line Philly Comedy Club
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Only in America can you become famous for drinking at work. And not in the bad way! Former Buzzfeed boy toy Matt Bellassai is a drunk genius. He started Whine About It Wednesdays and had people in their cubicles green with envy as he drank copious amounts of red wine at his desk during work and still got paid to do so. “It got to a point where Buzzfeed told me I had to make a choice,” he said. And so the Drunk and Alone tour was born and Bellassai was thrust upon the world at only newly 26-years-old and ready to tear it up. His…
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Trevor Noah Wins Lots of Laughs at SugarHouse Casino
Story, photos (unless otherwise noted) by Tim Beckel The crowd at the SugarHouse Casino’s Event Center left full of laughs after enjoying Trevor Noah’s standup routine on a Spring Saturday. Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, performed his stand-up for a sold out crowd and touched on topics outside the usual current events slant of his show, including his experiences traveling and many riffs on the differences between the U.S. and his native South Africa. The night started with Angelo Lozada warming up the crowd as the opening act. Lozada has been a stand-up comedian for many years, but joked that he needed an immigrant from Africa to help him get his break. In addition to…
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Butlers in the Buff Serve Up Good, Clean, Cheeky Party Fun
*Disclaimer: Cheeky PG-13 Photos ahead! Photos, story by Christine Tarlecki Trimble When Butlers in the Buff reached out to us at Explore-Philly, we weren’t sure what to think. Sure in America, tradition dictates getting a stripper or going to a strip club for a bachelor or bachelorette party. However, times are changing (this writer just got married and didn’t go to a club. Bridesmaids, family and the newlyweds went to the Melting Pot for dinner!) So after we chatted with the Director of the Butlers in the Buff, Stacey Bramhill, she set us up with Daniel, our butler for the evening. Hosted at this writer’s house, with 7 closes friends, we arranged…
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Get Your Geek On! One Weekend Left to Show Your True Colors at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler The 35th annual season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope Winery kicked off all the way back when it was hot and humid (August 1, 2015) and continues every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to roughly 8 p.m. until Oct. 25. We say roughly because we were still meandering around until 9 p.m. and were the last car in the free, grassy knoll lot – a sign of true geekdom. Each weekend showcases a unique theme that offers a different experience every time. We chose to attend the Halloween themed weekends toward the middle of October for maximum nerd-watching enjoyment. Themed entertainment, spontaneous music…
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Amy Schumer Takes the Cake at the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival
By Jill Beckel There was something for everyone at the Funny or Die’s Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden this past Sunday, September 13th. The event began at 5:15pm with a few comics on the outdoor festival stage while guests played games and enjoyed some food and drinks. It was a perfect, clear night for some outdoor fun. Then at 7:00pm, everyone made their way to the main stage. The line-up included several well-known comedians: Big Jay Oakerson Nikki Glaser Jay Pharoah Michael Che Anthony Jeselnik Bridget Everett Nick Kroll Dave Attell John Mulaney Amy Schumer Aziz Ansari The host, Big Jay Oakerson, had…
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Valley Forge Casino: Jenny McCarthy’s First Female Comedy Troupe Kills It
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Can you believe there has never been an all-female comedy tour before? Neither can we! That seems so… old school. But it’s true. Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty, Sexy, Funny tour peaked our interest and led us to Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia, Pa. for an overnight adventure that was almost too good to be true. Google maps had no problem finding the place and the actual entrance (it gets a little tricky out in KOP land). The key is knowing that the Raddison is attached to the Casino, with it’s own separate hotel above the casino (where we stayed). There are long hallways connected the two locations…
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Feeling Naughty? Check Out The Peek-A-Boo Revue in Philly
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler This Christmas, maybe you are feeling like Santa put you on the naughty list. If so, then it makes perfect sense to self-indulge in some Peek-A-Boo Revue Holiday Spectacular fun! This event was held at the Underground Arts last Friday night with a 7 p.m. start (which to those in the know meant secure a chair for general admission $25 or spring for up front table VIP action for $35). Things didn’t get rolling ’til well past 8:15 p.m. (darn Philly traffic snagged an orchestra member – yes, you read that right orchestra). These are some fancy broads. We arrived early-ish and I found a…