WHAT’S SO FUNNY? MEET ‘JON AND EDDIE’
Originally from the “Windy City”, Alex Fox and Rachel Lewis, (a.k.a “Jon and Eddie“) have performed comedy all over Chicago including: Second City, iO (formerly Improv Olympic), and the Annoyance Theater. In 2008, Jon and Eddie made their way west, taking the Los Angeles comedy scene by storm. Performing their original sketch show to a sold-out crowd on the Comedy Central Stage, which got them included in MSN.com’s “Top 100 Things to See in LA” and BUST Magazine’s “Funniest Ladies in Los Angeles.” Never ones to shy away from the ridiculous, this comedic duo embrace the world of the absurd through their daring physical and vocal comedic choices. Be it improvisational, sketch, or online content, Jon and Eddie interweave grounded scene work with a fearless sense of play, bringing a bountiful bevy of unique characters to life.
WSF: What brought you to Los Angeles?
Jon and Eddie: It’s the land of opportunity!
WSF: How did you become involved in this industry?
Jon and Eddie: We both grew up immersed in the arts and couldn’t think of anything else we would rather do!
WSF: What is your favorite place in Los Angeles and why?
Jon and Eddie: Trails, the cafe at the base of Griffith Park, because it is a hut in the middle of nature with delicious organic treats.
WSF: What really excites you?
Jon and Eddie: FOOD and 80s music.
WSF: What unique things do you hope to bring to the industry?
Jon and Eddie: Our playful and imaginative-comedic style, that is true to who we are.
WSF: What is something most people would be surprised to know about you?
Jon and Eddie: Before we plan a writing meeting, we have to plan what we are going to eat before, during, and after it.
WSF: What are your future plans and what projects do you have in the works? (more…)
WHAT’S SO FUNNY? Q&A with JACKIE GOLD
What’s So Funny’s Featured Comic:
Jackie Gold, Los Angeles CA
Hometown, New York NY
Stand-Up Comic & Writer
WSF: What has brought you to Los Angeles?
You havent heard about the shortage of actors in LA? Didn’t want it to be a a dying breed. Ok, this is how we’re gonna start this interview off? By answering every question like an 85 year old grandmother?
WSF: How did you become involved in the industry?
I’ve always been a sucker for attention. I was a dancer when i was younger, and used to compete nationally. I actually watched some of the tapes the other day and it’s funny because we were so awful. But, I guess for 9 year olds we were awesome, it would make a kick ass reality show now. I went to one of those “Performing Arts High Schools,” so I was a total musical theater kid, but I cant sing. So because i could dance, i basically played a prostitute in every play. By my second year of college, i was done. I knew I had to move out to LA, and so I packed up and left.
WSF: What is the best and worst part of being a comedian?
The hard thing for me, I cant speak for everyone, is being able to turn “off.” Once people know youre a comic they want everything you do to be entertaining, and I always feel like i gotta give it to them. So there are times I catch myself wondering if I just said what i wanted to, or what i think they wanted me to. Weird, huh?
That, and for me –’cause i’m so new in this game– it’s trying not to compare your successes with those around you. If i see that someone is doing a show i haven’t or something that I think is better than what i’m doing. I’ll start to panic. So, I think it’s important to remember that we all have our own path in this and not to compare journeys. Sounds so “namaste” but it’s SO freakin’ hard! (more…)