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YOU JUST LOST A FOLLOWER, LIBT*RD

1/9/2026

Someone messaged this when I recently explained the use on deadly force by officers in relation to the tragedy of Minneapolis on my personal Facebook page and shared a video the shooting on my instagram stories. As some of you know, before I did comedy, I was a lawyer who defended municipalities and police officers in civil lawsuits. And as part of that work, I handled dozens and dozens of excessive force cases as well as deadly force cases. I handled more cases on the use of deadly force than all the lawyers in the Trump Administration, including Pam Bondi and JC Vance. I argued (and won) cases before Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett when she in the 7th Circuit. So I happen to know a lot about the use of deadly force and feel that my insight is useful and beneficial to my followers. Sadly, some people view this as political bias, which is ironic because for fifteen years, I defended police officers, I did not sue them.

I used to avoid mentioning any politics for fear of losing followers but now I think its important to express my opinions.. If someone is going to be triggered by my explanation of the law and criticizing the government for essentially gaslighting the country about the law and facts we all saw with our own eyes, then they don’t deserve to see my comedy. Ironically, I was not a liberal and while I am not a fan of this President, I was once a Republican with a poster of Ronald Reagan on my wall in junior high (right next to my poster of the band The Police and a picture of a Porsche)

I have a friend who is a filmmaker and when he posts about movies, I love to read his insight. I have friends (and family) who are doctors so when they update me on health issues, especially during the pandemic, I wanted to learn. I feel that way about my knowledge of the law, at least in certain areas where I had experience. Same with music as a musician and of course comedy. I have a thirst for knowledge and if people choose tribalism over learning or engaging in meaningful conversation, they are choosing not to grow. If people don’t agree with me, I love to discuss issues with them and as long as they don’t call me names or attack people without facts or reasoning, I will engage. I don’t think cutting people off who disagree with you is a way to grow, unless those people are actively promoting hate and crime.

For those of you on the far right or far left, listen to each other. Learn, engage. teach. Don’t blindly follow power and lastly, don’t unfollow. #standup #formerlawyer #lawyer

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Would You Do the Riyadh Comedy Festival for 1 Million Dollars?

1/3/2026

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It depends. What a lawyer answer, right? First, I would need to know that my safety is not in jeopardy. I am not Muslim and have Jewish blood in me, so safety would be my first concern. Second, how long a set am I doing and what are the limitations. If the rules are only that I can’t make fun of the Royal Prince, thats fine because I don’t have any jokes about him anyways. Third, I would need to know if I can sell merch, like my “Better Call Paul” shirts which I donate all the profits to non-profit organizations important to me.
Assuming I am safe and have material that is otherwise allowed and can sell merch, I would 100% do it for 1 Million Dollars. Then I would donate half the money I made (after taxes) to Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), the non-profit founded by Jamal Khashoggi, who was brutally murdered by the Saudi government and continues his work advocating for human rights and democracy in the Middle East. I would donate all the profits from my shirts to Amnesty International.
So I would perform and help the communities that are affected by the regime, so they are better off than I did not do the show. That’s how you make a difference in the world, see? Win/win #comedy #standup #moralcompass #formerlawyer

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Would You Rather Have a Silent Crowd or an Talkative Crowd?

12/27/2025

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Assuming the talkative crowd is talking to others at their table, not me, I would say silent. At least they are listening, right? I don't mind if people are talking to me, as long as they are not disruptive or ruining the show for others. But if they are talking to their own table and not payign attention, that is annoying and frustrating. I would take the silent crowd, because they are paying attention to me, at least. Sometimes, they are silent because they don't know how comedy clubs work and they are absorbing the jokes, or I am just not funny. People not listening come into a joke and then go out of it, so they are not really experience the show, especially for me, where my jokes are nuanced and sometimes stories that require you to listen and absorb the "set up".

I run a show called Stand Ups Sit Down which happens to take place on a Monday night. I love the show but because it's a Monday, the crowd is attentive but not laughing out loud to the level a Saturday crowd is. I often warn comedians who do the show that the crowd is loyal and enjoying themselves, but alsooften just starting their work week or ending their vacation. They are there to listen and, because there is an interview after each comedian's set, they are also there to ask questions and learn too.

I also did a show recently where 90% of the audience had never been to a comedy show before. They mostly smiled and laughed, covering their mouths, until I told them I needed the laughs and wanted them to even spit on me from dying of laughter. They didn't. So yeah, silence is preferred.

Speaking of my Monday show, the last one of the year is this Monday at Laugh Factory. If you want free tickets, just message me. I have a handful of comp tickets to give out. #comedy #laughs #standup

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YOU ARE DOING IT, LIVING THE DREAM

12/19/2025

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Am I? Lol. Someone said that too me this week and I had to laugh. I am definitely traveling a ton and doing a whole bunch of shows in new cities (and countries, as I am currently in Calgary, Canada). But there is a clear difference between doing shows at my level and "living the dream." For one, I am headlining shows in smaller rooms and sometimes, with small crowds. I still open for other bigger acts and, when I headline, have to constantly promote the shows to ensure I have a crowd. In the last few months, I have headlined shows that were at capacity or sold out, but I have also done shows with 7 people in the audience. It humbles you.

Social media reminds me that last year, I was doing a tour opening at theaters of 1500 people and a few years back, I was part of a sold out charity show I produced. With evidence like that, it's hard not to look back and question if you have already peaked with your career, especially as a comedian. While my social media presence is growing and I still get amazing opportunities, its always a struggle not to look back. I am pretty good about not playing the comparison game of "what other comedians are doing" and choose to compare with only myself. And I am very confident that I am a much better comedian than I was last year and the years before. I am at the top of my game, as my friend comedian Gary Gulman said. Sometimes I see opportunities I had when I wasn't as strong a comedian as I am now and wonder if I squandered my chances for more success because of my limited ability back then, even though I did well at the shows.

While walking in a mall today, I saw a quote that said 'success if a journey, not a destination' and that resonated with me, especially when I look at the things I have accomplished this year and the level of writing and performing I am at right now. It is a journey and I am doing it. And yes, the quote was a commercial real estate company. #comedy #success #journey

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Did Woke Kill Comedy?

12/10/2025

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No.The claim that “you can’t say anything” is complete BS. You can say what you want, the market will dictate if it’s funny. Saying the “R” word as a punchline is not funny. Never was. But if you make people laugh with your jokes, there is a place for you in comedy, even if you punch down. I have talked about this before.

But there is a problem similar to wokeness that exists which is “representation based on identity” or identity politics. Comedy should be based on merit. Full stop.

I once produced a monthly show with another white male comedian (it’s important for the story) where we booked 3 comedians a week. We keep it varied with established comedians but because it was at a reputable comedy club, they had to be regulars at the club and also be able well on a weekday show with small crowds. Newer comedians would not work for this show for this and other reasons specific to the show.

We were trying to get a big name for the show one week who was hard to book and when he finally agreed, we realized that all 3 comedians were male comedians. Different styles, races and points of view but yes, all men. Not an ideal situation for a comedy show and the “optics" were bad, especially for my co-producer. Mind you, for the month right before and right after, we had 2 woman and 1 man and every show before we had at least one woman (and sometimes all 3 were woman). For this show however, we would have an all male line up. He suggested we kick someone off the show, which I said was not really fair or possible, since we had a perfect line up, otherwise, with an older married comedian, a younger single black comedian as well as this “big name" comedian. The co-producer was adamant that we needed a woman on the show. I told him for one show, I thought it would be okay, especially since we had such a solid line up of veteran comedians, albeit male. This rift caused the other producer to quit producing the show with me, basically implying that I was being unreasonable.

I spoke to an established female comedian friend of mine and I asked her if I had to replace her on this show, would she be more offended if I picked a brand new female comedian or an established comedian who was male, and she said she would be more offended by a new female comedian. It would be like pandering just to have a woman, she said, instead of merit and she would feel like she was “easily replaceable” with anyone. Again, she was an established comedian and felt the same space should go to an established comedian, male, female or transgender. My three closest friends in comedy are women and they all agreed with this assessment.

Of course, I always want to have a female on a show since half the audience is female and its good to a their voice on a show. They make the show better always and avoid the sausage show dominating by males. More importantly, the best comedians in Chicago happen to be female. I am biased because I am friends with them but objectively speaking, to the extend comedy can be objective, I think that's true. At the same time, trying to be a “white knight” and falling on the sword seems like false outrage to me and does more harm than help. Especially since the same people playing these games with comedy shows often have biases against older comedians (like me) or variety of voices. After all if you have a single female comedian, a single gay comedian and a single male comedian all talking about dating, you don’t really have diversity, do you?

In the end, the show was a success without that producer and I have since had shows with all women booked and all men too with no controversy. The show must go on.
#comedy #standup #wokeness #identitypolitics