Browsing TagBewley

BRING OUT THE BOLD!
April 12, 2016

BRING OUT THE BOLD!

Everywhere I go, people are asking me to shout my now-famous catchphrase, “BRING OUT THE BOLD!” And I happily oblige! I’ve signed so many bottles at Duane Reade, it’s ridiculous, but that’s the price of fame, I guess.

I have to put up with some of this attention now that I’ve provided the voice for the new global ad campaign from J.Walter Thompson for Johnson & Johnson’s Listerine. This series of ads for radio, tv and the internet launched April 4, 2016 and should be building as the year goes on. It was an incredible opportunity to work on this project and I’m thankful to everyone involved in bringing me in. And now I get to be a part of SAG-AFTRA, which means I get a pin, and a card for inside my wallet, and daily emails about things that are happening in the entertainment business! Ask me about residual schedules!

Here’s one of the ads for your enjoyment.

New Web Series & More Story Shows
November 5, 2015

New Web Series & More Story Shows

Just did a guest spot over on Dale Radio and then I heard Dale was giving me a hard time about keeping this website updated, so here is some very up to date info about two upcoming shows happening in November.

First up, I’m pleased to be doing The Jenny Rubin Show at the HiFi Bar in NYC on Thursday, November 12 with Tom Cowell, Margaret Dodge, Rebecca Vigil, Jason Burke and the wonderful host, Jenny Rubin. You may recall that I was scheduled to do one of these back in January, but something happened there with the venue and we didn’t end up actually doing a show. So will I bring out the story about Christmas originally intended for that or do I tell a new one? Who knows. Depends on how long these web updates take! But it would be wonderful to see you at the show. If you can’t make that date, boy are you in luck!! I’m going to be sharing another story on the Bitchcraft show hosted by the incomparable Selena Coppock and Lauren Maul and the world famous Duplex on Tuesday, November 24th. There’s a piano and puppets and good drinks and a weird bathroom – this place has it all!

Also – speaking of having it all, Dale’s been busy producing a new series of web videos called Opening Bags. It’s produced in collaboration with the fantastic comedy platform SanFrangeles. Which you can visit at http://www.sanfrangeles.co/. The show is a take on the popular form of Haul Videos, mostly created by young women online who enjoy showing you what they just bought at the store. But like, just bought, then set up some lights, did makeup and hair, wrote a script, learned basic editing techniques, etc. Here’s an example. The point is, it’s a genre of web video wherein people basically open their shopping bags and tell you what kind of sweater is hot right now. I find most sweaters a little too hot right now, which is why I’m wearing a vest.

The point is, you won’t want to miss an episode of Dale’s new show, so set a tickler for Opening Bags, with new bags opening every Tuesday. It’s like an advent calendar for depressive alcoholics. Watch it on SanFrangeles or on Dale’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/daleradio.

Post-Holiday Wrap Up at The Jenny Rubin Show
January 6, 2015

Post-Holiday Wrap Up at The Jenny Rubin Show

Happy 2015! I’m surrounded by full bottles of scotch and picking pine needles out of my beard, so I’m ready for a wonderful start to the New Year. But since I just spent some time resting and relaxing with family in PA and Ohio – I have a few post-holiday stories to tell and luckily I have a place to tell em!

Come on down to 2A Bar at 25 Ave A, in NYC this Thursday at 8pm for my first time on The Jenny Rubin Show. Stories and comedy in an intimate setting hosted by the fantastic Jenny Rubin. I’ll be on the lineup with the terrific Margaret Dodge, J Lalonde, and Harmon Leon. Always an honor to be asked to do something and I’m excited to talk about some of the great gifts I’ve been given over the years.

And I think it’s free? So – come by and have a drink! It’s cold out. Let’s huddle on a barstool.

Yum’s The Word Show, Next Week
September 16, 2014

Yum’s The Word Show, Next Week

Robin Gelfenbien runs a fantastic storytelling show called Yum’s the Word, and I am thrilled to be joining the lineup to ring in the Jewish New Year. Now this show would be amazing to be on regardless, but Robin makes homemade ice cream cakes FOR EVERY SHOW!!! Oh man. Will I even get to the stage knowing that ice cream cakes are in the same room? Because of the New Year celebrations, the theme of the show will be Heavenly Hash, with stories about religion. Some of you may know my grandfather was a minister. Just remember that I love him. And I’m sorry. And I’m going to have to answer for some stuff when I share this story with you. The afterlife just got a little trickier for me.

Come see me doom myself as I share an all-new story, Tuesday, September 23rd. Here’s the info:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Theme: Heavenly Hash (Stories of Religion)
Mara Wilson (Cracked.com, The Daily Beast)
James Bewley (SF Sketchfest, How I Learned)
Josh Blau (Moth podcast, Moth Mainstage)
Susan Kent (Moth Radio Hour, RISK!)

7:30 Show (7:00 p.m. Doors)
The Gallery at LPR (le poisson rouge)
158 Bleecker Street
$15 in advance
$20 day of the show – so what we’re saying is get those tickets in advance! But on the other hand, ice cream cakes!
Then, unless you’re actually celebrating Rosh Hashanah – remember that Weds night is the Season 7 Premiere of Dale Radio! Two big shows back to back. How am I going to do this?

Why I’d Be Great as SNL’s Announcer
September 12, 2014

Why I’d Be Great as SNL’s Announcer

Update 9/18: We wish Darrell Hammond all the best and congratulate him on securing the dream gig. Thanks for all the votes of confidence. I’ll be out on the sidewalk with my microphone if anyone finds themselves in need of an enthusiastic voice tinged with sadness.

Original post:
Last night I couldn’t stop thinking about SNL. Specifically the job of announcer that is now vacant (or not – they probably filled it by now, so forgive how foolish this will look the day they discuss who got the job) following the passing of the legendary Don Pardo. I was thinking how, even though I am very happy where I am career wise (hi co-workers and board members!), that the only job I’ve ever really wanted is the announcer gig at SNL.

So here are eight reasons that I would be perfect for a job that is probably not even open. (And I fully acknowledge that a non-white guy voice is probably a more progressive path forward and I would applaud that choice forever, but hey, a kid’s gotta dream, right?)

1) Born to it. I am exactly one day older than Saturday Night Live. Given my erratic sleep schedule that first night, I probably watched it. I might not have been able to hold my head up, but I knew something monumental was happening, the culture had shifted. I knew exactly one day without SNL and that day was awful, and I never want to live in that world again.

2) Experience. I’ve been cast as an announcer in things since middle school. My voice changed in the sixth grade, long before the rest of me. So I was this scrawny big haired kid who resembled Egon from Ghostbusters with a voice like Barry White. It did not help me with the ladies, but I’m hoping it helps me secure a job where I get to say the names of celebrities and Maroon 5.

3) Stay the course. Let’s say you want someone who sounds exactly like Don Pardo. I can be that person. I even have a recording of that happening. Take a listen to this interview wherein I really go to town on a bunch of 1990s bands. If Fine Young Cannibals ever get back together, I’m your guy. My take is in this bit at around the 12 min mark:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/167409944″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

4) Oh, Canada! My family has deep roots in our great neighbor to the North. I get what’s going on, Lorne! Also – thanks to my great grandfather and his somewhat ill-advised, possibly con-artist like decision to fly a broken plane from New England to Toronto – Canada has an Air Force. You’re welcome!

5) 40 More Years. I’m almost 40. You’re almost 40. I got 40 left in me and I am willing to give em all to you. Like a John Legend song, you are my end and my beginning. You want consistency? I am loyal, I will never leave to star in a movie, I have no other aspirations beyond being your announcer, and I will never do less than 110%.

6) NYC based. I gather Don lived in the desert somewhere. Those plane tickets must have been expensive. I live in Brooklyn, overlooking the pier and a bunch of garbage trucks. So yeah, I am here to stay. I mean, if you cover a MetroCard, I’d be grateful, but also NOT A DEAL BREAKER!

7) Almost 40. Yeesh. I’m almost 40, which probably means I’m older than everyone in the cast, and probably always will be. What can I bring to this youthful group? I can fill that adorable/authority figure/cool Uncle spot without any aging make up. I’m almost bald on my own!

8) Easy to work with. Ask anyone. I’m a champ. People genuinely like me. (I think.)

Obviously, I heart SNL pretty bad. Probably no other television program has had such a direct impact on what I chose to do and the things I’ve thought possible in comedy and in life. I’ve seen almost every episode. I stuck with it during some cast transitions that didn’t always work, and I have celebrated when a sketch knocked it out of the park. I love the failures as much as the successes. I have had Toonces the Driving Cat theme stuck in my head for weeks. I bought the It’s Pat My Life Exposed book and the Stuart Smalley book. The 15th Anniversary calendar hung on my wall for many years more than it should have. And while this starts to sound like maybe I care too much – that’s probably true – but I hope this also conveys the deep level of respect I have for this comedy institution. And c’mon – how fun would it be to be their announcer? Ack! Can’t sleep.