NEW ORLEANS First Day on this Playground

 The Saint Fans are crazy!

 There was a lot of stress leading up to The Honeymoon. First We got Married almost a year ago but we didn't do the honeymoon right away because I had a tour to go on.Like our 1 year anniversary this year I left 3 days after the wedding but because I'm such a gentleman, I told Angie we can do anything she wants the day after the wedding.. She said massages, at first I thought that was a great idea but I realized we wouldn't be going to a rub and tug at a trucker stop... this was going to be expensive.

Walker Blue for The Room

Besides Massages are not for men... trust me- we walk in, its a Chinese spa. Now I don't speak Chinese but when we walked in I'm pretty sure the Lady behind the counter looked at the other lady and said "I don't want the fat one!"

Our amazing room at The Quarter House

I walk in the back and she says take off your clothes and lay on the cot- now I'm worried... I'm self conscious about my weight I'm fat and hairy..... and did I clean properly.

 While she was rubbing my back I realized I was flexing wherever she rubbed... I left more tense then when I walked in.

Zydeco Music Fest was going on in the French Market

We hit The Town and it is everything we were told!

T

As soon as we arrive we stopped by The Square



The week before we headed down it was crunch time on a pilot I was working on and they filmed the night we flew down. Here is a clip from the show.

It turned out very well- Dena is one of the funniest comedians I ever met.

Quick Drink Before The Live Music

The French Quarter

With the work out of the way its time to get my wife and get out of town. NOLA was a perfect idea, we love drinking, we love live music and most important... It was available. We brought Walker blue for sippin. We got it when we where engaged. Time enjoy Life. We were due..




This place is like a playground- Everything was amazing. I didn't sleep the entire week leading up to it because of work. When we got there I thought I was going to be exhausted but we hit the town like a couple of champs. The minute we checked in we called our family and went out until 4 or 5 AM.
Live music all around- trying to learn the streets from a blurry perspective and eating a muffaletta the size of my head.

NOLA Architecture is great- Its From allover and alltimes

The First night we met this great musician Marc Stone (who became a running theme of NOLA- we ran into him several more time through the trip). Him and his girlfriend where as nice as can be. They let us know what was happening around town and we were in town for the zydeco music fest.

Here is Marc's web site- Originally from the upper east side (thats how we bonded): he is Amazing.
MARC STONE


We wondered the city looking and getting into the rhythm of the city and we found an amazing little bar with a back area where we watched Smokey and Mark.. They brought up Mr. Stone and he rocked it.

Mark and Smokey

I Got Married last year

August 29th, 2010 Governors Comedy Club. Yes, I got Married at a Comedy Club.

The family's

March 15th, 2009

Hoops Park, the scene of the crime.

I had a gig out of town: Auburn Public Theater with great comic Ryan Hamilton. It was the weekend of Angies Birthday. I figured it would be a great surprise, but I was really really nervous. Angie told me before she didn't know if she wanted to get married. I got the ring From Angie's mom... guys always ask mom first. I got a ring that was her grandmother's... Excellent I didn't have to buy a ring. The hard part was finding four guys to dig up grandma...
Auburn and Skaneateles are such a quaint town, so I figured this could be my big moment. I've been there before- know how beautiful it is and I love the owners so this would be perfect.


Ryan rode up with us, and I never had a chance to warn him, so we all went to lunch and drove around, looking about the town. Finally, Ryan said he wanted to head back to take a nap... This was my time, no backing out. I took Angie to hoops park just outside town.
 
We walked around the lake, and when we got to the gazebo, I gave her a birthday card.. and I had it all planned- that's when I would pull the ring and deliver my speech... It didn't work out that way. I pulled the ring out behind the card, so when she closed the card, I got choked up and didn't say anything... So she said, "you have to actually ask," and I said oh yea..... and mumbled something that resembled a proposal. I thought it was funny when we got back and was on the phone telling everyone, I realized it was close to showtime. When we met Ryan, he said, "so what did you guys do today," and Angie said well... got engaged. Carey and Ryan had fun that weekend roasting us at the show.

Our Wedding shower was in Philly, and we had such a great time. Angie and I always have fun.

The Bachelor Party: Sorry I am lame fella's

Ronnie and Policing serenade the crowd.

No Strippers- We did Mystery science theatre to the best movie ever made: Road House

Fray-leoda and I at The Underground

 In The Morning, I become a married man.

The boys (and Nicole) are folding Napkins the night before

Ryan, Marshal, Nicole, and I: The wedding crew!

Angie and Mary

My 2 new sisters: Briana and Mary and another brother Billy. Best INLAWS ever. Surprisingly I was not nervous one bit. Everything felt entirely right. Marshal and I did some last min stuff, he was my wedding coach.

Briana and Angie

Harris and Starman

Before the ceremony we had cocktails at the front bar while the guests showed up, I was there early. My Parents and In-Laws did so much work to make it seem like it was effortless. Everyone pulled together and help make this the best day ever I couldn't believe it my mom made over 2000 cookies and both sides decorated like you wouldn't think. The place looked terrific. My wife was gorgeous, and I was fat, dumb, and happy.

Bronzi gives some advice. RUN!!! lol

It was so weird being around all these family members and friends from different parts of my life. Marshal told me at some point, sit back and take it in.. When is the next time you will see these people all in one room... I guess my funeral.. but I won't be enjoying that day.
So many friendships happened that night, people from different parts of our lives made bonds and friendships that will last forever. It really felt magical.

This was a posed pic. I have to say that or Angie will really be that mad.

Ronnie and I

I was at the club talking and mingling before the ceremony. I was told not to see the bride before we get married, but she had a presence that when she walked in, I couldn't look. I don't care if its bad luck- it was worth it - Angie was stunning. I really knew I was the luckiest man in the world... How did I land her!?

The In-Laws

We are ready for the big moment.

                                                                    

Vinnie Nardiello Tied the knot. We are now together forever.. or until a lawyer says so...

We got roasted during the speeches: Angie's sister Mary got a standing "O" from the comics when she said she was nervous about giving the speech. Being in front of all these entertainers.. but after seeing my stand up, she realized "being funny isn't a requirement" The place went nuts!

John (who introduced us) and Frank Angie's buddies from Philly and my old roommate

Farrin, James, and Derek- The Amoralists

Nick, Ronnie, and Clint: Lords of the Dance floor

Getting Funky Nicole and Clint aka CB3

Our First Dance

The Riccadonnas

The Brothers: Billy, me and Ronnie

Ryan Ross played "Our Songs."

Angie looked so amazing.

The night went fast but not a blur. I didn't drink because I wanted every moment to be crystal clear. I really enjoyed the entire night- usually, I am never a fan of the ceremony at most weddings. The actual vows went fast- plus having Vinnie a professional comic doing it- it was light and funny. In fact, Vinnie killed! It was funny and to the point- I think everyone enjoyed it- there was never a dull moment.

I am pretty sure I didn't stop smiling the whole night. Ronnie mentioned the next day it was the best wedding because it was just about us loving each other and how we wanted to do it. We cut a lot of the traditional stuff we didn't like out.

The Comedy Rat Pack: Pete Lee, Chris Monty, Me, Joe Starr

Marshal, Angie, me and the cake.

You're looking the wrong way!

We danced the entire night- I forgot to eat.

I think Angie and I danced the entire night. It was so cool to see all my relatives and friends dancing altogether. Angie and I danced our first songs together "If I Should Fall Behind" by Bruce Springsteen and "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes performed by my high school buddy Ryan Ross.

When the night was over, and the DJ started tearing everything down, we headed back to the hotel, and everyone stayed up and talked.

I can't believe it was coming to an end, seeing my cousins and young relatives dancing their buts off, dancing with my mom, watching Angie dance with her dad. It really was a romantic night. I hope I never get Alzheimer's- I never want to forget a moment of it.

Why Comedy? Why Entertainment?

On stage at Bridge Street Live with Monty and Gage.

Describe your comedy.

My Boys on The Average White guy Comedy Tour

Storyteller is a word used a lot when I get described by colleagues. I am like a young bill Cosby where I try and set stories up and allow them to weave back into each other. On a perfect night, I can create an audience and my stories together.
The only reason I would hesitate to make this the word to describe me is, in the beginning, I thought "as an Actor and a Writer I tell stories when I get on stage as a comedian I feel more like an entertainer." This is only partially true. The Entertainer is a storyteller as well. It is his job to hide stories with jokes, opinions, and act outs.

As a writer and performer, style is a weird thing. We are always evolving: as people and as artists, so it's ever-changing like telling the same story to your buddy than to your grandmother; you will tell it differently, highlighting different parts of the story (seeing what works and what's interesting). Now tell that story over and over after 5 years, it will be quicker, funnier and you will have a different way of looking at it. This probably sounds obvious or lame, but I have changed a lot over the last 10 years. Now being married looking at my dating jokes and stories, I have a better sense of why things went wrong and why that's funny, and I'm sure that it would change when I'm a parent and so on.

Sam and Carl. Carl is the best comic I've ever seen and can't believe we are friends.

 I started out wanting to be "Steven Wright" and thought if I write jokes so intelligent, I can just stand and deliver. I was working with Carl LaBove, and he mentioned to me, "You are an Actor, why not act up there- it's another stage for you to work on." So I started not thinking and just acting out and dropping the "jokes."  After learning, I was getting better laughs at the story points I was trying to make rather than a setup punch. I eventually started learning the truth always works. I try to stay as close to the truth as I can (makes it easy to remember), and the big payoffs were much better than the little "jokes." Doing this Long-form style seems to be a tough road, but the payoff is worth it to me. I am so influenced by Carl; sometimes, I find myself almost making an impression of Carl telling my stories.

Do you prefer performing in small venues, or doesn't it matter?

Venues are not a deal-breaker to me. Proof of that was when I went to Iraq ever time things were set for a disaster. It couldn't have gone better (from midday shows to 20 to 1000 soldiers in attendance weird venues and no sound). No matter what's in front of me before a show, I just decide to do the best I can and take it for what it is. I've played a sold-out Borgata in Atlantic City with 6000 in attendance and have done shows in someone's living room for 4 people on a couch.

In general, both are ideal for comedy. A prominent theatre (which I've been lucky enough to play quite a few big venues the last year) has the satisfaction of making large numbers of people laugh. Amazing stages, sound, and lights that make you feel you're in show biz are fantastic. Also, the small intimate venues you get to communicate and look at the audience (in the eyes) and really get the gut reaction and enjoy the joy of a "live" show.

How long have you been a professional comedian?
I've been acting around 10 year's comedy 8years.

Doing Theater by the seat of my pants. I don't know how I made it in the AADA.

Were you always interested in comedy? Stand up? Writing?
Yes, but I never thought about pursuing it professionally. My football coach Jeff Bruno showed me how to pursue goals and follow my dreams. I was thinking about going to NY and pursuing acceptance to a school I probably wasn't qualified to go to, and opportunities kept opening up, and I worked hard to keep moving. My goals through the years grew slowly, and it was constant hard work-

Always working on the next bit. In the Greenroom

Do you have any aspirations beyond comedy?
Yes, I love acting, and we saw small success with the theatre company, but I want to start moving ahead there as well. Guys like Ricky Gervais, Henry Winkler, and Adam Sandler have the best business and art minds. They produce their own stuff and do not depend on people in the business to approve their work. I would love to follow in their footsteps. With theatre and film and on the producing side as well as artistic.

What was it like growing up in Brookfield? Did you perform locally?
It was a great place to grow up, everything about small-town living is excellent. I had a chance to grow up and be part of everything, from sports to acting.

Opening For Ronnies Band

Did your parents encourage you (and Ronnie)? Do you have other siblings? Are your parents creative?
Yes, you couldn't ask for more support. In fact, when I mentioned to my parents, I wanted to pursue acting they helped me find the best schools to try out for

Later, when I announced I wanted to be a comic, they couldn't wait to see me do it.

Storytelling

Mark Riccadonna, I play a comic in real life.

What about being a comedian appeals to you?
There is a lot of fulfillment in performing and getting an immediate response, especially when I went overseas and got to do shows for the military. Giving them a slice of home, you really feel the appreciation from them. I hope to continue traveling base to base around the world, telling stories and making new ones. Because of comedy, I have got the chance to do and see amazing things. This year alone, I've had the opportunity to go to Kuwait, Iraq, Germany, Netherlands, Kosovo, Singapore, Guam,  Diego Garcia, China, Japan, The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Honduras, El Salvador and all over America. I get to see stuff most people don't get to see without being in the military, and I don't have to do pushups. I love the life experiences I have had and appreciate it every day.

Can you describe the difficulties of "making it" in the entertainment industry?
 Its cliché on what making it in an entertainment field is, but I feel like it's going in the right direction. Slowly and steadily chugging forward, if you move to fast, you may not appreciate the fight and the wins. I am fortunate that I can make a living being creative, working with the troops with Armed Forces Entertainment. Still, the proudest personal goals, was when the Broadway Company I am in (The Amoralists) made the cover of the Arts section of the Sunday New York Times. ( http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/theater/reviews/16happy.html ) and The Approval Matrix section of New York Magazine where we were Highbrow and Brilliant (http://nymag.com/arts/all/approvalmatrix/65231/) when we were in "Happy in the Poorhouse." It took 10 years of rejection, losing money, bad decisions, and working in front of zero audiences to get to be called lucky and auspicious. The sad part, it IS luck that it's only been 10 years.

If you get in this industry and expect it to just happen, it's probably not. You may find commercial success, but you never put up the fight, gained experience to become a seasoned artist. Time is a friend, enemy, necessary, and the thing that drives us crazy. Putting in the time and not knowing what will work makes this hard.

Great memory oversea's:
So.. Going oversea's with Kevin, more specifically The South Pacific, I knew there was going to be hijinx.
I knew this was happening, and I knew the pranks were going to step up a notch. We usually just get the other one to look at our balls unexpectedly. We call that Monkey brain belt buckle.
But why we were in The South Pacific, we decided this is war.
Kevin started the trip by crop dusting the airplane while over the pacific.- a crop dusting is passing gas while in motion - the goal: to get everyone on a delay after you walked passed and "the victims" not know it was you and immediately blame each other.
I decided to start a new game called "Pearl Harboring." While in the south pacific, we stayed in hot huts with no AC. Right before we would leave for the day- I would sneak in Kevin's window go in the bathroom and lay logs that would make Lincoln jealous... Just imagine the type of food you eat while being on tiny atolls in the pacific... oh yea remember- Don't flush let it sit in that 100 something degree humidity and fester and mutate in the room all day.
If that's not bad enough, the goal here is to get Kevin as drunk as possible- so when he comes home and has to throw up- he comes face to face with the baby Godzilla you just gave birth to.
Upperdeck shots have nothing on pearl harbor