Carnival Personnel

Legendary Film Maker and … Co-Founder of Legendary Pictures, Bill Fay zooms in to chat with Joe, Biff and Jacques … who for reasons we still don’t understand has been a close friend and mentor to Jacques for 20 years!   The first two film companies Bill worked for out of college went bankrupt … and then he learned to fly a plane to be Hollywood’s man on the ground in Africa ... along the way working with folks like James Cameron for (politely putting it) eccentric film maker Rodger Corman to producing such block busters The Patriot and Independence Day with Director Roland Emmerich.   Along the way ACCIDENTLY doubling his 24-year-old selves lives saving by making a 3-day investment based on getting to see a sneak preview of Back To The Future   Bill (and partner Thomas Toll) created Legendary Pictures in 2000 with a plan for a slate of big budget (largely Superhero / Action) films … Along the way just for giggles … also produced the Hangover (well for giggles and 470m at Box office making it largest grossing

Did you know that KFC is the BIGGEST meal in Japan for Christmas?  No really it is.  Joe knew that.   Biff, Jacques and Joe talk about their Christmas plans and how things are changing as their kids are older.  Couple nice family Christmas stories from yesteryear.   A little Christmas miracle is Jacques has unexpectedly fallen in love with the 2006 Twister Sister “A Twisted Christmas” album.   Joe chats new documentary about the AWEFULSOME Star Wars Christmas Special. Rock-Paper-Scissors to decide gym equipment usage, Resident Evil talk … Some NBA talk … what?   Parenting tips and holiday love all around. CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                            Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlaysHockey Joe on Twitter is: @Optigrabber Jacques on Twitter is @TheJacques4 (but really … @CarnivalPodcast)   Opening Song: Twilight Zone Parody   Closing Song: Twisted Sister – “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” totally used witho

Wayne and Anthony – The host of one of our favorite podcast Open Mic Pain zoom in to talk with Joe and Jacques about how to properly run a focused podcast with a point!   Jacques met Wayne and Anthony on the comic open mic circuit and over last 8 months have become good pals.  It was fun a month ago when they met Joe for first time but already felt like friends who knew each other from listening to each others podcast (sad really.)   Super fun chat about Wayne and Anthony’s friendship, their path into comedy and how their podcast came about.  How their comedy is evolving (as well as their podcast) and what their hopes in comedy are.   It’s such a different chat with comics with younger kids and the extra work that takes to make getting to Mics happen (especially for Anthony who lives in Maine but mostly does mics in NH and MA with Wayne.)   We also chat what some of Jacques’ favorite episodes of OMP have been … and tells them how Steve Martin NOT being on their favorite stand-up comics list is criminal!   Che

Biff returns from The Land Of The Rising Sun after taking his son on his first trip to the home land!  Hoping someday for a CP field trip with Biff to Tokyo (I call dibs on wearing the Lugi outfit doing the cart racing through the streets!)   Joe and Jacques finally get to yap their outing to see the amazing Henry Winkler at a NRP book release event in Cambridge and the boys getting to shake hands with the Fonz (and yes, Jacques was latterly driven to tears … and more shocking, speechless!)   Little Thanksgiving chatting.  Little Barbie (the movie) recapping and Jacques talking about his root canal.   Return of the Defunct Sponsor of the week ... hey, we need the money.  Parenting tips and some TV talking. CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                            Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlaysHockey Joe on Twitter is: @Optigrabber Jacques on Twitter is @TheJacques4 (but really … @CarnivalPodcast)   Opening S

Joe and Jacques saw Brian Longwell (The Corporate Comedian) a few weeks back and were blown away.  Brian is more of an “act” then a stand-up comic.  Part one-man show meets a half hour long hysterical Kids In The Hall sketch. Brian’s path to comedy included a long stop as an engineer at Bell Labs for years before starting his own wildly successful tech company. When we asked when Brian quite his day job and became a full-time comic … on the zoom he held up a circuit board he was designing and told us he hasn’t!  He still owns his company and can’t ever stop building stuff! Brain IS looking forward to (mostly) retiring and doing more shows.  Maybe the cruise circuit is in his future.  Huge thanks to Brian’s MUCH better half (Nikki) for getting his zoom up and work out and for jumping in aa couple times and being AWESOME!   Follow Brian on Instagram @BCLongwell And his website: www.brianlongwell.com CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @CarnivalPodcast                                            

Biff and Jacques chat nick names as Jacques futbol son is on a team where lot of kids (including his 2 best pals) speak Portuguese and his name is Cabelo Longo (Long Hair) … it comes from a very sweet place … it will grow on him (see what I did there) but we LOVE it.  ON OTHER HAND … Cabelo Longo’s U14 teammates had racist things yelled to them in Futbol championship game in Amherst NH. Biff and Jacques have a hockey brother (Guitar Center Scottie) in LA whose Japanese Boy Band model looking son moved to Quebec to play prep school hockey … he was in Boston area so Jacques and his son got to see and hand out and really was a good day. Jacques family got to be in room while Management’s boss talked with her pal who currently is on the ISS (yes, the International Space Station). A classic Joe Self Indulgent Theater, talk some of Jacques comedy stuff and how Taylor Swift is not an economy unto herself… and … she’s awesome. CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                     

We each came up with a list of 10 sounds from our childhoods (to early adulthood) that defines us. We knew we’d have some cross over but there were a lot of fun surprises – Here were our list. Biff: Bionic SFX from 6 Million Dollar Man, Space Invaders Aliens Descending, Radio Fuss, Japanese Paper Trucks, Godzilla Cry, Answering Machine Beeps, WKBS Do You Know, Ultra Man Transforming Sounds, Soda Can Tabs, 8-Track Changing Song Chuck. Joe: Loony Tunes Theme, Super Mario Bros Theme, PBS Closing Credits Logo, MBTA Doors Opening and Door Closing Sounds, 70’s Sitcom Opening Cheer, CBS Special Presentation Logo, Apple IIe Booting Up, Ghost Buster Proton Pack Charging and Firing, Price Is Right – DING, Jacques: Light Sabre Turning On – Duel Starting, Missile Command, Boston Bruins Theme Music, Polaroid Picture being taken, Jiffy Pop, Polaroid Picture Being Taken, Dos Matrix Printer, Star Trek Teleporter, Rotary Telephone, Dodge Ball Ping-ing.   CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast  

Sure, they could have stayed home and watched it for free on Peacock BUT Jacques kids have been waiting nearly 10 years to see the long rumored FNAF (Five Nights At Freddy’s) movie hit the big screen for off to the big screen they went.   Joe and friend of podcast Jim went to Jacques show this past week at Luna Theater in Lowell and they chat headliner Brian Longwell and his MOCK motivational speaker corporate presentation routine.  GOLD.   We chat Joe’s latest curations to his Plex account and how a 1974 episode of Jabbewocky they watched about representation and cultural appropriation – it could run today with zero edits made. CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                            Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlaysHockey Joe on Twitter is: @Optigrabber Jacques on Twitter is @TheJacques4 (but really … @CarnivalPodcast)   Opening Song: Opening Song: Gomer by Dan Cray and Beyond ID   Closing Song: Moe by Dan C

HOW did we talk Hafen doing weather mapping in Africa and NONE of us made a Toto reference?  WOW!   So part 2 of our talk with long time pal Hafen (allegedly) zooming in from Sweden where (allegedly) he has become a citizen.   We get more into the weeds where I put the case out there that this guy … who has ALL the intangibles a government toppling clandestine black ops off the books organization would recruit – SO well rounded with degree in mechanical engineering / applied physics from top university … near 40 years of programing (hacking) and (alleged) Masters in climate science, speaks several languages, charming, good looking, no drug/alcohol issues, no ex-wife or kids, very little immediate family … works in field where totally plausible to drop off grid globally and be out of reach without raising any red flags for weeks … months …   In 6 months … if Joe, Biff and Jacques haven’t meet their collective demise in some weird bizarre strangely coincidental manor … and Haf hasn’t fallen off the flat earth o

Biff and Jacques have been pals with Hafen for over 25 years.  1998 to 2004 Jacques doesn’t think he hung out with any one person more.   Joe first met Hafen when they were in Jacques’ Starter Wedding together in 1999 (bit of talk about that infamous wedding event on this episode.)   THIS is our first 2-part episode.  Part 2 will drop next week.   It was decided that we will have Hafen back in a few months to let Biff and Joe formulate more questions and ponder am I (attempting) to be funny or is it possible Hafen is Jason Bourne.  As Jacques said … He loves Hafen.  He’s closer to Hafen then his own brother.  He has no idea who Hafen is.   Jacques case is this:  Since 2004 Hafen left LA to allegedly go back to grad school in Washington in his early 30s for a masters in weather mapping that would take him to far reaching points on globe.  Hafen has little immediate family.  Is good looking and charming.  Super strong and a good athlete.  Degree from top engineering college in Applied Physics and mechanical eng

No Biff … mostly because Jacques is too dumb to know how the days of the week work.   Jacques had a few “Booked” shows cancel (studio audience sighs) BUT some time the comedy gods (small G) take away and sometimes they give as just as quickly a couple very cool comedy ops fell his way.   Joe, Jacques and his managers wife’s life are so much better with the podcast Strike Force 5 (and Open Mic Pain) bringing so much joy into their lives. Give em a listen.   Joe game system tinkering continues, Jacques doing a 24-Hour-Film-Festival and Aaron Rodgers Achilles heel is busted buy his big mouth is working overtime.   Jacques goes from having ZERO sports kids to having 2 sports kids and is draining and awesome.   So much TV and so little time: Only Murders, Loki, Asoka, Beckham, Pornhub … CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                             Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlaysHockey Joe on Twitter is: @Optigrabber

Joe & Jacques (and our friend Julie) headed over to the mecca of comedy rooms inside Chine’s restaurants in the Merrimac Valley (China Blossom N. Andover MA) to see last weeks guest Lauren Sims host an amazing line up.  Biff SADLY wasn’t part of the field trip or this recording.   We chat Jacques breaking thru the glass ceiling of Lowell comedy and doing the cable access show The Golden Toilet … and going to a reverse ambush mic to see friend James Hamilton do what he thought was a “real” booked show.   Joe chats seeing the famed Blue Man Group for first time (thanks to his oldest kid pulling some strings!)  And updates us on … OUR happy places.  The NEW-Seum 2.0   Jacques goes from having zero sports kids to having two sports kids and his oldest son learning fast how everything Jacques worried about with organized sports (the politics, the pettiness …) SUCKS.  BUT … at least POS Aaron Rodgers seasons sucks more.   Anyone see lost stealth fighter pentagon lost … anyone NOT see Family Values 36 yr old gran

Lauren Sims is a comedian Joe and Jacques caught last month at Greg Boggis’ “Mondo Comedy” at The Luna Theater In Lowell.  A Gen-X comic whose material really landed and hit home with us!   Joe’s under the weather and Biff has grown up stuff so the for mentioned lovely and talented (and former guest) Mr. Greg Boggis stepped in to co-host this episode with Jacques.   Lauren on somewhat of a whim and maybe dealing with a mid-life awakening in 2019 decided to check out Boston comic legend Tony V’s classes … and just as she nailed her graduation showcase … in the first week of March 2020…. Well … you know … Covid.   Now this mom of two teen girls juggles all that insanity as she builds her comedy (and hosting) career in the very competitive (yet surprisingly supportive) New England comedy circuit.  Lauren’s goals are focused well beyond the north east corridor!   Greg had some great insights and tips as a veteran comic, comedy show producer and host.   This was a super fun chat.  Jacques plans to rope Joe (if he

Big Day at CPP as this was the FIRST of what we (Jacques) really hopes is many recordings to come at Joe’s Los-eum 2.0 … and … AND the return of The Random Video Game Review Of The Week!   Before we lose Biff 20 minutes in to tech issues, Biff was able to join in with Jacques lumping due praise to our friend JT who AGAIN was named a top 100 lawyer (as was 9 folks from HIS Law Firm)   Joe chats Jacques on one of our favorite podcast @Openmicpain and having meet one of the shows host Wayne as the 3 of our caught @Boggisnews #MondoComdey and saw friend of CPP @SteveBjork work out some awesome new bits.   Chat the passing of one of ALL our childhood heroes, Bob “Clean Living” Barker.  Can’t said sad passing if dude makes it till 99.  We all love Bob we all loved Betty White … Betty White and Bob Barker didn’t love each other… CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @CarnivalPodcast                                                                                            Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlays

Dalya Black is a super smart and funny LA based comedian (writer, director, producer).  Dalya who has “only” done stand up in Los Angeles AND London hails from the cold hard streets of Medford MA.  Not wanting to be a medium fish in a small pond (the Boston film making scene) they pack a bindle and headed for LA LA Land.   Dalya and Jacques were both on bill at really fun showcase in July (Tao Comedy Club) in LA.  Dalya’s focus right now is all stand up all the time but do enjoy the trip down their linktree (see below) rabbit hole.  They’ll you’ll see a bunch of really fun shorts on their YouTube channel (as well as a really great video showing comics how to log and breakdown their shows), a full-length movie (producer credit) on Tubi, “Sympathy Card”, link to IG page where again you’ll see some really fun video shorts and a bunch of other great stuff.   Hope you like the fox sweat shirt you see in different clips cause it’s here to stay, baby!   Joe and Jacques had blast recording this podcast and chatting a

  The entire CPP family (Biff and Jacques) are wishing a happy birthday to our brother Joe!   In a slow news week where nothing happened (other than Donny 5-Scoops being indicted for 4th time – 1st mug shot) Joe and Jacques chat Jacques being publicly recognized from recent FRONT PAGE of the Lowell Sun (while standing in his drive way) by a mail carrier dropping off  …BEST part is Jacques 13 year old was right there and now considers this the WORST moment of his life!   Stay with me here … turns out Jacques Management (wife) her boss’ bestie from college (MIT) just piloted a rocket to the International Space Station where she’ll be for next 6 months … we’re hoping she’ll do our little show FROM SPACE … or when she gets back!   Chat our kids school starting … parenting tips of the week and much much more.  Well … More.   CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                             Biff on Twitter is @BiffPlays

Lauren Caputo is a Los Angeles based comic by way of San Francisco by way of New Jersey.   Jacques met Lauren in LA a few weeks ago when they were both featured at an amazing show at Tao Comedy.   Lots of Lauren’s hysterical bits are pulled from growing up very Jersey Italian in a very Jersey Italian town … while also being very Canadian. Lauren also pulls great material from the world having certain stereotypical “expectations” and she is not gonna play those reindeer games.  Lauren has an amazing supportive wife who NEVER says “I told you so” … UNTIL they get in the car after the show and the joke she told you doesn’t work … doesn’t work!   If you’re in the LA area … do yourself a favor and go see her shows.  She’s on stage at some of the best venues in Los Angles EVER week!   LaurenCaputoIsFunny on IG (and other social media)   CPP on IG: @CarnivalPersonnelPodcast and on Twitter: @Carnival Podcast                                                                                            Biff on Twitter is

This episode is mostly Jacques babbling his (atheist) crisis of comedy faith of how to go back to doing “ambush show” open mics after getting to do booked showcases in some of Los Angeles best clubs (thanks you Sally Mullins) Note: shout out for proper term to Greg Boggis to describe mics at venue where folks DO NOT know a comedy show is about to happen. Example: few girlfriends who haven’t seen each other in 4 months get together at a restaurant they’ve been to 10x and never had a show going on … now half way through dinner BAMB group of (mostly 20something white guys) get up telling graphic dick jokes and get pissed at these women who just wanted to chat with their friends while having a meal.   The Bull Durham bus scene about going to “The Show” … I wish I never went scene … hits home.   Jacques also acknowledges that he is well aware how lucky he is that so many great friends put on pants and braved LA traffic on school nights to come see him.  Also, Jacques talks getting to put faces to names in person w

Joe and Jacques (Biff is on IR) chat the passing of a childhood hero, actor Paul Reubens… Pee Wee Herman (a special CP Sideshow is forthcoming.)  Rough couple weeks since the last recording as we also morn the loss of our friend (former guest) Woody’s dad who was a true 1000% WW2 hero!  And also, Sinead O’Connor, who was shunned and essentially ruined her career for calling out the Catholic Church on SNL in 1992. All 3 of these people, true heroes who made the world a better place.   Jacques is home in LA and chats seeing friend Ronak and Bill Fay, All Star Tommy, Taylor, Al and rest of FNH crew and chats about his first gig back (at Tao Comedy), Saturday night (aa booked show … thank you Sally Mullins!) Jacques has a few more booked shows courtesy of Sally and other LA pals.  Joe’s pretty sure (with his connected friends, job ops, stand up ops and weather better for his old broken body) Jacques isn’t coming back but Jacques assures him, his wife and other son … and comic books are back there … so most likely

Comedian (Producer, Comedy Teacher, Actor, Cool Dad) Mike Koutrobis talks with Jacques about a ton of stuff, including how becoming a dad a little late in the dance for the first time JUST before Covid threw the world a curveball has shaped his comedy.   Mike is the ONLY comic we've had on who is willing to honestly answer the biggest question facing Boston (New England based) comedians: Knights of Columbus or VFW shows!   Also, turns out Mike's closest friends, call him Steve. Wait. What's that?  They don't.  Huh ...    Over the last year, we've had so many well-known New England based headlining comics, all of who point to Mike as one of their favorite comics AND ALSO one of (if not, THE) show producer they most like to work with!  Jacques also has becoming pals with a dozen plus comics, climbing the ladder, who started off as pupils at Mike's comedy classes and workshops.  Jacques will soon be an (official) pupil of Mike's as Mike will soon be running AT THE REQUEST of club owners, a "here's how not to suc