MINORITY RETORT

Minority Retort has become one of Portland’s most popular and critically-acclaimed comedy shows. Hosted and produced by Jason Lamb (XRAYFM radio, Portland Podcast Festival), Julia Ramos (All Jane Comedy Festival) and some of the NW’s finest comedic talent, the show’s goal is to provide comedians of color with a platform to speak their minds and share their unique perspectives, as well as reach the diverse comedy audience that exists within the so-called "whitest city in America". 

Minority Retort’s hosts Jason Lamb (Portland’s XRAYFM radio) and Julia Ramos (All Jane Comedy Festival) are pleased to be joined on the show by an amazingly diverse and hilarious roster of comedians, featuring:
Portland’s Lance Edward (Portland’s Funniest Person Finalist) and Anthony Robinson (NW Black Comedy Festival), local favorites Saida Razaee and LJ Sullivan and Boise native Neeraj Srinivasan (Out of Bounds Comedy Festival)!

National touring comedians Baron Vaughn (Netflix’s Grace & Frankie), Nico Santos (NBC’s Superstore), Dulce Sloan (The Daily Show), Marcella Arguello (@midnight) Ahmed Bharoocha, Dino Archie, Yedoye Travis, David Gborie and Maggie Maye have performed on the show, as well as many POC comics frequently featured in Portland's Bridgetown Comedy Festival: Curtis Cook, Bri Pruett and Nathan Brannon. Minority Retort is also a part of XRAY.FM’s morning show Fridays at 8:40am.

COOL BIRTHDAY!

A brand spanking new, monthly comedy party at Liquid Laughs. Stand up, sketch, games, prizes, treats, possible confetti, probably some weird performance art, all on a monthly theme. You get the idea. It's fun. And it's for you!

Eddie Ifft 

He has been called one of the most underrated comics in America by the Onion and has proudly told jokes around the world to sold-out crowds in over 15 countries.  Most recently Eddie is co-host of one of the most successful podcasts in the comedy world called Talkin’ Sh*t.  He has recently released his DVD, “I Love Pussy.” which is the follow up to his critically acclaimed DVD “Live From Australia” which was filmed in front of a sold out audience at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney Australia.

He has also released his own 30-minute special for Comedy Central and made numerous TV appearances on shows such as Showtime’s the Green Room with Paul Provenza, Showtime’s Tommy Chong 420 Show, E!’s Chelsea Lately, NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, BET’s Comic View, NBC’s Late Friday Night, VH1’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Comic’s Unleashed.Eddie’s popularity has span to Australia, where he has appeared on numerous TV shows, including Rove, Thank God You’re Here, The Footy Show and Good News Week. Eddie has also worked as the host of Shark Week, spent a season as the ABC College Football Guy, earned a job as ‘man-on-the-street’ on the Queen Latifah Show, hosted a pilot called Strap-On for Comedy Central, and co-hosted a sports radio show on New York’s legendary WNEW.

Eddie has been working diligently on his new podcast The Bingle Show, set to launch in early 2016. The Bingle Show was a crowd-funded success on Kickstarter with fans from all over the globe supporting the purchase of a used “short bus” to be transformed into a mobile podcasting studio… taking Eddie and his team on the road for a brand new show.

Ahmed Ahmed

Egyptian-American actor, comedian, producer, and director Ahmed Ahmed is one of the most diverse, multi-faceted talents in the entertainment industry today. In 2014, he can be seen starring as “Ahmed” on TBS’ hit comedy series Sullivan & Son. Executive Produced by Vince Vaughn, the show follows Steve Sullivan , a corporate lawyer who surprises his parents when he leaves his job to take over a bar owned by his father in Pittsburgh. Ahmed made his first appearance as unlucky in love, tow-truck driver “Ahmed” in season one, and joined the cast as a series regular in season two, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Ahmed is currently the only Arab-American actor playing a non-stereotypical role on a comedy sitcom, today.

Born in Helwan, Egypt and raised in Riverside, California Ahmed immigrated to the US when he was one month old with his family. When he was 19 years old he made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first big break was in the suspense, action film Executive Decision alongside Kurt Russell, Steven Segal, and Halle Berry in 1996. Ahmed went on to appear in a handful of blockbuster and cult hit features including Swingers, Iron Man, and You Don’t Mess With The Zohan. On the television front, Ahmed has appeared on top series such as Tracy Takes On, Weeds, and Roseanne to name a few.

 In 2011, Ahmed made his directorial debut with his groundbreaking documentary Just Like Us. The film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, and went on to be selected at 30 international film festivals, winning several “Best Director” and “Best Documentary” awards. The documentary, a celebration of culture and comedy, follows Ahmed and ten American comedians through Dubai, Egypt, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, performing in front of over 20,000 Arabs and Muslims across the region. Just Like Us garnered Ahmed attention on the political front, and he was invited to The White House to have dinner with President Obama, and was also invited to The State Department to have dinner with Hilary Clinton- as they commended him on creating a project that made an effort to break down barriers and encourage cross-cultural dialogue. Ahmed is currently in post-production on Just Like Us Too, which takes place in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Oman.

 While working in film and television Ahmed’s profile in comedy continues to rise, being hand picked by Vince Vaughn for his Wild West Comedy Tour . Vaughn is currently producing the first ever Wild West comedy festival in Nashville, TN where Ahmed will hold the roll of Comedy Ambassador, performing and hosting shows. In 2005, Ahmed cofounded and performed in the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour which aired on Comedy Central as the first ever Middle Eastern stand up comedy special. Ahmed is also the winner of the first annual Richard Pryor Award for Ethnic Comedy at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in Scotland.

 Ahmed is currently a paid regular performer at the world famous Comedy Story in Hollywood, The Laugh Factory, and the Comedy Cellar in New York City. He regularly tours nationally and internationally, and in summer 2014, Ahmed will hit the road for the Sullivan & Son Comedy Tour with his cast mates from the series, hitting 20+ markets across the country. Ahmed is a true believer that laughter heals, and that comedy can bridge the gap between communities across the world.

SOPHIE HUGHES

The charm of Sophie Hughes allows her to say and do things she shouldn’t be able to get away with. Her good looks have helped her to achieve regular work as a voice actor.

When Sophie Hughes talks, people listen—and laugh. Not only is she one of the funniest stand-up comedians around, she's one of the most fearless. Though rather soft-spoken and sweet, Hughes isn't afraid to get on stage in front of a crowd and say what's on her mind. What's even more remarkable is how respected by her peers Hughes is. When asked who their favorites are, a number of local comedians put Hughes on their list—and deservedly so.

She has performed at Limestone Comedy Fest, 208 Comedy Fest, and Politically Re-Active with with Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu.

Join us every first Tuesday of the month for improv comedy night hosted by, and featuring Boise's own Megan Bryant, and a pack of her hilarious improv buddies. It's an explosion of "short-form" scenes, gimmick games, and other "variety show" style comedy bits that are always fun, fresh, and engaging. 

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

SAM TALLENT

Known for his whip-quick wit and rollicking improvisations, Sam Tallent is one of the sharpest, most original rising talents in comedy today. He has been called “the absurd voice of a surreal generation” by the Denver Post, and , when not maintaining a “Black Flag-esque tour schedule” (Savage Henry Magazine), Sam has worked alongside many of the biggest names in comedy, including Dave Chappelle, Doug Stanhope, Dana Carvey, Russel Peters, Hannibal Buress, and Ron White.

Sam has performed at the Oddball Comedy Festival, High Plains Comedy Festival, and the NY Film and Television Festival. He has also hosted the weekly film series film on The Rocks at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, corralling 9000 people every Tuesday for the better part of two years. He recently won his battle on Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle” and was seen on Viceland’s “Flophouse” as well as the Chris Gethard Show. His writing has been published on Vice.com. He lives in Denver with his wife and his dog.

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

JENNY YANG

Jenny Yang is a standup comedian, and was a staff writer and performer for the premiere season of the late-night talk show Busy Tonight on E!. She has created digital videos totaling over 30 million views at JennyYang.TV and with Buzzfeed, Comedy Central, Fusion, Funny or Die, and Cracked.com. Her viral social media commentary has been covered by media outlets including the New York Times, Variety, NBC, News, LA Times, Perez Hilton, National Public Radio (NPR), BBC News, Vice News, Mic.Com, Complex Magazine, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed News, and UpWorthy.

She performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles and tours colleges and universities throughout the United States. She has appeared on popular podcasts such as Lady to Love, Lovett or Leave It, Put Your Hands Together, Yo! Is This Racist?, and Unhappy Tour with Matt Bellassai. Jenny is the director of the Disorientated Comedy Tour and The Comedy Comedy Festival: A Comedy Festival.

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

SOLOMON GEORGIO

He began as a stand up on the Seattle comedy scene and quickly developed his own brand of irreverence. He flawlessly intertwines biting social commentary with stories of his life as an openly gay African immigrant. Solomon was a finalist on NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity showcase and has been a regular performer at several festivals, including Seattle’s Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival and Portland’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival.

Solomon made his television debut as a featured comedian on Conan and has since returned to perform on the show again in 2017. He has also appeared on Comedy Central’s “This is Not Happening,” Viceland’s “Flophouse,” and Comedy Central’s “Meltdown.” That same year, Comedy Central released his first televised special for their Stand-Up Presents…. And, he recorded his first album with Comedy Central, too.

As a writer, Solomon has contributed to SpongeBob SquarePants and just wrapped up his first season as a staff writer on TruTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything.” As an actor, he will soon be appearing in the upcoming IFC series “Ball or Nothing,” the Comedy Central web series “White Flight,” and TruTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything.”

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

STEPH TOLEV

Steph Tolev is a comedian from Toronto, now living in LA. She was recently named on the Comedy Central’s “Up Next” comics to watch in 2018. She can be seen in her Comedy Central digital series “Deb & Steph,” which she both wrote and starred in. She can also be seen in Season 2 of Comedy Central’s “Corporate.”

She has been well-received at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest, Just For Laughs Festival, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketch Fest, Big Sky Festival, Laughing Skull Festival, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver Sketch Fests, as well as North by North East.

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

SEAN WHITE

Sean White: As seen on Comedy Central, called “amazing” by the Laugh Button, “bleakly hilarious” by the AV Club, “highly original” by Penthouse, a “gem” by RE:Com Chicago Comedy magazine, “nothing short of impressive” by Ground Control magazine, “killing it” by the Chicago Tribune, “hilarious” by Westword, “fearless” by ComedyOfChicago.com, and “starkly original” and “impressive and refreshing” by Creative Loafing.  He was just listed as one of the top 16 comics in Chicago by Chicago magazine “with joke that look misery straight in the eye” and has been performing over 14 years in clubs across 3 countries.

Sean’s brutally honest style has landed him in the Hong Kong International Comedy competition, Bridgetown Comedy Fest. Riot LA Comedy Fest. 10,000 Laugh Fest, LaughFest, Boston Comedy Fest, Laughing Skull Fest, Chicago Comedy Expo, and the Crom Comedy Fest. His debut album “Dead and Gone” was called “an essential rumination about loss” by the Chicago Tribune and listed as the “best comedy album” by Unseen Comedy, “best comedy track of 2015” by AXS, and was listed in the AV Club’s “best of 2015 so far”.

He has two albums on A Special Thing Records, Angry & Alone, and Dead and Gone: listed as the AV Club/The Onion’s only comedy album on their Best Albums of 2015 list.  

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

KERMET APIO

Kermet was born and raised in Hawaii and has lived in Seattle since attending the University of Washington in 1985. He has since performed in 47 states, 7 Canadian provinces, as well as Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

He has appeared on television shows such as “Star Search,” “Evening at the Improv,” and “Comedy Showcase with Louie Anderson.” He has also bee heard on national radio shows like the “Bob and Tom Show,” and “Rewind” on NPR, and can be heard regularly on Sirius/XM satellite radio. His latest clip on DryBarComedy can be viewed here. 

He is a past winner on both the Seattle Comedy Festival and the Great American Comedy Festival, a national competition held in Johnny Carson’s hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. His showcases include festivals in Aspen, Vancouver, Grand Rapids, and Las Vegas.

The 208 Comedy Fest Presents

CAITLIN GILL

People are talking about Caitlin Gill. Most of what they’re saying has to do with how funny she is.

Caitlin’s stand up has been featured on the Viceland Show “Flophouse” on HULU. She has performed at the Oddball Comedy Tour, the Outside Lands Festival, SF SketchFest, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and in some of the best comedy clubs in the nation.

Her writing has been featured in Bobcat Goldthwait’s “Misfits & Monsters” coming to TruTV, “Hidden America” with Jonah Ray, the series “Take My Wife,” and in the New York Times. She was named one of TimeOut LA’s “2018 Comics to Watch,” and was voted “Best Comedian” in the East Bay Express “Best Of” edition in 2013. You can hear her podcasts like “2 Dope Queens,” the “Cracked” podcast, “Put Your Hands Together,” “Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction,” and NPR’s “Snap Judgement”.

The 208 Comedy Fest Showcase

Featuring:

KC HUNT

ANDREW OROLFO

SOPHIE HUGHES

EMIL WAKIM

LEXIE GRACE

ERIC COLE

&

HEATHER MARULLI

COOL BIRTHDAY!

A brand spanking new, monthly comedy party at Liquid Laughs. Stand up, sketch, games, prizes, treats, possible confetti, probably some weird performance art, all on a monthly theme. You get the idea. It's fun. And it's for you!

Bob DiBuono

This man has established himself as one of the most dynamic acts on stage. With a sarcastic and edgy wit coupled with a high energy and animated delivery, he exposes the absurdities in life, his family and the social conscious. The versatility of being able to go in and out of original characters along with dead-on impersonations heightens this unique act!!

Bob just appeared on GOTHAM LIVE ON AXS TV and has also been seen on MTV, E!, CNN, FOX’S RED EYE, GOOD DAY NY, OPIE AND ANTHONY and BOB AND TOM radio. He was a regular on the JIM BREUER Show on SIRIUS and has been seen in numerous TV commercials.

Bob currently is based out of NYC and headlines around the country.

MYLES WEBER

Myles is a comedian on a mission. He took first place in the 40th Annual San Francisco International Comedy Competition. (Past competitors include Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, Sinbad, Ellen Degeneres, Louis CK, and Dane Cook.) Weber was the second youngest to win the competition and one of only two comics to ever sweep the whole thing. He has also faired well in festivals, having been voted "Best of The Fest" at the Burbank and San Luis Obispo Comedy Festivals. 

Myles has appeared on MTV’s Greatest Party Story Ever and hosted for Portico TV and Popular Science. A writer as well, Myles wrote for and Smosh Pit Weekly on Smosh’s YouTube Channel. (The biggest gaming channel in the world.)

His current docuseries Street Comic follows him as he performs comedy on street corners across America. 

Blending together silly mannerisms, honest material, positive crowd interaction and story telling, seeing Myles Weber means you will never see the same show twice.

Join us every first Tuesday of the month for improv comedy night hosted by, and featuring Boise's own Megan Bryant, and a pack of her hilarious improv buddies. It's an explosion of "short-form" scenes, gimmick games, and other "variety show" style comedy bits that are always fun, fresh, and engaging. 

COSTAKI ECONOMOPOULOS

 ~The BIGGEST name in comedy ~

In the spring of 1993 Costaki was doing graduate work at the University of Georgia. He spent most of his time hammering out a thesis on the influence of political satire on our feelings about government. His off time was spent honing his stand-up skills in pizza joints and bars around town. When he had to turn down a couple of gigs to work on the paper, it made his stomach hurt. He hung in there, finished the thesis, got his master’s degree, and within a year was a fulltime comic on the road. He has been criss-crossing the country telling jokes ever since.

His humor has been described as smart, pointed, hip, sharp, insightful, socially relevant, and gut-laugh funny. A fellow comic once referred to Costaki as a “casually brilliant joke philosopher.” He weighs in on everything from parenting and football, to pirates and rice cakes. And his light swagger, playful squint, and wry smile tell you that perhaps there’s more to this multi-layered joke than you first recognized.

Costaki began to make some noise in the business by reaching the finals of the Seattle Comedy Competition, where he was discovered and invited to the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival. He’s been back to Montreal twice since then. And he was just one of ten finalists in Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots national talent search.

You may have seen him recently on a Showtime Special. Or on Comedy.TV, Last Comic Standing, or NickMom Night Out. Over the years, Costaki has performed in all 50 states, covering the country’s best clubs, hundreds of beautiful theaters, dozens of colleges, and some of the worst bars in America.

Also a talented writer, Costaki’s jokes have appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, and Best Damn Sports Show Period. He was a writer for BET, where he was staffed on two of their hit shows. He wrote jokes for Bette Midler’s Kiss My Brass Tour. Costaki spent Spring Break one year in Cancun writing on the MTV show Parental Approval. He also wrote daily for The Complete Sheet, a DJ prep service that goes out to almost 500 stations worldwide.

But he is easily best known for regular segment on the syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show that reaches some five million people in 140 markets. And that segment has spun off into “Quick Snaps,” the all-NFL topical version, which has a weekly home during the season on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. “Quick Snaps” is also a podcast, and appears weekly on several independent radio shows all over the country. This national exposure has opened the door to Costaki’s dream: people coming to see his live performances “on purpose.”

After a performance with Jake Johannsen, Costaki’s mother said, “You were better than that other guy.” And really, is there anything more to say after that?

Watch his DryBarComedy clip here. 

SHAWN PELOFSKY

This sassy female will blow you away with her physical comedy and high energy. If Joan Rivers and Bette Midler were to have a love child, then this would be your comic for hire. Shawn will take you on a wild ride with her outrageous impersonations and knowledge of pop culture. Her ability to nickname and work a crowd will have you in hysterics. Once you “Stretch it Out” with Shawn Pelofsky, you will never stop.

Shawn was born one out of only ten Jews in Oklahoma. Performing since the age of eight, it’s only natural that Shawn decided to pursue a career in comedy. She attended the University of Southern California and received a B.A. from The School of Theater. During her time at USC, she joined an improvisational group “Comedius Interruptus” which became her motivating force to train at The Groundlings.

By the age of 20, Shawn Pelofsky was performing sketches and improv with comedic giant, Will Ferrell. With a couple years of improv under her belt, she became a member of The ACME Comedy Theater. During her time at ACME, Shawn flourished in the field of stand-up comedy culminating with her current status as a paid regular at The World Famous Comedy Store. When she’s not touring or performing for our troops in places like Afghanistan, Bosnia, Bahrain and Guantanamo Bay, Shawn performs weekly on their infamous Main Room stage. Adding to her many comedic accolades, Shawn has been featured in The Montreal “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival and in the all female hit comedy tours Pretty Funny Women, Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad and The Hot Tamales produced by Eva Longoria. She has opened up for greats such as Richard Lewis, Robert Klein and Bill Maher and written for comedic legend, Joan Rivers on Fashion Police.

Shawn has given the comedy competition circuit a run for its money as a finalist for "The Funniest Woman in Orange County" and in Comedy Central’s “Laugh Riots”. Her television and film credits include "Community" (NBC), "Lip Service" (Showtime), "Chelsea Lately" (E!), "The Gossip Queens" (LOGO), "Pretty Hurts" (LOGO), "Comics Unleashed" (ABC), "Weather Gone Viral" (The Weather Channel), Pauly Shore’s "Minding the Store" (TBS), "Last Comic Standing" (NBC),  and "Free Enterprise" starring William Shatner. You can currently catch Shawn Pelofsky taking gay male audiences by storm performing with the Atlantis Cruises worldwide, Gay Prides around the USA, hosting HRC events. Look for her first dramatic lead in the film, "TRI" and in the indie comedy, "This Is Meg".  She is also now a producer for the hilarious new TV Game show "Funny You Should Ask". You can purchase her comedy album: Shawn Pelofsky Is Lady Haha on i-Tunes and get in line on August 21, 2018 for the release of her first 1 Hour Comedy Special: STRETCH IT OUT! 

Brian Posehn

Brian has been busy for a while. As a writer/actor/stand-up comic he doesn’t have a ton of down time. Brian has most recently been seen on the acclaimed Netflix show, "Lady Dynamite," and FX’s "You’re The Worst" and in his recurring roles on "The Big Bang Theory" and "New Girl." He was one of the stars of Comedy Central’s popular show, "The Sarah Silverman Program." He has also appeared on such seminal sitcoms as Seinfeld, NewsRadio, Everybody Loves Raymond and Friends. He had a recurring role on Just Shoot Me.

In the sketch comedy world he’s known as one of the writers and performers on HBO’s acclaimed Mr. Show, in 2015 he co-produced Odenkirk and Cross’s return to sketch with the Netflix hit, "With Bob and David."

He was featured in the films, Devil’s Rejects and The Five Year Engagement. Last year he had his first starring role in the dark, indie comedy, Uncle Nick.

In stand-up comedy he’s known as one of the original members of the Comedians of Comedy. He’s recorded two half hour specials for Comedy Central, four comedy albums and two hour long specials, The Fartist and Criminally Posehn (just released on Seeso).

In Voice-Acting he’s done everything from Scooby Doo to a recent role on The Simpsons. He starred on the animated shows "Mission Hill" and "3 South" and has turned up in "Adventure Time", "American Dad", "Bob’s Burgers", and "Steven Universe", to name a few. His voice will be featured in the 2017 Dreamworks Animated comedy "Captain Underpants".

In the last several years he’s also been able to produce and host a popular comedy podcast, Nerd Poker and co-write 45 issues of the best-selling Marvel comic book series Deadpool. In 2017 he will be releasing his first book, Forever Nerdy with essays about his life and a comedy metal album Offenders of the Fake, featuring metal legends from Anthrax, Dethklok, Slayer and Soundgarden.

In 2018, he planned to compete in "American Ninja Warrior," "Top Chef," and "So You Think You Can Dance." After he breaks TMZ and the Internet, when footage of him beating up a Yeti surfaces, he plans to quit showbiz.