After I(Tim Zajkowski) told Brian that, Keith Ruff approached me at “Chaplin’s Comedy Club” just outside Detroit. Keith said, “Tim, I’ve known you for years, you’ve always been good to me, I’ve never asked a white guy this question before. What is it about black people that white people hate so much?”  I said, “To be honest I  I ain’t got that kind of time.”
Brian started laughing and asked, “did Keith laugh?” I said “no.”  He asked “do you know why?”  I said, “no”  he said “cause Keith is Detroit black”. I said “I don’t understand”  Brian said, “do you think men from Alabama are the same as in Michigan”?
Now, that didn’t answer every question but, put me on an interesting track.
Brian, Keith and I taped four hours of that subject in my home.
Coming to a theatre near you.. Thank you Brian

One of the many times I (Tim Zajkowski) worked the comedy club “Chaplin’s” just outside Detroit. Keith came up to me and said, “Tim I’ve known you for years, you’ve always been good to me, I’ve never asked a white guy this question. What is it about black people that white people hate so much?” I said “to be honest with you, I  I just ain’t got that kind of time.”
After that, Keith, Brian McCree and I sat down in my home and taped four hours of “What is it about black people white people hate/ What is it about white people that black people hate”.
Coming to a theatre near you..  Thank you Keith

I (Tim Zajkowski) couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sit down with John. He was workin Sal Demilio’s club, “The Comedy Room” in the beautiful city of Wyandotte, Mi.
John was a New York City, transit cop (he worked in the subway) for twelve years. He got the chance to work on the “Sandra Bullock film Miss Congeniality”.  He also work on the sequel (Miss Congeniality 2)
Amoung the things he does now is, an excellent comedian.
I’m glad he took the time to sit down with me,  thanks John.

I (Tim Zajkowski) actually met B.T. on the phone the day before he sat down on the show with me.
B.T. agreed to do my show but, the drive from North Carolina  (the l previous nites show) took longer than he thought. so, he was late.
We decided to leave the camera up and actually did my show in front of the audience that, was coming in to see B.T.
B.T. was so professional and fun, this is how to make a show easy for me..  Thanks B.T.

The city I (Tim Zajkowski) live is Wyandotte, Mi. Every third Friday of the month, Wyandotte has a party downtown. There will be food vendors, beer and soft drinks, games for the kids, and the stores offer special deals for the adults.
Wyandotte Mi. also hires entertainment for anyone that ventures in. This time it was the rockin band “Nine” This is the conversation they shared with me.  I’d like to thank each one but, “eh fa-git a bout it”  thanks guys.

Part of my(Tim Zajkowski) first road with the “Detroit Derby Girls”, I got to meet and speak to Summers E-vil and Kill Box(Sara).  Two totally different personalities but, passionate about some of the same things, one is Derby.
Kill Box(Sara) has a degree in women’s studies. I’m a stand-up comic that, does material about men’s liberation. We looked each other in the eyes and just smiled.
Summer is into art direction and web design. I can’t help but, believe that, Sara and Summer are and will continue to be wonderfully successful in many areas.   I’d like to thank Summer and Sara for being so gracious.

While on the road with the Detroit Derby Girls, my(Tim Zajkowski) first trip was to Columbus, Ohio.
Detroit came into the “Derby’s National Championship Play-offs” in 9th place out of 12 teams. Detroit went on to beat the 3rd place team.
Then, Detroit went on to beat the 2nd place team. In the Derby World it is common knowledge that, the “Gotham Girls” of New York City is an amazing team. By the time the Detroit and Gotham Girls bout was over, Gotham had won by 101 points. The bout was exciting and hard fought.
I met up with Fisti, Sweet, and Hela shortly after the bout. This is how our conversation went.
PS, Fisti Cuffs is a graphic designer, Sweet Sherrie Pie is an event lighting specialist and maybe a gourmet chef, Hela Skelter is a book editor.
Derby is an amazing world, full of amazing women.  I’d like to thank, Fist Cuffs, Sweet Sherrie Pie and Hela Skelter for being so lovely and gracious to share some time with me.

While I was shootin the breeze with Geech, it’s always interesting to me how serious a conversation about the comedy business can get.
Just so you’ll know, Geech is in the “Guinness World Book of Records” for tellin the most jokes in one hour, “676″. He actually told around 850 jokes, he got laughs with “676 jokes”.
At the time of this conversation Geech was in the Detroit area doing shows at “Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle” in Royal Oak, Mi. He also has his own show in ” Vegas” called, “The Dirty Joke Show”. The back of the stage looks like an alley behind a comedy club. Three comics step into the alley and hang out between shows, tellin jokes and bustin chops till, they have to go back in the club to do the 2nd show. The reviews have been amazing. Geech is the creator, director and stars in it.
I’d like to thank Geech for his time and professionalism.  Thanks, Geech

This is the first sghow that, I (Tim Zajkowski) did on stage at a comedy club. We were at “Joey’s Comedy Club” in Livonia, Mi.
Norn is someone I’ve known for years. We’ve done many shows together.
Micheal J. Ledin is someone that, was going through, “The Second City Detroit” improv program at the same time.
Micheal has a unique sense of humor. To bad he had to use it against me on my show. OK, so he busted my chops pretty good… nice job Mike.  I’d like to thank Mike and Norm

I (Tim Zajkowski) first met Norm, I was doing an open mic nite. Just before I enter the stage I make the sign of the cross and say “Lord help me with my words”.  Norm took a couple of steps over to me and said, I’ve seen you before, you’ll do fine.
After I got off stage he took me off to the side. He was complimentary and added this suggestion.  When writing, take a legal pad and write only half way across the page. Leaving the other half for the punchlines and tags. Not only a simple thing but, brilliant.
Thank you, Norm

Kevin has been the kind of friend that offers inspirational advice when, someone else would be happy to kick you in the head.
The comedy business can be fun. It can also be heartbreaking. When you are in a business where almost everyone in it is smart, quick witted and has a deadly accurate tongue. You find yourself around people that can snap off something hysterically funny or miserably crushing.
I remember Kevin coming over to me saying, did that comic just tell you how you should never do that again. I said yes. Kevin said, “you are heading in your own direction. Go where you have to go”.
Thanks Kevin

While attending a promotional event for a film called “The Italy Boys” written by Frank Roche, I (Tim Zajkowski) was approached by this beautiful young woman. She says, “hi, you’re Tim You’re a comic”  We’ve met years ago.  I say, “I wish”.
Sarah told me that, we had met while she was the hostess at “Pesto’s Comedy Club” in Grand Blanc Mi.  I said, are you that skinny kid that used to bring me up on stage? She said, yea, that’s me.
Sarah reminded me that I offered another way to bring the comics up. I suggested that she say something like,  “Ladies and Gentlemen, the next comic coming to the stage, you may have seen him on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, please give a nice round of applause to… whom ever.  She said, “Oh my God that’s way better”.
You can also see Sarah on “Law and Order” and “Sopranos”.
Thank You Sarah

I (Tim Zajkowski) met Chili at one of his comedy writing classes.
Rumour has it Chili spent ten years on Jay Leno’s writing staff on “The Tonite Show” on NBC.
After a few years, Chili hooked me up with a writing gig at the “University of Michigan”. We were hired to write a comedy monologue comparing stand-up comics to college professors.
It was an amazing experience,  Thank you Chili

One evening I (Tim Zajkowski) received a call from the owner of “The Comedy Room” Sal DeMilio, in Wyandotte Mi. Sal asked i I could go to Detroit Metro Airport to pick up Dustin Diamond. I said sure I can do that.
Dustin asked if I was a comic. From there we were like old friends.
He told this story. He said he dated Johnny Cash’s granddaughter for years. So, he spent a lot of time with June and Johnny. One morning he sat down at the breakfast table. Johnny was reading the paper and drinking a cup of coffee. June had just taken the last pancake out of the frying pan and placed a plateful in front of Dustin.
Dustin said, those are Johnny’s pancakes. Johnny said, you are our guest, enjoy. Dustin said, so, here I am eating Johnny Cash’s pancakes. Good story.  I couldn’t believe the story he told on my show.
Thank you Dustin

I (Tim Zajkowski) was in “Connxtions Comedy Club” in Toledo, Ohio. I was in the back of the room with a handful of other comics.
Ben Creed was on stage. Now, most comics have a set-up and punchline. Ben had a set-up, punchline, punchline, punchline, punchline, punchline and so on.
I was laughin so hard that, I couldn’t breath. Did Ben care? NO!  Set-up and a ton of punchlines, each funnier than the last. I was beggin him to stop but, he didn’t. Way to much fun. If you get a chance to see him,  do it.
Thank you Ben

I (Tim Zajkowski) was sitting in a bar in Rochester Mi. with a couple of comics, Bill Hildebrandt and Jef Brannan. We were laughing and having a blast. After a half an hour of bustin chops. This guy walks in and sits down. We bring him up to speed on what we’re talking about.
This guy, with the straightest face, for the next five minutes was so funny that, I was on the floor three times.  Bill Hildebrandt asked if I knew who he was. I said no. Bill said, Tim this is Geechy Guy.
Geech, it was an amazingly busy weekend for you and you still made time to do this,  Thank You.

While I (Tim Zajkowski) was studying acting and directing at Jeff Daniels, “Purple Rose Theatre” in Chelsea Mi. I met a wonderfully interesting director named Lynn Wilde.
Lynn was directing stage plays at the “Jayne Tasch Performing Arts Theatre” in Pinckney Mi..
Lynn cast me in three plays there,  “Seussical the Musical”,  “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” and “Orphan Train”.
This is where I met the four young, lovely, talented actresses that graced my show.  I’m sure you’ll agree.
Thank you very much, Anna, Ashley, Hannah, and Sarah

While I (Tim Zajkowski) was sitting in the sound booth at “Cobo Arena” in Detroit, waiting to do the play by play announcements for the “Detroit Derby Girls”. I started talking to a woman sitting across the isle. We had both studied at “The Second City Detroit”. We new a lot of the same people. And we had quite a few friends in common.
After just shootin the breeze for twenty minutes, Chrissy says, well Tim, I’ve gotta go to work. It’s Saturday nite, 7pm, Cobo Arena, Downtown Detroit… OK, I’ve been blown off by women before, so. I say, it was nice to meet you and Chrissy walked down the stairs to the main floor of Cobo Arena snd sang the “National Anthem”.  It gave me the chills.
As she climbed back up the stairs I said, I’d love to have you on my show. She said, “I thought you’d never ask”.
Thank you Chrissy

Bill was amoung the first comics that, I (Tim Zajkowski) met when I first started in the business.
Bill was booking comics at a club called “Joey’s Comedy Club” in Dearborn, Mi. I was doing open mic nites. I introduced Bill to a friend, Denise. They immediately started flurting. After five minutes Bill had to walk away, Denise said, I’m gonna marry that guy. Six months later they were married. For some reason Bill stopped booking me at “Joey’s Dearborn”    Bastard… thanks Billy

Mark Ridley opened Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in the Detroit area over thirty years ago.
Mark was offering work to young comics by the names of Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Tim Allen, Drew Carey. To be honest the list is way to long to go into here.
Mark Ridley was the first one to use the three comic concept. First comic, opening act or M.C., second comic, the middle or feature act, third comic, the closer or headliner.
This system has become very standard though out the industry.
This is the conversation that Mark and I had,  thank you Mark

I (Tim Zajkowski) went to the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. I was hoping to sit down with the stand-up comic Emo Phillips.
I asked Emo if he’d like to sit down with me and do my show. He smiled and very politely said, “no thank you”.
As I was telling one of the owners of the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, Roger Feeney, Roger suggested that I should sit down with a comic named Dave Landau.
This is the conversation Dave and I had…   Thanks Dave.

When I (Tim Zajkowski) first met Leo, he was referred to as “Detroits best comic”, even thought he was from Amersberg Ontario Canada.
Twenty five years ago, Leo owned a comedy club in Toronto and the one he still owns in Windsor, “Leo’s Komedy Korner”.  Leo was talking about this skinny kid from Toronto, twenty five years ago that, was so weird and didn’t do the normal stand-up. This kid was singing like old female movie stars.
Leo wanted to bring this kid to his club in Windsor. Leo told the kid, I can bring you to my club in Windsor and give you a weeks pay but, not a hotel room. If you’re willing to sleep on my couch, you can headline my Windsor room.
The young kid agreed and for three or four years Jim Carrey slept on Leo’s couch.
Thanks Leo…..  PS, this was my very first show.

I (Tim Zajkowski) met Vinny Vella at a promotional event for a film called “The Italy Boys” written by a friend by the name of Frank Roche. Vinny will not only be one of the actors but, also one of the producers.
When Vinny and I sat down, neither of us had ever heard of each other. At that time I was doing 8-10-12 minute interviews. Vinny sat down and we just started to shoot the breeze for almost a half an hour. Just two guys just shootin the breeze.
It’s my opinion that, Vinny still isn’t aware that he inspired me to change the premise of my show.
Thank You Vinny, for your kindness and professionalism.

Mike was and is one of those guys that, treats a big name comic the same way he treats an open mic comic.
Recently, Mike put together a comedy writing seminar where, sixteen comics spent three hours writing. The premise, we will write five or six new minutes of comedy (never used on stage before) to be used on stage that night.
We broke up into groups of four and stayed together for an hour. Then, we got together with four others and then, again after that hour.
Three of the sixteen comics backed out near the last minute but, the thirteen of us that did it had an amazing time. We went up and bombed in an amazingly amusing way. The audience and the comics had a million laughs.
Thanks Mike

While speaking to a retired couple, Al and Dee Da,  Dee Da said that, I (Tim Zajkowski) am funny. She said, “you should be a comic”. I told her that, I am a comic. Dee Da said she has a niece that’s a comic. I asked her name, Dee Da said, “no one has heard of her”.  I said because “I’m a comic I may have heard of her”. She said, “her name is Maria Bamford….”
This is the conversation Maria and I had.  Thank You Maria.