Marcus

Jan. 30 through Feb. 3, Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted Comedy Week where three evenings of entertainment were held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evening. Last student Comic Standing started off the week's entertainment lineup on Tuesday at 8 p.m., followed by a performance from Marcus on Thursday at 8 pm, and then closing the week was the comedic duo Frangela on Friday at 8 pm.

For the second time, Last student Comic Standing features five student comedians who performed for an audience of close to 100. According to the SAB co-main stage chair, senior communications major Jessica Love, Last student Comic Standing was put on to give opportunities for students to show off their talents that we do not necessarily see during other talent shows.

"I will keep getting emails from people saying that they had a great time and hope we do more of these kinds of things," said Love. Audience members sat at tables around the Summit room and were waited on by volunteer members of SAB who offered them snack food items, like popcorn and nuts, and gave them a choice of drinks. The five performers were Harry Hill, Troy Sawyer, James O'Neil, Aram Shabanian and Jordan White.

"Having the opportunity to stand up in front of my peers and make them laugh. To me, it did not really matter who won that evening, but more that we were entertaining the student body for free," said Shabanian, a sophomore criminal justice major, on his favorite part of the evening. Shabanian has plans for improving his jokes. Pressured by friends into performing, Shabanian explained that he was glad he listened and that next year he will be participating because, "this year was fun and I love talking before crowds of people. So, I really do not see a reason not to."

SAB has ideas about how to improve the evening as well. Chad Burton, senior and criminal justice major said that since there was a higher turnout than expected, "we ran out of drinks really early, and next time we will probably have more variety as far as the food goes."

When all was said and done, one winner was selected: O'Neil. As the winner, he got to perform before the comedian Marcus on Thursday in addition to receiving a high rollers pass for the SAB casino night on Feb. 24. The five judges, Patrick Moser, Stephen Cucchiara, Alaina Mayfield, Clara Pratt and Nawwal Moustafa, were there to "determine and judge who was most deserving and did a nice job, too," according to Love. Love also noted, "since this year's event went so well, we have been requested to do more over the year. So we possibly will be putting on another one during spring term."

To add variety to the week, the SAB team invited comedian Marcus to Western. According to his agent's website (www.sophiek.com), "Marcus found himself second on the 2008 season of NBC's hit television series, Last Comic Standing. Starting off in radio by voicing hundreds of commercials and doing celebrity impressions for radio stations all over the country, he made his way on stage."

"How he got to Western," Love explained, "was that we found [him] at NACA West, an annual conference we attend in November. He was one of the performers to showcase and we got to see a 15 minute preview of his work. Everyone that went loved him and thought he would be a perfect comedian for this campus."

Both Love and Burton explain their perspective on Marcus and the special something he brought to his performance.

"He is really good at bringing up real-life situations and turning them into something funny. He is also a voice impersonator, but he did not do any during the performance," says Love.

Burton adds, "he is very good at initiating real-life situational topics, such as sex or marriage, but they are topics audience members can relate to. He had such a great interaction with the audience. He would first connect with the audience and then bring in some kind of physical gesture, such as when he is arguing with his wife, and you see that relationship come to life on stage. Because of his skills of connecting to the audience in a relatable way, there was much to be enjoyed."

Many stayed afterwards to talk to him, it was apparent that the performance was enjoyed and well received by those who attended.

"The students really seemed to love him... [Those who did not attend] missed a great performance by the winner of Last Student Comic Standing. They also missed out on a whole lot of laughter because most of the audience was non-stop laughing the whole time. They missed out on a hilarious show," said Love.

To close of the week of laughs was comedic duo Frangela. The name Frangela comes from their names: Francis Callier and Angela V. Shelton. Their Facebook page states that they have appeared on Best Week Ever, Oprah, "I am A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here," - The Journal (Western Oregon University)

“I remember 1992,” said the man on stage, raising an arm inked with dark figures. “And I remember thinking that ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ would be the worst thing that Billy Ray Cyrus ever produced, but oh no I was wrong,” he laughed. The man is a comedian called “Marcus” and he is definitely not a Miley Cyrus fan. His version of her song “Best of Both Worlds” means her being hit by a car and then being caught on fire, or so he puts it.

Marcus relayed these thoughts to any MCLA student who came to listen in the school cafeteria on March 9. From Salt Lake City, he was the runner up for the TV show “Last Comic Standing” in 2008. His moniker “Marcus” is simply the name his fellow comedians and audience members know him as. He refuses to reveal his true identity.

“Marcus is a larger-than-life version of myself,” he said from beneath his gelled head of hair. “It’s my stage name: I can’t give it away.” Marcus’s hour-long act included poking humor at several topics such as the iPhone app that rings when it’s the best time of the month to impregnate his wife.

“I can’t say that word, menstrual, ughh God, it’s like Voldemort for men,” said Marcus. In a British accent he continued, “She’s got the dark mark she does!” Accents and impressions like these were some highlights of the act. Some memorable ones were Dane Cook, Snoop Dog, and Jay Z. Marcus was once a full-time impressionist, but it wouldn’t work for a full hour show, so he became a comedian to involve it. He is known to call in on radio shows impersonating Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. Recently, it’s been Charlie Sheen.

“I thought it was hilarious,” said senior Kevin Tappin from the audience. “I really liked the impressions… I was surprised to see those.” Marcus ended the show by giving a huge thanks to the Student Activities Council, who put it on. He stated, “When times are tough, the first thing that gets cut is anything fun and anything that helps morale and helps people wanna do better: you gotta thank these guys.” Afterwards, students obtained free signed pictures, complete with an extremely profane name assigned to them from his flip book of “Creative Cursing.”

For more information on Marcus, visit his Facebook page by entering “Comedian Marcus.” Next month, SAC’s Comedy Stop will be presenting Dat Phan, winner of the very first season of “Last Comic Standing”. - The MCLA Beacon

Brace yourself Denver, Marcus is coming to town March 26Th-29Th, at the Comedy Works Landmark Now if your thinking what I'm thinking, then your thinking: A comic with just one name. Who does this guy think he is Madona? Well, what I quickly realized is that Marcus is a rock star. From his full sleeve tattoos to his loud entrance, he smacks rock star all the way. This rising star has flamed onto the comedy scene. He was the runner-up on The Last Comic Standing (2008), has won both the 2007 Rocky Mountain Laugh-Off and the prestigious 2007 Seattle International Comedy Competition, and has two one hour comedy specials on DVD. Check out his myspace site and you can catch the first five minutes of his DVD Second To None. Then you'll know why this guy is a rock star.

And now Denver, I am proud to announce, that last night, at the locally infamous El Cid, I did perform my first comedy set in Los Angeles. And the big question: Did anyone actually laugh. The answer: Yes, a couple of times in fact. And they did not laugh a couple of times as well. It is amazing that what sounds funny in front of the mirror, or a group of sympathetic friends, can easily be lost upon a group of strangers. Either that or my friends are just placating me. Hmm...

Seriously, I have an all new respect for the stand-up comic. It is one thing to make a few jokes with your friends, most of whom are already in on the joke. It is another thing entirely to get up in front of a room full of strangers, who have decided that you will be their entertainment for the night, and perform. My hat is off to all those hardworking comics out there, and any performer who is putting themselves out there for the world to see. Fear not Denver, I will be back on stage...


Remember Denver: Life is always more fun when you have a smile on your face.

- LA Comedy Examiner

When we last left Marcus at the Gateway Mall, he had just taken second place on NBC's “Last Comic Standing”, which later revealed itself to be a blessing in disguise. I mean, let's be honest, has anyone reading this seen those “guaranteed television series” the winners were promised? Not like it would have helped NBC's lineup, but now I'm treading into Bill Frost's territory, so let's move on.

Since the last interview nearly two years ago, Marcus has had a chance to tour the country a few times, filmed his own DVD special, dropped the impersonations as well as most of his material, and watched a good portion of his life change in the process. Now he's taking on one of the biggest tasks of his career: a live show at Kingsbury Hall to be filmed for a new special. Not only being planned as his biggest show in Utah to date, but his last local gig until 2011 as he heads back out on tour. Leading up to the event I got a chance to chat with the man himself about the past few years and his career in general, not to mention talking about the show and his thoughts on the local comedy circuit. All with some photos of Marcus at Kingsbury you can check out here.

Marcus

http://www.facebook.com/ComedianMarcus

Gavin: Hey Marcus! First off, how have you been since the last interview?

Marcus: Good. Busy, but good.

Gavin: To start off, I know you've been in bands and spent some time training to be a pro-wrestler. What made you get into comedy?

Marcus: I guess like most comedians, I have always been the funny guy, I just never thought I could do it as a job, you know. After my band fell apart, I started hanging out at with Mick and Allen at KBER, doing funny stuff, and through that, I met a lot of comedians. They all told me they thought I should try it out and eventually, I did and was hooked instantly.

Gavin: Who are some comedians you look up to and influenced you as a performer?

Marcus: To be honest, there have always been comics that I loved, but as far as what I do, I have always strived to be myself. In the beginning, I guess, as a comedian, you are kind of influenced by the comedians you listen to, but over time, as you strive for respect, you realize that unlike when you are in a band, being told that you are "like" another comedian is not a compliment. In my business, it means you're a hack. Now, I don't even listen to comedy because I don't ever want to even accidentally sound like another comic.

Gavin: Prior to the NBC exposure, you made a name for yourself around the comedy clubs, mainly Wiseguys. What was it like for you coming up as an unknown and gaining that local following?

Marcus: It's tough. A lot of free work. A lot of opening for other comics, trying to work your way up. It's tough, but comedians in this town are lucky to have a place like Wiseguy's that allows young comedians to have stage time. It's not like that in other towns. When I was coming up, I got a chance to open for guys like Harland Williams and Tommy Chong, where else in the world would you get that chance? I worked hard, real hard. I was somewhere EVERY weekend, for free, busting my ass to get better. Nothing was ever handed to me, I earned every fan I ever got, and because I worked for all of them, I always wanted to give back, so that's why I do so much for comedy in this town.

Gavin: Briefly looking back on “Last Comic Standing” from where you are now, what's been the long-term affect for you being on that show, and what do you think looking back on it as a whole?

Marcus: Obviously it's a huge boost, it helps get your name out there, I stay very busy doing colleges and clubs around the country, all because of my time on TV, but it is in no way a ticket to the big time. I am working every day, trying to stay relevant. There are a 1000 comedians who want to be where I am and if I relax or take it for granted for even one second, they will take it, and if I ever get lazy, then I deserve that to happen. I have been given an amazing opportunity to do what I love as a job, actually make a living at it, I need to always work on moving forward, look ahead to what's next, keep trying to be better.

Gavin: Shortly after that you did the “Second To None” show at the Egyptian. How did that opportunity come about, and what was it like filming that show?

Marcus: It was a lot of work and we threw it together very quickly. I wanted to have a product that was new, something that represented me and where I was as a comedian at that time, that I could sell on the LCS tour. I made a few calls and Keith Stubbs from Wiseguy's helped me lock down the Egyptian and we threw the show together and it turned out great. The show was very successful and I was happy to do it in Utah.

Gavin: What did you think of the reaction to its release and how that cemented you locally?

Marcus: I think that I was already cemented as locally as I could be at the time, the special was just kind of a way to give back.

Gavin: Since - Salt Lake City Weekly - Gavin Sheehan

When it comes to the local comedy scene, there is one name in particular that stands out in the crowd, and that is Marcus. Having launched his comedy career five years ago, Marcus has done everything from grace local radio stations to performing onstage with Jerry Seinfeld and becoming the runner-up in "Last Comic Standing." As his career continues to blossom, Marcus is preparing to show his love and appreciation to his hometown of Salt Lake City before he heads overseas to introduce Europe to his comedic side.

When meeting Marcus, it's clear that this funny guy maintains more than meets the eye. The tattooed super-in-shape looker takes his career very seriously. So much so, that after years of performing for free on a nightly basis, he is still dedicating hours of his time to perfecting his bits, which means that there is no party time for this comic.

"You have to sacrifice a lot and take a lot of risks. It's not an easy path, but to get to do something you love as a job is a dream come true. I have to spend every day getting better, working hard so that I never disrespect the chance that I was given," writes Marcus in an e-mail interview.

Though Marcus has made a huge name for himself within both the local and national comedy scene, it was something that he almost fell into, and later discovered was his passion.

"I started hanging out at KBER with Mick and Allen and they allowed me to come in and hang out, write some jokes, and do some funny stuff on air. Over time, I made friends with some of the comedians who would come in to promote their shows. They eventually talked me into getting on stage and so I went down to Wiseguy's and met with the owner, Keith Stubbs. After seeing me do some of my jokes, he offered me three minutes at one of that week's shows and I was hooked," says Marcus.

Once he realized that he was addicted to comedy, Marcus began making regular appearances at Wiseguy's.

"Wiseguy's really gave me the opportunity to become the best comedian that I possibly could be, and I took advantage of every minute of stage time that they threw my way. I managed to work my way up. I started headlining clubs, and by marketing and self-promoting, I developed quite a dedicated local following. One that has multiplied as my career has blossomed," says Marcus.

After spending three years working five nights a week for free, Marcus felt that he was ready to branch out and see what he could do. His quest led him to becoming a contestant on the hit show, "Last Comic Standing." Marcus maintains that it was his ability to remain likable that enabled him to get so far on the show.

"I knew going in to the audition that it was more reality show than talent contest, so I just tried to always be likable and funny so that no matter what happened, win or lose, people liked me and they wanted to see me more".

His decision worked, as became evident to him the first night that the show aired.

"The night it came on, I was sitting on the couch watching with my laptop and I just kept hitting refresh on my MySpace page. Every time I did, there was like 50 more friend requests, 50 more comments, 50 more e-mails. It was insane. I couldn't keep up. I think I got over 1000 on the first night, and I really wasn't ready for that," says Marcus.

9 million viewers later, Marcus is one of the nation's most recognized names in the rising comedy scene, and because of his success on the show, he has performed in over 150 cities and 33 states.

As he is preparing to head overseas to do a comedy tour, Marcus wants to go out with a bang, and with a "thank you" to his loyal native fans. This show of gratitude comes in the form of a live taping that will take place on May 19 at Kingsbury Hall, where Marcus will be filming his network comedy special, "Marcus: The Hand That Feeds" in front of his Utah fans.

"I felt like I really wanted to do this for my hometown crowd. I wanted to give back to the people who have supported me from the beginning. This is a totally local project. It's a project for the people of Utah by the people of Utah. It is something that I have been very passionate about and I am hoping that my gamble pays off," says Marcus.

Though he has proven time and again that he is loved by the people of Utah and beyond, Marcus refers to this project as a gamble because the entire thing is self-funded, promoted and created. After submitting a tape of a local performance post-"Last Comic Standing," Marcus was told by the network that they wanted to do more with him, but that they wanted to do it out of New York. Though the opportunity was available, Marcus turned it down and took on the project at a local level in order to show his gratitude and appreciation for his Utah fans, and to prove that good things do happen in Utah.

"I am trying to prove that we can have cool things happen in Utah. That local talent and local companies can produce things that are better than what is coming ou - Inthisweek.com

Television:
NBC’s Last Comic Standing- second place

Comedy Festivals:
2009 San Diego Comic Con
2009 Utah State Fair

Competitions:
Winner of the 2007 Seattle International Comedy Competition
Winner of the 2007 Rocky Mountain Laugh Off
Semi-Finalist in the 2007 HBO’s Lucky 21 Showcase
2nd Place in the 2006 Rocky Mountain Laugh-Off
Comedy Clubs and Venues:
The Comedy Underground – Seattle, WA
Wiseguys Comedy Café - Salt Lake City, UT
Laugh’s Comedy Spot - Kirkland, WA
Laff’s - Tucson, AZ
Giggles - Seattle, WA

Corporate:
Hosting the 2009 Tattoolapalooza Convention in Miami, FL

Theatres:
Comedy Special “Marcus, Second To None” filmed at the SOLD OUT Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in Ogden, UT
The City Opera House in Traverse City, MI
The Carlsbad Theatre in Carlsbad, CA
The Marin Showcase Theatre in San Rafael, CA
The Spanos Theatre in San Luis Obispo, CA
Was part of the 2008/2009 Last Comic Standing Live Tour, which played over 70 cities in 27 states including sold out shows at –
- The Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA
- The Paramount Theatre in Denver, CO
- The Grove in Anaheim, CA
- The House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
- The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ
- The Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL

Awards:
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Arty Award Winner - 2008
- Reader’s Choice for Best Local Comedian

Salt Lake City Weekly’s Arty’s Award Winner - 2007
- Reader’s Choice for Best Local Comedian

Salt Lake City Weekly’s Artys Award Winner - 2006
- Staff Pick for Best 24/7 Comic

- Sophie K. Entertainment