Comedian Ritch Shydner joins host Rich Stein

Stand up Comedian, writer and show biz historian RITCH SHYDNER comes on the podcast this week.  A native of Pennsville, New Jersey, oldest son of a large family and his Dad  was funny and showed his oldest boy the comedy of Jackie Gleason from his first sketch show on TV.   By the time Ritch was of college age he was a fan of the brilliant comedy of Pryor, Carlin, Klein and other up and comers and he himself worked as a bartender and was known as a funny guy among his friends and bar patrons.

 

He went to law school after college and was on track to go into law after passing the bar but along the way, not unlike most comics he started doing open mics almost as a whim or to just say they he took a stab at it but also not unlike most comics he was instantly hooked and like most alpha type A’s he not only tapped out on his promising law career but he started getting up on stages like all comics must do with consistent regularity and commitment to even be able to get stage time on what was still a slowly burgeoning  “Pre boom era“  stand up comedy explosion.

 

He was getting some stage time in Washington DC and New Jersey but before long did what it took to make the move to New York City which was then and still remains to this day one of the most important and visible stand up markets where a young performer can get the most stage time nightly, and make their bones in more clubs than any other city at that time or even today as well.  

 

His move paid off because he was a regular emcee at all the same clubs that other comics who were already working and making strides also worked at such as David Brenner, Robert Klein, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, et al.  He was constantly writing and adding material to his already growing act and his high energy and passion for comedy was quickly helping him to get more emcee spots and showcase spots not only in New York and New Jersey as well as all the satellite clubs that were slowly opening up to get young up and coming comics to get paid work while also giving them the experience and stage time that all comics need to find their voice and develop a workable act.

 

Ritch worked tirelessly at his craft and was never shy about taking as much work as he could get and he often mentions he went on the road as an opening act but after an extended tour of some of the toughest bars, saloons and clubs in Alaska he returned to the states as a closing act with a solid hour of material suitable for any comedy club in the states. Ritch went on to do Evening at the Improv, The Smothers Brothers comedy special, a dozen Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson as well as numerous David Letterman appearances. When he remarried and had young kids he turned to writing for sitcoms and comedy specials for other comedians and quickly became a coveted sitcom staff writer  script doctor, editor and consultant for shows such as Roseanne, Titus, The Mind of the Married Man, Becker, Blue Collar Comedy Tour and the Jeff Foxworthy Show and his Comedy Specials

 

Ritch has done about everything a comedian could do throughout a long career where generations come and go and tastes and material travel through different points of reference. For the last five years he has  toured the country with his “ History of Stand Up Comedy Special.

Often times comedians are their own harshest critics and Ritch in this episode talks about the inequity of talent vs breaks vs luck and all the myriad stressors, behaviors and personal challenges that can make or break any career and certainly the fragile plane where “ show biz success “ is just one blog, post or reel away from getting one cancelled. Ritch has done whatever he had to do to keep going and keep producing laughs on stage, television and film whether by writing, producing or performing it himself. He is a cherished personage and commodity in a business that has generally not been kind to those of a certain age.   Ritch has helped many