Courtesy of Eddie Della Siepe

There’s something about Eddie Della Siepe that seems different these days. Following his path as a stand-up comedian, we’ve watched him grow from a Yuk Yuk’s Amateur Night teen to Much Music‘s Video on Trial host, and now, to headlining specials on Comedy Now. He’s maturing; growing into his act and enticing his audience with a humble and playful approach.

So why is it that we can’t seem to get enough Edmundo? How has he managed to captivate us with his charming smile and self-deprecating humour all these years? I decided to ask him myself:

Pony: What do you think is the secret to success in this cut-throat industry?

Eddie: The secret in my opinion is to find out what you’re good at and have a knack for it, whether it be stand-up, improv, writing etc. and really put your all into it. The doors will start to open.

Pony: Has your taste in humour changed over the years? Does it affect your performance?

Eddie: In the beginning I was dirty and trying to be “edgy”, but now I try to be more accessible. As I get older, I find my taste is more about being clever and silly.

Pony: So, Comedy Now! This must be a big moment for you – how did you go about the show?

Eddie: This is my first ever comedy special and I actually approached it like it was just a regular show in a great venue with an amped up audience. I had a lot of fans there so I just relaxed and had a great time. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever done.

Pony: How did it compare to live shows such as Yuk Yuks?

Eddie: I guess the idea of your own special can be quite daunting for some people. Four huge cameras, a lit audience and of course the pressure of it being on television can weigh on you. Luckily for me, being on Video on Trial so much has made me comfortable in front of the cameras.

Pony: How did it go, overall? What are we in store for?

Eddie: Be prepared for observational humor mixed in with quirky and silly twists and concepts. I don’t ever cross the line but on occasion I may come close. All in all I think people will like it.

Pony: Are there certain jokes they forbid you to make on the show? What are the guidelines they give you beforehand?

Eddie: I think if you’re talking about really touchy subjects like abortion or rape, chances are it won’t get on the show. We have the freedom to swear on Canadian television so the people from The Comedy Network feel swearing is okay as long as it’s for comedic affect and not sprinkled casually throughout your set. Other than that anything goes!

Courtesy of Eddie Della Siepe

Pony: Does your mind ever go blank on stage? What do you do when you get nervous?

Eddie: I’m fortunate to be quick on my feet and I don’t usually draw a blank on stage. If I get nervous before a show, I usually just give myself a pep talk, breathe, and just walk on stage.

Pony: What’s next for you? You’ve rocked all the comedy networks and venues in Toronto. Where do you go from here?

Eddie: I’ll keep working on my craft. Stand-up is like a golf swing, you never master it but you keep working on it. I’ll be shooting more episodes of Video On Trial for Much Music and I’ll be making more moves towards establishing myself in the  U.S market.

Pony: What is the best or worst advice someone has ever given you in the industry?

Eddie: I haven’t gotten a lot of bad advice in the business.  If I have a gut feeling it’s not good advice, I don’t take it in. The best advice I’ve gotten was by a comedian named Mike Wilmot, “make the women laugh, and then everybody laughs.”

*Watch Eddie’s Comedy Now special at 10:00 pm, August 20th on CTV!*

– Emma Farquharson.

Courtesy of Google Images

You’ve seen him on Love Court, Video on Trial, and headlining Yuk Yuks Comedy Club – but he’s always kept his love life on the down low. Today, our good friend Eddie Della Siepe (interview here) talks to Watch Mojo about dating, love, and his alter ego: Edmundo.

– Emma Farquharson

Courtesy of Claire Brosseau

It’s been just over two months, and Claire Brosseau is already feeling the pangs of loneliness. A once boy-crazy comedian getting high off the thrill of dating has chosen to undergo a man-cleanse for 365 days (rules including no sex, no kissing, no flirting, no dates, etc.). Why the hell is she putting herself through this? We had to ask her ourselves.

Pony: What made you decide to start this challenge?

Claire: I’d been looking for a writing project for a long time, and I needed something to motivate me everyday. I’m 33, I feel like my career should be at a certain point by now – and it isn’t, I think, because of so much time focused on men. There are other things that are of more importance to me right now that need my undivided attention.

Pony: Do you think it’s harder at 33 to do this? As opposed to early 20′s?

Claire: In my 20′s I was certainly more boy-crazy, so I think I would have found it harder to ground myself. But now it’s more of a biological issue; I’d really like to have a baby. That’s the risk I’m willing to take in doing this.

Pony: What happens if you were to meet Mr. Right while on this challenge?

Claire: I do have this on-going crush that’s been reappearing on the blog, and he has no idea who he is; he’s exactly the ideal guy I’ve always gone for. But my dream boy never makes a good relationship. And that’s what I’m hoping to change in doing this – my perception on who Mr. Right is. He’s a comedian you see, they’re twisted individuals.

Courtesy of Claire Brosseau

Pony: It’s Eddie Della Siepe, isn’t it? How do you differentiate yourself from the women out there who are in this position unwillingly? Stuck in single-hood?

Claire: I’m a comedian, I’m used to being surrounded by men constantly. Shows, events, after-parties, everything. It’s so easy to get hookups out of that. We all understand each other, we have the same goals, the same dreams. It makes it that much easier to… well I wouldn’t say “date” per-say but definitely bone! It’s not hard to get a guy to sleep with you, but getting one to fall in love with you? That’s another story.

Pony: So this mysterious comedian-crush, what if the opposite were to come along and sweep you off your feet?

Claire: I guess we’ll see what happens. I don’t expect it to happen but if it does, he’s going to have to wait ten months. It’s just not an option for me right now. My tastes unfortunately haven’t changed, and I need to learn how to make myself happy before I contemplate who is right for me.

Pony: Speaking of making yourself happy, are you allowed to masterbate?

Claire: Yes. But it’ll never replace that feeling of being with someone else. Before this cleanse happened, I went through a nasty break-up, slept with a few comics, and was a bit of a mess. I hit sexual rock-bottom you could say. It’s like sleeping with a colleague, you see each other at the same clubs, the same shows, it gets really messy – but at the same time we all understand each other and aren’t intimidated by the idea that we might wind up as their material at some point.

Pony: Uh, ya that’s terrifying!

Claire: Well it’s always in good taste, I would never get up there and be like “I fucked Eddie Della Siepe last night” haha. But anyways, I guess the point in all this is to find out who I am as an individual. Deep down, I’ve known for a while who the right kind of guy is for me, but it’s how I’ve acted on it that needs to change. That’s what needs work right now.

Check in on Claire’s Manbbatical for daily updates on her life without men.

–Emma Farquharson

Courtesy of Eddie Della Siepe

From tonight through to Sunday, stop by Yuk Yuks comedy club to check out Much Music stars Eddie Della Siepe and Darrin Rose‘s standup show: Jury Duty 2. All nepotism aside, we’ve checked out these boys’ regular routines – and just about fell off our high horse laughing. We’ll be there tonight, so grab yourself a ticket and join us (or read our interview with Eddie himself, here).

–The Cowgirls.