Jimmy Pardo is widely known as one of the country’s top stand-up comics and as a pioneer in the field of podcasting. His show, Never Not Funny, debuted in April 2006 and is still going strong today. Not only did he help establish the medium as we know it today, but he helped ordinary folks who were starting to dabble in it and find success. “I would get so many people that would ask to come on Never Not Funny and promote their podcast,” he recalls. “I’d tell them, ‘If you had me on your podcast, it would be a better promotion. If I go on your show, people will follow it and see if they’re interested in it. It pays more dividends.’ I say that now,” he adds, “as I really don’t say ‘yes’ anymore.”
The show changed the trajectory of his career, leading to regular television appearances as well as making it possible to tour on his own terms. “The podcast still allows me to scratch the itch of comedy and be funny and creative with like-minded and funny people,” he says. “When I do get the chance to tour, I’ve chosen to do one show in a city per night, and I try to do it during the week.” That allows the club to book a headliner through the weekend. “I do one show on an off night, hopefully get a decent turnout, shake some hands afterwards, I get in my rental car, drive on to the next city, lather, rinse, repeat, and I’m home Saturday morning and get to spend the weekend with my wife.”
On stage, he’s never been sharper. “It’s looser than it’s ever been,” he says of his set. “You get very little material. It’s mostly stream of consciousness, talking about my day and doing crowd work, but in the right way, a clever way.” In other words, don’t expect garden-variety crowd work. “There are so many comics out there doing crowd work, lazily doing it for laughs, and it’s infuriating to guys like me that are good at it and made their living doing it and are known for it.”
“If you like Jimmy Pardo, you’re going to get Jimmy Pardo,” he assures. “And occasionally, I will end by asking if anybody has a story or bit they’d like to hear. If I can remember, it’s great, and if not, I’ll flub my way through, and that’s funny too.”
Jimmy Pardo is at Go Bananas on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. More info: gobananascomedy.com.