By Peter Lindblad
Nobody even knew what a “booty call” was before Bill Bellamy came along.
Well, that’s not exactly true. It was something people did, of course. They just didn’t have a name for a carnal, after-hours tryst set up via the phone – that is until Bellamy brought it to light on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. Maybe it’s a “booty text” now?
Suddenly, the charismatic, fun-loving Bellamy became a household name, not long after getting his start in stand-up comedy while still a student at Rutgers University. His first Showtime special, “Booty Call,” was a smash hit, with Bellamy then becoming a fixture on MTV and shows like “MTV Jams” and “MTV Beach House.” It seemed like Bellamy, that rascally charmer, was everywhere on the basic cable network.
Starring turns in movies like “Love Stinks,” “Any Given Sunday,” “How to be a Player” and “Love Jones” followed, along with fill-in hosting and co-hosting assignments on “The Rachael Ray Show,” “The Espy Awards” red carpet and “Access Hollywood Live” continued to raise his profile. And he spent two years as emcee for NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Remember the TV series “Hot in Cleveland?” He had a recurring role as Councilman Powell on the show.
More recently, he’s been seen repeatedly on HBO’s “Insecure,” having also joined radio’s “Tom Joyner Morning Show.” Headlining 2017’s “The Standing Ovation Tour,” which also features Sommore, Marc Curry, Tony Rock and Tommy Davidson, was another triumph.
With his magnetic personality and playful exuberance, the infectiously funny Bellamy is a smooth operator, owning the stage with his engaging delivery and mischievous facial expressions. Bellamy will play the main room of the Milwaukee Improv June 23-25. Check out his Facebook page for more laughs and updates at https://www.facebook.com/billbellamyvip or check him out on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BILLBELLAMY
Milwaukee Improv – Milwaukee
Felipe Esparza (June 16-18) – “What’s Up Fool?” It’s a question best answered by the one and only Felipe Esparza, as well as the name of his wildly popular podcast. Are you looking for a good time? Call the amiable Esparza, whose hilarious stories of smoking weed, violent gang life, drug use and addiction and insane immigration from Mexico to the United States could be made into a movie. What a long, strange trip it’s been for the 2010 winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” who’s has been rising through the ranks ever since, acting alongside Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy in the movie “You People” and appearing on TV shows such as “Superstore” and “The Eric Andre Show.” Visit https://felipesworld.com/?v=f24485ae434a for a wealth of great content. Here’s some of his stand-up work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAO9DtX-yvQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGooLR6kckY
The Laughing Tap – Milwaukee
KC Shornima (June 23-24) – Catch a rising star with the terrifically twisted Shornima, who’s parlayed her experience as a prized staff writer for Comedy Central’s “Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News” into a Weekend Update writing gig on “Saturday Night Live.” Sucker punching audiences with her deadpan dark humor and unapologetic debauchery, Shornima was a semifinalist for “Stand Up NBC” and has been named “Best Up-and-Coming Comedian in Nashville” by Nashville Scene Magazine. Oh, and she was once a teacher, unabashedly joking about smoking and drinking, sex, fighting with boyfriends and other unwholesome activities, as she does here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFf7WGdM2Y4. Visit her at https://www.kcshornima.com/.
Skyline Comedy Club – Appleton
Chad And JT (June 16-17) – Prankster bros Chad and JT are making city hall meetings fun again. Known for their fearlessly moronic, off-the-wall activism, which includes making an outrageous mockery of overly somber, joyless municipal proceedings, Chad Kroeger and JT Parr are pop culture vultures for positivity. They host the weekly podcast “Going Deep with Chad and JT” and dole out advice to callers. You might have seen or heard them on “Ellen,” “Hawaii Five-O” and “Howard Stern.” Look out for their Netflix series “Going Deep with Chad and JT.” See them set out to change the world in the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV5eLsh0DGc. Check out their website https://www.chadandjt.com/
Brittany Schmitt (June 23-24) – Some girls are sugar and spice and everything nice. Not Brittany Schmitt, a Wisconsin native – now living out in L.A. – who’s always as nasty as she wants to be. “From Ho to Housewife” is her very adult debut comedy special on 800 Pound Gorilla. In it, she outrageously transitions from uninhibited single lady to chaste married woman, while savagely riffing on bedroom shenanigans and drinking, DUIs and finding sobriety with unfiltered honesty. Drink it all in here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WQSisyi5Pk. And while you’re at it, stop by her website https://www.brittanyschmitt.com/