Funny In Failure Michael Kahan

Taylor Gray is an actor & writer. You might recognize him as Jedi Ezra Bridger from the incredibly popular Disney animated series STAR WARS: REBELS. He is starring in Sony Pictures’ film SNL 1975, playing the role of Al Franken alongside Willem Dafoe, Dylan O'Brien and J.K. Simmons. The film is being directed by Jason Reitman and is based on real-life behind- the-scenes accounts of the opening night of Saturday Night Live.
Taylor recently wrapped the indie film, ANY DAY NOW, written and directed by Eric Aronson. He stars as the lead of the upcoming film, HIGH EXPECTATIONS, opposite Kelsey Grammer. Prior to that, Taylor starred in the series, IN THE VAULT, and recurred on Jenji Kohan’s comedy, AMERICAN PRINCESS. He also starred opposite Amber Midthunder in Steve Pink's 2021 Tiff selection, THE WHEEL and received his MA from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
We chat about being a jedi, working with Kevin Durant, why he travels so much, filling his cup, acting in his teens, exploration of the journey, Dave Filoni & Star Wars, mindset shifts, being an artist, writing and asking deep hard questions.

The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Taylor out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorgray3

Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eltigrerabioso/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/iamtaylorgray

Brent Forrester is an award-winning writer, producer and director, who has written for 6 Emmy Award-winning television comedies. He’s written on some of the biggest sitcoms ever such as the Office, The Simpsons, The Ben Stiller Show, Space Force, King of the Hill, Love, and Super Fun Night.
Brent won his first Comedy Writing Emmy at age 25 for his work on "The Ben Stiller Show."  He went on to write for "The Simpsons," helped launch "King of The Hill," and was a writer, producer and director at NBC's "The Office" for seven seasons where he later became the co showrunner/ co head writer.  He's also written for "Late Night with Conan," "Mr. Show with Bob and Dave," and "The Larry Sanders Show,". He has also worked as a Head Writer on Netflix shows like Judd Apatow's "Love" and Steve Carrell's "Space Force," along with Amazon shows like Greg Daniel's "Upload" and "People of Earth." 
Brent has a new writing course which is now out! (Link below). It doesn’t matter if you missed the first one, you can still join and catch up on previous weeks.
Here’s the blurb for the course- “This is the latest and greatest version of my FIVE WEEK class:  five 90-minute webinars, Sundays at 2pm PST.  If you can’t be there live, don't worry, there’s a link to watch later.  In Class One I encourage everyone to take THE PLEDGE: "I will finish a draft of my script!"  Over the following weeks, I lead you through my own 6-part writing process, which I developed over 30 seasons in writers rooms, sharing all my most valuable writing secrets, in the most entertaining way I can. We analyze scenes together, I bring you on screen to discuss your work, and do everything I can to motivate your writing process!”  
We chat about his drive to improve and move forward, writing, The Office, The Simpsons, being fired, his mentor Susan Harris, “not having talent”, rejection, writers room approach, his new epic course (which is now out) plus plenty more!

The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Brent out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrestercomedycourse/

Course/ website: https://www.brentforrester.com/webinar

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentforrestercomedy

Monty Franklin is an Australian born stand-up comedian, actor, writer & director now based in LA.
He tours all over the world headlining some of the biggest comedy clubs and also opens for Rob Schneider, Joe Rogan and Jim Breuer.
In the acting space, Monty has appeared on 'Real Rob' on NETFLIX, season 1&2, had roles on 'New Girl', 'Becoming Bond'  and is the creator and star of 'The Manny' - TV Pilot.
Monty’s numerous television stand-up performances include AXS TV's Live At Gotham, Channel 10s The Circle, Foxtel’s Stand Up Australia, and as part of The Comedy Channel’s special – The Best Of Stand Up and Comedy Gold. Performing sold out shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with his shows The Full Monty and Monty McFly. He has also performed at the Carols By Candlelight in Australia to a crowd of 15,000 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Monty has produced, written and starred in two TV Pilots of sketch-comedy show No Monkeys on Bikes for Channel 7, co-hosted a weekly radio show on Fox FM and produced a number of short films featured in festivals around the world. He was the host of the pilot Tv Show 'Australia UpLate' and filmed a forth pilot with Channel 7 for a comedy travel show.
Monty is now based in Los Angeles where he performs all over the country, headlining some of the most sort after comedy clubs in the world including The Improv Comedy Clubs, The Laugh Factory and Monty's name was recently added to the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, the first Australian on the wall, a great honor.
In 2020 Monty raised $280,00Aud for the Wildlife Warriors Foundation putting a stand up show on at Novo Theatre in LA with Joe Rogan, Jim Jefferies and Whitney Cummings.
He is also in post-production on his film ‘Great Emu War’ which he wrote, starred and directed in.
He will be back in November for a number of shows across Australia, so check them out!
We chat about his 20 year mindset, rejection, Performing stand up when someone has been stabbed, leaving Aus and starting again in LA, his beautiful analogy about running, the importance of time, positive mentorship Rob Schneider, checking your ego, his new movie plus plenty more!


The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Monty out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montyfranklin
Website & AUS tour dates: https://www.montyfranklin.com/gigs-1

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@montyfranklinofficial
X / Twitter: https://x.com/montyfranklin?lang=en

Phil LaMarr is an actor, improviser and writer and is perhaps best known as one of the original cast members of MAD TV, the voice of SAMURAI JACK, “Hermes” on FUTURAMA, “Static” on STATIC SHOCK, “Green Lantern” on JUSTICE LEAGUE and as "Marvin" in PULP FICTION.
For over 30 years, Phil has thrilled audiences with his work on camera and behind the mic on tv shows such as Family Guy, Young Justice, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Flash, Supergirl, Get Shorty, Lucifer, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep; feature films like Madagascar 2, Incredibles 2, and The Lion King (2019) and video games including Jak & Daxter, Fortnite, Shadow of Mordor, and The Metal Gear Solid, Injustice and Mortal Kombat series.
His stage work includes productions with the actor’s gang, south coast repertory, sacred fools theatre, and Phil also portrayed “Cowboy Curtis” in "The Pee-wee Herman show" both on at the Stephen Sondheim theatre on Broadway and in the Emmy-nominated HBO special. Currently, in addition to writing and producing the animated series "Goblins," (goblinsanimated.com), Phil is performing monthly onstage with "the black version" (theblackversion.com), performing onscreen in Hamster & Gretel, The Craig of the Creek Movie, Invincible, Mulligan, AMC’s Cooper‘s bar, a new season of Futurama on HULU and performing the role of “Sherlock Holmes” in Audible’s series Moriarty.
We chat about the courage to walk ones path, old school thinking, Futurama, Mad TV, Improv, his many voices, when shows come back, gratitude towards the fans, rejection, value of your art, Pulp Fiction and paving the way.


The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Phil out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillamarr

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phillamarr

X / Twitter: https://x.com/phillamarr

Cameo: https://www.cameo.com/phillamarr

Website: https://www.phillamarr.com/

The Black Version: https://www.theblackversion.com/

Martin Urbano is comedian, actor, writer and quiz master.
As a standup, he has been seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Comedy Central's Featured, the CW's Howie Mandel Gala, and Chris Gethard Presents and Late Night With Seth Meyers. He has also performed at Just For Laughs (New Faces), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (where he was nominated for Best Newcomer), and even in international waters on the Impractical Jokers Cruise and The Friendship Cruise, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and the Boston Calling Music Festival.
Martin has written for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Chris Gethard Show, Danny Brown’s show on Viceland and National Lampoon’s Radio Hour. He also has hosted such projects as “Comedy Amateurclass” for Chris Gethard Presents, and his own brands of game shows, “Who Wants $2.69?” and “Why Would You Ask Me That?” He also played a featured role in This Fool on Hulu as the other Julio.
His show “Apology Comeback Tour,” where he somehow manages to cancel and redeem himself onstage within the same hour of jokes.
We chat about mindset shifts, crazy story of how he got on Jimmy Fallon, highs and lows of Edinburgh, standup, Who wants $2.69?, rising above the lows, agents that ghost, fear, collaboration and letting go of material.



The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Martin out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinurbanojr/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@martinurbanojr

X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinurbano

Ivan Decker is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer known for his sharp, polished, and multi-layered observational comedy. He is originally from Vancouver but is now based in Los Angeles.
His first comedy special, “Underwater Scissors,” is a part of the “Comedians of the World” collection on Netflix. Ivan has had numerous television performances filmed at the Just for Laughs Montreal festival, the Winnipeg and Halifax Comedy festivals for CBC Television, and can be heard across North America on Sirius XM radio. Ivan can also be seen and heard on the popular CBC radio program “The Debaters." In 2017, Ivan was named a “Comic To Watch” by TBS at the New York Comedy Festival, and subsequently made his U.S. television debut on “Conan.” Ivan’s debut comedy album "I Wanted to be a Dinosaur" was the recipient of the 2018 JUNO award for “Comedy Album of the Year” which can be heard on all major streaming platforms, including iTunes.
His new comedy special, “Popcorn!” is available on YouTube now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsF_7e6rukY&t=1s
Ivan shares his hilarious and very personal experiences about being married and a first-time father while trying to balance touring around the world.  His material is relatable and filled with stories we can all identify with and can laugh at ourselves about -- especially his passion for ‘popcorn’ and how to make it ‘last in your mouth to postpone it’s delicious good feeling for later on – he swears popcorn gives you a ‘rush of serotonin and dopamine that is better than any drugs’ hence, the ultimate inspiration for title of his upcoming special. 
We chat about being on a Jet, “fitting in”, imposter syndrome, his latest comedy special, discomfort, clowning, moving above quitting and always wanting to get better.


The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan

Check Ivan out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivanwdecker/

Standup Special (Popcorn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsF_7e6rukY&t=1s

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivanwdecker?lang=en

X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivandecker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivandeckercomedian/

Spotfy: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0B07Djm1S0HJ2LSJwWhh0V?si=7gD8GkDESvej70ZcvHM3XQ&nd=1&dlsi=cc9cee8f3f4d4fc2

Website: https://ivan-decker.squarespace.com/