Chris D’elia’s new special, ‘Grow up or Die’, which is only available at ChrisDelia.com, is selling like COVID tests were the first week they came out. It’s really killing it. As hard as everybody in comedy and media have tried to cancel the guy, he still packs out theatres everywhere, his podcast is a major hit, and his fans adore him.

The best I can figure is that they’ve sifted through the evidence, and found him just as damned as he’s found himself. Just as liable as he’s admitted to having have been. In fact, just as culpable as any one of his accusers, which is guilty short of them going to the police and pressing charges which is what you would do when you felt someone had truly wronged you. When someone has done something horrid, something maybe immoral when they’ve done something that has ruined you, destroyed or crippled you, bankrupted you, he should be destroyed. Ruined. Cast aside forever into a life of disgrace and darkness, Yet, if you don’t file legal charges maybe it’s because you know the truth in your heart. If they do file charges, if somewhere up the road he’s found guilty in court then I assume things will be different. To this date that hasn’t happened.

Most of his fans I bet have read and seen all the tweets, articles, and You Tube documentaries and said, ‘Yeah, that was some seriously gross shit, he better grow the hell up, but I’m not gonna banish him, I like him. Until I hear where he did something more, maybe something heinous, maybe something even heinous adjacent, maybe if he has a trial and is found guilty, until then, I’m still going to see him as long as he makes me laugh.’ That’s what seems to be happening.

YOU GROW OR YOU DIE

If you watch Grow or Die, he’s the first in line to talk about how much he’s screwed up, how horribly he feels about everything. How hard it’s been to live with it. It’s not a downer though, it’s fun and it’s real, it’s emotional. Is it his funniest ever? Maybe not. It’s his best work in the sense that he’s facing up to being a human being. A flawed human being, imperfect as hell,  trying to figure out how to move on from here.  I will say it’s a tough thing to do in a special, a tough thing to hear. It is well done, directed by his brother, Matt D’elia. He’s in a safe place, so he goes out on the ice, I personally wish he went out a little further, but I appreciate his effort and what he’s going for.

‘LET’S START WITH THE MURDERERS’

I happen to think he messed up, but he also was a perfect example of unlucky timing, an example of how much society’s judgement right now, case by case on things,  is severely out of whack.  One funny routine, which he rolls out very light-heartedly,  exemplifies this succinctly when Netflix takes him off an episode of a show and leaves Caitlyn Jenner in it during the time frame when she kills someone in a car wreck. ‘If we’re gonna be canceling people, let’s start with the murderers.‘

A DESPERATE NEED TO BE FORGIVEN

Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t play the part of the victim. He accepts his guilt. Owns up to his mistakes,  un-peels his pain, and the pain he’s caused others. He’s looking for truth and some light, some growth, and laughs. Most of it works. As I said, I wish he’d burrowed in a little further, owned up to more, dealt with more, but I’m sure there are reasons he didn’t.  This is a special absolutely worth watching.  At the core it’s a reality check. Chris D’elia is a good guy. He did some stupid shit. But he didn’t rape, beat, destroy, steal or kill anyone. I think some of the most damage he did was to himself and his family. Sift through the stories. Most of these people knew what they were doing. They made mistakes themselves. They’re flawed as well. With that said they’re not bad people either. We’re all just doing our best.

I come at all this from a place of someone who’s made a lot of mistakes. I can never be too hard on anyone. I’ve messed up a lot. I know what it’s like to desperately need to be forgiven. If you’ve never spent any time on that side of town, you happen to be very blessed. You should thank God, and rub up close on the word ‘Yet.’

‘DON’T TELL ME WE’RE LETTING CHRIS D’ELIA BACK?’

Chris mentions during the special a recent article where the reporter voices something along the lines of ‘please don’t tell me we’re letting Chris D’elia back?’ It’s a common whinge I’ve heard since sometime around 2018 or so about one comic or another who was ‘Me-Too’d’  as if these guy should be set adrift for life.  God forbid artists that have never been charged, let alone convicted, of any crimes should be allowed to resume the work they’ve done for decades. No, they need to be shunned, or made pariah’s for the crime of wanting to  be loved, or get laid, which happens to be the reason that ninety-nine percent of people get into stand up comedy, either as artists, or as fans, to begin with. Yes, the other one percent want to build orphanages and establish world peace, I get it, but we all can’t be that perfect. The ones that are though, the Saints out there,  you would think would be vibrating at a level that would allow them to forgive all of us lowly sinners.

Go to CHRISDELIA.COM and get GROW OR DIE, or else you’re just really a messed up individual like the rest of us.

LOVE YOU!!!

https://www.chrisdelia.com/

 

 

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.  (AND GET THE FREE BOOK! THANKS!!)

STANDUPWORLD EP.48 BURT BINDER UP NOW. A Great talk with my son, the Writer and director of HALFWAY TO AMARILLO. OUT NOW ON @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/Y63fo6uezt

— Mike Binder (@MikeBinderjokes) November 20, 2023

As a film director and writer with a career spanning over fifteen studio and independent films, as well as numerous network and cable television shows, I’ve had my fair share of experiences in the world of filmmaking. Recently, I embarked on an exciting project, one that took me back to my original love for the art of filmmaking, one that brought me back to the very early days of my career when I was blessed to work with independent filmmakers like Bobby Newmeyer, Jeffrey Silver, and Caroline Baron at Outlaw Films, making films such as “Crossing the Bridge” and “Indian Summer,” with great actors like Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Diane Lane, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollack, Josh Charles, Steven Baldwin, Jason Gedrick, and David Schwimmer. We worked with visionary executives like the amazing Larry Estes at Columbia Tri-Star who allowed us to make our movies on a budget and never told us how to do it.

Halfway to Amarillo:

This newest journey was none other than producing the first film for my son, Burt. A comedy called “Halfway to Amarillo.” “Halfway to Amarillo” was a labor of love from the very start. My son, Burt Binder, and his cast and crew had a dream of creating a film that would capture audiences’ hearts and minds, and I couldn’t have been prouder to support them in their endeavor. The project began with a simple idea, an incredibly talented group, and a shared passion for storytelling.

The Challenge of a 10-Day Shoot:

One of the most remarkable aspects of “Halfway to Amarillo” was the ambitious schedule they set for themselves. They had just ten days, working ten-hour days, to bring the story to life. It was an intense and challenging experience that demanded meticulous preparation before the cameras even started rolling. Burt, his producer Ricky Cruz, Co-Producer Jake Ahles, his actors Peter Giles, Luke Jones, Lindsay G. Smith, Felicia Michaels, Frank Castillo, and their DP, Josh Smith, all spent four days rehearsing, honing their characters, and fine-tuning every scene. This level of preparation was evident in the seamless and dynamic performances captured on screen. It was also a key reason why they met each day’s shoot on time and with success. Preparation and rehearsal are everything. It’s about so much more than saving money. It’s about clarity, bonding, and illumination. Watching them all go through it again reminded me that these are essentially the most important concepts of independent filmmaking.

A Unique Comedy Concept:

“Halfway to Amarillo” is a fun comedy that explores the world of a writer with writer’s block, struggling to complete a western novel. What makes it special is the twist: his two lead characters from the novel come to life in modern-day Los Angeles and threaten to burn his life down if he doesn’t finish ‘their’ story. It’s a concept as humorous as it is inventive. Throughout the production, I was consistently impressed by all of them. The actors, the crew, and for sure my son, Burt, the writer, director, and one of the actors. They brought an unparalleled level of dedication, creativity, and professionalism to the set. They weren’t just actors and crew members; they were storytellers, fully committed to making Burt’s vision a reality.

Winner of several film festival awards:

“Halfway to Amarillo” went on to win Best Independent Film at the Los Angeles Film Festival and received the audience award at several other film festivals. These accolades were a testament to the dedication and talent of everyone involved. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and look forward to seeing the film released nationwide this month on Apple TV and other streaming outlets. It’s a testament to the power of chasing your dreams and the enduring magic of cinema, brought to life by an impressive team of young filmmakers who made it all possible.

And more importantly, it made me hungry to make another film. Tell another story with a new perspective.

What Hollywood could learn from the world of shoestring-budget filmmaking:

For so long, the phrase “low budget” brought to mind a single-digit number in the millions. An “independent movie” to me was simply something made outside of a traditional Hollywood studio. There were still trailers, still a full crew, and most importantly, still stars. This new world of independent filmmaking has shown me what is really important: a camera, decent sound equipment, and a great story. Looking back to the world I previously knew, I can’t help but see waste and unnecessary fluff. I’m not saying I don’t like having a trailer, but this experience opened my eyes to how much of a film’s budget never makes it on the screen. How much of it has nothing to do with what the audience actually sees? This experience changed my definition of what an “indie” actually is. Something truly made outside the traditional system. No big names, no fancy frills, just a good idea and a group of people who want to see it come to life. A true indie is rare, but it is still possible. It’s just a lot of work. Way more than you would think, but the rewards, beyond the business side, the personal rewards and satisfaction, can just be so wonderful.

I think I may have forgotten that.

 

Link: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/halfway-to-amarillo/umc.cmc.5e58i56q2prhh9j1fdje58p6u

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.  (AND GET THE FREE BOOK! THANKS!!)

 

John Heffron is Michigan born and bred. You listen to ten minutes of his new special ‘Sunday Night in DC’ or any of his CD’s including, ‘Kid with a Cape’ ‘Good Kid, Bad Adult, ‘The Better Half’ or his DVD ‘Middle Class funny and the guy from the mitten state shines through along with his unique personality. Funny, friendly, gentle, and warm, if not maybe a bit confused, befuddled, and bewildered by life.

It’s strong stuff in the vein of Nate Bargatze, and Greg Warren. A younger version of Tim Allen. His newest special is ‘Sunday Night in DC’ which I thought was really funny, and very spontaneous. Truly a comedy club set. It’s on 800 pound Gorilla, a You Tube channel that puts out some of the best new stuff lately. He’s in good company there.

Heffron’s early career in comedy began during his time at the Eastern university of Michigan, and then in Ann Arbor at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, also in Detroit at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle. His ability to connect with young audiences and make them laugh earned him a reputation as one of the funniest comedians on the club and the college circuit.

After gaining popularity on the college circuit, John took his stand up career to the next level by performing on NBC’s Last Comic Standing eventually winning the second season of the show. His victory on Last Comic Standing launched him into the national spotlight and opened up a lot of new opportunities.

Touring and Performances

John has performed at comedy clubs and theaters across the United States. His relatable comedy style and ability to connect with people from all walks of life have made him a favorite for corporate events and fundraisers. He’s headlined shows and engagements with Fortune 50 companies and is always booked somewhere. It’s pretty great. He’s carved out quite a niche for himself, and he’s just getting better and better.

What I love though is that as a Midwest stand-up comedian, John has a unique ability to really capture the spirit of the region through his comedy. As I said, like a young Tim Allen, John’s ability to find humor in everyday situations and his knack for storytelling have helped solidify his reputation as one of the funniest and most relatable comedians in the industry.

STANDUPWORLD PODCAST

He’s on Episode #45 of the podcast this week. Up now. On Standupworld.com, X, here on the Substack and Apple and all over the place. Enjoy!

New Episode of STANDUPWORLD W/ @JohnHeffron Enjoy! He's the real deal. And, if you're in Detroit this weekend he's at @thecomedycastle pic.twitter.com/q9aqtMgpaF

— Mike Binder (@MikeBinderjokes) November 2, 2023

Also, visit John’s website to find out about his dates and his comings and going and such!

http://www.johnheffron.com/