Questions and Answers with Haily Boyle

Hailey Boyle has been a rising star on the New York comedy circuit since her transplant from Fairbanks Alaska to Manhattan in 2004. She is a regular at Caroline’s on Broadway, and tours clubs and colleges all over the country. Hailey has been featured in The New York Daily News and The Fairbanks News Miner, and last year Hailey was named one of New York’s Top Ten Funniest at The New York Comedy Festival. Most recently Hailey had a very successful run of shows at the 2010 Magners Glasgow Comedy Festival in Scotland. Hailey has also been privileged enough to host her own show on Latinolaughter.com, be featured in videos on Superdeluxe.com, and Funnyordie.com, as well as several guest appearances on Sirius Satellite Radio including Opie &Anthony, Jackie's Joke Hunt, and Breuer Unleashed. Her first national commercial campaign for Kimberly Clark ran for two years alongside her guest appearances on Fast Money, and Fox News

What/who inspired you to do what you do?

A friend of mine Shannon decided for me...she signed me up and within two days I'm learning how to become a comic.

How long has your career lasted?

Five years.

Where have you traveled with your talents, what's your next destination?

I've been to New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Alaska, my next destination is somewhere in Long Island where it'll be a steak/cigar, all men's dinner...that should be very interesting.

Where is your favorite spot to perform and why?
My favorite spot to perform,,um...probably Caroline's...there's a lot of prestige that goes along with that. I like climbing down the big staircase when I get there.


Who is your favorite obscure artist/comic/performer to work with? Famous?
Ummm...let's see...as far as obscure I'd probably go with Graham cuz he's not that well known YET and I love watching him...he's really good. I guess for someone famous, I'd probably say Judith Freelander. His style is ridiculous but he never ever acknowledges it's ridiculous and I love that.


What are some perks? What are some peeves? Perks...definitely you never have to pay for your food or drink, you get to travel and you get away with cursing at family gatherings. Peeves...people are always trying to give me jokes...and they try to be funny around you and they're not. And then people ask stupid questions a lot of the time, 'Do you write your own material?' It's like, 'No, I have a team of writers in my closet writing all my jokes for me!'

What's it like being 'on the road'?
Tiring...it's weird to check into a hotel, go to work, check out of a hotel...but it is nice to be out of the city.


Does being a comic heighten or hinder your chances of having a meaningful relationship?
Hinder...definitely hinder (laughing)...ah, as a woman it's difficult because dudes are way more possessive, especially if you're working with well-known comics. I do have some insulting men jokes out of fairness which some guys might not like.

Ever had a heckler? If so, how did you handle it? Oh I had a million hecklers...I actually love hecklers. I let them make a jerk of themselves and then I react...I love when the crowd turns on a heckler.


Ever been on TV? Radio? Yeah, been on Todd and Tyler, Opie and Anthony, Breuer Unleashed and I had my own Internet radio show for a while called The Hotness and I was on Comical Radio.


What was it like being on Opie and Anthony? It was hideous. I didn't know them and I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I hated it...the other ones were all awesome experiences.


Are you consistent with your material or do you like to change it constantly, what are the ingredients? I have my favorites but I'm always adding new material. My comedy is 97% based on my life experiences so I'm always adding something new.


Where do you see yourself in five years from now? On television...I fully intend to have my own sitcom and after that I will be a movie star.


Who is the closest well known comic you aspire to be? Eddie Murphy...I want to be a kick ass comic and then become a movie star...or, um, Steve Martin...all dudes mind you...

Michael Buckley

Michael Buckley is a New York based actor, writer and comedian. In addition to his work with The Roast Guys, Michael performs in comedy clubs throughout the Northeast. Michael just finished a successful run of NEMESIS, which he wrote and starred in at Theatre 54 in NYC. Other New York acting credits include Bloody Lies at the Midtown Inernational Theater Festival, Fat Suit (which he co-wrote with Jay Casale) at the Sage Theater, David and Goliath at Merkin Hall, Treaty 321! at the Lucille Lortell and Gangstapella at the 78th Street Theater Lab. National Tours: Grease starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and South Pacific. On television Michael has a recurring role as the arrogant but lovable Harley on the popular PBS show, Cyberchase and appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman as a member of the world famous (fictional)singing group Perfect Pitch. He studies acting with Robert McCaskill. Film work includes roles in Gypsy 83 starring Sara Rue, Mona, sexpotjesus and the forthcoming film Heterosexuals starring Natasha Lyonne.

What/who inspired you to do what you do?

I'm not really a big fan of having a real job..I've never had a real job. My brother is an accountant, I'd kill myself if I had to do that. I was always the fat kid no one picked in gym class.

You're lying!

No, I'm serious, it's just something I've always been good at.

How long has your career lasted?

I've actually been a working actor for eight years and I only started to do comedy for a year. Because of my experience as a writer and an actor I think it hasn't taken me as long to catch up whereas a regular comic would take years to get good.

Where have you traveled with your talents, what's your next destination? If you could choose your next destination?

I've been all over the country and Canada. I'm lucky. I'd love to book a gig in the Bahamas, that would be pretty sweet.

Where is your favorite spot to perform and why?

Um...probably at my family dinner table.

Who is your favorite obscure artist/comic/performer to work with? Famous?

I'm not at the point of my career where I've met too many famous people. The most famous person I've worked with is Shirley from Laverne and Shirley...I'd love to do a movie with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, or do comedy with Lois CK,,,he's an amazing comic.

What's it like being 'on the road'?

I've done out of town gigs with comics. I've done three national tours as an actor. My first professional tour was Greece..we did that all over.

What character were you?

Danny.

Does being a comic heighten or hinder your chances of having a meaningful relationship?

(laughing) I wouldn't say...well, define meaningful. I've certainly had a lot of meaningful relationships that lasted one night through comedy. In all seriousness, I don't think it would effect if I was in a serious relationship. Whoever I'm with will probably become part of my act,,nothing is off the table. If she's okay with that then it's all good.

Ever had a heckler? If so, how did you handle it?

Ah, yeah. It happens a lot. You're the one with the mic in your hand, you've got to have the last word. I grew up Irish Catholic,,,there's nothing a heckler can say/do that could damage me more then what I got growing up at the dinner table.

Ever been on TV? Radio? Describe one or both.

I have a reoccurring role on PBS called Cyber Chase...it's a kid show. The first twenty minutes are animated, I play a real person and I'm the main characters' jerk cousin. Every episode teaches math and my character always gets what he's got coming to him because in addition to being a terrible human being he's also awful at math.

Are you consistent with your material or do you like to change it constantly, what are the ingredients?

Always changing it and always trying to find a better, more efficient, fewer words to say the same thing. I'm always messing around in my notebooks, always.

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

Oh, god, ah, I will rule the world...I don't know. If I'm still making a living in entertainment, I'll be happy. I don't need to be Tom Cruise but that would be nice.

Check Micheal out in person. He gigs everyweek @ Comedy clubs such as Charlie O's and Joe Franklin's in NYC!!