#ritchshydner

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part Deux

Ritch Shydner could come back every week and we’d never run out of things to discuss, it would always be entertaining, and he’d always be funny. Co-host! There are no accidents. Losing his signal last week on the road in Georgia was a blessing. We got a Shydner double dip.

This conversation with the standup comedian who holds the distinction of making a dozen appearances on Carson’s Tonight Show, as well as numerous appearances on Letterman and Leno, had fabulous stories about the former and the latter, Sam Kinison, their 80s NY road trip before Sam’s superstardom, and how their debauchery almost cost Ritch big time, Roseanne, who handed Ritch his segue from front of the camera to writer, Jeff Foxworthy, a natural after only a few weeks of standup, who created a new joke form, Bill Maher, and True Story, Mike Binder, and Miind of The Married Man, and Robert Klein who shared a most unlikely kinship… there were gems aplenty. 

But, it was Ritch’s poignant, heartfelt recounting of his parents’ 72-year marriage, his father’s drinking, his mother’s rolling pin, the silent years after graduating law school and choosing comedy, Ritch’s redemption, and then getting sober, making amends, his father following suit on both, and the shift in their relationship for the 36 years that followed until just last month when his dad was transitioning this earthly world. Moving, beyond words… and, funny!

I so enjoyed every word, every moment, with this self-aware, humble, wildly intelligent - emotionally as well as intellectually, ever-evolving, hysterically funny man. Do I need a reason to have a Part 3? 

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part Deux!

Wednesday, 9/4/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

Today LIVE! Ritch Shydner Part Deux! Last week was a first! On the road with Ronna and Ritchie as they traveled from Florida back home to North Carolina. Literally, in the car, in the fading light, in rural Georgia, with intermittent signal. It was as much a surprise to me as to you! Kinda like doing an interview in a disco with strobe lights. Trooper Ritch didn’t want to cancel even though he was in the midst of family tragedy, having very recently lost his dad, and was out of state with his mom to help. I knew all that, the driving adventure, not so much. Ritch was a scream even in the midst of that! 

We lost signal before we really got going... so we'll pick it up where we left off... about to hear a GREAT story about Johnny Carson. Ready! 

In the 80s, Ritch made numerous appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.  He also did an HBO half-hour special, One Night Stand.  He played Al Bundy’s co-worker on Married with Children and made guest appearances on many other TV shows, such as Designing Women and Roseanne.  

Ritch’s film career includes appearing in Roxanne, and Beverly Hills Cop II. He wrote for sitcoms such as Roseanne, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, and HBO’s The 

Mind of the Married Man and wrote material for Jeff Foxworthy’s Grammy-nominated comedy albums, Totally Committed, and Big Fun.

Ritch co-authored, I Killed, a book on stand-up, produced and performed in the award-winning documentary, I  Am Comic, wrote the movie adaptation for HBO of Bill Maher's book, True Story, and in 2017 his book, Kicking Through the Ashes - My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980's Comedy Boom, was published. 

We'll be catching up and getting into groovy stories with all of it. Can't wait! Ritch is always a great time, even when he's driving. I heard a rumor this time he’ll be snorkeling  

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part Deux!

Wednesday, 9/4/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on my Facebook

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Well, that was a first! On the road with Ronna and Ritch Shydner as they traveled from Florida back home to North Carolina. Literally, in the car, in the fading light, in rural Georgia, with intermittent signal. It was as much a surprise to me as to you! Kinda like doing an interview in a disco with strobe lights. Trooper Ritch didn’t want to cancel even though he was in the midst of family tragedy, having very recently lost his dad, and was out of state with his mom to help. I knew all that, the driving adventure, not so much. Please forgive the challenges and appreciate the funny that Ritch is even in the midst of this! 

We talked the swing states as they drove through one, the DNC, new hope, sugar addiction, intermittent dieting, the no-matter-what club for drinking and drugging that just doesn’t work with salt and sweets. Ritch’s very early standup days, whilst in law school, getting the degree but opting out, what joy for his parents! Trying LA, choosing NY, the crowd he came up with, the clubs he came up in, in the stand-up 80s heyday, meeting Carol, doing his first Carson, still high, hitting bottom, a Mark who saved him, and then we lost him, again literally, just when we were about to hear a GREAT story… so… there will be a Part 2, for sure! 

Safe travels, you two. Heartfelt condolences. Thanks for being willing. Next time Ritch will be sitting still in a well-lit room where we can see his whole handsome face. Sendng love. Apologies to all who hung in and those who din’t… we’ll make it up to you! 

Most remarkable… even with all of this- Ritch was still HYSTERICAL! 

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/28/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here: 

Today LIVE! I met comedian Ritch Shydner back in the day, I think. We were both married to comics and I was pretending to be one. Our lives have intersected in more recent, clearer times . Of this I’m certain. As I am that he is one smart, thoughtful, FUNNY human. 

In the 80s, Ritch made numerous appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.  He also did an HBO half-hour special, One Night Stand.  He played Al Bundy’s co-worker on Married with Children and made guest appearances on many other TV shows, such as Designing Women and Roseanne.  

Ritch’s film career includes appearing in Roxanne, and Beverly Hills Cop II. He wrote for sitcoms such as Roseanne, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, and HBO’s The Mind of the Married Man and wrote material for Jeff Foxworthy’s Grammy-nominated comedy albums, Totally Committed, and Big Fun.

Ritch co-authored, I Killed, a book on stand-up, produced and performed in the award-winning documentary, I  Am Comic, wrote the movie adaptation for HBO of Bill Maher's book, True Story, and in 2017 his book, Kicking Through the Ashes - My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980's Comedy Boom, was published.

When last we chatted during the height of the pandemic, Ritch was performing, America’s Reflection in the Funhouse Mirror, A History of Stand-up Comedy, and avoiding sugar. Can’t wait to see what he’s up to now!

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/28/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on my Facebook