The Convoluted Complexities Of Comedy

The Bob And Tom All Stars Is Rolling Through

The Bob and Tom Show (created by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold) began as a small morning show at an Indianapolis radio station (WFBQ) in 1983 and has ridden the radio waves to become a nationally syndicated radio empire as well as an international phenomenon. Through their use of musically driven parodies, skits, charismatic characters and comedic guests, The Bob and Tom Show has broken into other realms of entertainment, spawning a slew of comedy CDs, DVDs, a television show on WGN and a full on comedy tour featuring not only the comedians that are featured guests on the radio program, but also the day to day on-air talent from the show.
On November 21st, the Victoria Theatre will host the Bob and Tom Canadian Mist Comedy All Stars Tour for two shows. The line up includes Caroline Rhea, Costaki Economopoulos, Tammy Pescatelli, Greg Morton and Donnie Baker, with Kristi Lee acting as emcee. The really unique thing about the Bob and Tom tours is that every performer is a headliner, making this not only an incredible bounty for the fans, but it also acts as an almost rolling reunion for the comedians. Speaking with Costaki Economopoulos recently, we touched on this topic briefly.

“The other bonus to it is getting to hang out with a bunch of good comics who are all headliners, you know, guys you don't see much anymore, so it's actually really fun.” Economopoulos said that being a headliner posed a problem with his girlfriend (and baby's mama) Caroline Rhea as well. “Same problem: we're both headliners, so in order to work together, we've kind of got to arrange something special. But she's totally in love with motherhood, so she doesn't want to leave very often right now.


Economopoulos is a topical comedian whose Economonologues, which are a featured segment on the Bob and Tom Show, would make him a household name...if anybody could actually pronounce his name. Economopoulos and Caroline Rhea (who should be referred to by their couple's uni-name Costakiline or Carolaki from now on) have a thirteen month old baby girl together named Ava. I asked him if, when they were actually able to co-headline together, if they bounced ideas off of each other or stole each others material.

“For the most part, we have very different styles. She's very, sort of improv and in the moment and she talks about herself and her world, where as I'm a little more of a writer guy and observational. We're kind of different styles, so we don't have that much crossover.” Showing that this is a healthy relationship, Economopoulos related how well they work together as a couple. “As she says, I give the man's perspective and she tells the truth. Recently, we did my old home club, the Atalanta Punchline, and I did about a half an hour and she did about fifty/fifty-five (minutes), so I try to get in as much of my story as I can before she gets on and starts talking about me. A friend of mine came to the show and afterward, he was like, ' That was like couple's therapy!'”

Kristi Lee, the Bob and Tom Show's news director since 1989, will be acting as the comedy tour's emcee. During a recent phone conversation, she related her personal perceptions of Carolaki.


“He's very topical. He's very politically motivated and a thinking man's comic. I like that a lot.” Referring to Rhea, Lee said, “I've never had the pleasure of witnessing her work live and I am very excited about seeing Caroline. She is so talented and so funny.”

Donnie Baker, a long time call-in contributor to the Bob and Tom Show also had some thoughts concerning Economopoulos.

“Yeah! He's a nerd.” Donnie succinctly stated. “He's one of them guys that, you know, worries about his hair being combed or whatever.” Bringing the conversation back to himself, a trait he excels at, Baker went on to say that, “I don't worry about that. I've got bangs and wear my cap backwards...I have to wear my cap backwards. If I move my cap forward, I tip over. I'm already front heavy below the belt.”

The mullet maned malcontent known only as Donnie Baker is a boisterous braggart, a trailer park paladin who is an expert on everything, especially things of which he knows nothing about. His past times include regaling strangers with his tales of back seat conquests with tattooed strippers, studying the laws of the state and trying in vain to sell his boat. Speaking briefly about his imminent trip to our fair city, Baker said:

“I might just have to get into town early to post as many boat fliers as possible, because we're only in the city for twenty-four hours and by the time I get the fliers posted, we're going to leave town and my pager only gets forty-three miles of coverage.”

Baker, a resident of Indianapolis, detailed one of the other tasks he must attend to when he hits town...

“Normally, a lot of times, I have to check in with local law enforcement to make sure that I don't violate any probation. I've only got three misdemeanors, but two of them are felonies.” He also has to inform law officials about his presence for other reasons. “My hands are registered downtown as lethal weapons. I can't even flip people off without going to jail because, technically, the state says that it's a threat. So, basically, I have to make sure that what I do with my hands, given the fact that I've been trained at the School of the Dragon through Discount Karate for four years. I mean, I probably know more about the pressure points than anybody I know of. I can put one finger on their neck and bruise their corroded artery, pump 'em back to life and then sue their ass for basically getting in my face.”

Another comedienne on the bill is the vivaciously beautiful Tammy Pescatelli, a native of an Italian neighborhood in Cleveland who is newly married and recently became a mother as well.

“I've worked with her quite a bit. She's a good friend and very funny.” said Kristi Lee, describing Pescatelli. “Her whole act has changed since she became a mom. She has a whole different perspective on life now that she's a wife and mother, rather than the single gal who was never going to get married...which I find very funny. Tammy's always been very pretty, very funny and you won't be disappointed in seeing Tammy onstage.”

Baker, unable to censor himself, also had some thoughts concerning Pescatelli or, more to the point, specific parts of Pescatelli.

“She's going to have back pain when she get's older.” said Baker before going on to eloquently describe Pescatelli's assets. “She's got more cleavage than a butt crack on a midget plumber.”

Another comedian on the roster is Greg Morton, a veteran of stand-up with a uniquely animated stage presence who is probably best know for his two minute rendition of Star Wars, replete with lasers, light sabers and Chewbacca's wookie wail.

“Greg Morton has...talk about visual! There's a guy you don't get unless you see him live. He is amazing! His act is very visual and his closer is a must see. You don't want to miss it.” Lee ends by teasingly alluding that, “Let me just say that there are costumes involved.”

The interviews then took an unexpected National Enquirer-esque turn when Donnie Baker dropped a little personal bombshell pertaining to he and Kristi Lee's long nights on the road.

“Well, you knew that was bound to happen. I mean, basically Kristi...she's a sucker for anyone who's in a band and I've been in more bands than anyone I know. She's moved up from bass players to lead singers, though. She knew I was a lead singer because I had sweat bands on.” Baker then intimated that there might be a bouncing baby Baker on the way. “The fact remains that we may have an announcement soon, but let's just say that I can't prove it because I never peed on a stick, but there should be a pregnancy test soon.”

When I related to Kristi Lee that I had interviewed Donnie Baker just a few hours before, she seemed nonplussed, with just a touch of disgust creeping into her voice.

“Ugh! How did that go?” Her temperament changed instantly the moment I recounted to her Baker's potential illusionary allusions. “Oh! He is such a lair! I wouldn't go near him with a ten foot pole and he knows it. Yuck! Traveling with him is bad enough. I can't imagine doing more than that. First of all, that 'pork-a-saurus' is a bunch of crap. He's probably more like a cocktail weenie...I would guess.”

Doth the lady protest too much? After she calmed down a little, Lee did have to concede that;

“If you haven't seen Donnie Baker, tell your readers that they've got to come out because you can't appreciate Donnie for what he does...well...I don't know exactly what it is that he does.”

Donnie Baker's debauched demeanor seemingly knows no bounds as he casts a roving eye on sweet Caroline Rhea. Could this be a wedge that would separate the Costakiline?

“Oh, I probably think that if she took a glance at my pants, that's probably a likelihood anyway.” Baker boastfully prognosticated.

I felt that Costaki should be informed immediately, but my warning fell on deaf ears.
“(Laughing) That's funny!” Economopoulos blithely dismissed. “Now, I'd be more worried about the Pork Pistols (Donnie's band). They are really live, hard core, drinking, nutty characters. But Donnie...nah.”

I was supposed to interview Caroline, but Economopoulos informed me that she was unavailable.

“She's not home. I'm actually waiting for a call from her.” Economopoulos said, a note of concern creeping into his voice. “I'm not exactly sure what she's doing. She was supposed to come back tonight.”

Well, let's hope that Caroline Rhea was in fact visiting her mother in Canada, as she said, and not checking out a boat in Indianapolis. Let's hope, for the sake of poor, naïve Economopoulos' well being, let's hope.

The Canadian Mist Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars will be pulling into the Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main St., on November 21st for two shows, one at 7:00pm and the other at 10:00pm. Tickets are $36.50 for all seats and all times. To order tickets, you can go online at http://www.ticketcenterstage.com/ or by calling (937) 228-3630.

(This article appeared in the Dayton City Paper on November 18th, 2009. This is the article as I originally wrote it.)