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Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan

Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan’s lifelong love of comedy was kindled when they met more than 40 years ago in graduate school in Seattle. While managing family and professional work responsibilities, they hosted a one hour comedy radio program on Saturday mornings for 10 years on a small radio station in Olympia, WA and also co-authored two books on northwest popular culture – Seattle on Film (1995) and Wet and Wired (2000). Stuck at home during the early days of the pandemic with hundreds of

comedy stand-up

All Episodes

3:31

Jo Anne Worley

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/10/06

Listen closely and you'll hear a voice getting louder and louder and LOUDER. Since we are talking comedy, that must be the voice of Jo Anne Worley who charmed America with a brash and bawdy persona -- and who has continued to be an audience favorite for 7 decades. Jo Anne hopped in the rocket to stardom after she moved to Los Angeles and came to the attention of producer George Schlatter who was then casting his new Laugh In show. Jo Anne was a smash with her loud singing, over the top

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3:31

Paul Rodriguez

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/09/29

Grab a skateboard and roll on over to say hello to Paul Rodriguez who is as proud of his professional skateboarding son Paul Jr (known as P-Rod) as he is of his Mexican heritage. Born in Mexico but raised in East Los Angeles, Paul has become a legendary stand-up performer and comic actor the old-fashioned way -- by working his butt off. Starting with small movie and tv roles, Paul eventually got noticed by talk show bookers and broke out to a larger audience. Since then he has recorded numerous

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3:31

Jay Leno

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/09/22

After Johnny there was Jay -- Jay Leno that is, who took over the helm of the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson retired back in 1992. No pressure there! But Jay was used to pressure having ascended from class clown, to scrapping standup working the clubs, to guest host,and finally to the big chair. Jay put his own spin on the show, eventually leaving for a prime time slot only to return in a few months (much to Conan O'Brien's consternation). Along the way there was a feud with David Letterman

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3:31

Tig Notaro

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/09/15

Tig Notaro will always be known for the fearless way she dealt with a tough cancer diagnosis -- by including it in her stand-up act just four days later. Of course, that was just an extreme example of Tig's deadpan but sharply pointed style which she has turned into a stellar comedy and acting career. A native of Mississippi, Tig first came to Los Angeles as a musician and music promoter, but soon discovered standup -- and standup crowds soon discovered her. In 2015, Tig co-wrote, produced, and

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3:31

George Burns

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/09/08

We frequently say that "comedy keeps you young" and today we present exhibit #1 -- George Burns -- who went from vaudeville to radio and tv, to movies (often with his comedy and life partner Gracie Allen). Then, at an age when most of us are looking for a rocking chair, George managed to score a hit country song, win an Academy Award, play God, and headline top clubs across the nation. One of the best-loved of the old school comedians, George killed with sly wit and timing rather than bluster. And

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3:31

John Paragon

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/09/01

Happy September comedy fans -- we have a treat for you this week. You may not know the name John Paragon but you sure know his work. Paragon was part of the Groundlings Improv Troupe that spawned such huge stars as Paul Reubens and Cassandra Peterson. He helped Paul turn into Pee Wee Herman and Cassandra into Elvira, Mistress of the Night. For Pee Wee he also played Jambi the Genie, a character carried over to the television version of the Pee Wee Herman Show. For Elvira, Paragon wrote many of her

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3:31

Bill Maher

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/08/25

If you like your comedy laced with strong and sharp observations about our current politics and culture, look no further than Bill Maher who has made a career out of serving up just that. After early work as an actor, Bill really found his path doing standup comedy. He turned that into a long-running series ("Politically Incorrect"), another longer-running series ("Real Time"), a hit documentary ("Religulous"), and best-selling books and standup tours. Along the way he has become a vocal proponent

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3:31

Anthony Jeselnik

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/08/11

This week we meet Anthony Jeselnik who has turned a "lightbulb moment" into a booming career as the modern prince of dark comedy. Originally intending to be a novelist, Anthony discovered a stand up comedy course in LA and his new career trajectory was set. Gaining experience and exposure as a writer and roaster on Comedy Central's roast series, Anthony developed a comic persona that is can walk you right up to the line -- and then step over it in a way you didn't see coming. A well-named Comedy

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3:31

Brent Butt

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/08/04

Join us north of the border as we meet Brent Butt who has become a Canadian comedy legend with a long stand-up career, a smash sitcom (and movie), a well-received novel, and a shelf full of awards. From a small town in Saskatchewan, Brent started his comedy career at amateur nights, then moved to Toronto and started his climb to the top of the comedy ladder. Brent also created the sitcom Corner Gas in which he played the owner of the only gas station for miles in -- you guessed it -- Saskatchewan

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3:31

Anna Russell

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/07/28

Pull out your opera glasses because Anna Russell is here to poke some good natured fun at all things operatic. After realizing she didn't have the chops to be a true diva, Anna pivoted and merged her admirable singing voice with some sly and sharp parody of the art form. Through a series of albums and one-woman shows, Anna was a favorite of opera fans (at least ones with a sense of humor) from the 1940s through her retirement in the 1980s. Her major claim to fame was a very funny deconstruction of

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3:31

John Byner

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/07/21

So back in the day you could see vintage entertainers such as Dean Martin, Jackie Mason, Ed Sullivan, Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Or you could just see John Byner and he would cover them all with spot-on impressions, combined with fine stand-up comedy. When young John offered up his version of Bing Crosby singing "Accentuate the Positive" at age 6 his path in life was clear. As an adult, his early gigs were supported by a day job at a swimming pool company but he soon found fans

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3:31

Harry Shearer

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/07/14

Today we meet one of the sharpest satirists of the last 40 years, Harry Shearer. We could also say Mr. Burns or Kent Brockman -- two of the Simpsons characters he voices. Or we could say the the long term host of a weekly comedy and music program called Le Show, as well as the creator of great comedy albums with The Credibility Gap as well as solo. And oh yeah, Harry was part of the crew that came in to rescue SNL as it floundered after the original cast departed. Or, perhaps he is Derek Smalls,

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3:31

Seth Rogen

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/07/07

You might want to wait until 4:20 to fire up this episode. And why not -- this time we feature Seth Rogan, comedian, movie star, and enthusiastic cannabis consumer. Hailing from Vancouver, BC Seth managed to score a role in Freaks and Geeks at age 16, befriended the show's creator Judd Apatow who recognized his talent, then parlayed that beginning into a run of outrageously funny movies, award winning tv shows, and memorable voice roles. And Seth is Canadian to the core, turning down a star on

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3:31

Orson Bean

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/06/30

People who are famous for just being famous have been around forever but this weeks Legend Orson Bean gladly took that role, calling himself a "Neo-celebrity." Orson is being far too modest about a career that started out with a magic act, evolved into stand up comedy, was featured on Broadway and in top NYC cabarets, logged many hours on game and talk shows, and worked steadily as a guest star on tv and in movies. Orson also helped found a Laurel and Hardy society and a (for the time) radical

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3:31

Kenan Thompson

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/06/23

Here's a great career arc -- go from appearing in kid's movies and shows to starring in your own movie, then join Saturday Night Live and stay there for 23 years (and counting). Of course there is only one Kenan Thompson, but his career is so much more than his record setting SNL stint. What's the secret sauce? Being easy to work with helps, there is also Kenan's gift (in the words of an SNL head writer) for this ability to take "ordinary lines and make them funny and funny lines and make them

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3:31

Robin Duke

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/06/16

This time out we meet the only woman to be a cast member of both SCTV and SNL -- and no, it's not Catherine O'Hara. Say hello to Robin Duke, another product of the stellar Canadian comedy scene. A veteran of Second City Toronto, Robin was there when SCTV was launched in the mid-1970s as a recurring cast member, moving up to the full cast in season three. Lorne Michaels had convinced Catherine O'Hara to join SNL, but a week iwas enough for Catherine to decide that SCTV was more her style. Enter

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3:31

Damon Fayans

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/06/09

One of the funniest -- and edgiest -- sketch shows of the 1990s was In Living Color which introduced many of us to the Wayans family (and Jim Carrey to boot). And one of the edgiest parts of that edgiest sketch show was Damon Wayans, brother of show creator Keenan Ivory Wayans and a fearless satirist. Whether it was a homeboy with great money making ideas, a supremely flamboyant gay film reviewer, or a misanthropic clown Damon's characters always left you with a "can they say that" moment. A fine

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3:31

Colin Jost

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/06/02

Over its 50+ years Saturday Night Live has had many star making (and breaking) moments, including the coveted role of anchor on the show's Weekend Update news report. But when Seth Meyers departed that role for his own late night gig, who could have guessed that his successor would become the longest running anchor in show history. Colin Jost was born for the role, editing his high school newspaper, then becoming a cub reporter, then sending in a writing packet to SNL and getting hired in 2005. From

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3:31

Michael Palin

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/05/26

Whether you want to sell a dead parrot to an unsuspecting customer, travel around the world with a wry view of life, or simply figure out why a fish is called Wanda -- Michael Palin is your man. The creator of many of Monty Python's most beloved sketches, Palin carved out a fine post-Python career as the host of numerous BBC travel shows, as well as a full resume of character roles such as that of Ken Pile, a stuttering gangster, in A Fish Called Wanda. What did the public think of Michael? How

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3:31

Jack E. Leonard

Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve ·

2026/05/12

Grab a hi-ball and cue the rimshot, Jack E. Leonard is in the house. From Friars' Club roasts to tv variety shows to nightclub appearances Jack's routine never varied. He offered up a stream of comedy insults no doubt inspiring a young Don Rickles. Jack's insults were equal opportunity -- and he included himself in the mix frequently poking fun as his weight (who else makes a movie called "The Fat Spy"). One liners abounded in Jack's comedy storehouse but it was hard to convince younger audiences to

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