Started performing stand up comedy in 2000. Have been in many independent films as well as the lead role in the off Broadway production of Tony-n-Tina's Wedding. Have been on XM satellite radio, ABC's coverage of the New York Comedy Festival, and Howard Stern on Demand.
Mike's Interests
General
Comedy, writing, reading, music, eating, time with family and friends, time alone.
Music
Frank Sinatre, Dean Martin, Godsmack, Lincoln Park, JZ, Poison, Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Backstreet boys, Disturbed, Steely Dan, Cinderella, Iron Maiden, Monster Magnet, Daddy Yankee, System of a Down, Mary J. Blige, Sade. Hair bands and most 80's music.
Movies
Fight Club, Godfather I-III, Carlitos Way, Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, 29th Street, She's the One, Rocky's, The Edge, Breakin II (electric bugaloo), Boiler Room, Wedding Crashers, Zoolander, Circle of Iron, Joe's Apartment, A Few Good Men, Naked Gun (all), Airplane.
Television
Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons, Sopranos, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Laguna Beach, The Girls Next Door, Hogan Knows Best, Shooting Sizemore, Flavor of Love, Cheaters, MSNBC Investigates, Dateline NBC, The History Channel, Invesitgative Reports, American Justice, City Confidential, NY1, VH-1 Top 20 Countdown, The Real World, Punk'd, Date My Mom, Sweet 16, True Life: I have a shore house: True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl.
Books
The Prince, The Wild Man's Journey, Anything by Nelson DeMille, Anything of any type of Organized Crime, Vince (the Vince Lombardi Biography)
Heroes
Jesus, parents, countless teachers, coaches, and friends, young people able to overcome adversity.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, my father was involved in a family business and my mother was/is an elementary school teacher. As a family, we moved back and forth between northeast Ohio and South Florida throughout my childhood. Started playing contact football at age 9 in Florida and wrestling at age 13 in Ohio. My senior year of high school I placed second in the Florida AAA State Tournament and went on to college at Pennslyvania State University where I wrestled in 1991-1992 and tutored student athletes.
Moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1995 with my bachelors degree in criminal justice. Began work counseling adjudicated teens and children with mental health issues. Started teaching special education in the Philadelphia School District in 1998. Received my masters in Special Education in 2001 from Cabrini College and continued to teach in both public school and residential school settings. Started stand up comedy in 2000 and moved to New York City in 2003.
Was the 1983 and 1984 Spelling Bee runner up at Pine Grove Elementary School. I failed to advance to the national bee in Washington D.C. because of the complexity of the word roothless, which I still spell with two o's.
Saw u last night in nyc. It was awesome bc i got talked into going. You were hilarious as always. Wish i could have said hey after the set but i heard u had a show in pa.
Comedy may be the most powerful door to spiritual, emotional, psychological, social, and political awakening.
Well-timed laughter permits moments of lucid objectivity.
In an instant we may see the naked truth, and laughter is the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine go down.
...but don't think about it too much... like that scene in Caddyshack when Judge Smails is about to swing and is asked whether he inhales or exhales when he swings and then he totally whiffs it.
Online Now!
<