I am a lawyer turned trader turned lawyer in Philadelphia.
Prior to trading, I was as an attorney for Yuasa and Hara (Japan’s oldest and largest law firm) in Tokyo, Japan. It was a great job, and I miss it. I was the only foreign attorney there, so I would answer very important legal questions. ("Odabashian-sensei, is Jim a man’s or a woman’s name"?)
I also play piano around town (these days, every Friday from 5-8:30 at Cascamorto on 20th and Arch in Philly) and I am always doing something silly on TV or stage. I hold the all-time record on VH1’s game show, Name That Video, and won a Toyota 4Runner (I clinched the victory to Eddie Murphy’s huge hit, PARTY ALL THE TIME - featuring Rick James).
I am often on the radio for one strange reason or another. These days, I am the American Idol reporter for 610 WIP AM radio in Philadelphia. Every Wed morning around 9:30 you can hear my thoughts and predictions. I have been damn close to perfect on these.
I am often on TV impersonating Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach, Andy Reid, on the news or in commercials. I recently appeared on the "10!" show with Fabio. I am currently suing him for sexual harassment. I am also a stand up comic, and I perform on and off in Philadelphia and in NY. It is harder than I thought it would be, but I am sticking with it. Actually, my piano show has sort of become my comedy show. Worlds colliding.
I am a trivia nerd. I love Jeopardy and even though I have passed their stupid test 4 years in a row, I have YET to get their call to appear on the show. (do I sound bitter? Because that is what I am going for here). I love bar trivia, and other board games like that (pictionary, taboo). I am competitive while not condescending. I love Quizzo (Bar trivia).
Website
myspace.com/odabashianpiano
Influences
Conan O'Brien, Mel Brooks, George Carlin (before he was political), Eddie Murphy (when he was funny), Saturday Night Live (Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Jim Belushi, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Norm McDonald), Larry David, The Simpsons, 1980s David Letterman, Chris Elliott (remember that guy), Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, Chris Rock, Mitch Fatel.
TV Shows
Tonight Show with Jay Leno, with comic, Mitch Fatel. 2005
Late Night with David Letterman with producer, Biff Henderson. 2005
KYW3 - Regular on "Bob Kelly's Tailgate Takeover" during Eagles pre-game. 2004-06. Morning news guest shadow traffic correspondent 2004
WPEN 950 AM Radio - regular in studio guest to provide comic commentary on news/sports. 2006-07
WIP 610 AM Radio - regular in studio guest to provide comic relief on news/sports. 2004-2007
ESPN - Sportscenter post-game interview 2005
VH1 - Name That Video All Time Champion and winner of Toyota 4Runner 2001 (and the 100 greatest CDs of Rock 'n Roll. Anyone want to buy some used CDs? (As Steve opens the trunk of his car))
Yahoo TV - star of "Hook me up" (Jul 2006) in which I receive a whole new mini recording studio.
Fox Sports - split screen with Andy Reid drawing comparison during a national game. 2004
NFL Network - featured in a special on Fox's ABC team (Aikman, Buck, Collinsworth) 2005
NBC10 - 10! show. In-studio guest of local talk show. Also filmed a fake press conference for the show. 2007.
NBC10 - Philadelphia. Sang National Anthem as Andy Reid live in studio. 2005.
Guest Sports Correspondent for morning news program. 2007.
Played piano and sang on 11 o'clock news. 2007
ABC6 - Featured on playoff preview. Ordered sushi in Japanese as Andy Reid. Televised coverage of initial meeting with the real Andy Reid. 2004-05
Featured fan on Eagles playoff preview. 2007.
Playing piano and singing on 11 o'clock news. 2007.
FOX29 - Played piano as Andy Reid. Ate cheeseburgers as Andy Reid
2005
AM Philadelphia - Part of Panel of Law Students discussing OJ Simpson Trial and the lawyers' performances. 1995
Forman Mills commercials - 8 different ads portraying Eagles Coach Andy Reid (at press conferences, dancing on field at Lincoln Financial Field, forcibly removing Patriots fan from store with help of Eagles legend Bill Bergey). 2003-06
Films
True Colors starring Jon Cusack and James Spader - 1990. (Filmed at the University of Virginia). Oh....wait a minute....I slept through the extras casting. STUPID. That was my one shot, and I blew it. Eminem would be very disappointed in me. And my whole life is built around pleasing Eminem.
Steve Odabashian comedy's Interests
General
sports (mainly football and the NCAA Tournament). TV (reality show addict - sad but true). Travel, all things relating to Armenia, Japan. (I am Armenian, not Japanese). Playing the piano. Singing (I'm a better pianist by far). Making people laugh
Music
Almost everything except country. I really like movie scores (John Williams' stuff from the Olympics and the NBC news theme). Hip-hop, old Run DMC, 80s music, Dave Matthews, Goo goo dolls, Matchbox 20, Cheap Trick, Sting/Police, Jay-Z, Enya, Bruce Hornsby, Coldplay, I used to love Judas Priest back in high school/college, Motley Crue, Van Halen....like I said....I am all over the place in this category....classical music, middle eastern (Armenian included) music
Please click the HOT LIST logo and vote for me in the Fox Philly awards (Best music)
.. --> Copyright CityVoter inc, all rights reserved -->
Movies
Office Space, History of the World - Part I, The Natural, Kiss the Girls, St. Elmo's Fire, Old School, Lost in Translation, Boyz in the Hood, New Jack City, Meet the Parents, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Trading Places, Swingers, Braveheart, Good Morning Vietnam, Hoosiers, The Sure Thing, True Colors (a lot of UVA scenery), Best in Show, Sideways, Sour Grapes (very underrated movie by Larry David - most people have never heard of it), Rudy, Karate Kid, Rocky, Rocky IV, Tommy Boy, Brothers McMullen
OK. So let's recap......two "Best Picture" winners in the whole lot.....shows what I know.....or, let's face it, show's what THEY know.
Television
Reality shows (Apprentice, Survivor, American Idol, Real World), The Office, Curb your enthusiasm, Jeopardy, Flight of the Conchords (amazing show), Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Entourage, Rock of Love, Boston Public, SNL (even through the bad times, I stick with this crap), 90210, Seinfeld, Law and Order-SVU, Cold Case, early Simpsons (when Conan was head writer), news programs and news magazines (20/20, dateline, 60 minutes, all that crap), King of Queens, Real sports with Bryant Gumbel and all major sports. I used to love "Get a life" with Chris Elliott (on the air from 1991-92 approximately).
Books
I am such a non-reader, it is embarrasing. I have read two good books by Ben Mizrich in the recent past. "Bringing down the house" (about the MIT Blackjack team of the 90s), and "Ugly Americans" (about American-run hedge fund traders in 1990s Japan). I really liked the Cliffs Notes to "Lord of the Flies" back in high school. Oh - wait. I did buy and read a whole book very recently - Freakonomics (about decision making based on non-traditional incentives - almost like an economics textbook, but done in a readable manner).
Oh wait.....snapple bottlecaps.
Heroes
Kool-Aid Man, for sure. He supplies Kool Aid to thirsty kids ALL the time.
Please go to this website, and I recommend sitting down before clicking on this link. You have been warned!!!
http://www.angelfire.com/clone2/mulletglory/OHYEAH.html
Catwoman - I knew at a very young age I was not gay, because I had it real bad for catwoman.
Villanova Law School
Villanova,Pennsylvania
Graduated: 1995
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Master's Degree
Major: Law
Minor: 90210
Clubs: Villanova Law Review
President of Student Bar Association (Student Government)
Third Year Show (Head writer/producer and skit actor)
1992 to 1995
University Of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville,Virginia
Graduated: 1991
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Economics
Minor: Saved by the Bell
Clubs: Intraumural Discus Champion. I swear this is true.
About me: Check out my review in the Philadelphia Inquirer on March 11, 2007. http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20070311_Friday_Nights_at_Cascamorto_Piano_Bar.html
Please check out my Steve Odabashian - the man myspace page, and my Steve Odabashian - the pianist myspace page. Both are strangely enough in my top 8.
Hey. Should be popping up in a few different places soon. Working with a website involving Philly sports called www.phillypurge.com, where I parody Andy Reid press conferences. And you can catch me most Sunday mornings at 11 AM on CBS3 in Philadelphia during Sunday Kickoff's Tailgate Takeover. I was just VOTED PHILADELPHIA'S BEST LOCAL COMIC IN THE CITY PAPER by its readers, and am basking in that glory (by typing this piece at 1:47 AM on a Saturday night - yeah, it's one nonstop party). You can catch me on the radio every few weeks on 950 AM (Sports talk) or on 610 AM WIP. That is all.
I just started a weekly piano show at Cascamorto on 20th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia (Philly's new premier piano bar). I play every Friday from 5 PM til 8:30. And, also every Wed night from 7:30 til midnight. It's a great time. I swear. So leave work early and drink heavily while I play piano and sing. If you don't drink heavily, you'll start once you hear my voice.
I JUST UPLOADED A VIDEO OF ME AND MITCH FATEL FROM THE TONIGHT SHOW BACK IN 2005. GOOD STUFF.
GO TO MY VIDEOS AND WATCH MY LAST FORMAN MILLS' COMMERCIAL (PROBABLY THE LAST ONE EVER UNLESS THE EAGLES START PLAYING WELL AGAIN REAL SOON)
I WAS ON YAHOO.COM THIS PAST SUMMER FOR THEIR NEW SHOW "HOOK ME UP" (similar to "Pimp my Ride", but for TECHNOLOGY) READ MY BLOG (that word makes me cringe) FOR FURTHER DETAIL
Thanks to all who came out to the Triad Theater last March. That place was packed. Great support. My set made the top 3. I did a full 15-minutes. Actually the judges voted me "Top male performer".....reminds me of the 1998 Adult Video Awards all over again....So, by making the top 3, my tape gets submitted directly to the producers of Last Comic Standing on NBC. Not sure what that means, but it was a good experience.
OK..WAIT A MINUTE, PUT THE GUN DOWN..NOW YOU'RE MESSING WITH MY RELIGION..NOT COOL AT ALL!!!!!
Who I'd like to meet: 1) Conan O'Brien so I could convince him to hire me. 2) Oh, and of course, Cepillin........
He NEVER backs down....NEVER. I imagine if he had 21 in blackjack and the dealer were showing a 6, Cepillin would continue to hit, because standing would be the equivalent of backing down......and he NEVER EVER backs down.
I also heard an amazing story that he once had the letters X,Z,Q,W,V,B and K in scrabble, yet refused to pass....all because he NEVER BACKS DOWN. Amazing. What a warrior!
"MUSIC FOR
THE BIRDS" THE EAGLES MIXTAPE! ALL THE CLASSICS! ALL THE DALLAS SUCKS!
THE MICHAEL VICK DIS! CHANNEL 6'S ORIGINALS THAT THEY TURNED STEVIE
RITE'S MUSIC INTO VIDEOS AND MANY MORE!.............. IT IS NOW UP FOR SALE!!! GO TO WWW.STEVIERITE.COM AND GET YOUR COPY!!!! THANK YOU!
All Philadelphia sports fan check out www. phillysportsspace. com Create a free profile just like you do with myspace. Our site is geared for interaction between the greatest sports fans in the world! Read our objective and entertaining articles about our own teams right here in Philly! Plenty of cool features like instant messenger, blogs, sport team's groups, surveys, games, music, upload your own videos and pictures from some of your past experiences at sporting events, custom made profile backgrounds for your personal page of Philly teams, present and past players! Also check out our new section for fantasy sports articles! We also have been putting together our news section that gives you the most updated news, scores, odds and stats for all pro & college sports! Make your profile today!
This is a picture of the DICKHEAD Giants fan that broke a window on the Scotty Express.... He's the guy in handcuffs with the New Jersey State Trooper!!! Don't mess with Eagles fans... we'll catch you!!! GO EAGLES!!!!!
How is every thing, my name is Joel I sell sports cards, hobby boxes, nascar hobby boxes, mcfarlane figures, wrestling figures and other sports stuff on my website, I just wanted to know if you know any one who collects sports cards?
Thanks for coming on the Show ! Sorry they masacred your name ! Go Birds ! Ill be in touch,Your a judge if you can make it ! Thanks again ! your a pro ! Jim
Can I have permission to keep bugging you till you come down and be on the show ? Call me 301.648.3999 The Best Place to Watch The Game in Delaware County !!
Prizes,Ticket giveaways , Calendar girls , and your invited to participate in a LIve Broadcast of WNJC's "SUNDAY SPORTS LIVE " Show on 1360am !
Steve ,Please let us Know if your interested in Promoting an event on the show. We would love to have you on air before the games or after. This week will be a pre game.
Halloween!! Going to wmmr gig at the TLA...and vampires and vixens on Nov 1st....where are you heading??? Totally CAN NOT do Oct31..working. Let me know Steve
The Scotty Express will be at Hooters on Street Road in Bensalem on Sunday night for the Eagles vs Bears game. Party starts @ 4pm, game starts @ 8:00pm.
MUSIC & REAL TALK! Real Talk With Mocha and Co-Host Sun752 will be doing the first series of AIRS IT OUT! Listen in LIVE for a hot convo! Open talk topics to include POLITICS: Sarah Palin, Female Rappers and Prison, the AIG 85Bill Bailout, Absentee Fathers, Finanacial Responsibilty, Drugs, Gas Prices and more....NO HOLDS BARRED!
Call 914-338-0001 to give us your 1 cent (times is hard...you can keep the other penny!) Get it off ya chest!!!
UNSIGNED ARTIST/MUSIC showcased this week: Acafool - She's Ready Trackfiends - The Way It Used To Be Scott Knoxx - Say Yeah Jha Voice - How Can We Prevail
Continue to show me LOVE and I will do the same for you!
Please go to this website, and I recommend sitting down before clicking on this link. You have been warned!!!
http://www.angelfire.com/clone2/mulletglory/OHYEAH.html
He NEVER backs down....NEVER. I imagine if he had 21 in blackjack and the dealer were showing a 6, Cepillin would continue to hit, because standing would be the equivalent of backing down......and he NEVER EVER backs down.
I also heard an amazing story that he once had the letters X,Z,Q,W,V,B and K in scrabble, yet refused to pass....all because he NEVER BACKS DOWN. Amazing. What a warrior!
