It has been awhile since I have performed in the San Diego area. I used to live in the greater San Diego area when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton in the 90's. I was a Karaoke Host in San Diego before I started Stand Up Comedy. Even now when I hear a "pitchy" singer on The Voice I have flashbacks to the days of listening to a delusional "almost singer" belting out their anthem to the unhappy patrons of a Benihana. For the record, nothing upsets the digestion of Sushi like the horrible rendition of "I Will Survive".
Now I can return with my head held high as I am performing at the NEW Laugh Factory inside the Hotel Del Coronado with the very funny Jeremy Hotz. As a nod to the military personnel stationed in the area, there will be discounts for Active Duty Servicemembers. So come on out and laugh and be thankful that no one will be drunk singing a tune from the 80's. Unless of course, we retire to the bar after the show.....

And a fine Veterans Day it was....

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the folks that came out to make the 4th Annual “Cocktails & Camouflage” Veterans Day Comedy Benefit this past Sunday. Special thanks to Mike Dowling & Karen Kraft of the Veterans in Film & Television, Uncle Joe Benson from 100.3FM The Sound for stopping by to say hello, Flappers Comedy Club Burbank for once again hosting the event and the lovely and talented comedian Dana Eagle for not only Co-Producing the event, but letting us watch video of her in Iraq expertly shooting the sand “next” to a bunch of very safe targets.


HUGE thanks to all the Comics: Lachlan Patterson, Karen Rontowski, Quinn Dayle, Drew Lynch, Harry Basil, and NBC4's Fritz Coleman!

To those who came to the show, THANK YOU.
To those who bought tickets for other Veterans to attend THANK YOU. For those of you who missed the event, YOU CAN STILL HELP.

Go to www.jamespconnollypresents.com and DONATE.

Any amount will be appreciated. All proceeds will go to the Veterans in Film and Television.


Look forward to seeing you all there next year!

Semper Fi,
JPC

Tired of asking me when I will be playing near your neck of the woods? Open your front door, cuz I come a knocking THIS WEEKEND - Fri-Sun Oct 25-27 Blue Collar Comedy Concert Series on SiriusXM Blue Collar Radio. Played 10 times in its entirety this weekend. (recorded in Nashville)

Spread the good word!

JAMES P. CONNOLLY PRESENTS 4th ANNUAL VETERANS DAY COMEDY BENEFIT FOR THOSE WHO SERVED

‘Cocktails & Camouflage” raises money for Veterans in Film & Television.

Burbank, Calif. — On Sunday, November 10th former Marine turned comedian James P. Connolly presents the 4th Annual Veteran’s Day Benefit Comedy Show, “Cocktails & Camouflage”, at Flappers Comedy Club, in Burbank CA. The event will raise funds for the Veterans in Film & Television (VFT). VFT is a non-profit networking organization that unites current and former members of the military working in film and television and offers the entertainment industry the opportunity to connect with and hire veterans.

The show features a line-up of top-notch comedians including local NBC Weatherman and Award winning Comedian Fritz Coleman, Harry “the Movie Guy” Basil (HBO), Karen Rontowski (Letterman) Dwayne Perkins (Conan), Lachlan Patterson (Tosh.0), Drew Lynch (opener for Bo Burnham) plus Special Guests & hosted by James P. Connolly (Sirius/XM Radio).

Created and operated by veterans, VFT was founded in 2012 by Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat veterans: former Marine turned Actor/Author Mike Dowling and former Soldier turned Director/Producer Kyle Hausmann-Stokes. It is a resource for the film/TV industry to find and hire veterans and also a place for veterans who work, or aspire to work, in film/TV to interact with, support, and learn from each other. This year the VFT has expanded to the East Coast with the launch of VFT NY and has partnered with such distinguished organizations as the Got Your Six campaign (www.gotyour6.org) and the Easter Seals (www.easterseals.com) To learn more about VFT go to www.vftla.org.

A Desert Storm Veteran himself, Event Producer Connolly attended Harvard University on a Marine Corps ROTC scholarship. In addition to appearing in television, commercials and independent films, he is recognized as one of the most-played comedians on SiriusXM’s comedy channels, a regular guest on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show and has made multiple trips overseas to entertain the troops.

“People always tell me ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t look anything like a Marine.’ said Connolly. “Of course I don’t look like a Marine! Because that’s exactly what the enemy would be expecting me to look like!”

 “Cocktails & Camouflage” begins at 7 p.m. on Nov 10th at Flappers Comedy Club (www.flapperscomedy.com) in Burbank. Tickets are $20 each. Those who cannot attend but would like to support the cause can Become a Sponsor or Send A Service Member or Veteran to the show by making a donation to the secure PayPal account, which can be accessed on the event’s website www.jamespconnollypresents.com.

To purchase tickets: www.jamespconnollypresents.com
To find out more about James P. Connolly go to: www.jamespconnolly.tv

Please direct inquiries to:

Dana Laurie

office@jamespconnolly.tv

JAMES P. CONNOLLY, MARINE TURNED COMEDIAN, HEADLINES IRVINE IMPROV BENEFIT FOR US MARINES.

‘Operation Semper Funny’ raises money for Camp Pendleton 5^th Marines support group.

IRVINE, Calif. — Comedian and former U.S. Marine James P. Connolly will headline the upcoming “Operation Semper Funny” benefit show at the Irvine Improv Comedy Club July 29. The show’s proceeds will go toward the Dana Point 5^th Marine Regiment Support Group and include dinner, door prizes and a silent auction. A 5^th Marine Desert Storm veteran himself, Connolly is thrilled to support the cause and headline the show.

“I got my start in comedy as a U.S. Marine during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s,” said Connolly. “My Commanding Officer asked me to write him one liners for a dinner roast of all the Officers in the Battalion. Of course, when a Colonel “asks” you to do something, consider it an order! I may be the only person who started a comedy career with a lawful command to do so!”

Prior to Desert Storm, Connolly attended Harvard University on a Marine Corps ROTC scholarship. In addition to appearing in television, commercials and independent films, he is recognized as one of the most-played comedians on SiriusXM’s comedy channels and a regular guest on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show.

James has made multiple trips overseas to entertain the troops, including entertaining his former unit, 3^rd Battalion, 5^th Marines in Iraq following the Battle of Fallujah in 2004.  He also produces an annual Veterans Day Comedy Benefit show in Burbank, raising money for Veterans causes.

The Dana Point 5^th Marine Regiment Support Group formed in 2004 with the goal of reaching out to Marines and sailors and their families. In 2008, it became fully operational and has continued to pursue its mission through care packages, sponsoring events for expectant mothers, gathering food for families and arranging financial resources for troops. Many members of the 5^th Marines have recently returned to the area after nearly a decade of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan

“People always tell me ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t look anything like a Marine.’ said Connolly. “Of course I don’t look like a Marine! Because that’s exactly what the enemy would be expecting me to look like!”

“Operation Semper Funny” begins at 6 p.m. on July 29 at the Irvine Improv. Tickets are $35 each, which includes dinner and door prizes. Other comedians include: Tom Riehl, Ron J. Ruhman, Julie Kidd and Billy Houston. Those who cannot attend but would like to support the cause are encouraged to sponsor a Marine and his or her spouse by making a donation to the secure PayPal account, which can be accessed on the event’s website.

To learn more, visit http://danapoint5thmarines.com/semper-funny. To find out more about James P. Connolly’s upcoming appearance visit www.jamespconnolly.tv

# # #

On Sunday, November 11th James P. Connolly presents the 3rd Annual Veteran’s Day Benefit Comedy Show, “Cocktails & Camouflage”, at Flappers Comedy Club. The event will raise funds for the Veterans in Film & Television. VFT is a networking organization that unites current and former members of the military working in film and television and offers the entertainment industry the opportunity to connect with and hire veterans.

The show features some of the funniest comedians in Southern California, many of whom served in the US forces: Greg Hahn (Comedy Central, Conan O'Brien. USMC), Laurie Kilmartin (Last Comic Standing, Conan), Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Body of Proof, Army), PJ Walsh (Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Navy), Byron Bowers (Comedy Central, Adult Swim), Dana Eagle (Craig Ferguson), plus Special Guests & hosted by James P. Connolly (Sirius/XM Radio, USMC).

Sunday November 11th Showtime 7PM 

Flappers Comedy Club 

102 E. Magnolia Blvd Burbank, CA 91502 

Tickets $20 - Buy Online: http://www.h2f.net/h2fnew/index.phppg=showdetail_page&meetid=014c517228c18c8&id=8526 

or you can call 818-845-9721 

 Last year we had great success offering supporters across the country the opportunity to help our cause, even though they could not attend. So this year we are offering the all-new Buy A Ticket for a Veteran. Simply click on the Special Offer link below and buy a Ticket for a Veteran to Attend the show for only $20! You purchase the tickets directly through Flappers Comedy Club and we will ensure it gets to a Veteran!

I sincerely appreciate the support for this growing Annual event. It is my hope to continually bring awareness and funding to Veteran Organizations as a way of saying Thank You for the service and sacrifices made by so many and their families.


Semper Fi,

James P. Connolly
Capt. USMC ret.
Follow us on Twitter @jpcpresents

6 degrees of Balloon Boy

I actually do know the Heene family. I worked with them on several occasions when they ran a video editing business in Los Angeles. I remember one conversation in particular. At the time it meant nothing to me, but in retrospect it was filled with subtle clues.

I walked in to their editing offices holding a shiny silver mylar balloon shaped like a muffin top, as I had done on several occasions before. I handed the balloon to Mayumi and she tied it to Falcon’s stroller. Richard and I began our usual banter:

Me: “Some pretty amazing weather we’re having, huh?”

Richard: “I have discovered the secret of anti-gravity in the cyclonic action of tornadoes. I am going to put my children in the center of one to test my theory.”

Me: “Touche’!”

Suddenly, the balloon began to come loose. Falcon crawled out of the stroller and into a box marked “in case of hoax”.

I said, “Isn’t that cute?”

Richard screamed, “Mayumi! You didn’t tie the f*#@ing balloon!!!”

I asked the Heenes why they decided to have a third child, and Richard said it was because the oldest two would be too large to hide in the attic. When I pressed why would the kids hide in the attic, the Heenes all threw up on me. After I demanded they stop throwing up on me, they ran to hide in the attic. Informing them there was no attic in the building, the Heenes began to vomit on each other. When their dry heaves ran silent, Richard apologized and offered to swap me his wife, but asked if he could yell at her and kicked something first.

I said, “If you do…I will call the police and local news on you!”

“You’d do that for me?” he whispered.

NOTE: Congratulations to the Heene’s hometown on their brand new revenue stream: "Welcome to Fort Collins. Home of the Balloon Boy Incident."