Official Home Of Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo
Nov. 4, 2021

Day 87 - Ritch Shydner

Ritch Shydner is the absolute best of the best. Incredibly funny, giving, and a wealth of wisdom and stories from a lifetime on the road and in show business as an actor and writer. His documentary “I Am Comic” is one of the best documentaries on comedy ...

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Ritch Shydner is the absolute best of the best. Incredibly funny, giving, and a wealth of wisdom and stories from a lifetime on the road and in show business as an actor and writer. His documentary “I Am Comic” is one of the best documentaries on comedy I’ve ever seen and his book “I Killed” will actually put you in the time and place of the worlds best comics as they talk about their stories from the road. We cover a lot in an hour but we’ll def have him back for more. Enjoy!

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Ritch ShydnerProfile Photo

Ritch Shydner

Comedian / Writer / Actor

Ritch Shydner was born in the small town of Pennsville, New Jersey. He studied business and sociology at Gettysburg College. At Gettysburg College he and sidekick, Camillo "Mad-Dog" Melchiorre, wrote, produced and starred in comedy skits for parents' weekends and fraternity events. Carmen "Honest-Abe" Volpecelli and Pluto "Fenderhead" Dombrosky also contributed to their nearly-famous Used Car Salesman skit. After graduation, Shydner was a substitute teacher in Pennsville, and managed a band. He began to work for a congressman, which sparked his interest in law school. As a student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, he decided to become a stand-up comedian. He began writing, and sent material to Mad magazine, and National Lampoon but found little success. Shortly thereafter, Shydner started performing stand-up comedy.

In the mid-1970s, Shydner went to open mic nights at local coffeehouses, and began opening for bands in Washington, D.C. and New York City. In 1982, he brought his act to Los Angeles. Slowly he started getting called in to audition for casting directors. Shydner studied acting for about four years, and landed a regular role on Married... with Children.

As a stand-up comedian, Shydner appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno numerous times. He performed a HBO half-hour special called One Night Stand, as well as was a guest on Comics Unleashed. Shydner, along with comedian Mark Schiff, compiled stories of comedians on… Read More