Flappers Presents- Behind the Funny

Mary Basmadjian on Ep #16 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Mary Basmadjian is a stand-up comedian, actor, and producer based in Los Angeles. Her comedic work pokes holes and fun at topics rooted in intersectional identity, mental health, digital culture, and the Armenian immigrant experience in America. Growing up around funny accents and family melodramas in the 90s is what ultimately led Mary to adopt comedy as a second language. Because laughter has healing superpowers. Whether it's at yourself or at a joke, your world feels a little better after you do. Through her first-generation lens, Mary aims to create a space for honest, all-in laughter that inspires people to connect, communicate, and ultimately, love more freely. From the funny to the absurd, her unapologetic stand-up humor, rich character work, and satirical social commentary are a beloved fi xture in Los Angeles and the international community.

Paul Elia on Ep #15 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Paul Elia is an actor and comedian of Chaldean and Assyrian heritage, best known for his frequent roles as sketch characters on "Conan" with Conan O'Brien. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Paul started his career as a stand-in for Michael Imperioli on the show Detroit 187. After the show ended, he relocated to Los Angeles in 2010 and has made several guest appearances on television shows such as Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Mixology. As an actor, Paul has appeared in several films, including Dirty, starring Roger Guenveur Smith, Chaz Bono, and Tony Denison. Stage experience includes ovation-nominated plays such as The Interlopers and Dates and Nuts, both written by Gary Lennon. Paul began doing stand-up in 2010, right before moving to Los Angeles. His first show was at the MGM Casino in Detroit, Michigan, where he lied to the host for years about being a comedian to get stage time. After bombing in front of 2500 people and embarrassing his family, he decided to take it seriously and work on his act when he moved to Los Angeles. Since then, he has done stand-up all over the country, including tours and festivals in Detroit, Chicago, and the Middle East. He has opened for such comedians as Dana Carvey, Jason Stuart, and Chris Kattan. In 2024, his debut comedy special, Detroit Player, was released on YouTube.

Hans Sardo on Ep #14 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Hans Sardo is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian and actor. He is well-known in the Southern California comedy scene for hosting New Joke City—a signature interactive show at the Astronaut City venue where comics hit the stage with fresh, untested material that emerges from audience suggestions. He has performed at Flappers Comedy Club and The Comedy Store, and is a regular host and producer of a monthly show at Flappers. He recently performed at New Joke City as part of the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival and has toured the country doing comedy for over a decade.

Eddie Pence on Ep #13 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Eddie Pence is a comedian, actor, and podcaster. The Hollywood Reporter named Eddie Pence one of the Top New Faces of the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2004; he was also invited back to perform there again in 2006. In 2007, Eddie performed at the HBO Aspen Comedy Arts Festival and at HBO's The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. In 2010, Eddie was a fi nalist in the Seattle International Comedy Competition. Eddie's latest one-hour special, "The (Un)Special Comedy Special," can currently be seen on Amazon Prime Video. He has made appearances on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham", "Crossballs", "Last Comic Standing", "The Late Late Show", "History of the Joke", and "Surviving The Holidays w/ Lewis Black" on The History Channel. Other television appearances include AXS TV's "Gotham Live" and "Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen". Eddie was also a series regular on TruTV's "How to be a Grown Up," and currently, Eddie can be heard fi ve days a week co-hosting "The Ralph Report w/ Ralph Garman" on patreon.com as well as his weekly podcasts "The Ramble" and "Not Today…" A favorite of the World Famous Improv, Eddie can be seen at clubs and colleges across the country.

Sam Salem on Ep #12 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Once a midwesterner, Sam Salem is an LA-based comedian known best for fi tting in with the youth (read: making up Gen Z slang for his students). When Sam isn't headlining at clubs and theaters throughout the U.S., he's creating online videos featuring his uniquely laidback comedic voice, reaching more than 100 million views across platforms. As a result, his comedy has been featured on EllenTV, iHeartRadio, and in national commentary on SportsCenter. Perhaps his most impressive feat, Sam faces his toughest audience when he's not on stage: high school classrooms.