Elyssa Phillips on Ep #18 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

Elyssa Phillips on Ep #18 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

A native New Yorker, Elyssa has been acting since the age of 5 (she still owns the red dress with the black bow from when she played Annie at the age of 6). After studying at the British American Drama Academy in England, and graduating from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Elyssa spent her time performing around the country in various theatrical productions....from Shakespeare's "As You Like It" and "Measure For Measure", to the long-running improvisational comedies "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding" and "Shear Madness"...with some other tricks of her trade along the way.... Since making the move out west to L.A., Elyssa has been seen in various commercials and television shows, including featured roles on "Silicon Valley", "The Mindy Project", and "Chelsea" on Netflix, among others. She can usually be seen doing some live improv or sketch comedy around the likes of Upright Citizens Brigade and The Pack Theater. She's opened for Iliza Shlesinger, headlined clubs across the U.S. and Europe, and won Best of Fest at the Laugh Out Loveland Comedy Festival. On screen, Elyssa has delivered sharp one-liners on hit shows like Leanne, Hacks, Silicon Valley, Fresh Off the Boat, Tuca & Bertie, and The Mindy Project. She is also very, very single. Feel free to say hi to her. She doesn't bite. At least, we don't think she does.

Greg Benevent on Ep #17 | Flappers Presents - Behind the Funny w/ Barbara Holliday and Joshua Snyder

After years of writing screenplays that were optioned but never made and ghostwriting jokes for others, Greg began stand-up. He's since made it to the semifi nals of the Boston Comedy Festival and the San Diego Comedy Festival. A Best of the Fest Showcasing Comedian at the 2019 & 2020 Burbank Comedy Festival, as well as at the 2020 Palm Springs Comedy Festival, Greg has been to the Main Event of the World Series of Comedy. Greg was in the April 1992 issue of Nintendo Power magazine (yes, Ken Griffey Jr. was on the cover. That's just how long ago it was). Additionally, he's the top name on the UCLA Extension Writers Program "Where Are They Now?" page (due to alphabetical order).

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.