Ritch Shydner
Encyclopedia
Ritch Shydner is an American stand-up comedian, comic writer, and actor.
, 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 mightily to their nearly-famous Used Car Salesman skit. After graduation, he did some substitute teaching in Pennsville, and managed a band. Shydner began to work for a congressman, which sparked his interest in law school. He attended George Mason University
in Fairfax, Virginia
, and it was there that he decided to become a stand-up comedian. He began writing a lot, and sent material to Mad
magazine, and National Lampoon but found little success. Shortly after, Shydner started stand-up comedy.
In the mid 1970s, Shydner went to open mike nights at local coffeehouses, and began opening for bands in D.C. and New York City. In 1982, Shydner brought his act to Los Angeles. Slowly he started getting called in to audition for casting directors. Shydner studied acting for about 4 years, and landed a regular role on Married... with Children
.
, David Letterman
, and Jay Leno
shows numerous times. He did an HBO half-hour special, One Night Stand
. Aside from performing stand-up, Ritch, along with comedian Mark Schiff
, compiled stories of comedians on the road in a book called I Killed, which was released in 2006.
Ritch was partly the focus of the 2010 documentary movie, I Am Comic
, in which he traveled around the country interviewing various comedians, a process which ultimately led to his return to stand-up by going on the stage again after 13 years of retirement.
As an actor, Shydner played Al Bundy
's co-worker on Married... with Children
and made guest appearances on other TV shows, such as Designing Women
and Roseanne
. Ritch has also had roles in films, including Roxanne
and Beverly Hills Cop II
.
In the field of writing, Ritch was a staff writer on such sitcoms as Roseanne
, The Jeff Foxworthy Show
, and Titus
. He also wrote scripts for Becker
. Ritch wrote for singers Kenny Rogers and Pam Tillis
, as well as ventriloquist David Strassman
.
Ritch was also on an episode of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
.
Shydner's influences are Art Carney
, Lenny Bruce
, Red Skelton
, and George Carlin
.
Early life
Shydner was born in the small town of PennsvillePennsville Township, New Jersey
Pennsville Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 13,194. The township is named for William Penn....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He studied business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
. 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 mightily to their nearly-famous Used Car Salesman skit. After graduation, he did some substitute teaching in Pennsville, and managed a band. Shydner began to work for a congressman, which sparked his interest in law school. He attended George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, and it was there that he decided to become a stand-up comedian. He began writing a lot, and sent material to Mad
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
magazine, and National Lampoon but found little success. Shortly after, Shydner started stand-up comedy.
In the mid 1970s, Shydner went to open mike nights at local coffeehouses, and began opening for bands in D.C. and New York City. In 1982, Shydner brought his act to Los Angeles. Slowly he started getting called in to audition for casting directors. Shydner studied acting for about 4 years, and landed a regular role on Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
.
Career
As a stand-up comedian, Ritch appeared on the Johnny CarsonJohnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
, David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
, and Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
shows numerous times. He did an HBO half-hour special, One Night Stand
One Night Stand
One Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
. Aside from performing stand-up, Ritch, along with comedian Mark Schiff
Mark Schiff
Mark Schiff is an American voice actor and comedian. He provided the voice of the little dog on the animated series 2 Stupid Dogs. He has appeared in small guest roles on shows such as My Two Dads and Mad About You. He has also been a writer for Blue Collar TV.-External links:*...
, compiled stories of comedians on the road in a book called I Killed, which was released in 2006.
Ritch was partly the focus of the 2010 documentary movie, I Am Comic
I Am Comic
I Am Comic is a 2010 documentary about the stand-up comedy world directed by Jordan Brady.-Overview:Directed by former stand-up comic Jordan Brady and starring and narrated by ex-comedian turned comedy writer Ritch Shydner, the film explores the world of stand-up comedy and features interviews with...
, in which he traveled around the country interviewing various comedians, a process which ultimately led to his return to stand-up by going on the stage again after 13 years of retirement.
As an actor, Shydner played Al Bundy
Al Bundy
Al Bundy is a fictional character from the U.S. television series Married... with Children. He was played by Ed O'Neill.-Character history:...
's co-worker on Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
and made guest appearances on other TV shows, such as Designing Women
Designing Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
and Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
. Ritch has also had roles in films, including Roxanne
Roxanne (film)
Roxanne is a 1987 comedy film directed by Fred Schepisi. It is a modern retelling of the 1897 verse play Cyrano de Bergerac, written by French author Edmond Rostand, and stars Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah.-Plot summary:...
and Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II
Beverly Hills Cop II is a 1987 action-comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Tony Scott. It is the first sequel in the Beverly Hills Cop series. Murphy returns as Detroit police detective Axel Foley, who returns to Beverly Hills, California to track down a joint robbery/gun-running ring...
.
In the field of writing, Ritch was a staff writer on such sitcoms as Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
, The Jeff Foxworthy Show
The Jeff Foxworthy Show
The Jeff Foxworthy Show is the name of two short-lived television series starring comedian Jeff Foxworthy and based on Foxworthy's stand-up comedy routine...
, and Titus
Titus (TV series)
Titus is an American dark comedy sitcom that debuted on Fox in 2000. The series was created by its star, Christopher Titus, Jack Kenny, and Brian Hargrove...
. He also wrote scripts for Becker
Becker (TV series)
Becker is an American television sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2004 on CBS. Set in the New York City borough of The Bronx, the show starred Ted Danson as John Becker, a misanthropic doctor who operates a small practice and is constantly annoyed by his patients, co-workers, friends, and practically...
. Ritch wrote for singers Kenny Rogers and Pam Tillis
Pam Tillis
Pamela Yvonne "Pam" Tillis is an American country music singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis....
, as well as ventriloquist David Strassman
David Strassman
David Strassman, is an American ventriloquist who is best known for his ventriloquism act with the characters Ted E. Bare and Chuck Wood. He began performing magic at the age of twelve after a visit to the Magic Castle in Hollywood.-Biography:David Strassman is the second of four children. His...
.
Ritch was also on an episode of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist is an American animated series that originally ran on Comedy Central from May 28, 1995 to December 24, 1999,–with a final set of three shelved episodes airing in 2002–starring Jonathan Katz, Jon Benjamin, and Laura Silverman...
.
Shydner's influences are Art Carney
Art Carney
Arthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. He is best known for playing Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners....
, Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
, Red Skelton
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
, and George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
.