by Jay Schuminsky

Meet LA-based Michael Kosta, former tennis star and current comedy protégé.

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Michael Kosta. Comedian. Celebrity (Kind of). Love Maker (He makes love).

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Why he’s worth watching-

Michael Kosta is bursting at the seams with stage presence; he likes to say his name more than Mary Katherine Gallagher likes to say “Superstar,” and he doesn’t just “do” crowd work, but instead “works the crowd”.

Watching Michael Kosta on stage or taking a gander at his behind the scenes clips (“Applebees has it’s own city”) or videos (“Cooking with Carl”), you can tell comedy comes as easily to him as does a forehand volley; it seems effortless: think the opposite of any recent Jack Black movie.

Would you be friends with him?-

Michael Kosta really enjoys the fist bump, with, of course, the subsequent “blow it up,” and quite frankly I could use the reassurance. Also, if a girl happens to ask, “Yes, he is happy to see you, and yes, that is a tennis trophy in his pocket.” Who else can really say that?

His style-

Kosta stays true to his brash and unapologetic stage persona, while still remaining likable and amusing. He uses his surroundings and feeds off of the crowd as well as any young comic around.

Where you may have seen him-

Comedy Central’s ‘Live at Gotham’; ‘Chelsea Lately’; HBO/ US Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colorado; his TBS Southern Comfort commercial breaks; Showtime’s ‘Live Nude Comedy’; Montreal Just For Laughs Festival; the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show; and, two seasons of hosting “CCHA All Access” on Fox Sports.

His material-

Expect alcohol, parents, his tennis trophy (which he may just whip out), the Midwest and, of course, “high school asses”.

Who would he have voted for in the last election?

Clearly, Michael would have carefully analyzed the candidates and his or her campaign materials (“John McCain had a bowel movement today, so that’s good news”) in order to make an informed decision. Then he would have gone ahead and voted for himself as a write-in and sent in an audition video consisting of himself in front of an American flag just repeating his name seductively for 30 minutes straight.

BEST Bit(s)-

Check out “German girlfriend,” “Contact Lenses,” and “Mississipians”

Here’s a clip

For more on Michael please see his website: www.michaelkosta.com, www.Facebook.com/MichaelKosta

www.MySpace.com/MichaelKosta

And, of course, check LaughStub to catch Michael Kosta stand-up live… you won’t regret it!

Got a comic that I need to hear about?

Email me at thejaypt2@yahoo.com