Jamie Alcroft "Laffs 4 Life" Organ Donor Project/Standup Comedy update! Bonus Show #122

Jamie Alcroft (previously part of popular comedy team of "Mack & Jamie" and TV's "Comedy Break") has done it again! About 18 months ago we did an interview where Jamie was trying to set up an Organ Donor "Thank-you" program at comedy clubs. The "Comedy & Magic Club" in Hermosa Beach was the first supporter. BUT now the "Levity Live" company and all the "Improvisation" comedy clubs around the country are offering Free Admittance to standup comedy shows each month to peopl who signed up as Organ Donors....an amazing program!

Jamie Alcroft, a comedian known for his work as part of the comedy duo Mac and Jamie, and for hosting the TV show "Comedy Break", is on a mission to promote organ donation through his Laughs for Life program. Inspired by his own heart transplant experience, Alcroft launched this initiative to offer free comedy shows to organ donors, thereby raising awareness and encouraging more individuals to register as donors. The program, which has already been successful in 12 comedy clubs nationwide, including the Comedy Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, aims to expand further, incorporating music venues as well. By collaborating with renowned figures like comedian Alonzo Bowden and organizations such as Levity Live, Alcroft hopes to spread the message of organ donation while bringing laughter and gratitude to those who support this invaluable cause.

(00:01:00) Comedy Shows Promoting Organ Donation Initiative

(00:03:39) Laughter Inspires Organ Donation Awareness Movement

(00:04:32) Laughs for Life: Comedy Promoting Organ Donation

Transcript

Announcer: 0:04

This is another episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and emcee celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and emcee, Scott Edwards.

R. Scott Edwards: 0:21

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast. I have a very special bonus show for you. About a year ago, year and a half ago, a really good friend of mine, a superstar in the world of stand up comedy, was putting together this new organ transplant program with comedy clubs around the country. Why? Because he went through a heart transplant himself. In fact, he has a book out called the Tin man if you get a chance. And he's here with us to kind of give us an update on the success of his new Laughs for Life program. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my good friend, Jamie Alcroft.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:00

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:07

You used to be part of the very successful comedy team of Mac and Jamie. I was, yeah. You had your own TV show, Comedy Break.

Jamie Alcroft: 1:15

I did.

R. Scott Edwards: 1:16

You did. But now, as both of us reach the latter part of our careers in comedy, you have taken a personal tragedy of going through a heart transplant and turned it into such a special program, helping people understand and sign up for being an organ donor, which is so important. Would you please explain to the audience what this is and who's supporting you?

Jamie Alcroft: 1:42

Sure, Scott. First of all, the book is called the Tin Man Diaries. Tin man needed a heart and so did I. So I was laying there for three months waiting for a heart. My heart was down to 5%, and they told me I might not make it. So I just figured I'd start writing. I was originally going to call Life Story my autobiography. I'm going to Miss Me when I'm Gone. But I decided because. Thank you. Because of the circumstances became the Tin Man Diaries. And I just started writing about my life and all the things I remembered and all the things that have made me the person that I am now. What happened is I got this previously enjoyed heart from some guy in Northern California. It was 56 years old when I received it. I was 68 at the time. So it was a little 10 year bump. It was nice. 12. 10, 12 year bump. I thank him every day. A wind will blow, a bird will sing. Something will happen where I'll be reminded that I am still alive. And I thank him. I just look up and say, hey, thanks, man. And I was frustrated because I don't know if he hears me or not. And I know that there were thousands, if not millions of people out there. In the world today who have already made a commitment to become donors upon their death. And I wanted to thank them for that promise of life. And so I started this program where on a certain night of the month, it was the first Thursday of the month actually, donors would get in for free to the Comedy Magic club in Hermosa Beach. And Mike Lacy, who is our true mensch, worked with me on this and helped me make it come to fruition. We did it for 10 months, and what happened was we averaged 50 extra people in the audience per show.

R. Scott Edwards: 3:38

Oh, that's good.

Jamie Alcroft: 3:39

So they got it for free, but they drank and they ate, and more importantly, they laughed. And they made it a better show for not only the comedian, but for the entire audience just by being there. So those 50 extra people in the seats makes a big. A big difference on so many levels. And now the program, I'm calling it Laughs for life. And all 12 of the improvisation comedy clubs across the country have agreed to have Laughs for Life shows throughout the month. Now, I just sent a notice to the local donate Life chapter in Milwaukee, where there's an improv. And there are going to be seven shows in the month of April where donors can get in for no cover charge.

R. Scott Edwards: 4:32

Wow, that's exciting. What a great opportunity. That helps the improv. It helps people become donors. It makes people aware of the importance of this great honor of being a organ donor. Jamie, what a great job getting it out there.

Jamie Alcroft: 4:50

Thanks, man. Thanks. I mean, in Pittsburgh, we've got two shows with Alonzo Bowden, who gave a kidney to his brother. He happened to be a match for his brother, and so he gave a kidney to his brother and saved his brother's life. And that's pretty cool. I mean, you realize that 18 people a day die because the organs they need aren't available.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:14

Oh, man.

Jamie Alcroft: 5:16

Kidneys alone kill 25 people a day.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:19

Oh, geez.

Jamie Alcroft: 5:21

Well, you know, we really need to get people to sign up to be donors to give life upon death. There's no down. And you know something? You're not going to know it's happening.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:32

Right, right, right. And it's such an important thing. So, ladies and gentlemen, out there in the listening world, become an organ donor. And then if you just want a little appreciation, take advantage of the Laughs for Life program at any improv or improvisation comedy club or any levity Live.

Jamie Alcroft: 5:52

Scott, the Levity lives own the improvs. So it's the Huntsville Levity Live. The Oxnard Levity Live.

R. Scott Edwards: 5:59

Oh, wow. That's even more. That's great.

Jamie Alcroft: 6:02

So it's 12 clubs nationwide and I really hope that it catches on. I want to eventually get to music venues so that they can do it. It's just a win win for everybody.

R. Scott Edwards: 6:14

Well, congratulations to Jamie Alcroft for putting together Laughs for Life, this great program where organ donors get a chance to get some free comedy, bring some laughter into their life, but also possibly as an organ donor, save the life of somebody else. We want to thank the Levity Live Company, the Improv, the Comedy Magic Club. There's so many people behind this, Jamie.

Jamie Alcroft: 6:40

Oh, my goodness. Yeah, it's been wonderful. It's been. You said it was about a year ago. It feels like it was about 37 years ago.

R. Scott Edwards: 6:48

Yeah, time has flying.

Jamie Alcroft: 6:49

I think that's a more accurate figure.

R. Scott Edwards: 6:50

And ladies and gentlemen, if you want an inspirational reading that's full of comedy and fun, check out the Tin Man Diaries. Jamie Alcroft, thank you so much for coming back on the podcast and sharing.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:03

You're true champion of comedy. You're a true champion of comedy, dude.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:06

Well, we want to thank Jamie Alcroft and his great work for setting up people and helping them understand the importance of being an organ donor. Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear for Jamie Alcroft.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:19

Oh, please, please, please. Stand up. Please stand up. Stand up.

R. Scott Edwards: 7:24

Thank you so much for being on the show, ladies and gentlemen. We'll be back next Sunday with our regular program. Jamie, take care of yourself. Continued health and success. And thank you for bringing the Laughs for Life program to life.

Jamie Alcroft: 7:38

Oh, thank you, Scott. I gratefully remain.

Announcer: 7:42

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy. Your host and emcee. For information on the show merchandise and our sponsors or to send comments to Scott, visit our website at www.standupyourhost and mc.com. look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near.