STAND-UP TUESDAYS: Bill Squire

October 4th, 2011

Angie Frissore

Stand-Up Tuesdays is a weekly comedy spotlight written by the wonderfully talented Angie Frissore. Covering both known and unknown comics, Stand-up Tuesdays is your new source for all things funny.

This week, Angie puts a spotlight on Bill Squire and his latest release, Sarcasm Bus. If you or your comedy troupe would like to be featured on Stand-Up Tuesdays, please email utgjames@gmail.com.

Bill Squire would rather be known as the person who died on a rollercoaster – not the person who was too fat to ride it. But we know him as a clever and likable comedian hailing from Ohio. Winner of the 2011 “Car Crash Comedy Contest” on SiriusXm’s Opie and Anthony Show, Squire is a fearless comic who is just seemingly innocent enough to pull off jokes about revenge-via-leukemia and calling his sister-in-law a post-op transvestite.

Sarcasm Bus, Squire’s debut comedy CD, was recorded in 2008 at the Winchester in Lakewood, OH and has that delicious small-club sound to it (I’m always a fan of being able to actually hear the audience’s comments). The CD contains ten tracks of gut-busting humor that definitely puts Squire in the category of underrated. In telling the story of a parking-lot war between him and an old lady, Squire seamlessly transitions into his opinions on CPR:

“When you know CPR, they give you a card that basically says you can save lives. But I don’t think you should get a card if you can save lives; I think you should get a card if your life is worth saving.”

Squire’s credits are probably just as underrated as his humor. In 2008 he was part of the Mitch Across America tribute to Mitch Hedburg, a nationwide tour that celebrated the life of Mitch Hedburg and the release of his last album. He’s also been featured on Comedy Central – albeit, slightly non-traditionally. In 2009, he won the “Show Us Your Best” contest and had his stand up clip aired on Comedy Central and featured on comedycentral.com. That’s certainly one way to do it.

No one is off limits with Squire when it comes to comedy. Although delightfully self-deprecating, he’s also got something to say about all sorts of people – children, British immigrants, Rush fans. But don’t get him wrong, though – Squire’s first and foremost comedy victim remains himself (and his weight).

“I’m not trying to dress nice for you people,” Squire explains early on. “I’m just trying to hide everything. Like, I don’t wear a tie or else this button’s gonna fly off and hit that woman in the face.”

What makes Squire likable is the sense that he was never that bully kid – that jerk kid growing up who picked on others and pushed others around. Quite the opposite, in fact, I can’t help but feel Squire’s comedy is a medium of vindication. It’s his turn now, and you just want to root for him.

At one point, he refers to his early days when he was too young to understand the question when a schoolmate asked who he liked.

“Oh, well I like the fat girl, she’s always got Cheetos.”

Bill Squire’s Sarcasm Bus is available now via digital download – so be sure to snag a copy today, and, if you’re in the Cleveland area, be sure to check out a show. Also, check out Squire in the ever-popular YouTube web series Man in the Box, which has over 60,000 subscribers and close to 200 episodes.