Well hello folks, it has been a while.  Just to reacquaint ourselves,  I am Jordon Mazziotti and I am the proprietor of this blog, It’s Always Funny in Salt Lake City and it’s been over a year since we have seen each other.  This week, Always Funny SLC makes it’s glorious return.  I don’t know exactly why I abandoned all of you, but I feel really bad about it and I hope you can forgive me.

We make our triumphant return with the lovely Eileen Dobbins.  She has been on the scene for a short time, but has definitely made a big impact.  There is not a month that you don’t have multiple opportunities to see her onstage.  We have a fandibulous conversation that starts out with Dave from the Chipmunks redemption story, continues with her views on the local comedy scene and ends with her lack of secondary social media presence.

Describe yourself in 10 words or less?

What is your remedy for sadness? Crying in the shower does it for me.

Puppy time! When I’m feeling blue I like to shut myself in my house and hang out with my Pomeranian, Paisley. We binge on Netflix and YouTube clips of David Mitchell. I highly recommend it.

5What is your favorite kind of cheese? Domestic and European? I need specifics.

Is it un-American to prefer European cheese? I’m a brie girl, but I like to branch out.

What is your favorite Chipmunks movie? If you were to write the next one… what would be the plot?

Definitely the one where they ride in a hot air balloon while racing around the world and they nearly get stuck in a Harem. Or is that Around the World in 80 Days? I think it’s time for the franchise to take itself a little more seriously. If I wrote the next one I would center the story around Dave, who (after a lifetime of misdeeds) has hit rock bottom when the chipmunks die in a car crash because of Dave’s drunk driving. While recovering in the hospital he realizes that all of the bad things in his life are a result of Karma and sets out to make things right by making a list of every bad thing he has ever done and making amends item by item.

Why did you start doing stand up comedy?

I thought I was funny and I wanted to see if other people thought so too. The jury is still out.

Who are your biggest inspirations in comedy?

I didn’t really get into listening to stand up until I was an adult. I like smart comics like John Mulaney, Myq Kaplan, and Gary Gulman. I like dry, sardonic wit – probably from all the BBC and old movies I watch. The dialog in the old movies my mom used to make us watch while I was growing up were a big influence on my sense of humor. The Road To movies with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were/are particular favorites.

4How long have you been doing comedy?

I hit my first open mic at Wiseguys about a year and a half ago. I’m a comedy baby.

Who has been the biggest help for you in your comedy career to this point?

This is a tough question. I have received so much help from so many people it would be difficult to single anyone out. I have to give a shout out to my siblings though for going to so many of my shows and listening to so many of my jokes over and over again.

What do you think makes your comedy unique?

Hmmm… I probably make more homeschool jokes than most people. My “comedy voice” is still developing but as female and as a “clean” comic I think I have a voice that is under-represented in comedy.

What has been your favorite show that you have been able to perform at?

I’ve had the privilege of performing on a lot a really great shows in the last year. My favorite would probably have to be the SLUG show in Salt Lake at the Urban Lounge. We had a great crowd, and it was just so much fun to be onstage at that event.

What is your “Golly Gee” comedy moment?

I was really excited and surprised to get into my first ever comedy festival – The SheDevil festival in New York. The idea that they would let me compete with actual comedians in New York City pretty near floored me.

You have a show called “You Gotta Be Kidding”. What is the show all about?

It’s patterned after a terrific British panels show I like to watch called Would I Lie To you. Two teams of comedians compete by reading cards that are either true or false about themselves. The other team tries to guess which it is by asking questions. Witty banter ensues. It’s a lot of fun..

1What was one joke that you have told that has stood out the most?

The first real “bit” I ever wrote is one I have told at a lot of shows about Eileen being an old lady name. If people ever recognize me, they usually mention that bit. Practically everyone has a grandma or elderly aunt named Eileen.

What do you think of the Utah Comedy Scene?

The Utah comedy scene has a lot going for it. There are a bunch of talented, funny people here and many venues that now offer comedy regularly. The only I think we sometimes suffer from is a lack of audience. For some reason I feel like Salt Lake may not have as many comedy supporters as other cities of the same size.

Where do you see it in 5 years?

I think it’s going to continue to grow and develop great comics. Onwards and upwards!!

What is the one thing happening in the comedy scene right now that you are really excited about?

My hope is that diversity of comedy styles in Salt Lake continues to expand the way it has been. There really is something for everyone here in the local comedy scene.

Who is bringing their A Game to the comedy scene in Salt Lake City right now?

I hate questions like this because I always forget people who deserve a mention. I’m also fortunate enough to call some of the funniest people in the city my personal friends. I do want to give a shout out to my friend Jason Harvey though for doing so much for the comedy scene. He runs a monthly show, organized a weekly open mic, and offers a lot of funny people much deserved mic time.

What is your favorite part about performing comedy in Utah?

I love that you can tell jokes about Mormon life and the audience totally understands what you are talking about. This was not the case in Montana, where I grew up.

What shows do you have coming up?

On February 18th I will be a guest at Jason Harvey’s Comedy and Other Opinions. It’s a great show where comics perform a short set and then answer funny questions.

How can people connect with you?

I’m on Facebook (Eileen Dobbins is the name) and twitter (@eileenisajerk). I have Instagram and some of the other social media apps too, but to be honest I think I am too much of an old lady to figure out what I’m supposed to do with them.