RRX: First, I wanted to say that I feel out of place not bringing a bag of seafood and shellfish as a gift, like you did for Ron Bennington when you were interviewed on his Portcast. What was it like being a part of that? (Ron Bennington is a beloved comedian and host of The Bennington Show on SiriusXM, and has an interview show called Portcast where he interviews comedians while receiving chemotherapy for Stage 4 Colon Cancer. Fidance and Dave Attell lovingly but comedically brought in a bag of fresh seafood as a gift.)
IF: I’ll never live that down (laughs). I thought, “If I was in the hospital, what would I want?” I would love a prime rib or something. I panicked on what to get him. I wanted to get him a steak from NY’s Smith & Wollensky’s, but I thought, “Probably not the best for someone battling colon cancer, but you know what is a good idea? OYSTERS!”
RRX: You were on Jim Norton’s podcast, and I laughed when he mocked you for bringing them in and said, “Ya – let’s have a celebratory mollusk!”
IF: That was great. Jim had the line of the show, though, when he said, “What are you supposed to give a guy with stage four colon cancer, tickets to NEXT YEAR’S Super Bowl!?” That was the best line.
RRX: What’s it like doing his podcast? Being interviewed in his house while his dog is running around in the video in the background pooping on the floor.
IF: It was great. I spent half of the time there trying to convince him to get a cat! I’ve been doing comedy for 16 years, and I looked up to these guys. Now Attell is like a dad to me, and I get to talk to Norton on the phone. It’s a job, but it’s become a really great life.
RRX: You are becoming one of the greats. You are getting acknowledged by guys like Ron Bennington and other New York comics as one of the best in the business.
IF: Wow. That’s really great to hear.
RRX: I’m also a cat guy. We have both had cats named Samson.
IF: Yeah, I love cats. I have my two cats’ names tattooed here on my arms – Samson and Glenn. Every time I pack my luggage to leave, Samson jumps in with one of his toys and wants to go with me. It’s like they don’t want me to leave.
RRX: As you can see, I’m wearing a T-shirt of the NES Pro Wrestling game for you in homage to your YouTube show, “Ian Do.”
IF: Ya! I did a two-part episode with AEW (All Elite Wrestling)!
RRX: I’m a fan of AEW. Do you watch the products?
IF: I’m absolutely familiar with AEW. I started watching during the pandemic. Their storylines are amazing. Two of my dear friends work with the company doing props, and they hooked me up with being able to do the episode on my travel show. Everyone was so kind. It was such a wonderful experience.
RRX: Even as a lifelong wrestling fan, I was learning stuff as you were working with the ring crew, and then while you were learning how to be a character in the ring. People think the ring is like a trampoline. It’s not. It’s wood.
IF: Yeah, when I got choke-slammed by Stori, who is a 6’4 female wrestler, I truly felt like my lungs went through my chest. And one thing I love about this travel show is being able to show some of these jobs that people take for granted. People have always given shine to the talent, but I wanted to bring attention to those behind the scenes. They are the reason that these shows exist, so working with them was amazing. I’m so happy with how it turned out, and that true-blue wrestling fans have loved it, which means a lot.
RRX: It’s a very educational episode. You were also doing an episode as a punk rock singer, which I imagine shredded your vocal cords.
IF: I sang with a great hardcore band based out of Salt Lake City called Spent. They asked me to sing on a track for their new album, and we went into the recording studio. I was like, “Ya. My voice is shot, and I still have two hours of doing stand-up and a meet-and-greet. I’m done!” The show has been amazing, and I’ve been getting nothing but positive feedback, which is rare these days.
RRX: What other cities do you want to go to and jobs to do?
IF: I would really love to do roofing and flooring, as I used to be a carpenter, and to do woodworking with someone. But honestly, any job in any town, I would do. It’s all fascinating to me. I’m now 11 years sober, and I do have people asking me to come to work at their brewery or weed farm. I can’t do it. But I’m a hypocrite because I smoke two packs a day, and if I were asked to work at Phillip Morris, I’d be like, “I’ll be there in a heartbeat!”
RRX: I come from a paving family. Is that something you would want to try?
IF: Paving driveways? What, do you come from a Romani Gyspy family? Haha! Man, that is hard. I grew up working a million different jobs. I’d watch paving and welding videos at night, and those guys are just superheroes. It’s no joke.
RRX: Now you’re here for the first annual Saratoga Comedy Festival. What have you thought about it so far?
IF: It’s great! Any time locals can come out and enjoy comedy is wonderful. Travis (Stealey) did such a good job of putting this together, and people are having so much fun. I know the comics are. And I have to give credit to the volunteers who are helping as well. These festivals don’t work without them. It’s good to see everyone with a smile on their face.
RRX: Thanks for taking the time to do this. And enjoy the Saratoga Comedy Festival!
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