Monday
Nicole Pence
Nicole Pence is an Emmy-nominated journalist living in Central Indiana.
Pence joined FOX59 in June 2014 to help launch a brand new newscast, “FOX59 NewsPoint at 11PM.”
The NATAS Lower Great Lakes chapter nominated Pence for an Emmy award for her work as a broadcast anchor in April of 2014.
Before coming to FOX59, Pence solo anchored Indianapolis’ number-one rated weekend morning program, Weekend Sunrise on WTHR. Pence helped to increase ratings nearly twenty percent year to year. Pence left WTHR in November of 2013.
Previously, Pence was nominated for a 2010 regional Emmy Award for her work at WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky as the main morning co-anchor. Pence also received second-place honors as “Best News Anchor” in the 2011 Kentucky Associated Press Awards.
Prior to working at LEX-18, Pence reported for Indiana’s NewsCenter (NBC/ABC/CW) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A midwestern girl, Pence grew up in Columbus, Indiana. She graduated Cum Laude from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with a double major in Communication Arts & Sciences and Spanish and a minor in Political Science. She also earned her Master’s of Public Affairs (MPA) from Indiana University-Purdue University at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indianapolis with high honors. Pence is married.
In her spare time, Pence loves to travel. She lived with a family in Segovia, Spain, studied cooking in Italy, climbed the Great Wall in Beijing, China, crawled through the Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, and tangoed in Argentina!
Pence is involved with several Central Indiana organizations, including Make-A-Wish, Pacers Cares, and the DePauw University Alumni Association. Follow her on twitter.
Tuesday
Costaki Economopoulos
Costaki Economopoulos is a comedian, true, but he’s also a football fan. Those two factors alone make him the perfect candidate to give us a comedic look back at the NFL each week with his new feature that’s also been picked up by The Huffington Post and Bleacher Report. With his Greek heritage, it’s not surprising that he’s been described as a “joke philosopher,” and we’re sure he’s not the only one saying that. Costaki is also a talented joke writer who’s punchlines have been heard on “The Tonight Show,” Showtime, BET, and MTV. Follow Costaki on facebook and twitter. Visit his website here.
Tim Bedore
For longer than we can remember comedian Tim Bedore has been calling in or stopping by to deliver an editorial in which he talks about whatever happens to be on his mind. These musings can range from his relationship with his daughter, to hot topics in the news, and even updates on how the animal kingdom is waging war on mankind. From the Animal Conspiracy to his daughter Claire, Tim takes us inside his mind, and with the help of a few sound effects, puts together one of our favorite features. Follow Tim on Facebook. Visit his website here.
Wednesday
Ms. Pat
Let’s start with Ms. Pat hasn’t lived the life of your typical comedian. Born to a single mother of 5, living on welfare in a tough West end neighborhood of Atlanta, Ms. Pat learned early on she would have to fend for herself in this world. Her Grandfather ran a “bootleg” house where as a kid Pat learned how to roll the drunks for food money. She had her first child at 14 and her second child at 15, “I knew I wasn’t going to college so I figured why not get an early start on my family”. She became a drug dealer in her teens known by the street name “Rabbit”. “I figured there were two things I could do in my neighborhood to earn money, either sell drugs or sell p*@#$y”. At 16 she purchased her first Cadillac. During her teens she was shot twice and arrested numerous times. At 19 years of age she met a man, and with his help and encouragement decided to get out of the “life”. “I was so tired, I thought for sure I was going to end up dead. He was 21 and a military vet and he showed me a way out”.
At 19 with two toddlers and a new husband she is handed 4 more young children from her sister who was struggling with drug addiction. The next 10 years of her life are spent raising those 6 children. Part of that process included visits to the welfare office for food stamps and Section 8 housing assistance for her sister’s children. It was during these visits that Ms. Pat was first told she had a talent for telling funny stories. In 2003 with her case-worker’s encouragement she decided to go on stage and appeared at the Open-Mic-Night at “The Pub” in Atlanta. From the moment she stepped on stage she knew she had found her place. She began pouring punch lines across stages at the rate other moms pour milk at the counter.
With a comedy career now spilling over 9 years this powerful woman brings an honest, in your face, and hilarious perspective to her shows. She has appeared on TV Guide Network’s “Standup in Stilettos”, and Nickelodeons “Mom’s Night Out”. She has an upcoming appearance on BET’s “Comicview” this fall. She is a regular guest on the syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show, and appears on Katt Williams DVD “Kattpacalypse”.
Ms. Pat currently resides with her husband and three children in Indianapolis. Follow her on twitter and facebook here. Visit her website here.
Thursday
Andy Woodhull
Andy made his television debut on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham.. This came the same year that he was invited to perform at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, and The Great American Comedy Festival. He has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom radio show, and was a semi-finalist in CMT’s “Next Big Comic”. He also won the Best of the Midwest Competition at Gilda’s Laugh Fest in 2010. His 2012 album release “Lucy” was named top 10 comedy albums of the year by comedyreviews.com
In 2004 Andy won the St. Louis leg of the Laugh Across America Contest and was invited to perform at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. In 2005 Andy’s unique sense of humor won him the Carnival Comedy Challenge in Chicago. In 2008 Andy won the Butterfinger Comedy Showdown, an online joke-writing contest that ended with a live show final round at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.
Andy who is a former resident of Chicago, where he was named one of four comedians to watch by the Chicago Tribune now lives in Los Angeles. Andy prides himself on his writing, and always delivers with great new material so if you have seen him once come again and see what is new. Follow him on twitter here. Visit his website.
Ben Bergman
Ben Bergman grew up in a family that was constantly changing through divorce and remarriage so he is good at meeting new people. He then proceeded to embrace his innate talent of making fun of himself and his family.
He has since performed in the TBS Just For Laughs Festival in Chicago and can be seen constantly performing across the country from the city he calls home, Chicago.
Friday
Michael Palascak
After moving around the Midwest during his early years, Michael Palascak (Pal-a-sack) ended up in Wabash, Indiana– “The First Electrically Lighted City in the World.” He spent his formative years there, and then, after college, moved to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy and living at home with his parents.
In the last three years, Michael debuted on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He also performed at The TBS LOL Lounge in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago. He also has performed at Caesar’s Palace in The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas and was the winner of HBO’s Lucky 21 Stand-up Contest. He won the Chicago region of Comedy Central’s Open Mic Fight and went on to make his Comedy Central debut on Live at Gotham Season 3. Last year, he was selected as one of 12 comedians in America and internationally to debut his half hour special on the inaugural season of Comedy Central’s The Half Hour.
Desiring to perform all forms of comedy, Michael took sketch and improv classes at The Second City in Chicago, iO, and Annoyance. In Chicago, Michael debuted his one-person sketch show–Pursuing Happiness: A bunch of scenes about people that moved out of their parents’ house, got a real job and got married. Performed by a guy who didn’t.
Michael connects to the youthful innocence in everyone as he relates his stories onstage. From becoming an uncle to going down water slides, Michael’s stories allow everyone to laugh a lot.
Michael made his television debut on WGN—The Bozo Show, Age 9, Large Boot Relay Team Blue (Runner-up).