By Danny Coleman
originally published: 07/09/2020
"That's why I'm on your show, something big is gonna come from this," laughed comedian Poppy Champlin as we talked Covid-19, comedy, bird calls, swim suits and more on an upcoming episode of "Danny Coleman's Rock On Radio."
Being a stand-up comedian is not an easy living; it takes guts, a thick skin, creativity, the abilities to improvise and think on your feet and you often may be called upon to switch gears at a moment's notice. Champlin possesses all of these skills so; what led her to become a comic?
"I started in Rhode Island as a stand up right out of college because I got the bug while I was in college; comedy was really taking off then. Remember the late 70's and early 80's? There were comedy clubs opening up everywhere, everybody had a comedy club and so I thought; I wanna get in on that action. So, I did and it takes a long time to become funny and to be able to handle yourself on stage and be able to be funny every night; it took a long time. So, I moved out of Rhode Island and went to Chicago and went through the Second City situation and there were lots of big clubs in Chicago and I got into all of those and hooked up with a bunch of great comedians and learned a lot. Then I went out to L.A. to get my sitcom because everyone who was a comedian was getting a sitcom and I was like, if Lenny Clarke can get one; I can get one," she said jokingly. "So, I went out there and almost; I almost got everything that I wanted. I ended up working my ass off and missing; it's like when you're fishing and you've got one on the line and ooh, I just missed it. There were a bunch of great moments where I could've almost made it but hey, I've got stuff. Joan Rivers made me "America's Funniest Real Woman," I was on ShowTime, I got on "Comics Unleashed" with Byron Allen, I was on HBO, A & E, I got on Oprah, VH1; I did a lot of stuff but I didn't get the big brass ring; ya' know?"
Everything it's said, comes full circle and Champlin returned back to her New England roots wiser and undeterred due to less than terrific circumstances but even in times of sorrow there are bright spots and she made the best of a tough situation.
"My dad passed in 2010 and he left this little shack in the woods; I really wanted a house. Ultimately that was sort of a big goal of mine; to get a house and some land. So, I came back to scoop it up; my brother was still here so I had to buy him out and somehow, some bank foolishly gave me a line of credit and I got enough money to buy him out and redo it and here I sit in a beautiful little shack with five acres of woods around me (laughs)."
One of her routines is from the great outdoors; literally. Champlin it seems has the ability to do bird calls and she does them well.
"I learned to do the loon on the snowy banks of Yawgoo Valley Ski Area here in Rhode Island," she explained with the now familiar laugh. "My sister's boyfriend would do this call and I was like; what the hell is that? It was good because I could hear him all over the ski slope and I always knew where to find him. It does kind of sound like a loon so I say it's a loon (laughs). I can do an owl, a pigeon, a turkey, a seagull. I like the seagull when they come up to you and ask for food and they like chatter at you and then they're happy when you get rid of them by throwing your sandwich at them (laughs)."
Much like the rest of the entertainment world, live performances have ground to a screeching halt for Champlin and her ilk but thankfully there's video and she has taken advantage of the opportunities which have come her way.
"I shot a show in New York called "Pride Parade of Stand-Up" and there's a bunch of really good comics on there and it's going to be on Sirius XM and streaming on The Virtual Comedy Network; pretty much the running theme is that we're all gay. Gay comics, straight comics; we all had to come up through the ranks and it's tough to still be a comic right now. I mean; making a living at it? My God..."
"I had a bunch of shows cancelled; I was going to be in Baltimore and Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati and then Syracuse and that all got trashed; so, my redo is going to start in September. I'm going to try putting it all back together in September; I had a boat cruise in France that I was supposed to do as well and that got busted; I will go international but not until they let us go."
Poppy considers herself somewhat of an "Observational" comic but she can also be quite chameleon like if she must; utilizing that quick wit at opportune times serves her well.
"I think because I've lived through all of the genres and know them all and realize that there's validity in every genre. I'm more of an observational comedian myself but when I find an audience that is rowdy and they are a rowdy audience that wants to play; oh boy, they are in for some fun with me because I'll play. It can become somewhat insulting to them but in a funny and fun way. I don't try and hurt people but I make sure what I say is on that line of this could be hysterical or could be painful for this person; I try to put it just on the edge of where it's not painful to them but hysterical to everybody else."
Self-deprecating humor is a tool in every comic's box and Poppy uses hers well.
"A lot of people suffer from lower back pain; I'm suffering from lower fat pain right now. I have definitely put on the COVID 19 but it's not easy to reveal; you know (laughs)? So, I've been wearing not a one piece, not a two piece but a three piece; which is a two piece with a curtain that goes over the whole thing so that nobody hurts their eyes...."
Does she have any advice for those who may be considering becoming a comedian?
"Yes, you have to be daring and you have to be brave and you have to just venture out there, it's like walking the plank. You've got to venture out there because you're not gonna know if you can do it or not unless you go do it."
To discover more about Poppy Champlin, please visit www.poppychamplin.com or www.poppycockprod.com .
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listingsArtworks Trenton 19 Everett Alley Trenton (609) 394-9436 Sat. 6 p.m. Opening Reception AAN SelectsBroken Goblet Brewing 2500 State Road Bensalem, PA (267) 812-5653 Thurs. 7 p.m. Mike EstabrookFri. 8:30 p.m. Dana, Ron & Mr. CClubhouse at Mountain View 850 Bear Tavern Road Ewing (609) 771-0400 Fri. 6 p.m. Ernie WhiteCOARadio.com 125 South Main Street Hightstown (609) 241-7103Sun. 7 p.m. "Rock On Radio" feat. Comic Poppy Champlin, Mick Chorba, Brian ErickCooper's Riverview 50 Riverview Plaza Trenton (609) 393-7300Thurs.Fri. 7 p.m. Plush BandSat. 7 p.m. "Social Saturdays" feat. Slick RhodesTues. 8 p.m. Karaoke w/ Karen and MarkAll Events Ages 21+Cream Ridge Winery 145 Route 539 Cream Ridge (609) 259-9797 Sun. 1:15 p.m. Ronnie BrandtHavana New Hope
105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA. (215) 862-9897 Fri. (8 p.m.) Eric Clapton Tribute w/ "Bell Bottom Blues." Doors open at 6 p.m., $20 (Minimum of 4 tickets MUST be purchased) Sun. 2 p.m. Southern Steel-A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allmman Brothers Band and More. Doors open at 1 p.m., $15 (Minimum of 4 tickets MUST be purchased) Hopewell Valley Vineyards 46 Yard Avenue Pennington (609) 737-4465 Thurs. 6 p.m. RoundaboutFri. 6 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. Craig Leach GroupSat. 6 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. Living The DreamSun. 3 p.m. "Jazzy Sundays" feat. A Little Bit Off Iron Plow Vineyards 26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus (732) 306-9111 Fri. 7 p.m. Karly & MeSun. 2 p.m. Jerry SteelePatriots Crossing 1339 River Road Titusville (609) 737-2780 Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic NightWed. 7 p.m. "Quizzo" Robbinsville Community ConcertTown Center Lake Drive Gazebo, RobbinsvilleTues. 7 p.m. Rich Scanella GroupSparky World Famous Beer Garden4333 New Falls Road Levittown, PA(215) 943-2321Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke1867 Sanctuary 101 Scotch Road Ewing (609) 392-6409 Wed. 6 p.m. Poetry Cafe (FREE)Temperance House 5 South State Street Newtown, PA (215) 944-8050 Thurs. 7 p.m. Steve Guyger & Filthy Rich Sat. 7 p.m. Two For FlinchingTues. 8 p.m. Trivia w/ Righteous Jolly (outdoors) Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Cara Cartney Terhune Orchards 330 Cold Soil Road Princeton (609) 924-2310 Sat. 1 p.m. Jeff PengueSun.12 p.m. "Sunday Music Series" feat. Greg McGarveyThe Ivy Inn 248 Nassau Street Princeton (609) 921-8555 Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Rockin' Ron Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv Wed. 10 p.m. Total Request w/ DJ Rockin' Ron The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge (609) 208-0050 Fri. 7 p.m. DC DuoThe Vibe Lounge at MastorisRoute 130 and Route 206 Bordentown(609) 298-4650Tues. 7 p.m. TriviaTrain Wreck Distillery25 Madison Avenue Mount Holly(609) 288-6300Thurs. 5 p.m. Fri. 7 p.m. Joe VadalaTrenton Social 449 South Broad Street Trenton (609) 989-7777 Thurs. (5 p.m.) "Happy Hour Throwback Thursday" (8 p.m.) EDM Hosted by Jay Kountree Mon. 8 p.m. "Monday Night Karaoke" Hosted by SweetsTues. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Kyle & MikeTriumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location) 400 Union Square New Hope, Pa. (215) 862-8300 Sun. 7 p.m. Open Stage Village Idiot Brewing Company42 High Street Mount Holly(609) 975-9270Sun. 1 p.m. Open MicWorking Dog Winery 610 Windsor Perrineville Road Hightstown (609) 371-6000 Sat. 1 p.m. Winery CatzSun. 1 p.m. CatmoondaddyWWFM 89.1 FM HD2 RadioMCCC Old Trenton Road West WindsorJazzon2.orgMon. 7 p.m. "Danny Coleman's Got The Blues"
About the author:
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
The Righteous Brothers: Lovin’ Feelin’ Farewell Tour
Sunday, November 08, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJBlue-eyed soul pioneers The Righteous Brothers are back! With a string of #1 clas-sics, including the most played song in radio history,
You’ve Lost
That Lovin’ Fee/in’, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield topped the charts in four decades. After Bobby’s death in 2003, Bill Medley con-tinued to perform to sold-out crowds around the world, but fans and friends pleaded with him to keep The Righteous Brothers alive.
Beat: Belew/vai/levin/bozzio Performing The Music Of King Crimson
Monday, November 09, 2026 @ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Prudential Hall
1 Center Street, Newark, NJFollowing more than 100 acclaimed performances across North and South America, Europe, and Japan, BEAT returns this fall for the last North American tour. Former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin are joined by guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and legendary drummer Terry Bozzio to perform the music of the three landmark 1980s King Crimson albums—Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJJoe Russo's Almost Dead is Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger and Joe Russo. We're a Grateful Dead cover band.
Mccarter At The Museum: An Evening With Jason Robert Brown
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Princeton Art Museum
45 Elm Drive, Princeton, NJJoin us for McCarter at the Museum - renowned performing artists in one-night only events at the Princeton University Art Museum.
Jason Robert Brown is a four-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon In Vegas and The Connector, has performed as a soloist or with his band in venues around the world, including sold-out shows at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. His albums as a singer-songwriter include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and How We React and How We Recover on Ghostlight, and Coming From Inside the House and Live In Concert with Stephen Sondheim on Concord.
With Special Guest Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe. Tony Award-nominated actress Betsy Wolfe is currently starring as Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, following her recent Broadway run as Madeline Ashton in the hit musical Death Becomes Her. She previously originated the title role in Joy, the new musical inspired by inventor Joy Mangano, and earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her celebrated performance as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Other Broadway credits include starring as Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in the acclaimed revival of Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the Shade, as well as her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years. Wolfe made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Fledermaus and has appeared as a guest artist with more than 65 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen credits include First One In, Estella Scrooge, CBS’s Instinct, and the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. Wolfe is also the co-founder of BroadwayEvolved, the acclaimed musical theatre training program she launched in 2018 to train and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.
A limited number of early access tickets for McCarter Director’s Circle members and members of the Museum’s Partner Circle are available, on sale Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. General public on sale begins Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Please be aware there is no public drop-off or parking at the Museum. For visitors with mobility needs, please contact the Museum at least three business days in advance of your visit to request special access to the Museum via Elm Drive. Call 609-258-3788 and select option 1 to speak to a visitor services staff member, or email Louise Barrett at [email protected].
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJThe legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock’n’roll group JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the “Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack”. The hit single “ON THE DARK SIDE” held the “#1” position on the Billboard Rock charts and the MTV video charts for five consecutive weeks.
EVENT PREVIEWS
The Newton Theatre presents Puss N Boots featuring Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and Catherine Popper
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Puss N Boots featuring Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and Catherine Popper on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Grunin Center's "Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" Celebrates 100 Years of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five Recordings
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts' "Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" series brings a century of jazz history to the stage this fall with a celebration of Louis Armstrong's groundbreaking Hot Five recordings, featuring trumpeter Andrew Stephens on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 3:00pm.
U.K. Folk Trio, The Longest Johns, to Perform at The Vogel
(RED BANK, NJ) -- U.K. folk trio The Longest Johns will perform at the Vogel on Sunday, November 8, 2026. They are are known the world over for their rollicking harmonies and raucous energy, blowing new wind into the sails of traditional sea shanties and work songs. They are on a U.S. tour to support their latest release End of the Earth. Showtime is 7:00pm.
State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band was formed in Brooklyn, NY in 2013. While they are a Grateful Dead cover band, they are known more for interpreting songs by the Dead rather than attempting to replicate the band's work.
NJPAC presents Gregory Porter with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell
(NEWARK, NJ) -- With a voice that can fill a concert hall and make every listener feel personally embraced, Gregory Porter has become one of the most beloved artists in contemporary jazz. On Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm, the two-time GRAMMY® winner returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell for an evening of soulful expression, exquisite storytelling and remarkable vocal artistry, presented as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Princeton Folk Music Society presents Kate Taylor
(PRINCETON, NJ) — The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Kate Taylor on Friday, November 20, 2026 in an evening of upbeat and bubbling song filled with enthusiasm and love. The concert takes place at Christ Congregation Church in Princeton. Showtime is 8:00pm. A livestream option is available as well.
NJPAC to Celebrate Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday with All-Star Concert on November 21st
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday Concert on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 8:00pm. This special one-night only celebration is part of NJPAC’s 2026 TD James Moody Jazz Festival (November 6-22). Several of today's leading Broadway stars and vocalists unite for a spectacular birthday bash performance toasting the legendary actor/dancer/singer Ben Vereen who turns 80 on October 10, 2026.
Musicians on a Mission to Celebrate 16th Anniversary with Gala Concert at Jersey Shore Arts Center
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Musicians on a Mission (MOAM) will celebrate sixteen years of friends helping friends through music with a special anniversary gala and concert on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove.
