Ex Cop Mike Armstrong

May 2 - 3

He Has The Right to Remain Silly. Mike Armstrong was the type of cop most people wouldn't mind seeing in their rearview mirror. He liked to stop drivers to warn them of the speed traps ahead, just to see their reaction. "I really wasn't into writing tickets or anything like that," he said. "I think that when I quit the police department three other cops lost their jobs. They simply didn't need that many internal affairs officers anymore!" "I have never laughed so hard at any comedian as I had tonight. This guy was a total riot and told some good cop stories. The crowd was always laughing." - Real Police.net The former lawman has found a more fitting career in comedy. Armstrong was the first headlining comedian at Mason City Limits, which celebrated their 16th anniversary earlier this year. Armstrong like the crowds in Central Illinois, "they're in a good mood as soon as they walk in the door, so that's great. I enjoy it." Armstrong is a regular guest comedian on The Bob & Tom Show, where he is known to listeners as the ex-cop. Bob and Tom helped Armstrong put out his first comedy CD in 2006, "Comedy Police." The funny man was a police officer in Kentucky for 12 years, but he stopped a decade ago to pursue comedy full time. He has appeared on Comedy Central, TNN and NBC and was featured on The Friends of Bob and Tom tour. He described himself as a one-liner comedian who likes to deliver joke after joke. "Mike was fabulous - so funny, clean and just a fun guy all around - his laugh is so contagious, he doesn't even have to tell jokes - if he just stood up there and laughed the whole audience would laugh with him and not even notice he wasnt telling jokes. Love that guy - and this jokes ARE hilarious!" - Debbie Richardson, JR's Last Laugh Comedy Club - Erie, P "Weird stuff just pops into my head, and I'm not afraid to say it," Armstrong said. "That's another reason why I'm popular. I'm always writing, and I'm always making stuff up."

Steve Iott

May 9 - 10

Meet Steve Iott, as in a€˜This Guy's a Riot!' Most comedians are funny early in life, Steve Iott is no exception. "I was able to tell a story and make my parents laugh. At the dinner table when they would ask, "How was school today?" I would do a little monologue to make them laugh," says Iott. Iott has headlined nationwide for over 25 years. "I do straight stand-up, but I involve the audience a lot. I talk to people about their lives and families and the a€˜funny' that happens there it pretty spontaneous. It can't really be duplicated... It's kind of a "in the moment" thing," explains Iott. Steve has appeared on A&E, Comedy Central, and was the opening act for Bill Maher, Steven Wright and Chicago. "I started in the late eighties in Grand Rapids." The club was actually in the mezzanine at this ice hockey rink. The back of the club overlooked the rink. During the show you could hear local club teams smashing into the boards and pucks slamming into the glass," recalls Iott That local comedy club had a Comedy competition to win $50 on a Thursday open mic night. Luckily, I had a good set and won. But I actually won a $50 booking for hosting the weekend showsa€¦ where I proceeded to do all four shows to total silence. Actually I did the next six months of shows to silence, but that one Thursday night when I got laughs kept me going. Audiences are addictive... you get hooked on them," admits Iott. "That first open mic night was like a drug dealer giving me my first little taste for free. Damn you audiences -- I'm an addict!" "My Dad had comedy albums, like Bob Newhart, and I started listening to them. I bought my own (Steve Martin, Martin Mull, Robin Williams) albums and couldn't get enough of it. I would watch Saturday Night Live and all the talk shows whenever there was a comedian on. This was pre-cable TV so I had to go over the TV Guide and map out my television schedule. I would hate it when I comic would get bumped at the end of the Tonight show because the show was running late. I had invested 90 minutes into the show and I had school the next day. I was always up way past my bed time. "Before, during and after college I worked in the golf business -- I was training to become a greens superintendent. In the winter time we would only work one day a week on equipment and that's when I would go do stand-up at clubs," recalls Iott. It was good way to get started...and make the transition to full time comic.