Comedian Darcy Michael is releasing his new stand up special directly to his fans through the web.
Darcy Michael: One Skinny Bitch, which came out Thursday at midnight, was filmed at the main Yuk Yuks comedy club in Toronto in early February.
"It's one of my favourite clubs to perform at in the country and I really wanted the special to capture exactly what coming to a live show of mine is like," says Michael, a Ladner resident.
The special captures the essence and the magic of a live stand up show, without frills and gimmicks.
Drawing on material from his life, the special features his favourite stories and jokes, and discusses more serious topics such as his remarkable weight loss, marriage, family and sexuality.
After recovering from a brief but serious health scare, Michael was inspired to turn his life around by focusing on his long-term health. After incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits into his daily life, he underwent a complete transformation, going from a peak of 300 pounds to the lean, athletic size he enjoys today. He's lost a total of 115 pounds to date.
"Do you know how hard it is to spend 18 months living off of hot sauce and toilet paper? It takes true commitment," he jokes.
"It's incredible how different my life is from the amount I sleep to the amount I spend watching TV - it's all changed. Much to the chagrin of my teenage daughter who quite liked the amount of time we spent sitting around watching television instead of now spending our weekends hiking the headwaters or sitting at the beach playing cards.
"I love the new me. And the added benefit is I now wear the same size clothes as my husband Jeremy, so my wardrobe options have doubled. I don't think he shares in the same excitement."
Michael follows a strict workout routine that includes a daily "mini-triathlon" of running, biking, swimming and weight training. Due to celiac disease, he maintains a strict diet as well. Living with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromy-algia, he supports both of these national organizations and their various research campaigns, as well as Colon Cancer Canada.
Michael is currently filming a new comedy talk show: The Skinny with Darcy Michael. Filmed in Winnipeg, his guests include Alan Thicke, Caroline Rhea, Judy Gold, David Steinberg, Harland Williams and more.
Michael says the show is "easily the most fun I've had on television ever."
He has worked alongside many comedian greats, including Harland Williams, Janeane Garofalo, Craig Robinson, Mike Smith and Matthew Perry. Pegged by the Montreal Gazette as one of its favourites at the prestigious Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, he was nominated for a 2010 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Televised Performance.
He has appeared at the Global Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Darcy Michael: One Skinny Bitch is available at www.darcymichael.com. It costs $3.
