Our History
The Misplaced Comedy Group found its beginnings in late 1999, when actor and radio personality Steven Grabo and close friend Jeffrey Prekop won several awards at a National Competition in the performing arts. Realizing that they only lived a mile from each other, they started writing comical radio skits and commercials for broadcast. After hosting several comedy clubs, Steve was introduced to Jennifer Feliciano, Jeff brought in his brother Dave Prekop, and the four of them started to perform Theater Games! John Gradick, Steve’s previous boss at the radio conglomerate and now next-door neighbor, also got in on the action. It was during this time that they started recording material that would change their reputable images forever!
During the 9/11 attacks of the World Trade Center, Jeff showed up at Steve’s door in a dazed confused shock, with the concept to record a song parody that would be heard across the country and become the #1 Internet Comedy Song on MP3.COM for five straight months! “The Bin Laden (Banana Boat) Song” became a top hit on their CD “The Afghan Files,” and pretty soon skits like “Muslim Barbie” and “The Afghanistan Dating Game” became some of the most requested downloads on the Internet.
The four then started focusing on promoting a ‘live’ show that could present their studio material with a new trend that was just starting to hit America’s comedy culture, Interactive Theater Games. While setting up performance dates, the four of them started getting cast in separate performances. Steve started getting leading roles in independent film projects, Jen was performing Stand-up and raising a family, while Dave and Jeff were performing Shakespeare and also in the middle of starting their own families.
In 2003, Many changes came into play after the new location was established.
Joining the new cast were: Traci ‘Keychain’ Kanaan, Bryan Tupper, Loren Evans, Stan Koci, Melissa Holmes, Tami Vaughan, Kevin Allen, Linda Cleet & BOB! (…who grew up with Steve, and eventually became the webmaster for the this site from 2003-’06).
A New Logo was developed, and an entirely new interactive website was created (as previous fans can tell), which included a Forum where Misplaced Fans and Members could interact and post MCG’s Latest Happenings. Also! A brand new line of “Misplaced Gear” was made available for fans all around to show their support for Misplaced Comedy!
Of course, along with all these changes… came all new Material!
The CD “Good Eats” made it’s Debut with the MP3.com #1 comedy Hit “Martha’s American Pie,” a song dedicated to the Martha Stewart trial, which deemed televisions leading story at the time.
The troupe then took to the stage with an entirely new show that featured a variety format that included improv, as well as their sketches and characters found on their CD’s. This new show gave audiences the opportunity to actually ‘see’ the voices and characters heard from their CD’s. Audience members also witnessed for the first time, the Misplaced Comedy’s “Joke Board.” A giant 12 foot logo that enabled members to pop out of hidden doors, tell a joke and break up a scene, … a wall inspired by Rowan and Martin’s “Laugh-In.”
The shows were then followed by several months of production, for the simultaneous release of CDs “Absurd Sensationalism” and “Misplaced Holidays.” They were both released simultaneously in late October 2004, and spoofed the National Election, as well as other current events of the time. The parody song, “Swift Boats (Are a Comin’)” became an electoral hit, as it reached number four on the Internet comedy charts. The Nationally Syndicated radio show, “The Dr. Demento Show,” also featured a classic episode of “The Elderly Superfolks”.
Then in 2005, realizing that they were able to expand in their productions, they started to produce videos to add to the many features on their website, with hopes to involve the
new material in collaboration with their evolving website and technologies.
They’ve also adapted to the constantly changing mediums found on the Internet, by producing Podcasts. in 2005, While people were only voicing their political opinions and teeny bopper love poems into their built-in computer microphones, The MCG used this new medium to actually produce half-hour radio shows which included segments from prior CD’s, as well as new and previously unreleased material. They became one of the very first Podcasts to be featured on iTunes, and eventually gained recognition and podcast awards for their productions in their use of the new technology.
The Misplaced Comedy Group continued to keep writing and producing new batches of skits and parodies, while booking and promoting a new live show!
In late 2005, early ’06, continuing in the madness were new members Janet Day, Annie Jackson and Mackenzie Karney, rounding out a complete cast of seasoned characters.
Their release of the CD, “Un-Real Estate” focused on making sport of several issues that pronounced eminent doom for an over glamorized and promising market/economy… who knew, eh?
“Unreal Estate” spawned several top 10 Internet comedy singles, including the #1 single “Flu Bird”, a parody song about the avian flu epidemic.
The CD featured twice as many sketches, songs and parodies than their previous releases, allowing almost 80 minutes of material all in one package.
By the end of 2006, after 10 months of preparation, Misplaced Comedy’s Live and Video Show “Misplaced Mayhem” made it’s debut. The show featured live interactive video, which had never been done before by any independent comedy act ever, as well as implemented a more burlesque style of humor within their sketches and stand-up material.
“Misplaced Mayhem” was definitely ahead of its time. During the show, The MCG Players were able to utilize the entire stage, with their 12 foot Joke Board and 10 foot interactive video screen… allowing absolutely no ‘dead time’ in between their sketches, parodies and improv bits.
In late 2006, The MCG Mascot, Squeaks passed away as well as several close members to the troupe… Memorandums were placed during the closing credits.
The “Misplaced Mayhem” shows ran through the Spring of 2007, where American Idol Magazine listed them as one of “The Best Emerging Artists” of 2006 (Volume 3 – Issue #2). Sarasota Magazine also posted a photo and mentioned them in a brief story about local talent on Florida’s Gulf Coast. [/tab] 2008 was a year of recuperation from the live shows, but not for The MCG’s studio recordings… “The Vault”, was completed to record future endeavors and CDs, as well as edit video clips from the previous live shows.
Several members also took time off to pursue other ventures. Janet, Mac and Linda moved out of State, while Steve joined up with several old band mates to form “Bob’s Band”, named after best buddy BOB! (who was the roadie & tech guru).
In 2009, Steve & Bryan got together to continue recording several Podcasts, and released “The Original Podcasts” CD. The CD included the first 2 groundbreaking Podcasts Shows, that originally aired in 2005. The inner sleeve included photos of the troupe during the recordings and live shows, as well as brief stories behind the scenes of each of the sketches, song parodies and commercials.
During this time, a video of Steve & Bryan can be found of the famous “Mentos Battle Royal”, where the two battle it out arena style in a massive sugar frenzy!
Members of The MCG were also cast in the film “Perception”, a film directed by John Pocino. The film is due for release in late 2010.
With the MCG constantly evolving New members have joined in on the madness!
New Members: Erica Pead, Kerri Stringer, Ken Shields, Joyce & Allen Kretschmar joined in 2009, as The MCG dives into new territory.
The MCG have already started recording for their New CD, along with new videos and animation to go along with the plans of an even larger live showcase.
The new and updated website is in the works which will implement a more user friendly 3-D look with updated bios, galleries, videos and all the things you need to know about The Misplaced Comedy Group!
Fans can now become MC Groupies by passing the word of The MCG and sending pics of themselves wearing MCG memorabilia. Groupies also get free stuff and advance tickets to their shows.
With all of these new projects going on, Misplaced Comedy Fans should definitely keep posted to the websites and podcasts for new news on their upcoming events and live performances. As long as The Misplaced Comedy Group is around, fans everywhere will be blessed with some of the most current, sick and twisted humor around.
With the start of a New Decade, comes the start of an entirely New MCG!
In 2010, “Back For More Abuse” was released showing off a new blend of comedic parodies and sketches. With this CD, The MCG continued their comical awareness of global, environmental and economic issues with parody performances like ‘Billion Dollar Bailout’ , ‘Drill Baby’ , ‘ School Policy’ and ‘Healthcare 2010’, while bringing back #1 singles “Call The Police” and “I’m Not Drunk Enough Yet (To Love You)”. The compilation continued along the lines of a variety format similar to their award winning podcasts with witty commercial and sketches placed between various song parodies which included Top parody songs “Because you Died” , “Call me (The Cougar Song)” and ‘Cowards’, all written and performed by Kerri Stringer. A slew of videos also followed promoting the CD, including a spoof reality show showcasing the making of the CD itself.
After a year of working and filming the new material, Steven Grabo started working on a solo music project. In November 2012, “Grabo” was released, under the Misplaced Music umbrella. The first single from the CD, “Lust”, spawned a music video which included most of the current cast members of Misplaced Comedy. A follow up to that CD is Scheduled for release in 2014.
Right Now, The MCG are writing and recording again, with the resurgence of Janet Day from the 2006 “Misplaced Mayhem” cast. This website that you’re viewing right now was developed and launched in November, replacing the previous edition. With new writing, recording and videos in development for the next year… Expect to hear more and more material from The Misplaced Comedy Group as they continue on their quest for global domination.
The new and updated website (which you are probably viewing right now), implements a more user friendly 3-D look with updated bios, galleries, videos and all the things you need to know about The Misplaced Comedy Group!
Fans can now become MC Groupies by passing the word of The MCG and sending pics of themselves wearing MCG memorabilia. Groupies also get free stuff and advance tickets to their shows.
With all of these new projects going on, Misplaced Comedy Fans should definitely keep posted to the websites, twitter, blog feeds and podcasts for any new news on their upcoming events and live performances. As long as The Misplaced Comedy Group is around, fans everywhere will be blessed with some of the most current, sick and twisted humor around.
