Eddie Ifft returns for two Vail Comedy Shows this week
Comedy Store regular flys in from Los Angeles to hit the slopes and tell jokes
Mark Masters/Courtesy photo
Vail Comedy Show is flying in Los Angeles-based comedian Eddie Ifft this week. Ifft will perform at Lookout Bar at The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon on Wednesday and at Sarah’s Lounge at Christiania Lodge at Vail on Thursday.
Ifft has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC and Showtime. Special guest Paul Ollinger from New York City will also perform. A former Facebook vice president of sales, Ollinger decided to pursue his dream of comedy and has opened for top comics like Daniel Tosh, Dave Attell and Chelsea Handler. Mark Masters will host the shows.
The Vail Comedy Show caught up with Ifft in advance of this week’s shows:
Have you ever performed in the Vail Valley?
I’ve done the Vail Comedy Show a few times — third, fourth, maybe I accidentally lived here for a season? Hard to say. Every show is a blast, the crowds are incredible and the altitude makes the laughs hit extra hard or maybe that’s just the oxygen deprivation. After the shows, I always end up with a group of strangers from the audience that are my new best friends and then I wake up without an eyebrow.
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Do you have a favorite Colorado comedy memory?
I actually did spend a winter here in college, and I remember watching a musician on stage at a bar, taking shots the entire show. He was middle-aged, and I thought, ‘There’s no way this guy can keep this up.’ Fast forward a few years, and I’m on that exact same stage, now middle-aged myself, doing shots and thinking, ‘Oh … he absolutely can.’ Life comes full circle.
Who have been some of your favorite comedians to work with at The Comedy Store?
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible comedians — David Spade, Craig Robinson, Sarah Silverman, Nikki Glaser and Lachlan Patterson. Each one makes me laugh in a completely different way, and every time, I have to pinch myself … mostly to make sure I’m not dreaming, but also because I’m usually sleep-deprived because I have two children and a tour schedule like I’m campaigning for the presidency.
What do you know about Vail Comedy Show?
I’ve been doing the Vail Comedy Show for three or four years now — who’s counting when you’re laughing through hypoxia? Thankfully, I haven’t bombed on stage like I do in the Back Bowls. See what I did there? It’s one of my favorite gigs because it lets me use my comedy to fund my skiing addiction.
Vail has an Aviator Nation store and you have run shows at their Malibu location. What has that been like?
Running a comedy show at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu is like hosting stand-up in a retro surf shack. The venue’s 70s-inspired vibe makes you wonder if you’ve time-traveled, but the price of the cocktails reminds you it’s definitely the 21st century. Meanwhile, in Vail, I’m performing at venues that don’t come with built-in lava lamps, but the audiences are just as chill. Get it, chill? Same type of crowd as Vail, though. A lot of wealthy people with high expectations.
How would you describe your comedy?
I had difficulty describing my own comedy, so I googled myself, and this is what it said: Eddie Ifft is known for his fearless and quick-witted comedic style, often delving into taboo subjects with a caustic humor that challenges societal norms. His performances are characterized by an uninhibited personality and vivacious attitude, engaging audiences with his candid observations and sharp commentary.
I enjoy making people laugh at things they’re not supposed to find funny. I like my audience to leave feeling guilty.
What is next for Eddie Ifft?
I’ve got an extensive tour booked for the remainder of 2025, taking me all over the United States and Canada (assuming they don’t boycott me). I’m also reviving my podcast, “Talkin’ Sh*t,” and launching another focused on fitness called “Talkin’ Fit.” Additionally, I’m working on producing a film that I wrote and will be directing.
Vail Comedy Show runs events year round. On March 23, Carmen Lagala from New York City will be at El Sabor for a special Mountain Pride event, and on March 27, Dan Altano from New York City will be at Avanti Food and Beverage in Golden Peak. Rojo Perez from “The Tonight Show” will be doing shows in English and in Spanish during Easter week. Vail Comedy Festival will return Memorial Day Weekend. All tickets are available at vailcomedyshow.com.
