BREWING UP COMEDY

Bill Toth, also known as Dr. Feelgood, is a co-host of Rookery Radio’s “Brew Crew” which airs every Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. Photo by Taylor Phillips/The Jambar.
Bill Toth, also known as Dr. Feelgood, is a co-host of Rookery Radio’s “Brew Crew” which airs every Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. Photo by Taylor Phillips/The Jambar.

Every Wednesday, Youngstown State University students Jesse Huber and Bill Toth have a self-proclaimed party on the airwaves of Rookery Radio with their comedy show, “The Brew Crew.”

Jesse Huber, host of “The Brew Crew,” started the show in the fall of 2011 after he was notified about auditions the station was holding for students.

“Most Rookery stations are usually music, so I wanted to do something that would stand out from the rest,” Huber said. “I have done stand-up comedy since I have been young, so I figured comedy would be really interesting.”

Each week, Huber and his co-host Toth, known as Dr. Feelgood on the show, bring their 23-year age gap together and put their spin on entertainment and headline news, adding their different era views in a comedic manner.

Huber said that with his stand-up comedy background and Toth’s rock ‘n’ roll DJ background, the mixture of the two makes the show like a wild party on the air.

“Dr. Feelgood came in and he just brought dynamite to the show,” Huber said. “He was just the craziness I needed to balance out the show and just make it hilarious.”

Toth came on board as a host this semester to replace two of Huber’s old hosts. Toth has been DJing on various airwaves for the more than 20 years. He also has another Rookery show, “Feel good Fridays,” in which he plays all rock ‘n’ roll music for the duration of the show.

Toth said that the age gap between Huber and himself really makes the show interesting.

“Jesse and I seemed to work good as a slapstick comedy team,” Toth said. “With me being 23 years older than him, we have two different comedic perspectives.”

Toth got the nickname of Dr. Feelgood while he was working at a strip club over 20 years ago.

“We were coming home from a concert,” Toth said. “All of a sudden the song “Dr. Feelgood,” by Motley Crue came on the radio and a couple of the girls told me it would be a cool DJ nickname — from that point on, it just stuck.”

Besides adding Toth, the show has also added various segments including comedian Johnny Dam’s “The Damage Report” and also the final segment of the show titled “The News Story That is Going to Get the Show Cancelled.”

Huber said he wants the listeners to feel like they are at a party and also hopes that the jokes will relax them from school for a bit.

“If I’m feeling roughed up and tired toward the middle of the week, I can imagine other people are feeling that way too,” Huber said. “If I could make them happy and have a good time, then that puts a smile on my face.”

The show has also brought on other students from other Rookery Radio shows as guests such as Sydney Sims from “The Late Night Creep.”

Sims said that she had a lot of fun as a guest co-host on “The Brew Crew.”

“They make you feel comfortable as well as keep you on your toes with the outlandish things they say,” Sims said. “They are a funny bunch of people that’s for sure.”

Besides gaining listeners, the hosts also say they have gained various life lessons from becoming involved with Rookery Radio.

Toth said he was happy he stumbled upon the Rookery Radio booth while he was at orientation last fall.

“I’ve been DJing for over 20 years, and when I saw Rookery Radio, I was like, ‘Hmm, what’s that?’” Toth said. “I’m so glad I became involved with the station, and I absolutely love being on both of my shows.”

Every year, Rookery Radio recruits various YSU students at orientations, and they even put up flyers around campus to become involved with the station.

Huber said becoming involved with Rookery Radio helped him develop an identity on the YSU campus.

“I’m enjoying what I’m doing and I wake up with a smile on my face and I receive a lot of support from my loved ones,” Huber said.