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Astoria-based comedian, comedy writer and voice-over artist. “With everything shut down due to the pandemic – it forced me and my wife to think outside of the box to find an outlet for our creativity.” Most recently, they produced a short cartoon featuring Joe Biden and Trump at AREA 51 that “takes the p*ss out of” both sides (on Youtube youtu.be/0m4n6qK0Krs).

Ferretti has a knack for impersonations so it was a no-brainer for him to voice Trump. “In the extremely divided climate we’re in, we’re trying to make both sides laugh because we feel it’s only through laughter that we can finally start to heal as a nation. Besides giving people a laugh, I’m hoping this will inspire my fellow artists out there to think outside of the box during this difficult time we’re all in right now.”

QG: How did you become a comedian?

CF: Growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey…in an Irish-Italian family… where my parents ended up meeting because my father was a psychiatrist and my mom was his patient. It was around then I realized the deck was sort of stacked against me to be a comedian.

QG: How do you get inspired during a pandemic?

CF: You gotta focus on the little things. Small things. Like when a stranger lets you go ahead of them in your Covid rapid test line.

But it’s easy to get inspired. Just take a look around and you’ll see people taking care of each other. That’s what it’s all about.

QG: What’s the funniest joke you’ve ever heard?

CF: I love a good Rodney Dangerfield joke. The one I remember the most is: “The other day I came home and I told my kids, “Hey someday, you’ll have kids of your own.” And one of them looked at me and said, “Yeah, someday you will too.”

QG: Who are some of your favorite comedians with a Queens connection?

CF: Two of my favorite Queens comics are Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder.

QG: What are your favorite places to perform comedy in Queens (pre-pandemic)?

CF: I love performing at Q.E.D.

QG: Is there anything funny about this pandemic?

CF: These days when my wife walks down the street at night she has a bottle of pepper spray in one pocket and bottle of hand sanitizer in the other. Because there’s nothing more terrifying than a rapist with a cough.

QG: What advice do you have for someone hoping to become a comedian?

CF: On top of writing jokes, take the time to focus on being honest and vulnerable. Keep asking yourself what you really feel about something. What’s underneath all the typical programmed responses that we all tend to have? What really pisses you off? It’s those types of thoughts that ultimately lend themselves to a meaningful and authentic connection with your audience. And on top of the laughs, they’ll also appreciate your honesty and sincerity. Because so many people are full of sh*t these days that when you’re honest about something…it’s refreshing.

QG: Can comedy be learned or taught? Were you always funny?

CF: I think “being funny” is actually a way of seeing the world. It’s sort of a coping mechanism. For me, I’ve always had a knack for impersonations and learned early on if I could do a funny impression of one the teachers, the school bully might laugh and was less inclined to put me through a wall during lunch. But I was an extremely shy kid and I thought all sorts of funny things, and I was always afraid to share what I was thinking. I remember one time in grade school telling the kid next to me “Hey is it just me, or does our English teacher sort of look like a swollen Nicholas Cage?” And he just looked at me like “Yeah man, you’re f*cking weird.”

QG: What’s a funny joke about Queens?

CF: I love Astoria, but sometimes you don’t realize how small your apartment is until you see somebody else’s nice place. I have a buddy of mine who bought a house recently in Westchester, and I walked in like, “Oh wow, what are these called, stairs? This must be a mansion!” I get back to my place and walk in the door and realize “Goddamn, I’m living in Jigsaw’s trap!”

QG: Do you laugh at yourself?

CF: Absolutely. You have to. The truth is we *all* do stupid things that at the time we think are brilliant. Like the time when I was a kid and thought it would be an ingenious idea to have a big plate full of honey glazed ham and wash it all down with a tall glass of chocolate milk. About 20 minutes later, I remember my mom was driving me somewhere and I suddenly started projectile vomiting all over the inside of my mother’s car. It was an Oldsmobile and the windows only went down halfway… so there I am just puking out of a half closed window as we’re zooming down the Jersey Turnpike at 65mph and the whole time my mother’s screaming at me, “Puke out the window, I taught you better than that! What the f*ck did you eat!”

—Nicollette Barsamian

This column was originated in July 2013 by Nicollette Barsamian