Two weekends ago, I invited my friend Karen to come visit Julie and I. Since moving from San Diego, California to Pennsylvania – she is certainly closer to us now then she was before. So she came – but with a surprise…

…three tickets to go to the Stress Factory in New Brunswick – to see Comedian and host of Cash Cab – Ben Bailey.

From the moment she told me of our plans for Saturday night – I freaked. Julie and I watch that show all the time – and not to sound egotistical – but I am very good at answering the questions on that show. So of course I wanted to go – and we went – and had the best time I could have hoped for.

After waiting for the show to begin and occupying that time with a few drinks and an appetizer sampler, we saw a few comedians who were funny – and then Ben came on…

…and I will never watch Cash Cab the same way again.

From his very colorful humor that made me cringe and laugh at the same time – because I have never heard him curse before to his spot on routine that tied itself together at the end – I learned that in edition to being a great host on Cash Cab – he is one heck of a comedian. You could tell that everyone in the room had a blast, which was evident by the rousing applause he received when his routine was unfortunately over.

Before the show, I brought my old Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) business cards with me so, if I got the chance to meet Ben, I could let him know that I used to work at the TLC and know all the people involved in helping him get his cab and TLC driver’s license for the show. I passed one of them to the host comedian after he introduced one of the comedians that went on before Ben – but he looked like he was insulted that I had the audacity to ask about Ben and not him – so I knew that he was not going to help me meet him.

To my surprise, however, after his gig – Ben actually sat at a table by the exit and took the time to meet every single person who attended the show. Whether you wanted his autograph, a picture – or just to chat – he was more than accommodating. When it was my turn, I introduced myself and showed him my old business card from TLC. After looking at it, he looked at me and actually asked why he never met me. I explained that I left TLC before he worked with them on Cash Cab and that I was now a journalist for the U.S. Army.

After the clarification, we talked for a good twenty minutes. He took a picture with me and Julie and even left a message on my mother’s answering machine after telling him that she is a big fan of the show. He even went so far as to let me introduce him to Avery and his girlfriend Loren – and they didn’t even attend the show. He also took my cell phone number and e-mail address, and told me that he would talk to his producers about making Julie and I contestants on Cash Cab. After shaking his hand and thanking him for being so nice – we left and headed to Clydz, a Martini bar in the area. After a few drinks, we jumped in Karen’s car and headed home.

I am really happy that I was able to meet Ben Bailey. He is a great guy and an amazing comedian. I don’t know whether or not I will ever meet him again, or whether I will actually be on Cash Cab. But now, every weekday at 6:00pm when Julie and I sit down to watch Cash Cab – I can watch it with a whole other perspective – because I can now say that I met him.

Thanks Ben. Hopefully I’ll see you on the streets of Manhattan someday.