Today we begin Season 5 of the ButteCast with a very special guest.

Comedian Jason Salmon will be performing at the Covellite Theater in Butte on Oct. 2. (Tickets) The night before, he will do a show in Missoula.

This is the most excited I’ve been to see a comedian perform live since I sat in the front row to see Bill Burr in Bozeman in 2013.

I have the Facebook algorithm to thank for introducing me to Jason. He started showing up in my reels early in the second Trump term as president with his videos starting with the words “Another weird week.” I have watched everyone since, and they truly are the highlight of every Friday.

I have watched tons of his standup videos, too, and I even saw him on an episode of Orange is the New Black. However, I am going to have to go back and find that episode so I can recognize him this time.

Jason grew up in Texas and studied engineering at Texas A&M. He moved to New Jersey for a job in that career field. That is also where he signed up for an acting class, in part to meet women. He realized that he just might be pretty good at acting, and he then got into the New York City standup scene. He sometimes opens for Chris Rock, and he performs regularly at the Comedy Cellar.

In a little more than two weeks, we get the chance to see him in Butte. Or Missoula.

Early this afternoon, I caught up with Jason over Zoom for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about getting into comedy and to hear that this will not be his first trip to the Mining City.

Listen in to hear about the origin of his weekly videos and how much work he puts into them. Listen in to hear his take on the New York comedy scene, and to hear how he doesn’t get starstruck even when he’s working with people like Jodie Foster.

Listen in to hear that his last name is not pronounced like the fish.

Today’s episode is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. This episode is also available on YouTube: