By Gracey Murphy
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A Midwesterner now induces laughs all around the country after working hard and sharing loads of jokes.
Comedian John Caparulo will perform a set in Iowa City tonight at the First Avenue Club, 1550 S. First St. He is known for his appearance in a variety of venues, including “TheTonight Show,” Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Next Generation, and others. However, he is best known for his work on E’s “Chelsea Lately.”
Caparulo got his start performing comedy at nightclubs in Cleveland and Pittsburgh in the late-90s. He grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio, and went to Kent State, so these places were somewhat close to his home and his college, from which he graduated in 1998.
Following that, he packed his bags and went to Hollywood to pursue his dreams of becoming a comic. To fund his passion, he worked day jobs at the Hollywood Comedy Store and as a groundskeeper at a golf course. He worked such jobs for five years before being noticed at the 2003 Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montréal. Industry observers were so impressed with his talent they offered him a spot on “The Late Show with Craig Kilborn.”
Since then, he has kept busy continuing to make his name. He now tours while still performing on “Chelsea Lately.” He also voices the character Headphone Joe on Disney’s “Fish Hooks” on the side.
It seems comedy has not only enhanced Caparulo’s career but his personal life as well.
Caparulo met his now-wife, Jamie Caparulo, through mutual friends in the comedy world. The couple share a radio show with Mark Ellis called “The Mad Cap Hour,” which appears on Sirius XM, iTunes, and toadhopnetwork.com. The couple also have a podcast, “Domestic Disputes.”
Through their podcast, they have revealed lots to their fans. On Oct. 26, 2014, they announced they were going to have a child. On Nov. 27, 2014, they announced it would be a girl, and her name would be Madden Jae.

Comedy
Where: First Avenue Club, 1550 S. First St.
When: 8 p.m. today
Cost: $37.75-$65.70