OK, so he's probably sick of being associated with winning the first season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing." But it did put him on Dat Phan map.

That show wasn't considered a launching pad for a successful comedy career in the beginning, but wow, what a difference several seasons can make. After winning "Last Comic Standing," Dat Phan was suddenly on the comedic landscape. All of a sudden, Phan -- who had been living in his car just months before - found himself on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and had appeared in his first half-hour comedy special on Comedy Central. He also appeared with Kim Basinger in the movie, "Cellular."

Dat Phan was born Dat Tien Phan in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1975. He and his mother emigrated to the United States and suffered through financial hardships for most of his childhood. Dat grew up in San Diego and attended West Hills High School in Santee.

Later he moved to Los Angeles and got a job answering the phones at The Improv in Hollywood, where he worked in the daytime and honed his comic skills in the evening. Of course all of this would change dramatically after "Last Comic Standing." Much of Dat's material stems from his hardships. His family is also a major source of his comedy.

"It was my mom who raised me," Phan said. "That's why so much of my material is based on my mom. Eighty-five percent of my material is true. My ultimate goal is to have a regular part in a sitcom. Hopefully that will happen when this writer's strike ends." Dat currently resides in West Hollywood, and not in his car, I might add.



Marc Price, aka 'Skippy'

Probably best known as playing the nerd-next-door Skippy on the hit NBC sitcom "Family Ties" from 1982 to 1990, Marc Price has done well since those early television days. Unlike some other post-sitcom brats who get the bad press from robbing convenience stores or getting strung out, Marc has been able to carve out a decent living for himself in show business, always trying to get new shows the green light from the studios.

And, unlike some former childhood TV stars who cringe when you refer to them by their TV names, Marc Price has no problem at all if you call him Skippy. Just don't call him Extra Chunky.

But Skippy has done even more working behind the cameras. As "Family Ties" was winding down, Price began producing television shows in addition to hosting them. How many remember Disney Channel's "Teen Win, Lose or Draw," where Marc starred in over 150 episodes? And what about "Trick or Treat" with Ozzy Osbourne, Touchstone's "The Rescue" and 20th Century Fox's "Killer Tomatoes Eat France?"

In the early 1990s, Price produced man-on-the-street segments for "The Rikki Lake Show." Later, Price co-produced cooking-with-comics segments for Dick Clark's "The Donny & Marie Show." Prior to "Family Ties," Price guest starred on "One Day at a Time" and "Archie Bunker's Place." Price's other acting credits include starring roles in New World Pictures' "The Little Devils" and "The Zoo Gang;" the ABC TV movies "All That Glitters" and "Semester at Sea;" an Aaron Spelling pilot for ABC entitled "Hearts Are Wild;" as well as another TV movie, "Combat Academy."

Price's lifelong involvement in entertainment began with his father, Al Bernie, who performed at legendary venues such as the Playboy Clubs and was a frequent guest on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Marc spent his childhood in the company of his dad's friends, such as Sid Caesar, Milton Berle and George Burns.

Marc also is a big Tahoe fan, and to show his appreciation for the area he raised more than $500 for the Angora Fire Fund (formerly known as the Locals for Locals fund) the last time he was here. That fund has raised $450,000 and could use so much more. Donations are still being accepted at all US Banks in the Tahoe area.