Addison native and stand-up comedian Kyle Kinane preps for release of new comedy album July 24

When Kyle Kinane was a child, his mom let him stay up late to watch “The Tonight Show” starring Johnny Carson. He was particularly impressed with the comedians.

At that age, Kinane didn't comprehend their jokes, but the Addison native admired those funnymen and women who got to be on TV and didn't have to sing, act or play an instrument to do it.

Several decades later, Kinane, 43, is a successful standup comedian and voice artist whose credits include Disney XD's “Right Now Kapow,” truTV's “Those Who Can't,” Comedy Central's “Trip Tank,” “Conan,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and HBO among others.

He describes his act as a coral reef before climate change.

“It's this giant, always transforming, growing thing,” he says. “While some part might die off, another part is always growing.”

Disinclined to “push buttons,” Kinane says when he addresses provocative subjects, he does so from a neutral position.

An old joke he made during a local show is a case in point. His comments on Chicago being a liberal, open-minded city were greeted with applause. His follow-up admission that he favors ketchup on his hot dog was greeted with boos.

“If you want to unify (an audience) take a middle-of-the-road position and watch both sides get angry,” he joked.

Unfortunately, that's not one of the bits included on his new album, “Trampoline in a Ditch,” set for release on Friday, July 24, on all digital audio platforms (accompanied by an animated video on YouTube). It contains new material as well as personal anecdotes and bits that didn't make it onto previous albums or TV specials. The title comes from @sheboyganscan, a Twitter account that lists incidents transcribed from a Sheboygan, Wisconsin, police scanner.

A 2017 tweet read “trampoline in a ditch.” For the comedian, it conjured images of jumping on a trampoline to get a new perspective but not being able to see much because the trampoline is in a ditch.

“There's a whole world of poetry in that phrase,” said Kinane, who committed it to memory for future use never imagining it would become an album title.

Kinane recognized his talent for cracking wise at Addison Trail High School where he was named class clown. He started doing stand-up professionally in 1999, when he was 22. He tried to get his friends - all of whom he insists are funnier than him - to do the same. They declined.

“Suckers,” he laughs, “they all could have been doing this by now.”

Kinane did what many comedians do at the start of their careers: He complained about working a crummy job and living an aimless life. And he was good at it.

“We know life's not going to be perfect or even good,” said Kinane, who attributes his early success to not being distracted by a career or a girlfriend. “But if you're going to complain about it and expect someone to listen to you, you better be entertaining.”

To that end, Kinane sets a pretty high bar for himself.

“I'm asking people to spend money to watch me tell jokes,” he said.

Asking them to hand over their discretionary income is quite a request and it demands his best effort.

“Every night has to be the best I can do,” he said.