“Are you from the Midwest?” It was something about the way I pronounced “Sebastian” that stand up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco picked up on my roots immediately. In fact, Maniscalco and I are both from the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago, each with a large, extended Italian family and an eye and ear for other expats of the region.

Maniscalco’s comedy is all about finding ways to relate to others. The material that launched him to viral fame was about how at Italian weddings, everyone just gives envelopes of cash rather than a toaster. If the chicken was dry, take out a hundred from the envelope.