On August 17th, 2000 Big Ben made a decision that would change his life: he finally gave stand-up comedy a try at the open mike at Winchester's Comedy Club in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. That would also have been the 12th birthday of his late brother, Gabriel Brennon Kennedy, who passed away along with his father Brian Lance Kennedy on November 30th 1995, when Ben was 17. After that first nervously delivered set, Big Ben went on to perform at Winchester's every Thursday, becoming MC a few months later. He was later given the opportunity to host a weekend show for Mark Voyce and opening act Kirk McKewen of 98 Rock's Kirk, Mark, and Lopez, a popular morning radio show in Baltimore, Maryland. In the spring of 2001 he featured in the "Miller Lite Comedy Crawl" and the "Miller Lite Comedy Loop". However, it was not until Christmas 2001 that his career started to take true form, when 98 Rock's KML played his Christmas parody, "Santa Claus Just Hit On My Hon". In the spring of 2002, Big Ben played to bigger crowds in bigger shows, and in June 2002 was a first place semi-finalist in the "Funniest Person in Baltimore" competition held at The Baltimore Improv. Even though he wasn’t placed in the finals, he attracted the attention of, and has been featured in, such newspapers as "The Baltimore Sun" and "The Maryland Gazette". In July 2002 he was an on-air guest on 98 Rock's "Kirk, Mark and Lopez", and aired his next song, a country-style comedy tune called "Redneck BBQ". In the fall of 2002, he acted in independent movies and starred as "Chip Johnson" in a Hanes "Go Tagless" webspot. BIG Ben also made guest appearances on MIX 106.5's "Jo Jo and Kenny Morning Show" in late November and on WJZ's "Coffee With" in early December of the same year. On the stage, Big Ben Kennedy has performed with Matt Kirsch of "NBC's "Late Friday", Allan Havey of "Knockaround Guys" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm", Brad Sherwood of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "The Drew Carey Show", Joe Rogan from NBC's "NewsRadio" and host of NBC's "Fear Factor", Todd Glass of "Comedy Central Presents" and "The Martin Short Show", and even "Son-In-Law" and "Bio-Dome" star Pauly Shore!
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