Derek – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 112: Business Casual & Sketchy Times

May 18, 2022

business casual, charlie chaplin, corey peter lane, hunter saling, jeremy elder, netflix, sketch comedy, tom brady, volodmyr zelensky

Many great sketch groups did survive to this side of the pandemic, but were left to figure out things in a whole new world of comedy with new theaters or old theaters with new owners and have to, like every single on the planet, rebuild.

Fortunately for the scrappy, DIY trio of Business Casual (Jeremy Elder, Corey Peter Lane, and Hunter Saling) adapting to unforeseen change has been the name of the game for them. So, we chat with them about how they’re now one of the handful of sketch groups that you should absolutely be following and deserving of a break for bigger and better and brighter things.

Also, “hot” takes on Zelenksy saying we need a new Chaplin, Netflix’s roast of Tom Brady, and more.

Follow Business Casual @businesscasualcomedy (@idealstepdad @jeremyelderr @captain_sad_beard) on IG

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

The Trailer for Billy Eichner & Nicholas Stoller’s Bros Promises the Kind of Rom Com We’ve Been Waiting For

May 18, 2022

News

billy eichner, bros, nicholas stoller, trailer, universal pictures

For all the gripes that people have justifiably had about romantic comedies over the last, let’s face it, decades, there is still an undeniable attraction and desire to see an unlikely couple come together, no matter how cheesy it might be. There is, with that in mind, still plenty of gold to be mined from rom coms.

Cue Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller‘s Bros, which has been billed as the first big all gay R-rated rom com from a major studio. While a more genuine, raunchy gay rom com has been due for a long time (unlike the very family friendly Single All the Way on Netflix), Bros sees that and raises us all the sharp the razor sharp comedic minds behind Difficult People and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Just take a gander for yourself in the trailer and know that we’re more un-ironically excited for Bros than we’ve been for a romantic comedy in a long, long, very long time. We won’t be surprised if this is the sort of long-standing, quotable rom com that people talk about like they did Bridesmaids.

Then, mark down Sept. 30th on your phone for Bros‘ release date so you can buy tickets in advance.

Watch the Trailer for What Might Be the Most Touching Robot & Human Buddy Movie “Brian and Charles”

May 17, 2022

News

brian and charles, chris hayward, david earl, focus features, louise brealey, trailer

While some see the singularity, the theoretical point in time where artificial intelligence over takes humanity, as an oncoming annihilation akin to The Matrix, there are other possibilities where the future allows for AI and humankind to co-exist peacefully. In fact, we may even up being friends. Think about all the iconic droids from the Star Wars universe and how that might potentially be more likely?

Well, while pondering that endless quandary, take a gander at the trailer for Brian and Charles, the Sundance hit that shows how an amateur inventor ends up Frankenstein-ing his own robot and, subsequently, his best friend. The trio of David Earl (Kev on Ricky Gervais’ Derek), Chris Hayward, and Louise Brealey, who all star in the movie, wrote such a charming, much more hopeful vision of the future with the washing-machine-bodied robot known as Charles. Again, while Black Mirror prescribes a future where robots hunt us, Brian and Charles seems like it has a bunch of heart between human & AI friends.

See for yourself with the first trailer for Brian and Charles here, then look for its release on Jun. 17th.

By the way, you can follow Charles the robot on Twitter @charlespetrescu.

Pick of the Day: Return of JAJ (James Austin Johnson) to LA (5/25-5/31)

May 17, 2022

News

better half, elysian, james austin johnson, los angeles comedy, rod stewart live, whammy media

It seems like decades ago, but it was only a handful of years ago when rumblings of the amazing comedy stylings of James Austin Johnson were rumbling around the comedy scene here in LA. His excruciatingly spot-on, yet alternative reality based impressions and off-the-wall conceptual bits made JAJ truly stand out in the expansive comedy landscape in Los Angeles.

Then, last year, he got SNL and kicked off the season with playing Joe Biden (and Trump) perfectly. We can’t think of another cast member that had a debut like that in the entire history of the Saturday Night Live. Consequently, that did require James to relocate to NYC and delight all five boroughs with his beautifully strange comedy.

James is making a trek back to LA for a week from 5/25-5/31 and is doing a flurry of shows including the 7 year anniversary of the stand-up show he started with Sam Wiles and Zach Pugh, Rod Stewart Live as well as his solo show Close To You at the Elysian.

If you’re somehow not already following comedy treasure James Austin Johnson on socials @shrimpjaj, do so now to keep up with these LA dates (or any other dates he has coming up). Get tickets for those shows at linktr.ee/Shrimpjaj.

Planet Scum, The Online Comedy Collective Started by Chris Gethard, Is Coming to a Close This Month

May 16, 2022

News

planet scum

The landscape of television, especially where people find it, is always mutating and evolving. Routinely, that means a lot of stuff gets canceled, shut down, comes to a final end. Over the last couple of weeks, so many TV series have gotten the ax by the hands of their networks and streaming service. The truly independent and DIY side of things doesn’t seem to be exempt from this latest culling of the TV herd.

Planet Scum, the Chris-Gethard-founded indie comedy collective that saw us through so much of the most intense parts of the pandemic/quarantine, with high grade, weekly live-streams is packing it up on May 25th. Connor Ratliff and his George Lucas Talk Show crew, Gethard himself, Robby Hoffman, Mary Houlihan, Martin Urbano, Will Hines, Christi Chiello, Kenice Mobley, and a delightful handful more brought connection as best as it could be done through a comedy live-stream on Twitch (there were entire communities built around each and every show along with a plethora of fan art).

The final broadcast date for Planet Scum is May 25th, then they’ll hand it over to the fans, but return for Gethard famed annual Sandwich Night. You might want to follow individual shows to see if they’ll find a new home elsewhere in the still new frontier of live-streaming.

If you were looking to get any and all Planet Scum merch, you better get it in the next week before it all disappears here.

Here’s some sweet parting words from Planet Scum. Please, as this message suggests, do hire all the folks behind this wondrous thing that was a Jersey shaped beacon of light in a time of complete and total darkness.

At the end of May, we'll be turning the lights off at ol' #PlanetScum. pic.twitter.com/1Y12vzV3Xs

— Planet Scum (@planetscumlive) May 4, 2022

here

If You Haven’t Already, Watch Ziwe’s Iconic Interview with Chet Hanks

May 16, 2022

News

Chet Hanks, iconic, interview, showtime, ziwe

Season 2 of Ziwe has commenced on Showtime and, already, they’ve might have shown the most iconic interview of the season with Tom Hanks’ offspring, Chet Hanks.

For all of those who got on board with Ziwe during her IG Live days, Chet Hanks does more than enough by being himself to be the sort of perfect, truly, deeply iconic guest on Ziwe (i.e. he says some of the most unhinged things while fully acknowledging his privilege of being Tom Hanks’ son). Ziwe barely has to do any “baiting” with diving incisive questioning on complicated and nuanced topics since Chet does things like not knowing Patois vocabulary while claiming to make Patois going mainstream in the States.

You, like Ziwe herself, will very likely be left speechless.

Give it a watch here, then go catch up with the rest of the season that has aired on Showtime Anytime.

Pick of the Day: In Stitches: A Comedy Fundraiser for The Brooklyn Free Clinic (in NYC) 5/21

May 16, 2022

News

aparna nancherla, bell house, brittany carney, brooklyn, brooklyn free clinic, garrett williams, Ike Ufomadu, jes tom, jo firestone, mary beth barone, nyc comedy, Rachel Coster, stand up

If you’ve read the news in any of the time that, frankly, you’ve been alive, you probably felt lost, beset with how much hurt and violence there is in the world. Just this past weekend, there was so much gun violence across the country that it’s hard to parse how many people got shot up where in America and when exactly that happened.

That said, there are still good folks in the world putting care and concern out for other people. Some of the people work at the Brooklyn Free Clinic, a student run free clinic that boosts health care access through the borough via “service and education” by way of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

In Stitches is a big time fundraiser to be held at Brooklyn’s venerable comedy venue, The Bell House, on Sat. May 21st at 2:30PM ET (w/ 1:30PM ET cocktail hour/silent auction) that seeks to support their truly selfless efforts and the good roots they plant in and throughout their borough. NYC comedy finest in Mary Beth Barone, Brittany Carney, Rachel Coster, Jes Tom, Ike Ufomadu, Garrett Williams, Jo Firestone & Aparna Nancherla, and host Jared Waters will be assemble for this edition of In Stitches.

Admission for In Stitches starts at $15 for students, $20 for GA, then goes up from there if you want to support the Brooklyn Free Clinic even more (and gets some great swag while you’re at it).

Get tickets, more details, etc. here.

Pick of the Day: Scot Nery’s Boobie Trap (near LA) 6/3

May 13, 2022

News

boobie trap, culver city, jam in the van, los angeles comedy, scot nery

To have a weekly variety show on Hollywood Boulevard that can both satisfy the most generic of tourists as well as the most selective comedy fans is pretty much an impossible feat. Yet, that’s the very thing that Scot Nery would pull off every Wednesday for his Boobie Trap at King King right on the most tourist driven part of Hollywood Blvd.

Comedy folks of all kinds, magicians, acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, balancers, otherworldly music acts would all assemble for the highest energy, fastest paced variety show that we’ve ever seen. Nery himself a whole bag of tricks between juggling, twisting his body in all sorts of shapes, and always keen for a sharp repartee and very much sets the tone for the always electric hour and change of non-stop show stopping performers.

Like so many things, it had to take 2+ years off because of the pandemic, but is finally making a come back, this time outdoors in Culver City at Jam in the Van. Heads up to all those on the West Side of LA if you ever wanted to go to Boobie Trap, but didn’t want to make the trek and find parking near Hollywood & Highland.

This glorious return of Boobie Trap is set for Fri. Jun. 3rd at 8:30PM PT for 21+. Tickets are $31.80 (plus fees & 2 drink min.) Go get your tickets and begin your summer comedy run with a bang.

Get Your First Look at “Pause with Sam Jay” Season 2

May 13, 2022

News

hbo, pause, sam jay, season 2, trailer

Pause with Sam Jay arrived in the realm of talk shows and disrupted pretty much every facet that had ever been established. There was no set, no house band, and it mostly was centered on conversations with fellow comedians and friends that Sam would have during a real house party/hang, often while playing pool or while getting drinks made in the kitchen. There were remote segments and sketches, but even those were more interested in thematic guests than any sort of celebrity.

For all the times that we’ve wanted a real shake-up in late night/talk shows, Pause is part of a legitimate wave of that actually happening. Season 2 is coming up in a week and it looks like Sam is only doubling down on this new way of doing a talk show focusing on topics like handling death, addiction, queer rights, etc. which we’re plenty on board for.

Take your first gander at season 2 here, then look for the premiere on HBO starting Fri. May 20th.

Norm MacDonald Shot One Last Special in His Living Room Before He Passed Away

May 12, 2022

News

comedy special, netflix, norm macdonald, nothing special

(via THR)

When you think of a comedy special shot in someone’s living room, you might think that it’s some up and comer who is taking whatever resources that are available to them and making a scrappy hour special despite not having the support of production company, network, streaming service, etc. That said, history will look back at living room comedy specials and note that Maria Bamford and Norm MacDonald, two of comedy’s favorite legends, will have done an hour of stand-up in the pretty much the most intimate space possible.

The late great Norm MacDonald sensed the end coming in his declining health amidst getting his next Netflix hour ready. He then opted to at least get it on tape and shot the hour in his home. From all accounts thus far, it’s in line with Norm’s legacy of being one of the very best to ever do stand-up. Certainly, there has almost never been (to the best of our knowledge) a pre-meditated special made for a posthumous release. It’s just one of many singular distinctions that set Norm apart from everyone else in the history of comedy.

Called Nothing Special, it’ll drop on Netflix exclusively on May 30th, so you won’t have to wait very long to both pay your respects and hear from Norm from beyond the grave.

Pick of the Day: Nore Davis Album Release Party + Comedy Show (in NYC) 6/1

May 12, 2022

News

brooklyn, comedy album, nore davis, nyc comedy, release party

June will be a grand time of year as a brand new Nore Davis album is coming to us all. Nore has been one of the best voices in comedy for many years running now and one of the few comedians to actually pull off recording an hour of comedy to release off of Zoom. Davis’ heart, sincerity, and unabashed playfulness are just a few of the reasons why June 1st, the release date of Nore: ノリー should be a big to do on your calendar.

Nore will be doing this fifth album in such a special way with “a limited edition, 14-page comic book that tells the legendary, action packed story of one comic’s transformation from Nore Davis to NORI (ノリー translated)”.

This whole release will be celebrated at a very secret Brooklyn location on Wed. Jun. 1st at 8PM ET that will have both a stellar stand-up show and after party. Admission is free, but you’re going to have to RSVP starting on May 16th 8AM PT/11AM ET. We have no doubt that tickets will get snatched up real quick, so set a reminder for this as well.

Pick of the Day: Kvetch. (in LA) 5/18

May 11, 2022

News

alison stevenson, courtney pauroso, genghis cohen, ify nwadiwe, laurie kilmartin, los angeles comedy, nori reed, variety show, weho

Genghis Cohen, the Chinese restaurant with a side room that looked more like a humble chapel than a place for live, very secular comedy and music. It has been a go to place for comedy ever since we started covering the comedy beat in LA. Whether it was Abbey Londer’s stand-up showcase from over a decade ago (she was one of the folks large and in charge at Netflix Is a Joke Fest now) or Greta Titelman and Blair Socci’s weekly Tuesday show or the open mic run by now NYC comedy transplant, Nina Tarr, we found our way to Genghis Cohen someway somehow pretty regularly.

Of course, COVID put a stop of all of that for a long, long time.

Thankfully, they survived and comedy is returning to their delightfully intimate space, this time, with LA comedy staple, Alison Stevenson, and a brand new monthly variety show that will draw from the vast spectrum of comedy performers of all ilks and backgrounds that this city has to offer.

Aptly named, Kvetch., Stevenson will assemble the comedy stylings of Laurie Kilmartin, Nori Reed, Ify Nwadiwe, and Courtney Pauroso, which is one hell of a LA comedy variety. This first show is slated for a week from now Wed. May 18th at 8PM PT and tickets are $8 (plus 1 item min.). Go get your tickets right here right now.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 111: Cricket Arrison & Tenderness in Absurdity

May 11, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

absurdist comedy, cricket arrison, dave chappelle, i think you should leave, netflix, russell peters, sketch comedy, wham city

As it has been for years and years now, the world is so absurd that trying to be absurd comedically is an incredibly daunting challenge. That still doesn’t stop such brilliant and amazing folks such as Cricket Arrison from finding ways to satirize the world and be comedically ludicrous in such the ridiculous, preposterous time that we live in. We chat with Cricket about how the gauntlet of the last few years has transformed both her comedy and herself as a person into something that’s still on the stranger side of the spectrum of hilarity, but more tender and, in so many way, beautifully funny.

Also, “hot” takes on Netflix foregoing making Chappelle’s Hollywood Bowl performances into specials, I Think You Should Leave getting season 3, and Russell Peters’ upcoming new sneakers.

Follow Cricket @cricketcricketcricket on IG and @cricketarrison on Twitter

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Los Angeles (and, More Importantly, the West Side) Is Getting a New Comedy Venue, The Crow

May 10, 2022

News

bergamot station, crow comedy, la comedy, santa monica, the crow

The majority of comedy in LA lives and breathes on the so-called Eastside. It was true far before the pandemic and is potentially even truer on this side of the pandemic. For years, the only dedicated comedy venues on LA’s widespread and oh-so-nice West Side were the Comedy & Magic Club and M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater. The former was embedded deep enough in the Beach Cities that it’d be a trek even if you were coming from Santa Monica and the latter was very tucked away in an alley parallel to the famous 3rd Street Promenade.

Thankfully, to comedian/producer/educator Nicole Blaine and husband Mickey Blaine, The Crow will be the West Side and LA’s newest comedy venue (and that’s while the sheen on The Elysian and The Glendale Room are still very nice and bright). Blaine promises it for to be, “the intersection where art meets community through a comedy club and an educational space.” Shows and classes for the major disciplines in comedy will be available for all ages and Blaine’s extensive record in producing very fun live comedy around town (such as the mostly headliner and one first timer stand-up show, Virgin Sacrifice) as well as her very own stand-up special makes us pretty excited to see what she has planned (already there’s going to be a weekly open mic, a mic for female and non-binary comics, and a benefit for Children’s Hospital LA).

Oh, you should know that The Crow will be located at the long standing art complex known as Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, which is a wondrous place in of itself, but also boasts one of LA’s most scarce resources: FREE PARKING.

Look for The Crow to get up and running starting in June, which will be so nice when you’re looking for it to be ten degrees cooler on days where it’s 90 or higher).

Visit crowcomedy.com for more info, shows, classes, etc. and follow @crowcomedy on IG to see their latest happenings.

Pick of the Day: Fools Circle @ Prospect Park (in NYC) 5/21

May 10, 2022

News

brooklyn, fools circle, nyc comedy, outdoor comedy, teklai

As winter weather is coming to a close, there’s more of a chance to have some lovely outdoor shows in NYC once more. In fact, the chance for one of the most fun outdoor shows that came from lockdown times, Fools Circle, is getting ready for a return to the great outdoors of Prospect Park where it first rose in prominence.

Host Teklai will return to preside over the storied Saturday afternoon/evening comedy/music/hang, which will likely have a start time sometime around the sun going down on Sat. May 21st. For exact start times and locations as well as which of NYC’s finest will be joining in for jokes and jams, follow @fools.circle on IG.

Pick of the Day: GAYME SHOW! (in NYC) 6/12 & 7/22

May 9, 2022

News

bell house, brooklyn, dave mizzoni, game show, gayme show, matt rogers, ny comedy

It has been a long and winding road, though it absolutely shouldn’t be, for one of the absolutely, most delightful, hysterical comedy game shows around, GAYME SHOW! Before lockdown, they were ascending as they should be how fun hosts Dave Mizzoni and Matt Rogers made testing the extent, if any, of straight men’s queer knowledge and sensibilities. They got ordered to series, which they deserved, but it unfortunately happened at the now defunct Quibi (though you can and should watch it now for FREE on the Roku Channel).

Thankfully, both Dave and Matt have made it to this side of the pandemic as stellar as ever and are bringing back the classic, in-person experience of GAYME SHOW! to NYC at The Bell House. They’ve got two dates lined-up, Sun. Jun. 12th & Sat Jul. 22nd at 8PM ET. Though they don’t have the line-up yet, you really better buy your tickets up fast because they will absolutely sell out. Get tickets here and here respectively for $30 a pop.

Adam Conover Is Set to Ruin Whatever You Thought You Knew About the Government with “The G Word”

May 6, 2022

News

adam conover, netflix, the g word, trailer

It has been far too long since Adam Conover has been serving his incredibly clever edutainment via the beloved series Adam Ruins Everything. In fact, it feels like it has been a decade since a sharply dressed Conover “ruined” something for the collective consciousness, but that probably has something to do with the last episode airing in late 2019 and then a certain pandemic bringing everything to a screeching halt (as well as TruTV changing their network brass and programming strategy).

Well, thankfully, Conover is back with a brand new series that aims to enlighten about the actual day-to-day functioning of the government, specifically the parts that we almost never seen on TV. Due to the actions or inactions of folks like Mitch McConnell or POTUS Biden, there continues to be a deep distrust of the government even though they are plenty of non-partisan, essential moving parts to the government apparatus. Conover is seeking to comedically present a lot of those folks responsible for said parts and then have you reassess your feelings about “the G word”

You can take a gander of what Adam has up his very sharply suited sleeve with the first trailer for The G Word here, then look for the premiere on May 19th.

I Think You Should Leave Finally Renewed for Season 3

May 6, 2022

News

i think you should leave, netflix, season 3, tim robinson, zach kanin

(via Variety)

For much as Netflix’s stock has suffered in the recent weeks, it sure has taken them quite some time to renew one of their most beloved and acclaimed comedy series (and the absolute funniest sketch show on television right now, without a doubt). It had us worried, pondering why they would wait so long to give Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin a third season for what has become one of the most meme-able shows ever made.

The first two seasons of I Think You Should Leave were so brilliantly daft and hysterical that it made us wonder what Lorne Michaels kept shooting down while Robinson was at SNL for all those years. There is no release date or any other details for that matter (maybe they’ll get more than just a handful of episodes that you can binge in less than three hours?).

In any case, this announcement is as good a reason as any to go watch all of I Think You Should Leave again in case you haven’t already done that in the last week or two.

Pick of the Day: An A24 Comedy & Drag Variety Show (in NYC) 5/22

May 6, 2022

News

a24, club cumming, dot deville, drag show, freeda kulo, mary beth barone, miss Ma'amshe, nyc comedy, sarah ravel lazarus, zach zimmerman

While the big budget tentpoles are rolling out in earnest with things having reopened enough to abstain for continuous postponing, that doesn’t mean you have to take a break from appreciating and obsessing over the indie art house movies that usually take up all the awards consideration or, at the very least, the majority of non MCU film discussions.

If you’re the sort indie art house movie die hard that has A24 movies in your dating profile, you might want to be in NYC for the upcoming A24 Comedy & Drag Variety Show. Yep, you read that right; it’s a whole comedy/drag/variety show that will be themed in tribute to your favorite moody, artsy production house.

NYC drag queen Dot Deville and comedian Sarah Rachel Lazarus will be taking over Club Cumming on Sun. May 22nd at 7PM ET for one of the most high brow drag/comedy shows you’ve probably ever attended, especially with the likes of Mary Beth Barone, Freeda Kulo, Miss Ma’amShe, and Zach Zimmerman joining into this celebration of being a film snob.

Tickets are only $10 and you best go get them right now as space is limited.

Watch The Trailer for Jerrod Carmichael’s Suicide Comedy “On the Count of Three”

May 5, 2022

News

annapurna, christopher abbott, jerrod carmichael, on the count of three

First, Jerrod Carmichael upends the world of comedy with his first hour special in years, Rothaniel. The reverberations from his beautiful, confessional special will be felt for awhile, but now he has another thing coming that might also make as many waves, his directorial debut (co-written by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch), On the Count of Three.

It’s a suicide comedy starring Carmichael and Christopher Abbott that seems to be as dark as you can get with a comedy grounded in the real world. It also had a pretty great reception during its festival run this past year and it might be the sort of pitch perfect, cathartic comedy that a lot of folks are looking for right now.

Certainly, On The Count of Three, was already pretty high on our list of movies we’re really itching to see this year, but this first trailer for it bumped up even further. Thank goodness it coming out next week on May 13th in theaters and on VOD.

Take a gander for yourself at the official trailer for On The Count of Three here.

Pick of the Day: Comedy Crossing (in LA) 5/26

May 5, 2022

News

comedy crossing, elysian theater, ify nwadiwe, jenny yang, kate zasowski, naomi ekperigin, ron funches

One of the most successful comedy ventures during the really in-the-thick part of the pandemic was Jenny Yang’s ingenious and oh-so-clever virtual comedy show Comedy Crossing. Utilizing Zoom, OBS, and the game of the pandemic, Animal Crossing, Jenny created a comedy club inside the world of the game and had stand-ups do their act while a character designed to look like them Animal-Crossing-style was at a virtual comedy stage. It was adorable and strange and delightful and such a wonderful respite from the horrors of 2020.

Now, Jenny is not only bringing Comedy Crossing back, but doing it in person at The Elysian this month on Thurs. May 26th at 8PM PT. The multiverse-ness of the game will be heightened as you’ll probably see the actual real human stand-ups somewhere and then see the screen of their Animal Crossing avatars doing stand-up. In short, it’ll be an otherworldly trip, but a hysterical one at that.

For this first, in-person Comedy Crossing, Jenny has got the amazing comedy stylings of Ron Funches, Naomi Ekperigin, Ify Nwadiwe, Kate Zasowki that will be so much more cute than normal along with special guest Nick Cho.

Tickets are $20 and, for how popular Comedy Crossing was, you better go get yours right now.

Pick of the Day: Any Comedy Show That’s Supporting Abortion Funds/Orgs/Resources/Access

May 4, 2022

News

abortion access, comedy benefit

The recently leaked draft opinion from the United States Supreme Court that points to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade has been a startling and horrifying discovery for a right that we had only thought was enshrined as sacred just a few months ago. SCOTUS hasn’t actually made anything officially official as of yet, especially with the outrage over the leaked opinion itself, but abortion and pro choice activists and organizations are mobilizing for the worst (i.e. their original plan).

Subsequently, there are many comedy shows right now and in the very near future like the upcoming Bro vs. Wade @ The Bell House or Zippy @ YARD Theater that are either giving partial proceeds to various abortion funds or orgs that fight for abortion access like Abortion Front.

In fact, there are so many shows (and more to come) that have opted to support abortion access that it’d be easier to just check our listings to see what comedy show you want to see, per usual, and then go check their ticket link/socials to see if they’ll be supporting reproductive rights for the latest edition of their shows. We’ll do our best to update the info, but there are truly so many shows that are furthering their resolve on the right side of history that it might take a minute or two for us to catch up.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 110: Brett Johnson & Bringing It All Back to the YARD

May 4, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

brett johnson, chappelle, daniel radcliffe, james corden, john ennis, late late show, late night, weird al yankovic, yard theater

While it’s rare, there are folks that go and see almost the same amount of comedy that we do. It should go without saying that we enjoy the company of those folks, which is exactly why we had a splendid chat with the YARD Theater’s uber-friendly co-manager Brett Johnson. With his involvement, Brett has made a home for some of the more genre and tone bending types of comedy and, thusly, we have spent a good deal of time standing in the back and cracking up.

This week, we chat with Brett about The YARD’s journey through the last few years and where it looks to head. Also “hot” takes on Chappelle getting taclked, Corden ending his run at The Late Late Show, and the first reveal of Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic.

Follow @theyardtheater across platforms and @whatbrett on IG

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Pick of the Day: LAMusArt’s Summer Comedy Series (in LA)

May 3, 2022

News

alison stevenson, babe motel, bye felipe, la music and art school, megan koester, raiza licea

When it comes to going to the Eastside in LA, most Angelenos think about Highland Park or Eagle Rock or Frogtown, but often overlook the actual, O.G. Eastside, East LA. Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles have their own rich tapestry and culture that stretches much further back than whatever artisanal, small batch place you’re obsessed with on Figueroa or Colorado Blvd. (they are probably pretty great, though).

With that in mind, you’ll have more reasons this Summer to kick it in Boyle Heights as the LA Music and Art School is putting on a Summer Comedy Series on their newly built stage that will feature so much of the great comedy that folks West of the 5 usually get to enjoy.

That’ll include stand-up from Megan Koester & Alison Stevenson, improv and characters from Raiza Licea, sketches from Babe Motel, a live edition of the beloved podcast Bye, Felipe and a weekly comedy showcase to boot. This Summer Comedy Series is running from Jun. 23rd through Sept. 15th and tickets are $25 a pop.

Get dates/line-ups and more at lamusart.org/comedy and make sure you actually get some of the best tacos around (so many of them are in that neighborhood).

See Daniel Radcliffe Don an Afro and Becomes Weird Al Yankovic for “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”

May 3, 2022

News

biopic, daniel radcliffe, roku, trailer, weird al yankovic

When it comes to the prospect of making a biopic about the rise of musical comedy parody extraordinaire Weird Al Yankovic, Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t immediately come to mind as to who to play him. That said, the Internet should have learned by now to hold off from initial judgment of who might be right or not to play a real life person until you actually see it for yourself. Admittedly, Radcliffe as Al Yankovic, thus far, does emphasize the title “Weird” quite nicely.

Roku just released the teaser for their original production Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which has Radcliffe in a big ol’ afro and accordions at the ready and, above all else, it seems like this is going to be a pretty wild movie showing off a side of Weird Al that a lot of folks aren’t really acquainted with (especially since he’s more of an elder statesman of comedy these days).

Take a gander for yourself here, then look for it to stream exclusively on Roku for free this Fall.

Older News »