The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 59: Fizaa Dosani & Feel Good Hustling

May 12, 2021

There are an ambitious, pioneering few that really made a go at virtual comedy and, whatever the platform may be, they “figured” it out. Fizaa Dosani, one of the ringleaders behind Facial Recognition Comedy, is one of those few.

She transitioned from doing a live stand-up showcase and a podcast to doing bunches of virtual shows on all the platforms, then became one of the chosen few finalists for Clubhouse’s Creators First Pilot Season program. Fizaa joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger to go over her hustling through all of that over the last year as well as “hot” takes on indie venues finally getting COVID-19 relief, Donald Glover’s take on cancel culture, and Seth Rogen’s stance on not planning to work with James Franco at this time.

Follow Fizaa @fizaadosani on IG and Twitter and follow Facial Recognition Comedy @facialrecomedy on Twitter and @facialrecognitioncomedy on IG. Be sure to get tickets for their May 28th live-stream at RushTix.com.

Lastly, here are a list of mutual aid funds for India.

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 58: James Adomian & The Upcoming Aftermath

May 5, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

armenia, james adomian, jimmy kimmel live, mike lindell

Coming to know James Adomian remains as one of our fortunate strokes of luck in all of our time in comedy. The brilliant comedian, impressionist, voice over artist joins us for this week’s TCB Field Report to recount how he has made it through all the continuing trials and tribulations of the last year including, but certainly not limited to, international comedy tours getting cancelled, the tragedy that befell Armenia by way of Azerbaijan, and no critical breaks on rent. That said, Adomian still voiced a cornucopia’s worth of cartoons on major networks, streaming services, and even on Snapchat. Also, James got to satirically confront the My Pillow guy Mike Lindell on Jimmy Kimmel Live as Mike Lindell and is ready to get back into the swing of comedy, virtual and otherwise.

Follow James @jadomian on IG and Twitter, buy tickets to his Nowhere Comedy club headlining show on Fri. 5/7, and please support The Children of Armenia Fund.

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 57: Babs Romen & What Comedy Is Supposed To Do

April 28, 2021

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adult animation, another round, anti vaxxers, babs romen, flintstones, joe rogan, leonardo dicaprio

Babs Romen has been anything from Mitzi Shore’s right hand to a big time network development executive to a producer of the improvised stand-up international phenomenon Set List and everything in between. She knows the business and the art of comedy in and out and that made for a great, deep chat on the purpose of comedy and what she seeks to do with it, specifically Set List, as the world aims to open again. Also “hot” takes on an English remake of the Oscar winning Another Round, an adult animated spin-off of The Flintstones, and, yep, Joe Rogan’s nonchalant anti-vaxxer stance.

Follow Babs Romen on FB here & on Twitter @babsromen. Keep up to date on Set List @setlistshow on Twitter and 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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 56: Jessica Watkins & Getting Through

April 21, 2021

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annie mumulo, cinderella, jessica watkins, kristen wiig, livenation, seth rogen, specialish, ticketmaster

Far before the pandemic ever began or was even a whisper of a thing, Jessica Watkins took it upon to herself to simultaneously make a stand-up comedy special and walk across America. She did indeed accomplish both, but it was not at all what she expected, which is a very timely experience to have as we’ve all had to go through the intense journey of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watkins’ captured her entire experience in a documentary called SPECIALish, a stunningly beautiful portrait and meditation on having purpose and drive in comedy, art, and life. After finishing the journey in 2014, the doc has been set for release on May 11th and, of course, TCB’s Jake Kroeger talks to Jessica all about that especially in relation to that journey in 2014 and how things have been comparatively in the terrifying specter of 2020/2021. Also, “hot” takes on Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo’s Cinderella evil stepsisters movie in the works, potential anti-trust case for LiveNation/Ticketmaster, and Seth Rogen’s silent action comedy passion project.

Follow Jessica at @ajessicawatkins on IG and Twitter and look out for SPECIALish on streaming platforms on May 11th.

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 55: Eli Green & Decentralization

April 14, 2021

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arclight, clubhouse, conan o'brien, crazy good fun, eli green, The amber ruffin show

Commercial/music video director and Clubhouse maven, Eli Green, joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger for a truly in-depth conversation on the nature of comedy, especially at this time, especially on Clubhouse. Green is the creator of the “Crazy Good Fun” club on Clubhouse which has spawned dozens and dozens of irreverent rooms in addition to juggling the prospect of making “fun” commercials throughout the pandemic. It’s a grand, sprawling conversation spanning trying to execute being funny for poorly thought out ad campaigns to tinkering with the very things that make comedy work. Also, “hot” takes on Conan O’Brien Needs a Fan, The Amber Ruffin Show expanding it’s staff, and ArcLight Cinemas closing.

Look into all of Eli’s work at eligreen.com and join the Crazy Good Fun on Clubhouse to see what new hijinks Green and the collective are getting into.

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 54: Lizzy Cooperman & Envisioning Reality

April 7, 2021

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gutfeld, hbo max, lizzy cooperman, minx, sag awards

Lizzy Cooperman remains a monumental comedian in our formative years of comedy even before The Comedy Bureau ever came into existence. The wide expanse of her creativity, her beautiful spirit, and her reverence for comedy is something we have always been inspired by and those things are still alive and well while in quarantine and leaving LA for a spell. TCB’s Jake Kroeger delves into what Lizzy has been pouring her energy into in this time as a comedian who is severely immunocompromised and what she is pondering of doing in what is still, unfortunately, a still very unsure future. Also, we actually do speed through the news/”hot” takes this time on Paul Feig’s Minx, SAG Awards winners, and Gutfeld!

Follow Lizzy @lizzycooperman on IG and Twitter and get her remarkable album Organism wherever you get your comedy albums.

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 Comedy Field Report Ep. 53: Amy Solomon & Picking Up the Torch

March 31, 2021

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amy solomon, comedy book, notes from the bathroom line, rick and morty, spongebob squarepants, women in comedy

There’s a great new comedy book, Notes from the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic from 150 of the Funniest Women in Comedy, that has just arrived on shelves, both IRL and virtual, that is actually the first collection of writing by women comedians since the 70s. Amy Solomon, writer/producer on such great things like Barry and the editor of Notes from the Bathroom Line, joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger to discuss the journey of this crucial, hilarious book, how, even with 150 contributors, doesn’t come close to featuring all the funny women that you need to see/hear, and “hot” takes on Rick and Morty Day, SpongeBob Squarepants’ virus episode, and more.

You can and should get Notes from the Bathroom Line at notesfromthebathroomline.com

get it and support some local bookstores (instead of Amazon) like Book Soup, Chevalier’s, Vroman’s, and Skylight Books.

Follow Amy @amybethsol on Twitter and 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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 52: Danny Jolles & Oh Yeah, We’ve Been Doing This for a Year

March 24, 2021

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a black lady sketch show, comedy special, culturally cancelled, danny jolles, kat burns, russell peters, six parts, wga awards

Without really knowing that it was coming, we’ve been at The Comedy Bureau Field report, officially, for a year now (quarantine has a funny way of messing with our perception of time). On our anniversary(?), we’re thrilled to have the great Danny Jolles with us to not only celebrate the release of his fabulous first hour special, Six Parts, but also recount his very long, delay-filled journey through the last year leading up to this point. Danny persevered despite, like so many folks in comedy, having their entire identities stripped of them (as well as so many life-changing career prospects). Also, “hot” takes on WGA Award winners, A Black Lady Sketch Show returning next month, and Russell Peters calling his upcoming podcast Culturally Cancelled. Oh, and there’s a big shout out to the one of the best choreographers in the biz, Kat Burns.

Follow Danny @dannyjolles on Twitter and IG and please watch/enjoy/share his hour special Six Parts, now streaming on YouTube.

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 50: Yassir Lester & Some Common Sense

March 10, 2021

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lola bunny, space jam 2, sxsw, virtual comedy, yassir lester

This week’s TCB Field Report welcomes comedian/writer/actor/social media prankster extraordinaire (and one of our longtime favorites) Yassir Lester to go over the continually rocky times that we and comedy are going through.

That includes making some much needed updates with animated characters of yesteryear, SXSW, one of the world’s biggest festivals, doing their entire program virtually (with comedy clubs around the country offering SXSW exclusive streamed performances), how virtual writers’ room might be a little bit better than the in-person equivalent, and how he is totally fine with waiting to perform live and in person whenever that’s completely safe to do (and how other folks comedy should be too).

Follow Yassir @yassir_lester on Twitter and 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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 49: Megan Koester & Lettin’ Quarantine Ride

March 3, 2021

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golden globes, late night, megan koester

One of TCB’s favorite LA comedy staples Megan Koester joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger for this week’s Field Report. Koester is beloved for her subversive, meta, rebellious rants and bits on stage and her extensive pieces of writing all over the Internet found anywhere from VICE to The Guardian.

Megan has been quarantining properly here in LA and walks us through how working eBay has kept her going during this time while stuck inside. Also, she is the perfect person for actually hot takes on The Golden Globes and Seth Meyers hosting Late Night through 2025 (as well as what she would do with her own late night show) and makes this one of the most fun, rollicking episodes in the tenure of the podcast.

Follow everything Megan at inoffensivecomedian.com/

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 Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 48: Symone Baptiste & Reparations (with People Telling Their Own Stories)

February 24, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Filmmaker and comedy booker Symone Baptiste has had a great run with her short film, Sixteen Thousand Dollars in the past year going through all sorts of film festivals, done virtually of course. The short hits on the crucial topic of reparations for black people that the U.S. government seems like they’re barely willing to entertain, much less actually go through with. Going further with that idea, Symone dives into the importance of people getting to tell their own stories as opposed to just white people doing it. Also, “hot” takes on Spotify’s global expansion and the upcoming premiere of Showtime’s Ziwe.

NOTE: If you are able to catch Symone out in public when we can all gather safely again and she is wearing jeans (AKA hard pants), she will pay you money.

Follow Symone on Twitter @sym_debeauvoir & IG @symonejett and Sixteen Thousand Dollars @16kfilm across platforms.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 47: Leonard Robinson & New (Inclusive) Frontiers

February 17, 2021

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cap city comedy club, comedy store, creek and the cave, groundlings, insecure, Leonard Robinson, mr and mrs smith

A member of the Groundlings Main Company, Comedy Store regular, and Taurean on Insecure, Leonard Robinson joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger to talk on how the Groundlings have survived/thrived through both virtual improv/sketch shows almost kind of like they used to do in person (with a few clever changes for Zoom) and how they’re moving forward with diversity and inclusion measures (even beyond what they were already doing before last summer). Also, Robinson gives just a little insight on Insecure season 5 and “hot” takes on the Phoebe Waller-Bridge/Donald Glover reboot of Mr & Mrs. Smith and the reopening of Cap City and The Creek & The Cave down in Austin, TX.

Follow Leonard @iamleonardrobinson on IG.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 46: Aristotle Athiras & Keeping Up During COVID

February 10, 2021

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aristotle athiras, goatface comedy, melissa villaseñor, munawar faruqui, powerpuff girls, reboot, search party

Aristotle Athiras is the rare sort of comedian that has actually flourished in improv, sketch, and stand-up and also worked in front of and behind the camera as performer and director. With such a diverse quiver of skills, Aristotle has found opportunities and managed to stay working, as a director for Will Smith’s home show, and very much look forward to be prepared for where the next thing in comedy might be (i.e. Clubhouse). Athiras zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about his time in lockdown and the future of comedy as well as “hot” takes on Munawar Faruqui getting arrested on suspicion of jokes, Melissa Villasenor hosting The Spirit Awards, Search Party getting renewed, and the pilot for a live action reboot of Powerpuff Girls at CW.

Check out Aristotle’s work as part of Goatface Comedy here (this is the specific sketch we kept talking about during the episode)

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 45: Jessica Kelley & Managing the Spirit of Comedy

February 3, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

The hardship comedy has taken on during COVID-19 touches every single facet of the art form and industry. Yep, management has taken its knocks just like the talent that it represents. Thus, TCB’s Jake Kroeger zooms with Jessica Kelley of Avail Comedy who is one of our favorite comedy managers not only because of her lovely client list, but the fact that she was always out and about at shows almost as much as we were in the before times.

Jake and Jessica go over what she has figured out for her clients, the, for now, virtual audiences, and herself in the entirety of lockdown as well as what she has planned/envisioned ahead (spoiler alert: it’s actually encouraging). Also, “hot” takes on a new podcast about The Office, the first ABFF Comedy Festival, and Noah Baumbach’s exclusive deal at Netflix.

Find Jessica and everything she’s up to/putting on at availcomedy.com or @availcomedy on Twitter and IG.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 44: Cole Stratton & Keeping a Major Comedy Festival Alive

January 27, 2021

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chappelle, cole stratton, emmys, festpocalypse, sf sketchfest, stay at home order

The beginning of every year, as far as comedy is concerned, can be celebrated with the venerable SF Sketchfest, one of the biggest, most respected, longest running comedy festivals in the world. It’s three weeks of hundreds of shows and thousands of the best performers in comedy all over San Francisco making for the first big comedy event of the calendar year.

Of course, that can’t happen this year due to COVID-19 and SF Sketchfest co-founder Cole Stratton zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about what to do in place of nearly a month of live in-person shows with one big virtual comedy extravaganza (and fundraiser for SF Sketchfest itself) Festpocalypse. Cole also details how doing improv has adapted to the virtual space as well as “hot” takes on Chappelle getting COVID-19, the CA stay-at-home order being lifted, and the debacle of combining the late night and sketch variety categories with the Emmys.

Oh yeah, we’ll remind you once more: don’t gather in person to watch the Super Bowl. Watching it alone is fine.

Follow Cole @colestratton on Twitter and @strattoncole on IG. Get tickets and more info about SF Sketchfest: Festpocalypse this Sat. Jan. 30th at 5PM PT/8PM ET here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 43: Aaron Chase & Doing Comedy Alone

January 20, 2021

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aaron chase, iatse, man on the street, riverside, they ready, vaccine distribution

Performing stand-up comedy on a street corner, unannounced in Riverside might be quite the risky, lonely proposition. However, given the times of COVID-19 that we’re still very much in, we’re not afforded much else in live comedy.

Thusly, Aaron Chase, currently based in Riverside, has tried to busk on the corner, unannounced, with his stand-up that he feels he still is very much honing, to empty, socially distant chairs (though, sometimes, he gets a small distanced crowd of passersby). The image of it almost looks fresh out of a René Magritte painting, but Chase carries on, sharpening his comedy on his terms as safely as he can by doing it completely alone. Aaron goes over the journey to and through performing stand-up on the street alone and what he wants to do going forward/when the pandemic ends with TCB’s Jake Kroeger.

Also, “hot” takes on using live venues as vaccination sites w/union labor and Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready season 2.

You can follow Aaron @aaronchase91 on TikTok and on IG. Aaron’s One Man Show (and comedy) is streaming for FREE at your conveniece on YouTube here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 42: Mike Bridenstine & Rediscovering Comedy Panel

January 13, 2021

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late night, mike bridenstine, panel comedy, sex and the city

On the week of the 100th episode of his delightful podcast, Hunk, Mike Bridenstine recounts the long winding journey to that 100 eps. mark as well as how the pandemic inspired him to change his podcast format for the better, specifically by adding a panel discussion by comedian (a facet of comedy that needs reinvigorating in America). Of course, this discussion with TCB’s Jake Kroeger leads to several different, but deep, winding tributaries on the state and philosophy of comedy way. They cover the whole gamut of comedy’s past and very likely and not so distant future, especially in regards to stand-up comedy.

Also, “hot” takes on the new Sex & The City reboot and late night stand-up being done on a ferry.

Find Mike Bridenstine @brido on Twitter & @mikebridenstine on IG and listen/subscribe to Hunk with Mike Bridenstine wherever you get your podcasts.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 41: Luisa Diez & Reimagining Comedy (When COVID’s Over)

January 6, 2021

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chris rock, la comedy, nyc comedy, richard pryor

It’s the first ep. 0f 2021 and the future of comedy is still very, very much up in the air. Not only is the pandemic set to probably keep live comedy a precarious endeavor through a good portion of 2021, but what will be left on the other side of the pandemic in regards to talent, venues, etc. is, as with all things at this time, uncertain.

To parse through all of that (and maybe even solve all of comedy’s problems) at the top of this year/just another week is venerable NYC indie comedy producer/arts & media consultant/co-host of Why You Mad? Luisa Díez. Luisa zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to analyze how comedy changed in 2020, comedian migratory patterns, and even how comedians can dish it, but often can’t take it. Also, “hot” takes on re-releases of Chris Rock and Richard Pryor and tv/film production having to halt due to COVID-19.

Follow Luisa @luisadieznuts on Twitter and get into her podcast that she co-hosts with Jake Flores, Why You Mad?

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 40: 2020 Wrap-Up/Best of/Looking Forward (w/Joel Mandelkorn)

December 30, 2020

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2020 wrap up, aparna nancherla, baited, comedy crossing, corporate, dana donnelly, eddie pepitone, hot Tub, how to with john wilson, joel mandelkorn, laurie kilmartin, sara schaefer, super serious, what we do in the shadows, ziwe

2020. Was it the year that comedy took a “little nap”? Was it a year where the effects of the pandemic will forever change the business dynamics and artistic direction of the art form of comedy? Were the latest seasons of Corporate and What We Do In The Shadows some of the year’s best TV?

As it’s the last week of 2020, TCB’s Jake Kroeger gets to the bottom of all these questions in a very special, year-end wrap-up episode of the TCB Field Report. He’s joined by one of the sharpest minds in comedy, veteran indie comedy producer Joel Mandelkorn to shout out their favorite/most sturdy/noticeable things in comedy in 2020 as well as what lies ahead for comedy in 2021 if the world hasn’t sunk into total mayhem at that point.

Shout outs to: What We Do In The Shadows, Corporate, How To With John Wilson, Baited with Ziwe, Eddie Pepitone: For the Masses, @aparnapkin, @danadonly, @saraschaefer1, Comedy Crossing, and Laurie Kilmartin.

Follow Joel @cleftclips & Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen @hottub_show and please get Super Serious: An Oral History of Los Angeles Independent Stand-Up Comedy

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 39: Zane Rubin & The Miracle of Getting Things Made

December 23, 2020

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covid-19, eddie izzard, indie filmmaking, john mulaney, relief bill, zane rubin

Rising star filmmaker Zane Rubin has craftily built a delightful filmography of darkly comedic and hysterically discomforting work. That ranges from short films to web series and everything in between at networks like Comedy Central and the like. As you might guess, she, like the rest of Tinseltown, had to set almost all of her 2020 plans aside due to the pandemic. Zane still kept at writing scripts, pitching over Zoom, and whatever else you could feasibly do in regards to indie filmmaking that you can do under the umbrella of COVID. She zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about her quarantine journey and also dishes on “hot” takes for Mulaney’s going to rehab, Eddie Izzard using she/her, and the COVID-19 Relief Bill’s provisions for movie theaters/live venues.

You can find Zane @zanesrubin on IG and Twitter, watch CREAT(E)URE on Hulu, and get into Zane’s work at zanerubin.com.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 38: Jill Paiz-Bourque & Big Business in Comedy Live-streaming

December 16, 2020

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bbc, boots riley, chappelle's show, i'm a virgo, jill bourque, new comedy awards, rushtix

The proliferation of virtual comedy due to the COVID-19 pandemic would naturally bring about the creation/transition of entire platforms/venues/etc. in order to serve a gradual mass exodus of comedy, for the time being, into the live-streaming sphere. Jill Paiz-Bourque founded RushTix to serve that exact purpose and has done quite well with building and creating a premium comedy live-streaming platform that aims to be a destination for comedy fans and those in dire need of that connection that they would get at any sort of live show (but especially in live comedy). Jill zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to detail RushTix rise to putting on comedy live-streams that boast thousands of attendees as well as get in “hot” takes on Chappelle’s Show being taken off HBO Max, BBC’s new New Comedy Awards, and Boots Riley getting the green light for his new series I’m a Virgo.

Follow @RushTix across socials & visit RushTix.com for schedule/tickets/info & follow Jill @jillbourque on Twitter.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 37: Andrew Max Levy & Seeing What’s Out There

December 9, 2020

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andrew max levy, comedy photography, iheartradio, natalie palamides, nate, outdoor comedy shows, outdoor shows, podcast awards, vidiots

Andrew Max Levy is one of the LA comedy scene’s favorite comedy photographers. He has been covering the beat for local LA shows for some time now and has even shot outdoor shows during the pandemic (when it was safe to do so and if shows were taking enough precaution/enacting enough protocol). TCB’s Jake Kroeger zooms with Andrew and gets into what he’s seen on the front lines of live, in-person comedy during COVID-19 (and why he’s stopped for now). They also get into Levy’s fervent devotion to Twitch as an angle for comedians and comedy folks to build a following and make a little money. Lastly, there’s “hot” takes on IHeartRadio’s Podcast Awards nominees, the still impending comeback of Vidiots (via Variety), and Natalie Palamides’ NATE.

Follow Andrew Max Levy on Twitch at twitch.tv/justoffthesix & IG @justoffthesix. Andrew recommends you follow these folks on Twitch:

twitch.tv/morganjay
twitch.tv/dasakeetie
twitch.tv/neelnanda
twitch.tv/andreworolfo
twitch.tv/jimmccambridge
twitch.tv/thenearlymen
twitch.tv/maxxeddy
twitch.tv/comedyhub
twitch.tv/razorlou

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 36 with Tammy Jo Dearen & Nikole Larson & Drive-In Comedy

December 2, 2020

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One of the realities of this pandemic era of live comedy is “drive-in shows”. As far as we know, a historic precedent is being set by those in comedy that organize and go and perform comedy in front of a parking lot of cars due to COVID-19 closing all indoor comedy venues. Two of those trailblazers are the longtime live comedy producing team of Tammy Jo Dearen and Nikole Larson who went from having a weekly show, Bitch, in The Belly Room of The Comedy Store to doing, Magic Asphalt @ The Magic Castle, the only recurring drive-in stand-up comedy show within LA city limits. Now that Los Angeles (as is the rest of the country) is going on lockdown again, drive-in shows are, for the time being, the only live, in-person shows that will be happening for the next several weeks.

Tammy Jo and Nikole zoom with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about figuring out how to pull off a drive-in show during a pandemic and also talk Quibi officially ending and NYC’s brand new venue, The Squirrel Comedy Theatre.

Follow Tammy Jo Dearen @tammyjodearen on Twitter & Magic Asphalt @asphaltcomedy on IG and Twitter

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 35: Chris Gethard & Community Building

November 25, 2020

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beautiful anonymous, best comedy album, chappelle's show, chris gethard, dave chappelle, grammys, netflix, planet scum

Chris Gethard has not only built his career in comedy on his own terms, but Gethard has also built beautiful communities around so much of his work. From his public access days to the cable days of The Chris Gethard Show all the way to his current podcast, Beautiful Anonymous, there is something special about the folks that rally around Gethard and his endeavors. This includes devoted fans as well as other comedians that Chris wants to shine a light on.

Gethard zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger for a deep conversation about the crucial importance of community during 2020 in comedy and especially with Beautiful Anonymous, a show uniquely equipped to offer connection at a time in history where we’re more isolated from each other than ever. Also, they dish out “hot” takes on 2021 Grammy nominees for Best Comedy Album and Dave Chappelle not getting paid over streaming of Chappelle’s Show.

Follow Chris at ChrisGeth.com, listen/subscribe to Beautiful Anonymous wherever you get your podcasts, check out Planet Scum here, and get tickets to Chris Gethard’s Live Improvised Special on 12/4 here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 34: Morgan Jay & Going Boffo on Zoom

November 18, 2020

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conan, history of sketch comedy, judd apatow, keegan michael key, livestream comedy, morgan jay, zoom comedy

At the top of 2020, Morgan Jay was riding high off of his network TV appearances on Bring the Funny, playing colleges across the country, and being set to make a run at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. COVID-19, of course, put a full stop to all of that, but that didn’t hold Jay back from still making this a banner year.

Jay zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger on how he spent considerable time and money to fine tuning his live-streamed performances to the best that they could be and how that very quickly evolved into a very steady flow of corporate Zoom gigs and what Jay envisions for how live-streaming will continue to figure into the future of comedy. Also, “hot” takes on Conan’s exit from late night, The History of Sketch Comedy with Keegan-Michael Key, Judd Apatow’s meta quarantine movie.

Follow Morgan Jay @TheMorganJay on Twitter and @morganjay on IG and visit MorganJay.com

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