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The Comedy Bureau Field Report

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The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 52: Danny Jolles & Oh Yeah, We’ve Been Doing This for a Year
March 24, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 47: Leonard Robinson & New (Inclusive) Frontiers
February 17, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 46: Aristotle Athiras & Keeping Up During COVID
February 10, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 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 @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. 44: Cole Stratton & Keeping a Major Comedy Festival Alive
January 27, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 43: Aaron Chase & Doing Comedy Alone
January 20, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 42: Mike Bridenstine & Rediscovering Comedy Panel
January 13, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 41: Luisa Diez & Reimagining Comedy (When COVID’s Over)
January 6, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 40: 2020 Wrap-Up/Best of/Looking Forward (w/Joel Mandelkorn)
December 30, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 39: Zane Rubin & The Miracle of Getting Things Made
December 23, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 38: Jill Paiz-Bourque & Big Business in Comedy Live-streaming
December 16, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 37: Andrew Max Levy & Seeing What’s Out There
December 9, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 36 with Tammy Jo Dearen & Nikole Larson & Drive-In Comedy
December 2, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

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 @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. 35: Chris Gethard & Community Building
November 25, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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 @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. 34: Morgan Jay & Going Boffo on Zoom
November 18, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
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

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. 33: Chad Damiani & Clowning/Idiot in a Pandemic
November 11, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
adult swim festival, chad damiani, clowning, idiot, long form improv, sacha baron cohen

Before COVID-19 took hold, a new form of “clowning” that was so much more rebellious and absurd than most other live comedy, or even any clowning you likely would have seen in the past, had really started to take hold in Los Angeles. Through the last few years, such inspired, spirited, and ingenious performers like Chad Damiani were instrumental into not only pushing the boundaries of what you could do with blending characters, improv, physical comedy, etc. on a live stage, but pushing the boundaries of what you could do with live comedy as a whole. Chad dives into the whole world of clowning/idiot, with TCB’s Jake Kroeger, as it was in 2019 going into 2020 and what the clowning/idiot community has had to do to adapt to the pandemic (a growing number of outdoor shows in parks). Also, some quick “hot” takes on Adult Swim Festival’s full virtual line-up and Sacha Baron Cohen setting his sights for Mark Zuckerberg.

Follow Chad @thechaddamiani on Instagram

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

TCB Field Report Ep. 32: Chris Estrada & Making the Most Out of 2020
November 4, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
abc, bill burr, Bless the Harts, chris estrada, entre nos, fox, hbo latino, hbo max, how to with john wilson, latinx, paper tiger, sam jay, showtime

LA scene favorite Chris Estrada was poised for a great 2020 before the pandemic took hold. Now, 8 months into lockdown, Estrada is, thankfully, still getting some great things that he deserves coming his way like a HBO Latino Entre Nos special premiering later this month. Estrada zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about weathering the world throughout this year and keeping the flame of his comedy alive whether it be on Zoom, at an outdoors comedy show, or on his first stand-up special. Also, they dish “hot” takes on new series developments at ABC, Showtime, and Fox as well as representation for Latinx in comedy and the label of Latinx itself.

Follow Chris @chrisestrada85 on Twitter and @chrisestradacomic on IG.

Shout-outs: Bless The Harts, Bill Burr: Paper Tiger, Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning, and How To with John Wilson

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. 31: James Austin Johnson vs. Trump
October 28, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
apple tv plus, borat, cuomo, de blasio, james austin johnson, jon stewart, richard pryor, trump impression, what things are what things

You might have come across the magnificent comedy of James Austin Johnson via one of many spectacular, spot-on, yet absurdly bent Trump impressions, but one ought to know that Johnson has been offering up hysterical flights of absurdist comedy fancy for several years (even some of which was captured on our TCB compilation album). Johnson zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about balancing the forced rest from live comedy due to quarantine, finding his way to being one of the best Trump impressions in all of comedy right now, and maintaining the madcap game show podcast he co-hosts, What Things Are What Things. Also, hot takes on the new Pryor biopic, Cuomo/de Blasio getting sued by small venues, Jon Stewart’s new gig at AppleTV+, and Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm.

Oh, unfortunately, Jake didn’t have hiccups this week because he is recovering quite nicely from his emergency appendectomy.

Follow James Austin Johnson @shrimpjaj on Twitter and Instagram and jamesaustinjohnson.com. Listen/subscribe to What Things Are Things here or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. 30: Lost Moon Radio & Doing Fine (w/Hiccups)
October 21, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Lost Moon Radio, for our money, has long been a paragon of what a comedy group can be. Part high concept sketch comedy, part live musical comedy, part respected theater company, Lost Moon Radio has been putting on their runs for their one-of-a-kind live shows up in and around LA for over decade and, in this dire time of quarantine, they’re marching forward and doing a very special virtual edition called Lost Moon Radio’s Doing Fine (which we here at TCB happen to be proudly co-presenting) on Tue. Oct. 27th at 7PM PT/10PM ET. LMR’s Dan Oster and Ryan Harrison zoom with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to detail Lost Moon Radio’s journey as a big, happy comedy group dealing with these times of COVID-19 and how they came to doing a virtual show (and how they’ll pull it off). They also give some “hot” takes on the newly minted Best Presidency Ever and Adult Swim’s second virtual festival during lockdown.

Also, Jake had to get an emergency appendectomy over the weekend and thus had some hiccups throughout the episode. You’re welcome.

Please follow Lost Moon Radio at LostMoonRadio.com and @lostmoonradio on Twitter and Instagram.

Get tickets to Lost Moon Radio’s Doing Fine here (portion of ticket sales go to A Place Called Home, FYI)

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. 29: Matt Kirshen & Recalibrating
October 14, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
coming 2 america, jim jefferies show, matt kirshen, nate bargatze, probably science

The COVID-19 pandemic upended comedy with its arrival and its furthering duration has forced comedy folks to further adapt to a world that’s as unsure as it has ever been. Accomplished comedian and writer Matt Kirshen shares, with TCB’s Jake Kroeger, his journey in quarantine that has led him from his last big writing gig, The Jim Jefferies Show, and doing stand-up all over the world to only doing in-person gigs such as drive-in shows, or performing behind the glass barriers of the Original Room at The Comedy Store just a handful of times (all while keeping his science-ish podcast Probably Science going at a time where science is being constantly called into question). Also, they get into “hot” takes on Nate Bargatze doing the first late night set in all of quarantine and Coming 2 America foregoing a theatrical release for one on Amazon.

Follow Matt @mattkirshen and listen to Probably Science

Shout-outs: Kyle Ayers’ Happiness, JF Harris, Lara Beitz

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. 28: Jamel Johnson & The LA Outdoors
October 7, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
jamel johnson, outdoor comedy, second city, snl

Jamel Johnson was one of the first comedians to record a special in all of quarantine during this COVID-19 pandemic with the audience-less Friend or Foe. He’s also done a remote segment on Conan, kept up a basketball podcast going during the NBA Playoffs, and managed to do some of LA’s newly minted outdoor shows, which means he has maintained himself working as much as he can and being so damn funny while doing so. Jamel zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to discuss all such things as well as SNL managing to have a live audience, Second City being on sale, things to think about in doing in-person shows during a pandemic and more.

Follow Jamel on IG @broccolihouse & Twitter @nonprofitcomic and listen to his podcasts Air Buds and Sorry We Love Football. Get and watch his special, Friend or Foe.

Shout outs: Michelle Buteau’s Buteaupia. Chinedu Unaka’s Mostly Kidding, and Josiah Johnson

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. 27: Sean Patton & Gettin’ (Somewhat) Back on the Road
September 30, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
bob's burgers, borat 2, family guy, hbo, jfl montreal, late night, new faces, sam jay, sean patton

The great Sean Patton, one of  our all time favorites, is this week’s esteemed guest on the TCB Field Report. Right now, he’s one of a rare few that’s gotten to headline some live in-person (outdoor) shows around the country (where COVID-19 isn’t so rampant right at the moment). Sean zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about his experience trying to get back to what do Sean does so, so, so very well: stand-up. They also get into some actually spicy takes on Sam  Jay’s new HBO talk show, JFL Montreal New Faces for 2020, Bob’s Burgers & Family Guy getting renewed, and Borat 2.

Follow Sean @mrseanpatton on Instagram and please purchase and enjoy his albums, Scuttlebutt & Standard Operating Procedure.

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

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