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The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 80: Alissa Nutting & Alyson Levy & Following Illogic
October 6, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
adult swim, alissa nutting, alyson levy, hbo max, silver linings playbook, teenage euthanasia

Now might be the perfect time an animated dark comedy that follows a reanimated/undead mother trying to redeem herself with her family that just happens to run a funeral home in Florida. Thus, Teenage Euthanasia has just arrived from the beautifully funny minds of Alissa Nutting and Alyson Levy, who just happen to be this week’s guests on TCB Field Report. They both take us through the long journey to getting one of the most unexpectedly joyful and redemptive new shows on TV and how it changed from its inception in 2016 to starting a writers room in April 2020 and going on air while the pandemic isn’t over. Also, “hot” takes on new HBO Max comedy from Chris Kelly/Sarah Schneider, Silver Linings Playbook becoming a musical, and more.

Oh yes, we do talk about ‘crotch beatles’ and its Florida origins.

Follow everything Teenage Euthanasia @teenageeuthanasia 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: Hybrid [with Open Mike Eagle] (in LA) 10/14
October 6, 2021
News
comedy show, jak knight, jesus trejo, la comedy, marcella arguello, megan gailey, open mike eagle, variety show

Whenever Open Mike Eagle dips into the world of comedy, it’s a damn good time. There has been New Negroes with Baron Vaughn and him, which hopped all around LA before it became a Comedy Central series.

Next week, he’s going to, after all of however interminably long you feel this time has been, put another music/comedy show, this time at El Cid called Hybrid (presented by Smarty Plants). Per usual, Eagle has a fantastic line-up of LA comedy’s finest (this one will have Jesus Trejo, Marcella Arguello, Jak Knight, and Megan Gailey) and his very own cutting edge rap along with a performance from Abstract Rude.

As the flyer says that Mike Eagle is “masterminding” this event, you ought to know that if you’re anywhere near Silverlake on Thurs. Oct. 14th at 7PM PT, you ought to take that big ol’ staircase down to El Cid.

Tickets are $12.30 and you can (and should) go get them here.

HBO Max & WarnerMedia Access to Highlight Underrepresented Animation with “Animated Shorts Program”
October 5, 2021
News
animated shorts program, animation, diversity initiative, hbo max, warnermedia access

(via Deadline)

Even as far along as we are in 2021, there is still wide gaps in representation when it comes to animation. Sure, there have been things like Persepolis and Tuca & Bertie, but those are more rare gems than a common occurrence.

So, it looks like HBO Max and WarnerMedia Access are looking to fill in some gaps that very much need filling in with their Animated Shorts Program. They’ll offer mentorship with handpicked folks to produce an animated short that’ll get screened on HBO Max.

Hopefully, that’ll lead to more ACTUALLY diverse animated cartoons and the like. In case you didn’t know, there are many animated programs that purport to be diverse via the stories and characters, but they are often not written or created by people from those communities/backgrounds (note the lack of women in writer/animator roles in all of Love Death + Robots).

If you’re interested in the Animated Shorts Program, they’re taking submissions from now until Oct. 24th. Get more details/submit here.

Pick of the Day: Daniel Simonsen (in LA) 10/7
October 5, 2021
News
daniel simonsen, dynasty typewriter, la comedy

Daniel Simonsen only comes through LA only every so often, but you shouldn’t miss one of the most original and unique voices in comedy right now whenever you can see it. Not only is Simonsen’s actual physical voice unique as he hails from Norway, but the angles in which Daniel takes to approach his comedy are also singular to him in such thoroughly funny way. There’s something so starkly dry and atypical about his delivery and cadence and that’s just skimming the surface of why and how he’s so damn funny.

Daniel is set to headline Dynasty Typewriter this week on Thurs. Oct. 7th at 8PM. Tickets are $20 right now and $25 on the day of (proof of vaccination required). Go get your tickets right now.

Here’s Our Line-Up for Our 10th & 11th Double Anniversary Show at Union Hall 10/15
October 4, 2021
News
astronomy club, Dylan Adler, hannah pilkes, jake kroeger, josh gondelman, ladies who ranch, nyc comedy

Even though we’ve only officially covered NYC comedy for a couple of months, there is so much about comedy in New York that we truly, deeply champion.

So, with that in mind, we wanted to do a portrait of NYC comedy for this very special Double Anniversary Show of The Comedy Bureau, marking both the 10th and 11th years of TCB (since we didn’t do any celebrating in 2020). Note, there will be a LA anniversary show on 10/25 at the shiny and new comedy venue, The Elysian.

With the help of the marvelous Carly Hoogendyk, we have such a colorful, lovely portrait indeed of NYC comedy (that has NYC stalwarts and brand new transplants) including:

Astronomy Club
Josh Gondelman
Dylan Adler
Hannah Pilkes
Ladies Who Ranch
TCB’s very own Jake Kroeger presiding as host

That’s right, we’re not just doing a stand-up show, we’re trying to highlight all of NYC (just like we’ve done in LA for years). We would love if you came just to see your amazing faces (or part of them, anyway) and marvel how long we’ve been keeping the lights on TCB on.

We absolutely can’t wait to bring all these hysterical folks on to the Union Hall stage on Fri. Oct. 15th at 7:30PM ET. Tickets are $10 right now and $15 at the door (proof of vaccination required, of course). Snag ’em here.

Here’s a Handy Guide on How to Deal with Your Feelings of Your Sports Team Changing Its Native American Mascot
October 4, 2021
News
native american mascot, psa, sketch comedy

Slowly (oh, so slowly), but surely, the tide is shifting towards ridding sports of racist mascots, especially when it comes to those that denigrate Native Americans. That said, there are those folks who have a hard time with change, even if it’s clearly the right thing to do because… they spent too much money on merch?

We’d really hope folks are past claiming the argument “that’s always been their name, so it should stay that way,” but, undoubtedly, there are folks that think it’s their “heritage”.

So, thanks to native comedian/writer Joey Clift, you have a handy, dandy guide to be, well, less racist. Please enjoy How To Cope With Your Team Changing Its Native American Mascot here.

Pick of the Day: North Coast Comedy Festival (in NYC) 10/5-10/10
October 4, 2021
News
astronomy club, borabish, comedy festival, north coast, nyc comedy, will hines

Sure, sure, there’s a big ol’ comedy festival coming to NYC in November that’s named after the city itself. However, that’s not the only comedy festival you should be looking forward to in the city. In fact, there’s a brand spankin’ new comedy festival having its debut this Tuesday 10/5 through Sunday 10/10, The North Coast Comedy Festival (and it won’t just be mostly stand-up).

In fact, it’s put on by NYC’s very own hip hop improv group North Coast and will feature so much of NY’s best sketch and improv (and some great stand-up too) including Astronomy Club, Borabish, The Shuffle, Will Hines, and so much more.

It’s all (and that’s 18 shows total) going down at Asylum NYC in Chelsea. You can get a festival pass for access to all the shows for $180 or get tickets to three of your choice for $49. Go get those passes and more details (including line-up and schedule) here.

Pick of the Day: LOOSE (on Mondays) (in LA) Starting 10/11
September 30, 2021
News
alison stevenson, anna seregina, chris estrada, chris garcia, little joy, lizzy cooperman, los angeles comedy, megan koester
As live, in-person, indoors comedy has slowly come back in LA, one might notice that the amount of shows on Mondays is a little on the lighter side. The rest of the week has filled up pretty nicely with more and more options between not only stand-up, but all sorts of comedy. That dynamic is going to change in the coming weeks, thank goodness.
The weekly Monday comedy show at Little Joy in Echo Park is coming back! Once, it was called The Business and it was at 9PM, but now, it’ll be called LOOSE (and stay true to the title for having performers get really, really, truly, deeply loose with what they want to do) and start an hour earlier at 8PM PT. The stewards of LOOSE will be a crew of LA favorites including Chris Garcia, Megan Koester, Anna Seregina, and Alison Stevenson.
Their first “reboot” show on Mon. Oct. 11th will have even more LA favorites including Lizzy Cooperman and Chris Estrada as well as the newly transplanted POSTMEN (Anthony Oberbeck + Matt Barats + Carmen Christopher). Like in the old times, the show will be FREE (donations encouraged though to pay comedians).
Proof of vaccination will be required and it will be 21+. Get more info on the inaugural LOOSE here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 79: Paul Provenza & Comedy of Future Past
September 29, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
andy andrist, charlie barnett, doug stanhope, jfl, moontower comedy, paul provenza, snl, the green room

One of comedy’s most respected minds, Paul Provenza, joins in for this week’s TCB Field Report to go down the rabbit hole of the art form of comedy. Paul and TCB’s Jake Kroeger explore so many different angles, different generations, and different perspectives that they ended zipping through the running time of a Marvel movie. Truly, a fascinating conversation that weaves through the new SNL hires and Just For Laughs partnering with Moontower and explores the philosophy of comedy and what many people are missing out that’s coming up because they aren’t looking to the past at Brother Theodore or Charlie Barnett. Also, Paul discusses his groundbreaking work with Andy Andrist, both in documentary (that he’s still working on) and comedy special form with Andy’s Last Shot, The Green Room with Paul Provenza on Showtime, and Set List: Improvised Stand Up.

Follow Paul @paulprovenza and Set List @setlistshow on Twitter and IG and watch Andy Andrist’s Last Shot at naturejack.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

Please Enjoy and Listen to Andrés du Bouchet Hysterical Studio Album “Poseidon’s Retreat”
September 28, 2021
News
andres dubouchet, comedy album

You are very likely more than aware of how hard it was to pull off comedy during this pandemic. The severe limitations of not having a live crowd or having to perform outside to cars or having to perform to people wearing face masks or, of course, doing live comedy over the video conferencing platform that was not designed for live performance whatsoever, Zoom, exponentially made comedy more challenging than it infamously already is.

That said, a handful of comedians did figure out how to make something that was so damn funny, pandemic be damned. One of those comedians was Andrés du Bouchet (one of the absolute funniest Conan alums). Du Bouchet has carved out an elegant niche of playing various characters on stage and twisting the knob on absurdity to 11 while oscillating between the sublime and the explicit.

His newly minted 3rd album Poseidon’s Retreat has du Bouchet lean in on the strength of his dadaist notions in extended bits and pieces recorded in a studio with no live audience. The result is so satisfyingly silly and, perhaps, the absence of a live audience allowed Andrés to go even further heights of ridiculousness. It’s definitely worth listening to 20-Sided Guy and Naked Trampoline Hamlet to have a really good ascent into beautiful daftness and see what we’re talking about in comparison to Poseidon’s Retreat. Whether you’re looking for something escapist these days for some odd reason or you want something to bust up laughing over because it’s just so damn hysterical and unexpected, du Bouchet delivers what, we think, we all need with Poseidon’s Retreat.

Poseidon’s Retreat is out now on all streaming services and we highly suggest making your day better by giving it a listen.

Pick of the Day: The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin (in LA) Wednesdays in October
September 28, 2021
News
crossword show, dynasty typewriter, la comedy, zach sherwin

Even though it has been years since we’ve starting going and marveling at The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin and its wizardry with words, it’s still remains as one of the most amazing feats of verbal gymnastics that we’ve ever seen in our whole tenure at TCB.

For the uninitiated, Sherwin has excellent comedians on a panel try to solve a very, very fun crossword on stage (along with the audience) and then offers truly mind-bending explanations for the answers and connections to other answers/hints. It’s one of the most enjoyable rides down a rabbit hole that we’ve had at a live show.

Sherwin is gearing up for four editions of The Crossword Show at Dynasty Typewriter this coming October on Wednesdays (10/6, 10/13, 10/20, & 10/27 all at 7:30PM PT). Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of (proof of vaccination required). Please go get your tickets right now right here.

Pick of the Day: The Comedy Bureau Double Anniversary: NYC 10/15
September 27, 2021
News
brooklyn, nyc comedy, union hall

As The Comedy Bureau recently expanded to covering NYC’s vast and vibrant comedy scene (Jake Kroeger’s infamously hates sleep if you wondering how he covers both LA & NYC), this particular show will be a grand portrait of NYC’s very best across the five boroughs: including theaters, comedy clubs, rooftops, bodegas, stand-up, improv, sketch, and everything in between.

Join us as one of comedy’s best institutions, The Comedy Bureau, throws a bi-coastal celebration of both its 10th and 11th anniversaries (after all, you simply can’t celebrate 10 years of service to live comedy on Zoom). The line-up will be revealed soon enough (TCB’s Jake Kroeger will be hosting–also shout out to top notch producer Carly Hoogendyk), but, for now, you can mark your calendars for Fri. Oct. 15th at 7:30PM ET (Doors 7PM ET) at NYC’s beloved Union Hall.

Tickets are $10 right now and $15 at door (and are mandatory to get if you’re reading this). Proof of vaccination required of course.

Watch Jo Firestone Teach Stand-Up to Old Folks in “Good Timing”
September 27, 2021
News
comedy class, comedy special, jo firestone, peacock

If there’s someone who is always up for a comedy challenge, it’s the one and only, endlessly delightful Jo Firestone. Firestone has a knack for making comedy gold out of custom designing a metaphorical obstacle course for her to engage with.

This latest endeavor puts Jo in the role of teaching the art of stand-up comedy to senior citizens. That’s just charming to think of, isn’t it? Her course and subsequent graduation showcase is all captured in the upcoming Peacock Original’s Good Timing with Jo Firestone. Somehow, this kind of feels like something that Jo would have dreamed up for Chris Gethard on The Chris Gethard Show, but now is putting her own lovely spin on it with her at the center.

Get a taste of what’s to come with Jo and her old folks stand-up comedy revue with the Good Timing trailer here, then look for it to stream on Peacock beginning Fri. Oct. 15th.

Aristotle Athari, James Austin Johnson, and Sarah Sherman (AKA Sarah Squirm) Are the Newest SNL Cast Members
September 27, 2021
News
aristotle athari, james austin johnson, sarah sherman, sarah squirm, Saturday Night Live, snl

The latest additions to the comedy institution that is Saturday Night Live is three of the LA comedy scene’s favorites. Aristotle Athari who we hope you would know from Goatface Comedy and James Austin Johnson who we’d hope you know from him doing some of the best characters/impressions in comedy right now @shrimpjaj and Sarah Sherman (AKA Sarah Squirm) who we’d hope you know from being the ringleader of Helltrap Nightmare will be the three new featured players for this season of SNL that starts back up this Saturday, Oct. 2nd.

Athari, Johnson, and Sherman might be the most well rounded additions that SNL has had in awhile as they are all multi-disciplinary comedians that all excel doing stand-up, characters, and working behind the scenes to create some of the most unique and hysterical content out there. They’ve all got their own streak of absurdity that, in so many ways, is as beautiful as it is funny. Go down a YouTube/IG rabbit hole if you’re not familiar with them already.

We truly hope they get to weave their voices in making SNL something new and subversive and thrilling (like Bowen Yang has gotten to do in the last year).

Look for their debut on SNL this Saturday, Oct. 2nd at 11:30PM ET/8:30PM PT on NBC (and streaming on Peacock).

Welcome to the cast!

Aristotle Athari
James Austin Johnson
Sarah Sherman pic.twitter.com/n36tKsxhRE

— SNL is back October 2! (@nbcsnl) September 27, 2021

Pick of the Day: Sauce Comedy (in LA) 9/28
September 24, 2021
News
anna seregina, babs gray, brodie reed, erin lampart, james fritz, katrina davis, kyle mizono, la comedy, sauce, silverlake, stand up comedy, steve hernandez

Slowly, but surely (as much as the pandemic will allow), some of our favorite shows from the before times are coming back in LA.

Many Friday nights, you could have found us at the back of a private room at Desano Pizza in East Hollywood for the fantastic weekly comedy show known as Sauce. It was nice, neatly packed show that had some of the best stand-ups in LA and some out-of-left-field bits that were the perfect cherry on top for that slice of the evening.

Thankfully, it’s back with most of its original crew, Babs Gray, Erin Lampart, and Brodie Reed and they’ve relocated to both Silverlake Lounge and a Tuesday night. Their first show back since lockdown is set for Tues. Sept. 28th at 9PM PT and admission is free (proof of vaccination required). Per usual, they have a killer line-up  for this edition of Sauce with Katrina Davis, James Fritz, Kyle Mizono & Anna Seregina, and Steve Hernandez.

If you’re in or around Silverlake in LA (or even if you’re not), make this your Tuesday night for this coming week.

Moontower Comedy Festival Partners with JFL to Expand from 4 Day to 10 Day Festival
September 24, 2021
News
comedy festival, just for laughs, moontower comedy

Collabs in any sector were one of the defining things of creative endeavors of this era. The pandemic has accelerated the trend as brands, companies, initiatives, and even festivals have partnered up to stand stronger in numbers.

When it comes to comedy festivals in North America, both Austin’s Moontower Comedy Festival and the various festivals operating under the Just For Laughs umbrella are top tier. Just announced today, both Moontower and JFL are partnering to create the Moontower Just For Laughs Austin festival set for next Spring, April 2022. Undoubtedly, the cache between the two will make for a more formidable comedy line-up than Moontower already commands, but details as to what that might be like have yet to be revealed.

However, Moontower JFL Austin will span 10 days as opposed to the 4 day weekend that Moontower has covered in years previous. Considering that a good chunk of comedy moved down to Austin during the pandemic merely because it was open, despite COVID-19 not being over, before much of the rest of North America, we can’t wait to see what sort of programming Moontower/JFL are going for and how much they’re going to balance national/international acts with local talent (which very well might include comedians that transplanted from LA and NYC).

We’ll just have to wait and see, but MJFLA ought to be one of the biggest comedy festivals on the continent from what’s being hinted at here.

Billy Eichner Sets New Precedent with All LGBTQ+ Billed Cast for “Bros”
September 23, 2021
News
billy eichner, bros, lgbtq, universal pictures

(via Deadline)

For the entirety of cinema history, an overwhelming majority of roles have gone to heterosexual talent no matter if they are playing a character that is anywhere on the sexuality and/or gender spectrum.

Billy Eichner is flipping the narrative with his Universal Pictures rom com Bros by having the entire main cast all made up of queer talent even if they’re playing straight people. That’ll include Eichner himself, Luke MacFarlane, TS Madison, Symone, Miss Lawrence, Guillermo Diaz, and Guy Branum.

An entire LGBTQ+ main cast, apparently, has never been done at the major motion picture/studio release level. This could be a step forward when it comes to representation, both in comedy and in entertainment in general, but time will only truly tell if that’ll be the case. Movies like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians show that there is plenty of money to be made in telling stories that speak to underrepresented groups, but will that be enough to keep moving the needle forward in regards to seeing more diversity and inclusion in entertainment?

The worthiness of having stories and talent from all over the several spectrums identity shouldn’t come down to whether it will promise a certain profit margin. There is inherent value in hearing and seeing stories from any and all. The alternative, of course, is hearing and seeing the same perspective over and over, not unlike endless reruns of the same show on a deeply buried cable channel. Also, that repetition will offer diminishing returns over a long enough period of time.

So, with that in mind, we can’t wait to see what Billy and co-writer/director Nicholas Stoller have cooked up both because Eichner is one of the funniest people around and it ought to be wonderfully subversive to see an all-queer cast at your local multiplex for once.

Pick of the Day: Brent Weinbach Dougg Pound Night (in LA) 9/25
September 23, 2021
News
brent weinbach, cinelounge, douggpound

The works of Brent Weinbach and Douggpound are some of the most delightfully absurd videos that have been put out there in the world. It’s a rare so opportunity to have both of them together to not only screen a bunch of their stuff, but have them give what would essentially be DVD commentary, but done live and in-person.

That’s exactly what’s happening this Saturday, Sept. 25th at Cinelounge Outdoors in Hollywood. Both Brent and Douggpound will be doing a very special retrospective on their exclusive collaborations over the years and doing a “talk back”, which, in of itself, might be worth checking out as that truly could be any thing that strikes the fancy of Brent and Douggpound.

Doug and Brent Forever: Brent Weinbach and Douggpound Night is set for 9/25 w/doors at 7:30PM PT. Tickets are $14.92 and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 78: The Comedy Co-Op & Sociocracy
September 22, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
comedy co op, emmys, joan rivers, kathryn hahn, the comedy store

Just a bit over a few weeks ago, a mysterious entity only known as The Comedy Co-op was announced as a group that sought to make comedy better on nearly early level for performers, fans, and people working in comedy.

That was about all when knew back then, but they’ve slowly pulled back the curtain over the weeks explaining exactly who they are (including their ever burgeoning Steering Committee) and what they’re about (as well as what sociocracy is). This week’s TCB Field Report has Jake Kroeger get even a deeper explanation how they’re trying to break some of the more debilitating cycles in the art of comedy with The Comedy Co-op’s very own Blake Wilding, Yaki Margulies, and Nikki Osborne (and a special guest appearance/explanation from Jessica Zepeda).

Also, “hot” takes on the Emmys, The Comedy Store Records, Kathryn Hahn as Joan Rivers, and NYC venues vs. New York City.

Follow The Comedy Co-op @thecomedycoopla on IG, visit thecomedycoopla.com for more info, and get tickets for The First Show on 10/3 @ Junior High here. Follow Blake Wilding @blakewilding, Yaki Margulies @yakimargulies, Nikki Osborne @nikki0h, and Jessica Zepeda @creditcardmommy.

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: Jeoparty! (in NYC) 10/13
September 22, 2021
News
jeopardy, josh gondelman, littlefield, michael kosta, nyc comedy, ophira eisenberg, shalewa sharpe

At this point in time, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to have Will Ferrell reprise his rendition of the late, great Alex Trebek to fill in for the vacant slot to host Jeopardy! (seems like Mayim Bialik wants to be the permanent replacement?). So, that means that a whole row of comedians won’t be the contestants on our personal dream version of the show.

There’s still hope, however, as Brooklyn’s littlefield is doing their very own all-comedians spin on the trivia game show institution called Jeoparty! with Ophira Eisenberg next month. It’ll be even more ridiculous than SNL’s Celebrity Jeopardy if you can imagine. For this go around of Jeoparty!, NYC comedy’s best and brightest in Josh Gondelman, Shalewa Sharpe, and Michael Kosta will be joining in.

Jeoparty! is set for Wed. Oct. 13th at 8PM ET. For $10, here: Where can you get tickets?

The Comedy Store Is Starting Its Own Record Label
September 21, 2021
News
the comedy store, the comedy store records

(via THR)

The Comedy Store is joining the ranks of AST Records, Comedy Central Records, Blonde Medicine, 800 Pound Gorilla Records, Team Coco Records, and a handful more of comedy specific record labels with their very own banner. They’ll be sourcing releases from an extensive vault as one of the world’s pre-eminent and most revered comedy clubs in the world as well as the current talent that performs in and out of the OR on a nightly basis.

To our knowledge, this might be the only comedy venue that has its very own record label. While this is a bit of surprising news, it does make us wonder why The Comedy Store hasn’t arrived at this point sooner, especially in the last few years with a renewed, invigorated spirit at the hallowed black walls of The Comedy Store. Sure, Chappelle, Jerrod Carmichael, and Brody Stevens have all recorded and released things that were recorded at The Comedy Store, but there has always been more to mine from any of the three rooms at the Store that could be good for a comedy vinyl release.

There are no specific details as to what exactly they’ll be releasing or when as of yet, but we have a feeling that you’ll get a pretty good history tour of The Comedy Store off of whatever they’re going to release.

Pick of the Day: An Evening at the Haha Hole with Sara Schaefer (on Zoom) 9/23
September 21, 2021
News
comedy club, danielle perez, debra digiovanni, haha hole, miniatures, naomi ekperigin, nowhere comedy, sara schaefer, virtual comedy

At this side of the pandemic with a good deal of live, in-person comedy happening every night, the prospect of tuning into virtual comedy has to be something really special. Fortunately, Sara Schaefer’s night of stand-up done completely in miniatures at her beautifully crafted miniature comedy club “The Haha Hole” is very much that very, very special thing that’s worth going back on Zoom for.

Sara has another Evening at the Haha Hole lined up for this Thursday, Sept. 23rd via Nowhere Comedy on Zoom, with another dive into our conception of what a comedy club is or might be as well as some really great stand-up, performed in miniature of course, from the likes of Naomi Ekperigin, Danielle Perez, and Debra DiGiovanni.

Do not miss out on this one-of-a-kind virtual comedy show no matter where you are in the world. This edition of Evening at the Haha Hole is set for 9/23 at 6PM PT/9PM ET and tickets are $15. All the early bird tickets already sold out, so you best snag your tickets pretty soon.

 

Get Your First Look at “The Worst Person In the World”
September 20, 2021
News
cannes, joachim trier, worst person in the world

There’s something slyly bewitching about Norway’s sense of humor. It’s stark, yet so clever; often absurd and often so grounded in reality that it’s painfully funny. We still think of Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence with such fondness and a reliable guffaw to ourselves.

Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World is the latest dark comedy to come down from Norway and has been buzzed about ever since it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. In fact, star Renate Reinsve gleaned a Best Actress win at Cannes while the film itself was in the running for the prestigious Palme D’or.

Overall, dark romantic comedy is a particular soft spot for us, a forceful departure from the broad romantic comedies that dominate the rom com genre here in America and dark rom com is at the core of this film. The Worst Person In the World almost looks like something from 2000s Noah Baumbach with a bit of Michel Gondry wizardry sprinkled in and, for that, we’re really, really on board.

It’s picked up for distribution by NEON, but there’s no U.S. release date as of yet. Until then, you can see why we’re so excited about seeing The Worst Person In The World (even though it clearly doesn’t include any famous mass murderers or greedy billionaires) with the first official teaser trailer here.

Ted Lasso and Hacks Win Big and Conan O’Brien Doesn’t Get a Proper Send-Off at 2021 Primetime Emmys
September 20, 2021
News
comedy emmys, emmys, hacks, last week tonight, snl, ted lasso

This past Sunday’s Primetime Emmys was a culmination of a groundswell of people desperate for the feel good pillow that is Ted Lasso and the razzle dazzle, truest encapsulation of stand-up comedy in Hacks. Both series racked up more than impressive numbers for nominations and made good with multiple wins each. It’s good to know that there has been a very emphatic changing of the guard, for the most part, when it comes to these Primetime Emmys wins.

That said, SNL, Last Week Tonight, and Stephen Colbert nabbed the variety series/specials categories leaving Conan O’Brien without a send-off Emmy after ending his late night run this year. John Oliver even commented that he was rooting for Conan. Good thing that Conan has been very clear that he isn’t done with his comedy empire yet.

Also, Bo Burnham’s acclaimed comedy special Inside was up for an Emmy, but, unfortunately lost to the already highly decorated and celebrated Hamilton (as a taped special version of streamed on Disney Plus this past year).

Also, the Emmys are going through a round of what the Oscars went through with #OscarsSoWhite. Maybe Desus & Mero ought to get more awards love (as it deserves)?

While Ted Lasso is dealing with predictable criticism in its second season (as it was just so beloved in its first season and contrarians always spring eternal), Hacks has yet to embark on its second go around. No matter how any of that goes, both series will have to deal with What We Do In The Shadows next year.

Here’s the full list of comedy winners for this year’s Primetime Emmys:

Best Comedy Series-Ted Lasso
Best Variety Special-Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020
Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series-Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series-Jean Smart, Hacks
Best Comedy Series Directing-Lucia Aniello, Hacks
Best Comedy Series Writing-Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks
Best Variety Sketch Series-SNL
Best Variety Talk Series-Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Variety Series Writing-Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series-Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series-Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

If you want the full list of 2021 Primetime Emmys Winners, go here.

Pick of the Day: The 2nd Annual Empire State Spelling, B (in NYC) 9/23
September 20, 2021
News
comedy show, nyc comedy, petey deabreu, spelling bee, zilla vodnas

Spelling bees and comedy don’t cross paths enough, to be honest. Whenever they do, it’s usually a damn good time (and often involves the performers being inebriated somehow).

With that in mind, we want to give you a heads up on The 2nd Annual Empire State Spelling, B, hosted by the amazing hosting duo of Peter DeAbreu and Zilla Vodnas, this Thursday, Sept. 23rd. Petey and Zilla are doing a NYC-specific spelling bee that will really test how well NYC comedy’s best know a) how to spell & b) how well they know the five boroughs.

Here’s a fun little promo they made just for this show.

The 2nd Annual Empire State Spelling, B is set for 10PM ET this Thurs. Sept. 23rd at Brooklyn’s Union Hall (21+, proof of vaccination required). Tickets are $10 right now and $12 on the day of. Best go get them tickets right now.

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