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The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 15: Christina Catherine Martinez & Aesthetics

July 8, 2020

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aesthetical relations, beavis and butt-head, christina catherine martinez, clone high, groundlings, john mulaney, live from the comedy traphouse, nore davis, search party

This week, TCB’s Jake Kroeger zooms with the beloved comedy and art world hybrid Christina Catherine Martinez. Even without a pandemic, Martinez has managed to imbue her comedy with her professional art critic sensibilities to create marvelously absurdist, subversive, high brow, yet incredibly silly bits, stand-up, and characters. Her and Jake discuss what her detailed plans for translating her conceptual comedy to live-streaming platforms like Zoom on IG Live, the extension of her Aesthetical Relations brand/universe (even revealing plans for a special), and an attempt at a quick rundown of Groundlings’ controversy, MTV animated series revivals, and Comedy Central’s order of two new John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch specials.

Also, here’s John Cage’s 4:33 to get that John Cage joke at the end.

Follow Christina at @xtina_catherine on Twitter and IG and visit christinacatherine.info to delve into all things Christina Catherine Martinez. Get the e-book version of Aesthetical Relations here.

Shout outs: I May Destroy You, Search Party, and Nore Davis’ Live From The Comedy Traphouse

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. 14: Naomi Ekperigin & Connection

July 1, 2020

News, Slider, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

carl reiner, curb your enthusiasm, naomi ekperigin, zoom comedy

The latest TCB Field Report has the amazing comedian/writer/podcaster Naomi Ekperigin zooming with TCB’s Jake Kroeger this week. Naomi and Jake take time to remember the late, great Carl Reiner and also dissect what lies ahead with comedy on TV with the renewal of Curb Your Enthusiasm (i.e. how relatable will Larry be in a post-pandemic world?) as well as how Hollywood is still missing the mark in achieving true racial equity. Ekperigin also lets us in on how her podcast and now, weekly Twitch live-stream, Couples Therapy, has been fostering community in quarantine and her personal experience finding connection through doing comedy on Zoom.

Also, Jake would like to apologize for referring to the character Lawrence on Insecure as Louis. Please forgive him.

Shout outs: Eddie Pepitone’s For The Masses, Chris Fairbanks’ Rescue Cactus, Eric Andre’s Legalize Everything, John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 11: Atsuko Okatsuka & BLM Rising

June 10, 2020

News, Slider, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

This week’s episode is yet another one happening during a historic moment defined by mass protests in solidarity of Black Lives Matter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest Atsuko Okatsuka of Let’s Go Atsuko: a Woke Japanese Game Show zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about engaging with said moment, both inside and outside of comedy. They also talk the prospect of Let’s Go Atsuko, already a great weekly podcast (and a hell of a live stage show), going into production, possibly as one of the first TV shows to do so in Los Angeles. The final big story that they unpack is the unprecedented changing of the guard at storied comedy institution The Second City along with their vow to raise the voices of BIPOC and achieving racial equity as well as Chris Redd’s open letter demanding that The Second City do more.

Follow Atsuko Okatsuka @atsukocomedy across platforms. Get her album but I control me and listen to Let’s Go Atsuko, the podcast.

Shout outs: #BlackAF, Kim’s Convenience, My Brother’s Sneaker and Candice Thompson, Naomi Ekperigin, Petey DeAbreu, Larry Owens, DeWayne Perkins, Ian Edwards, Byron Bowers, Greg Edwards, Sam Ike, Baron Vaughn, Sydnee Washington, Ed Greer, Shalewa Sharpe, Kenice Mobley, Mandal, Dwayne Perkins, Dwayne Kennedy, Nore Davis, Brodie Reed, Obama’s Other Daughters, Astronomy Club, Kash Abdulmalik, Joyelle Johnson, Janelle James, David Gborie, and Solomon Georgio.

For the times we live in, consider donating money to a worthy cause like the Black Visions Collective.