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November 4, 2019

bootleg theater, patton oswalt, premiere, rob zabrecky, screening, sex madness revealed, tim kirk, vidiots

So, an actual Reefer-Madness-esque 1938 flick called Sex Madness gets a wonderful dollop of meta humor in Sex Madness Revealed! via Patton Oswalt and magician Rob Zabrecky playing a snarky film podcast host and grandson of the Sex Madness director respectively. Throughout this “tell-all” version of the film, the two have suspenseful conversation about Sex Madness.

Dreamt up, written, and directed by Tim Kirk, this film Sex Madness Revealed! will its LA premiere at the Bootleg Theater and have Kirk as well as Oswalt and Zabrecky on hand for a Q&A. Also, this evening will serve as a benefit for the brand new Vidiots coming to Eagle Rock in 2020.

There are so many great reasons to go to this and tickets are only $15. Go get them here now.

Please Get and Enjoy Megan Gailey’s Debut Album “My Dad Paid for This”

November 2, 2019

ast records, comedy album, megan gailey, my dad paid for this, stand up comedy

This very first comedy album release from Megan Gailey not only is very good, but also presents an insightful, complex, layered, and, of course, very, very funny perspective on being a woman in these times on this debut album My Dad Paid For This.

Gailey very deftly shows all her facets as a woman who loves football, a woman who is critical of football’s problematic practices, a staunch feminist, a former sorority girl, and so much more all within the hour. It’s quite the delightful, very colorful portrait of Megan and this world she’s trying to deal with. Gailey self-deprecatingly comments on her persona throughout, but she comes off as someone with her own warmth (though she’s totally willing to put folks in their place).

So, get into My Dad Paid For This fresh off the presses from AST Records or at Apple Music or wherever you listen to comedy albums.

Forky Asks a Question on Disney+ Will Be the Latest Pixar Shorts

November 2, 2019

forky asks a question, pixar, toy story 4

As there was no traditional short film in front of Toy Story 4, the promotion of 10 short films for Forky Asks a Question suggests, perhaps, that maybe we’ll be getting those beloved Pixar shorts via Disney+?

Certainly, they would be quite the card for Disney+ to play in the escalation of these streaming wars.

In regards to Forky Asks a Question, we’ll be curious how existential (and secretly for adults) this will get as Toy Story 4 was absolutely filled with philosophical quandaries via the introduction of Forky.

Get a taste of what’s to come via this trailer, then look for Forky Asks a Question on Disney+ on Nov. 12th.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sequel Coming Spring 2022

November 1, 2019

into the spiderverse, spider man

Climate change and the opinions of stodgy, purist auteurs be damned, a brand new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is coming out on Apr. 8th, 2022 according to Chris Miller’s Twitter.

Of course, Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best, most imaginative iterations of a comic-book franchise in recent memory and definitely one of the funniest of all time thanks to the golden touch of Phil Lord and Chris Miller (it also made our 100 Best list from last year).

So, we can’t wait and we hope that Miller’s Twitter bio keeps the same tone in the interim.

November 1, 2019

comedy show, dynasty typewriter, los angeles, sklar brothers, stand up comedy, tag it

When it comes to the craft of making and telling jokes, The Sklar Brothers have a love of tinkering with bits that’s almost unparalleled. Thus, having a show like Tag It! where they get to tag, punch up, pitch alts, etc. with their favorite comedians is kind of perfect.

Next Thursday, on Nov. 7th 8PM, at Dynasty Typewriter, Jason and Randy Sklar will feature the comedy stylings of Jak Knight, Jessimae Peluso, Matt Braunger, Kyle Ayers, Jay Chandrasekhar, Rhea Butcher, and Ryan Sickler and then try to “tag up” their jokes, which their so damn good at.

Tickets are $15 right now ($20 on day of). Go get ‘em right now!

Work In Progress Trailer Suggests That Showtime Might Have Something Special on Its Hands

October 31, 2019

abby mcenany, showtime, trailer, work in progress

This new, upcoming series Work in Progress from Abby McEnany (co-creator and star), a staple of Chicago improv, looks to have lots of promise from this just released trailer.

We’re getting vibes of Paul Giamatti at his self-deprecating best, but it’s clear that Abby, “45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke” (that’s from the show’s own description FYI) is something wholly original and something we’re very much looking forward to seeing.

Once again, see for yourself in the Work in Progress trailer, then look for the series premiere on Sun. Dec. 8th at 11PM on Showtime.

October 31, 2019

comedy show, experimental comedy, final show, hollywood, pack theater, speedface, variety show

It truly has been an honor to get to be a part of Speedface (we’ve been helping produce it for a couple of years along with the show’s creator, the great Eric Moneypenny), one of the most insane shows in and around LA and while it is sad to know that its swan song is this Sunday, we’re thrilled by the idea that it’s going to be one truly hysterical, out-of-this-world, headbangin’ swan song comprised of bonkers 100 second comedy bits presided over by timelord Dr. Timef**k (Nick Gligor) and his time slave, the titular Speedface (John Paliferro).

For this show, our line-up thus far is:
Leroy Patterson (America’s Got Talent)
Dave Ross (Comedy Central)
Ed Larson (Murderfist, Last Podcast Network)
Sarah Squirm (Adult Swim)
James Austin Johnson (Hail, Caesar!, Better Call Saul)
Isaac Kessler (Canadian Comedy Award winner)
Erin Nicole Bounds (Detention)
Dominique Johnson (Haymaker)
Samantha Jane, Kaeli Quick & Jason Kaye
Leeann St. John & Christopher Corbin
Evan Watkins (Rabble Rabble, College Humor, Hell Kross)
Elizabeth Hayhurst (Haymaker)
J. Elijah Cho (AMC’s Halt & Catch Fire, Some Sort of Show)
Michael Skarsten (Dreamboat) & Nick Pupo (Gutter)
Nicky Urban (Femmebot PHD)
Catherine Durickas (Rabble Rabble)
Grady James Welch (Hell Kross)
Elyssa Phillips & Angela McLafferty (Tantrum)
Katie Molinaro (Haymaker, Nickelodeon)
a special appearance by Royce Shockley (The Color Collective)
AND MORE! AND SUPER SURPRISE CELEBRITY GUESTS!

Really, we’ve got a lot up our sleeve (even more so than Home-Improvement-ized version of Doom in the flyer suggests).

It’s a little earlier than normal at 9:30PM, so all of you who thought our normal start time on Sunday was too late are now obligated to come! It’s still pay what you can FYI. Get more details, RSVP, etc. here.

R.I.P. John Witherspoon, 1942-2019

October 30, 2019

john witherspoon

R.I.P. John Witherspoon, 1942-2019

John Witherspoon had a long, lively career in comedy, TV, and a movies that you could have seen throughout his stand-up comedy, The Boondocks, the Friday film franchise, and so much more.

In fact, Witherspoon’s role in Friday was a career defining one even though he was a supporting cast member that kids (that are now adults that grew up watching Friday) still quote.

Witherspoon passed away earlier today at the age of 77. So, take a moment to delve into Witherspoon’s filmography when you get a chance over the next few days.

Please Enjoy Alex Edelman’s Latest Set on Conan About Two of His Heroes

October 30, 2019

alex edelman, coco gorilla, conan, late night, michael collins, neil armstrong, robin williams, stand up comedy

Alex Edelman just served us all another great stand-up set on Conan that showcases Edelman’s knack for weaving sharp writing and imagination together.

Indeed, Alex talks about two heroes, though, it’s almost up to you to decide if it’s any pairing of Coco the Gorilla, Robin Williams, Michael Collins, or Neil Armstrong.

Watch, enjoy, and decide the two heroes for yourself here.

October 30, 2019

comedy show, dtla, holden mcneely, jackie zebrowski, jake young, live podcast, los angeles, molly knefel, page 7, podcast taping, regent theater, spaceland, wizard and the bruiser

The Last Podcast Network is taking over The Regent Theater in DTLA on Wed. Dec. 11th at 8PM with live eps. of both their foundational podcasts Page 7 and Wizard and the Bruiser.

So, if you’re looking for the hottest goss (that’s actually funny) on celebrity dish or deep dive origin stories from every corner of the nerd universe from Jackie Zebrowski & Molly Knefel and Holden McNeely and Jake Young respectively, these are podcasts you should get into and a live taping that you should absolutely go to.

Tickets are $19.50 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

HBO Max Announces 5 Comedy Specials from Team Coco, New Looney Tunes, and New Comedy Series from Elizabeth Banks, Issa Rae, and Mindy Kaling

October 30, 2019

conan o'brien, elizabeth banks, hbo max, issa rae, looney tunes, mindy kaling, team coco

As the world is on the precipice of Apple TV+, HBO is taking a big swing for their own streaming service, HBO Max, with regards to their comedy programming.

Just today, they made this flurry of announcements.

Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco will be producing five stand-up special, two of which will be with multiple comedians and three of which will be full hours (Deadline). A new batch of Looney Tunes (Deadline), a DC Universe series from Elizabeth Banks, a female rap group comedy from Issa Rae, and a coming-of-age-in-college sitcom from Mindy Kaling (Deadline) are all on the way.

If you’ve been following the trail of HBO Max, you know that this is only the tip of the iceberg for them. So, are you ready to cue Futurama’s most famous meme yet?

Vulture’s The Comedians You Should and Will Know of 2019

October 29, 2019

comedians you should and will know, comedy, comics to watch, vulture lists, vulture picks

Vulture’s The Comedians You Should and Will Know of 2019

So, we got tapped once again to help put this wondrous list together.

Please note that we determine this list not unlike The Black List by asking those in the know (from indie comedy producers to network executives) who they think are going to break and thank goodness that they picked the likes of Anna Seregina, David Gborie, Hannah Einbinder, Martin Urbano, Jacqueline Novak, and more. It’s as accurate of a list of “who’s next” as we can make.

Anyways, get into Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know for 2019 here. So many of our favorites ended up on this list FYI.

October 29, 2019

album recording, comedy show, echo park, kyle ayers, los angeles, stand up comedy, stories

Kyle Ayers is a funny, funny man. Between his own stand-up, Boast Rattle, the podcast Never Seen It, and all the other crazy ideas that Ayers dreams up and makes a comedic golden reality, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed his comedic pursuits immensely over the years.

He’ll be recording an album over at one of our favorite places in LA (both for watching comedy and just to be at in general), Stories on Sat. Dec. 7th at 8PM. This does mean that Ayers will be recording this album outside and include all the ambient noise of a vibrant Echo Park on a Saturday night, which we’re confident he’ll make something truly special out of.

Get more details here.

Comedy Central Orders Bobby Moynihan Animated Digital Series “Loafy”

October 28, 2019

bobby moynihan, comedy central, loafy

Comedy Central Orders Bobby Moynihan Animated Digital Series “Loafy”

“Loafy, which hails from Propagate Content’s Big Breakfast, is an animated comedy about a weed-dealing manatee that runs a drug empire from his tang at the Center Park Zoo.”

Imagining Bobby Moynihan as a drug kingpin manatee is an image that is making Monday better (as we continue to be in the thick of LA’s fire season). This will be a digital series from Bobby as well as a pilot potentially set for actual television on Comedy Central’s cable network.

Anyone else visualizing what sweater (perhaps, only slightly different from Drunk Uncle) that Moynihan might wear?

October 28, 2019

comedy show, dave mizzoni, gayme show, lgbtq, matt rogers

We were certain that Dave Mizzoni and Matt Rogers’ queer trivia for straight men was going to get picked up as actual series somewhere and, lo and behold, we were right. GAYME SHOW! is going to be a show over at one of the newest streaming services out there, Quibi.

So, now that you know that, you best take your chance to catch GAYME SHOW! at the Satellite LA on Tues. Nov. 19th at 8:30PM. Tickets are $12 right now and you very should much pick them up here.

Please Enjoy Jay Larson’s Set on Corden

October 26, 2019

james corden, jay larson, late late show, late night, stand up comedy

The way that Jay Larson distills life into his bits and stories is a great reminder that, perhaps, we should all re-examine the way we live our lives. Whether Larson is living his life for the joke or he just is hyperaware of the comedy in every moment of life, Larson knows how to spin quite the tale.

Give his latest performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden a watch here.

Disney+ Will Have a Talk Show Hosted by a Blue Alien Puppet “Earth to Ned” from Jim Henson Co.

October 25, 2019

disney plus, earth to ned, eliza skinner, puppets, talk show

Disney+ Will Have a Talk Show Hosted by a Blue Alien Puppet “Earth to Ned” from Jim Henson Co.

We so enjoyed No, You Shut Up! with Paul F. Tompkins, we were curious when puppets mixing it up with real folks would pop up once again some sort of talk format.

Disney+ is taking up that niche by doing their version of a talk show with a blue alien puppet (that looks much much friendlier than another blue alien talk show host Gorburger). The alien is one that becomes obsessed with pop culture and, thus, interviews actual celebrity guests.

While all of that is well and good and the combo of puppets and real people is always fun, we’re truly excited to know that the one and only Eliza Skinner is the head writer and co-EP of this new Disney+ talk show, Earth to Ned. There is a lot of ways this show could go, but we feel pretty good about Earth to Ned being in the trusty hands of both Eliza and the Jim Henson Co.

October 25, 2019

cagematch, championship, comedy show, finals, long form improv, los angeles, ucb

Well, after a hard fought month and a half of the top shelf long form improv from UCB’s Cagematch here in LA, the final championship showdown for the UCB LA Cagematch 2019 Winners Tournament will be this coming Wed., Oct. 30th at 11PM.

Lotta People Here Tonight (Shaun Diston and Devin Field) and The House of Gains (Brennan Lee Mulligan and Lou Wilson) will meet on the UCB Franklin stage to see who is the best of the best of the best and the Pasadena Plague (Ryan Hitchcock, Mark David Christenson, and Jane Kim) will be, of course, presiding over the final bout.

Tickets are $7 and you really ought to get them here before they sell out.

Tig Notaro And Stephanie Allynne To Co-Direct Lauren Pomerantz Feature

October 25, 2019

stephanie allynne, tig notaro

Tig Notaro And Stephanie Allynne To Co-Direct Lauren Pomerantz Feature

Well, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne have upgraded from being together in an Amazon series to making their debut directing a feature film. It’ll explore the nuances of female friendships/relationships from a script by Lauren Pomerantz adapted from Pomerantz’s own life.

This should be all the sweeter coming from a directing duo that’s also a wonderful couple as well as the mix of Tig and Allynne’s varying shades of wry humor as well as a story from The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s head writer.

Please Enjoy Brooks Wheelan’s Set from Late Night with Seth Meyers

October 24, 2019

brooks wheelan, late night, red lobster, seth meyers, stand up comedy

We’ve recently noticed a trend in late night stand-up sets that we’re really digging. It’s subtle and just beginning, but more and more comics seem to be free to have ad libs/asides, here and there, making their very rehearsed performance seem more alive and closer to the experience you’d get if you were to see them at a live comedy show. It’s part of what makes live comedy magical.

Part of the fun of watching Brooks Wheelan do stand-up is seeing the sheer fun he has telling jokes and stories, a lot of which has to do with the him playing with his set from moment-to-moment. That’s clearly on display in this very delightful set he just did on last night’s Late Night with Seth Meyers.

So, with all of that said, go give Brooks Wheelan’s set on Seth Meyers a watch here.

October 24, 2019

caitlin weierhauser, comedy show, courtney karwal, jamel johnson, los angeles, megan gailey, mid city, mike mulloy, on deck, stand up comedy, world series

The comedy baseball mash-up phenomenon known as On Deck is having its “World Series”, just in time for a certain MLB World Series, with Megan Gailey’s Lucy Lucy Apple Juicys vs. Caitlin Weierhauser’s The Uncles. Both teams will be taking the stage together, trying to “smack” their punchlines/bits out of the park, one by one, making for a stand-up comedy experience like no other.

Join hosts/umpires Jamel Johnson, Courtney Karwal and Mike Mulloy to see who will the On Deck Commissioner’s Trophy. Tickets available here.

Paul Rudd Honors His Tradition of Playing That One Mac and Me Clip on Conan

October 24, 2019

conan, mac and me, paul rudd

We knew what was coming as Rudd has done this bit for so many years and even without the lack of surprise, it still got us. In fact, that might be the inane nature of this bit with knowing full well what’s coming is what keeps it going.

It very well might be the current longest running bit in all of late night (maybe even rivaling Matt Damon’s rivalry with Jimmy Kimmel) and, as such, we feel obligated to highlight it for you.

Anyways, please enjoy Rudd continuing his hallowed traditional prank here while promoting Living With Yourself.

Billy on the Street Is Now Headed to Netflix

October 23, 2019

billy on the street, netflix

Billy on the Street Is Now Headed to Netflix

From @billyeichner today, “BIG NEWS: MOVE OVER, GRACE AND FRANKIE! BILLY ON THE STREET IS COMING TO @NETFLIX FOR THE FIRST TIME NOV 1st!!!!! FOUR SEASONS OF CHAOS AND JOY!!! SAY IT WITH ME NOW: LET’S GO LESBIANS, LET’S GO!!!!!!!!”

This means that Billy on the Street will have gone, in the course of its life, over almost a decade, from Fuse to TruTV to Funny or Die to Lyft to Netflix. If that’s not a record for a show (that hasn’t hit syndication) moving to the most different places, then it might be close. Also, this snatching up of Billy on the Street by Netflix is just another sign of streaming services building their content army for the streaming wars.

Let’s hope this leads to more Billy on the Street.

Comedy Central and All Things Comedy to Make a Patrice O’Neal Documentary

October 23, 2019

all things comedy, comedy central, documentary, patrice o'neal

Comedy Central and All Things Comedy to Make a Patrice O’Neal Documentary

It’s curious to think of how Patrice O’Neal and his comedy would be handled in 2019 if he were still alive. One might jump to a conclusion that the revered comedian who passed away in 2011 might be crucified. However, O’Neal might have ended up like his contemporary Bill Burr whose last special Paper Tiger was received fairly positively for Burr’s extensive self-examination after a very contrarian opening. There’s no way to truly tell, but O’Neal will be held up as a comedy legend for years to come even with much of his controversial material.

The prospect of a Patrice O’Neal documentary examining his life and legacy is fascinating and we can’t wait to see it.

October 23, 2019

mel brooks, young frankenstein

Screening the Mel Brooks comedy classic Young Frankenstein at what used to be an old movie theater, but now is a booming comedy-focused venue sounds like a pretty swell Halloween, don’t you?

Well, that’s what’s in store for Halloween night at Dynasty Typewriter along with an accompanying costume contest! If you’re not trick-or-treating or into testing your limits of fear at this super high production value haunted houses, this is pretty damn good bet for Halloween.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of. Go get ‘em here.