Patton Oswalt is an American comedy treasure that recently won an Emmy award for his recent special. He has also had the sudden and unfortunate loss of his wife, Michelle McNamara.
On last night’s Conan, Oswalt shared his experience through those lows and highs as only he can.
Overall, we’re just glad to see him back on TV.
It’s really happening. The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail is coming towards singing its swan song. The live weekly show ends next month and the third and final TV version of the show kicks off tonight on Comedy Central.
For our money, it’s one of the few comedy shows that didn’t really get lost in translation when going from live show to TV series. You got a sense of the rollicking, magical fun that the Jonah Ray, Kumail Nanjiani, The Meltdown crew, comedians, and audience had every week for over half a decade.
You can feel it in Jonah making fun of Kumail’s shirt at the top of the show.
So, with that said, don’t miss the season 3 premiere at midnight tonight.
For years, Jimmy Pardo, Matt Belknap, and so many guests have done a 12 hour marathon of their legendary podcast, Never Not Funny, in order to raise money for Smile Train.
In 2016, they’ve decided that they will now double the marathon.
Of the annual traditions that exist in podcasting, the Pardcast-a-Thon might be most noted one and it’s going to get more noted by going for a full 24 hours as opposed to the usual 12 hours. That means double the guests, double the “good pieces of business”, and, hopefully, double the money for Smile Train.
This full day Pardcast-a-Thon is set to go down on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at Never Not Funny Studios. Mark your calendars/set reminders now.
Based off Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, we’d say that’s a pretty smart move.
Rough House Pictures, the production company that Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, and Brandon James run in order to make the two much lauded comedy series, is now getting a bigger playground to play with at HBO than they ever have before.
This two year deal will have the Rough House team develop series exclusively for HBO. With that in mind, we have a good feeling about HBO comedy through the rest of this decade.
While Colbert certainly brought the goods in breaking down the debate, NYC’s Emma Willmann also had a great night in her very first stand-up performance on network television. That’s especially impressive given that last night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was completely live.
Watch her set and see for yourself here.
It’s only fitting that the historic night of the first presidential debate of 2016 between Trump and Hillary that we get an alcohol laden history lesson.
Tune into the premiere of Drunk History’s fourth season at 10:30PM on Comedy Central.
Arguably, Will & Grace was not only a great, sharply written sitcom back in the heyday of NBC’s Must See TV, but ahead of its time in so many ways.
This reunion mini-episode with the whole cast (made for the voting campaign #VoteHoney) shows that Will & Grace probably would have been able to keep up with the times in 2016.
Oh yeah, as this whole video suggests, you should definitely go vote this November.
Get more details and tickets here.
The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.
Many indie comedies that get celebrated and bought up for a nice price tag at a film festival like Sundance often become forgotten because they spend barely any time in an insanely small number of theaters.
Such is the case with one of our favorite movies, Dedication, and it has just happened again with the wonderful Morris From America.
Chad Hartigan’s unique coming-of-age tale of a black American kid having to grow up in Germany has all the trappings of what should be a hit indie comedy that gets an expanding release over several weeks. Craig Robinson and Markees Christmas as a father and son pairing against the backdrop of modern Germany is truly funny and heartwarming without being schmaltzy. Yet, it didn’t get to stay on the big screen long for anyone to notice.
We even saw it and really enjoyed it, but then wondered what happened when it wasn’t in theaters and if it was going to play elsewhere or comeback, etc. For all those who are begging for more original movies that aren’t a cash grab off a pre-existing franchise, this is what you were looking for.
Thankfully, you can buy and watch Morris From America on Amazon, iTunes, and On Demand. That’s a thing you should do ASAP.
Zach Galifianakis Says a Donald Trump Episode of Between Two Ferns Doesn’t Interest Him
Where other news organizations are supposed to be fair and balanced during election years (though the amount of press Trump has gotten has really violated that notion), Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis has never been about being fair and balanced. In fact, being unfair in the most ironic way possible is much more what they go for.
Zach Galifianakis’ remarks on Trump having psychosis and being mentally challenged in a LA Times interview about the recent Clinton episode of Between Two Ferns give us a pretty good indication that Hillary Clinton will probably be the only presidential candidate to get be a guest on Between Two Ferns this year.
Specifically, Zach ending the discussion on the matter by saying, “I wouldn’t have somebody on that’s so mentally challenged. I feel like I’d be taking advantage of him. And you can print that.”
Thank goodness that won’t happen as we already have passed the point of Trump humor saturation.
In case you need an immediate palate cleanser, just wait an hour (give or take a few or more extra hours depending on what side of the country you live on).
In order to get the very first jokes on TV about the first 2016 presidential debate, three late night programs will be going live after the debates.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 11:35PM on CBS
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah 11PM on Comedy Central
Late Night with Seth Meyers 11:35PM on NBC
For the East Coast, these will actually be live as opposed to West Coast delay, so if you have access to an the EST feed of CBS, Comedy Central and NBC, try and watch it at 8PM PDT.
Also, keep in mind that Full Frontal with Samantha Bee is airing on Wednesday this week in order to fully soak in the debate for their episode. #CUNW
Unfortunately, January, when season 2 of Baskets premieres on FX, can’t come any faster.
You might wish that it could after watching a promo like this that nail exactly what slapstick drama, the oft-used description of Baskets, really is.
Jorma Taccone Tweets Some Proof “MacGruber 2” Is in the Works
In the six years since MacGruber was released, it really has become a cult comedy hit.
With this being the case, making a sequel seems like a foregone conclusion, but given Will Forte’s schedule with Last Man on Earth amongst other things, you never know when the time would be right for MacGruber 2.
Today, at least you know the project has moved forward with Jorma Taccone tweeting a pic of the script, albeit a “Super Duper Rough” version.
‘Transparent’ Creator Jill Soloway to Receive Outfest Legacy Visionary Award
There’s no denying that Jill Soloway and her series Transparent has increased normalized visibility of LGBTQ people. For that, the critical acclaim and praise have rolled in, seemingly, right from when Amazon first started streaming the series. That’s in addition to all of her past and present filmography that has always pushed for the LBGTQ community.
It’s a one-of-a-kind of feat that earns Soloway such an honorary award. Then again, Transparent is really good.
HBO really wants you to see why they gave co-creator and star Issa Rae an overall deal before the show even hit TV screens.
The actual premiere of Insecure isn’t until October 16th and the “premiere” is actual of the second episode. So, get on your HBO NOW account (or get one) and watch the very first episode.
You got a few weeks to do so before the TV premiere if you’re busy right now too.
This is in addition to upcoming specials that have already been announced for Deon Cole, Dan Soder, Kyle Kinane, Big Jay Oakerson, Jordan Klepper, Trevor Moore, and Pete Davidson.
Comedy Central has got the next several months of stand-up specials lined up
Lewis Black’s Black to the Future is actually being taped tonight and will premiere next month on Friday, October 7th.
The hour specials from Mark Normand (which will be presented by Amy Schumer) and Roy Wood Jr. are set to premiere in 2017.
Looking at this slate of specials, has to wonder if there’s another special from Bridget Everett, Nikki Glaser, etc. in the works over at Comedy Central.
Josh Fadem has more courage to be goofy than almost anyone you know. Watch him do 45 minutes this week and see him be a pure beam of silliness at UCB Franklin.
Tickets are $5 and you can (and should) get them here.
The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.
Maria Bamford has carved out a very special niche in comedy through her ability to unflinchingly find the light beset in darkness (whether that be in regards mental illness, relationships, her place in comedy, etc.) and always crafts that into a wondrous tapestry of jokes, and observations. She also does this without a sense of ever being “edgy” or even trying for such a thing.
Her latest album, 20%, is another great exhibition of the artistry of Maria Bamford’s comedic lens and mastery of her voice, both literal and figurative. It’s almost unsurprising that you’ll feel better from listening to this hour because Maria is consistently just that good.
You can get Maria Bamford: 20% off of iTunes here.
Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week 9/26/16
From Santa Monica to the OC and from Deep in the Valley all the way to the LBC, find out where the nearest open mic, improv jam, etc. is to you.
Also, remember that Amy Schumer guest stars on the season openers of Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, and Family Guy tonight.
Bob’s Burgers (season 7 premiere) 7:30PM
The Simpsons (season 28 premiere) 8PM
Son of Zorn (series premiere) 8:30PM
Family Guy (season 15 premiere) 9PM
Last Man on Earth (season 3 premiere) 9:30PM
Fox’s primetime Sunday comedy block, slowly, but surely, keeps growing.
Ben Gleib, Jackie Kashian, Paul Provenza, and more make fun of the first 2016 presidential debate while it’s happening. The debate will be historic, whether you like that or not, but the show will make it one fun night no matter what Hillary and Trump say.
Comedy Juice Squeezes The Presidential Debate will be happening concurrently with the debate at The Hollywood Improv Comedy Lab on Monday, Sept. 26th 8PM.
Tickets are only $7 and you can (and should) get them here.
Comedy Crawl Updated for Next Week 9/25/16
Australian sketch groups, roast battles, house party shows, storytelling shows focused on the horrors of dating, stand-up, sketch, improv, and way more.
Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly, Zachary Ruane, Sam Lingham, Max Miller, and Tom Armstrong together are coming all the way from Australia as the beloved sketch group Aunty Donna.
They’re making the U.S. debut on Wednesday, September 28th at 8:30PM at Largo at the Coronet Theatre.
Tickets are $30 and you can (and should) get them here.
The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.
Jon Glaser has somehow managed to balance being grounded and also being absolutely absurd in a lot of his comedy, which is part and parcel of why things like Delocated are so beloved.
His new show, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, plays up this low key silliness in the best way possible.
See for yourself in these promos.
Then, absolutely tune in to the premiere of Jon Glaser Loves Gear on Wednesday, October 26th at 10PM on TruTV.
The latest edition of Comedy Central’s The Half Hour is serving up half hour specials from Emily Heller and Erik Bergstrom.
It kicks off at midnight with Heller’s special followed by Bergstrom right after.
You can a great sample of what you got on your Comedy Central stand-up plate this evening with Heller’s bit on her evolution as a weirdo and Bergstrom, along the same lines, detailing how he can be a cool dude.