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BitTorrent’s New Discovery Fund Is Offering $2500-$100K to Artists for Marketing and Distribution

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
bittorrent, discovery fund, distribution, funds, grants, marketing, submissions

BitTorrent’s New Discovery Fund Is Offering $2500-$100K to Artists for Marketing and Distribution

If you know how the entertainment biz works, you might be well aware that one of the major elements that keeps something ‘indie’ as opposed to ‘mainstream’ is a budget for marketing and distribution. Often times, indie comedies that get lauded over and over at film festivals will have limited runs in art house cinemas around the country, but would rarely, if ever, find their way to your local multiplex simply because there is no budget to reach further with the movie.

BitTorrent is looking to turn the tides in this regard with their newly launched Discovery Fund initiative that is empowering artists to be able to reach further than their limited resources of favors and grassroots campaigning can afford them. 

Based on the scope of the project and if they’re into it, they’ll offer up $2500-$100,000 to boost the marketing and distribution of an artist’s work with the artist maintaining the rights to the work itself.

This includes anyone who can fit under the description of “awesome storytellers and outside voices”, which is well within the umbrella of comedy. 

Sounds pretty good, right?

Find out more details at the link above. 

Connor Ratliff Announces He’s Running for President as “No Party” Candidate Just for the Attention and Already Endorses Hillary Clinton

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
2016 election, connor ratliff, no party, presidential election, ratliff for president, ratliff2016prez

Officially announced this morning, comedian Connor Ratliff is running, again, for president and immediately admits he has no shot at winning or even getting to 15% in the polls, the absolute minimum required to be in the presidential debates. 

As that’s the case, he admits that he is just doing this for the attention, which is an idea that Donald Trump hasn’t and probably will never admit to or even entertain the idea of admitting. Ratliff is going on a platform of asking people to not vote for him or even give him donations, but, instead, give their vote and support to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. That’s probably one of the nicest things a presidential candidate has done in this election thus far for the competition.

The best part of this whole announcement is probably this paragraph: 

Ratliff has openly called for computer hackers to figure out a way to project a hologram of him onto the stage during one of the Presidential debates.  "I don’t know if it’s even technologically possible, but if it can be achieved I think it would be a major display of American know-how,” said Ratliff.  “Even if it was just for me to pop in and say hello and call Donald Trump a name, I think it would be a way of showing that in America, anything is possible.  I think it would give people hope.”

Read the whole press release here.

While he doesn’t want your vote, you can follow his campaign over the next few months on Tumblr and Twitter as well as buy his book, Winning Isn’t Everything: Why I Am Running For President Again… And Why I Will Lose, that explains why he won’t win.

So, far this sounds like a pretty good campaign to us.

‘Better Things’ Sheds Some Light on Characters and Plot at TCA Panel

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
better things, louie, pamela adlon, tca

‘Better Things’ Sheds Some Light on Characters and Plot at TCA Panel

Notably, Pamela Adlon will be playing a single mom/working actress named Sam, which means she’s a completely different working single mom than the one on Louie just named Pamela.

From what we’ve seen so far, Better Things does look like a spiritual sequel to Louie and Adlon added that “I feel that everything is funny in my life and there is a lot of funny in the darkness…I don’t like anything that’s dark without heart.”

The Festival Supreme 2016 Line-Up Just Announced

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
comedy festival, comedy shows, festival supreme, flight of the conchords, fred armisen, jack black, kyle gass, los angeles, mac demarco, maya rudolph, patton oswalt, sarah silverman, shine expo hall, shrine auditorium, tenacious d, weird al yankovic, will forte

(via @dansnierson)

Poster by Luke McGarry

Tenacious D is bringing their awesome one-day comedy and music festival extravaganza back to The Shine Expo Hall & Grounds with yet another stacked line-up as you can see above.

Tickets will go on sale Friday and we’ll be sure to remind you.

“Rick and Morty” Improvised a Mini-Episode for New York Magazine

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
adult swim, dan harmon, improvised episode, justin roiland, new york magazine, rick and morty, ryan ridley, spencer grammer

It’s apparently going to be some more time of an undetermined amount (our least favorite kind) before brand new Rick & Morty comes out.

However, creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon along with Spencer Grammer, the voice of Summer, and writer Ryan Ridley all improvised a “mini-episode” (sans animation because, well, animation takes awhile, OK?) amidst a chat with New York Magazine.

Watch and enjoy, especially Roiland effortlessly switching between the voices of both Rick and Morty, here.

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
august 19th, brent weinbach, comedy show, comedy sucks, everything is terrible, grimy ghost, hollywood, jamie loftus, los angeles, meltdown comics, nerdmelt showroom, stand up, tod glass, vhs

Awful curated VHS footage plus stand-up comedians attempt to prove the shows title wrong. With that line-up, the odds are in their favor we think.

You can and should get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Poster by Scott Huntsman

SNL Vets Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah Not Returning for Season 42

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
jay pharoah, nbc, Saturday Night Live, season 42, snl, taran killam

SNL Vets Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah Not Returning for Season 42

Each had six seasons of Saturday Night Live under their belt and are now free to explore other projects like Killam was already doing with a movie he was directing. 

We’re guessing that Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah might take a slightly different route post-SNL given their specific comedic skill sets as compared to recent SNL alums like Kristen Wii and, Fred Armisen. That being said, we can see Killam follow the model of Jason Sudeikis’ very successful film and TV career that now spans comedy and drama given that filled a very similar role on Saturday Night Live. 

Jamie Kaler Reveals Secret Conversations Between “Dads in Parks”

August 9, 2016
Uncategorized
dads in parks, jamie kaler, ralph garman, vincent rocco vargas, web series

For awhile now, comedian and actor Jamie Kaler has been cranking out his web series Dads in Parks that captures the brief, secret moments that only dads that are only acquaintances would have while watching over their respective kids from a distance. 

Kaler’s world of such dads, which are all comedy folks that happen to be real life dads, is delightfully wrought with posturing, insecurity, and scheming.

So far, Kaler’s got 52 episodes and counting and you can enjoy them all right here.

Remember, You Can Apply to Comedy Binge for $5 Because You’re a Comedy Bureau Reader

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
atlanta, comedy binge, comedy festival, discount, live stream, online festival, stand up, submissions

Remember, You Can Apply to Comedy Binge for $5 Because You’re a Comedy Bureau Reader

The very first online live comedy festival, Comedy Binge, is giving our readers a nice discount to apply to perform. Since you’re reading these words, that includes you.

Just make sure to enter the promo code ‘bureau’ at the checkout. 

Chris Garcia’s Dad Presents a Cuban Life Hack

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
chris garcia, cuba, cuban life hacks, life hacks, mas mejor

The wonderful Chris Garcia has been putting his own web series at Más Mejor that gives out life hacks, Cuban style.

This particular Cuban life hack comes from Chris’ dad who really lived the sort of unbelievable life one leads in the Cuba of yesteryear (i.e. you really do need to know how to hide your barter pig). 

Watch it here.

Brie Larson Making Directorial Debut, Starring in Comedy ‘Unicorn Store’

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
brie larson, directorial debut, unicorn store

Brie Larson Making Directorial Debut, Starring in Comedy ‘Unicorn Store’

From Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to 21 Jump Street to dazzling dramatic performances in Room and Short Term 12, Brie Larson has carved out a niche that allows her to exquisitely play a wide range of roles.

Now, she’ll be expanding that niche to include her first film, Unicorn Store, where she’ll do almost everything except write. 

So far, it’s a bit vague on its premise of a woman moving back home only to be invited to a unique store that “will test her ideas of what it really means to grow up,” but we’re guessing that the mention of unicorns here might be less figurative and more literal in this case.

We know that we’ll have to probably wait awhile, but we can’t wait to see a trailer, teaser, etc.

‘The Simpsons’ To Air First Hourlong Episode, Taraji P. Henson & Keegan-Michael Key Guest Star

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
first, fox, hour long episode, simpsons, tca

‘The Simpsons’ To Air First Hourlong Episode, Taraji P. Henson & Keegan-Michael Key Guest Star

After 28 seasons, a full-length feature movie, and a theme park, The Simpsons will have somehow aired its first hour long episode at the beginning of 2017. 

This kind of makes you wonder what else is on The Simpsons’ bucket list. Bart and Lisa growing up over the course of a season? Another whodunit? 

Here’s the Trailer for Amazon’s Latest UK Import “Fleabag”

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
amazon, bbc3, brett gelman, fleabag, olivia colman, phoebe waller bridge

Amazon seems to have had plenty of success with being the exclusive U.S. streaming service for the critically acclaimed Catastrophe, which airs months before it comes stateside in the UK.

With that in mind, Fleabag from Phoebe Waller-Bridge will follow the same model as it has already premiered on BBC3 last month and will start streaming here in the U.S. on Friday, September 16th on Amazon Prime.

The series centers on Waller-Bridge as Fleabag, “an unfiltered, dry-witted woman who hurls herself at modern living in London as she deals with the loss of her best friend, a breakup, and financial troubles at her café.” You might be delighted to know that Olivia Colman as well as American comedy star Brett Gelman are in the cast as well.

Get a taste of Fleabag with this trailer.

Hulu Shifting Its Free TV Offerings to New Yahoo View | Hollywood Reporter

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
abc, fox, free streaming, hulu, nbc, yahoo, yahoo view

Hulu Shifting Its Free TV Offerings to New Yahoo View | Hollywood Reporter

If you’ve been enjoying a free ride of the five latest episodes of Black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Last Man on Earth a few days after they air or were looking forward to streaming new network comedies like The Good Place, Making History, or Speechless, know that you’re going to probably have to make sure to do so at Yahoo View, the new TV and Hulu distribution partner site from Yahoo. 

This is all now happening because Hulu is going to be a full subscription service.

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
asif ali, august 17, comedy show, david gborie, debra digiovanni, fairfax, hollywood improv, improv lab, kristin rand, kyle kinane, los angeles, melrose, stand up, tarot card, weho, what to do

You can (and should) get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com

Trailer for Tig Notaro’s “One Mississippi” on Amazon Brings the Dry Humor of Her Tragedy to Life

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
amazon, one mississippi, tig notaro, trailer

If you’re into comedy at all, odds are you’ve probably heard Tig Notaro’s story of tragedies followed by tragedies and living through it by now. At the very least, we hope you’ve heard her landmark comedy album Live (pronounced as the verb).

This particular portion of Tig’s life riddled with heartbreak, disease, and death was the subject of the aforementioned album, a book, a documentary, and now this TV series coming to Amazon, One Mississippi.

The very first trailer for the show has just arrived and you can see how Tig’s singularly dry, unflinchingly honest sense of humor runs through her show.  

If you’re hooked or an admirer of anything and everything that Tig does, look for episodes of One Mississippi to start streaming on Amazon Prime on Friday, September 9th.

Transparent Season 3 Trailer Is Here

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
amazon, amy landecker, gaby hoffmann, jay duplass, jeffrey tambor, jill soloway, judith light, kathryn hahn, season 3, trailer, transparent

Transparent, seemingly one of the crown jewels of Amazon’s programming line-up, is about to get into its third season after its first two were groundbreaking, accolade-filled, and awards-decorated.

The trailer for season 3 shows no signs of slowing down in Jill Soloway’s that expertly paints with all the colors and simultaneously putting a lens on changing the idea of what gender and sexuality can be. 

Look for the season 3 of Transparent to start streaming on Amazon Prime on Friday, September 23rd.

Woody Allen’s Amazon Series “Crisis in Six Scenes” Releases First Preview Clip

August 8, 2016
Uncategorized
amazon, crisis in six scenes, preview, woody allen

Making a TV show that will be streaming exclusively on Amazon is indeed new, uncharted territory for Woody Allen.

However, this first clip of Crisis in Six Scenes shows Allen himself is right in his neurotic, insecurity-ridden, comic form, perhaps better than in the trailers for Cafe Society.

We’ll get to see if the rest of the season 1 of Crisis in Six Scenes will be the same when it starts streaming on Amazon Prime on Friday, September 30th.

Full Frontal, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Black-ish Win at 2016 TCA Awards

August 7, 2016
Uncategorized
black-ish, crazy ex-girlfriend, full frontal, lily tomlin, mary tylee moore show, rachel bloom, samantha bee, tca awards, television critics association

This weekend, the Television Critics’ Association handed out their annual round of awards for what they think the best and brightest in TV is. We’re not sure how much influence this will have on the Emmys (the same goes for any other TV awards for that matter), but we do hope this bodes well for the trailblazing Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

Below are the comedy winners for the 2016 TCA Awards:

-Individual Achievement in Comedy: Rachel Bloom (CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, The CW)
-Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE (TBS)
-Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: BLACK-ISH (ABC)
-Career Achievement Award: Lily Tomlin
-Heritage Award: THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (CBS)

Here’s the full list of winners.

Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week

August 7, 2016
Uncategorized
improv, improv jams, los angeles, open mic, sketch open mic, stand up

Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week

From 8/8/16 through 8/13/16, we got all the listings for open mics for stand-up, sketch, improv, and more all around LA.

Please Support the Return of Echoes Under Sunset

August 7, 2016
Uncategorized
christian chavez, comedy shows, crowdfunding, dtla, echoes under sunset, gofundme, little tokyo, los angeles

Please Support the Return of Echoes Under Sunset

Echoes Under Sunset was as DIY of a place as you could get and both figuratively and literally an underground venue, but it still managed to get voted as one of LA Weekly’s Best New Comedy Club and had a hell of a run over four years.

It gave a stage to open micers, up and comers, people who just got their break and pros and was definitely addition to the LA comedy scene.

After unceremoniously being shut down, Christian Chavez, the owner and proprietor, has been eyeing a return for Echoes in the already cool, but still booming neighborhood of Little Tokyo, just a couple miles of away from Echo Park, the original home of Echoes Under Sunset.

He’s already got a space picked out, but he needs help with making the space into the wondrous comedy venue that he once had including sound equipment, lighting, flooring, furniture, stage, etc. 

This new Echoes has a GoFundMe set up for $50K and we highly urge you to contribute and donate at the link above. 

August 7, 2016
Uncategorized
august 8, improv, long form improv, pretty pretty pony, santa monica, wayne federman, westside comedy theater

One of our favorite improv teams Pretty, Pretty Pony (Cole Stratton, Vanessa Ragland, Joey Greer, Chris Alvarado, Atul Singh, Ed Roe) has been together for five years and are celebrating the occasion on their monthly Westside Comedy Theater show on Monday, August 8th with special guest, the one and only, Wayne Federman.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Comedy Crawl All Updated for Next Week

August 7, 2016
Uncategorized
comedy shows, los angeles

Comedy Crawl All Updated for Next Week

To 8/7/16 and beyond.

Mark Normand Does His First Late Show with Stephen Colbert Set

August 6, 2016
Uncategorized
late show, mark normand, stand up, stephen colbert

Mark Normand is the sort of the comedian that was built to do stand-up on late night. Quick set ups, hard hitting punch lines, slick delivery, and a fun loving persona is why Mark has made his fair share of Conan appearances and is now making the rounds of stand-up on late night with his first set on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Watch it here.

New ‘Lucy’ Bronze Sculpture in Lucille Ball’s Hometown Captures the Lucy Everyone Knows and Love

August 6, 2016
Uncategorized
carolyn palmer, celeron, I love Lucy, Lucille ball, new york

New ‘Lucy’ Bronze Sculpture in Lucille Ball’s Hometown Captures the Lucy Everyone Knows and Love

As denizens of the Internet, you might be aware of a certain bronze likeness of comedy legend Lucille Ball in her New York hometown of Celeron referred to as ‘Scary Lucy’. 

Since that’s been the case for years, a new bronze statue of Lucille Ball was commissioned and sculptor Carolyn Palmer just unveiled it this week. 

You’ll agree, after getting a glimpse of it, that it’s a far cry from any sort of ‘scary’ description and much more fitting of the star of I Love Lucy.

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