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Watch a Magnificent Tribute to the Elaine Dance from Seinfeld by Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Jacobson

November 23, 2018

abbi jacobson, dance tribute, elaine dance, ilana glazer, kennedy center, seinfeld

Sure, this happened months ago and aired over a week ago, but the highly respected Priori Dance Company that Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer enlisted to do a high art tribute to Julia Louis Dreyfus’ famous Elaine dance on Seinfeld for JLD’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony is something that we wanted to make sure you absolutely knew about, just in case you didn’t.

It’s truly magical. Enjoy it here.

The Las Culturistas podcast is coming back to LA for an early holiday gift! It’s another edition of I Don’t Think So, Honey! Live at The Regent Theater in DTLA. Dozens of LA’s best at throwing shade will get to put up a minute of their best rants on anything in culture. It’s honestly kind of a life changing experience.

In short, you better not miss this.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $22 at the door and you best snag your tickets up quick right here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

We meant to say this earlier, but sincerely #thankyoupatrons of our TCB Patreon that keep the lights on around “here”. We are truly thankful for your continued support of us and comedy. #Thanksgiving

November 22, 2018

Oh, here’s our Patreon if you want to support us (or increase your support).

Well, It’s Thanksgiving Again, Which Means We’d Like to Once Again Share The Dollop’s Special Thanksgiving Episode

November 22, 2018

dollop, thanksgiving

Well, It’s Thanksgiving Again, Which Means We’d Like to Once Again Share The Dollop’s Special Thanksgiving Episode

If you’re feeling a bit nihilistic/existentially debilitated on Thanksgiving today, we like to share, once again, The Dollop’s deep dive into the first and much less picturesque second Thanksgiving.

It’s a new Thanksgiving tradition that we happen to really enjoy here at TCB (especially since we’re not fans of the holiday season in general).

Give it a listen/another listen to pair perfectly with today’s nationwide feast here.

MST3K’s The Gauntlet, That’s Six Movies that Jonah and the Robots Have to Riff On, Is Now Streaming at Netflix

November 22, 2018

mst3k, mystery science theater 3000, netflix

Whether you like your family or not this Thanksgiving, this new round of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will undoubtedly make today much better.

Again, “The Gauntlet” to be riffed on will include Mac and Me, Atlantic Rim, The Day Time Ended, Killer Fish, Ator the Fighting Eagle, Lords of the Deep and is enough to get you through all of today and probably Black Friday.

Watch Norway’s Daniel Simonsen Make His American TV Debut on Late Night

November 21, 2018

daniel simonsen, late night, norway, seth meyers, stand up

It will always be amazing to us when someone whose native tongue isn’t English figures out how to handily do stand-up in English. It’s another whole level of fluency in a language that, like so many things in comedy, just can’t be taught.

Daniel Simonsen who is originally, as mentioned above, from Norway made his very first American TV appearance last night on Late Night with Seth Meyers and, to our point, has managed to toy with nuances of English as well as his play it up with his hilariously bone dry stage persona.

So, please enjoy Daniel Simonsen’s very first U.S. TV/late night appearance here.

Ryan Sickler’s Reaffirms His Mastery of Storytelling with “Get a Hold of Yourself”

November 21, 2018

comedy album, ryan sickler, stand up, storytelling

On stage as a stand-up, on The Crabfeast podcast, and even behind-the-scenes at the storytelling series This Is Not Happening, Ryan Sickler has made himself an undeniable presence when it comes to comedic storytelling.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that his new album Get a Hold of Yourself is a finely aged bottled of stories tapped from Sickler’s personal reserves about his family, drugs, and the infamous roller coaster Tatsu. When hearing them, there’s a timeless feel to the way he weaves details together, his perfectly measured timing, the smooth, deep sound of his voice that make it so you can’t help but want to sit and listen and not really want to do anything else.

So, go get Ryan Sickler’s Get a Hold of Yourself available now from Blonde Medicine here.

November 21, 2018

benefit, final show, immigration law firm, los angeles, public school stories, RAICES, storytelling

Public School Stories has been carrying the torch as one of the best live storytelling shows in LA thanks to stellar booking and their insistence on the stories only living at the show and not on a podcast or anywhere else. You have to be there to see it and it’s just a little extra special because of that.

So, join them in their final show on Wed., Dec. 5th, which also happens to be their annual charity Winter Formal that will be raising funds for RAICES, Immigration Law Firm.

They haven’t announced the line-up, but we’re sure that all-star hosts/producers Stephen Falk, Joey Slamon, James Urbaniak, Natasha Vargas-Cooper will not disappoint.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Please Enjoy All of the“Pasta”, Emily Heller’s Latest Hour

November 20, 2018

comedy album, emily heller, kill rock stars, stand up

The fact that Emily Heller has made a novelty card for all her fans at live show that lets potential thieves of fans’ wallets know to, well, not steal said fans’ wallets, is just one example of how much care and cleverness Emily puts into her comedy. This is explained on this new album and indeed 100% true as an Emily Heller fan from Indiana showed the card to us.

Pasta, the new hour from Heller, is the same great Emily complete with a painterly level of detail and an organic, almost narrative driven flow, though done for these bizarre, often terrifying times that we live in, but are still managing to get through on a daily basis. In particular, Emily’s observation on her newly agreed relationship to going to the gym is exquisite.

Pasta is available now from Kill Rock Stars and you can (and should) go get it here.

November 20, 2018

comedy show, dave anthony, dtla, gareth reynolds, live podcast, the dollop

It has been a minute or two since The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds has done a live LA show, but they finally have one lined up for 7PM Saturday, January 19th next year at DTLA’s Palace Theater.

As always, along with Gareth, we’ll be intensely curious to see what Dave brings up this time that uncovers some dark thing about LA (or even specifically downtown) that we might have not known about and then Gareth and Dave riff the humor out of said darkness.

Tickets are ranging from $10 (that’s for “May Be 100% Blocked Views) to $55.50. Go get your tickets here quick

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Next Year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner Won’t Have Trump or a Comedian

November 19, 2018

whca, white house correspondents dinner

Next Year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner Won’t Have Trump or a Comedian

Instead, the White House Correspondents Association has opted to have historian and author Ron Chernow to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner next year, Saturday, April 27th, 2019. He’ll be focusing on the First Amendment, specifically freedom of the press, at this point in history.

It’s an unfortunate decision by the WHCA (and, if we had more conspiracy theory leanings, might think this has something to do with getting Jim Acosta’s White House press credentials back). Though it may not have been explicit intention of the WHCD at its inception, it has become a perfect symbol of how much us Americans get to speak against power, staring it right down the face while doing so.

We’re sure Chernow will have something very eloquent to say, possibly still critical of Trump and everything tangential to his Administration as well as the media covering it, but it’s hard to imagine it being as visible and effective as a skilled comedian roasting D.C. to their faces (even if Trump isn’t there).

Look, we’re not going to on and on about how it feels like the WHCD is chickening out here (not unlike Trump chickens out on never showing up to the dinner himself because he is a coward that rules out of fear), but we’re sure, above everyone else, C-SPAN is furious that this night of guaranteed ratings/views is very likely gone.

November 19, 2018

let me know if you need anything, lizzy cooperman, silverlake, solo show

Lizzy Cooperman was one of the first comedians that we saw and redefined what we thought comedy could be.

Normally, a brilliant punk rock-ish absurdist comedian whose short jokes hit as hard as she bangs her keyboard after her punchlines, Lizzy takes a turn towards telling the story of getting stricken with a mysterious disease and having her whole life changed because of it. We just this show last week, definitely “felt all the feelings”, and was, yet again, amazed with Lizzy Cooperman.

She’s doing another performance tomorrow night at the Lyric Hyperion on Tue., Nov. 20th at 10PM. Tickets are $10 and please go get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

SF Sketchfest Makes First Announces 2019 Line-Up

November 19, 2018

aparna nancherla, carol burnett, comedy festival, janeane garofalo, lauren lapkus, paul f tompkins, san francisco, sf

It’s almost that time again for one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals to make all of your dream comedy line-ups come true (probably to the point where you’re overwhelmed). Already, Carol Burnett, Big Terrific, Paul F. Tompkins, Janeane Garofalo, Lauren Lapkus, Aparna Nancherla, and Laraine Newman is so damn good and that’s only a fraction of this portion of the line-up.

SF Sketchfest will be taking over San Francisco from Jan. 10th-27th and offer this already overflowing chalice of comedy riches with truly much, much more to come.

Tickets went on sale yesterday and you can (and very much should) go snag them here.

Big Mouth Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix

November 19, 2018

big mouth, netflix, renewed

Big Mouth Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix

We definitely think this is a no-brainer on Netflix’s part as season 2 definitely elevated the animated series on all fronts (as well as getting even more topping how blue it could get), but we’re curious how long Kroll and Goldberg will aim to have this explicit animated series about puberty go as Andrew, Nick, Jay, and Jessi can’t stay teens forever.

Still, we’ll definitely be looking forward to checking over our shoulder if someone is watching us watch that at a coffee shop.

Ben Roy’s New Album “Ooze Your Delusions” Is a Really Great Way to Enjoy Laughing Through Your Rage

November 17, 2018

800 pound gorilla, ben roy, ooze your delusions, stand up

On performance of his jokes alone, Ben Roy is a thrill to watch and listen to. It’s almost as if his comedy is to stand-up as MC5′s Kick Out the Jams was a shock to sixties’ rock.

Ooze Your Delusions, Ben’s follow-up to No Enlightenment to Sobriety, picks up right where he left off being the best, bombastic firebrand comic and yet poetic throughout his rants all at the same time. Truly, it’s a great way to release rage that you might have right now for some reason via Ben channeling his own rage into comedy. Also, he does all of this without really getting political, which might be refreshing for some Trump-weary comedy fans.

Ooze Your Delusions is available now from 800 Pound Gorilla Records here.

Joe Kwaczala’s 31 for 31 Might Set a New Bar for Short Form Video

November 17, 2018

31 for 31, joe kwaczala

The shuddering of many video content companies like Super Deluxe over the last year or so leaves plenty of folks wondering what the fate of short form video and content online will be.

Well, that future could be following in the footsteps of the clever 31 for 31 from comedy multi-hyphenate Joe Kwaczala. Not only is it 31 videos that span sketches, stand-up, short films, documentary, animation, and more (the 31 is for Joe’s current age, FYI), Kwaczala, along with the direction of Daniel J. Clark and producing of Liz Maupin and the help of several funny people of all kinds in LA, made this a Netflix-ish release event of his own. It’s a calling card, resume, and a whole bunch of damn funny videos free for you to binge at your convenience.

Also, it shows how the many varied facets of the comedy of Joe Kwaczala and how well he just might do if there ever was a sort of “comedy decathalon”.

As we’ve already hinted at, this might just set a new precedent for short form online video.

To get a taste, here’s a trailer, then some choice selections from 31 for 31:

Official “Tainted Love” Dance Tutorial

“Meeting the Parents”

“Remember Me”

What Happens Next?

Now, go ahead and watch the rest (or all) of 31 for 31 here.

November 16, 2018

comedy show, dating game, experimental comedy, jake kroeger, silverlake

Our Bureau Director Jake Kroeger is at it again and by “it”, we mean attempting to date an entire audience rather than waste time on dating apps.

Yes, Jake Kroeger Dates the Audience returns to the Lyric Hyperion a week after Thanksgiving on 11/29 for an attempt at a meaningful connection/validation for Jake of any kind.

You’re cordially invited no matter who you are or what your relationship status is because it doesn’t have to be anything serious (or it even could be a “friend date” because that’s a thing, right?)

Please get your tickets here and join him for what will probably be one of the more fun dates you’ve ever been on.

Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You, Can You Ever Forgive Me? and More Comedies Score Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

November 16, 2018

announcements, eighth grade, film independent, spirit awards

Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You, Can You Ever Forgive Me? and More Comedies Score Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

The 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations were just announced and, as they are a little more comedy friendly than their big brother, The Oscars, it’s worth taking a gander of what comedies are hitting with voters this time around.

For this year, there definitely seems to be a strong thread of comedy going to the darker corners of the human experience throughout as Eighth Grade scored multiple nominations along with the dark absurdist fantasy of Sorry to Bother You, Thoroughbreds (a buddy step-patricide comedy), Can You Ever Forgive Me? that has Melissa McCarthy attempting to make a living as a literary forger. From the moody color palate alone, you could toss Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest The Favourite, a period piece comedy about the struggle for power within a Queen’s court.

On the other end of this spectrum, you have more life affirming, specifically feminist, comedies such as Support The Girls and Never Goin’ Back.

All in all, a very nice, extensive round up of indie comedy nominees this past year as you can see below. Let’s hope a decent amount of them win when the Spirit Awards are handed out on Feb 23rd.

BEST FEATURE
EIGHTH GRADE-Producers: Eli Bush, Scott Rudin, Christopher Storer, Lila Yacoub

BEST FIRST FEATURE
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU-Director: Boots Riley
Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jonathan Duffy, Charles D. King, George Rush, Forest Whitaker, Kelly Williams

BEST SCREENPLAY
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?-Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
EIGHTH GRADE-Bo Burnham
THOROUGHBREDS-Cory Finley

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
NEVER GOIN’ BACK-Writer/Director: Augustine Frizzell
Producers: Liz Cardenas, Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Elsie Fisher, EIGHTH GRADE
Regina Hall, SUPPORT THE GIRLS

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Richard E. Grant, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Josh Hamilton, EIGHTH GRADE

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
THE FAVOURITE (United Kingdom)-Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Read the full list of Spirit Award nominees here.

Fruit Bats Mini Doc “Getting in a Van Again” Is One of the Funniest Rock Mockumentaries in Recent Memory

November 16, 2018

demorge brown, elisha yaffe, eric johnson, fruit bats, jonny look, merge records, mockumentary

In anticipation of a new song from folk rockers The Fruit Bats, a “documentary” short film that takes a behind-the-scenes look into the making of their single “Getting in a Van Again” was made by slick director Jonny Look.

You might take notice that the “Emotional Engineer” and manager are played by TCB faves DeMorge Brown and Elisha Yaffe.

Truthfully, even if you didn’t know you needed another fantastic rock mockumentary in your life, we think that Getting In a Van Again is something that you’ve been waiting for.

Please, please, please enjoy it without any further explanation that might ruin any of the magic that lies ahead here.

Also, if you’re digging the music, go get into the Fruit Bats here.

Trae Crowder, Corey Forrester & Drew Morgan Sell Southern Buddy Comedy to ABC

November 16, 2018

corey forrester, drew morgan, liberal redneck, trae crowder

Trae Crowder, Corey Forrester & Drew Morgan Sell Southern Buddy Comedy to ABC

Trae Crowder AKA the Liberal Redneck and the WellRED banner that includes comedians Corey Forrester and Drew Morgan might have just scored their own show. They and writer Andrew Reich have just sold a comedy about three friends from the sticks in the South (ostensibly, we’re guessing it’s a semi-autobiographical single camera comedy).

It does seem as though networks are aiming for sitcoms that will appeal across the country and the aisle and maybe Crowder, Forrester, and Morgan are the ones to make that happen.

Please Enjoy Ian Karmel’s Latest Late Late Show Set

November 15, 2018

ian karmel, late late show, stand up, timing

Ian Karmel put on a clinic in “sitting in the pocket” all throughout his set on last night’s Late Late Show with James Corden. Really, the pregnant pauses are perfection.

Give it a watch and enjoy thoroughly here.

November 15, 2018

huntington beach, melissa villaseñor, rec room

Melissa Villaseñor is swinging back into town from SNL to do one special night in Huntington Beach at The Rec Room. If you’re reading this, you might have seen her come up through LA as one of the best impressionist comedians around and now you can see her as a true headliner.

Tickets are $15 (plus a 2 item minimum) and you should go get them while you can here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Moontower 2019 Makes First Line-up Announcement

November 15, 2018

bonnie mcfarlane, gareth reynolds, jenny slate, sklar brothers

It’s never too early to peep what’s going on with comedy festivals in Austin, TX.

So, you’ll be happy to hear that just a sliver of what’s to come with the 2019 Moontower Comedy Festival will be:

Adam Ray (“About Last Night”)
Andrew Schulz (“Sneaky Pete”, “Guy Code”)
Bonnie McFarlane (“My Wife Hates Me”, Vos roast)
Bowen Yang (“Las Culturistas”)
Brad Williams (“The Degenerates” Netflix)
Carmen Lynch (Conan, “Dance Like You Don’t Need the Money”)
Chris Redd (“Saturday Night Live”)
Dan Soder (“The Bonfire” SiriusXM, “Billions”)
David Spade
Emma Willmann (“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, Netflix)
Gareth Reynolds (“The Dollop”)
Goddamn Comedy Jam (GDCJ)
Jak Knight (“The Comedy Lineup”, “Big Mouth” Netflix)
Jenny Slate* (“Venom”, “Parks and Recreation”)
Jessica Kirson (“The Comedian”)
Jon Dore (“Conan”, “The John Dore Show”)
Josh Adam Meyers (Goddamn Comedy Jam)
Loyiso Gola (Kevin Hart’s LOL)
Marina Franklin (“2 Dope Queens”, “Friends Like Us”)
Mary Lynn Rajskub (“24”, “Night School”)
Matt Rogers (“Las Culturistas”)
Mike Vecchione (“The Tonight Show”)
Nicole Byer (“Loosely Exactly Nicole”, “Nailed It”)
Orlando Leyba (“The Tonight Show”)
Rich Vos (“My Wife Hates Me”, Vos roast)
Sal Vulcano* “(Impractical Jokers”)
The Sklar Brothers (“Dumb People Town”)
Taylor Tomlinson “(The Tonight Show”)
Tim Dillon (Comedy Central, “The Comedy Lineup”)

If you’re already digging this, mark down April 24–27, 2019 and snag your festival badge (they’re starting at $99 right now) here.

“Those Who Can’t” Season 3 Trailer Looks to Up the Ante

November 14, 2018

adam cayton holland, andrew orvedahl, ben roy, maria thayer, rory scovel, season 3, those who cant, trailer

For two seasons, The Grawlix (Adam Cayton-Holland, Ben Roy, and Andrew Orvedahl), Maria Thayer, and Rory Scovel have made a dysfunctional, yet fictional high school seem like a pretty splendid place to be.

As the premiere of their third season on Monday, January 14th, 2019 approaches, the administrative gang of Smoot High looks to do it once again, perhaps topping themselves this time around.

See for yourself in the season 3 Those Who Can’t trailer here.

Kurt Braunohler Has a Multi Cam Sitcom “Dad vs. Father” in Development at CBS

November 14, 2018

cbs, dad vs father, kurt braunohler, multi cam

Kurt Braunohler Has a Multi Cam Sitcom “Dad vs. Father” in Development at CBS

If there someone to subvert the tropes of the multi cam sitcom, it might just be Kurt Braunohler.

Having hosted an absurdist game show, navigating the Mississippi River on a jetski, and driving across the country w/a giant double-sided butt sculpture, we can only wonder what Kurt has up his sleeve here. Also, we’re curious if and how his dads against dads joke might figure in here.

Hopefully, it’ll get a green light and we’ll find out.