Recent News

Nicole Byer’s Self-Help Book #VeryFat #VeryBrave Out Now

Yvonne Orji’s First HBO Special “Momma, I Made It” Premieres This Saturday

Pick of the Day: Baited with Ziwe (Thursdays)

Hasan Minhaj Stresses the Importance of Other Minorities Not Staying Silent About George Floyd

W. Kamau Bell Talks Frankly with Conan O’Brien ‘Showing Your Work’ for Non-Black People

Pick of the Day: Comedy Crossing 6/6

Both Seasons of Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas Are Now Streaming on YouTube for Free

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 10: Gareth Reynolds Right Before LA Curfew

Pick of the Day: Hollywood Quars 6/4

This W. Kamau Bell Bit Shows Why You Need to Educate Yourself on Racism

Pick of the Day: An Evening with Baratunde Thurston

Pick of the Day: Nicole Byer + Sasheer Zamata: #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE 6/4

Our Favorite Harvard Alumnus Conan O’Brien Gives Commencement Speech for Harvard Class of 2020

The PIT’s 10th Annual Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest Is Another Festival Going Virtual and Is Taking Submissions

Pick of the Day: Richard Bain Sunset Farewell 5/31

Nicole Byer’s Self-Help Book #VeryFat #VeryBrave Out Now

Yvonne Orji’s First HBO Special “Momma, I Made It” Premieres This Saturday

Pick of the Day: Baited with Ziwe (Thursdays)

Hasan Minhaj Stresses the Importance of Other Minorities Not Staying Silent About George Floyd

W. Kamau Bell Talks Frankly with Conan O’Brien ‘Showing Your Work’ for Non-Black People

Pick of the Day: Comedy Crossing 6/6

Both Seasons of Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas Are Now Streaming on YouTube for Free

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 10: Gareth Reynolds Right Before LA Curfew

Pick of the Day: Hollywood Quars 6/4

This W. Kamau Bell Bit Shows Why You Need to Educate Yourself on Racism

Pick of the Day: An Evening with Baratunde Thurston

Pick of the Day: Nicole Byer + Sasheer Zamata: #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE 6/4

Our Favorite Harvard Alumnus Conan O’Brien Gives Commencement Speech for Harvard Class of 2020

The PIT’s 10th Annual Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest Is Another Festival Going Virtual and Is Taking Submissions

Pick of the Day: Richard Bain Sunset Farewell 5/31

June 5, 2020

Nicole Byer is so many things between comedy, acting, podcasting, and writing that all add up to being a shining beacon in a godforsaken world for being true to herself as she could possibly be.

So, a memoir #VeryFat #VeryBrave from Byer is a very welcome gift to have bestowed on us all this week. Throughout the book, Nicole encourages both complete acceptance and love of your body and also shows how to rock a bikini as a fat person. Byer’s marvelously unapologetic sense of humor makes it so this should be the next book you should get.

You can and very much should go get Nicole’s self-help book #VeryFat #VeryBrave at any number of booksellers here. Also, if you’d like to support black owned bookstores at this time, here’s a list of them.

June 5, 2020

News

comedy special, hbo, stand up comedy, yvonne orji

Though the last episode of Insecure didn’t feature any Molly, you’ll get plenty of Yvonne Orji this weekend as the Insecure star will be premiering her very first hour comedy special, Momma, I Made It, at HBO. The special itself will cut between very personal stories and stand-up from Orji and her embarking to Nigeria to reconnect with her family and heritage. Yvonne also sees how well she can blend in Nigeria as a Nigerian-American.

See a bit of it for yourself in this promo, then look for the premiere/release of Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! on Sat. Jun. 6th at 10PM on HBO (then streaming on HBO GO/HBO NOW).

June 5, 2020

News

baited, instagram live, ziwe fumudoh

Even before all the events that took place over the past following week in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Ziwe Fumudoh‘s weekly IG Live show Baited was already a great, hysterical one-on-one conversations on engagement on race with white ally comedians.

Thus, it’s even more critical viewing that you’d should make part of your Thursday afternoons/evenings right now.

Baited with Ziwe goes live on Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PT/8PM ET @ziwef. This next week’s guests are some damn funny white allies: Cole Escola (At Home with Amy Sedaris, Difficult People) and Brad Evans (SNL).

June 4, 2020

News

george floyd, hasan minhaj, patriot act

When it comes to going on a rant, Hasan Minhaj is and has been one of comedy’s best. The passion and eloquence of which he puts on display is, honestly, inspiring.

So, in the wake of the protests following the murder of George Floyd, he utilized the platform of his show Patriot Act to make sure that other minorities, even within his Desi community do not stay silent or “sit this one out” because they think it’s not their fight. Taking this to heart, know that none of us should stay silent and not only be vocal and take action now, but continue to do so for the long haul to bring about permanent, necessary change.

Please watch it here.

June 4, 2020

News

anti racism, conan, do the work, team coco, w kamau bell

Again, W. Kamau Bell is one of the voices in comedy right now that should be heard. For so many years, Bell has simultaneously spoken so concisely and comedically to so many crucial issues, especially when it comes to race.

You can clearly see in this lengthy conversation that he had with Conan O’Brien last night on Conan where they discuss the murder of George Floyd, the protests, the response to the protests, anti-racism, white supremacy, and, above all, the importance of “showing your work”. Kamau even goes and directly asks Conan about his opinion on the existence of systemic white supremacy in America as well as assigning another white person to be responsible for Conan’s whiteness.

It’s a great conversation and perhaps an illuminating way to think of how to engage with privilege, even with folks that are clearly allies. Watch it here.

June 4, 2020

News

animal crossing, comedy show, ify nwadiwe, jenny yang, stand up comedy, yedoye travis

Not only will Comedy Crossing be a trailblazing stand-up comedy show done within the world of hit video game Animal Crossing, but part of the donations that they’ll accept will go towards the Minnesota Freedom Fund (which is distributing funds to other organizations due to overwhelming support) on top of supporting the performers.

Also, they’ve gathered together such an adorable line-up to be done in one of the most adorable video games of all time. Slated to virtually perform are Yedoye Travis, Ify Nwadiwe, Madison Shepard, Chris Bryant, Amber Preston, and host Jenny Yang.

The very first Comedy Crossing is set for Sat. Jun. 6th at 7PM PT/10PM ET. RSVP for access to the live-stream (link will be sent on day of show) and be sure to donate via Venmo.

June 3, 2020

News

hbo, now streaming, problem areas, wyatt cenac

Two years ago, Wyatt Cenac embarked on two seasons of his own pointedly, socially conscious series Problem Areas at HBO. Cenac made the show decidedly different from many other socio-political, topical comedy shows from focusing on actually going out into the street, talking to several different people on both sides of many crucial issues involving race, class, immigration, labor, power structures, etc., and actually trying to figure a solution of some sort from all those conversations.

If you’re looking for a voice to amplify and hear and see messages that you should be seeing and hearing, go ahead and give Problem Areas a binge watch. HBO was nice enough to put all two episodes on YouTube, free of their pay wall, for you to stream.

So, go get into Problem Areas here.

June 3, 2020

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

douglas, gareth reynolds, hannah gadsby, protest, the dollop, what we do in the shadows, wyatt cenac

Gareth Reynolds, co-host of The Dollop, is the esteemed guest for this week’s Comedy Bureau Field Report. Getting ready to observe curfew here in LA on the date of of this recording, Mon. Jun. 1st, Gareth and TCB’s Jake Kroeger get into the state of things and the state of comedy, even questioning what’s the point of comedy right at this historical moment (and how to even go about doing it). It’s a “very special episode” in a universe of “very special episodes”.

Follow Gareth Reynolds @reynoldsgareth across platforms, listen to The Dollop, watch Ga’riffs on IG Live @reynoldsgareth at 6PM PT, and also listen to Point vs. Point.

Shout outs: Wyatt Cenac’s One Angry Night in November, Hannah Gadsby’s Douglas, and What We Do in The Shadows.

For the times we live in consider donating money to a worthy cause like the Peoples City Council Freedom Fund.

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

June 3, 2020

News

baron vaughn, brandie posey, caitlin gill, casey ley, charity benefit, chris estrada, hollywood quars, jessica sele, madison shepard, minnesota freedom fund, sean keane, steph tolev

This brand new, weekly comedy game show, Hollywood Quars, hosted by Matt Lieb, takes trivia to a whole new level as both the contestants AND the host don’t know the answers to the questions (even when the host wrote them). It’s up to a really great line-up of comedians to make it seem like their answer is the best (or maybe even actually right?).

For this first edition of Hollywood Quars on Thurs. Jun. 4th at 7:30PM PT/10:30PM ET, they’ve assembled:

Baron Vaughn (Netflix, Comedy Central)
Steph Tolev (Comedy Central)
Brandie Posey (Lady 2 Lady Podcast)
Sean Keane (Roundball Rock Podcast)
Caitlin Gill (NPR, 2 Dope Queens)
Madison Shepard (Album “Goodnight Silverlake Lounge”)
Jessica Sele (Vice TV)
Chris Estrada (Comedy Central)
Casey Ley (Gay Power Half Hour )

Also, we gotta say, having gotten a sneak peak, this very well might be one of the slickest looking comedy game shows done via live-stream.

By the way, they’ll be raising money for Minnesota Freedom Fund (which, due to so much support, is distributing funds to other worthy causes)

Tickets are $8 if you snag them right now and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

June 2, 2020

News

amplify melanated voices, blackout tuesday, semi-prominent negro, w kamau bell

In the spirit of amplifying the voices that should be amplified today, we’re pointing to you to this bit by the fantastic comedian W. Kamau Bell from one of his past hours, Semi-Prominent Negro. You should watch/enjoy/learn from all of Kamau’s work (United Shades of America, Private School Negro), but this particular joke highlights the importance of people, particularly non-black people, on doing their homework and educating themselves on racism/anti-racism/white supremacy rather than depending on asking black people to do it for them. There is so much to know and there are so many resources.

Please watch it here. You can (and should) also listen to Semi-Prominent Negro in full on Spotify here.

June 2, 2020

News

baratunde thurston, live stream comedy, stand up

In general, you should follow, hear, and listen to the comedy and works of Baratunde Thurston. On top of having a resume that sports The Onion and The Daily Show and bestselling book How To Be Black, everything Baratunde has involved himself in (Live on Lockdown) has struck a balance of forward thinking, succinct, socially conscious, and, of course, funny.

So, at this moment of on-going mass protests sparked by the murder of an unarmed George Floyd by law enforcement, we’re betting that he’ll have something to say that you really ought to hear, especially as there will be a Q&A. He’ll be doing a virtual headlining stand-up set at the Nowhere Comedy Club this Wednesday, Jun. 3rd at 6PM PT/9PM ET.

Tickets are $10-$25 and you can and should go get them here.

June 1, 2020

News

book release, nicole byer, sasheer zamata

It’s undeniable that one of the funniest comedians working today is Nicole Byer. Between her stand-up, her TV shows, her podcast empire, and more, Byer is truly fearless in her comedy in a way that’s both hysterical, raw, and, honestly, beautiful.

Her upcoming memoir,#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE, will be her latest work that you should get into. The book “…unpacks the bizarre notion that it takes courage to be a fat woman,” through her own experiences, especially when it comes to wearing a bikini.

She’s doing a virtual launch of #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE on Zoom with her Best Friends co-host Sasheer Zamata that’ll include discussion and a Q&A this Thurs. Jun. 4th at 4PM PT.

Tickets are $24.98 and include a purchase of the book. Go get ’em here.

May 29, 2020

News

class of 2020, conan o'brien, harvard

Of the many distinguished folks that have graduated from Harvard University, Conan O’Brien stands tall, literally and figuratively, as one of Harvard’s best alumni. The late night legend was President of the Harvard Lampoon while he attended, a very obvious foreshadowing of where he was headed in the future.

So, with all of this in mind with what is undoubtedly the strangest year to graduate from anything, Harvard tapped O’Brien to put together a commencement speech, which was equal parts ridiculous, heartfelt, and inspiring. It’s very clear that Conan got to pretty much do whatever he wanted with his allotted time and it was clearly all for the best.

Watch Conan O’Brien’s Harvard 2020 Commencement Speech here.

May 29, 2020

News

comedy festival, improv comedy, nyc, virtual festival

For much of the world, festivals are still far off from happening and, as such, many of them are opting to go virtual instead of just postponing until next year. NYC’s The PIT‘s is opting for the virtual option with their annual 10th Annual Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest, which will be streaming on July 4th (which will be nice especially if you’re worried about folks overdoing their 4th of July gathering).

They’ve partnered with @sociallydistantimprov, & @studentdriverimprov to put the entire online version of this Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest and, yes, they’re taking submissions and, yes, they’re open to teams from anywhere and everywhere!

The deadline to submit your team will be Sun. Jun. 14th 9AM PT/12PM PT.

Get more details and submit here.

May 29, 2020

News

memorial, richard bain

At this point, you know or have heard about tragic passing of Richard Bain after he took his life earlier this week. Again, he was a beloved member of comedy no matter where he was.

This Sunday, there will be a farwell in Richard’s memory at Zuma Beach in Malibu (social distancing, face coverings, and other COVID-19 safety protocol will strictly be observed) organized by LA comedian Alyssa Rusak.

Rusak’s details for the memorial:
*Sunset is at 8pm PT so show up any time before. I’ll probably be there around 6pm.
*I’ll post about where exactly to meet once I get to the beach and scope out the scene.
*I’ll also post a zoom link and/or Instagram live link for anyone who wants to join online.
*Bring whatever physical memorial items you want. I won’t be bringing much besides myself and some witch shit.”

Get more details and the live-streaming link here.

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