Recent News

Both hailing from SNL and Staten Island, Pete Davidson and Colin Jost just won an auction for a decommissioned ferry boat that would sail to, you guessed it, Staten Island. They paid just a few smidges over a quarter of a million dollars along with the co-founder of The Stand comedy club, Paul Italia.

The idea here is that they’ll make a venue on the ferry, though whether the 277 ft. John F. Kennedy, which was decommissioned because of mechanical issues, will actually be a venue that floats in and around NYC or stays permanently docked remains to be seen.

In either case, Davidson, Jost, and Italia will open up another space for comedy, music, and other performances to happen, which is great news considering what COVID-19 has done to NYC live spaces in the last two years. Details as to the name or when they might open have yet to be announced, but we’d be surprised if Staten Island didn’t figure into the name of their club somehow.

From Last Night’s Colbert, David Cross Is Still a Subversive Rascal When on Late Night

January 21, 2022

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david cross, stephen colbert

Thank goodness David Cross is still doing bits on late night and foregoing the standard panel interview on any of the long standing late night talk show institutions. In fact, you can count on Cross to do something memorable and ridiculous whenever he’s invited to the couch at any network.

This time, Cross runs through all sorts of hijinks while promoting his upcoming stand-up special I’m From the Future set for release on Feb. 12th that point towards the sort of interviews that should be happening on late night, if they can happen in person. Oh yeah, there’s a new Cross special taped at Littlefield during last year’s NY Comedy Festival that you really ought to be excited for.

In the meantime, you can enjoy Cross being peak late night Cross here.

R.I.P. Louie Anderson, 1953-2022

January 21, 2022

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louie anderson

Well, the in-memoriam segments of all major awards ceremonies this year, whether they happen in person or virtually, are going to be a tear jerker of a montage, probably more so than usual, for what seems to be a plethora of beloved famous people that are leaving this mortal coil in the last few months.

Louie Anderson will be one such name that’ll be missed. Anderson passed away today after undergoing a recent cancer treatment at 68. The veteran comedian went from working under comedy pioneer Henny Youngman to see all different sides of comedy stardom on stage and screen with his own stand-up, hosting Family Feud, and some of his iconic roles with Life with Louie, Coming to America, and his latest iconic role as Christine Baskets in Baskets.

Certainly, our lasting memories of Anderson will be of him as Chip and Dale Baskets’ mother and becoming the beating heart and moral compass of Baskets, a tragic comedy about wanting to be a professional clown, beautifully played by Zach Galifianakis. There is an undeniable gravitas from Anderson that not only made for one of the best roles of his entire career, but something that kind of transcended the original premise of the show.

So, take a moment today, go down a rabbit hole on YouTube or Hulu (that’s where Baskets is currently streaming) to honor Anderson’s memory.

Pick of the Day: Ladies Who Ranch (in LA) 2/8 & 2/12

January 20, 2022

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Caitlin Dullea, caroline yost, jessy morner ritt, Kelly Cooper, la comedy, ladies who ranch, Maya Sharma, mitra jouhari, sketch comedy, Sophie Zucker

The beloved all around NYC comedy troupe known as Ladies Who Ranch are finally making their way back to LA. That’s Sophie Zucker, Maya Sharma, Kelly Cooper, Caitlin Dullea, and Caroline Yost that do bits, sketches, improv, and more and are bringing their wonderfully rambunctious comedic talents to The Elysian for two special nights in February.

Specifically, they’ll being doing a “bit” show on Tues. Feb. 8th at 8:30PM PT (w/Jessy Morner-Ritt and Mitra Jouhari opening) and a full on proper sketch show on Sat. Feb. 12th at 9:30PM PT (w/Robby Hoffman opening). Both nights ought to be an extra special evening of sublime ridiculousness and you really ought to not miss it. Tickets for either show are $16 and you can (and very much should) get them at elysiantheater.com.

Rhys Darby Is Your New Favorite Pirate in Teaser for “Our Flag Means Death”

January 20, 2022

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david jenkins, hbo max, leslie jones, our flag means death, rhys darby, taika waititi

Year and years ago, back when Johnny Depp was mostly scandal free, the world fell in love with him as Jack Sparrow, a free-wheeling, fun loving pirate at the heart of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.

Of course, on this of 2022, things are much different and Depp doesn’t curry the same sort of a favor with his movies (or his band Hollywood Vampires). Fret not though as there is a new fun loving set of pirates on the horizon that could very well take place of the slot that everyone held for the Disney adaptation of their famous ride.

Our Flag Means Death from David Jenkins (People of Earth) will have the very lovable pairing of Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi play real life pirates Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, respectively. Bonnet, though nowhere near as famous as Blackbeard, ditched his life as an aristocrat for the high seas and a black flag and ought to be a damn good time with Rhys Darby bringing him to life in this series. Also, this would mark Taika’s second time as a famous villain, previously playing Hitler in Jojo Rabbit and now, the infamous Blackbeard.

Get a taste of what all that comedic piracy will be like with this teaser here.

That should be enough for you to make sure you have HBO Max when Our Flag Means Death drops. In case it’s not, know that Leslie Jones will also be showing up in this historical pirate comedy to, of course, regulate.

Just For Laughs Expands Their Global Reach with JFL London

January 20, 2022

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It was only earlier this week that JFL announced it’s big line-up for its very first collaboration with the Moontower Comedy Festival down in Austin to form the MJFLA, Moontower Just For Laughs Austin. Today, JFL, the long standing, renowned international comedy brand is making moves to be even more international than they already are with a festival in London.

From Mar. 2nd-5th at London’s revered venue, The O2 (the arena is one of the UK’s biggest venues, FYI, and sure to be a crown jewel part of this weekend festival) will be the site for Just For Laughs London, JFLL. JFL details this new shiny, upcoming festival, “Just For Laughs LONDON will be a four-day pass-based festival, and feature the company’s signature premium comedy programming. Must-attend events will include solo shows, live podcast recordings, in conversations, and cast panels; from both UK-based artists, as well as international stars.”

Given that, at this point in time, it seems to all take place at The O2, it might be like Festival Supreme, which overtake one big space and divvied it all up into several different stages and performances areas throughout a few days. Even though Montreal is JFL’s marquee festival, London will be the biggest city that Just For Laughs has taken on yet (even though they partially did JFL New Faces virtually from LA and NYC last year).

So, JFL currently has a reach of festivals that spans Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Austin, Cancun, and now, London, leaving all to wonder just how big will Just For Laughs get.

Please Enjoy This Short Film “Lipstick City” from Courtney Karwal

January 19, 2022

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The hellscape that is auditioning in LA (or anywhere really since it’s mostly self-tape these days) is a special ring of hell that is chock full of horror stories that make you question your very essence. As such, some of the best comedic catharsis can be found in whatever the hell people are reading/going in for. It’s essentially a time honored tradition of acting.

Courtney Karwal‘s award winning comedy short, Lipstick City, captures the spirit of that very tradition in an especially hysterically awkward story of one incredibly ill-fated commercial audition. While the audition here does not takes place in a literal hellscape, it would almost seem that some levels of hell would be better than this particular casting session (though it’s pretty damn funny for any of us watching).

So, without further adieu, please enjoy Lipstick City here

Jon Stewart to Be Latest (and Most Deserving) Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for Humor

January 19, 2022

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jon stewart, mark twain prize

More often than not, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is simply seen as comedy’s highest honor in the U.S. The award is indeed that distinguished, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s just about who are the most renowned people in comedy. Specifically, the Kennedy Center, the organization in charge of the award, details the prize going to “…individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain.”

Even some of the funniest comedians throughout the history of stand-up, sketch, improv, etc. have not necessarily changed the national dialogue or perspective on the zeitgeist. Arguably, nearly all comedians fall short of that mark, which is why The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is such a rare honor.

That all said, Jon Stewart with just The Daily Show with Jon Stewart alone has more than earned the merit of this distinction as, announced earlier today, he will be the next recipient of the award. On top of that, there is all of his advocacy, activism, and his return to TV with The Problem with Jon Stewart that almost makes you wonder what took so long for The Mark Twain Prize to go to Stewart (maybe because he wasn’t a cast member or writer on SNL?).

Maybe, had he gotten it in, let’s say 2015, he wouldn’t have left TV the year Trump got elected? That’s truly impossible to say, but, at the very least, Stewart is finally getting this incredibly well deserved bust and recognition.

We’re sure Mark Twain would have something to say about a credit card company sponsoring his award and in the same spirit, we hope Jon Stewart will too.

Breaking news: @JonStewart is the next recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor!

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, @CapitalOne, for helping us celebrate a legendary comedian and satirist in style this spring. #TwainPrize pic.twitter.com/notSkkIT8g

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 19, 2022

Moontower JFL Austin Makes Its First, Very Big Inaugural Line-Up Announcement

January 19, 2022

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austin tx, comedy festival, just for laughs, moontower

In 2021, however long ago that was, it was announced that the forces of the Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival and Just For Laughs were joining forces to expand from a four-day Austin, TX based comedy festival to more than double the size.

Well, as of today’s initial line-up announcement, it looks like Moontower JFL Austin (or MJFLA?) has definitely kicked it up a few notches with a pretty damn big first line-up announcement. Just from this first batch, MJFLA has over 80 comedians and 20 shows sourced from around all the country including Marc Maron, Nicole Byer, Nikki Glaser, Please Don’t Destroy, Michelle Buteau, and way more lined-up with a promise of even more to comics and comedy to be jam packed into the eleven days between Apr. 13th-24th, 2022.

Hopefully, when MJFLA comes around, that will makes us all feel a little less forlorn that we’ll have to wait another entire year before SF Sketchfest happens in person again.

Take a gander at the whole first portion of the MJFLA line-up below:

Abby Roberge

Adrienne Iapalucci

Ali Macofsky

Andrew Murphy

Andy Haynes

Andy Kindler

Angelina Martin

Anthony DeVito

Ashley Sharma

Avery Moore

Big Jay Oakerson

Brandi Davis

Brett VerVoort

Brian Gaar

Carlton Wilcoxson

Carmen Lynch

Cat Cohen

Chris Cubas

Chris Redd

Christina P

Dan Soder

Daniel Van Kirk

Danny Goodwin

Deb DiGiovanni

Deon Cole

Donnell Rawlings

Dylan Sullivan

Elizabeth Spears

Emma Willmann

Emmy Blotnick

Erica Rhodes

Goddamn Comedy Jam

Grace Kuhlenschmidt

Guy Branum

Hannah Berner

Holly Hart

Hunter Duncan

Ian Edwards

Irene Tu

Ivan Decker

Jackie Kashian

James Austin Johnson

Janelle James

Jay Whitecotton

Jeremiah Watkins

Jessica Kirson

Jesus Trejo

Joe Mande

Josh Adam Meyers

Joyelle NIcole Johnson

Kelsey Cook

Kurt Braunohler

Langston Kerman

Laurie Kilmartin

Maddy Smith

Marc Maron

Mark Normand

Matt Sadler

Michelle Buteau

Mike Macrae

Moshe Kasher

Natasha Leggero

Nathan Macintosh

Nick Saverino

Nicole Byer

Nikki Glaser

Not Another Dungeons & Dragons Podcast

Orlando Leyba

Pat Regan

Pat Sirois

Please Don’t Destroy

Rachel Feinstein

Rosebud Baker

Sasheer Zamata

Sawyer Stull

Scotty Landes

Sean Donnelly

Shapel Lacey

Solomon Georgio

Sophie Buddle

Taylor Dowdy

The Sklar Brothers

Trevor Wallace

Tyler Groce

Zac Brooks

Zach Zucker

Andy Kindler’s Particular Show

Bananas with Kurt Braunohler and Scotty Landes

Cat Cohen & Friend

Celebrate! with Sean Donnelly

Disgusting Hawk with Jessica Kirson

Dumb People Town with The Sklar Brothers and Daniel Van Kirk

Endless Honeymoon with Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher

Find Your Beach with Rosebud Baker and Andy Haynes

Glow Show hosted by Joey Z

Jack Tucker Comedy Standup Hour

My Dad Isn’t Danny DeVito with Anthony DeVito

My Momma Told Me with Langston Kerman

Seek Treatment with Cat Cohen and Pat Regan

Soccer Comic Rant with Ian Edwards

Stamptown with Zach Zucker

Stand-up On the Spot with Jeremiah Watkins

Tag It! with The Sklar Brothers

The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers

The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder

The Jackie and Laurie Show with Jackie Kashian and Laurie Kilmartin

The Joke of Painting with Andrew Murphy and Avery Moore

The Worst with Big Jay Oakerson

Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

Stay up to date and get badges for Moontower Just For Laughs Austin here.

Pick of the Day: Moses Storm’s Interactive Trash White Screening (in LA) 1/20

January 19, 2022

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los angeles comedy, moses storm, screening

In 2020, Moses Storm was posed to tape his very first comedy special for HBO and just about had everything set (venue, look, material, etc.) when COVID-19 sent us all into that very first lockdown.

Almost two years later, Moses got to shoot that very same special (right under the wire before Omicron hit) and is actually, finally set to have it released at HBO Max this Thurs. Jan. 20th.

To mark the occasion, Moses is going to be doing a very special, exclusive screening of this special, Trash White, that will feature an interactive element for anyone in attendance. Moses did one of our all time favorite things in comedy years and years ago when he screened Modern Millennial at the Downtown Independent and had everyone watch it at a YouTube link on their phones.

We have no idea what he’s going to do for this screening, but you really ought to be in attendance at the Hollywood Improv this Thurs. Jan. 20th at 9:45PM PT. Tickets are free, but seats are first come, first served.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 95: Ruby Karp & Actual Hope

January 19, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

bandera animation, chelsea handler, daniel radcliffe, gen z, greg daniels, mike judge, millenials, ruby karp, weird al yankovic

It’s one thing to think of young people as the future, but it’s a whole other thing to actually talk to them about what the prospect of the coming years has in store for them. Taking a cue from C’mon C’mon, we talk to Ruby Karp, a comedian who is both Gen Z and has had more experience in doing comedy than people in their 30s and 40s. Karp has an inspiring passion for comedy that is both captured through her own very genuine hope for the future of comedy and convinces that there is something actually better to come with 2022 onwards. It also helps that she is an unstoppably bubbly person to talk to.

Also, “hot” takes on Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic, the fame of Pete Davidson, Chelsea Handler’s memoir being adapted into a Peacock series, and more.

Follow Ruby Karp @rubykarp across socials.

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

Andy Haynes’ “The Coward of Gramercy” Shows What a Great Pandemic Era Stand Up Comedy Album Can Be

January 18, 2022

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andy haynes, comedy album, coward of gramercy, stand up comedy

In the years that the pandemic has persisted, there have been those of us have decried any sort talk in comedy about COVID-19 or any of its devastating effects, no matter how funny, in theory, comedians could make it. Of course, so much of comedy of any kind is derived from personal experience and why wouldn’t comedians talk about the they’re through with the rest of the 7 and change billion people on the planet?

Andy Haynes, already a great all around stand-up comedian that can play nearly anywhere, put together an hour with The Coward of Gramercy that, we believe, even the most COVID-anxious people can enjoy. After all, comedy can be a force of coping with tragedy as much as it is being the final touches on closure over the very same tragedy.

Haynes’ personal journey through the pandemic is the backbone of the hour as Andy draws sharply funny personal observations about quarantining with his now wife, comedian Rosebud Baker, and offers up the sort of humor that makes the listener feel less alone through this perpetually terrifying reality we’ve been in since 2020. In fact, Andy says “my wife” almost as much as one Borat Sagdiyev used to. As a result, there’s a grounding, comforting perspective from which Haynes works his way through his bits.

Intriguingly, this hour is an artful blend of material from the pandemic and some of Haynes’ hits from pre-pandemic (apologies to Andy if we’re tipping your hand here). However, you wouldn’t likely know that from how well arranged and ordered The Coward of Gramercy really is.

Again, in this fractured normalcy that isn’t normal at all, comedy can certainly help when you actually talk about what you’re going through and Haynes’ Coward of Gramercy is a stellar example of it.

You can stream The Coward of Gramercy wherever you stream your favorite comedy albums. Give it a listen here.

John Early and Aidy Bryant Announce a Relationship and Made Late Night Fun Last Night

January 18, 2022

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aidy bryant, john early, late night, seth meyers

What late night has had to do to get through to this side of the pandemic and what it will look like (and what it should be to justify its existence) in the years to come is largely a mystery.

Above all, it should always be centered on unhinged fun, the sort that is best viewed at 11PM onwards in the late night time slots.

Thus, a round of applause should be given to John Early and Aidy Bryant going all in on a bit and camping it up in “unveiling a relationship” on Late Night with Seth Meyers last night.

Please enjoy a much more fun relationship than whatever Kanye or Pete Davidson is up to here.

Pick of the Day: Wowee Flower Hour with David Gborie and Giulia Rozzi (Live-stream) Wednesdays

January 18, 2022

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david gborie, giulia rozzi, wowee, wowee flower hour

We’re in the thick of January, and, from the looks of it, still in the thick of the Omicron wave of COVID-19. That means that there’s still very little live comedy, comparatively, to go to right at this moment.

You ought to, dare we say, tune into a new weekly live-stream with a duo comprised of two superb comedians, David Gborie and Giulia Rozzi? Truly, Gborie and Rozzi could talk about almost anything (Gborie has more than proven this on All Fantasy Everything and watch Rozzi’s stand-up for proof on her end) and make thoroughly funny and engaging.

Their cannabis-centric comedy live-stream variety hour called the Wowee Flower Hour will not only have them humorously showing the benefits of weed can add to your daily life, but they’ll have such fantastic guests as Open Mike Eagle and The Dank Duchess.

Get a dank taste of what’s to come, presented by the cannabis focused community, Wowee, here.

You can catch the Wowee Flower Hour LIVE on Wednesdays at 1PM PT/4PM ET on Wowee’s YouTube and Twitch.

Pick of the Day: Drunk Black History (in NYC) 2/25

January 17, 2022

News

andre perry, bell house, black history month, brandon collins, brooklyn, errin haines, felix rodriguez, gordon baker bone, nyc comedy

As today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one ought to be reflecting on the past and where we’ve gotten to in the present moment as well as celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

So, with that in mind, we’d like to highlight the amazing live historical comedy show, Drunk Black History, that’s on Feb. 25th. Brandon Collins and Gordon Baker-Bone preside over the a line-up of marvelous NYC folks attempting to tell the story of renowned Black heroes in history while undeniably three sheets to the wind.

This particular edition of Drunk Black History will feature Felix Rodriguez, Andre Perry, and Errin Haines and convene at Brooklyn’s Bell House at 9PM ET (Doors 8:30PM ET) on Fri. Feb. 25th. Tickets are $20 right now and there will also be live-stream access available for $10. Go get your tickets now!

Take a Closer Look at Bridget Everett’s Somebody Somewhere Before the Series Premiere

January 14, 2022

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bridget everett, hbo, jeff hiller, somebody somewhere

Somebody Somewhere, the dramedy semi-based on the life and times of the inspiring comedic force of nature that is Bridget Everett, is finally just a couple of days away from being on HBO. It’ll premiere on Sun. Jan. 16th to be exact.

It’ll follow Everett at a different time in her life, back in Kansas, before she became the brash singer and comedian she is known and loved as today, perhaps almost acting as an origin story of sorts. 2022 has yet to have a series to be the unquestioned series to binge/watch week-to-week and this might very well have the makings of that very show.

See for yourself in this featurette here, then make sure you got access to HBO/HBO Max this Sunday.

Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang, Trey Parker/Matt Stone, and Vernon Chatman Are Teaming Up for Dark Race Relations Comedy

January 14, 2022

News

dave free, kendrick lamar, matt stone, pglang, trey parker, vernon chatman

(via Deadline)

The names of Kendrick Lamar, South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker, or Vernon Chatman are enough to spark a great deal of interest of whatever imaginative project very likely to have a pointed perspective just on their own. Together, it’s a boundless curiosity as to what they’ll come up with.

What Lamar long with pgLang partner Dave Free, Stone and Parker, and Vernon Chatman are developing is something that very well might be in the vein of I’m Sorry To Bother You or an episode of Atlanta, which is pretty damn enticing.

A script by Chatman follows a black-and-white interracial couple that has a black man working as a slave reenactor and his white girlfriend discovering she’s descended from slave owners. Other than it’ll be released by Paramount and it’s the first feature project from the mysterious creative agency pgLang, there are no other details, but we bet your wheels are spinning to wonder just how wild and subversive this project could possibly get.

South Park x pgLang x Vernon Chatman (who boasts several major award wins and carries credits ranging from Wonder Showzen to Conan to The Shivering Truth) ought to be something to behold whenever it comes out. That’s just one more thing to look forward to while the Omicron flavor of COVID-19 continues to do its dance.

Pick of the Day: The Frogtown Show (in LA) 1/22

January 14, 2022

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emily maya mills, erin lennox, frogtown show, jared goldstein, jermaine fowler, johnny pemberton, los angeles comedy, michael joyce, mitra jouhari, noah gardenswartz, stand up comedy

Inch by inch, show by show, there are things in live comedy that are indeed happening after the bummer of the holiday break and the quiet nightmare that Omicron has been. Despite more cancelations and postponements happening and more inevitably coming (Largo has continued to stay dark beyond just their initial two weeks of postponements), you might be delighted to know that the beloved outdoor stand-up show Frogtown Show @ Spoke Bicycle Cafe is returning back to it’s bi-weekly (2nd & 4th Saturdays) schedule this month.

On Sat. Jan. 22nd at 7:30PM PT, the magical patio of Spoke Bicycle Cafe will host hosts Erin Dewey Lennox, Emily Maya Mills, and Jared Goldstein as well as their very first 2022 line-up, which is stacked per usual. They’ve got Jermaine Fowler, Mitra Jouhari, Johnny Pemberton, Michael Joyce, and Noah Gardenswartz.

Tickets start at $5 (plus 2 item min.) and you really ought to snag them up before they sell out here.

SF Sketchfest Will Return in a Year

January 14, 2022

News

comedy festival, sf comedy, sf sketchfest

Thanks to the Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19, SF Sketchfest had to postpone their in-person shows for another year. It was awful news after the year that 2020 and 2021 had been and the boatloads of levity that the gigantic annual comedy festival brings to any and all that are in attendance.

So, SF Sketchfest is foregoing trying to schedule something for later 2022 and opting to have their next in-person edition happen in 2023 when they would normally have it both for safety and venue availability reasons. Specifically, Jan. 20th-Feb. 5th, 2023 is when SF Sketchfest will rise again and, hopefully, the pandemic will be under much more control by then.

In regards to what current ticket holders might be able to do, the organizers of SF Sketchfest have advised, “…to hang on to their tickets as the festival reaches out to each and every ticket holder as soon as possible with new dates, details and options.”

You can keep a close watch on any new updates (maybe an online satellite show of some kind?) at sfsketchfest.com.

This Year’s WGA Awards TV Comedy Nominees Pick Up Where Other Awards Have Been Lacking

January 13, 2022

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comedy nominees, wga, writers guild awards

If you follow us, you’re probably well aware of our love for Hacks and What We Do In the Shadows, I Think You Should Leave and how it’s truly a shame that they’re not the perennial frontrunners for comedy awards (even if Hacks has only done one season thus far) that they clearly are.

Thankfully, this year’s Writers Guild Awards are fixing a lot of what has been lacking in the comedy realm during awards season with this latest round of nominations. Hacks gained nominations for both Comedy Series (along with a very deserving What We Do in the Shadows) and New Series (a suddenly crowded field thanks to Yellowjackets and Loki).

Additionally, the guard of late night and sketch seems to be finally changing a bit. Yes, SNL, Conan, and Last Week Tonight are still in the running, but the funnest duo in late night, Desus & Mero, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, and How To with John Wilson are getting well deserved slots in these categories.

In fact, the entire breakdown for the comedy nominees is pretty refreshing as new comers Reservation Dogs, Only Murders in the Building, White Lotus, Tuca and Bertie, and PAUSE with Sam Jay all garnered WGA Awards nominations today. We suppose that this fresh look would even include the new entry from an old perennial comedy frontrunner of yesteryear, Jon Stewart and his new Apple TV+ series, The Problem with Jon Stewart (a leaner version of The Daily Show with Jon in a t-shirt rather than a suit).

Take a gander at the whole list of this year’s WGA Award TV Comedy Nominees, then look to hear/see the winners on Mar. 20th (maybe there will be an in-person ceremony by then?). Oh yeah, feature length nominees will be announced on Jan. 27th.

COMEDY SERIES

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Written by Larry David, Steve Leff, Carol Leifer, Jeff Schaffer, Nathaniel Stein; HBO/HBO Max

Hacks
Written by Lucia Aniello, Joanna Calo, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Cole Escola, Janis E. Hirsch, Ariel Karlin, Katherine Kearns, Andrew Law, Joe Mande, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, Michael Schur, Jen Statsky; HBO/HBO Max

Only Murders in the Building
Written by Thembi Banks, Matteo Borghese, Rachel Burger, Kirker Butler, Madeleine George, John Hoffman, Stephen Markley, Steve Martin, Kristin Newman, Ben Philippe, Kim Rosenstock, Ben Smith, Rob Turbovsky; Hulu

Ted Lasso
Written by Jane Becker, Ashley Nicole Black, Leann Bowen, Sasha Garron, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Jamie Lee, Michael Orton-Toliver, Jason Sudeikis, Phoebe Walsh, Bill Wrubel; Apple TV+

What We Do in the Shadows
Written by Jake Bender, Jemaine Clement, Zach Dunn, Shana Gohd, Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil, William Meny, Sarah Naftalis, Stefani Robinson, Marika Sawyer, Paul Simms, Lauren Wells; FX Networks

NEW SERIES

Loki
Written by Bisha K. Ali, Elissa Karasik, Eric Martin, Michael Waldron; Disney+

Reservation Dogs
Written by Tazbah Rose Chavez, Sydney Freeland, Sterlin Harjo, Migizi Pensoneau, Tommy Pico, Taika Waititi, Bobby Wilson; FX Networks

Yellowjackets
Written by Cameron Brent Johnson, Katherine Kearns, Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Liz Phang, Ameni Rozsa, Sarah L. Thompson, Chantelle M. Wells; Showtime

ORIGINAL LONG FORM

American Horror Story: Double Feature
Written by Brad Falchuk, Manny Coto, Ryan Murphy, Kristen Reidel, Reilly Smith; FX Networks

Mare of Easttown
Written by Brad Ingelsby; HBO/HBO Max

Midnight Mass
Written by James Flanagan, Mike Flanagan, Elan Gale, Jeff Howard, Dani Parker; Netflix

Them: Covenant
Written by Christina Ham, Little Marvin, David Matthews, Dominic Orlando, Seth Zvi Rosenfeld, Francine Volpe; Prime Video

The White Lotus
Written by Mike White; HBO/HBO Max

ANIMATION

“An Incon-Wheelie-ent Truth” (Bob’s Burgers)
Written by Dan Fybel; Fox

“Loft in Bedslation” (Bob’s Burgers)
Written by Jameel Saleem, Fox

“Must Love Dogs” (Family Guy)
Written by Daniel Peck; Fox

“Planteau” (Tuca & Bertie)
Written by Lisa Hanawalt; Cartoon Network

“Portrait of a Lackey on Fire” (The Simpsons)
Written by Rob LaZebnik & Johnny LaZebnik; Fox

“The Star of the Backstage” (The Simpsons)
Written by Elisabeth Kiernen Averick; Fox

EPISODIC COMEDY

“All Sales Final” (Superstore)
Teleplay by Jonathan Green & Gabe Miller, Story by Justin Spitzer; NBC

“Alone At Last” (The Great)
Written by Tony McNamara; Hulu

“Enlightened Dave” (Dave)
Written by Luvh Rakhe & Lee Sung Jin; FX Networks

“Episode One: True Crime” (Only Murders in the Building)
Written by Steve Martin & John Hoffman; Hulu

“F*ckin’ Rez Dogs” (Pilot) (Reservation Dogs)
Written by Sterlin Harjo & Taika Waititi; FX Networks

“Pilot” (The Wonder Years)
Written by Saladin K. Patterson; ABC

COMEDY/VARIETY TALK SERIES

Conan
Head Writer: Matt O’Brien Writers: Jose Arroyo, Glenn Boozan, Daniel Cronin, Andres du Bouchet, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Todd Levin, Levi MacDougall, Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter, Frank Smiley, Mike Sweeney; TBS

Desus & Mero
Writers: Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker, Josh Gondelman, Robert Kornhauser, Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez, Robert A. McRae, Heben Nigatu, Mike Pielocik, Julia Young; Showtime

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Writers: Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Tim Carvell, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Mark Kramer, Daniel O’Brien, John Oliver, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Chrissy Shackelford, Ben Silva, Seena Vali; HBO/HBO Max

The Problem with Jon Stewart
Head Writer: Chelsea Devantez Writers: Kristen Acimovic, Henrik Blix, Rob Christensen, Jay Jurden, Alexa Loftus, Tocarra Mallard, Robby Slowik, Jon Stewart, Kasaun Wilson; Apple TV+

COMEDY/VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

How To with John Wilson
Written by: Alice Gregory, Michael Koman, Conner O’Malley, Susan Orlean, John Wilson; HBO/HBO Max

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
Writers: Zach Kanin, Tim Robinson, John Solomon; Netflix

PAUSE with Sam Jay
Writers: Emmy Blotnick, Ryan Donahue, Zack Fox, Megan Gailey, Robin M. Henry, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Jak Knight; HBO/HBO Max

Saturday Night Live
Head Writer: Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Colin Jost, Kent Sublette
Senior Writer: Bryan Tucker Weekend Update Head Writer: Pete Schultz, Weekend Update Writers: Megan Callahan-Shah, Dennis McNicholas, Josh Patten, Mark Steinbach Supervising Writers: Alison Gates, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Streeter Seidell Writers: James Anderson, Dan Bulla, Steven Castillo, Mike DiCenzo, Billy Domineau, Alex English, John Higgins, Steve Higgins, Martin Herlihy, Vannessa Jackson, Sam Jay, Erik Kenward, Tesha Kondrat, Dan Licata, Lorne Michaels, Ben Marshall, Jake Nordwind, Jasmine Pierce, Gary Richardson, Ben Silva, Emily Spivey, Will Stephen, Celeste Yim; NBC

That Damn Michael Che
Head Writer: Michael Che; Writing Supervised by: Gary Richardson; Writers: Rosebud Baker, Reggie Conquest, Godfrey Danchimah Jr., Calise Hawkins, Kevin Iso, Sam Jay, Matt Richards, Wil Sylvince; HBO/HBO Max

COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS

43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Written by Dave Boone; CBS

Drew Michael: Red Blue Green
Written by Drew Michael; HBO/HBO Max

Full Frontal Wants to Take Your Guns
Head Writers: Kristen Bartlett, Mike Drucker Writers: Samantha Bee, Pat Cassels, Sean Crespo, Mike Drucker, Miles Kahn, Chris Thompson, Holly Walker, Alison Zeidman Writing Supervised by Joe Grossman, Sahar Rizvi Special Material by Michael Rhoa; TBS

The Tony Awards Presents: Broadway’s Back!
Written by Dave Boone Special Material by Amber Ruffin, Marc Shaiman, Daniel J. Watts, Scott Wittman Opening Number by Amber Ruffin, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman; CBS

Yearly Departed
Head Writer: Bess Kalb Writers: Karen Chee, Akilah Green, Franchesca Ramsey, Jocelyn Richard; Prime Video

For the entire 2022 WGA Awards TV nominees, read up on Deadline here.

Nick Vatterott’s Absurdist Comedy Special “Disingenuous” Proves You Don’t Have to Be Honest in Comedy

January 13, 2022

News

absurdist comedy, comedy dynamics, comedy special, disingenuous, nick vatterott, stand up comedy

The notion that the best comedy being sourced from pure honesty is quite a popular one and has been for the last several years. It’s a notion that comes with plenty of merit as a confessional or an incredibly personal type of observational comedy being the ticket for many of the most famous and popular comedians of right now (Jim Gaffigan, Ali Wong, Kevin Hart, Marc Maron, Iliza Shelsinger to a name a few).

However, that notion can be a bit misguided as absurdist comedy, especially the kind descended from Andy Kaufman, doesn’t have very much to do with telling much of an objective truth if any truth at all and can be some of the funniest things we’ve ever seen. The comedy dare lie in the sheer absurdity of the presentation and execution and one Nick Vatterott does so exquisitely with his new hour special that’s aptly named Disingenuous.

Vatterott is mastered at his commitment to bits and taking the tiniest irksome details and blowing them out of proportion to the nth degree. He is part of what seems like a handful of stand-up comedians that come from a more sublimely ridiculous side of things (Brent Weinbach, Sam Simmons, Anna Seregina/Kyle Mizono if you need some more). See it for yourself when Nick checks his set list on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

On Disingenuous, Vatterott bends and re-shapes the traditional form of a stand-up comedy special not only with cutting in between sets in different venues in different cities, but having a farcical B-story-esque narrative running throughout the hour. The silliness abounds with abandon here, but trust that Nick’s method to his madness is precisely measured and carefully sharpened. It’s just the start of 2022 (and this special came out at the very end of 2021), but it might be one of the most original hour specials of either year.

Disingenuous is now streaming on VOD or on audio platforms almost anywhere. Please get into it and enjoy here.

Pick of the Day: The Nonsemble Presents: The Month Long Ham Festival (in LA) Starting 2/20

January 13, 2022

News

Araceli Lemos, david gordezky, dean evans, Emily Maverick Shankman, experimental comedy, Frankie Halbiger, Joe Pisanzio, los angeles comedy, Magi Calcagne, performance art, the elysian theater, Woody Curry, Zack Reimers

As we stand at the precipice of the middle of January with very little to show for it, February seems to be the month to look forward to when things won’t be canceled or postponed all the time.

So, one should look forward to the ever changing performance art clowning showcase that will be The Month Long Ham Festival coming to The Elysian on the 3rd Sundays of the month. According to the Nonsemble, a collective of comedy folks from the clowning-side of things, they’re going to attempt “26 original works of performance art” in just an hour. We’re sure that’s going to be the sort of the grand and hilarious chaos that we’ll need when it’s safer to go to things.

The NONSEMBLE includes: Dean Evans, Magi Calcagne, Emily Maverick Shankman, Zack Reimers, Frankie Halbiger, Joe Pisanzio, Araceli Lemos, Woody Curry, and David Gordezky.

Get your tickets to the first installment of The Month Long Ham Festival on Sun. Feb. 20th at 7PM PT at The Elysian at $12 a pop here.

The Worst Person In the World Is Coming to America Feb. 4th

January 12, 2022

News

joachim trier, neon, us release, worst person in the world

While we did have considerably more time to watch as many indie dramedies and broad, would-be-big-release broad comedies, there were still a few films of that ilk that, for a litany of reasons, got plenty of buzz, but we didn’t get to catch in 2021. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn was one from Europe and Joachim Trier’s genre bending awards contender The Worst Person in the World was another.

Trier, seemingly from the headlines of reviews, melds rom com with grief-stricken drama and some trippy flashes of ethereal flights of fancy. Most folks stateside haven’t gotten a chance to see how that mix all plays out, but will so very soon as the U.S. release of The Worst Person in the World will begin on Feb. 4th. Check showtimes (and hopefully lower COVID-19 numbers) to see where it’s playing near you.

In the meantime, you can watch the trailer again and again here and ponder if this part 500 Days of Summer turned inside out and Take This Waltz with a sense of humor as well as if the actual “worst person in the world” is already in America.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 94: Casey Feigh & Walking Into a Dive Bar to Do Improv

January 12, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

aziz ansari, bob saget, casey feigh, goldbergs, improv comedy, long form improv, netflix, snl

Long form improv, pretty much at any level, almost exclusively happens in black box theaters as they just happen to be the perfect set up for a team to improvise comedic scenes out of “thin air”. The enduring pandemic has not afforded such spaces with ease as was had in 2019 resulting in improvisers having to, well, improvise. Casey Feigh leads off one of the only weekly improv shows in LA, which used to have dozens upon dozens a show per week, Holy Sh*t Improv, currently housed at long standing Silverlake watering hole, The Silverlake Lounge.

It’s kind of a challenge to do live comedy in any bar where the main bar and the main stage are in the same room, but Feigh, a veteran improviser/comedian, sees his way past any of the challenges through the community he fosters with the very best improvisers in and around the once improv-saturated Los Angeles comedy scene. Casey joins TCB Field Report to chronicle trying to run one of the only recurring improv shows during a pandemic.

Also, “hot” takes on a new SNL podcast, Aziz Ansari’s upcoming new Netflix special, and more.

Follow Casey @caseyfeigh on Twitter and IG and Holy Sh*t Improv @holyshitimprov on IG

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

Human Resources, Big Mouth’s Otherworldly Spin-Off, Gives First Look

January 12, 2022

News

big mouth, human resources, netflix, teaser

Arguably, the last season of the raunchy, yet vulnerable coming-of-age animated comedy Big Mouth, was a big set-up for the spin-off Human Resources that focuses in on the world where all the monsters and creatures that are in charge of human emotions/feelings/thoughts/fears/anxieties/insecurities come from. Hormone Monsters, Shame Wizards, Love Bugs, etc. and their bureaucratic and nuanced adventures will drive a whole new facet of what will inevitably the Big Mouth Cinematic Universe.

You can get your first sneak peek as to what that will entail with Human Resources‘ “recruitment teaser” and wonder what the Moai head manger-esque character will be called (Logic Liason?)

Look for the series premiere of Big Mouth‘s Human Resources on Fri. Mar. 18th on Netflix.

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Pick of the Day: The Frogtown Show (in LA) 1/22

SF Sketchfest Will Return in a Year

This Year’s WGA Awards TV Comedy Nominees Pick Up Where Other Awards Have Been Lacking

Nick Vatterott’s Absurdist Comedy Special “Disingenuous” Proves You Don’t Have to Be Honest in Comedy

Pick of the Day: The Nonsemble Presents: The Month Long Ham Festival (in LA) Starting 2/20

The Worst Person In the World Is Coming to America Feb. 4th

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 94: Casey Feigh & Walking Into a Dive Bar to Do Improv

Human Resources, Big Mouth’s Otherworldly Spin-Off, Gives First Look