America Shocked that Guy Fieri is an Actual Person with Feelings, Probably
America remains shocked after finding out that Guy Fieri is an actual person, capable of experiencing genuine human emotions, probably.
First Annual Comedy Awards Nominations Announced!
Of his nomination, Rick Gervais said, “It is an honor to be nominated for my stand up at this, the first-ever ‘The Comedy Awards’. In 68 years time, I intend to host it and get it canceled.”
Click the link for the complete list of nominees, including Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Louis CK, Kristen Wiig, Zach Galifianakis and Aziz Ansari.
If you’re a fan of SKY CRIME and HIGH FLYIN’ ADVENTURE, tune in to EAGLEHEART this Thursday at midnight on Adult Swim and check out “Master of Da’ Skies” – the second episode that I directed (written by Andrew Weinberg). It’s pretty insane!
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Morning Debriefing 2/15/11
1) “Set List”-the Improvised Stand-Up show, in essence “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” for stand up is taping its pilot for Comedy Central tonight at the Comedy Central Stages. Perhaps, you should go. Details below in the COMEDY CRAWL.
2) What to Watch/DVR this Week via Splitsider
3) Do you LOVE hilarious web series Action Figure Therapy? Well, there’s ringtones now to get your fix….
4) Big Trouble in Little Tokyo with Ron Lynch and Sean Patton. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: ‘Nuff said. (sign-up 6:30PM/starts 7PM/Señor Fish 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA)
5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-OK, now that we’re done with that love stuff…
Good Luck Show @ Good Luck Bar 7:30PM FREE
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Three of Clubs 1123 Vine St. 8PM FREE
Set List Taping @ Comedy Central Stages 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 8PM FREE-call (323) 960-5519 for RSVP
Comedy Death Ray @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Lower Crust Comedy @ Genghis Cohen 740 N. Fairfax, Hollywood, CA 9PM $6
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20 general/$30 VIP/2 item min.
6) OPEN MIC RUN
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO @ SEÑOR FISH 422 E. 1st, Los Angeles, CA (downtown)/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Starts 8PM
WESTWOOD BREWCO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
7) Recently: This article, “Moral Crusade Against Foodies” went viral yesterday. Yes, foodies are extreme. Why can’t we all just meet up at point of reconciliation with bacon? Like Jim Gaffigan says, “Frying bacon even sounds like applause.”
8) We made it through Valentine’s Day. We made it and by we, I mean I only started drinking at 3:30PM yesterday.
Report 00116
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
The Most Important Snub(s) of All in the Comedy Awards
The First Annual Comedy Awards.
First off, this should be called the First Annual Comedy Awards in Film and Television, just to be perfectly accurate as to what they are and aren’t giving recognition too. Second, forget about the significance of snubbing 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Community. There are much bigger snubs at hand and I’ve bolded them for you to cut to the chase.
COMEDY SERIES
COMEDY ACTOR — TV
COMEDY ACTRESS — TV
COMEDY ACTOR — FILM
COMEDY ACTRESS — FILM
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES
SKETCH COMEDY/ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SERIES
STAND-UP SPECIAL
COMEDY FILM
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
COMEDY WRITING — TV
COMEDY SCREENPLAY
COMEDY DIRECTING — TV
COMEDY DIRECTOR — FILM
Again, this is being billed as the “First Annual Comedy Awards”, which would denote recognition towards the art of comedy in seemingly all of its various manifestations. Instead, there is only one “nod” towards stand-up, which, whether you like it or not, is still a major component of comedy today.
Even within that nomination, Comedy Central and MTV, limited its scope to a “stand-up special”, which means it had to be aired on TV in order to be considered for an award. This is an unnecessarily exclusionary policy as only stand up comedy that is formatted for TV as opposed to a stand up comedy album, which is usually unfiltered, uncensored, and better as it has no exact time constraints.
Not only is there a kind of an afterthought of a category for stand up at the First Annual Comedy Awards, there’s also nothing recognizing comedy podcasts that either deal with the art of Comedy or just plain funny. What about funny people that Tweet? What about the funniest book? Funniest viral video?
Also, just like the Oscars, there is a separate category for those in the realm of animation. This is yet another unfairly exclusive move on the Comedy Awards and even furthered by having another category for Sketch Comedy/Alternative Series. If you ever want to devalue someone’s award, have a “/” in their category. In considering the BEST in comedy in regards to a series, there should be no dissociation between live action or animation because, in the end, both awards cheapen the other. Just have a Best Comedy Series and whether it be animated, live action, on TV, or on the web, may the best production win and it would have so much more weight and prestige as an award (is that the goal of awards ceremonies anymore?)
The thinking process, unfortunately, is that no one would watch a telecast with sub-genre categories that I just mentioned and there would be numbers to back that argument up. In fact, I would say that most of America wouldn’t care about who is the funniest person on Twitter, etc. Then again, I firmly believe with not just the First Annual Comedy Awards, but also with the Grammys, Oscars, Emmys, and other televised awards show is that none of them should be aired ever.
It’s a specific industry recognizing its peers and we have no real business in dictating or judging how any of that should be carried out. If any of these awards shows weren’t aired, (yes, I understand that’s advertising dollars down the drain, but just go with this argument for a bit longer) there would be significantly less pressure to pander to an audience who have no foundation from which to be a judge of any of these categories. The People’s Choice Awards already exists, so any other awards ceremony like the Comedy Awards should be along on the lines of honoring the best in the art of comedy for those involved in comedy because they would know better than anyone else.
A corollary to an earlier point I made in this article: The First Annual Comedy Awards should actually be called The First Annual Comedy in Film and TV Awards Made Palatable and Relatable for “That” Key Demographic.
A Drink With Dave
Tuesday, February 15th
Special Guest: Comedian Matt Braunger
Part 2 – “I’m Just Serious”
NSFW, but it shouldn’t be…
(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)
http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf
Here’s the latest episode of Gentlemen Scumbags (@gentscum) with @kylekinane and @mike_burns_ . With a special call-in from Chicago’s Marty DeRosa and, as always, our producer, Patrick Melton (@pmelt).
Here’s the non-iTunes/iTunes link if you want it updated on your thing. Don’t search for the old link.
(Source: http://www.ustream.tv/)
Dorksplosion is…
Painting Your Friends Fighting In Space
This illustration is for an upcoming issue of RE:Comedy magazine. Each issue I draw and profile a different comic. Sometimes I do realistic portraits, other times I do more cartoony stuff like this picture of my friend and fellow stand up, Susan Burke. She is a regular fixture on Funny Or Die especially with her sketch group, Birds of Prey, which also features Lizzy Cooperman and Emily Maya Mills. They’re funny. Word up.
All people involved with this, Andrew DeWitt, the artist, Susan Burke, the subject, Kristy Mangel, creator of Re:Comedy are awesome and hilarious. Please check out everything they do.
Morning Debriefing 2/16/11
1) Just a reminder: American: The Bill Hicks Story will debut in LA at the Laemmle Sunset 5 in Hollywood on April 15th. Please check back at the Comedy Bureau for more details on this as the date approaches.
2) Jim Jeffries on Lopez Tonight. THAT’S JIM JEFFRIES DOING A CLEAN SET on cable television and pulling it off. Well, just watched it and it’s pretty much clean until that last bit.
3) If nothing else, the name, Comedy is Dead, should be a huge selling point, especially when it takes place within a real cemetery and Neil Hamburger is on the line-up. Mar. 3rd. Hollywood Forever Cemetery 8PM $15. RSVP at comedyisdead@gmail.com
4) Whatever your opinion of Marty’s/The Open Mic, the open mic where you pay $5 to do multiple sets in front of nothing but comics 7 nights a week, 6 hours at a time, it was their one year anniversary yesterday. Considering that pure comedy open mics have been quite the high turnover rate lately, the Comedy Bureau extends a congratulations to Marty’s for making it a year.
5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Forget about the “hump” in hump day.
Web Series Unplugged @ El Cid 7PM $8
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 7:30PM FREE
Getaloada Comedy @ Foundation Room-House of Blues 8PM FREE
An Anti Valentine Comedy Show and AA Meeting @ Harlem Place Cafe 8PM FREE
Fix-Up Show w/J. Keith Van Straaten and Special Guest Henry Winkler @ ACME Comedy Theatre 8PM $15
Smartest Man in the World LIVE @ Comedy Central Stages 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 8PM FREE Call (323) 960-5519
Meltdown @ Meltdown Comics 8:30PM $8
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $8
Beer in the Shower @ Whitehorse Cocktail Lounge Inn 9:30PM FREE
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20/$30 VIP/2 item min.
Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ Next Stage Theatre 11PM $5
6) OPEN MIC RUN
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM
CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM
LIBRARY A COFFEEHOUSE 3418 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM
7) Recently: We’re in the thick of awards season. To show you how much I care, I’m posting this clip of Jerrod Carmichael doing absolutely no material on awards, but is hilarious.
8) Stickers saying, “The Comedy Bureau Approves” or something along those lines, thoughts? OK, I get it. I’ll stop.
Report 00117
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
COMEDY IS DEAD
LINE UP: Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 – 9:00 PM
Jeff Garlin – Curb Your Enthusiasm
Neil Hamburger – Americas Number One Funny Man
Natasha Legerro – Chelsea Lately
Nick Thune – The Tonight Show
Duncan Trussell – Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time
JP Incorporated – Comedy Central
K Straus – Zip Zap Yo Yo CompanyPlus a super special guest!
Doors 8:00 PM – Show starts at 9:00 PM sharp
The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
Admission is $15, OR YOU CAN WIN TICKETS HERE!I have tickets to give away, so somehow message me and you could win!!!
For more information visit
www.comedyisdead.info
Glad That “This Is Not Happening” Is Indeed Happening
There has always been a “universal” quality about storytelling, especially the kind that is live, done in person. Any story has the potential to be captivating through unflinching honesty and keen craftsmanship even if its told behind a high school cafeteria.
The stand-up/storytelling series “This Is Not Happening” magnifies how amazingly hilarious stories can be when already tried-and-true comedians shed the veil of their act and spin quite the yarn in front of a packed house at the Hollywood Improv Main Room.
Whether it be Eddie Pepitone yelling about working for a legally blind man, Kyle Kinane working for a charming racist, or even Tig Notaro calling herself out on an intentionally drawn-out, bland story, each one of the comedians, who are already hilarious just telling jokes (i.e. former Simpsons writer Dana Gould), maintained a sense of being around a campfire telling stories as if we were all friends except there was around 200 of us, which made every twist and turn even bigger and subsequently more gratifying.
Many comics fear delving into storytelling as the long bouts of silence that can potentially come with doing so, but I would argue that many of those tense expectations that the audience has for someone to be funny and the performer has for the audience to laugh melt away as they’re just purely honest. Kevin Christy, with his hysterical story of how faithful he is to his wife, did this by being wonderfully unapologetic for how much of a “straight edge” he is and, as a result, left the audience laughing heartily between every turn.
Hosted efficiently and very enjoyably by Ari Shaffir and finely produced by Eric Abrams, This Is Not Happening takes the model of a storytelling show and betters it with a very sizable crowd and a theme, tying every comedian’s stories nice and neat into a package manifested in the image, on this particular show, (on the flyer above designed by aforementioned comic Kevin Christy) of a pile of feces in a hard hat. The delightful theme to inspire such an image was: Take This Job and Shove It. Feces in a hard hat is sort of revolting as an idea, but one that really is universal to the human experience, at least since construction jobs were developed, and hilarious in story form with dozens of people listening, making This Is Not Happening something that I’m quite glad “actually happens” and I have the privilege to see.
This is Not Happening frequently takes places at the Hollywood Improv. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on the next one.
Drinking Buddies is live tonight @ 10 PM on Kbeach GlobalRadio www.kbeach.org. Todd Glass calls and Abbey Londer in studio
HEYRONBLOG.COM: I said the words “totes avails” yesterday.
HEYRONBLOG.COM: I said the words “totes avails” yesterday.
It’s an abbreviation for “totally available.” A friend asked what I was doing this weekend and I said, “Oh man I’m totes avails…” So now I have to kill myself. I feel like the out-of-touch principal trying to fit in with kid slang.
“I know you kids think those marijuana cigarettes are totally…
Garfunkel and Oates Music Video of the Day: “This Party Took a Turn for the Douche”
Daniel Stessen directs Riki “Garfunkel” Lindhome and Kate “Oates” Micucci in the official video for the laughly ladies’ timeless ode to douchebags.
Sarah Silverman, Alia Shawkat, Har Mar Superstar, and Diora Baird make an appearance.
(sNSFW, explicit lyrics.)
[rikilind.]
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
HELP ME NAME MY BABY! xoxo
Towards the end of March, my wife Martha will give birth to our first child. We are naturally very excited and doing all kinds of preparing to be as ready as possible. Unlike a lot of people these days, we’ve declined to find out the sex of the baby. We’d like to be surprised and we’ll love it either way. I mean, what are we going to do, stencil shotguns on the bedroom wall if it’s a boy or pre-register it for beauty pageants if it’s a girl?
Morning Debriefing 2/17/11
1) RT @comedymeltdown Top secret meeting&dealings regarding the renewal of @meltdowncomics gallery space and the future of @comedymeltdown Stay tuned&thank you!
2) So… Eddie Pepitone is having an live action single panel comic strip updated DAILY Mon. through Fri. So… you should probably watch it.
3) Reggie Watts on Conan. You can witness what’s its like to see him live, which is really the only way to do it, at the SUPER SERIOUS SHOW (details below in the Comedy Crawl)
4) The First Annual Comedy Awards have another category, Viral Video, that is up for a vote. You actually have a say in this, so maybe something that is deserving might win. That’s all up to you folks….
5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Damn straight…
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Comedy Store Belly Room 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 7:30PM
The Super Serious Show @ Smashbox Studios 8PM $15
Adam Carolla Show w/Dr. Drew & Jeff Ross @ Jon Lovitz Comedy Club 8PM $15/2 drink min.
Everybody’s Talkin’ @ Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock 8PM $5 suggested donation
Comedy Speakeasy @ TSR Lounge 8PM FREE
Comedy 90210 @ Roxbury Cafe 8PM $5
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Just for Laughs Showcase @ The Laugh Factory 8001 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 10PM $20/$30 VIP/2 item min.
Live at Carnegie Hall* @ Hollywood Hotel 10PM FREE
6) OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM
THE SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 7PM
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guaranteed
TKO SHOW @ 212 CAFE 212 Pier Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 9PM
7) Recently: OK, so recently developed are the Jeopardy Playing Robot, which I’ve reasoned is a robot programmed just stupid enough to make a knowledge based competition fair, and an Anti-Laser. I feel that there is no need for a comedy clip to comment on how hilariously wasteful this is.
8) Every time a comic on stage says, “Fuck you, that’s funny,” when they’re getting laughs, doesn’t deserve any laughs. (Yes, this happens… a lot.)
Report 00118
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
HUFFPOST COMEDY: SXSW Comedy ’11 Lineup Released, Looks Incredible
HUFFPOST COMEDY: SXSW Comedy ’11 Lineup Released, Looks Incredible
[READ MORE on HuffPost Comedy: SXSW Lineup Announced]
South By Southwest, the Austin arts festival widely known for its Music, Film and Interactive events, has announced its 2011 Comedy lineup. Drawing both established stars and rising new talent in the world of comedy, this year’s…
Good to see LA Comedy represented well here…
Gentlemen Scumbags, Episode 8, with Kyle Kinane
Gentlemen Scumbags, Episode 8, with Kyle Kinane
It’s now available for your viewing or downloading pleasure. It’s a good one, kids.