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TCB Debriefing 10/25/23: TCB 13 Years Old, Mike Birbiglia, Eric Andre, Fargo S5, Comedy as Home
October 26, 2023
News
anniversary, eric andre, fargo, jimmy kimmel live, juno temple, mike birbiglia

1. Oct. 25th, 2010, Jake Kroeger founded The Comedy Bureau. Oct. 25th, 2023, he continues to run it, typing out this very sentence while at a diner at midnight. We thank you for reading this and making the countless hours in service of the community and art form of comedy worth it. Please keep reading, spreading the word, and, if you can, support.

or Venmo @jakekroeger

2. One of comedy’s all time greatest storytellers, Mike Birbiglia is going on a 24 city tour that will have nothing to do with a three camera set up on Zoom or working on jokes on IG Live. Please Stop the Ride is set to span the entirety of North America starting this Winter and stretching into the end of Spring 2024. Tix available now at birbigs.com w/code PANCAKE.

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A post shared by Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs)

3. Eric Andre basically answered the question of who would win in a “prank-off” between him and Johnny Knoxville with a very, very loose interpretation of the word “prank” on Kimmel this week.

4. The fifth installment of Fargo seems to get back to that über dark humor of the original movie in 1996 thanks to the peculiar wife played by Juno Temple. Take a gander with the official trailer here, then look for new episodes on FX/Hulu starting Nov. 21st.

 

6. We’ll leave you with this: Comedy is a home that we, here at TCB, never knew until we found it. We hope we can give you that same sense of home if you’re looking for it.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 187: Sunny Zimmerman & Caitlan Moore & Creating a Brilliant Meta Play About LBJ (and Identity)
October 25, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
caitlan moore, lbj the play, sunny zimmerman

After 13 years of covering comedy pretty much every single day, it’s incredibly hard to take us by surprise or show us something that isn’t, at the very least, reminiscent of something else we had seen before. Thanks to Sunny Zimmerman and Caitlan Moore, LBJ The Play, a meta play within a play (that’s almost in another play) about an LBJ impersonator having an identity crisis was one of the most original comedy productions we had seen in awhile.

Suffice it to say, it achieved that near impossible feat of surprising us and we have been thoroughly delighted by the memory of watching its very first performance at Forget About Spaghetti Fest. So, this week’s TCB Field Report talks with star Sunny Zimmerman and director Caitlan Moore to talk how creating one of the most original comedy plays we’ve ever seen when they didn’t even originally set out to write a play.

Follow LBJ The Play @lbjtheplay, Sunny Zimmerman @zimmer_down_, & Caitlan Moore @caitlan_deniro on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: LET’S MAKE A POOP FEAT. TRIUMPH THE INSULT COMIC DOG (NYCF) 11/6
October 25, 2023
News
new york comedy, new york comedy festival, nyc, robert smigel, triumph the insult comic dog

Many things will endure in the collective memories of Gen-Xers and Millennial fans of Conan O’Brien and one of the most unforgettable of those things would be the Robert Smigel creation that is Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. A grandmaster of the man-on-the-street style of interview, Smigel’s dog puppet covered hand and his vaguely European gravel-y accent and some of the sickest burns and a constantly dropped cigar made an indelible impression in the world of late night and still lives on in laughs when remembering things like Triumph hanging with Star Wars fans or going to any political convention.

So, it shouldn’t go without saying that a very special New York Comedy Festival evening with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog lined up for Nov. 6th at 8PM at the Murmrr Theatre should be an immediate buy. Take care of that at $31.14 a pop here.

TCB Debriefing 10/24/23: Leslie Liao, Poog, Obituary, DCA Grants, Funny is Funny
October 24, 2023
News
dca, jacqueline novak, kate berlant, leslie liao, obituary, poog

1. It’s the year of Leslie Liao (and 2024 would probably be the same) as she just made her late night debut following getting JFL New Faces and being one of Netflix’s Verified Stand-Ups. Please enjoy her delightful splash on The Tonight Show last night.

 

2. Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak and their lovechild of a podcast, Poog, is going on tour and, for the sake of your own quality of life, you should plan your holidays around their North American road trip.

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A post shared by Kate Berlant (@kateberlant)

3. The Irish’s penchant for the darkest comedy possible is alive and well via what could well be an Irish cross between Dexter, Weeds, and Murder, She Wrote in Obituary. Take a gander for yourself at the trailer, then look for it on Hulu on Nov. 21st.

4. The DCA of LA is always giving out grants for artists, many of which could fall in the realm of comedy. Just check out this latest one for Neighborhood Expressions.

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A post shared by LA Dept of Cultural Affairs (@culture_la)

5. We’ll leave you with this: “Funny is funny” is a cop out opinion.

Pick of the Day: The MisMatch Game (in LA) 10/29
October 24, 2023
News
dennis hensley, la comedy, lgbt center, mismatch game
You know, it would be quite the curiosity to see where the long running 60s/70s game show hit Match Game would end up in the 2023 programming slate on a big time network given its cheekily risque nature (maybe even OFTV?). Thankfully, you can ponder that and see the MisMatch Game with Dennis Hensley for an even more unhinged Match-Game –inspired game show live and direct with a splendid gathering of grand LA comedy folks, in the Halloween spirit, going as their favorite celebs.
Mismatching on Sun. Oct. 29th at 7PM will be:

Jackie Beat (Bea Arthur)
Julie Brown (Drew Barrymore)
Danny Casillas (Reba Areba)
Jackie Clarke (Ginni Thomas)
Sam Pancake (Lucille Ball)
Marc Samuel (Morgan Freeman)
As far as Halloween themed comedy game shows go, this should be at the top of your list. Go get tickets at $15 a pop right here.

TCB Debriefing 10/23/23: Netflix Verified Stand-Up, Sophie Buddle, Ms. Pat, Whitney Cumming OFTV, If You Were the Last, Desus Nice
October 23, 2023
News
daily show, desus nice, don't tell, if you were the last, ms. pat, netflix is a joke, sophie buddle, stand up comedy, verified stand up

1. First, The Standups, then came The Comedy Lineup. Now, Netflix is having a (slightly) more creative name for their handpicked stand-up showcase series with Verified Stand-Up. Asif Ali, Dulcé Sloan, Gianmarco Soresi, Isiah Kelly, Leslie Liao, Nimesh Patel, Robby Hoffman, Rosebud Baker, Sabrina Wu, and Vanessa Gonzalez have short sets that will premiere on the streaming giant come Tues. Nov. 28th.

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A post shared by Netflix Is A Joke (@netflixisajoke)

2. Please enjoy the oh so clever (and honestly, kind of naughty, but mostly very clever) Don’t Tell set from one of Canada’s finest comedy exports, Sophie Buddle.

3. Watch the amazing true story of Ms. Pat going from being a plaintiff on Judge Joe Brown to be a beloved touring headlining comedian that is going to have her own small claims court show on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

4. Whitney Cummings is doubling down on OFTV (the non-NSFW arm of OnlyFans) by having her sixth special, Mouthy, premiere and exclusive stream on OFTV come Nov. 15th. Already, she made a big splash with her first OFTV exclusive, The Roast of Bert Kreischer, presented by Cummings. So far, if you want to watch, OFTV doesn’t need a subscription fee or your e-mail (and we’re pretty sure not part of the AMPTP?)

5. Peacock is coming out what might be the cutest space based rom com with the Zoe Chao and Anthony Mackie two-hander, If You Were the Last. Take a gander here and, if you’re digging it, you can stream it now on Peacock.

 

6. FYI, it’s Desus Nice week at The Daily Show with still no permanent host.

7. We’ll leave you with this: generic rock really feels like the wrong pick for trailers for stand-up specials, despite it being the go-to trailer music for almost every comedy special promo.

Pick of the Day: MY DEAD WEDDING: A Funeral for my Wedding (in NYC) 10/28
October 23, 2023
News
chet siegel, nyc comedy, solo show, union hall

Long long ago, in a world before COVID and industry strikes, there was a thing called Above Average where came across the delightful, yet dark sketch comedy stylings of one Chet Siegel. Now, that we’re on the other side of those things (well, the SAG-AFTRA strike is still happening), Above Average isn’t around anymore and the entire world has been turned upside down, pulled inside out, and burned several times.

As such, Chet is continuing to develop her comedic solo show that is both a solo show and an “immersive nervous breakdown” centered on the concept of having a funeral for her wedding (Chet’s ex-fiance dumped her twice during the pandemic) and trying to get some semblance of how you get over anything. A funeral for a wedding sounds like the hysterically perfect name for this current chapter of history and has our interest more than peaked off of that concept alone.

Here’s Chet giving a bit of an explanation as she was developing this at Ars Nova.

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A post shared by Ars Nova (@arsnovanyc)

If your tastes are on the dark side (of comedy) as well as getting into the feels mixed in with hard laughter, we’d urge you to shell out $15.64 and find your way to Union Hall on Sat. 10/28 at 5PM (guessing the dress code would be “darkest black tie possible”?) for Chet’s My Dead Wedding.

Pick of the Day: All for Armenia Live Comedy Fundraiser (in LA) 11/3
October 20, 2023
News
armenia, benefit show, fundraiser, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy, ucb

The world isn’t technically at war, but it’s hard to feel like that the whole of the planet is even remotely close to being at peace. One could spin a globe with eyes closed and probably land on a location rife with violent conflict. As such, supporting any and all of the humanitarian aid you can, wherever it may be, is crucial.

That’s why James Adomian is leading a benefit for All for Armenia at UCB on Fri. Nov. 3rd at 10pm, since the horror in Armenia perpetrated by Azerbaijan still continues with ethnic cleansing of Armenians living in the surrendered territory of Artsakh (though you wouldn’t know it from the news).

Joining Adomian is a very stacked line-up of Reggie Watts, Phil Hendrie, Chris Estrada, Alyssa Limperis, Mary Basmadjian, and Nate Craig all for the nice price of $15 (right now). 100% of ticket sales go to All for Armenia.

Go get tix here before they inevitably sell out and, if you’re feeling generous, directly donate to All for Armenia.

Pick of the Day: Schtick or Treat (in LA) 10/31
October 19, 2023
News
halloween, los angeles comedy, schtick or treat

There is kind of no better comedy Halloween tradition than Matt Ruby and Mark Normand‘s Schtick or Treat. A cavalcade of your favorite comedians of all kinds convene as their favorite comedians, in full costume, to do their most faithful rendition of them as a Halloween tribute (probably). Lasting well over a decade and playing multiple cities including NYC and LA at the same appointed spooky time of the year, Schtick or Treat, was a highlight of not only the Halloween season, but of the comedy scene for the whole year.

Thus, we’re (yes, full disclosure, we have a hand in this) bringing it back from the dead to be yet another very special night of uncanny night with jokes conjured from beyond the mic (or simply just remembered from a signature album or special).

Thus far, the comedy witching hour is summoning:

James Adomian

Barbara Gray

Sammy Mowrey

Curtis Cook

Paul Danke

Danny Sellers

Tyler Jackson

Ellory Smith

Blake Rosier

Jessica Michelle Singer

Simon Gibson

Mike Bridenstine

Andres Parada

Lorena Russi

Roxanne Acree

Maxi Witrak

with many more TBA!

This newly revived Schtick or Treat is set for the actual night of Halloween, Tues. 10/31 at 10PM at the wondrous Lyric Hyperion in Silverlake.

Tickets are only $15 and it’s, for our money, the best bet on Halloween. Go get tickets already right here.

TCB Debriefing 10/19/23: The Problem with Jon Stewart, Jon Stewart, Dilli Dark, Chris Rock/Kevin Hart, The Egyptian, Tix Winners, Beth Stelling
October 19, 2023
News
beth stelling, chris rock, dilli dark, dina hashem, headliners only, jon stewart, kevin hart, leslie liao, netflix, the egyptian

1. We’re losing Jon Stewart yet again. The Problem with Jon Stewart has just been cancelled before going into its third season with the industry’s most passive aggressive excuse of “creative differences” being cited (NY Times). More specifically, disagreements over covering topics such as AI and China lead to said differences and that should be a good indicator as to where Apple, a company so rich that it’s effectively its own sovereign nation.

2. Take a gander at the very clever Dina Hashem and her latest special, Dark Little Whispers, which will be the latest stand-up comedy offering from Amazon. Due out Fri Nov. 10th.

3. The Dibakar Das Roy and the title Dilli Dark might not mean much to you now, but that will all change when you see what the black immigrant experience is like in a dramedy set in India (spoiler alert: not to dissimilar to the one in the US). Hopefully, this will find its way to U.S. theaters soon.

 

4. Leslie Liao is, in our minds, an undeniable rising star and now is the time to go catch her ascent and brag to everyone that you knew her before whatever star turn is going to come her way. Good thing she’s on a global tour. Get tix at leslieliao.com.

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A post shared by Leslie Liao (@resrieriao)

5. Chris Rock and Kevin Hart are two of the biggest names in all of comedy and are synonymous with the art form with two different generations (including plenty of overlap). So, why not play MSG for four shows? That’s exactly what happened and Headliners Only is the behind the scenes documentary that captured what that entire week was like. Take a gander at it here, then look for it on Netflix on Tues. Dec. 12th.

 

6. The Egyptian had a small run when Netflix initially took over the celebrated revival/arthouse movie palace smack dab in the heart of Hollywood a couple of years ago, but it has laid dormant for quite some. Come Nov. 9th, it will officially reopen, which counts as one more theater that Los Angeles didn’t lose during the pandemic (Indiewire). Fingers crossed for a 2024 Arclight Hollywood reopening.

7. Congrats to Darren Roth and Kenneth Rudnicki for winning our ticket giveaways for Ramy Youssef and Daniel Sloss this weekend. FYI, you just have to pay attention to the debriefing here for future giveaways.

8. We’ll leave you with this: If any network/streaming service is aiming to shake up late night/take a chance on a talk show, please go with Beth Stelling (if that something she wants to do). It’s criminal that she isn’t on TV most nights of the week.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 186: Raiza Licea & Looking to Build an Empire
October 18, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
raiza licea

Between being a pillar of the stellar Spanish Aquí Presents, being one of the four artistic directors at the revived UCB, doing her own comedy (mostly improv, but dipping her toe into stand-up now), and going hard in the paint in a beloved comedy rec basketball league, Raiza Licea still envisions much more ahead of her. For many, juggling those three endeavors would be more than a full plate, but Raiza is looking to indeed build an empire founded on her comedy chops, which are some of the most highly regarded at the Upright Citizens Brigade.

This week’s TCB Field Report not only uncovers how Raiza pulls all of what she currently has going, but envisioning pulling off even more.

Follow Raiza @raizalicea as well as SAP @spanishaquipresents across socials.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @josephcaptures

Pick of the Day: Ben Wasserman’s Live After Death: Greenwood Cemetery (in NYC) 10/26
October 18, 2023
News
Ben Wasserman, brooklyn, live after death, nyc

OK OK, we know have told you plenty of times about Ben Wasserman’s brilliant, absurd, joyful, tear-filled, but altogether beautiful experimental solo comedy/grief show Live After Death. Wasserman has earned every word of praise to be sure.

That said, we’d like to highlight that Ben is closing off this latest run of Live After Death in the historic Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. First off, it’s a gigantic, centuries-old cemetery that’s one of the most interesting sites in all of Brooklyn (which is saying something). Secondly, Ben has played many a funeral home/mortuary service with his very unique show, but playing Live After Death in one of America’s most historic cemeteries is a whole other thing entirely and sure to be a very, very, very special edition of the show (even if you’ve seen the show already multiple times). It’s worth the $50 ticket to be sure.

These final (for now?) performances of Live After Death are set for Thurs. Oct. 26th at 7PM & 9:15PM and you really ought to buy a cheaper Halloween costume so you can get tickets to this. Do so here.

TCB Debriefing 10/17/23: Debra DiGiovanni, Katherine Blanford Tour, Demi Adejuyigbe Halloween Costumes, Nate Bargatze,
October 17, 2023
News
debra digiovanni, demi adejuyigbe, don't tell comedy, katherine blanford, nate bargatze, snl

1. Debra DiGiovanni demonstrates why most comedians these days opt to not follow her if at all possible in this exclusive Don’t Tell Comedy set. Her rhythm, exuberance, and irrefutable command of the mic/stage makes her a force to be reckoned with/throughly enjoyed via copious amounts of laughter. Please enjoy it over and over here.

2. Even though we’re so glad that the marvelous Katherine Blanford is in LA now, we are thrilled that the rest of the country is also getting blessed with her sweet and crafty comedy stylings. Dates below and tickets at katherineblanford.com.

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A post shared by Katherine Blanford (@itskatherineblanford)

3. Demi Adejuyigbe has given the assignment for Halloween Costumes, which, honestly, could and should be themes for next year’s Met Gala.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon)

4. Nate Bargatze is set to host the 10/28 episode and we have a feeling his monologue will probably be one of the best the show has had in recent memory.

5. We’ll leave you with this: We’re all done with Twitter, right? It’s Threads now? Yeah, it’s Threads.

Pick of the Day: 2023 Vulture Festival (in LA) 11/12 & 11/13
October 17, 2023
News
adam pally, cord jefferson, los angeles comedy, matt rogers, vulture, vulture festival, weird al yankovic

November is approaching fast, which means Vulture is coming to LA. Thankfully, that’s not anything resembling the CA state bird, the California Condor, circling its prey. Instead, it’s a highly curated gathering of the most chic happenings possible via NY Magazine’s cool arm (including a live Comedians You Should & Will Know showcase).

Vulture Festival is coming back to Hollywood once again on Sat. Nov. 12th and Sun. 13th, but taking over a new location, nya Studios, which actually puts its squarely in the “Netflix Valley” of Hollywood (which means you’ll probably still see a picket line if the SAG-AFTRA strike isn’t over in another month).

So far, they’ve announced:

Weird Al Superlatives Live!

Matt Rogers Holiday Spectacular Sing-a-Long Extravaganza (Album Version)

A Big Long Talk With Cord Jefferson (writer/director of what will likely be the end of the year comedy hit, American Fiction)

An Intimate Evening with Adam Pally

That’s just a taste of what’s to come.

Tickets are only $25-$30 per show and you can (and very much should) go snag tix here, before they sell out (Vulture tends to sell out their events).

TCB Debriefing 10/16/23: American Fiction, James Hamilton Album, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, The Daily Show, Dana Snow
October 16, 2023
News
American fiction, ast records, comedy album, cord jefferson, dana snow, james hamilton, jeffrey wright, netflix, scott pilgrim, stand up, the daily show

1. Jeffrey Wright has been doing amazing work in supporting roles from being James Bond’s American counterpart to a reliable scene stealer in Wes Anderson’s latest works. Wright is about to take center stage in what looks to be a formidable and hysterical satire called American Fiction from writer/director Cord Jefferson. Wright plays a down on his luck author that creates an “urban” nom de plume as a joke for a publishing industry that rewards stereotypes and ends up finding more success than he ever has. Maybe a 2023 comedy version of The Invisible Man? See for yourself in the first official trailer here. Then, watch closely for a December release in theaters.

2. NYC comedy darling James Hamilton has made one of THE observational comedy albums of 2023 with I Don’t Deserve These Deals. Oh, you thought that observational comedy was passé? Well, let the perfectly distilled minutia of Hamilton’s life delivered with such arresting cool assure you that comedically exploring “what’s the deal” with things is still alive and well in comedy and can be thorougly enjoyed by the most snobbish of comedy fans. Please get into I Don’t Deserve These Deals fresh off the presses at AST Records here.

3. Here’s the first, full length, full-anime/fighting game-effect look at Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (complete with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World voice cast). Mark up your calendars in neon and pastels for Fri. Nov. 17th when it drops exclusively on Netflix.

4. FYI, The Daily Show returns tonight at Comedy Central (yes, it’s still a channel whose content you will probably watch on YouTube the next day) with Michael Kosta leading off at the host desk.

5. We’ll leave you with this: R.I.P. Dana Snow, an LA comedy staple. who passed away this weekend. Service for Dana will be held at Tao Comedy Studio in Koreatown on Sun. 10/29. Details below.

Pick of the Day: Blacula (in LA) 10/24
October 16, 2023
News
blacula, halloween, improv, la comedy, ucb

Halloween is just two weeks and change away and a whole slew of Halloween themed comedy shows are about to take over any and all comedy venues (and you absolutely should take make the most of the horror/comedy combo while you can).

Case in point, some of UCB’s best black improvisers are going to do their own improvised versions of vampire lore/cinema/TV the week before Halloween. Appropriately called Blacula, the likes of Shakira Paye, Carl Tart, Moni Oyedepo, Jerah Milligan, X Mayo, Corin Wells, Jacquis Neal, Lamar Woods, Blake Edwards, and Ashley Parchment will give you the flip of what has been predominantly a white subgenre (except for Blade and the latest Interview with the Vampire?). If they end up improvising the infamous baseball scene from Twilight, the audience ought to pay more than the $10 that this show costs.

Blacula is set for Tues. 10/24 at 10PM. You very much can (and should) go get your tickets here.

TCB Debriefing 10/13/23: Omid Singh, Found Footage Fest, The Afterparty, David Krumholtz, Diablo Cody, Ramy Youssef
October 13, 2023
News
comedy special, david krumholtz, diablo cody, found footage fest, free tickets, lisa frankenstein, omid singh, ramy youssef, stand up comedy, the afterparty

1. Omid Singh has tirelessly worked on his stand-up day in and day out for years in the very crowded LA comedy scene. Yet, you wouldn’t even think about the time he’s put in with the ease, self-assuredness, and quiet command of the stage in his first special, Lil Special. Singh seems carefree and yet on-point for tried and true material that includes a very informative Indian dance lesson. Please enjoy what undoubtedly will be a precursor to a great hour special with Lil Special now on YouTube here.

2. Found Footage Fest has found more footage and more dates and cities to spread the gospel of forgotten VHS content. Go get tix at foundfootagefest.com/tour

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3. There will probably be an afterparty after The Afterparty was just cancelled today by Apple TV+, but it’ll very likely be invite only (and have no murder at it).

4. David Krumholtz once graced the Internet as Gigi with WeatherFrom.com, then was in Oppenheimer, and is now set to play a lit professor with six months to live (Deadline). Look for Lousy Carter in early 2024 to continue to a trend of angry professors in dramedies (Lucky Hank, The Holdovers).

5. Diablo Cody returns (note that Juno came out 16 years ago) with her latest project, Lisa Frankenstein (Deadline) that seems to be a teen rom com with a Frankenstein in it? So, maybe akin to Warm Bodies, but way cooler dialogue?

7. We’ve got free tix for Ramy Youssef headlining The Regent in LA next week. Let us know if you want tix at thecomedybureau@gmail.com this weekend and they very well could be yours.

8. We’ll leave you with this: We guess, get Taylor Swift to be a fan of your comedy?

Pick of the Day: Jon Glaser Album Release Party (in NYC) 11/2
October 13, 2023
News
album release, bell house, jon glaser, nyc comedy, pretty good friends

The coming of anything from Jon Glaser should be a moment for pause and planning to be present and ready for whatever that is. TV show, web series, podcast, IG livestream, etc. are all worth tuning into if Glaser is at the helm. Jon Glaser Loves Gear or Delocated should be proof enough alone for this sentiment.

So, the prospect of a forthcoming album from Glaser one of the most committed absurdist performers in comedy along with an accompanying album release show/party should cause a raise of an eyebrow and then buying of tickets.

Pretty Good Friends, the comedy record label co-founded by Eugene Mirman, is having an album release party for Glaser that’s also a “dog-centric evening of dog-themed humor” where there emphatic request to have no actual dogs in attendance.  Also, Mirman, Jo Firestone, Tami Sagher, Steve Cirbus, and Ali Farahnakian will be joining in the fun. Suffice it to say that it’ll be another unforgettable night where Glaser engages in the sublimely ridiculous (and then you’ll have an album of his to listen to afterwards!).

This very special Jon Glaser album release party is set for Thurs. Nov. 2nd at 7:30PM at Brooklyn’s Bell House with tickets going for $25.42 a pop.

TCB Debriefing 10/12/23: The Curse, The Daily Show, How Did This Get Made?, Aparna Nancherla, Please Don’t Destroy, Cora Bora, Daniel Sloss
October 12, 2023
News
aparna nancherla, benny safdie, cora bora, daniel sloss, emma stone, how did this get made, late night, nathan fielder, paul scheer, please don't destroy, seth meyers, the curse, the daily show

1. If you dare (and of course you do since it’s the reason for the Halloween season), take your first full look at the meta meta meta house-flipping/docu-series/supernatural(?) thriller, The Curse with Nathan Fielder, Emma Stone, and Benny Safdie. Then, set a reminder for Nov. 10th, it’s premiere date on Showtime/Paramount+.

2. The Daily Show will be the second to last late night program to return to the air (the last one will be SNL) and has, surprise surprise, not picked a permanent replacement for Trevor Noah. Instead, they’re going with another round of revolving hosts including Michael Kosta, Desus Nice, Sarah Silverman, Charlmagne Tha God, Leslie Jones, Michelle Wolf, and The Daily Show correspondents. This all begins next week and, one hopes, they’ll get someone permanently behind the desk before the hell that will be the 2024 election gets into full swing.

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A post shared by The Daily Show (@thedailyshow)

3. One of the definitive movie and comedy podcasts in existence is hitting the road so you won’t have to find yourself at Largo in order to see Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas work their magic in person. Get tix here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by June Diane Raphael (@junediane)

4. Just a friendly neighborhood reminder of Aparna Nancherla‘s reserved comedic brilliance a la giving her depression the name “Brenda” in an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

5. The Please Don’t Destroy boys made a whole damn movie, The Treasure of Foggy Mountain, the trailer of which plays exactly like one of their sketches. Also, Conan O’Brien as Ben Marshall‘s Dad is perfect casting. See the madness in its entirety Nov. 17th on Peacock.

6.  You won’t have to wait for the next season of Hacks, whenever that’s going to happen, or rebinge The Good Place to see Meg Stalter and Manny Jacinto on screen again. Their indie comedy festival darling, Cora Bora just sold its North American distribution rights to Brainstorm Media (Variety). Hope this makes for a bright light in theatrical releases in early 2024.

7. Internationally renowned for breaking up relationships for people’s well being via his comedy, Daniel Sloss is making his latest stop in LA next week. By the way, we got tickets if you want them. Just be the first to let us know @thecomedybureau on IG.

8. We’ll leave you with this: Apologies for missing out on yesterday’s debriefing (and Monday’s even though that was technically a national holiday). Our esteemed founder Jake Kroeger is also the booker at the beloved Lyric Hyperion now and he’s getting the hang of juggling 100 balls at once (in addition to running TCB and booking a theater) .

Pick of the Day: The Give Back-Ular Spectacular (in LA) 10/25
October 12, 2023
News
charity benefit, comedy show, dtla, los angeles, tusc

You ought to know that only the WGA Strike is over and the resolve of SAG-AFTRA remains strong as they near 100 days of their very own strike, which very well may happen as negotiations fell apart this week.

With that in mind, it’s crucial to keep in mind that so many essential workers to the industry are still affected since Tinseltown isn’t really quite back yet. That’s numerous folks and their families that are still hanging on by a thread since the AMPTP likes playing the attrition card (even though they ended up giving the WGA everything they wanted).

So, the gigantic star-studded variety show benefits will also continue marching on, the latest being one The Give Back-Ular Spectacular at the Orpheum on Wed. Oct. 25th at 6PM. The Union Solidarity Coalition is organizing what is an extremely stacked evening of stand-up, sketch, music, and a whole hell of a lot more.

On the bill thus far are:
Jason Alexander
Michael McKean
Jack Black
Kumail Nanjiani
Patton Oswalt
Rachel Bloom
Levar Burton
June Diane Raphael
Nicole Byer
Andrea Savage
Bryan Cranston
Paul Scheer
Lil Dicky
Dax Shepard
Lindsay Dougherty
Lily Tomlin
Julian Velard
Simon Helberg
Janelle James
Jeremy Allen White

Don’t be surprised if that’s the tip of the iceberg of the line-up.

The show will be live-streamed as well if you can’t/won’t go to DTLA that night. If you can’t make it at all, but would still like to support an Emergency Fund, you can do so here.

If you’d like to get in on this massive benefit show with tickets starting at only $37, go get them right here right now.

 

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 185: Blake Wexler & Nailing Your First Hour
October 11, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
blake wexler

From Philly to LA back to Philly (and probably some other stops along the way), Blake Wexler has gotten more than enough stage time under his belt to handily craft and serve up a refreshingly strong debut hour special. Daddy Long Legs is a not only a testament to the handiwork and care that goes into the artistry of comedy, but a great example of how much blood, sweat, and tears goes into making something seem effortless or as if, in comedy parlance, happened “the other day”. We dive into all the nitty gritty of Wexler’s journey to really being ready and meeting the moment of doing your first comedy special.

Follow Blake @blakewexler on IG and watch Daddy Long Legs on YouTube here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: Fools Circle (in LA) 10/14
October 11, 2023
News
fools circle, hollywood, los angeles comedy, neuehouse, teklai

The renowned Brooklyn born comedy/music/party shindig Fools Circle is once again making it out to the West Side. Host Teklai will be hosting another special LA rooftop edition of the show on the fancy third floor terrace at the Hollywood location of Neuehouse this Sat. Oct. 14th at 5:30PM.

Slated for comedy will be James Davis, Jordan Rock, Brandi Denise along with DJs Slow Like Whoa and KENE O. Expect plenty of surprises along with way too. If you’re a Neuehouse member, you kind of have a special in, but if you’re not, you can snag $20 tickets here, which is a pretty great deal for this Saturday night.

 

TCB Debriefing 10/10/23: Joe Pera, Kiss Me Kosher Postponed, WGA Ratified, Matt Rogers Tour, The Thin Man, Seinfeld, Garbage Pail Kids,
October 10, 2023
News
brad pitt, comedy special, garbage pail kids, have you heard of christmas, joe pera, kiss me kosher, margot robbie, matt rogers, seinfeld, the thin man, wga

1. If you need a sense of peace, a sense of calm, some warmth, and a belief in humanity all delivered in the form of a comedy special, please look no further than Joe Pera’s brand new hour special Slow & Steady. Akin to pretty much everything Joe does, Pera shows a beautiful side to comedy that comes from a place of simplicity and a certain sense of worldly innocence as well as a cheeky self-awareness of his whole persona. Thankfully, Slow & Steady is streaming free on YouTube for you to enjoy over and over anytime you want.

2. Kiss Me Kosher, an irreverent rom com set in Tel-Aviv that has a secret Israeli/Palestinian romance has postponed its U.S. release (Deadline). Sadly, it’s probably going to be quite awhile before that sees a U.S./wider release.

3. The WGA overwhelmingly ratified their new contract with AMPTP (CNN) and thank goodness there is any sort of good news today at all.

4. Forget all your other holiday traditions because Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? is going on tour in celebration of the Have You Heard of Christmas? album (which should be an instant holiday classic). Go get tickets here immediately because they’ll probably be sold out by the time the holiday season starts.

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A post shared by Matt Rogers (@mattrogerstho)

5. Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt’s production banners are in cahoots to remake the comedy classic The Thin Man (Variety). No word on casting, but we would be fine with a sort of Babylon reunion with Robbie and Pitt sharing top billing.

6. Jerry Seinfeld says something might be happening regarding the end of legendary eponymous sitcom Seinfeld (EW). Details are scarce beyond that, but maybe this will provide enough mishegoss to guarantee another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm as well.

7. There was an adaptation of cult favorite card series, The Garbage Pail Kids, with the likes of David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and Josh Bycel in the works. With the WGA side of the strike over, the project appears to still be alive (Deadline). Keep the fingers crossed that it survives the other side of the strike.

8. We’ll leave you with this: now is a great reminder that the equation “tragedy + time = comedy” is true for bother audiences and the comedians.

Pick of the Day: What’s The Worst That Could Happen? A Comedy Show (in NYC) 10/21
October 10, 2023
News
halloween, ilana rubin, nyc comedy, what's the world that could happen, will pupura

Halloween is approaching fast and, with it, a lovely swath of spooky comedy shows for the next few weeks. If you have a penchant to mix your laughs with getting goosebumps, you might want to keep an extra eye out for what might be the pumpkin spice of live comedy.

For instance, NYC’s Will Purpura and Ilana Rubin are doing a whole comedy show with an Ouija board and, as if to goad the spirits on, doing so on their show called What’s the Worst That Could Happen? Though the show isn’t happening at the “witching hour”, the peak time for doing Ouija, five comedians “having” messages spelled out for them by “forces beyond this world” ought to be a hoot.

Best of all, the show is FREE. Mark your calendars for Sat. Oct. 21st at 7PM to go to, if you dare, Young Ethel’s in Brooklyn and remember that Ouija boards are made by a toy company.

Pick of the Day: Adler & Oh (in LA) 11/2
October 9, 2023
News
Dylan Adler, los angeles comedy, musical comedy, Sam Oh

We sincerely hope you’ve seen and fallen in love with the, honestly, beautiful queer Asian comedy stylings of Dylan Adler and Sam Oh in and throughout LA. Between backflips and being psychic amongst a myriad of other talents they both have, Adler and Oh have established themselves in the scene that you really need to go out of your way to see.

With that in mind, you can see them both for a very special musical/comedy/cabaret variety night at one of LA’s favorite queer haunts, Tramp Stamp Granny’s along with a special line-up that also seems to be amazing queer/Asian comedians. This very first show will include the likes of Sheng Wang, EJ Marcus, Vinny Thomas, and Susan Song and, for our money, that should mean your plans for Thurs. Nov. 2nd at 8PM are made.

Tickets are available for the nice price of $5 and you best go get them here.

 

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