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Pick of the Day: Don’t Break (at NYCF) 11/4
November 2, 2023
News
danny catlow, david brown, don't break, game show, ny comedy festival

We have no doubt in our mind that one of the most talked about events at the New York Comedy Festival, when all is said and done, will be the demented comedy game show hosted/refereed by Danny Catlow and David Brown, Don’t Break.

A select of very funny comedians, going head-to-head, are saddled with one simple task as stated in the very name of the show. While that premise is as simple as it gets, Catlow and Brown run their game not unlike something out of Squid Game by enforcing harsh judgments and introducing more and more rules/challenges as to prevent any player/comedian from just sitting in a corner and not talking to anyone the whole time.

It’s such devilish fun and with a line-up of Marie Faustin, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Richard Perez, Jo Firestone, Sabrina Wu, Joe Castle Baker, Rachel Kaly, Kate O’Connor, and Wyatt Fair, the competition will be viciously hysterical.

Make sure you set aside plans for Sat. Nov. 4th at 9:30PM to be at Littlefield and get tickets right now at $15.54 a pop.

 

TCB Debriefing 11/1/23: After Midnight, John Wilson, Jenny Zigrino, Mike Birbiglia, HBO Fake Twitter Accounts,
November 1, 2023
News
after midnight, fake twitter accounts, hbo, jenny zigrino, jimmy kimmel live, jo firestone, john wilson, mike birbiglia, netflix, old man and the pool, taylor tomlinson

1. The newly minted version of @midnight, which will be called After Midnight, will be hosted by Taylor Tomlinson and have Jo Firestone as the head writer and Jack Martin from the actual @midnight as showrunner (THR). Aside from the Jimmys, Stephen, Seth, and John, After Midnight will be the representation for diversity in late night whenever SNL is not on the air (or if/when The Daily Show picks a replacement, presuming they don’t go with an old white guy).

2. Like his HBO series How To with John Wilson, John Wilson is pure human magic on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

3. Jenny Zigrino is a stand-up comedy force to be reckoned with. Go reckon with her on her winter tour all over the U.S. Get tix now at jennyzigrino.com/live.

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A post shared by Jenny Zigrino (@jennyzigrino)

4. If you didn’t have the coin to catch Mike Birbiglia on Broadway (because you probably never had the coin to catch anything on Broadway), fret not. His latest Broadway show, The Old Man & The Pool, is coming out in Netflix special form on Nov. 21st and you can take your first look at it here.

5. Oh, HBO. How the mighty have fallen and resorted to spam Twitter accounts to troll reviewers (THR). The question now is whether Showtime, Hulu, Roku, or someone else will do a slapdash drama about this revelation.

6. We’ll leave you with this: Anyone looking to open up a bar, please do it right next door to any and all comedy venues, for the love of whatever you believe in.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 188: Adam Gold & Producing 33 Shows at a Festival
November 1, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
adam gold, comedy producing, ny comedy festival

Like the hard working performers that he puts on all of shows, comedy producer Adam Gold has done the behind-the-scenes version of working your way from open mics up the comedy ladder in a scene. Cutting his teeth by waiting tables at Caroline’s several years ago, Gold climbed his way up in independent comedy producing with indie shows in LA & NYC all the way to the point where he has been a producing staple at the New York Comedy Festival. This year alone, he has 33 shows going requiring a team of folks to make sure they go off without a hitch.

This week’s TCB Field Report follows Adam’s journey in comedy producing, some crucial producing tips, as well as what drives him to do so many damn shows in less than two weeks in November.

Follow Adam @adamgooold on IG and get tickets to any and all NYCF shows at newyorkcomedyfestival.com.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by Sam Cashell

Pick of the Day: Anna Seregina: A Tour of Anna (in NYC) 11/11
November 1, 2023
News
anna seregina, new york comedy, new york comedy festival, nycf, union hall

One of the marvels of Anna Seregina and her comedy is that it is simultaneously ethereal and lofty, but undeniably farcical at the same very moment in spacetime. Seregina freely floats in between meta layers of bits and even of herself, but the silliness she embodies keeps the fun accessible to those who might initially seek out comedy at its fringes.

It’s this notion that should lead you to Seregina performing her “tour” of herself, A Tour of Anna directed by the splendid Mitra Jouhari more specfically, at the New York Comedy Festival next Sat. Nov. 11th at 5PM at Union Hall with beloved NYC comedy raconteur Dave Hill opening.

“Tour” tickets are only $15.64 and you really ought to go get them here right now.

 

TCB Debriefing 10/31/23: The Elysian, Saoirse Ronan, Paul Reiser/Steve-O, Celeste Barber/Wellmania
October 31, 2023
News
bad apples, celeste barber, elysian theater, paul reiser, saoirse ronan, steve-o

1. The Elysian Theater is now 2 years old and proof positive that the terrible two’s are only a thing for humans. Happy B Day!

2. Saoirse Ronan will play a teacher who goes too far in trying to being a good teacher (and it kind of works) in her latest project Bad Apples. In fact, it kind of ups the ante from Another Round where teachers get drunk to become “better” teachers (Deadline).

3. Paul Reiser & Steve-O are both set to come with live stand-up specials in the not so distant future. Steve-O’s is set to come out next month through his own website (Deadline) and Paul Reiser is set to tape his just a week before Steve-O’s release. Considering Paul’s role Reboot (an immersion in peak meta, inside baseball comedy these days) and Steve-O once hosting an advice show where he was driven around in van due to having his driving license suspended, we’re so very thoroughly curious what angle will be played here.

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A post shared by Brian Volk-weiss (@brianvolkweiss)

4. Celeste Barber gives an honest and tender announcement (as it should be) of the cancellation of her show Wellmania by Netflix. We wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if the “numbers” she cites here as the reason her show got cancelled has anything to do with “taste clusters”.

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A post shared by Celeste Barber (@celestebarber)

5. We’ll leave you with this: On this Halloween, remember, that the world is a scary place as is. Have some grace, whatever you can spare, for others and yourself.

Pick of the Day: Y’all Gay? with Ever Mainard & Ali Clayton (in NYC) 11/9
October 31, 2023
News
ali clayton, brooklyn art haus, comedy podcast, ever mainard, ny comedy fest, y'all gay

It’s pretty simple. Both Ever Mainard and Ali Clayton are incisively hilarious queer comedians from the South and they have a hysterical podcast Y’all Gay. Truly, you should just go see whatever they’re doing as their warmth and sharpened comedic instincts are so blisteringly funny.

With that in mind, they’re doing a very special live episode of the pod at the New York Comedy Festival with queer force of nature Kat Cunning at the über hip Brooklyn Art Haus. Of the dozens upon dozens of shows at NYCF (and, again, there are multitudes), this is definitely one to not miss (we see you glancing at who is playing the biggest venues rather than seeking out the gems in the frey).

This live edition of Y’all Gay is set for Thurs. Nov. 9th at 7PM. Tix are $18.06 and you best go get them right here right now.

 

TCB Debriefing 10/30/23: Matthew Perry, Natasha Vaynblat, Nate Bargatze, Ralph Barbosa, Plan B
October 30, 2023
News
ast records, jamie lee, jon heder, matthew perry, natasha vaynblat, nate bargatze, plan b, ralph barbosa, snl, we're all dads here

1. You probably already know, but R.I.P. Matthew Perry. May you revel in the moment in time that Chandler and Monica revealing their relationship sent reverberations across pop culture and delve into the wide swath of Perry’s filmography in the coming days and weeks.

2. Though the year 2023 is coming to a close, the procession of marvelous debut albums isn’t over quite yet. In fact, both AST Records and Good Delivery, a stalwart NYC stand-up show, aren’t done yet either since they just released Good Delivery co-host’s James Hamilton’s fantastic debut album I Don’t Deserve These Deals and then, came out with We’re All Dads Here, the debut album of Natasha Vaynblat, yet another Good Delivery co-host just a few days ago. Vaynblat makes good on the Good Delivery name is there is the rhythm and cadence are smoothly poised. Yet, she beautifully contrasts that with letting her whimsy and imagination run amok (i.e. espousing the virtues of everyone wanting to be dads, butts being mouths, etc.). The cheeky absurdity that Vaynblat wheels and deals in is only heightened by her never breaking for even a second (being kinda Russian helps, we bet). Kinda Russian or not, Vaynblat’s debut album signals many more great bits and misdirects (and album covers) to come from Natasha in the not so distant future. Please enjoy We’re All Dads Here wherever you get your comedy albums.

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A post shared by Natasha Vaynblat (@natashavaynblat)

3. Nate Bargatze is the master of being a man constantly in the comedically wrong part of spacetime. Bargatze continues with this theme in a water tight, but, per Nate’s signature low key style, set for his SNL opening monologue this past Saturday.

4. Dallas’s very own Ralph Barbosa is about to debut in 100 and however many territories Netflix covers these days as his very first special Cowabunga is releasing at midnight PST tonight.

5. After years behind the camera that led to winning an Emmy via Ted Lasso, Jamie Lee thankfully returns to a starring role alongside Jon Heder in Plan B, a rom com that mixes and matches baby daddys and one-night stands (Deadline).

6. We’ll leave you with this: What about an alternative history dramedy where Lorne Michaels retired from SNL 15 years ago and the show got to be reborn in a blaze of glory?

Pick of the Day: Roz Hernandez (in NYC) 11/8
October 30, 2023
News
new york comedy, ny comedy fest, roz hernandez, stand up comedy

If you somehow weren’t aware, Roz Hernandez is having a moment (and then some). There’s her hit podcast Ghosted!, then the upcoming Hulu comedy adjacent, supernatural reality series Living for the Dead, and then there’s her headlining show at the New York Comedy Festival.

That’s right, Roz will be front and center at the historic Stonewall Inn on Nov. 8th at 7PM as one of, as far as we’re concerned, one of the highlights/gems/must-sees of the entire festival (and there’s a whole lot of everything comedy to choose from). In general, Roz’s penchant for delightful, exuberant mischief is something you should never miss if it’s going to happen anywhere near you, but you definitely need to go snag tix at $25.55 to see Roz put on a gala worthy show at NYCF.

TCB Debriefing 10/27/23: Albert Brooks, Joe Kwaczala, Welcome to England, Dead Guy
October 27, 2023
News
albert brooks, comedy album, dead guy, hbo, joe kwaczala, welcome to england

1. Even those comedy purists that are self-appointed guardians of the label “comedy legend” cannot deny the legendary status of one Albert Brooks. Thus, a documentary on the groundbreaking comedy visionary is more than called for and thank goodness it’s coming in the form of Albert Brooks: Defending My Life from director/friend Robert Reiner. Take your first gander with the trailer here, then look for it on HBO/Max on Sat. Nov. 11th.

2. Have no idea when the next season of I Think You Should Leave is going to come out? Fear not as Joe Kwaczala’s Funny Songs & Sketches can (and very much should) be your fix for carefully honed and precisely engineered tomfoolery. Kwaczala really lets his imagination run wild on a sonic canvas and that includes the “perfect” country song, hyper specific, very personal commercials, and even a behind-the-scenes sound byte of the “best” actor of all time. With that said, please enjoy Funny Songs & Sketches on repeat wherever you get your comedy albums.

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A post shared by Joe Kwaczala (@joekwa)

3. Ava Pickett, writer on The Great, is moving from historical dark comedy in Russia to England in the 10th century. Sky Studios is indeed developing her medieval comedy series, Welcome to England (Deadline). To get in the mood, maybe binge through the first season of Blackadder.

4. Thanks to an interim strike waiver, a dark comedy starring the likes of Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Eva Longoria, and Luis Guzman just wrapped under the helm and pen of Courtney J. Camerota (Deadline). Called Dead Guy, the movie will, of course, follow a dead guy, specifically one that just died, being passed around by neighbors who don’t want to be associated whatsoever with his death. An inverse on the premise of Weekend at Bernie’s? We’re game for that.

5. We’ll leave you with this: As anti-comedy actually still is comedy, does any other art form accept attempts at its antithesis?

Pick of the Day: Danny Jolles Is Making Something Special (in NYC) 11/10
October 27, 2023
News
chelsea music hall, danny jolles, new york comedy, ny comedy fest

Considering that Danny Jolles’ first special was done in six parts in unique venues a la Don’t Tell Comedy, then had a second special that was done Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style, when Danny says he’s going to do something “special”, you better believe that it’s not just going to be Danny delivering his meticulously crafted bits one right after the other on a bare stage.

Jolles obviously has something up his hoodie/bomber jacket sleeves and given that he’s setting to do something “special” at the New York Comedy Festival next month, it’s something that really will very likely exude the word in a way that few comedy specials actually do these days. Also, it’ll be really damn funny because Danny is really damn funny.

Danny Jolles Is Making Something Special is set for Chelsea Music Hall at NYCF on Fri. Nov. 10th at 6:30PM. Tickets are $34.28 a pop and we highly suggest snagging them right now right here.

TCB Debriefing 10/26/23: Lisa Frankenstein, Hasan Minhaj, Shane Torres, Manos Day, Grace Kuhlenschmidt
October 26, 2023
News
daily show, don't tell, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, hasan minhaj, lisa frankenstein, manos day, manos the hands of fate, new yorker, shane torres

1. A week before Halloween is just about the perfect time for a trailer for a new Diablo Cody movie, Lisa Frankenstein. Predictions: This will be a break out role for Kathryn Newton (please don’t come at us with Detective Pokemon and Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) and will be an inevitable fascinating contrast to the other Frankenstein-riff movie coming out soon, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. Have your curiosity more than peaked with Lisa Frankenstein’s first trailer here, then plan your Valentine’s Day around its release.

2. Hasan Minhaj goes Patriot Act-ish in response to the now infamous New Yorker interview where his act was reported to be embellished rather than 100% true. One has to wonder if, from now on, if there will be a literal switching of hats by comedians who do take on other roles in addition to their figurative one.

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A post shared by Hasan Minhaj (@hasanminhaj)

3. Shane Torres had the final word on being a Guy Fieri apologist and he very well might have the final word on the proliferation of eating ass. Please enjoy it during his Don’t Tell set.

4. There are so many unnecessary holidays (we tag our daily posts on IG with them), so why not have a day dedicated to celebrating what is long regarded as one of the worst movies (making one of MST3K’s most celebrated and enduring episodes) of all time Manos: The Hands of Fate? Thanks to Dumb Industries, that will be canonized on the 57th anniversary of the legendarily bad piece of cinema on Nov. 15th (which they will be doing something very special for). Sign-up at Dumb Industries to get more details.

5. Welcome, Grace Kuhlenschmidt to The Daily Show (ahem, Comedy Central still hasn’t picked a new host though).

6. We’ll leave you with this: Even if you think of comedians as philosopher kings, the last line of free speech and expression, remember that they are, first and foremost comedians before those all those other titles (i.e. they’re always/should be going for the joke first).

Pick of the Day: Spaghetti Festival (in LA) 11/1-11/11
October 26, 2023
News
comedy festival, elysian theater, experimental comedy, los angeles comedy, spaghetti fest

We gave you a heads up as The Elysian’s experimental comedy festival, Spaghetti Festival (FKA Forget About Spaghetti Fest) as soon as it was announced, though we didn’t really know what they were going to have up their sleeve for 10 nights of 1000% original, never-before-seen or publicly performed live comedy productions.

They had anything from a meta play about Lyndon B. Johnson to better living via bones seminar, so it truly is anyone’s guess what they could have cooking for Spaghetti Festival in 2023.

Well, Spaghetti Fest kicks off next weekend starting Wed. Nov. 1st running for ten nights featuring the likes of an absurdist solo show about working the concessions stand, a coming of age story for Nosferatu done with puppets, Kyle Mizono doing her version of Being John Malkovich about herself, the LA clowns’ take on an astrology chart, and even a gritty noir tale involving the Kia Soul Hamsters. That’s only the half of it.

Take a gander at the rest of the spaghetti hidden up the billowy sleeves of The Elysian here and grab tickets at $18 a pop.

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.

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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.

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