Recent News – Page 16 – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Republican Sh*tshow Watch Party (in NYC) 8/23

August 18, 2023

club cumming, hate watch, nyc comedy, watch along

Trump is indicted yet again.

DeSantis can’t seem to use his sense of being able to talk in complete sentences to his advantage against Trump (or Disney for that matter).

When it comes to the rest of the GOP presidential candidate hopefuls, there’s also Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, and possibly Chris Christie and Mike Pence.

There’s so little idea as to what to expect, with a field like that, outside of something resembling the train derailment in East Palestine (which will likely be brought up desperately as a talking point) . Thus, the GOP is somehow more in shambles leading up to the 2024 election in a way that we might have not seen in our lifetimes.

Thus, the very first Republican President Debate for the 2024 General Election could very much be enjoyed as a collective “hate-watch”, which exactly what the venerable Club Cumming is going to do on Aug. 23rd at 9PM. Billed as the Republican Sh*tshow Watch Party, it ought to be a barnburner of a roast of a political party that’s already very much on fire.

TCB Debriefing 8/17/23: She Came To Me, Nathan Fielder/Benny Safdie Reality Show, Scrapper, Dumb Money

August 17, 2023

News

benny safdie, dumb money, emma stone, nathan fielder, scrapper, she came to me

1. This She Came To Me trailer had us pretty much hooked at Peter Dinklage as a frustrated composer married to Anne Hathaway, but had us completely with Marisa Tomei as a tugboat captain (the most enchanting tugboat captain of all time?). Please enjoy this delightful trailer for a promising rom com from Rebecca Miller, due out Sept. 29th.

2. OK, so Nathan Fielder’s next reality show is co-created with Benny Safdie of the Safdie Brothers, co-starring Emma Stone, and takes the Nathan For You bit about selling haunted reality to the nth degree (Indiewire). If The Rehearsal left you oscillating between having your mouth agape and laughing hard out of sheer disbelief, we kind of won’t be shocked if Fielder and company have figured out a way to up the ante.

3. The latest highly anticipated, star studded satire of recent corporate America, Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money (i.e. the Game Stop stock movie) is going to push back its wide release date to Oct. 6th with a limited release in LA & NYC on Sept. 15th have having to change release date (Deadline). So, hopefully, this means the double strike will end before Halloween?

4. What was “Kitchen Sink Realism” has arguably evolved into “Coming of Kitchen Age Dramedy”, a niche that the UK is particularly very, very good at. See the latest, upcoming example with the trailer for Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper, following the unlikely reunion of prodigal father and daughter. Look for it in limited release come Aug. 25th.

5. Christopher Nolan calls Talladega Nights one of the great comedies. Does anyone think that Tenet makes more sense than this claim?

Pick of the Day: James Adomian Stand Up Comedy Special Taping (in LA) 9/14

August 17, 2023

News

800 pound gorilla, comedy album, james adomian, live taping, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy, the elysian

It has been well over a decade since the release of the brilliant comedy album Low Hanging Fruit from the always astounding James Adomian. Though we’d like to have a new hour from Adomian to binge and listen on repeat much sooner, James has been, over the last 11 years, a little busy touring as Bernie Sanders opposite Anthony Atamanuik’s Trump, and playing several voices on your favorite adult animated series, doing one of the best hidden gem podcasts The Underculture, amongst several other things.

Thankfully, this Adomian drought will come to an end as James is set to tape his very first stand-up comedy special and brand new hour next month for 800 Pound Gorilla Media. At The Elysian on Thurs. Sept. 14th, James will give those in attendance the meticulously honed collection of hysterical, incisive socio-political coupled with the most spot-on impressions you’ve ever heard or seen.

Tickets are only $15 right now for either 7:30PM or 9:30PM tapings and you best go get tickets here now.

TCB Debriefing 8/16/23: Scott Pilgrim Anime, Beth Stelling Tour, Beautiful Anonymous, Another Barbie Record, Please Don’t Destroy

August 16, 2023

News

barbie, beautiful anonymous, beth stelling, chris gethard, netflix, please don't destroy, scott pilgrim

1. Take your first gander at the Scott Pilgrim anime series coming exclusively to Netflix on Nov. 17th. The voice cast is pretty much the one from the seminal Edgar Wright movie from 2010 and Wright even has a hand in this. So, we’re hoping for the best out of a spin-off/sequel/adaptation that very likely has the highest of expectations right out of the gate.

2. Have Beth Stelling in your town? Do travel. Girl Daddy will live on as one of the great comedy specials of our time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beth Stelling (@bethstelling)

3. Chris Gethard‘s landmark podcast Beautiful Anonymous is opting to go independent after finishing up its contract with SiriusXM/Earwolf (Variety). While he is sure to score better deals with how much of a juggernaut this particular show is (Gethard has a fan base that’s purely dedicated to Beautiful Anonymous), don’t be surprised if he ends up launching his own network. This is somewhat reminiscent of the route that My Favorite Murder took all those years ago.

4. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has officially become the all time top grossing domestic movie for Warner Bros., no other adjectives needed (Deadline). It’s such a cultural milestone that it’ll very likely be the top grossing movie of the year, again, with no other adjectives or caveats needed.

5. With no idea when exactly the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes will end, you also don’t have any idea when SNL will return. Thankfully, there will be a Please Don’t Destroy movie out on Peacock come Nov. 17th.

6. APB to all comedy venues: please have a bar/restaurant right next door if you don’t already have one in your establishment.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 177: Derrick Brown & The Poetic Comedic

August 16, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

derrick brown, poetry

Rare is the blend of poetry and comedy, despite, when either is performed, go to evoke emotion and visceral response. One Derrick Brown, for many years, has toed the line of being simultaneously a poet and a comedian, often the twain at the same time, bridging the subtle majesty of poesy and the irresistible joy of comedy. Derrick has balanced both for so long that he actually will have released a critically acclaimed book of poetry and comedy album this year. This week’s TCB Field Report explores every twist and turn it takes to straddle both worlds as Brown has so cleverly done and how, more curiously, one ends up there.

Follow Derrick @derrickbrownpoetry on IG, get his book Love Ends in a Tandem Kayak, and look out for his upcoming album A Close Shave with Heaven from Sub Pop/Pretty Good Friends, coming out soon.

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

Pick of the Day: Christian Science Theater 3000 (in NYC) 8/22

August 16, 2023

News

christian movies, nyc comedy, roast, satire

Christian conservatives have this idea that “traditional family values” are being attacked and, subsequently, have been hard at work at making movies that espouse this sort of projected victimhood. Largely, many of these movies are, in a manner of speaking, very bad, religion and politics aside. Overacted and filled with preposterous plots that might make one question how exactly are people interpreting the Bible, they are the sort of movies that are ripe for being sent up during a live screening.

That’s what Christian Science Theater 3000 (NOTE: not affiliated with any Christian Science Reading Room whatsoever) aims to do as the projected fear of God fearing boomers really keep making America take steps back to a simpler, yet clearly worst time. Many of NYC comedy’s best will be live-roasting Christian movies that you’ve probably seen or heard of on Reddit or caught passing glimpses of their movie posters, such as God’s Not Dead starring the former Hercules, Kevin Sorbo.

Join guests Sam Morrison and Sally Ann Hall and David Picolomini on Tues. Aug. 22nd at 8PM at Brooklyn’s Starr Bar to really ponder Sorbo’s pivot to “faith-based” movies and how sneaky Christian movies are now (indie box office hit Sound of Freedom counts, right?). Tickets are only $12.71. Go get ’em here.

TCB Debriefing 8/15/23: The Persian Version, Patton Oswalt Tour, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Funniest Rappers?

August 15, 2023

News

a funny thing happened on the way to the forum, funniest rappers, patton oswalt, persian version

1. Please enjoy the official trailer for Sundance award winning, The Persian Version, from Maryam Keshavarz. From the looks of it, there is a very snappy, nuanced update to the classic immigrant story and if you loved the Canadian dramedy, Sort Of, we have a feeling you’ll really love this. Look for The Persion Version in LA and NYC come Oct. 13th.

2. Patton Oswalt has just announced his fall tour dates. Please buy tickets accordingly.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt)

3. The Stephen Sondheim classic A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is getting mounted for a very special limited engagement at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre (perhaps one of the most hidden theaters in LA?) (Broadway World). This run will only go for two weekends and benefit the Glioblastoma Foundation. This is probably the best way to revisit a classic comedy musical or discover the magic of Sondheim with one of his very best works.

4. Pitchfork made a list of the 25 Funniest Rappers of All Time, most likely as part of a package celebrating the recent 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop as a musical genre. Notably, Biz Markie is near the top of the list, but aspiring comedian T.I. is not. Also, Pitchfork forgot that Eminem is pretty damn funny as well as El-P and Killer Mike of Run the Jewels.

5. For NYC comics visiting or moving to LA, here is a map from LA Taco to help with your hyper specific neighborhood references.

DeAnne Smith’s “Chiweenie In A Tank Top” Is a Perfect Spoonful of Sugar for Talking About Identity

August 15, 2023

News

800 pound gorilla, chiweenie in a tank top, comedy album, deanne smith, stand up comedy

Mary Poppins’ refrain of a “spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” is, unknowingly, a core function of comedy. The underlying philosophies and messages from a comedian are often dissolved into the sweetness of their well-crafted jokes. That said, many a comedian these days opt out of the sugar-quality of comedy and instead decide to serve their medicine/message with a generous portion of even more sour tasting medicine.

DeAnne Smith is and has long been a bright and shining example of the former as they employ their preternatural warmth and extremely keen joke writing chops to actually explore those “pesky” modern day identity politics of gender, sexuality, and what to do when running into Jon Hamm. Such nuanced depth is thankfully caught on digital wax on their latest release, the perfectly titled Chiweenie In A Tank Top.

Recorded live at the Curious Comedy Theater in Portland, OR, DeAnne gave an extensive tour of so many spectrums (and even joyfully ribbed what was a very open-minded crowd). Pronouns, feminism, hotness, the death penalty, writing a joke about the death penalty, and more highly debatable are dissected with aplomb. What’s intriguing is that Smith doesn’t necessarily present this an hour of comedy necessarily as an answer for every debate, but, instead gives a hysterical account of their life and how they’re faring in a world that’s (thankfully) continuing to evolve. That’s definitely a sweeter angle to play than joking about what one clearly thinks is explicitly capital G and B, good and bad.

Essentially, the message here is that spectrums don’t have to be frustrating and can be a beautiful thing if you feel lost, in between, or outside of the “norm”. Just think about that in regards to the title, Chiweenie In A Tank Top (a great line lifted from this very lovely, affirming hour of stand-up).

DeAnne Smith’s Chiweenie In A Tank Top is now streaming pretty much everywhere you get your comedy albums. Listen in here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 800 Pound Gorilla Media (@800pgm)

Pick of the Day: The State: Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls (in NYC) 10/16 & 10/17

August 15, 2023

News

nyc comedy, palladium times square, sketch comedy, the state

Legendary (and yes, it’s appropriate here) sketch group, The State, comprised, for this night, of Ken Marino, David Wain, Kerri Kenney, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Kevin Allison, and Michael Patrick Jann are getting back together for an exclusive tour (that might blossom into something bigger maybe with Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Todd Holoubeck?) maturely called Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls. The ramifications of The State reassembling are so massive, which is partially why it happens so rarely (that and the fact that each individual member is quite successful on their own comedy path).

Thus far, they’ve only got dates in Denver and NYC lined-up, but that means you kind of should go out of your way to make sure you catch what you can of the Breakin’ Hearts & Dippin’ Balls tour. For New Yorkers, The State will be taking over Palladium Times Square on Oct. 16th & 17th with tickets going on sale this Wed. at 10AM ET/7AM PT (use the code “STATE” for early access) starting at $67.

Set a reminder and go snag those tickets here.

TCB Debriefing 8/14/23: Andy Kaufman, Jodie Sweetin, Landscape with Invisible Hand, Solar Opposites

August 14, 2023

News

andy kaufman, dan stevens, hulu, jodie sweetin, landscape with invisible hand, solar opposities

1. Legendary boundary pushing and, subsequently, groundbreaking comedian, Andy Kaufman, is going to posthumously receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Announced as guest speakers for the occasion are Kristen Schaal, Kevin Nealon, and Michael Kaufman, but we’d honestly be surprised if someone didn’t show up as Tony Clifton.

2. Jodie Sweetin is making absolutely clear that she did not want her latest movie, a rom com called Craft Me a Romance, to air on Great American Family, a more conservative, family focused network that loves rebranding homophobia as “preserving traditional marriage” (Yahoo). She promises to donate money made from the movie towards LGBTQ+ orgs. So, does that mean Sweetin is aiming to do an A24 movie soon?

3. Super high concept, sci-fi dramedy from Cory Finley, Landscape with Invisible Hand, just dropped its final trailer before its theatrical release this Fri. Aug. 18th. It gives a more than pleasant surprise of how Tiffany Haddish continues to dazzle with her acting range if you weren’t already sold on a satire about co-existence.

4. The brand new seasons of Solar Opposites, complete with the voice of Dan Stevens in place of Justin Roiland, has just gone up at Hulu. Yes, that includes all episodes so you can binge Stevens’ gorgeous British accent all in one go.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Solar Opposites (@solaroppositesonhulu)

5. Uh, Burbank and North Hollywood are having comedy festivals at the same time?

Pick of the Day: Christina Catherine Martinez (in NYC) 9/24

August 14, 2023

News

christina catherine martinez, experimental comedy, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

Unflinching in her quest to distill the most nuanced of ideologies into abject tomfoolery, Christina Catherine Martinez is taking her preposterously sublime comedy across the country again, all the way to NYC. We here in Southern California are blessed to see the critically acclaimed comedian in all sorts places high and low, from the esteemed REDCAT all the way to an out-of-the-way dive bar.

Martinez will be taking over one of Brooklyn’s beloved comedy establishments, Littlefield, next month to do, well, whatever she wants (which might include some intellectual dissection of Taco Bell and/or unbridled satirization of the gender binary). The brilliant River Ramirez will be joining Christina for this special evening of the highest and lowest brow comedy together.

Christina is set to play Littlefield on Sun. Sept. 24th at 8PM. Tickets are only $15.54 and we highly suggest you get them here.

TCB Debriefing 8/11/23: Asteroid City, BIPOC Late Night/Variety Writers Panel, Hulu Price, Quiz Lady, Jackie Chan

August 11, 2023

News

asteroid city, hulu, jackie chan, quiz lady, wga strike

1. Wes Anderson‘s latest and greatest, Asteroid City, is now available digitally across several platforms. Hopefully, you have the home theater set up to make watch an Anderson’s exuberant masterpiece (read our thoughts here). If you indeed do, and are dressed in proper Wes Anderson-esque attire for the occasion, go buy the film here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Asteroid City (@asteroidcity)

2. The Wrap brought together an esteemed BIPOC late night and variety writers panel (Tim Barnes, Greg Iwinski, John Thibodeaux, Celeste Yim, Naima Pearce), to talk about where they’re at past 100 days of the WGA Strike and reiterate the very reasonable demands that they’re fighting for.

BIPOC Late Night & Variety Writers Speak Out: TheWrap Strike Roundtable https://t.co/bGMZWloGXA

— TheWrap (@TheWrap) August 10, 2023

3. Starting Oct. 12th, Hulu will be pretty much $18 instead of pretty much $15 (USA Today) if you don’t want ads. Fingers crossed that the new season of Futurama preemptively did a joke about this.

4. Despite the buzz and glitz of the Toronto International Film Festival being in jeopardy because of the strikes, buddy road/quiz show comedy Quiz Lady that pairs Awkwafina with Sandra Oh is still set to premiere at TIFF (Deadline). We can only promise of an Awkwafina and Sandra Oh two-hander is alluring enough to earn a release next year.

5. Anyone notice that international action comedy star/legend Jackie Chan has quietly return to the big screen? He’s a voice in the latest TMNT movie AND there’s a John Cena/Jackie Chan movie, Hidden Strike, that has snuck its way onto Netflix. For fans of 90s Jackie Chan movies, it might just be right up your alley.

6. If comedians ever tried to form a union again, you’d think artisanal chicken tenders as opposed to the paltry normal comedy club ones would be one of the demands?

Pick of the Day: Will Ferrell’s Best Night of Your Life 2 (in LA) 10/21

August 11, 2023

News

beck, cancer for college, greek theatre, hasan minhaj, jon stewart, los angeles comedy, maya rudolph, patti harrison, rory scovel, roy wood jr, smartless, st vincent, will ferrell

Will Ferrell is doing it again.

No, not play basically the same character he was in both The LEGO Movie and Barbie, but throwing a big, blowout night of comedy and music in support for the amazing charity that is Cancer for College, supporting young people trying to make their way in the world despite battling cancer.

It’s going to be another “Best Night of Your Life”, a sequel if you will (as that is how it’s being billed).

Thus far, Ferrell has wrangled the comedic stylings:

Jon Stewart
Hasan Minhaj
Jo Koy
Patti Harrison
Roy Wood Jr.
Rory Scovel
SmartLess with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett.

AND music curated by Mike McCready including:

Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band)
Beck
St. Vincent
Cindy Blackman Santana
Dogstar featuring Bret Domrose, Robert Mailhouse & Keanu Reeves
Jack Black and Fred Armisen who will perform as the one-time supergroup ‘Mike McCready and The Casual Acquaintances’
DJ White Shadow
Princess featuring Maya Rudolph

For that much show, tickets start at $80 (and go up to around a $1000). Still, at $80, that’s kind of a deal.

Will Ferrell’s Best Night of Your Life 2 is set to take over the Greek Theatre on Sat. Oct. 21st at 7PM and you best go get your tickets here.

TCB Debriefing 8/10/23: Ali G Doing Stand-Up, Ben Roy, El Conde, I Used To Be Funny, Blooper Reels?

August 10, 2023

News

ali g, ben roy, el conde, netflix, Rachel Sennott, sacha baron cohen

1. Apparently, Sacha Baron Cohen is not working on a new movie (because of, you know, the Strikes) and is, instead, working on a stand-up tour where his legendary character, Ali G, will make an appearance (Variety). Is the twist that he will be performing at whatever jail Trump might be going to?

2. Ben Roy‘s astounding and hilarious hour special, Hyena, is now streaming on YouTube here. If you need more convincing, read our thoughts here.

3. Pinochet reimagined as a vampire in what could be a period piece spin-off of What We Do In the Shadows set in Chile? Yes, very much, please. Get your first look at the latest from Pablo Larraín (No, Jackie) , El Conde, here. Due out on Netflix on Sept. 15th.

4. Rachel Sennott continues her well deserved ascent into comedy film stardom with the latest Sennott vehicle, I Used To Be Funny, directed by the amazing Ally Pankiw (director of what’s probably your favorite episode from the new season of Black Mirror) scoring a U.S. distribution deal at Utopia (THR).

5. Oh, so you’re resorting to blooper reels for promotional content now, AMPTP? Sounds pretty desperate to us.

Pick of the Day: Babe Motel Pays Their Dues (in NYC) 9/13

August 10, 2023

News

babe motel, brooklyn, littlefield, nyc comedy, sketch comedy

We’ve been lucky in LA to have the likes of silly, yet irrepressibly clever of Babe Motel going up all around town on a regular basis. Haley Stiel, Avery Girion, and Kel Cripe have faithfully brought their rambunctious spirit on stage time and again for a couple years now, but such spirit should be shared with more folks.

With that in mind, they’re returning to NYC to do a “solo trio show”, which could mean any number of things, but all of them pretty damn fun (even if the show is called Babe Motel Pays Their Dues). Also, an amuse bouche of comedy from Hayden Johnson and Richard Perez will be served first for this special NYC Babe Motel show.

Babe Motel Pays Their Dues is set for Wed. Sept. 13th at 8PM. Tickets are $15.54 and we highly suggest getting them here.

TCB Debriefing 8/9/23: Sam Mendes/Armando Iannucci at HBO, Barbie Not in Kuwait, Twisted Metal, Only Murders in the Building, The Invisible Fight

August 9, 2023

News

armando iannucci, barbie, hbo, hulu, kuwait, locarno, only murders in the building, peacock, sam mendes, the franchise, the invisible fight, twisted metal

1. HBO has wisely ordered Sam Mendes & Armando Iannucci’s series, The Franchise, following the inner workings of making a super hero movie (Deadline). So, the pitch would be that one season of Entourage where Vinny plays Aquaman, but done well and for smart people?

2. While getting the green light in Saudi Arabia, Barbie will not screen in Kuwait and possibly not in Lebanon either (THR). Claims that it “promotes homosexuality” and “contradicts values of faith and morality” are being cited as well as “diminishing the importance of the family unit”. Well, that’s almost better marketing than the heaps of praise that Barbie has earned and will guarantee a long run in theaters, much longer than probably first projected.

3. Twisted Metal, the adaptation of the armageddon demolition derby/race video game of the same name on Peacock, sets a record for the streamer as their “most binged comedy premiere” (Deadline). That somehow edges out Poker Face?

4. A friendly reminder that the third season of Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu, complete with Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep.

5. There is a Soviet Era Kung Fu comedy called The Invisible Fight set to premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland (Variety). From the sounds of the premise, it’s echoes The Last Samurai, but set with Chinese monks/Kung Fu masters and Soviets and done up as a comedy. Oh, Black Sabbath is playing in the background? Hopefully, this gets U.S. distribution.

6. Day 100 of the strike has come to pass and Bob Iger has mainly learned that he shouldn’t say realistic demands are “unrealistic”.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 176: James Fritz & Political Shmolitical

August 9, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

james fritz, political comedy

Few take on politics in their comedy like James Fritz, mostly because Fritz sees how everything in the world is politicized and accordingly satirizes it. For our money, he’s one of the best at it right now. James joins for this week’s TCB Field Report to talk how politics in and out of comedy and vice versa in 2023 and just how important basketball is.

Follow James @fritzisdead across socials

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

Pick of the Day: Laughing Together: Comedy in the Name of Mental Health with Chris Gethard (near LA) 9/7

August 9, 2023

News

aparna nancherla, chris gethard, Christi Chiello, nicole byer

Chris Gethard, Nicole Byer, Aparna Nancherla, and Christi Chiello are all going to do a “very, very special episode” of a comedy show in the Anaheim Convention Center. Normally, you’d think that with a line-up, the location, the venue, that tickets would at least be $35.

However, Gethard has been tapped to do one of his only LA area shows that’s lined up for awhile by Wellness Together to put on their Laughing Together: Comedy in the Name of Mental Health and, in the spirit of mental health, Chris has made the show free to attend with the option to donate to Wellness Together, if you’d like. What’s important to Gethard here is that he wants to pack out the Anaheim Convention Center can seat up to 7,500 depending on the set-up.

Again, a convention center sized comedy show with Gethard and Byer and Nancherla and Chiello will be free to attend on Thurs. Sept. 7th at 7:30PM, so long as you RSVP here. You didn’t read that wrong. It’s pretty much a free arena show with a comedy gala level line-up.

For all you Angelenos, this will be more than worth the drive out to the OC, especially since you could very well help Wellness Together’s mission of supporting, “teachers, administrators, and social workers fighting the good fight and helping kids maintain their sanity in schools.”

Again, go get your tickets here.

TCB Debriefing 8/8/23: PFT, The Conversations Project, Killing It, Romesh Ranganathan, Westside Comedy Theater

August 8, 2023

News

1. This Paul F. Tompkins interview by Jesse David Fox in Vulture honing in on Tompkins finally returning to stand-up comedy after several years as an improv and comedy podcast star is a must read. Quite simply, Tompkins’ Impersonal is one of the best stand-up comedy albums and we’re thrilled that PFT is going back up solo as he still is one of the funniest people working today. Read all about Paul’s journey to where he is now handily juggling improv, characters, podcast appearances, and his return to the “brick wall brotherhood”.

2. Hulu is trying their hand at the panel discussion series game and going with the black focused The Conversations Project. A curated panel of black luminaries from every field will talk about the most pressing issues around a neatly set dining table. That said, in the official trailer, you’ll notice that it’s mostly the comedians Phoebe Robinson, Wyatt Cenac, Josh Johnson, Jordan Carlos, Rell Battle, and Roy Wood Jr. doing the majority of the talking. Find out what their hot takes/incisive points will be when The Conversations Project premieres on Hulu on Mon. Aug. 28th.

3. As the 100th day of the WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike comes to pass, Tinseltown is feeling how tied their hands are with talent not being able to not only work on their shows, but go out and promote them as well. Since Peacock cannot count on Craig Robinson to cross the picket line to promote the second season of Killing It, they’re aiming to put the first three episodes on multiple platforms including YouTube, USA Network, and TikTok (THR). We sincerely hope this doesn’t mean we have to watch an entire half hour and/or hour long programming on TikTok in the not so distant future.

4. UK comedy star, Romesh Ranganathan, will have another shot at American stardom (the first being Showtime reality series Just Another Immigrant) with the arrival of his latest sitcom, Avoidance (Variety). As the UK’s latest dramedy export, Avoidance will be available via BritBox (Variety). Anyone have Britbox?

5. If you’re in and around LA and looking for more guaranteed stage time for your improv team, take a look westward, all the way to Santa Monica. Westside Comedy Theater is holding auditions for their resident teams this month and, as a bonus, Santa Monica is usually ten degrees cooler than the rest of LA. Get more details here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mi's Westside Comedy Theater (@westsidecomedy)

6. With half of LA seemingly being on strike, maybe a comedians’ could actually have a chance of happening once again?

Pick of the Day: The Bride of Frankenstein with Live Orchestra (in LA) 10/27 & 10/28

August 8, 2023

News

ace hotel, bride of frankenstein, la opera orchestra, los angeles comedy

At nearly 90 years old, Bride of Frankenstein remains a great showcase of how closely tied horror and comedy can be, since it endures as a camp horror gem hailing from 1935. When October rolls around and everything Halloween-themed pops up, a screening of the James Whale classic starring Elsa Lanchester and the legendary Boris Karloff.

How about a very special screening of the movie with a live orchestra? Did you even know that still happens?

Well, The LA Opera Orchestra is indeed live scoring this exclusive screening of Bride of Frankenstein with Jenny Wong conducting Franz Waxman’s original score on Fri. Oct. 27th & Sat. Oct. 28th. In true 30s movie style, they’ll be doing it at a veritable movie palace of old, the Theatre at Ace Hotel in DTLA. While you’re surely going to get your horror movie fix throughout October, there probably won’t be any sort of screenings as grand as this one.

Tickets are only $29 for Bride of Frankenstein with the LA Opera Orchestra and you really ought to get them here sooner rather than later.

TCB Debriefing 8/7/23: Reservation Dogs, Barbie, Wes Anderson, TCA Awards, Stand

August 7, 2023

News

barbie, reservation dogs, stand up to cancer, tca awards, venice film festival, wes anderson

1. Just a friendly reminder that the third and final season of Reservation Dogs is starting off with a bang and might be the strangest, most beautiful, most heartfelt, funny, and, of course, best yet (Spirit William Knifeman really shines brighter than he has before). They are just a few episodes in with new ones dropping on Wednesday on FX/Hulu.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reservation Dogs (@rezdogsfx)

2. Whether she deeply, truly knew it or not, Margot Robbie called Barbie making a $1 billion (Variety). With less than three weeks in release, the Greta Gerwig helmed Robbie-starring Barbie surpassed a $1 billion, far outpacing Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, and is on track to make way more as the film is officially set for release in Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. (THR).

3. Perhaps, the most celebrated comedy auteur of our time, Wes Anderson, is getting lifetime achievement honors at the Venice Film Festival in the form of the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award (Deadline). This makes us think of how symmetrical Anderson’s award case must be?

4. The Television Critics Association Awards just announced their winners sans pomp and circumstance due to the double strike. Still, kudos to the winners, though What We Do in the Shadows and The Other Two need more awards pronto.

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: The Bear
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face
Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk, or Sketch: I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
Outstanding New Program: The Bear
Outstanding Achievment in Reality: Jury Duty

(Full list of TCA Award Winners here)

4. The big time comedy/variety special Stand Up to Cancer is set to return in less than two weeks on Aug. 19th at 8PM ET/5PM PT with Jack Black, Ben Falcone, Zach Galifianakis, Brad Garrett, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many other star-studded cameos. You’ll be able to watch it on all major broadcast networks and stream it on multiple platforms as well. Hopefully, like all live specials these days, they’ll put clips on YouTube to encourage people to watch the whole thing later (THR).

5. Is anyone running open mics on the picket line yet? Maybe just for chants?

Pick of the Day: Superego: Forgotten Classics (in LA w/Livestream) 8/24

August 7, 2023

News

dynasty typewriter, improv, los angeles comedy, paul f tompkins, superego

When it comes to watching improv live on stage, there should be no question when it comes to catching one of the most renowned troupes/groups/improv podcasts around, Superego. Comprised of improv superstars Jeremy Carter, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville, Paul F. Tompkins, and James Bladon, they beautifully relish their own special brand of tasteful chaos.

It has been quite some time, even pre-pandemic since we’ve been all graced with their improv majesty, but the time for their return is nigh. Not only will be they taking the Dynasty Typewriter stage once again, but they’ll be improvising their version of James Joyce’s Ulysses, one of the most revered pieces of literature that’s also considered by many to be one of the most dense and confounding literary works of all time.

Thus, it should be one hell of a night of comedy to remember on Thurs. Aug. 24th at 7;30PM. Tickets are $20 right now and there’s a livestream option available for $15. Do not waste time in snagging your tickets right now here.

TCB Debriefing 8/4/23: The Pod Generation, Asteroid City, Ziwe’s black friend Essays, Russell Howard

August 4, 2023

News

asteroid city, black friend essays, peacock, pod generation, russell howard, uk comedy, ziwe

1. It almost comes as no surprise that there are a number of high concept sci-fi dramedies coming our way soon since Black Mirror has been such a cultural milestone for years. Already, there’s the very trippy Landscape with Invisible Hand and, also due out very soon, will be Sophie Barthes‘ film festival hit The Pod Generation. From the trailer, one sees Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor navigate trying to have a child in a future where every baby is a test tub– er, egg tube baby. Full disclosure, when we first heard the title, we thought this might have something to do with podcasts. Look for The Pod Generation in limited release next Fri. Aug. 11th.

2. Also this next Friday, Wes Anderson‘s hysterical, madcap, brilliant, incredibly self-aware comedy Asteroid City will be streaming on Peacock (Deadline).

3. You’ve seen the iconic IG Live legend, Baited, as well as the iconic Showtime series adaptation, and, hopefully, her live on stage (probably somewhere in Brooklyn). Now, you can get an iconic book from the one and only Ziwe aptly titled, black friend Essays. Since Paramount idiotically brought Ziwe on Showtime to an end, this book is required reading. Pre-order now; get it Oct. 17th.

4. One of the UK’s best comedy exports, the effervescent, yet shrewd Russell Howard, is back on the road (note: he was one of the handful of comedians that actually pulls off a gigantic global tour). Howard just announced a good ol’ U.S. of A. (East Coast and some of the Midwest to be accurate) tour running from Oct. 4th-22nd. Get tickets here.

5. Some comedians, when dismounting, use the past tense when referring to themselves (e.g. I’ve been [name of comedian] rather than the existential present tense. Is this an indicator that they’ve played more of a stage persona than their actual selves? We think about this at every single stand-up show we watch.

Pick of the Day: Bad Behavior (in LA) 8/16

August 4, 2023

News

bad behavior, blair peyton, dynasty typewriter, live podcast, los angeles comedy, sterling mulbry

NYC’s Sterling Mulbry and Blair Peyton have carved quite a specific niche with issuing judgment to comedians stories where they are, shall we say, not quite the hero with their wickedly delightful podcast, Bad Behavior.

It’s especially fun when Sterling and Blair get to dish out their verdict live and in-person, which they’ve been doing in NYC. Later this month, Bad Behavior makes its way to the LA comedy scene for a special night at Dynasty Typewriter.

They’ll be adjudicating the moral scruples of Mary Beth Barone, Natasha Leggero, Dylan Adler, and Alyssa Limperis on Wed. Aug. 16th at 7:30PM. It should be beyond a devilish good time and you won’t even have to personally get in touch with your own personal demons.

Tickets are on sale for $20 a pop and you really ought to go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 8/3/23: Dicks: The Musical, Rap Sh!t S2, Carmen Christopher, Leslie David Baker Office Spin-Off, Conan Remembers Paul Reubens

August 3, 2023

News

a24, aaron jackson, carmen christopher, conan o'brien, dicks the musical, hbo max, josh sharp, leslie david baker, paul reubens, rap sht, the office

1. In what will be one of A24’s boldest releases yet (except for Everything Everywhere All At Once), and that’s still a high bar to clear, they are doing their first musical and they’re making damn sure it’s rated R. Thanks to the wickedly sharp humor of Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp and the directing talents of Borat’s very own Larry Charles (and managing to have Megan Thee Stallion and Nathan Lee in the same movie), 2023 might be the year with Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Dicks: The Musical. Get your first taste here, then look for its release on Sept. 29th.

2. Due to the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike still not being over, Issa Rae’s latest dramedy, Rap Sh!t, will now be premiering Nov. 9th instead of next week (Deadline). In its place, get ready for way more reality TV on HBO Max that you didn’t ask for.

3. Carmen Christopher who brilliantly blends being dry, absurd, and hysterically aggressive is setting to go on big ol’ North American tour from the end of this month all the way to the end of the year. Do not miss out on his Waverunner tour whether or not it’s close to where you live or not (go get tickets for a city near you here).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carmen Christopher (@carmenyescarmen)

4. At one point in time, Leslie David Baker, often known and celebrated as Stanley Hudson from the American version of The Office attempted to crowdfund a spin-off that would center around Stanley. After years of delays (and the double strike), Baker has opted to refund all his backers on Kickstarter (Deadline). When Tinseltown is all back up and running, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this project get revived again, perhaps even without needing to be crowdfunded.

5. Conan O’Brien remembers and pays tribute to Paul Reubens on the latest episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. He also reminds us all that Reubens was amazing even he was not being Pee Wee Herman.

6. One day, a Trump joke will feel as dated as Nixon joke. We only hope that, somehow, America/the world got better enough where either won’t be relevant anymore.

« Recent News

Older News »