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Recent News

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

Pick of the Day: Arti Gollapudi Performs the Real Book Like a Real B*tch (in NYC) 8/8
August 3, 2023
News
Arti Gollapudi, joe's pub, musical comedy, nyc comedy, solo show, storytelling

One of the most marvelously spirited comedians in NYC, Arti Gollapudi, is bringing her past and present to the very immediate future in what should be a beaming delight of a raunchy, yet classy affair at NYC’s venerable Joe’s Pub.

For what she’s calling “Arti Gollapudi Performs the Real Book Like a Real B*tch“, Gollapudi will be doing jazz standards with some of her favorite musicians throughout the city (canteenkilla, Talk Bazaar, Syl Dubenion, and Koa Ho) while weaving in her stories of trying to find love and chronic uterus pain and everything else in between in the life and times of Arti. Very special guests El Kempner (Palehound) and Karolena Theresa will be joining her throughout the evening too.

So, get your best jazz attire, get your $15 tickets (plus 2 drink or 1 food item min.), and head to NoHo to the one and only Joe’s Pub on Tues. Aug. 8th at 7PM to catch what will likely be the most unforgettable night of jazz and comedy that you’ve seen in quite some time.

TCB Debriefing 8/2/23: Dreaming Whilst Black, Barbie in Middle East, Reservation Dogs, Caitlin Cook
August 2, 2023
News
barbie, caitlin cook, dreaming whilst black, off broadway, reservation dogs, showtime

1. First look at Showtime’s new UK dramedy, Dreaming Whilst Black, from Adjanai Salmon here. If you’ve been dreaming of Insecure with British accents, you might want to get into this starting Sun. Sept. 10th at 10PM on Showtime.

2. Barbie might be banned in the Middle East because, well, it’s probably too queer (and everything) for them (Variety), but actually might surpass that $1 billion mark that Margot Robbie dreamed of at the box office in the next few days (Deadline). That means Barbie might be the most commercially successful Oscar winner since LOTR, even without Middle East box office receipts.

3. A friendly neighborhood reminder that the critically acclaimed, award winning Reservation Dogs is back for its third and final season starting tonight on FX/Hulu.

4. The best show you’ll ever see about bathroom graffiti, The Writing’s on the Stall from Caitlin Cook is set to make it’s Off-Broadway debut at the SoHo Playhouse on Wednesdays-Saturdays in September. You will never look at bathroom art the same way ever again. Go get tix right now right here.

5. Stand-up comedy crowd work needs to evolve past asking “Where are you from?” and “What do you do for a living?”

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 175: Mike Bridenstine & All Star Picks New Faces to Watch
August 2, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
comics to watch, jfl, jfl montreal, just for laughs, new faces of comedy, variety

Despite their being several more months of the year left to go, right around now is the time of each year when a big share of the “comedians to watch” lists come out. Namely, the Just For Laughs Montreal New Faces of Comedy and Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch came out recently, highlighting what are supposed to be 2023’s class of comedians you should be paying attention to if you haven’t done so already.

That said, there is much more nuance that goes into picking the many dozens of comics between those two lists (FYI, Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know List has yet to come out) and we enlisted comedy expert and historian and beloved comic Mike Bridenstine to make choice picks from those already highly selective picks. Essentially, Bridenstine and us do an all-star line-up of JFL and Variety’s all-star line-up in this very special episode of TCB Field Report.

Follow Mike @mikebridenstine on IG, pre-order his book The Perfect Amount of Wrong and get info/tix for Microdose and Flagship here.

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

Pick of the Day: Free Screening of “Strange Man Bicycle Caper” In Celebration of Pee Wee (in LA) 8/5
August 2, 2023
News
dynasty typewriter, la comedy, pee-wee herman

With millions still mourning the loss of one dear Paul Reubens, there are all sorts of tributes honoring his memory, especially when it comes to Pee Wee Herman.

So, with that in mind, we hear that the good folks down at Dynasty Typewriter are doing a special free screening of “Strange Man Bicycle Caper” this Sat. Aug. 5th at 10PM. Is that a certain famous movie about trying to find some sort of two wheel dedicated mode of transporation or not? You’d have to (and probably should) go see for yourself.

There is an RSVP, but admission is still first come, first served. No matter if you make it in or not, you should ready a red bow tie, just in case.

TCB Debriefing 8/1/23: This Fool, Two Dykes and a Mic, Toast of Tinseltown, Disenchantment, Seth MacFarlane
August 1, 2023
News
disenchantment, hulu, matt berry, mckenzie goodwin, rachel scanlon, roku, seth macfarlane, this fool, toast of tinseltown, two dykes and a mic

1. The second season of one of our favorite comedies right now, This Fool, not only premiered last week, but dropped all episodes on Hulu for your binging pleasure. Get into it and you might just find a great poke at The Bear and Burning Man.

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2. Rachel Scanlon and McKenzie Goodwin, hosts of one of the best queer podcasts around, just kicked off a gigantic Two Dykes and a Mic tour across North America that will last you almost the way to Thanksgiving. Go get tickets right now right here.

3. If you can’t get your Matt Berry fix quick enough when waiting for the next episode of What We Do in the Shadows, be thrilled to know that Toast of Tinseltown is now streaming free, at your convenience, on Roku.

4. Matt Groening’s Disenchantment is going to come to a close with season five on Netflix come Sept. 1st on Netflix. Five seasons is more than most shows last these days, but it’s unfortunately far from Groening’s other show, The Simpsons, which is currently at 34.

5. Kudos and cheers and applause to Seth MacFarlane as he just made a $1 million donation the Entertainment Community Fund to support those entertainment industry workers directly affected by the historic WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike (Deadline). You don’t need to give a million, but you can donate to the ECF here.

6. In LA, let’s have a moratorium on calling any new comedy shows, Mixtape. There are too many already.

After Everything We’ve All Been Through Since 2019, Ben Roy Delivers Yet Again with “Hyena”
August 1, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, ben roy, comedy album, comedy special, stand up comedy

Nearly 20 years in, Denver comedy luminary Ben Roy has nearly perfected his euphoria-fueled-shot-in-the-arm style of comedy that combines the energy of a Battle of the Bands showdown with the vivid and expansive detail of an impressionist painting. Roy’s comedy is a true thing of raw hilarious beauty. That sentiment continues to be true with his latest hour, fresh off the presses from 800 Pound Gorilla, Hyena.

Many a comedian over the last year or two have released what will likely be their one and only special that will touch on the COVID-19 pandemic and, as such, there is more than plenty of well-trodden territory when it comes to dealing with COVID and post-pandemic life. Roy visits said territory, but he’s such a satisfying force of nature to watch and nails the specificity and details in his writing that Hyena isn’t going to make you go through another tiresome COVID chunk. If anything, Ben’s firebrand persona makes him even stand out here when talking why he’s pro-vaccine, but for reasons that are hilariously political and transparently self-serving. More so than most other “catch-up from 2019” specials, Ben’s take/observations on the last three years are what we hoped such a comedy special would be in 2023.

We’ve talked about the vast spectrum of color that Ben uses with his pen (probably one of those tactical ones that can break through a car window) before with his past hours. It’s so mesmerizing (e.g. his game show pitch for “It’s Asbestos”) that it’s worth noting once more. Roy conjures up imagery not unlike Patton Oswalt, but goes at it with his punk rock conviction giving some sort of feeling that you’re laughing at the color palate of a nuclear tinged horizon at sunset. That’s one of the big reasons Hyena as well as every other Ben Roy release before this are so compelling to watch/listen to.

At the moment, you can rent Ben Roy: Hyena exclusively from 800 Pound Gorilla to see Roy murder at one of most comedians’ all time favorite comedy clubs, The Comedy Works in Downtown Denver for only $10. Come Thurs. Aug 10th, you’ll be able to stream Hyena for free, at your convenience, on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube Channel.

Pick of the Day: “Close Calls” Near-Death Stories LIVE Taping (in NYC) 8/4
August 1, 2023
News
brooklyn, close calls, kevin casey white, live podcast, lizzy cassidy, nyc comedy

Remember when I Survived was the one of the most talked about shows and our current obsession with true crime had only just gotten started? T’was such an innocent time compared to now where people wanted to be captivated about stories of the living, despite the world around them doing everything it can to have them die earlier than they would have liked.

For our money, those stories are still pretty astounding and given a pretty tried and true formula of “fascinating story” + comedy = splendid podcast, NYC comedians Kevin Casey White and Lizzy Cassidy have essentially made a comedy version of I Survived with their podcast Close Calls, which actually makes stories of surviving natural disasters, freak accidents, murderers, and more a more manageable level of terrifying (and all the more entertaining).

They’ll be doing a special live version so you can share in the gasps and guffaws together with a crowd at Brooklyn’s The Gutter this Fri. Aug. 4th at 8PM. Tickets are only $10 and you really ought to go get them here, have yourself a great start to this weekend, and, perhaps, gain a new appreciation for living.

TCB Debriefing 7/31/23: RIP Paul Reubens, Friars Club, Daniel Sloss, Two Dykes and a Mic, Barbenheimer
July 31, 2023
News
barbenheimer, daniel sloss, friars club, paul reubens, pee-wee herman, sirius xm, two dykes and a mic

1. RIP Paul Reubens, (1952-2023). Undoubtedly, there will be screenings of Pee Wee movies at a theater near you in his honor. Take the opportunity to pay your respects and honor his memory by treasuring his work with a crowd of strangers in a movie theater.

2. For the first time ever, the venerable comedy institution known as The Friars Club (a group that help perfect the art of roasting far before Comedy Central, Roast Battle, etc.) will be airing their exclusive, legendary roasts for a month on Friars Club Radio (SiriusXM channel 109 and on the SiriusXM App). Specifically, these roasts that were only privy to their membership can be heard from Aug. 6th-Sept. 2nd (and probably will be behind a pay wall afterwards). Don’t miss out on roasts like Sarah Silverman going in on Jerry Lewis if you have SiriusXM.

3. One of the most biggest touring international comedians, Daniel Sloss, has just announced a U.S. tour coming this Fall running from Oct. 6th-Nov. 3rd. It’s about time Americans got a reminder from a Scotsman on how to do dark comedy.

4. Barbie/Barbenheimer continues to set box office records (THR). Perhaps, when Margot Robbie says a movie is going to be a billion dollar movie (even if she doesn’t know if it’s true), maybe there’s something to it.

5. Does Elon Musk resigning to remove a giant X sign on a building mean the death of the letter “X” being cool?

Pick of the Day: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure Alamo Bike Tour (in NYC) 8/5, 8/7, 8/9
July 31, 2023
News
alamo drafthouse, nyc comedy, paul reubens, pee wee's big adventure

Today brought the sad news of the passing of Paul Reubens, known and beloved by millions as Pee Wee Herman. His iconic performance in Tim Burton’s iconic film debut of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure will live on in cinema history for ages to come as something that was able to put a smile on a face of nearly anyone who watched it, no matter their age (far before Pixar figured out how to do that).

The good folks at Alamo Drafthouse already had a very special run of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure screenings at their NYC theaters (Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island) complete with the one and only legendary bike.

Unsurprisingly, tickets for the Brooklyn and Manhattan screenings are sold out, but there are a literal handful of tickets left for the Staten Island screening on Sat. Aug. 5th at 7PM for $15.50. At the very least, we’re betting the bike will probably be in the lobby for you to admire as well as honor Reubens’ memory.

Never one to disappoint, Alamo Drafthouse made a great little trailer for this very special event:

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A post shared by Alamo Drafthouse NYC (@alamonyc)

TCB Debriefing 7/28/23: Emmys Postponed, Donald Glover/Lando, Curious Creators Grant, This Fool, How To With John Wilson
July 28, 2023
News
curious creators, donald glover, emmys, how to with john wilson, lando, sag aftra strike, star wars, this fool, wga strike

1. Though the 75th Primetime Emmys were slated for Sept. 18th, they have been postponed due to the double WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike (BBC News). Whenever the next Emmys happens, we would bet people are going to go far over their time for speeches. Get ready for the most grandstanding over music that the Emmys has probably ever seen.

2. Donald and Stephen Glover are writing a Lando Calrissian series for Disney+ (Variety). We’re not sure what the Glover brothers have up their sleeve or what Kathleen Kennedy will let them get away with, but we hope that the Glovers will end up making something that’s the Legion of Star Wars.

3. If you happen to be looking for some grant money for doing comedy, why not try applying to Curious Elixirs‘ Curious Creators Grant that will award $1,500 cash to 8 artists in support of their work. Deadline is midnight ET on Sept. 8th. Get details/submit here.

4. The return of both critically acclaimed and fan favorite comedy series This Fool and How To With John Wilson are happening tonight on Hulu and HBO, respectively. This Fool premieres its second season John Wilson is bowing out with his third and final season of one of the most unique and entrancing shows in TV history.

5. Any takers on which network/studio/streaming service will do a limited series about the double strike and how long after the strike they’ll wait to do it?

Pick of the Day: Skin Contact (in LA) 8/9
July 28, 2023
News
bar covell, los angeles comedy, los feliz, rachel pegram, stand up comedy

LA is getting another weekly comedy show that’s going to make Wednesday nights even more of a comedy festival than it already is. In addition to the several great, affordable/free shows that make hump day a night to go out and catch many of LA’s comedy best, Skin Contact will take over the very chic, speakeasy style space in Bar Covell in Los Feliz.

The hysterical Rachel Pegram is leading the charge with this brand new Eastside show and already has three weeks on the books (Aug. 9th-Aug. 23rd). If folks are into Skin Contact enough through those three dates, expect to see Pegram keep it going and that will be part of your LA comedy regimen every week.

The inaugural Skin Contact will feature Carmen Christopher, Brian Bahe, Taylor Ortega, Ellory Smith, and Dani Lyle. Also, tickets are set at the nice price of only $5. Go get them now right here.

TCB Debriefing 7/27/23: Righteous Gemstones, Norman Lear, Brett Gelman, Harley Quinn
July 27, 2023
News
brett gelman, harley quinn, hbo, norman lear, righteous gemstones

1. America’s new favorite corrupt power hungry family (since Succession is over), The Gemstones, will return for season 4 on HBO.

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A post shared by Max (@streamonmax)

2. Happy B Day and kudos to comedy and TV legend Norman Lear for his 101st birthday!

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A post shared by Norman Lear (@thenormanlear)

3. Comedian provocateur Brett Gelman is exploring new frontiers, even by his standards, by publishing a collection of short stories, The Terrifying Realm of the Possible: Nearly True Stories; due out Mar. 19th. As should be expected from Gelman, you’ll likely find yourself uproariously laughing in equal parts out of catharsis and nerves. Pre-order it here.

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A post shared by Brett Gelman (@brettgelman)

4. When hope seems lost with comic books adaptations on the big and small screen, season 4 of Harley Quinn has just arrived on HBO Max to give a glimmer of what sort of joyful bedlam can still be had in the genre. Get into the new season now (or binge the whole thing if you’ve not had the pleasure of watching one of the most subversive adaptation of comic book IP we’ve ever seen).

5. We’re only two weeks away from 100 days since the WGA went on strike. Seems like it’s going to go on a lot longer and Greg Gutfeld will get to pathetically keep calling himself the King of Late Night (on top of the AMPTP putting profit margins over sustainable livelihoods).

Pick of the Day: Blake Rosier’s Bad Show (in NYC) 8/5
July 27, 2023
News
blake rosier, brooklyn, nyc comedy, talk show, union hall

We’re thrilled that Blake Rosier, one of the bolder, daring comedians (e.g. doing shows with permitted tomato throwing at the performers, performing/living in theaters for a whole week) in the LA comedy scene right now, is currently on tour across the country. Rosier’s penchant for experimentation and knack for absurdity and commitment to vulnerability have made for some of the most memorable, enthralling, and hilarious shows we’ve seen in awhile.

Come next week, Rosier’s tour with his “bad” show will find its way to Union Hall in Brooklyn and New Yorkers can delight in Blake’s special kind of controlled chaos. Blake Rosier’s Bad Show will take place on Sat. Aug. 5th at 10PM and you ought to nab your tickets at $15 a pop here.

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