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Recent News

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Morning Debriefing 12/17/11

December 17, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Before the results are revealed on Monday, get your votes in for The Laughspin 2011 Reader’s Choice Comedy Awards. It really does mean a lot to whoever wins.

2) Why wouldn’t there be Louis CK fan art?

3) For those of you unaware (or just forgotten the deadline), there’s still ample time to get in submissions for the NYTVF’s Comedy Central Short Pilot Contest. On a much more broader note, the Beverly Hills Film Festival is taking submissions.

4) Since we are in the thick of the holiday season and many folks are going home from LA (because very few people are “from here”), please contact us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com in regards to whether, if you host an open mic, are going to actively do so over the next two weeks.

5) On a related note, the Redwood Bar in Downtown has an open mic now?

6) Once and for all, we get the full story on Brody Stevens over the last year and why we’re glad to have him back on the scene in LA Weekly.

7) The Channel 101 community outdoes the red carpet of most awards ceremonies at the 2011 Channel 101 Channy Awards at the Downtown Independent Theater.

8) ON THE HORIZON
Conan Stand-up Showcase @ Flappers Burbank Wed. Dec. 21st 10PM $12/2 item min. 

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 7PM/9PM $22/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Handshucked @ Moving Arts Theater 8PM $5
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes & Guest Kevin Eastman @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
The Brendon Small Secret Experimental Show @ The Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10-$300
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM $17/2 item min. 10PM $39/2 item min.
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25 
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Hour of Power: Presented by Devastator @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $10
Sappity Tappity: A Drunken Romp Through Liquor Forest @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
Tournament of Nerds: Holiday Smackdown @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min. 
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

11) For next year’s Art Basel, a live performance installation should have a lone comedian at an open mic of a sparsely attended dive bar with Telemundo’s Christmas specials playing in the background. That would probably one of the most heart-wrenching pieces on display.

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Morning Debriefing 12/18/11

December 18, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) It’s been found! Patton Oswalt’s appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson where Ferguson they delve into the existence of God and the Oscars. Already found: Patton Oswalt on NPR.

2) Also, in Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson news, John Hodgman appeared earlier this week and, like Oswalt, talk about religion, though, on his turn, about the Church of Satan.

3) LA based comedians Ryan Stout, Jonny Loquasto, Sean Green, and more are getting written up abroad and by “abroad”, we mean El Paso, TX and the Bay Area.

4) We updated our calendars page to have the New Beverly Cinema and Cinefamily @ The Silent Movie Theatre because uniquely funny stuff happens there on a semi-regular basis. Did you even know that we have a page that links to every LA comedy venue’s calendar page?

5) Go see Young Adult. We were able to afford to see a movie this month and it was hilarious, heartbreaking, incredibly gratifying, and, at times, discomforting (in the way that well crafted comedy should be). Also, it’s pretty funny that Patrick Wilson will probably never break out of his old prom king role.

6) Jim Hamilton makes the best faces, especially when paired with a Christmas sweater.

7) Seriously, why isn’t Jackie Kashian on a Best of 2011 list… of any kind?

8) ON THE HORIZON
Robert Buscemi Album Taping @ Downtown Independent Tues. Dec. 20th 9PM FREE 

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 7PM $22/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Powerviolence @ The Complex 9PM FREE
Jeselnik & Co. @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Deskpiece Nation @ iO West 10PM $5
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only) 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/lottery
PARADISE PERKS 15475 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/only 10 spots available
NERDIST THEATER 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (back room of Meltdown Comics)/Sign-up 7:15PM/Starts 7:30PM/lottery/30 spots available/no purchase necessary
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/mixed mic
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee available   

11) “Everyone in LA, where the hell are you going that is exactly where I’m going making me relapse into a fit of unnecessary road rage.”-Everyone going to the Grove right now.

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Morning Debriefing 12/19/11

December 19, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Jon Daly has a podcast and it’s called Rafflecast. Jon Daly gets to do whatever he wants. That’s all you should need to hear in order to listen.

2) Tonight, Young Adult writer Diablo Cody will be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM NBC) and Seth McFarlane will be on Conan (11PM TBS). 

3) Eat your heart out Food Network. There’s no way proper cooking is as entertaining as the new episode of Henry Phillips’ Henry’s Kitchen.

4) And now, for the rousing conclusion to Danger 5’s Diamond Girls, after which, there should be a proposal for an Alternative WWII History course in colleges around the country.

5) The NY Times does a piece on Louis CK and finds that he’s getting ever closer to making a million on Live From the Beacon Theatre.

6) Is there some sort of animal crackers video contest that Puddin’ could win?

7) ON THE HORIZON
Stand-up Spotlight: Moshe Kasher @ UCB Theatre Tues. Dec. 27th 8PM $5 

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Starfish Circus Christmas Benefit @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $30 
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE 
Brunch @ The Park Restaurant 9PM FREE
Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5  

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
TOWNE HALL 799 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CA #110/Starts 8PM/$10/Sign-up at townehall.la@gmail.com/mixed mic
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is lottery/no purchase necessary
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided    

10) Before you make what you think is an “obligatory” Kim Jon Il joke—OH LOOK, the trailer for Dark Knight Rises.

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Morning Debriefing 12/20/11

December 20, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) NBC buys family comedy from Kelly Oxford and the blogosphere rejoices.

2) Drunk History does Christmas with Allan McLeod, Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey, and Eva Mendes and all is right with the world (at least while you’re watching the video, that is).

3) Check out the winners for Laughspin’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards.

4) Tonight, both David Wain and Billy Eichner (Fuse TV’s Billy on the Street) will be on Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM NBC), then, also, both Patton Oswalt and comedian Joe Mande will be on Conan (11PM TBS). 

5) Seth McFarlane on Conan.

6) New trailer for Will Ferrell’s Casa De Mi Padre that sounds reminiscent of Conando.

7) Kurt Braunohler moves on from the world of animals to the Secrets of America (yes, it’s a new web series of facts about America that may or may not be true, but are always really f’n funny).

8) Louis CK gets to headline the 68th Annual Radio & Television Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner where CK will hopefully outdo Seth Meyers in making someone scowl like Donald Trump while everyone else is laughing.

9) The arrival of the Dark Knight Rises trailer means only one thing: Another sketch with Pete Holmes as Batman.

10) ON THE HORIZON
50 First Jokes @ Downtown Independent Theater Fri. Jan 6th 7PM $8 in adv./$10 at door 
The Super Serious Show @ Club Fais-Do-Do Thurs. Jan 19th 8PM $13 in adv./$20 at door 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
C-Spot @ Best Fish Taco in Ensenada 7PM FREE
The 4 & 20 @ All Star Lanes 8PM FREE
The Good Luck Show @ Good Luck Bar 8PM FREE
The Dork Forest Live @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge @ Red Rock Bar & Eatery 8PM FREE
Robert Buscemi’s Album Taping @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/first come, first served/$5 min.
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/first come, first served 
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

13) I’m thankful that my family isn’t to comedy so they don’t have to tell me what jokes I should be doing.

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Morning Debriefing 12/21/11

December 21, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) For all these names to be stringed together in this Debriefing item is simply amazing. Last night, Joe Mande explains why Christian holidays rule and Patton Oswalt breaks down the logic of the Little Drummer Boy on Conan. Tonight, Marc Maron will stop by Conan (11PM TBS) and Louis CK will continue media domination on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM NBC)

2) YouTube sensation Epic Meal Time to become a G4 Pilot. Anybody going to call this “The Miracle on G4 Street”? OK, we’ll not talk to anybody for the rest of the day.

3) Comedienne Jamie Lee does a fantastic send-up of the so-called Nordic celebrity complaining about the supposed trivialization of the butter shortage in Norway.

4) Andy Peters and Justin Ian Daniels, two of the funniest folks we know that need to be known by more people NOW, started their own podcast on wrestling nostalgia, The Rough House. It’s the standard “dead inside” comment, if that doesn’t want to make you listen.

5) Jesse Thorn’s Maximum Fun is looking for interns…

6) The A.V. Club vote Louie and Parks and Recreation to top out their best TV of 2011.

7) Also, in the A.V. Club, some attention is overdue attention is paid to Eddie Pepitone and his album, A Great Stillness.

8) NY Magazine’s Vulture gathers “the 10 Best Descriptions of What Rooney Mara Looks Like in the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. Any comedians care to top those?

9) Today’s Puddin’-“Jingle Bells” outdoes any Mannheim Steamroller version of the song ever.

10) We do host a podcast, This Better Be Funny, that we’d like to prove the guests on the latest episode, Jim Bruce and Scott Yarborough, wrong in that nobody will listen to it.

11) ON THE HORIZON
Henson Alternative @ Irvine Barclay Theatre Dec. 28-Jan. 1 $38-$100

12) COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Slice Christmas Special @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $10
Frolic! @ Far Bar 9PM FREE
Conan Stand-up Showcase @ Flappers Burbank 10PM $12/2 item min. 

13) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SMILES NIGHTCLUB 13615 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/Sign-up 5:45PM/Starts 6PM/first come, first served
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery/no purchase necessary
TICKLES COMEDY ROOM 10282 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA/Starts 7PM/no purchase necessary
BRONSON’S 5851 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/first come, first served/No purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

14) If you’re going to audibly say “EEWW!” to any bit of comedy during a live show, just know that you will be laughed at and not with.

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Morning Debriefing 12/22/11

December 22, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Last night, Louis CK summarized various charities in the most hysterical way possible on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Marc Maron reveals why he switched doctors after a prostate exam on Conan.

2) Here’s first promo for this year’s Critic’s Choice Movie Awards hosted by Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel. Is this what award show hosting has been waiting for?

3) Merry Christmas from the Bachmanns (the Funny or Die version)!

4) For those in the know, R. Kelly has written several more chapters of Trapped in the Closet. They haven’t been made, so it’s not quite a Christmas present for us all, but he’s supposedly written them.

4) One of our favorite sketch groups, Birds of Prey, do their take on the Wrestler.

5) In “their new project news”, Woody Allen goes to Rome and Edgar Wright has written sort-of a musical.

7) It’s the eve of the eve of Christmas Eve and just like every other major holiday that isn’t the best time for live comedy, we’re letting everyone know that we’re assuming all open mics in the Greater LA Area are cancelled for Christmas Eve and Christmas (the 24th & 25th/Sat. & Sun.). If there is, for some reason, an open mic for comics to perform at in LA on those two days please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

8) ON THE HORIZON
Set List @ UCB Theatre Fri. Jan. 6th 8PM $10
The Midnight Show w/TJ Miller @ UCB Theatre Sat. Jan. 7th MIDNIGHT $5

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Kool Thing @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $10
The Josh & Josh Show: Happy HannaKwanzamas @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Hottt Newww Videooo!!! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN (due to holidays, some of these venues might cancel open mics at last minute)
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/1 item min./first come, first served
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/first come, first served/No purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) And now the next era of sports jokes in LA may be ushered in by a bunch of poser Clipper fans claiming they told everyone “What did I tell you ‘bout Clipper Nation?”

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December 23, 2011
Uncategorized
Billy On The Street – watch more funny videos

funnyordie:

Funny Or Die’s Billy On The Street (Premieres Tonight!)

Looks like Christmas is early this year because ‘Funny Or Die’s Billy On The Street’ premieres tonight at 11e/10c on FUSE!

And baby, it’s cold outside, so five people who reblog this will win a Funny Or Die hoodie!

Cash Cab can go F itself, Billy on the Street is on tonight.

(Source: http://www.funnyordie.com/)

Shhhhhh

December 23, 2011
Uncategorized

Shhhhhh

atencio:

password: kp2012

AWWW shhhhh… it’s another great K&P sketch from Peter Atencio. (He’s censoring himself cursing and not shushing himself, right?)

Morning Debriefing 12/23/11

December 23, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) There’s a going to be a political comedy called Dog Fight with Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, and, now Dan Aykroyd (via PCB). I guess that’s what happens when Bill Murray keeps ripping up new drafts of the new Ghostbusters movie. 

2) Megan Amram writes two poems about Manischewitz and Abe Lincoln. That sounds like the holidays to me.

3) Jimmy Pardo was on Attack of the Show!!!

4) Serial Optimist chats with Riki Lindhome about Garfunkel & Oates, Scary F**ked Up Christmas, and fail safe gifts. 

5) For those of you looking for the underground stars of Twitter, here’s Tracy Marquez’s 140 Underrated Tweeters List.

6) It’s one hell of a Puddin’ today with the 5 Second Film folks and James Urbaniak AND a special guest complete with accordion. 

7) Below is a picture of a YouTube video with snowflakes generated through YouTube’s media player. A little much with the holiday cheer don’t ya think YouTube? (And yes, that’s Todd Barry trying to be an Advil spokesman)

8) Once again, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the day after that is Christmas, which, sadly, we cannot celebrate the freedom of Christmas shopping being over, but, with that being said, we are going to assume all LA area open mics aren’t happening.

9) Two things that Los Angelenos, comedy involved or no, will be happy about: free rides on the Metro on Christmas Eve and the City of Los Angeles not issuing parking citations for street sweeping violations from Dec. 26th to Dec. 30th.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
The Roast of Baby Jesus @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Rick Shapiro: One Man Show @ Vlad the Retailer’s 9PM FREE
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10 

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary???
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served???
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

11) Don’t worry, I’m going to make a 2011 Comedy List. That’s why there isn’t a Tip of the Hat this week.

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Morning Debriefing 12/24/11

December 24, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) The Nerdist’s Year in Review airs tonight on BBCA 9PM. Another example of how pretty much anything that happens from Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st is pretty much inconsequential.

2) The Chris Gethard Show sends their holiday greetings the way any comedian would truly send out such a thing (i.e. panicking while trying to go caroling in the NYC subway)

3) We got to make a semi-snarky list of Christmas comedy for the Nerdist. We make up for the snark by spreading funny Christmas things that should be better known to all.

4) We’re still on this Hitchens’ non-sense about women not being funny because they don’t have to be? Oh, a lot of people don’t think it’s non-sense? The most frustrating thing about Hitchens’ argument about women not being funny is that it serves no real purpose other than to infuriate and have the makings for an affirmative action landscape in comedy. How about we find out we just find out what makes funny people funny vs. what doesn’t and try to keep the qualifiers to just being funny? That way, we can figure out how this “parody thing” from Denis Leary came to be.

5) Let us not forget that TBS’ 24 hours of A Christmas Story starts tonight at 8PM because, believe it or not, just like some kids have no idea who John Lennon is, some kids have never seen A Christmas Story.

6) Yes!!! Someone started meme-ing Thomas Kinkade!!! [via the Comedy Hipster]

7) ON THE HORIZON
Guys With Feelings LIVE @ Comedy Central Stages Feb. 2nd 8PM FREE

8) As we’ve announced more than a few times, we’re assuming there are no active open mics in the LA area today or tomorrow for comedians. If that’s incorrect, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

9) Nearly all the venues that regularly have comedy in LA have closed their doors for the next two days. However, if you need a fix tonight, the Comedy Store (Original Room 9PM $15/2 item min.) and the Laugh Factory (8PM/10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.) both have live comedy featuring Ian Edwards, Jeff Garlin, and more.

10) Our good friend Jeremy Paul has made it known that while Christmas jokes abound, no one seems to make any bits of humor on Sol Invictus. Also, there are no Krampus jokes that we’ve heard, only to leave us at the inevitable reaction with such mines to be exploited comedically, “WTF?”.

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Morning Debriefing 12/25/11

December 25, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Yes, it’s Christmas and we’re still working because bureaus aren’t supposed to take a day off, right?

2) Also, the Jesse Miller Talk Show says Merry Christmas STRAIGHT UP!!!

3) …And so does John Hodgman with his Christmas Today in Ragnarok…

4) …And so do robots from the mind of Rob Kutner…

5) …And so does this best Christmas card ever from a couple of our favorite comedy folks, Joel Mandelkorn and Mandee Johnson…

6) …And, of course, our favorite Christmas TV special ever, Black Adder’s Christmas Carol.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Indoor Kids LIVE @ Nerdist Theater Sat. Jan. 14th 8PM $8 in adv., $10 at door 

8) If you’re jonesing for a COMEDY CRAWL today, The Comedy Store is doing A Very Merry Jewish Christmas w/Brody Stevens, Moshe Kasher, and more. (9PM $15/2 item min.)  and the Laugh Factory has their 32nd Free Christmas Day Feast for the Underprivileged at 1PM.

9) If you’re jonesing to do an open mic, you’re just going to have to resort to talking to yourself in the mirror or in your car today. Sorry.

10) May all of you not get too much material or become too inspired to do comedy from the holidays.

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Morning Debriefing 12/26/11

December 26, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Portlandia made it in the New Yorker, but I have a feeling that’s not their version of “making it”.

2) Independent event space, Towne Hall, that would like to host plenty of comedy, is on its last day of taking donations on Indie GoGo until 11:59PM PST. 

3) With P. Diddy and the Mona Lisa, here’s the makings of the next great meme. [via PaymanBenz]

4) Apparently Christmas for comedy fans isn’t over as Amazon has a bunch of cheap downloads for comedy albums from Louis CK, Bill Burr, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, Eddie Pepitone, Tim Minchin, and more. [via DriftRoberts]

5) Just like every holiday (just like we did over the last two days for Christmas), we’ll be assuming that there are no open mics in the LA area for comedians on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. If this information is inaccurate, like always, please e-mail thecomedybureau@gmail.com.

6) Ryan Singer got everything he wanted for Christmas. EVERYTHING…

7) And so did, Jamie Lee, sort of, maybe, not really….

8) Today’s Puddin’ features James Urbaniak and Eddie Pepitone’s bible of alibis…

9) ON THE HORIZON
Nick Offerman’s “American Ham” @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre Fri. Jan. 13th 8:30PM $25

10) COMEDY CRAWL

Well, we thought that, at least, one of the normally scheduled weekly shows on Monday would be running tonight, but, man oh man, we thought wrong. However, tomorrow promises to be a great comedy night with Performance Anxiety and Moshe Kasher @ UCB.

11) OPEN MIC RUN (as it’s still the holiday season, please be aware that some of these open mics might be cancelled at the last minute)
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

12) Lakers lost and the Clippers won on opening day and there goes LA sports jokes for the next two weeks.

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Morning Debriefing 12/27/11

December 27, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) So, as far as we know, Rick Shapiro recorded a DVD special, but doesn’t have the Masters, even though the courts ruled in Shapiro’s favor, because someone is withholding the tapes. He was served. A Rick Shapiro special is something we would love to see, so hopefully this plays out, however it plays out, in such a way where that will happen.

2) The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Season 1 comes out on DVD today. It’s a good way to placate yourself waiting for Arrested Development news.

3) One more song from Reggie Watts’ “On Life and Quantum Entanglement” came out today and now I can’t get the word “skirball” out of my head.

4) Did you know there’s a Twitter user that’s completely dedicated to tracking the podcast appearances of Paul F. Tompkins? @trackPFT. If there’s anyone that warrants such a thing, it would be Tompkins.

5) Adam Scott vs. Jimmy Pardo in the Scott/Pardo Patrol. It might sound confusing, but it’s very funny and exactly what it sounds like/

6) From the mind of Brent Weinbach, comes his version of a human handshake. (psst, NSFW at end)

7) The 4th installment/episode of the This Better Be Funny Podcast (that’s our podcast) is here and if you’re wondering what it’s like being at an open mic as a comedian, listen to Jake Kroeger, Jeremy Paul, and guest Matt Champagne give you exactly how “out there” we all are as funny people.

8) Today’s Puddin’, “Alphabet”, is NSFW, but also explores class warfare, so that balances out.

9) Indeed, Thanks @AlfLamont…

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Performance Anxiety @ The Pleasure Chest 8PM $7 
Stand-up Spotlight: Moshe Kasher @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 

11) OPEN MIC RUN (Beware as venues frequently cancel open mics during the holidays without notice)
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/first come, first served
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

12) From what we understand, every comedy show that’s “Comedy on New Year’s Eve” should be promoted truthfully as “Comedy vs. New Year’s Eve”.

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Morning Debriefing 12/28/11

December 28, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) The future is here Mr. Gittes! The 2nd Nerdist Podcast Stand-up Special is here w/Pete Holmes, Rory Scovel, Hampton Yount, Jim Hamilton, Brent Weinbach, and more.

2) Former Senator Arlen Specter does a solid 8 min. set of stand-up, to the point where you really wonder if he’s been coached and had material written for him.

3) Emily Heller, one of Comedy Central’s most recent Comics to Watch, started a theme blog that takes every caption contest in the New Yorker and offers a submission that involves talking about getting dicks sucked called, Suck My Dick New Yorker. Please enjoy.

4) This was posted a few months ago, but Pythagasaurus, the trigonometry-based Tyrannosaurus Rex cartoon, is definitely worth pointing out over and over. [via LaughingSquid]

5) One of the more entertaining and less aggravating comedy lists of 2011 comes from Splitsider in their 10 Funniest Video Games of 2011.

6) Here’s a holiday edition of the Nerdist’s 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week with plenty of Christmas comedy mayhem.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Thursday Thing w/Dana Gould @ Nerdist Theater Thurs. Jan. 19th 8PM $8 in adv., $10 at door 

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $38-$45
You’ve Seen These Guys @ Brea Improv
8PM $15/2 item min.
Comedy For Dorks @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT 

10) For how disruptive it is during comedy, I’d like to think that it’s surprising that someone is working on the silent blender, but, sadly, because it’s for comedy, it’s not surprising at all. 

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Morning Debriefing 12/29/11

December 29, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) One of the funniest people we know, Hampton Yount, just released his live comedy album “Unbearable” for however much you want to donate for it, “Radiohead-In Rainbows-style”. Yes, Hampton isn’t as big as Radiohead, but download and donate profusely anyway because he’s way funnier than Thom Yorke.

2) The SF Weekly chats with Greg Proops when making fun of politics hits too close to the bone and then you end up crying while watching A Christmas Carol.

3) Wonderful resource for comedians, Connected Comedy, rounded up their Top 20 Articles on Comedy This Year. It’s probably more helpful than the hundred of “Who to Follow on Twitter” lists that were made last week. 

4) Hello Giggles is looking for a YouTube intern…

5) The poster for Casa De Mi Padre really makes us think that are going to definitely be some shenanigans during Will Ferrell’s next stop on Conan, or should we say, Conando.

casa-de-mi-padre-poster-will-ferrell-1

6) A funny thing happened while we were going through our feeds this morning: Rory Scovel sings Christmas songs as a cat on the Todd Glass Show.

7) Here’s a collection of “critics” that give good reviews to movies that everyone else seems to hate. [via JFine]

8) ON THE HORIZON
Eddie Pepitone @ Hollywood Improv Fri. Jan. 6th 8PM $18/2 item min.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Gallows Humor @ Vlad the Retailer’s 7:30PM $5 
Star Dreck @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $38-$45
This Feels Terrible: The Love Show @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Writers’ Room w/Jimmy Pardo @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) It would seem by this pic of Kyle Kinane and Matt Braunger, taken by Mike Burns, all going to see Bob Seger in a stretch limo, that you can “live the dream” through comedy.

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Morning Debriefing 12/30/11

December 30, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) The A.V. Club unveils its Podmass for the Best Podcasts of 2011, which, you’ll notice comedy dominates without it being labeled Best Comedy Podcasts of 2011, and Paste Magazine does the same with its 10 Best Comedians of 2011. Tomorrow, we’ll unveil our 100 Best Things in Comedy in No Particular Order Not At All Compiled by the A.V. Club, NY Magazine, or Pitchfork of 2011.

2) The web series Shit Girls Say has gotten so popular that several parodies of the parody of girl sayings have been made. Shit Monks Say is definitely one worth watching and laughing at.

3) So, there will be a 1st Annual Wayne Federman International Film Festival next month at Cinefamily with movies presented by Garry Shandling, Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Kindler, and more. Maybe becoming a Cinefamily member isn’t such a bad idea?

4) You didn’t expect Bill Maher, of all people, to tweet something mean about Tim Tebow following a Broncos loss?

6) SNL’s Chris Kelly does every 2011 Pop Culture List Ever.

7) If you’re resolving to actually do stand-up as your New Year’s Resolution, here’s a little guide we wrote for the Nerdist that will limit the amount of self-loathing you might go through in January.

8) You probably know our holiday LA open mic procedure, so just let us know if there is a comedy open mic in the LA area on New Year’s Eve or Jan. 1st by e-mailing thecomedybureau@gmail.com

9) James Urbaniak and the 5 Second Films crew make Eddie Pepitone dance on today’s Puddin’ for ulterior motives.

10) ON THE HORIZON
Sad People Talking @ Royal/T Mon. Jan. 16th 8PM $5
Rob Delaney @ Hollywood Improv
Fri. Jan 20th 8PM $20/2 item min. 
The Hive Showcase @ Hive Gallery Thurs. Jan. 26th 8PM FREE 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Maria Bamford @ Fake Gallery 8PM $10 
Shitty Holidays @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand by only) 
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $45-$55
Michael Rayner @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served   
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

13) It’s funny how many comedians have shelved certain material because the world isn’t ending.

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Morning Debriefing 12/31/11

December 31, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) It is Dec. 31st, 2011, which means tomorrow will be Jan. 1st, 2012, WHICH MEANS it is the end of the year, WHICH REALLY MEANS we can most fairly judge what The 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011. That’s our year end comedy list that we’ll be posting today.

2) In the mean time, you can check LiterallyUnbelievable.org’s top responses to Onion articles of 2011 in parts one and two. That’s right, Literally Unbelievable has been pointing out how aloof people who think the Onion is reporting real news for several months and people still haven’t figured it out.

3) Todd Barry has some Twitter suggestions for episodes of Season 3 of “Louie”/Season 1 of the show Todd Barry would rather see “Todd”, a Todd Barry desired spin-off of the hit series Louie.

4) Another 2011 comedy list that’s one you should pay attention to while we stall to get ours posted is Mary Van Note’s Best Comics of 2011 You Probably Don’t Know. We know most of them and she’s right. Ron Lynch, Sean Patton, and more are pretty much the best.

5) We’re not big on New Year’s Resolution, but let’s join Jim Hamilton in punching billionaires in the face.

6) Some of you were asking for another Saturday open mic and your wishes we heard. Next Saturday at 5PM, the Daily Grind in Pasadena will be starting a brand new open mic where everyone gets 5 minutes. Not bad, 2012.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret w/David Cross in person @ Cinefamily Mon. Jan. 9 8PM $10

8) COMEDY CRAWL
The Not Inappropriate Show @ UCB Theatre 4PM $12
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 7PM $45-$55
Michael Rayner @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $40

9) Though there are plenty of people ringing in 2012 at comedy clubs, we’re assuming that most comedy open mics aren’t running tonight. If we’re wrong about that, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com or Tweet us @thecomedybureau.

10) Sincerely thank you to all who have been following my posts, articles, retweets, tweets, and more over 2011. Hopefully, you can clone all of yourselves several times over in 2012 and, at least, quadruple the number of readers I have here. 

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The 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011

January 1, 2012
Uncategorized
best of 2011, comedy lists

There have been 2011 comedy lists throughout the last two months telling people what the funniest album was, who was the funniest on Twitter, etc. We have a problem with those lists in that entire days of 2011 had yet to pass leaving time for funny things to fall through the cracks. Also, we don’t want to have bickering over ranking or forget to make a list about memes or web videos, and more. So, we just piled 100 in no order of any kind (that’s an ill advised number to shoot for, if you’re wondering) of the most hilarious things together that we had the chance to witness throughout the entirety of 2011. 

It’s a long, exhaustive list that probably many of you won’t read all the way through, but, at least, it’s better than this meta-horseshit we did last year with “Best of ‘Best of Comedy List’ List”. 

1. Neil Hamburger tweeting down “The Man”-Through @NeilHamburger alone, he rivals Tyler Durden in making pop culture (Britney Spears, AXE Body Spray, etc.) look really stupid.

2. Lizzy Cooperman banging her keyboard and telling jokes-Lizzy has jokes and a keyboard that she hits when she does stand-up. We’ve seen it several times and hurt from laughing so hard every time we see it.

3. Jon Dore & Rory Scovel performing simultaneously on Conan–This is one of the best late night TV performances of the year. That’s all you need to know.

4. Louis CK chasing George Carlin’s record-Many people are unaware of the fact that both his specials Hilarious and Live From the Beacon Theatre were both released in 2011, even though he said he’d stick to a 1-special-a-year pace. Combine that with the brilliance of his show Louie and there are grounds for the constant praise he gets.

5. Eddie Pepitone in anything he’s been in-2011 has been a banner year for Pepitone and rightfully so. Along with his spectacular album “A Great Stillness”, @EddiePepitone, Puddin’, being a heckler on Conan, Runyon: Just Above Sunset, and more have proved Pepitone to be a comedic force to be reckoned with.

6. Kurt Braunohler miseducating the world with the World Wild of Animals-As one of the funniest web series we saw this year, we learned the most interesting facts, that might possibly be true, about Dolphins, Wolves, and Parakeets from a non-animal expert, Kurt Braunohler.

7. Patton Oswalt expands his comedy empire-His book Zombie Spaceship Wasteland and his album Finest Hour more than make him deserving to be guest editor of Spin Magazine’s Comedy Issue as well a spot on this list.

8. Sean Patton doing a spin move on Conan-Yes! One of the funniest people we know does a spin move while coming on stage on Conan. That’s only the tip of the iceberg of how hilarious he is.

9. Jesse Case’s joke about the supposed rule of waiting to call someone after you get their number-For our money, granted we don’t have a lot of it, it’s one of the best jokes of the year. Ask him about it @jessecase.

10. The only people that can Humblebrag are the ones most unaware they’re doing it-the poking fun game at over-entitled celebrities and rich people just got a lot more fierce with Harris Wittels and Humblebrag.

11. The Walsh Brothers Go Planking-Yes, the Walsh Brothers pretty much introduced “planking” into the U.S. earlier this year before everyone got so judgmental for how cool they made it.

12. Rory Scovel kills in complete darkness-Not only is it amazing that Scovel just pulls doing stand-up in the pitch black darkness with ease, he also insults the band, and, most importantly, does this all off the cuff.

13. Brent Weinbach touching an live TV audience member’s face-Brent does plenty of funny things that makes us question the foundations of comedy. One of them is limping in the creepiest way possible towards an real person and touching their face.

14. Andrés Du Bouchet does more than write for Conan-Hopefully, Du Bouchet gets way more notoriety in 2012 than him being a staff writer on Conan for his amazing comedy album of just character monlogues, Naked Trampoline Hamlet, and his delightful Twitter feed @dubouchet where he RT’s boners for kids.

15. Nerdist Industries takes more podcast under their wing-Taking in Todd Glass, Pop My Culture, The Indoor Kids with Kumail Nanjiani, Making It with Riki Lindhome, The Thrilling Adventure Hour, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, and more, the Nerdist family of podcasts sounds more like a formidable comedy army.

16. Joe Mande vs. Gilbert Arenas-Not that he would take a cue from Ron Artest (yeah, we’re still calling him that) not to mess with comedy, but Arenas gets “taken to school” by Joe Mande on Twitter and his blog. 

17. Nick Vatterott gets absurd-Showing how prop comedy is done on Conan and winning this year’s Andy Kaufman Award, Nick Vatterott makes the absurd no less absurd, but definitely very funny.

18. People start to find out about Jerrod Carmichael-Making “who to watch” lists throughout 2011 and going to JFL Montreal, Jerrod is rising fast and deservedly through the stand-up ranks.

19. Henry Phillips anti-cooks food on Henry’s Kitchen-Who cares if what he makes isn’t edible to probably any living thing? It’s all about the process that Henry Phillips goes through to cook it that makes it worth a good gut laugh.

20. Marc Maron masters his neuroses, maybe-His album This Has To Be Funny and theWTF! Podcast and how much acclaim they’ve both received are just proof that Maron is calming down, though not too much.

21. The Rise and (Still Rising) of James Adomian-Some of you might have gotten to see his face and his hilarious jokes on the last season of Last Comic Standing and Lopez Tonight, but more folks know him from his appearances (earning him Splitsider’s Paul F. Tompkins Award for Best Guest) on podcasts like the one on the Todd Glass Show.

22. The Muppets movie met the ridiculous expecatations it set for itself-For us, at least, we expected a lot from the new Muppets movie with Jason Segel and it delivered, despite cutting Eddie Pepitone out. 

23. Eric Andre and Duh Air Ache On Dre Shoe-Eric Andre crushes it as a stand-up comedian with making fun of the theme to Cops. See where such ideas come from the Duh Air Ache On Dre Shoe.

24. Pete Holmes reminds us to have fun-Holmes reminds us that being silly isn’t uncool with his appearances on Conan, his live album “Impregnated With Wonder”, his new podcast You Made It Weird, and even playing Batman.

25. The Comics Sans font gets a defender in the Comic Sans Project-We had no idea that people were trying to exterminate the Comic Sans font, but now it has been brought out in the funniest, best way possible with the Comic Sans Project.

Thanks  to Robert Urquhart, Clif Dickens, Nico Hähnlein, Siim Teller, Camille Greatorex, Chris Weachock, Jonty Levine, Shayna Daitch, Douglas Montgomery, Lira Kim, Josef van der Faust, Ed Benson, Christine Self, François Bertrand, Timothé Buguet, Psy Oc, Samuel Blum, Romain Stievenard, Florent Molinier, Felipe Esteves, Alexandar Mechev, Colin Smith, Felipe Francisco, Merlin Mason, Saul Costa, Jan Andreas Knudsen, Kees Huyser, Arn Anderson, Heather Elsa, Aale van der Veen, Jamie Lewis, Brice Soulivong, Arnaud Bonnard, David Little … And from our Twitter account ; @depointzero, @Pulpalomita, @rchdly, @ZoomWolf, @BigRenoski, @Jovigun, @Eindacor_DS, @IknowScott, @dawashington, @danoprey, @SarahGraham1982, @Greensize Our special thanks go to Michael Fowler and Craig Winslow.

26. A marriage proposal at Holy Fuck, the live comedy show–Reed Hallstrom sincerely proposed to Jessica Ruiz at the wonderful weekly comedy show Holy Fuck! and it was beautiful, funny, and touching.

27. People believe in comedy at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival-At the start of This Is Not Happening, a storytelling show, at Portland’s fantastic annual comedy festival, there was a technical miscue when the show started without any lights. Audience members combined their cell phone lights to make host Ari Shaffir visible until the SNAFU was fixed.

28. Paul F. Tompkins doing anything-Tompkins showcased his Midas touch in comedy with continuing his live show at Largo running strong, recapping American Idol for Vulture, recording his 1-hr Comedy Central special of stories of shitty jobs he had, producing his oft-honored podcast the Pod F. Tompcast, and, of course, his impression of the Cake Boss.

29. @MeganAmram is just a hobby of Megan Amram’s-Megan is brilliant at Twitter, but has made her comedic presence known in longer forms as well as an “audition” for Glee.

30. Aubrey Plaza being interviewed on TV-Following in the footsteps of the late night talk show appearances of Harland Williams, Plaza makes for the one of the most intriguing, hilarious people to interview.

31. Lee Camp does stand-up at Occupy Wall St.-Firebrand of a comedian Lee Camp does five solid minutes with no mic, mic stand, or stage to the Occupy Wall St. crowd.

32. @blaudiablogan is, as they say, “criminally underfollowed”-Claudia Cogan is very funny in person as well as on Twitter, constantly and consistently: “How much does anal virginity go for? Preparing my financial outlook for 2012.”

33. Ryan Stout’s “Touché” is a perfect example of joke craftsmanship-Stout bucks today’s trend in comedy with his live album “Touché” by telling very concise and to-the-point jokes. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that especially when you can pull off talking about rape as a form of exercise without cursing and making it funny.

34. Drew Droege being a better Chloe Sevigny than Chloe Sevigny-Drew Droege is so funny cross-dressing and playing actress and fashionista Chloe Sevigny that he gets invited to host parties as Chloe and not himself. There’s a reason for that.

35. Mike Mills’ Beginners is what every romantic comedy should be from now on-We might regret that wish actually coming true, but Beginners was such a wondrous and funny look at how most of us have no idea what we’re doing in love even if it’s going well that we don’t regret saying it.

36. Jon Stewart Ranting about NY Pizza on the Daily Show–Stewart ranting about NYC’s pride in its pizza is one of the best clips this year on the Daily Show and it’s pretty much non-partisan.

37. Tom Scharpling revives the medium of music videos with funny friends-Simply, Tom Scharpling, host of the Best Show on WFMU, knows good music and really funny people and puts the two together in music videos he directs.

38. NY Mag’s Oral History of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre shows us the origin of many funny people currently on television-Talking to many of the folks involved in the early years of the UCB Theatre in NYC, NY Magazine provides a necessary and very entertaining comedy history lesson.

39. Rob Delaney takes the title of Twitter King, but that’s not all-Delaney was crowned Twitter King by National Lampoon, but that’s only one facet of his burgeoning comedy career with his Comedy Central pilot @RobDelaney, his Vice column, Take A Stroll with Rob Delaney, and more funny things with his name on it.

40. Hal Rudnick visiting inappropriate places-The Midnight Show & The Daily Habit’s Hal Rudnick is really great at visiting “adults only” places like a porn set or Adult Con and not being there for any of the sex.

41. NTSF:SD:SUV still comes short of being as ridiculous as what it’s parodying–Paul Scheer premiered his hilarious Adult Swim series in an attempt to show how crazy TV police procedurals have gotten with the President of Navy being kidnapped, only to be outdone, as Scheer admits, by the “real” thing.

42. John Hodgman shares his world knowledge with That is All-In preparing for the end of the world next year, John Hodgman gives us something all to enjoy reading while waiting for our impending doom.

43. Asterios Kokkinos does the world’s 1st stand-up set in 3D-Asterios Kokkinos would be an evil genius of comedy, however he’s pretty much the opposite of evil as evidenced by telling 3D jokes in 3D.

44. Jesse Miller straight-up kicked comedy in 2011 in the face–Andre Hyland’s hilarious character Jesse Miller who comes off as white trash, but has an amazing depth of pop culture knowledge brought his exuberance to the Daily Habit, live audiences, and straight-up to some bitch-ass ghost of Christmas.

45. Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris brings us back to the Woody Allen we used to know-Allen has restored faith (and gotten several award nominations for doing so) in those thought that the old Woody Allen with the splendid absurdist romp that is Midnight in Paris.

46. CNN Comedy, thankfully, isn’t what you think it is-CNN did not produce an original comedy series and, instead, did produce an intriguing video profile series that captured the essence of many today’s leading comedians such as Maria Bamford, Marc Maron, and Andy Kindler.

47. RE:COM Magazine keeps the dreams of a print magazine about comedy alive-Keying in on where comedy is going, it’s great to see something just about comedy in RE:COM Magazine rather than Rolling Stone’s occasional nod to comedy.

48. @Aparnapkin is yet another victim of being “criminally underfollowed”-Aparna Nancherla has charmed all the audiences she has performed for live and does so daily with her tweets to a following that should be much larger. “Guys, I just finished the Internet! So good. Couldn’t put it down. Oops brb my eyes are bleeding.-The Future of Our Species”

49. The Super Serious Show proves Field of Dreams adage works in comedy-Not located at Largo or the UCB Theatre in Hollywood, The Super Serious Show has built a loyal, paying fanbase of their monthly comedy variety show that makes Culver City cool even if you thought it was stuck-up. 

50. Bridesmaids proves that isn’t funny without attaching the “female Hangover” label to it–Bridesmaids had so much funny in it from people that were just hysterical like Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, or even director Paul Feig that it really should stopped only be discussed as a comedy that should be nominated for an Oscar.

51. Danger 5 is the funniest web series that should be in America, but isn’t-Produced by a network in Australia, Danger 5 is what Inglorious Basterds should have been, especially if it was in the form of an Adult Swim show.

52. Jackie Kashian delved really deep into The Dork Forest–Jackie Kashian’s podcast The Dork Forest really took off this year and rightfully so with how funny Jackie is and her true appreciation of being a dork/nerd.

53. Bill Cosby doing the late night talk show circuit-Bill Cosby gave us a nice reminder this year on the late night circuit that he still knows how to do comedy.

54. The Sklar Brothers keep up their comedy duo dominance-Their album Hendersons & Daughters and their Earwolf podcast Sklarbro Country have left us wanting more Sklar Brothers for 2012.

55. The Superego Podcast ushered in the future of comedy podcasts-While podcasts can arguably be pointed to as where comedy is headed, The Superego Podcast has made a podcast of hilarious improvised segments or a “future of the future”, if you will.

56. The Beards of Comedy do plenty of good to the name of touring groups of comedians-Many touring stand-up groups identify themselves with a socio-economic or ethnic classification, but the Beards of Comedy, as evidenced by their album Cardio Mix, are together just because they’re funny (one of them had to grow a beard, if you were wondering).

57. Peter Atencio directs amazing sketches all year long-From the Midnight Show to Comedy Central’s upcoming sketch comedy series Key & Peele, Peter Atencio is a go-to as far as sketch comedy directors are concerned as can be seen in this PSA about driving.

58. Lost Moon Radio makes a comedy Christmas album to remember–“It Had To Be Yule” might be the perfect combination of comedy and Christmas to undo all the harm “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” has done.

59. The Comedy Garage finally gets documented-Many people are unaware of how great comedy in a garage can be, especially with the likes of Sean Green, Cornell Reid, Paul Danke, Casey Feigh, and more at the helm. Thankfully, there’s a documentary showing exactly that.

60. The Imaginary Radio Program with Drennon Davis shames real radio-People that will catch this at the 2012 SF Sketchfest will be amazed at Drennon Davis musical and comedy virtuosity at work in this live sketch-radio program hybrid.

61. The Tommy-Wi Show features the one and only Tommy Wiseau playing video games-Tommy Wiseau + video games that he doesn’t understand + aliens = comedy gold.

62. Nerdist Theater has more than lived up to its name–Featuring all live things Nerdist, some of the best and most innovative comedy in LA has been coming out of the back of Meltdown Comics in Hollywood.

My Hymen Grew Back

63. Jim Hamilton speaks and writes funny things all year-@Jim_Hamilton is really funny on Twitter, awesome on The Daily Flailure on Tumblr, and just plain hilarious live. Find all three of these things in 2012.

64. Demorge Brown wins a Channel 101 Channy Award for one performance in Gumbel-As part of the amazing monthly TV series competition Channel 101, Demorge dazzled everyone with one episode of Gumbel as Gumbel. Just watch and you’ll understand.

65. Greg Proops still doing as much as he can in comedy and killing it–The Smartest Man in the World, stand-up, Improv-a-Ganza, Chelsea Lately regular, headlining Set List on the road, and more, Proops still got “it”.

66. Reggie Watts “does” the theme to Charles in Charge-Live at the Super Serious Show, Reggie Watts does what he does best by doing whatever he feels like doing like the theme to Charles in Charge, sort of.

67. Persona shows the many hilarious faces of Tony Sam and more-A monthly show at the Hollywood Improv Lab, Persona is a comedy show created by Tony Sam where everyone on the show plays a character in full costume. With the likes of Andy Daly, James Adomian, and more it’s certainly a stand-out show.

69. The Meltdown with Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani makes the back room of a comic book store a go to destination-Every Wednesday, The Meltdown Show at the Nerdist Theater brings dozens of folks to watch the best in the LA stand-up scene and hasn’t failed us the several times we’ve gone.

71. Ted and Gracie is one of the best web series about getting married–Jena Friedman shows how funny it can be when you really don’t know who you’re about to marry with Ben Kronberg.

72. Everything ended and now needs to become a real show-The virtual Channel 101 institution of the video art compilation show Everything came to an end this year as it did not finish high enough in the results for Channel 101 on one month, but now Jason Whetzell and Danny Jelinek need to curate such a show on a bigger scale.

73. Paul Scheer memes Oprah–Paul Scheer is great at many things like comedy, TV, as well as spotting and making memes.

74. Marc Maron’s gives the Just for Laughs Keynote Address–This address should be the Gettysburg Address for stand-up comedians.

75. The Midnight Show makes some of the funniest videos on any side of the Internet-Web videos for School of French Kissing for Dogs, The producer behind Rebecca Black’s Friday, and a great Muppets parody have all come from a stellar 2011 of the Midnight Show.

76. Ron Lynch killing without saying one intelligible word–Ron Lynch is one of the most under-appreciated comedians of our time because of this. See him wherever he’s performing and you might be lucky to catch him pull such a feat off once again without him saying much at all and not understanding him when he does.

77. Shelby Fero makes comedians wish they had started comedy earlier-The comedy prodigy already has a big following on Twitter and has figured viral videos out and she’s still in college. Maybe the takeover comedy isn’t the next logical step, but it’s only a few away, right?

78. Brody Stevens is still killing it-Even after his explosion on Twitter, Brody is still bringing the heat in his stand-up wherever he goes.

79. Hampton Yount finally giving George Washington his comeuppance-Hampton Yount has plenty of funny jokes and this is only one of them that we got to laugh over and over again this year. Download his CD Unbearable for however much you want to donate to get even more Hampton.

80. Dan Harmon can’t be knocked down-Despite Community being tabled by NBC, Harmon has some of the most loyal fans that voted Community #1 in TV Guide, will flash mob for him and certainly go to his live show, Harmontown. Also, Harmon still has his Channel 101.

81. American: The Bill Hicks Story gives the clearest picture of Bill Hicks to date–this documentary explores the early life of Hicks in such vivid detail that it is a must see for any comedy fan.

82. Katt Williams does not apologize for his comedy-In our opinion, there’s been too much apologizing for comedy in 2011 and, thankfully, Katt Williams stuck by what he said on stage when offending a Hispanic man during a live show.

83. Set List shows that improvised stand-up can not only be done, but done exquisitely-The improvised stand-up show, Set List, from the mind of Troy Conrad has proven to be a hit worldwide with some of the world’s best trying to make up jokes on the spot. Put this on the Definitely Do Not Miss of 2012. 

84. Liezl Was Here is a necessary book for all comedy nerds-Prolific comedy photographer Liezl Estipona made a book of all the great comedy she’s seen at all over the country and everyone who is into comedy should have it. 

Click to preview book

85. Comedian Dave Ross Tried to Get Sponsored by Vans-This is literally a thing that Dave Ross tried to do and for how funny and DIY he is, he should get Vans’ blessing and a bunch of free shoes.

86. Portlandia shows that pointing out how weird “Keep Portland Weird” as a city motto is-IFC Channel’s Portlandia with Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein shows that hipness can be successfully made fun of in a postmodern context without confusing anyone too much

87. Erin Gibson playing despicable women for Funny or Die–Erin Gibson has a knack for playing the roles of some of the most across-the-board despised women in comedy sketches like Michelle Bachmann or Megyn Kelly

88. @EveryTweet_Ever makes us all laugh while showing us how stupid our tweets are-No message of 140 characters or less is safe from funny ridicule thanks to @EveryTweet_Ever.

89. Comedy Royal gives a preview of what a comedy museum exhibit should look like-The good folks at The Comedy Royal know how the lexicon of comedy, whenever it’s compiled, should be presented.

90. Tig Notaro pushing a stool on TV-It may be oversimplifying it, but Tig pushing a stool across a stage is really f’n funny.

91. The Revitalization of the Hollywood Improv Lab-With Jamie Flam managing the reigns to the side room of the world famous Hollywood Improv, we got to see things we wouldn’t see anywhere else like Todd Barry making fun of a live jazz band.

92. Ron Babcock makes the theme blog everyone is thinking of, but aren’t funny enough to realize with Concocted Conversations-Ron sees things that are funny in real life and imagines the conversations had behind their creation, then shares the hilarity with the rest of us. 

93. Louis CK on the late night talk circuit-We tried to avoid as much repeating on this list as possible, but CK making fun of Jay Leno on the Tonight Show and explaining charities on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon deserves their own spot.

94. Matt Walsh has his directorial debut with High Road-A completely improvised movie with some of UCB’s funniest, both past and present in James Pumphrey, Abby Elliot, Lizzy Caplan, Horatio Sanz Ed Helms, Rich Fulcher, High Road made for a romantic buddy road ensemble comedy that hopefully more will get to see in 2012.

95. I Remain Champagne by Matt Champagne-Comedian Matt Champagne blogged everyday for an entire year to the joy of many in writing about such things as Red Neck Hipsters.

96. Dave Kloc gives an indie rock mythos to comedy shows with his posters-Designer of the posters for Meltdown and the Super Serious Show, Dave Kloc really goes out his way to give live comedy the amazing posters it deserves.

97. The Green Room w/Paul Provenza aired its second season-Seeing the comedic minds of Garry Shandling, Bo Burnham, and Marc Maron go head to head on the Green Room moderated by Paul Provenza is something no other show did this year and was exceptional for doing so and more.

98. MitchHedberg.Net launched-It’s the best way to remember the legendary Mitch Hedberg. 

99. The Pardo Patrol goes on the prowl of unsuspecting guests on Conan-Never Not Funny’s Jimmy Pardo has a show within, between, and in & around the actual taping of Conan and it has been an absolute delight even as Pardo barges into dressing rooms and kicks people out.

100. Katie Crown being nothing but Katie Crown–Katie Crown is a rare combination of quirky and absurd the likes of which will instantly hook you the first time you see her perform. I mean how could you not love a joke that has Scooby Doo at an OB/GYN? 

Morning Debriefing 1/1/12

January 1, 2012
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) We vastly underestimated how long it would take make a list of 100 things, much less a list of 100 of the funniest things we were lucky enough to see last year, so please do enjoy for our sake The 100 Best Things in Comedy That We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011.

2) HBO is unveiling a new comedy series today from Chris Lilley (Summer Heights High) called Angry Boys at 10PM. Hopefully, HBO will be rolling out more comedies very soon after cancelling three of them.

3) Megan Amram gives an extremely accurate prediction of what New Year’s Resolutions in the year 3012 will be like

4) The Just for Laughs Montreal showcases in LA are just around the corner…. just sayin’. More updates to come.

5) The Monday night open mic, Jake’s in Pasadena, will be shifting to Wed., starting this week. So Jan. 4th go to 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA at 8:30PM for sign-up and 9:30PM start/4 min./no purchase necessary. Not a bad addition for Eastside comics for 2012.

6) Once again, if you’re thinking of resolving to do stand-up as your New Year’s resolution or thinking about doing it in general, here’s a handy guide to making it more palatable (NOTE: we said more palatable, not palatable).

7) ON THE HORIZON
Sklar Brothers @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Jan. 14th 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Jimmy Pardo @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Jan. 21st 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Ha: Stuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 2PM/7PM $45-$55 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 5PM/No purchase necessary  
*IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMEDY OPENS MICS RUNNING TODAY that wish to be listed, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

10) I know it is redundant, but I’d like to thank all who read, subscribe to, repost, RT, share, etc. what I post because it keeps all the work I do worth it. Also, a very special thanks to all the people that donated to the Comedy Bureau and helping sustaining our efforts. Oh, you didn’t know we took donations? Well, now you do.

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Morning Debriefing 1/2/12

January 2, 2012
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) From what we know, Comedy Central’s got a real good roster of specials coming up, starting with John Mulaney Jan. 28th 10PM.

2) Brent Weinbach will be live taping his next album at the UCB Theatre LA on Jan. 28th and we should all be in attendance because something hilarious in a way we never thought of ever is going to happen.

3) Finally, the late night talk show circuit resumes and tonight the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has both Tim Meadows and Myq Kaplan (CBS 12:35AM)

4) A full episode of the new season of Portlandia? 2011 should be taking notes on how to start a year off.

5) Yes, though belated, A Drink With Dave delivered their Christmas special with Damien Fahey, Alie & Georgia, and more.

6) Who is Jake Fogelnest? Study up (it’s a short doc on Fogelnest trying to revive his show Squirt TV featuring Sarah Silverman, Andy Richter, and comedy faces/voices you’re probably familiar with) then follow his internet postings and never-ending fight against non-things/sea punks.

7) WordPress loses more ground to Tumblr as Paul F. Tompkins has taken the side of the Tumbls. Follow him now, even if you have to join Tumblr to do so.

8) Our 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011 includes anything from Jon Stewart’s pizza rant to Aubrey Plaza being awkward on the late night talk circuit to Eddie Pepitone dominating to the World’s 1st 3D Stand-up Set to several other things that need to be on other comedy lists in 2012.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
The Not Inappropriate Show @ UCB Theatre 4PM $12
The Mixer @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz)/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
PETIE’S PLACE 6025 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/one drink min./first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided    

11) I saw Chipwrecked and couldn’t come up with one joke that I liked because that’s how jokes about bad movies usually work.

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Morning Debriefing 1/3/12

January 3, 2012
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Someone named Troy Holm not only has the gumption to steal material from Doug Stanhope, but also has the, for the lack of a more vile word, daring to not bother changing any words or phrasing when posting on his blog, which has been taken down. That’s the type of thing that will screw your Wikipedia page over forever.

2) 2012 has barely started and already there are great comedy tapings a-plenty. Key & Peele are taping with a live audience and Jonah Ray is taping his next album both this month.

3) The LA Times included Ben Schwartz and Key & Peele in their Faces to Watch for 2012. Those are endorsements you should definitely listen to.

4) Chris Gethard has proclaimed himself the King of Authors as the release of his book A Bad Idea I’m About To Do is coming next week.

5) The Producers Guild Awards are out with nods to Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, Parks and Recreation, the Colbert Report, and more. Then, reality TV, as you’ll notice, now has its own categories.

6) Eddie Pepitone is everywhere (everywhere in this instance is Laughspin and the AV Club).

7) Anyone care to start a theme blog of Victoria Jackson being out of place?

8) Improv Everywhere’s Annual No Pants Subway Ride now has t-shirts to go with no pants.

9) The fifth episode of our This Better Be Funny Podcast asks the question: Can we write one truly original joke about Chipwrecked after watching it?

10) ON THE HORIZON
Fargo & The Big Lebowski Double Feature Drink-Along @ Downtown Independent Theater Sat. Jan. 7th 7PM $10 in adv, $15 at door

11) COMEDY CRAWL
This Is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $5/2 item min.
The BEATdown Los Angeles @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Good Luck Show @ Good Luck Bar 8PM FREE
This Is New… @ Lulu’s Beehive 8:30PM FREE
Comedy Bang Bang @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Geekscape Presents: Tokyo Drift @ Michael’s Bar & Grill 9PM FREE
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
JFL Montreal Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5 

12) THERE’S SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING THAT IS GOING TO GIVE COMEDY IN LA THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES AT HOLY FUCK TONIGHT THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS, NECESSITATING OUR ANNOYINGLY TYPING IN ALL CAPS. 

13) OPEN MIC RUN
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
DAVE’S BAR 708 Broadway, Glendale, CA/Starts 10PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

14) HEY EVERYONE, LANA DEL REY LIKES BILL HICKS, SO CAN EVERYONE LIKE COMEDY NOW PLEASE?

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hey comedy bureau, i have a quick question. is there an NYC equivalent of LA’s comedy bureau?

January 3, 2012
Uncategorized

Currently, from what we know and what our good friends of ours in NYC tell us, the answer to that question is: not really.

Often, when this inquiry comes up in conversation, the Comic’s Comic and the Apiary are two blogs that get mentioned a lot. Also, the Laugh Button has started listing NYC shows on a semi-regular basis, but there hasn’t been, at least to our knowledge and please notify us if we’re mistaken, a NYC equivalent of the Comedy Bureau.

With that in mind, we’d love to have a NYC branch, but we have yet to find people/a person dedicated, trustworthy in taste, and patient enough to sift through all the shows, news, videos, etc. we sift through on a daily basis for NYC. At some point, hopefully this year, we’re planning to visit NYC and maybe gain some ground on this front.

So, there are plans… (cue Montgomery Burns’ “finger pyramid of evil”). 

January 4, 2012
Uncategorized

RIP Angelo Bowers. May no one forget your smile, or hilarious jokes, or the fact that you live in a really great part of Detroit called Denver, Colorado.

Photo by Megan Baker

Donate to Josh Adam Meyers’ Medical Expenses

January 4, 2012
Uncategorized

Donate to Josh Adam Meyers’ Medical Expenses

Comedian Scott Boxenbaum has set up a Pay Pal account to help with comedian Josh Adam Meyers medical expenses. 

In the passing of Angelo Bowers, the LA comedy community has shown much of a community it is. Let’s continue that with aiding Josh Adam Meyers through this difficult time.

The Full Story of What Happened to Angelo Bowers and Josh Adam Meyers

January 4, 2012
Uncategorized

The Full Story of What Happened to Angelo Bowers and Josh Adam Meyers

eliolsberg:

I offered him a guest drop-in spot at next Tuesday’s Performance Anxiety and it was to be his last set before he left Los Angeles for a little while. A few hours later, Josh and Angelo were driving and they were struck by a drunk driver. Josh is in the hospital and Angelo is no longer with us.

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