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Even If in Space, Go See Lost Moon Radio

December 8, 2011
Uncategorized

When you hear the name Lost Moon Radio what do you think of?

Do you think of a terrestrial radio station? Do you think of an extraterrestrial radio station? Podcast, maybe? Does the newly discovered Kepler-22b somehow come to mind? 

Do you at any point think that it might be a comedy extravaganza that occurs every couple of a months in LA? The other three questions are more rhetorical than anything else, but Lost Moon Radio is absolutely every bit of a comedy extravaganza currently residing in Club Fais-Do-Do on the eastern outskirts of Culver City. Unlike a stand-up, improv, sketch, or even musical comedy, Lost Moon Radio defies any identity as a live comedy show of anything short of a comedy spectacle. 

Literally, it’s like nothing we’ve seen before here at the Comedy Bureau and at comedy shows we’ve seen:
-Stand-up in complete darkness
-Sketches that had so many plants in the audience that they were unsure if the person they were yelling at was a plant
-Funny sword swallowers, knife throwers, and balancers
-An entire hilarious comedic performance where there isn’t a single intelligible word spoken 

Those are all things we’ve seen at comedy variety shows, but the Lost Moon Radio Company is something else altogether. Featuring the same talented groups of writers, performers, and musicians, Lost Moon Radio melds sketches within what is a sort of radio hour all performed live with a comedic sensibility akin to the old, absudist Woody Allen. 

At their last show, we saw:
-A fictional BBC educational show intended for kids as would have been done by David Bowie
-Guided group meditation through a horrific memory of the Vietnam War
-A giant space bird costume as the inspiration a spectacular musical number
-A great running Marc Bolan joke

As the Lost Moon Radio doesn’t do their show weekly or monthly and, instead, goes on runs like a theatrical company, they inject a whole lot more production value into their shows. It’s an aspect of most popular live sketch shows that leave to the imagination of the audience and leave the humor to sharp writing and great performances. LMR brings all of that together in addition to a myriad of characters, live songs, and elaborate sets and heighten their humor all the more for doing so.

Luckily, their next “episode” opens in two days on Fri. Dec. 9th and continuing on the 10th, 15th, 16th, and 17th at 8:30PM followed by live band karaoake. Basically, we’ve stop trying to figure how to categorize Lost Moon Radio and settled on just saying, “That’s one hell of a funny show.”

Morning Debriefing 12/8/11

December 8, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Sean Patton spins, shrieks, and “brings it” on Conan.

2) Finally, the Book of Mormon is coming to LA…

3) Last week, the story broke that the Apple iPhone 4S’ virtual concierge service, Siri, lacked in providing assistance when asked about birth control, rape prevention, and the like. Apparently, now, Siri is trying too hard to make up for it.

4) Improv Everywhere is coming out with a DVD of their massive comedy performance art exploits including their famous Annual No Pants Subway Ride.

5) Will Ferrell makes a case for best celebrity endorsement of the year with ads for Old Milwaukee.

6) Next to the Three Stooges trailer, the trailer for 5 Year Engagement w/Jason Segel looks absolutely magical. 

7) Funny or Die enlists Megan Mullally to run an actresses’ home with Aubrey Plaza, Lizzy Caplan, Casey Wilson, and Lake Bell.

8) Alan Lebetkin and Scott Garner of Language Arts Films “found” a recruitment video for the entire Internet.

9) The Christmas Outpour of Support Drive for NBC’s Community continues on College Humor, The Soup, and Splitsider. 

10) Puddin’-“Horatio”

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Bill Burr @ Brea Improv 8PM $22/2 item min.
The Imaginary Radio Program @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Roadshow! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $11/$5 with online promo code “FRIENDS”
Subversive Comedy w/Jimmy Dore @ Flappers Burbank 8PM $12/2 item min. 
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Infinite Jest @ Villany Prdt 9PM FREE
Nick’s Big Talk Show @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Sweet, Sweet Stand-up @ M Bar 10PM $5 suggested donation 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
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.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
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 8PM/Starts 8PM/first come, first necessary/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  

13) If you can’t handle feeling incredibly insecure on a regular basis, then you probably shouldn’t do comedy.

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December 8, 2011
Uncategorized
live at beacon theater, louis ck

“@louisck outtake of my new standup special available only at http://www.louisck.com $5 Dec. 10 stream or d-load. dogs.”

Go internet/comedy nerds…

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

Morning Debriefing 12/9/11

December 9, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) SF Sketchfest is coming and boy, oh boy do they have a doozy of a line-up. Eddie Izzard, Reggie Watts, Wet Hot American Summer: The Live Radio Play, Jon Benjamin Has A Van LIVE, Set List, and more.

2) The Nerdist YouTube channel just launched!

3) Kyle Kinane has a lovely chat with the A.V. Club Toronto.

4) The Story Behind Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

5) Bill Maher will help start a comedy channel for Yahoo. Not that we’re the betting kind, but I’d imagine it’s a pretty safe bet that much that channel we’ll be dedicated to the legitimacy of Yahoo’s trending topics.

6) Nick Offerman and Aziz Ansari will be on Bob’s Burgers.

7) Just in case, you didn’t catch it for the thousands of time it was posted yesterday, here’s Louis CK’s outtake for his latest special Live at the Beacon Theater coming out online on Dec. 10th for $5.

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy For the Cure @ CSULB USU Beach Auditorium 7PM $10/$5 for students
Bill Burr @ Brea Improv
8PM/10PM $25/2 item min.
It Came From LA @ Dom’s Lounge 8PM
Garfunkel & Oates: Ho, Ho, Hoes? Holiday Show @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
The 12 Shiny Nickels @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Adult Contemporary Comedy @ Fake Gallery 9PM FREE
Harmontown @ Nerdist Theater 9PM $10
Deathsquad @ Ice House Stage 2 10PM $10/2 item min.
The Jesse Miller Talk Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5
Late Night w/Howie Kremer @ Second City Hollywood 11PM $5 
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World @ New Beverly Cinema MIDNIGHT $8 

9) 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
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/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.
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  

10) Hey happy couples, thank you for going to live comedy shows, taking part in the mirth of the night and laugh, but there’s no damn need to play footsie while I’m standing next to you to remind you that I don’t have that. Take your laughing and quit while you’re ahead.

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Morning Debriefing 12/10/11

December 10, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) At 9AM PST, Louis CK will be releasing his newest special Live at the Beacon Theater on louisck.net. At 10AM PST, check the internet for memes and .gifs of said special.

2) Funny or Die continues to find the gold in the GOP’s garbage as DC Pierson plays Jesus in response to Rick Perry’s most recent campaign ads.

3) Plenty of you probably know this, but for those of you on Instagram (is that what people that go outside do?) Young Adult is now playing at select theaters in LA.

4) Add another book to your comedy nerd Christmas List: Mourning Remembrance by Jim Earl. What’s more festive than fictional obituaries?

5) Just when you thought the jokes about the Comic Sans font were dead, here’s a blog to bring a whole new life to it. [via JFineOriginal]

6) Our Facebook Page has a whole bunch of stuff on it that isn’t posted here or on our Twitter, so like it to be even more impressed of how great it would be if an entire team was curating the Comedy Bureau.

7) Here’s a response we wrote for the Nerdist regarding a NY Times article claiming comedy (specifically those of sitcoms) are over. Before you think it’s “preaching to the choir”, read the whole thing.

8) ON THE HORIZON
Justin Willman’s Magic Meltdown (Pete Holmes is on the line-up and just might do his now famous bit about magic) @ Nerdist Theater Tues. Dec. 13th 8PM $8 in adv./$10 at door
The Brendon Small Secret Experimental Show @ Steve Allen Theater Sat. Dec. 17th 8PM $10-$300

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Bill Burr @ Brea Improv 7PM/9PM $25/2 item min.
The Creepy Caress Show @ Flappers YooHoo Room 7:30PM $10/2 item min.
Loud Noises! @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The 2011 Channel 101 Channy Awards @ Downtown Independent Theater 8PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Hutch’s Comedy BBQ & Laughs @ Hutch’s Barbecue 8PM FREE
Paul Scheer’s 3rd Annual Sexy Christmas Spectacular @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25 (stand by only)
One-Two Punch @ Benton Manor 8PM $3
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5 

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. 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery 

11) Thanks to my purchase of DVD of Mike Mills’ the Beginners, I can simultaneously cry and laugh with the simple push of the play button.

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Morning Debriefing 12/11/11

December 11, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) And the winners for the 2011 Channel 101 Channy Awards are… [via @Channel101]
Best Failed Pilot: Jamestrain
Best Special FX: The Sequence
Best Animation: McBusters
Best Production Design: Googy
Best Supporting Female Performance: Kate Freund, Intimate Indiscretions
Best Supporting Male Performance: Kumail Nanjiani, Googy
Best Editing: Aaron Moles, The Sequence
Best Cinematography: Mike Manasewitsch, Googy
Sexiest Moment: Intimate Indiscretions
Best Action: Kate Freund & Ryan Nagata, Legend of the White Tiger
Best Male Performance: Demorge Brown, Gumbel
Best Female Performance: Jae Suh, Sex Teenagers
Lifetime Achievement: Sevan Najarian
Best Writing: Paul Isakson & Tom Kaufman, Sex Teenagers
Best Directing: Mike Manesewitsch & Willy Roberts, Googy
Best Show: Googy 

If you’ve never seen any of these, go to Channel101.com and catch the F up.

2) The SF Sketchfest/San Francisco Comedy Festival tickets are now on sale and some shows are already selling out. Damn you people with money!!!

3) The rumors are true: There will be an Eddie Pepitone documentary. That’s a start in making up for him being cut from the Muppets.

4) Downtown event space Towne Hall is still looking for some holiday generosity on Indie Gogo.

5) Yeah, Don’t torrent Louis CK’s Live at the Beacon Theater. In fact, don’t torrent anything. Go to the fucking record store and buy records (mostly so we have someone to talk to at the comedy section).

6) ON THE HORIZON
The Comedy Garage 6th Annual Christmas Sweater & Mustache Party @ Monkspace Thurs. Dec. 15th 10PM $5

7) COMEDY CRAWL
Clownvis @ Redwood Bar 3PM $3
Bill Burr @ Brea Improv
7PM $22/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
I’m Going Somewhere With This: A Storytelling Show @ The Mint 8PM $10
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly! w/guest Jim Hamilton @ iO West 9PM $5
Neal Brennan & Friends @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
Powerviolence @ The Complex 9PM FREE
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only) 

8) OPEN MIC RUN
SUNDAY SKETCH SHOW @ WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/open mic for sketches only/no purchase necessary/sign-up in advance thesundaysketchshow@gmail.com
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
HOLLYWOOD IMPROV 8162 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/Starts 9:30PM/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/multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee available   

9) It is amazing how high the number of Los Angelenos is that you have to explain that there was an actual shooting with a gun in Hollywood as opposed to a film shoot. It’s either that or we’ve all become that jaded with an ever-present deathwish.

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Louis C.K. is NOW taking your questions on Reddit

December 12, 2011
Uncategorized

Louis C.K. is NOW taking your questions on Reddit

Morning Debriefing 12/12/11

December 12, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel get to “crash test” the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.

2) Buzzfeed puts together a solid 90 Best Twitter Feeds that includes Twitter royalty like Rob Delaney, and Kelly Oxford, but also newcomer Every Tweet Ever.

3) Gallery 1988 keeps killing it as they’ll have an Adult Swim Art Show next year.

4) Part 4 of 5 of the Diamond Girls from Danger 5. Don’t ask. Just watch and enjoy.

5) Go to the SF Sketchfest because everything…

6) By the way, an actual Channel 101 Channy Award looks pretty sweet…

Ah, I see you noticed my writing award!

7) And now for your daily Puddin’-“Kidney Stones”

8) ON THE HORIZON
The Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail Presents: The Nerdist Stand-Up Special @ Nerdist Theater Wed. Dec. 14th 8:30PM $8

9) COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Jokes with Friends @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
The 1988 Nakatomi Corporation Christmas Party @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 

10) 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
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
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is lottery/no purchase necessary
PETIE’S PLACE 6025 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana, CA/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) New Year’s Eve has a 7% on Rotten Tomatoes and the Funny or Die parody went “immortal”. That’s a good sign for getting a Razzie, right?

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December 13, 2011
Uncategorized

thisbetterbefunny:

The second episode of This Better Be Funny takes place right after at stand-up show at an AA recovery hall with three fantastic and hilarious guests: Lauri Roggenkamp, Jesse Case, and Brett Hamil. Hosts Jake Kroeger and Jeremy Paul ask themselves and their guests, “What is the shittiest joke you’re currently working on?”

Also, we’ve concluded from this episode that people, for their own sake, need to watch more movies and catch the hell up on joke references.

We know that there is a growing sentiment of “geez… another comedy podcast?” but please give This Better Be Funny a listen. Sure, we created it, so it’s a completely biased request, but hearing comedians explicitly trying to figure out how something is funny by doing exactly that in pitching jokes, bits, etc. is something that’s fascinating. 

Also, chatting outside of an AA hall at midnight makes for pretty great conversation.

Morning Debriefing 12/13/11

December 13, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Tonight on late night TV, Andy Kaufman Award winner Nick Vatterott will be doing one hell of a set (we saw it last night and we’ll just leave it at “it’s amazing”) and Nick Frost will stop by on Conan (TBS 11PM), Jason Reitman will be on The Tonight Show (NBC 11:35PM), and Bill Hader will chat with David Letterman on the Late Show (CBS 11:35PM).

2) The nominations for the Critic’s Choice Awards, of which Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel will be hosting, give plenty of love to the Descendants, Midnight in Paris, and Young Adult.

3) One of our favorite web series that puts the reality series “Who the Bleep Did I Marry?”, “Ted and Gracie” with Jena Friedman and Ben Kronberg rolled out its hilarious next episode.

4) As we’ve said before, comedy in print isn’t dead! Look out for Fortunate Soldier with the likes of Matt Braunger, Kyle Kinane, and more adding to its pages.

5) Seth Rogen has been asked to host the Independent Spirit Awards. Perhaps, Scheer and Huebel along with their hosting of the Critics Choice Awards can have an indie awards cage match?

6) Improv Everywhere is getting a documentary made about them and that documentary needs help. Watch the trailer and you’ll agree.

7) “Inside the LA comedy scene with the Comedy Store’s Alf Lamont” a recent interview for KPCC. If you don’t know who Alf Lamont is, read up. It’s important.

8) Here’s our thoughts on the Black List, the annual collection of the “most-liked” screenplays in 2011 that aren’t in production. Also, Ben Schwartz and Morgan Murphy & Ali Waller have scripts on there.

9) NitTwits bring a great Danny Zuker tweet about reading your child’s diary to their burgeoning series.

10) ON THE HORIZON
Robert Buscemi 2nd Stand-up Album Taping @ Downtown Independent Theater Tues. Dec. 20th 9PM FREE

12) COMEDY CRAWL
The 2011 Comedy Bang Bang Nativity Pageant @ Ricardo Montalban Theatre 7PM $30-$100
Comedy Night w/Singer, Kashian, Wengert, and more @ Three of Clubs 7:30PM FREE
Performance Anxiety @ The Pleasure Chest 8PM $7
Justin Willman’s Magic Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10 
Blamblamblam! @ R-Bar 9PM FREE
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Public School Stories @ M Bar 9PM No cover/$10 min.
The OkCupid Show @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 

13) OPEN MIC RUN
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
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 8PM/first come, first served/$4 min.
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   

14) Really Nightline? You intro’d your piece on Louis CK with “So a guy walks into a bar..”? Please catch up to the rest of comedy.

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Morning Debriefing 12/14/11

December 14, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) FX’s The League gets renewed for its fourth season! If only the negotiations for sports leagues were actually this easy…

2) Sacha Baron Cohen is the Dictator in this new trailer, not Jeffrey Ross at the last Comedy Central Roast.

3) TJ Miller & Nick Swardson are going to Hell & Back. Stop-motion animation style. 

4) Please get some joy in your life by watch Nick Vatterott and Nick Frost on Conan. Further your joy with Louis CK on the Tonight Show (NBC 11:35PM) and Patton Oswalt on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS 12:35AM).

5) Drunk History coming back for Christmas might be the best gift ever. Full disclosure: We have poor friends that can’t afford gifts.

6) Font Wars? Yes, it’s a real thing between the Comics Sans Project vs. Bans Comics Sans

7) Next Wednesday, there’ll be a new open mic in Hollywood at The Bar, sign-up 7PM, starts 7:30PM, no cover/no minimum, and hosted by Stan Macie.

8) In Louis CK news, he made some money on his special and was on NPR’s Fresh Air.

9) Comedian/singer Karen Kilgariff knows how to do Christmas right.

10) Do not miss this week’s 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week from the Nerdist.

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Murray Valeriano Taping @ M Bar 7PM No cover/$10 min.
Shotgun Story Worthy, The Game Show Podcast @ El Cid 7:30PM $8
Persona! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5
Your Dose of Comedy @ Ice House Stage 2 $10/2 drink min.
Trepany House Benefit Opening Night @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $35-$300 
Meltdown Presents: The Nerdist Stand-Up Special @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8 
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Cafe & Bar 9:30PM FREE
Dot Comedy @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.
Stampede! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5
The Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ Next Stage Theater 11PM $5 

12) 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 5:45/Starts 6PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery
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  

13) To every bit of comedy that doesn’t work, know that it was still funny, even if only to the one person that created it.

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Morning Debriefing 12/15/11

December 15, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW (Yes, that means breathing too) and watch Asterios Kokkinos do the world’s first 3D stand-up set. (Note: You don’t need the glasses to laugh)

2) Louis CK gives Jay Leno probably one of his best interviews all year in parts one, two, and three. Tonight, John Hodgman (who was hilarious on the Daily Show last night) will be on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS 12:35AM)

3) Mike Bridenstine and Mike Burns’ Gentlemen Scumbags podcast is coming out with a “ "Best of” album soon. You’re probably going to get an iTunes Card for Christmas and this is a good way to spend it.

4) The Golden Globe nominations came out today and we could not, for the life of us, remember what Episodes and Enlightened were until the images of their billboards popped in our heads. Also, we yelled at our computer (we only have one of those) a lot for the obvious snubs and confusing choices in what got nominated for comedy (slash musicals, because those are pretty much the same thing, right?).

5) Time Magazine names Kristen Wiig, Louis CK, and Trey Parker & Matt Stone as People That Matter this year. Also, Herman Cain should thank Funny or Die for also being included on this list.

6) Dave Ross should really be sponsored by Vans. Here are his reasons why.

7) Bill Cosby will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Despite what you think of his politics, it’s well deserved. 

8) Just a semi-friendly reminder, Don’t Steal from Louis CK.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
The Super Serious Show @ Smashbox Studios 7PM $15
The Smartest Man in the World LIVE w/Greg Proops @ Bar Lubistch 7PM FREE
Westside Comedy Laugh Party @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Third Annual Best Doorknockers Christmas Pageant Ever! @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10-$300
Risk! A Storytelling Show @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Comedy Garage: 6th Annual Christmas Sweater Party @ Monkspace 10PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
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.
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
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) There’s nothing quite like the wide range of comedians leaving a venue all the way from taking three hours to say goodbye/get another joke in all the way to slipping off like self-involved ninjas.

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Lizzy Cooperman-Tip of the Hat 12/15

December 16, 2011
Uncategorized

Now is an undeniably great time for stand-up comedy. Anyone who says that stand-up is dead has not been to a live comedy show, especially in NY and LA, in the last couple of years. A certain punk rock mentality has been injected into the veins of the form and has sprouted a whole new interest as well as an ever-burgeoning group of up-and-coming comedians that really channel this great “shoot now, ask questions later” spirit. One of the best examples of this, as well as the person who gets our Tip of the Hat this week, is the brilliant, fierce, and side-splitting-ly funny Lizzy Cooperman.

Lizzy, whether she is doing 5 min. or an entire hour at a bar or on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, instantly makes an unique experience out of any performance. From the moment she takes mic to the end of her set, it’s comedy that reaches a rare level of being thrilling. At this point, it might sound like Cooperman has a devised some incredibly clever mash-up of performance art and comedy, but that would likely suggest that she doesn’t go through a barrage of jokes that hit fast and hit hard as well as the coda of many of her jokes in a resounding slam of her accompanying keyboard. It’s her combining well crafted jokes with an indisputable stage presence that is absolutely riveting. Together, it’s the complete hysterical experience that is watching Lizzy Cooperman tell jokes.

Her absurdist, though inspired through her eccentric and delightful world view, jokes may range from delightfully silly to hilariously visceral, but are always compact enough to never let an audience out of her grasp. If you think it’s too silly like her joke about the naming of Garbanzo Beans, Lizzy’s sheer confidence will make you laugh and applaud resoundingly.

Show after show and set after set, Lizzy has done exactly as we have described in the paragraph above and thusly become a darling of the LA comedy scene. Almost a year ago, we saw Lizzy do a show in what can be considered small for a black box theater and not only did she do great, but a girl in the audience stood up on her seat in three inch platform shoes and cheered Cooperman on during her set as if it was some sort of political rally. Check any comedy show’s line-up for her name, follow her on Twitter @lizzycooperman and then go out of your way to see her because that’s exactly what we do. 

Morning Debriefing 12/16/11

December 16, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy news, los angeles

1) Andy Kindler answers only one question on CNN Comedy.

2) Here’s Michel Gondry’s version of Taxi Driver in less than 3 minutes. For those still mad at Be Kind Rewind and Science of Sleep, just watch the damn thing and enjoy yourself.

3) Bill Hicks’ birthday would have been today, so commemorate it by perhaps downloading some of his early, early stuff on 12/16/61.

4) Pics from the 2011 Comedy Bang Bang Nativity Pageant at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre made it into LA Weekly.

5) So, the Party Down movie is close to happening, but David Cross has his reservations about Arrested Development’s return? What gives universe?

6) Today, Amy Poehler will be on The Ellen Degeneres Show (4PM KNBC)

8) Fast Company like the odds for @RobDelaney, both the comedian and the Comedy Central Pilot.

9) The belated Tip of the Hat this week goes to the hilarious and electrifying Lizzy Cooperman.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Dan Cummins @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
Small and Tall Tales @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
Memories From the Happy House @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 8PM/10PM $22/2 item min.
Re-Animator Songbook Performance @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $35-$300
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
The 12 Shiny Nickels @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
Count Creepula’s Horrifically Holiday Improvised Movie @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM 10:30PM $5
Bill Hicks’ Ninja Bachelor Party Screening Cinefamily Fundraiser @ The Comedy Store
11:30PM $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 

12) Anyone going to make Christopher Hitchens jokes? A considerable percentage that answers “no” to that question are incredibly hypocritical.

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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.

Report 00378
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