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The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 172: JoAnn Schinderle & Being an Upright Citizen

July 12, 2023

It’s kind of a sweet spot if you, as a comedian, can have your day job also be in comedy. JoAnn Schinderle has managed to land there with being the Venue Manager at UCB Franklin in addition to being a wonderful stand-up in the LA scene (and even making some dough from commissioned erotic fiction). Switching gears between all three and whatever falls in between can be a challenge, which is why we talk to her all about how she pulls it off (as well as what’s going on behind-the-scenes at Upright Citizens Brigade these days).

Also, “hot”/hot takes on this year’s Emmy nominees.

Follow JoAnn @joann.schinderle on IG

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

Pick of the Day: My Momma Told Me (in NYC) 8/26

July 12, 2023

News

bell house, big money players, david gborie, langston kerman, live podcast, nyc comedy

Though saying that there’s “no conspiracy here” is a great way to start a conspiracy, there’s no conspiracy as to how or why David Gborie and Langston Kerman‘s exploration of black conspiracies on their podcast My Momma Told Me is so damn fantastic and popular. Simply, both Gborie and Kerman talking up anything would be an enthralling laugh riot and conspiracy theories, no matter the origin, true or not, are pretty much a never ending gold mine for comedy.

The live tapings of My Momma Told Me are especially a raucous good time and one shouldn’t miss the chance to bear witness to one. For those in NYC, you’re going to get your chance to catch a live My Momma Told Me next month on Sat. Aug. 26th at the Bell House at 7:30PM. Tickets are $25. 42 and you best go get them here before they sell out.

TCB Debriefing 7/11/23: This Fool, Elysian AD, How to With John Wilson, Silverman Suing Against AI, Meta Zombie Comedy “Final Cut”

July 11, 2023

News

final cut, how to with john wilson, sarah silverman, the elysian, this fool

We used to round comedy news up items as part of our singular daily post, The Comedy Bureau Morning Debriefing, at the very beginning of The Comedy Bureau. Since that post included all the info we wanted to share all at once (including shows and mics), it took too long to post (i.e. it would never be in the morning).

That said, the news cycle is even faster than it was 2010, and we’re doing a modified version of it to make sure you don’t miss any of the things that are happening at this very moment in comedy (that don’t need 500 words of analysis). So enjoy our recurring rundown, The Comedy Bureau Debriefing, once more, including a final bit of food for thought like we used to do in the early 2010s.

1. Hulu’s This Fool is only coming up to its second season with nothing but accolades (no surprise from the team behind Corporate plus Chris Estrada and Frankie Quiñones and Michael Imperioli), which means we’ve waited too long for its release. New season due Fri. Jul. 28th, but watch trailer for season 2 here.

2. LA comedy’s bright shining experimental comedy theater, The Elysian, has a new Artistic Director in Jacquelyn Landgraf (who has extensive experimental theater experience)and a brand new side room/mini theater called “The Skunk Room” right next door. Look forward to The Elysian to continue its trail blazing ways (and maybe even more so with a smaller room at its disposal).

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3. It has been such a lovely run for John Wilson and his bewitching docu-series, How To with John Wilson on HBO. We all do get treated to a final season of the most magically assembled b-roll of NYC that has ever been assembled, but that will all that John wrote for How To with John Wilson when all episodes aired on HBO/put up at Max. Watch and delight in the final season trailer here. Premiere is Fri. Jul. 28th.

4. Sarah Silverman is suing Meta and OpenAI for using her memoir to train AI language models w/o consent or compensation (Variety). This feel likes the tip of the iceberg in regards to problems we will run into with AI not only in comedy, but with any and all creative work.

5. 12 years after receiving the Oscar for Best Directing for The Artist (in addition to nabbing Best Picture Oscar too), Michel Hazanavicius is coming out with a daring new, genre-be-damned meta French zombie comedy that’s equal parts Why Don’t You Play in Hell? and Shaun of the Dead. Take a gander with the trailer here. Limited theatrical release begins Fri. Jul. 14th.

6. What is late night now with the Writers Strike continuing to stand strong? Just Hot Ones, YouTube clips of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and whatever garbage is festering out of Greg Gutfeld’s mouth? If so, damn.

Pick of the Day: Puppet Up! (in LA) 7/14-7/16 & 7/21-7/23

July 11, 2023

News

henson alternative, henson studios, los angeles comedy, puppet up, puppets

Puppet Up! is finally back. The Henson Alternative is assembling once again to bring you some of the best puppetry getting into the sort of chaos and mischief that isn’t really for kids. Pretty much every year, lucky LA folks will have a chance to not only step foot on the legendary Henson Recording Studios lot, specifically on the Charlie Chaplin Soundstage, immersed in Hollywood history, but also get to see many of the very best puppeteers/comedy folks (including Colleen Smith, Donna Kimball, Drew Massey, Geneviève Flati, Grant Baciocco, Raymond Carr, Ted Michaels, and music from Dan Ring) cut loose and go blue.

This 2023 edition of Puppet Up! will run from on the weekends for the next two weeks on Jul. 14th-16th & Jul. 21st-23rd with early and late shows on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $75 and you best go get them here right now.

Pick of the Day: Hotsy-Totsy tribute to What We Do In The Shadows (in NYC) 7/13

July 10, 2023

News

burlesque, hotsy totsy, nyc comedy, what we do in the shadows

One of the most unquestionably funny shows in all of television, What We Do in the Shadows, returns for its fifth season on FX/Hulu starting this Thurs/Fri. It also probably one of the more raunchy comedies on TV, even more so than the sequel series to Sex and the City, making it unequivocally one of the few series actually worthy of appointment viewing.

To honor these notions, venerable NYC burlesque troupe Hotsy Totsy are doing a What We Do in the Shadows burleseque tribute at The Slipper Room this Thurs. Jul. 13th at 8PM. This actually lines up perfectly if you’re going to, like most folks, watch WWDITS on Hulu the very next day since the linear TV premiere is on the very same night on FX (then put on Hulu the following day).

Tickets for such a lovely and dark and silly and sexy evening are sold out, but there will be limited tickets at the door, so maybe show up plenty early (or try turning into a bat to sneak in).

First Line-Up for 10th Annual High Plains Comedy Festival

July 7, 2023

News

denver, denver comedy, high plains comedy festival

The High Plains Comedy Festival, Denver’s premier comedy festival (and still one of the best comedy festivals in the country), is coming up pretty soon (thank goodness) from Thurs. 9/21-Sat. 9/23.

In retaining such a high status, they just announced its first round of brightly shining comedy stars that will be in attendance in Mile High City for their 10th edition that includes many of our very favorite comedians from LA, NYC, Denver, and elsewhere in the U.S.

That will include:

Beth Stelling
Chris Gethard
Ian Karmel
Vanessa Gonzalez
Dave Hill
Shane Torres
Caitlin Peluffo
Will Miles
Katrina Davis
Jonah Ray
Usama Siddiquee
Giulia Rozzi
Daniel Van Kirk
Katie Hannigan
Adam Cayton-Holland
Kenice Mobley
Ben Roy
Clare O’Kane
Billy Wayne Davis
Andrew Orvedahl
Nori Reed
David Gborie
Sam Tallent
Samantha Ruddy
Sean Jordan
Emil Wakim
Mishka Shubaly
Graham Kay
Victoria Vincent
Rafe Williams
Simon Gibson
M.K. Paulsen
Brad Wenzel
Troy Walker
Emily Panic
Jordan Doll
Shaunak Godkhindi
Chris Chapentier
Shannon Norman

And, there’s plenty more grand comedy to be announced in the coming weeks and months leading up to September. If you’re enticed (and should be) festival passes for High Plains are on sale now for $150 and you can (and should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: Charlie and Richard: Secret Project (in NYC) 7/15

July 7, 2023

News

Charlie Bardey, experimental comedy, nyc comedy, richard perez

With I Have To Do This, Richard Perez and Charlie Bardey have already created a comedic treasure. The nuance pulled from even the most minuscule movement or facial expression by Perez in every intimate vignette of a relationship was an absolute laugh riot. Both Perez and Bardey honed I Have To Do This to such a painstaking degree that even the initial setting of a chair on stage is pretty damn funny.

So, it should stand to reason that you’ll want to be witness to their latest collaboration, whatever it may be. Bardey and Perez are indeed putting on another show, though they’re not revealing a single damn thing about it and going so far to call it “Charlie and Richard: Secret Project”. Without a doubt, whatever Charlie and Richard come up with for the Union Hall crowd next Sat. Jul. 15th at 5PM will be something special.

Tickets are $11.55 and you can (and should) go get them here and you really ought to alter whatever your plans were to go see exactly what Charlie and Richard have up their sleeves.

Go Watch and Delight in Asteroid City, Especially If You’re Sick of Multiplex Big Budget IP Tentpoles

July 6, 2023

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Asteroid City has been out on the festival circuit and in theaters long enough to dissect its exemplary quality as a specimen of comedic auteur Wes Anderson’s body of work. Color palate, symmetry, über-niche props and set dressing with equally complex characters to match, the negative space of pacing, the twee score, an embarrassment of riches of an ensemble cast, etc. all make for the seemingly esoteric charm of a Wes Anderson film. What stands out with Asteroid City is Wes awareness of his own auteur-ship (and the accompanying send-ups of his signature style), then unabashedly embracing his own beautiful ridiculousness in a farcical meta manner; detractors and edgelords be damned.

Again, there are plenty of reviews digging far deeper into these notions and the like whether they walked away from viewing Asteroid City with a big grin on their face (like us) or confounded at what exactly is Wes Anderson up to becoming even more Wes Anderson-y than usual.

Instead, we’d humbly point out that the inevitable bubble of Marvel/comic book/studio tentpole movies is starting to burst as evidenced by projected big box office losses on such marquee titles as The Flash and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. For decades now, the predictability of box office from adapting IP (including anything from a comic book to LEGO) was disturbingly reliable, resulting in the incessant deluge of cinematic universes that we’ve gotten at our local multiplexes. With the disruption of what should have been a “sure thing” for summer movie fare is the general public voting with their feet/dollars.

In that spirit, one could point towards a brighter future with going to see the brightly shining delight that is Asteroid City (already doing quite well in its opening weeks in the speciality box office). If the fatigue with comic book movies is real and people aren’t going to see them, eventually even the most profit driven studios will have to change tactics and focus in on more original stories/visions that folks will go out to see on the big screen rather than wait for it on streaming or not watch at all.

Sure, that might end up resulting in something like a Wes Anderson Cinematic Universe, but isn’t that more charming and aesthetically enthralling than the MCU?

Reservation Dogs Season 3 Trailer Promises More of What Everyone Loves About Reservation Dogs

July 6, 2023

News

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Finally, in less than a month, Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi are returning with the third season of Reservation Dogs starting Wed. Aug. 2nd. This latest round of their critically acclaimed and award winning FX series follows the eponymous Reservation Dogs finding themselves yet again, though, back at where their started (not to tip the hat to those who haven’t binged their way through the first two seasons already).

From the looks of this first official trailer for this latest season, more of the magically real, offbeat indigenous humor and captivating pathos are on display, so much so that it might actually make up for the bad taste that Taika’s latest Thor movie has left in our mouths.

See for yourself with a first full length at season 3 here and try and see if there’s something to FX focusing on the name “Bear”. Again, look for this latest season of Reservation Dogs to get going on Aug. 2nd.

Pick of the Day: Mentioned You. (in NYC) 7/13

July 6, 2023

News

adam gilbert, andrew casertano, caroline hanes, daniela mora, dating show, john kennedy, nyc comedy, ray devito, ryan long, the stand, tommy bayer

A competitive dating show is a tried and true formula. From The Dating Game to F Boy Island, the entertainment value is kind of undeniable, especially in regards into unintentional (or maybe intentionally “unintentional”) comedy that gets run through the gauntlet on the Internet and lives on forever in meme vernacular.

So, why not up the ante with having comedians competing against each other in a dating show format? Well, that’s exactly what is happening with Ethan Terzi’s “Mentioned You.” where 5 comedians square off to win the love (or more accurately, momentary attraction?) of 1 bachelorette. NYC comedy’s Ryan Long, Andrew Casertano, Adam Gilbert, Caroline Hanes, Ray DeVito, and Tommy Bayer will be the suitors with John Kennedy and Daniela Mora presiding over what should be the best version of a Dating Game/Bachelor format.

So, look out for Mentioned You. @ The Stand on Thurs. Jul. 13th at 10PM. Tickets are $18.69 and you can (and should) go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 171: Matt Catanzano & Six Degrees of Comedy

July 5, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Matt Catanzano, not unlike us, does a lot of wonderful stuff in comedy. Perhaps, too much? Both Matt and TCB’s Jake Kroeger are too busy to really ruminate on that, but they do have time to talk how Matt amazingly balances doing and running stand-up and sketch shows on top of making his own short films and writing anything else in order to have every other comedy base covered (and the essentially genetic connection between comedy and horror).

Also, “hot” takes on the search for the British “Simpsons”, an A24 take on Barney, and more.

Follow @mattcatanzano and @protectedunderparody and @illpreparedcomedy all on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @dusty.zone

Pick of the Day: You’re Cordially Invited (in LA) 7/7

July 5, 2023

News

lexie koss, lilliana winkworth, los angeles comedy, ucb, wedding season

We’re in the thick of wedding season and this is a great opportunity to not only see the nuptials of a couple sanctifying their love under the eyes of the government, but also hear a bunch of speeches from, very likely, a whole host of people who have public speaking as one of their greatest fears.

With that in mind, a bunch of UCB folks led by Lexie Koss and Lilliana Winkworth will be highlighting the comedy gold that so often is presented with earnest, but misguided attempts at celebrating newlyweds with improvised wedding speeches (based off suggestions) at a new show at UCB Franklin, You’re Cordially Invited. Speakers/players include Andrew Knox, Skarlett Redd, Elizabeth Andrews, Damon Royster, Sophie Delaney, Jess Uhler, Ellie Race-Moore, Paul Heredia, and Matt Newman and you should save this Fri. Jul. 7th at 10PM (and $10) to join in this improvised wedding party.

You can (and very much should) get your tickets for this momentous occasion here.

Pick of the Day: Root for Farm2Power: Music & Comedy Fundraiser Show (in LA) 7/21

July 3, 2023

News

danielle perez, demi adejuyigbe, ellory smith, glendale, joel kim booster, junior high, los angeles comedy

The winds of change seem to have quite the mean bite to them these days. Whether it be SCOTUS, inflation, mass shootings, etc., it feels like a world that needs more of everyone trying to take care of one another.

One small thing you could do for community (as well as yourself) is going to a very, very special fundraiser music and comedy variety show for South Central Farmers Co-Op‘s Farm2Power. Not only will it be a very fun hip evening of amazing LA-sourced comedy and music at the splendid, all-inclusive arts space, Junior High, but it will be a night supporting a crucial LA org that gives free produce to those in need in the Greater LA area.

Thus far, they’ve got a fantastic line-up including LA comedy luminaries Danielle Perez, Joel Kim Booster, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Ellory Smith as well as sweet sounds from Adjenai, Rosie Tucker, and Amber & Max of Moonchild.

Root for Farm2Power is set for Fri. Jul. 21st with doors at 7PM. Tickets are only $10 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

John Early Wonderfully Gives All Sides of Himself on “Now More Than Ever”

June 30, 2023

News

comedy special, hbo, john early, max, now more than ever

A comedian on the threshold of doing an hour special can take a look at the landscape of comedy today and very easily get the notion of doing something, anything different, since the majority of comedy specials are still predominantly comprised of a single person on stage talking for an hour in front of a full theater or club. Then, comedians like John Early opt to let their imagination run wild and give us a rollicking pastiche of all facets of themselves as Early did with Now More Than Ever.

On paper, there are several different levels to Early’s hour on Max (notably referenced as HBO Max in this special, which will be a fun deep cut reference the more time that passes). Early couches his genuine, painstakingly crafted stand-up as interstitials within a sort of rock-doc/concert film for his fictional band The Lemon Squares (though they’re pretty damn fun as a cover band). So, that’s technically two sides of Now More Than Ever.

Then, there’s the meta/mockumentary element where John has the sort of chaotic fun that he has done so long with his long time comedy collaborator, Kate Berlant, showing comedic discord behind the scenes with The Lemon Squares. On top of those three layers, there seems to be final topping of Early being satirically self-aware of himself, his material, the concept of a comedy special, etc. Early doesn’t recuse himself from “being part of the problem” when calling it out in jokes and takes a mischievous pleasure in shouting out his parents out in the crowd with a spotlight and dragging them at the same time. In some schools of comedy thought, there might be “too many hats on hats” here, but Early’s magnetism, shrewd observations, and impeccable Britney voice does really ties everything together.

Suffice it to say that there’s a lot that’s packed into Now More Than Ever, but it all meshes together in a dreamlike fashion, blurring between varying levels of verisimilitude of John, but resulting in a special that’s a hilariously delightful greeting card to waking up in the awkwardness-fueled, tech-obsessed, new-new lost generation of the 2020s. It might be the choice special to watch on July 4th weekend.

John Early: Now More Than Ever is now streaming on Max, formerly HBO Max.

Pick of the Day: Edinburgh Fringe Preview Day (in LA) 7/22

June 30, 2023

News

cam gavinski, claire woolner, edinburgh fringe, elysian theater, greta titelman, griffin kelly, izzy gerasole, jessy morner ritt, los angeles comedy, sara schaefer, sophie santos

Summer is officially in session, which means that the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is just around the corner. While it’s always enticing to take up an opportunity to watch as many of hundreds upon hundreds of shows, most of us don’t have the money to fly to Scotland, find a place to crash for a month, and THEN pay to see shows. At least performers have a shot to make some money maybe (though, more realistically, hoping to break even).

That’s why The Elysian Theater’s annual tradition of putting a whole day of their favorite LA comedy folks that are bound for the Edinburgh Fringe and presenting their shows back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

This particular Edinburgh Fringe Preview Day at The Elysian will run through 8 shows from 12:20PM to 11PM on Sat. Jul. 22nd. We’ve actually seen most of these shows already and tell you that it would be worth your night to catch any of them.

On the slate are:

Sophie Santos… Is Codependent
Joy’s Bed & Breakfast w/ Jessy Morner-Ritt and Izzy Gerasole
Two Cats on a Date by Griffin Kelly
Claire Woolner: A Retrospection
Going Up w/Sara Schaefer
Greta Titelman’s Exquisite Lies
BONHEUR by Cam Gavinski

It’s so much great show without having to get airfare or room and board and it will only cost you $12-$20 per show or $60 for a day pass to watch all 8 and make it a whole day at The Elysian. Get tickets/details/more here. Do it now!

Upright Citizens Brigade Is Officially Reopening in NYC (Gramercy Park) This Fall

June 29, 2023

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It was only a few years ago when the fate of comedy juggernaut, The Upright Citizens Brigade, seemed vastly unsure. The COVID-19 Pandemic wreaked havoc throughout the comedy world, but it definitely forced UCB to reckon with how it extended itself and with its very own structure and integrity as a comedy institution/brand/school. In 2020, UCB was reduced to one physical venue, their original LA location in Franklin Village, then, subsequently, sold off as entire brand from the original UCB 4 to its current multi-party ownership.

By the end of the year, UCB will have two mainstay locations as they’ve officially locked in a lease at 242 E. 14th St., New York, New York. Yes, UCB NY will be a thing once more and brighter days are ahead (especially with UCB LA already having returning to their stacked 7-night-a-week programming and configuring a way to pay performers). That puts this new UCB in Gramercy Park, which is on a whole other side of Manhattan from Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, former UCB locations. The old spot of UCB East won’t be too far as will NYC comedy havens, The Stand (just four blocks away) and Club Cumming (9 blocks away).

UCB aims to have shows going by this Fall and, with that in mind, are already taking submissions for their house teams including Harold (improv), Maude (sketch), and Betty (characters). Deadlines/dates are as follows:

Harold:
deadline to submit: 8/16
auditions: 9/21-24
callbacks: 9/29-10/1

Maude & Betty:
deadline to submit: 7/26
auditions: 8/23-8/27
callbacks: 9/8-9/10

Get more details and submit at ucbcomedy.com/auditions.

Otherwise, look forward to Manhattan getting a little less clubby in a few months.

Pick of the Day: Kenice Mobley: Don’t Kill Yourself Yet (in NYC) 7/29

June 29, 2023

News

kenice mobley, nyc comedy, solo show, union hall

Of the messages that are crucial to get out to folks these days, “don’t kill yourself yet” is a pretty important one. Thankfully, the hilarious Kenice Mobley has a whole solo show that has that message as its title (and, ostensibly, as the takeaway/moral for the show) coming to NYC soon.

Centered on her experience of having to deal with a near death experience while working through depression and inherited trauma (amongst other wells that comedians often go to for their comedy), Kenice is going to bring her exacting comedic lens to why we should keep staying around on this mortal coil. Opening for Kenice will be NYC comedy favorites Zach Zimmerman, Brittany Carney, and Rohan Padhye.

Kenice Mobley: Don’t Kill Yourself Yet is set for Union Hall on Sat. Jul. 29th at 5PM. Tickets are $11.55 a pop and you really ought to have a formative experience/a great time at a comedy show by buying some here.

The Next Adult Swim Festival Is Headed to San Diego and Will Be Free of Charge

June 28, 2023

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When it comes to upping the ante on TV, Adult Swim is often first to do so with some of the most edgy programming available on TV. The same goes with doing live festivals as the network has done a few editions of mixing the bleeding edge comedy and music festival where other networks seem to be mostly OK with just doing a companion podcast for their hit shows.

The Adult Swim Festival is actually upping the ante on itself as it will take place, for the first time, in San Diego, right outside of the San Diego Convention Center, home to the world famous Comic Con, and be completely free so long as you’re 18+ (we’re assuming no kids are allowed rather than having to buy a ticket for them?). Thurs. Jul. 20th-Sat. Jul. 22nd will see headliners Eric Andre, Flying Lotus, and Sarah Squirm, just to name a few, take over what should be a wildly colorful outdoor genre-bending comedy/music/performance festival/experience. In fact, there will even be a Smiling Friends experience and a”Pop-Tarts Dining Experience” in the mix in addition to many other offbeat delights that have yet to be announced.

Though LA has gotten to enjoy The Adult Swim Festival the past few go arounds, at least all you have to figure out for this 2023 edition is how to get to San Diego that weekend and where you’ll sleep (or, conversely, how you’ll keep the party going for all three days).

Get more info and details at adultswimfestival.com

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 170: Isaac Landfert & Keeping Orderly Chaos in the YARD

June 28, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

isaac landfert, los angeles comedy, yard theater

This week’s TCB Field Report invites The YARD Theater’s GM and overall “guy at the YARD”, Isaac Landfert, to talk shop with TCB’s Jake Kroeger. Landfert explains the ins and outs of being a small, but very crucial theater in the LA comedy scene, specifically one that caters to folks trying to do something different/experimental/wild, especially when Fringe season comes around. It’s this sort of wondrous strangeness and cavalier experimentation that really has us coming back to the YARD all the time.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via Patreon or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

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

Pick of the Day: CityWalk the Musical (in LA) 7/15 & 8/22

June 28, 2023

News

citywalk the musical, los angeles comedy, musical, ucb

CityWalk, adjacent to Universal Studios Hollywood, is one of the stranger haunts of LA in that one can’t be quite sure if it’s designed for tourists or for those Angelenos that are looking for a off-beat corporate-ish shopping experience that’s outside of Universal Studios.

It’s this strangeness that is tapped for the engrossing and hilarious musical from UCB house team Moon Goon that dives head first into the real life uncanny valley of retail that is CityWalk (through the lens of a rom com to boot). The very first run of CityWalk the Musical sold out at UCB and, thankfully, Moon Goon and UCB are doing a couple more performances in the coming months.

Specifically, you can catch what might be the most LA-centric musical on Sat. Jul. 15th & Tues. Aug. 22nd at 7PM. Tickets are $20 and you best snag them up quick before they sell out again.

Take a Gander Into the New, New Futurama

June 27, 2023

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Though it’s not without precedent, TV series hardly ever get revived twice, let alone once. That said, the enduring timeliness of Futurama being a hyper-clever, adult-animated commentary on the present day has brought the beloved cartoon back from the dead one more time. After all, one of the most foundational memes of the entire Internet, Fry demanding “SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY”, does come from Futurama.

Originally starting out at Fox in 1998-2003, then being having a 5 year second life at Comedy Central from 2008-2013, this latest era of Futurama will now be at Hulu, as subliminally flashed in the titles briefly saying “Hulurama” in the first trailer. While, this is yet another dive back into established, beloved IP rather than networks and streaming services putting their money on something completely original, we’re sure Futurama is going to have a pretty great meta joke about it (several of them, probably).

All that said, take your very first look at Futurama 3.0, coming to Hulu on Jul. 24th, here

Pick of the Day: Reggie Watts: Great Falls Tour (in NYC) 10/17

June 27, 2023

News

bell house, nyc comedy, reggie watts

Before taking on the bandleader gig at The Late Late Show, Reggie Watts galavanted across the globe doing his groundbreaking mixture of uncanny musical verve, stream-of-consciousness improv comedy, and undeniable warmth to mesmerized and delighted audiences. It was then that Watts was mainly based out of NYC and you might seem him pop up in around the five boroughs, but it has been quite some time since New Yorkers have gotten to enjoy a full evening with Reggie.

Well, now that The Late Late Show has come to an end, Watts is going out on the road for his Great Falls Tour and stopping at the hallowed NYC stage at The Bell House on Tues. Oct. 17th. Tickets will absolutely sell out, even at $45 a pop, which is why we’re telling you that they will go on sale this Thurs. Jun. 29th at 12PM ET/9AM PT.

Bookmark this page and set a reminder if you’re anywhere near Brooklyn in October, so you can snag a ticket.

Pick of the Day: Comedy Nook Closing Party (in LA) 6/28

June 26, 2023

News

comedy nook, los angeles comedy

Well, it turns out 7456 Melrose Ave. is closing its doors (well, part of its doors since it’s kind of a theater complex) once again for a full time comedy venue. The Comedy Nook rose out of the ashes of what the pandemic hath wrought on local businesses, especially live performance venues that had go darker far longer than many other places. Many open mics and intimate shows took the stage at The Comedy Nook over the years thanks to the hard work and dedication of Nthenya Ndunda and Alexis Bradby.

Sadly, after two years and some change, The Comedy Nook is indeed closing down, but they won’t do so without a big party this Wed. Jun. 28th from 7:30PM-10:30PM where you can (and should) pay your respects (as well as enjoying DJ’ing from Bri Giger and some tasty tacos that you can get via donation).

It’s free to attend, but you should probably RSVP (so they make sure they can make enough tacos).

The Elysian Is Taking Pitches for Original Shows for Their Next Spaghetti Festival

June 23, 2023

News

open call, spaghetti festival, submissions, the elysian

Last year, The Elysian took on its very first festival, which is daring as is in a city with a veritable festival’s worth of comedy on a nightly basis, The Forget About Spaghetti Festival debuted so many amazing, original, never before seen shows that included some of the very best things that we saw on stage in 2022.

The Elysian is doing it all again with what their now calling The Spaghetti Festival and going through the whole beautiful process once more by opening submissions to any and all for shows that are, “…interactive, solo or group performances that are driven by an interesting or unique concept or story.”

They’ll be picking ten shows to make up this year’s Spaghetti Festival and all shows selected, “…will receive a performance slot, promotional support, creative development assistance from our committee of artists and producers, & more.” Also, if picked, your show will be part of what is pretty much still the ground floor of what could very well become a much needed lightning rod in the LA comedy scene.

Get more details and submit at elysiantheater.com/spaghetti. Oh yeah, the deadline is Jul. 9th at 11:59PM PT. Hopefully, if you don’t have an idea already, the fireworks on the 4th will kick your frontal cortex into high gear.

Pick of the Day: Carmen Lynch Special Taping (in NYC) 6/26

June 23, 2023

News

carmen lynch, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

The Comedy Cellar and all its famously associated rooms, The Village Underground and The Fat Black Pussycat, don’t let just anyone tape their special on their hallowed stages as they together represent a few of the most revered stages in all of stand-up comedy.

Carmen Lynch is one such special comedian that is going to get to tape her latest special on such stages. Carmen is endlessly fun to watch and so slyly clever and has been so for many years, making her into an undeniable NYC comedy staple. Lynch also has perfected her act en español as well making her into truly international comedy sensation.

With that in mind, you’re really not going to want to miss the taping of her latest special, the English language version (the Spanish one will be taped in Barcelona in mid-July) at the Village Underground on Mon. Jun. 26th at 8PM & 10PM. Tickets are only $25 (+ 2 drink min.) and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

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