This past weekend, Steve Carell gave a speech to the 2012 graduating class of Princeton University on their University Day that sounded very close to something to Michael Scott would say. In fact, for how much Carell recalled he didn’t have technology back in college, it sounded a lot like when he told Ryan that technology wasn’t so great in Season 4.
Have you ever seen a battle between sign-holders? Apparently, it can actually get violent as shown by the hilarious Ron Babcock and Andre Hyland, especially when the signs are in the shapes of arrow.
ALSO, every interview of a comedian should be conducted like this recent one with Jesse Case that blurs the line of personal profile/criminal interrogation because, as we all know, comedians have incredibly sketch pasts, right?
The monthly Fresh Faces contest at the Hollywood Laugh Factory is now accepting submissions via GotCast.com. All you have to do is make a GotCast profile, which is free, and upload a clip of your stand-up, which you should have thus making it free. More details here.
Also, we’re assuming that most comedians entering this contest are probably currently sleeping on some type of floor because we’re pretty much all that poor in comedy.
Besides Chris Gethard arriving to Manchester, TN alive, there’s going to be a whole lot of amazing comedy things happening at The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this weekend. Slated to perform Steven Wright, Marc Maron, Brian Posehn, Garfunkel & Oates, Rory Scovel, Pete Holmes, Andy Daly, Kyle Kinane, and much more. Comedy Central is planning to air portions of this on Sat. Jun. 23rd, then streaming it online afterwards.
So, don’t worry that you couldn’t use your web presence to hitchhike across the country to see all this hilarity live.
In writing and reading reviews for several things, comedy or otherwise, we have found that several of them are incredibly verbose for no real intrinsic value and it’s unclear whether the critic actually liked it or not. This 5 Sentence Review is our attempt to get rid of that confusion by keeping our opinions only on comedy, not the “otherwise”, short and clear, so you know whether you should go see/buy/experience it. Also, sorry for taking up more of your time with these 3 introductory sentences.
1. As the trailer promises, Safety Not Guaranteed is a delightful, nostalgic feeling romp of discovery and youth in the way a Sundance comedy darling should be.
2. For you subdued indie romantic comedy with a touch of weirdness, in this case sci-fi, fans out there, this is definitely your movie.
3. Safety Not Guaranteed is a rather fresh take on the sub-genre of time travel movies that works so well that it will undoubtedly be the start of a trend of time travel movies to come out that will likely not have such a fresh take.
4. Mark Duplass pulls off a being an endearing, obsessive, so-called time traveler that works at a grocery store and Jake Johnson’s sleazy magazine writer character is really funny, nearly, if not actually, quotable.
5. Go see it when it opens this Fri. in LA as you’ll fall in love with Aubrey Plaza you’ve come to know and love all over again.
Often referred to as a “skin thickener” or, by people who don’t have as a fond of opinion of it, one of the worst rooms in the vast LA comedy scene, The Big Fish Bar & Grill in Glendale, CA was profiled on This American Life on Showtime in May 2009. In this segment, it’s almost haunting to see the likes of Kyle Kinane, who is about to do an hour special for Comedy Central at The Fillmore in San Francisco, argue with a bar regular/angry heckler about Jimmy Buffett.
Also in the clip, Brody Stevens who just had a killer set on Conan and Erik Charles Nielsen who was in several episodes of NBC’s Community as well as DJ Douggpound who has performed around the country and they all still continue to do stand-up quite well around LA.
Some of you might think it’s a necessity to do shitty rooms like to become a great stand-up comedian and that’s true. However, it isn’t because all the hilarious and talented folks we just named did that room and, as a direct result, got to where they are now. This is one of only hundreds of rooms they’ve all played, some great, some worst than Big Fish, and through all of that, they persevered, dedicated to their craft wholly.
Big Fish is still at 5230 San Fernando Rd. in Glendale, a place more akin to a small rest stop of a town along an interstate highway, and still has a comedy show that is pretty much the same as the clip above. You can still get violently yelled at, potentially get into fights, told you suck, and hear the contrast of silence between you finishing a joke and the sound of pool being played if you so wish. It’s a useful skill to be able to deal with terrible conditions when performing comedy as it’s art form heavily reliant on connecting with an audience.
However, playing a shitty room and being able to tough it out doesn’t make someone a great comedian. There are plenty of terrible comedians that think that shouting bigoted opinions in a cadence is great comedy and in a dive bar with plenty of booze flowing, that might just work. Yet, the rest of America, and the world for that matter, is not a dive bar in Glendale. In fact, most of it isn’t.
What makes a great comedian, as opposed to just building a thick skin or “crushing it” at at their favorite open mic only with their friends, is that they have found a way to make both audiences and themselves laugh wherever that may happen to be.
ON THE HORIZON
An Evening with Sean Patton @ Nerdist Theater Fri. Jun. 8th 8PM FREE
Blamblamblam @ R-Bar Tues. Jun. 12 9PM FREE
Louis CK @ Hollywood Improv Jun. 25th 8PM Tickets on Sale Tomorrow
COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Monsoon 1 Year Anniversary @ Monsoon Cafe 8PM FREE
Don’t Tell My Mother @ Comedy Central Stages 8PM FREE w/RSVP
SCHMED Talks @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Cookie Pie 2 @ Novel Cafe 9PM FREE
The Armando Show w/Community & Dan Harmon at LA Improv Fest @ iO West 9PM $25 (stand by only)
Stand-up Spotlight: Brent Weinbach/Sarah Silverman @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Between The Sheets @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5
The Tulsa Skull Swingers @ Three Clubs 10:30PM
Ben Seeder Presents at LA Improv Fest @ iO West 11PM $10
OPEN MIC RUN
ROCKPAPER COFFEE 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/lottery
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Starts 6PM/3 min./Counts as audition/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.
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.
COFFEE BEAN 12930 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA/Starts 7PM/mixed mic/lottery/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
Robin Williams returns for another episode of the daily live action comic strip Puddin’ with Eddie Pepitone along with guest Patton Oswalt as well as writer and silent pudding eater Matt Oswalt. This time it’s more SFW as long as you’re cool with charity ads going wrong.
IFC is the only cable network with a bunch of great comedy coming this summer.
Remember in the post below how we said there’s more great comedy coming up at FX? Well, here’s another with Jim Jefferies getting the greenlight from his pilot deal to make his own series “Legit”. Rightfully one of the world’s biggest touring comedians for hilariously blunt and honest he is, “Legit” no doubt make a great companion to Louie.
If you can’t wait for that coming up, you should check out his podcast with Eddie Ifft, Talkin’ Shit. It’s completely underrated, especially considering how big of a following it has.
Bill Murray on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS 11:35PM)
Chris Rock on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC 12:35AM)
Jonah Ray on Conan (TBS 11PM)
In both 2013 and 2014, there will be a Toy Story TV special. Might as well as print the ‘13 and ’14 nomination ballots already.
…in other comedy ‘trade’ news:
–Televisions Critics Awards nominated Parks and Recreation, Louie, Community, and more. If only we could translate this years nominations into ratings…
–Jason Alexander sent out sincere apology for making “cricket is gay sport” joke on Ferguson. Yet, he has not inspired as much rage as Andy Samberg’s cannibalism PSA sketch.
–Owner of DC and Tempe Improv found dead.
–Jon Hamm will be on Bob’s Burgers. Just do comedy full time already, Jon Hamm.
–The 8 bit video game on the Community finale becomes a real thing. Maybe this will inspire Dan Harmon to make a video game in which he fights, still 8 bit style, for creative control.
-There are new comedy podcasts at Feral Audio as well a brand new one from the very funny Mike Henry and Wade Randolph.
The Soup does a great send-up of the ad for David the Android in Prometheus mostly from making Joel McHale an android with a drinking problem.
ON THE HORIZON
AUCC Benefit @ The Comedy Store Sun. Jun. 10th 8PM $25/2 drink min.
Annie Hall @ Downtown Independent Theater Mon. Jun. 11th 9PM $10
Louis CK @ Hollywood Improv Mon. Jun. 25th 8PM $20/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
Love Good @ Little Modern 8PM FREE
An Evening with Sean Patton: Album Recording @ Nerdist Theater 8PM FREE
Drew Carey Presents: The Best of The Midnight Show @ Ontario Improv 8PM/10PM $30/2 item min.
Mo Mandel @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
Peachy Keen @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
The Extravaganza at LA Improv Festival @ iO West 8PM $10
Opening Night: An Improvised Musical at LA Improv Festival @ iO West 9PM $25
The Tony Clifton Revue @ The Comedy Store Main Room 9PM $20/2 drink min.
The Jesse Miller Talk Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5
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
LITTLE MODERN 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Starts 6:30PM/lottery/10 spots only/5 min./No purchase necessary
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/First come, first served/5 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.
SABOR Y CULTURA 5625 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is a lottery/5 min. with 3 min. work-in’s/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
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
Tonight, maybe you should pass on DVR’ing and watch the live premieres of Comedy Bang Bang at 10PM and Bunk at 10:30PM on IFC. It’s really a historic night for comedy as Comedy Bang Bang follows the precedent of The Nerdist of being a podcast made eventually into a TV show. Also, there hasn’t been a game show like Bunk, at least done in America in English, ever. So, 10PM-11PM would probably be a great time to crash your friend’s place that has cable.
Remember the first time you got to witness the wonderful mockery of Manos The Hands of Fate on Mystery Science Theater 3000? Well, if you don’t, shame on you because that’s a generation defining moment. Not to worry though, the stars of MST3K come back to rip on the movie yet again live streamed in movie theaters nationwide on Aug. 16th. Tickets just went on sale. If this was a trailer, we guess we’d say, “delve into the snarky nostalgia like you never have before.”
The Grawlix @ Rebar (Seattle, WA) Sun. Jun. 10th 7PM $12
Conan in Chicago @ The Chicago Theatre (Chicago, Il) Mon. Jun. 11th-Thurs. Jun. 14th
Christina Pazsitzsky & Gina Yashere @ Cobbs Comedy Club (San Francisco, CA) Thurs. Jun. 14th-Sat Jun. 16th
Savage Love Live with Garfunkel & Oates @ Neptune Theatre (Seattle, WA) Wed. Jun. 13th 8PM $22
Matt Walsh @ Muse Books Fri. Jun. 15th 7PM
Brian Posehn TV Special Taping @ Neptune Theatre (Seattle, WA) Fri. Jun. 15th 8PM/10:30PM $16 in adv., $18 at door
Laughter is the Best Medicine @ Alberta Rose Theatre (Portland, OR) Fri. Jun. 22nd 7PM $10-$30
Greg Proops in London and Dublin in June
Eli Braden East Coast Tour in late June
Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler @ Gothic Theatre (Denver, CO) Wed. July 11th 8PM $22
Mike Birbiglia’s “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” throughout U.S. thru Feb. 2013
Jonah Ray informed the general public of his issue with TJ Maxx on Conan last night.
For more late night stand-up tonight, don’t forget to watch The Half Hour on Comedy Central with Joe Mande at 11PM and Garfunkel & Oates at 11:30PM, which you can watch right after the premiere of Comedy Bang Bang and Bunk on IFC. Even before all of that, you can catch Jimmy Fallon on YouTube Presents performing songs from his upcoming album Blow Your Pants Off 5PM PST.
Thanks to Isabel Fay and The Clever Pies and their song Thank You Hater we victims of internet trolling now have an anthem to unite us all, or at least, delightfully enjoy while we process someone wishing we go fuck ourselves in various fashions. Coupled with Pete Holmes’ joke about YouTube comments, don’t let the bigoted whims of teenagers and unemployed adults get to you ever again.
(via thefjp)
ON THE HORIZON
Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction @ Nerdist Theater Tues. Jun. 12th 9PM $8 in adv., $10 at door
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Claremont Fri. & Sat. Jun. 22nd & 23rd 8PM/10PM $17
COMEDY CRAWL
The Graduate/The Producers @ New Beverly Cinema 3:30PM/7:30PM $8
Drew Carey Presents: The Best of Midnight Show @ Ontario Improv 7PM/9PM $30/2 item min.
Space Boners @ Silverlake Lounge 7:30PM FREE
Maria Bamford @ Towne Hall 8PM $10
Hybrid! @ Little Modern 8PM FREE
Lost Moon Radio at Hollywood Fringe Festival @ Open Fist Theatre 8PM $10
Set List @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Open Road Show @ Bang Comedy Theatre 8PM $5
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Field Day @ Little Modern 10PM $3
Clownvis Presley @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch Presents Duos @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8
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
DAILY GRIND 109 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA/Starts 5PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary/5 min.
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Lottery/3-5 min./$2
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/One drink min./First come, first served
THE LITTLE MODERN 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6:30PM/Sign-up 6:15PM/lottery/10 spots only/5 min. each/No purchase necessary
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
Just in case you’ve been missing all the comedy goodness from The Eric Andre Show on Adult Swim or the premieres of Comedy Bang Bang and Bunk on IFC, you can now download episodes from iTunes.
From the absurd minds of Conan writer Andrés Du Bouchet and Michael Ian Black to the behind-the-scenes folks like Joel Mandelkorn, here’s another round of written pieces on/about/making fun of/etc. comedy to enjoy over a chai latte* this afternoon.
Bunch of Totally Fake Crap by Andrés Du Bouchet for his blog
Mind Thoughts… with Michael Ian Black I Will Kill You by Michael Ian Black for Vice
This Is How You Make Something Go Viral: An Impractical Guide by Neetzan Zimmerman for Gawker
Smart AND Beautiful by Sofiya Alexandra for her blog
A Promoter of Smiles: Joel Mandelkorn by Deborah Thomasian for Serial Optimist
Can Moonrise Kingdom Save Movies by Jake Kroeger for The Nerdist
*Not to be enjoyed with any other kind of latte and we mean it**.
**We’re not actually going to do anything if you drink something else.
Based on the trailer, Disney’s Wreck It Ralph might be the movie to get video game adaptations right even though Wreck It Ralph is not an actual video game, yet, at least.
Based on its trailer, Grassroots is a comedy movie with Jason Biggs that thankfully doesn’t have a pie and we’re interested in seeing.
Watch both now.
The Seattle Sketchfest has been taking submissions and will for another week. Shows for out-of-towners take place in early Oct. which we’re pretty sure you don’t have plans for yet (apologies if you and/or sketch group does).
