Recent News

Tonight Louis CK’s on Leno and Rory Scovel’s on Conan

The last time Louis CK was on Leno, he replaced a DVD cover of The Tonight Show with his special, Live at the Beacon Theater.

The last time Rory Scovel was on Conan, he dazzled the comedy world with Jon Dore by performing, without breaking, simultaneously a completely different act right next to Dore.

Maybe, something along those lines will happen tonight because Louis CK is returning to The Tonight Show (NBC 11:35PM) and Rory Scovel to Conan (TBS 11PM)

LA Comedy Rundown 6/26/12

comedy shows, live, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Nightcap w/Paul F. Tompkins Comedy Central Pilot Taping @ Hollywood Center Studios Thurs. Jun. 28th 5PM/8PM FREE w/RSVP
Holy IndeFUCKdence Day @ Downtown Independent Theater Tues. July 3rd 9PM FREE

COMEDY CRAWL
Performance Anxiety @ The Pleasure Chest 8PM $7
An Evening with the Bitter Buddha @ The Echoplex 8PM $17-$18
Comedy Night @ Zoey’s Cafe 8PM $5/2 drink min.
Star Dreck @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Comedy Bang Bang @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)

OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD IMPROV 8162 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5:30PM-5:40PM/Starts 6PM/lottery/20 spots only/3 min./No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Starts 5:30PM/Stand-up, sketch, improv all welcome/5 min.
CLUB FORBIDDEN 8512 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO. 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/lottery/One item min.
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
PEDONE’S PIZZA 1332 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 9:15PM/5-7min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
BLUE GOOSE LOUNGE 5201 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/1 drink min.
DAVE’S BAR 708 Broadway, Glendale, CA/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/one item min./8-10 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

Reggie Watts Plays NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts

Reggie Watts just dropped some of his magic at the series of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, which is another amazing notch on Watt’s performance belt. Seriously, what other comedian, and yes Reggie is a comedian, has played the offices of Funny or Die, a TED talk, MOMA PS1, and more?

Answer: No one.

Also, you can download an audio version at the link for yourself if you want more Reggie while you’re offline.

You Can Now Stream Comedy Central’s The Bonnaroo Experience

You Can Now Stream Comedy Central’s The Bonnaroo Experience

If you missed it this weekend and at Bonnaroo, you can stream Comedy Central’s special at The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival hosted by Key & Peele featuring Marc Maron, Jon Dore, and more NOW.

It Doesn’t Matter That Rory Scovel Did Stand-Up With a Fake Accent

Actually, pulling in a Southern accent for Rory Scovel’s set on Conan last night added the frosting on already tasty collection of, as Rory would say, “zizzle zazzles”.

Eban Schletter’s New Album Will Be Great Soundtrack to End of Days

Eban Schletter, the music often behind Paul F. Tompkins on The Pod F. Tompkast and his live shows and much more, is bringing a brand new album on July 3rd entitled “21st Century Doomsday Spectacular”. This promo along with the fact that he’s one of the few musical comedians that can play a theremin should be good reason enough to pick it up when it comes out next week.

In Case You Forgot, Louis CK Is Still Changing Comedy

Louis CK recently received the Webby Person of the Year, a title which he is continuing to embody as he announced yesterday that he will be going on a nationwide tour and selling tickets solely on his website. Also, he’ll be tracking any tickets that are scalped for a higher price to ensure no one gets ripped off.

All of this is happening while his groundbreaking TV series, Louie, has its second season available on DVD, he made fun of Leno’s face to Leno’s face, and season 3 of Louie is premiering this Thursday on FX 10:30PM.

Basically, Louis CK might have fared better than Facebook on the stock market.

He’s on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight on ABC 12AM.

LA Comedy Rundown 6/27/12

comedy shows, live, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Jurassic Live: Dino Action Show @ GLAD Auditorium Thurs. Jun. 28th 8:30PM $20
Long Way Down The Epic Return @ The Graff Lab Sat. Jul. 14th 7PM $5

COMEDY CRAWL
Sarah Silverman Program DVD Signing @ Amoeba Records 6PM
Not for Nothin’ @ Little Modern 8PM $5
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8
Megan Mullally Live in Concert with Special Guests @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $30
This Is Not Happening: I Was So Fucked Up @ Hollywood Improv 8:30PM $5/2 drink min.
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $8
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Bar & Cafe 9:30PM FREE
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Sad People Talking @ Nola’s 9:30PM $5
Picture This! An Animated Comedy Show @ Little Modern 10PM FREE
For Shame @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5

OPEN MIC RUN
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Starts 6PM/3 min./No purchase necessary
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
CLUB FORBIDDEN 8512 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/First come, first served/One item min.
REDWOOD BAR & GRILL 316 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles, CA (Downtown)/Starts 6:30PM/No purchase necessary
SET LIST @ RAFAS LOUNGE ART GALLERY 1836 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6:30PM/First come, first served/Set list of topics provided to improvise off of/No purchase necessary
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery/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.
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

The 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos 6/26

The 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week are here from the Nerdist. An amazing set from Rory Scovel to this brand new web series from Kelsy Abbott and John Olsen Snowjacked from Shut Up Cartoons and everything hilarious between. As always, they’re taking submissions; just follow the rules listed at the bottom.

Gallery 1988 Does Tribute to Arrested Development

Gallery 1988 Does Tribute to Arrested Development

Gallery 1988 is where you should be going to look at art. Of course, we’re biased being a comedy site and they do plenty of amazing tributes to anything from stand-up comedy, Bill Murray, and now Arrested Development, but are you really going to see a giant rock at LACMA over this? ARE YOU?!?

Pete Holmes Interviews/Pseudo Kisses Tig Notaro Back Stage at Conan

The end of this candid backstage interview with Pete Holmes and Tig Notaro is possibly more awkward and funnier than 7 Minutes in Heaven with Mike O’Brien.

Louis CK Deserves to Make $4 Million in a Day With How Funny He Is

Whether doing panel on Kimmel, an impression of Andrew Dice Clay doing an impression of Woody Allen, doing his stand-up, his show Louie debuting Thurs. on FX 10:30PM, which the clip played on Kimmel was absolutely hilarious, on Twitter, chatting with people on Reddit, and even sending e-mails, Louis CK is absolutely worthy of selling out more than half of his shows in a day and raking in North of $4 million.

Watch the interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live now.

Take a Moment to Remember Nora Ephron and How Good Romantic Comedies Can Be

Photo By Tony Palmieri

Reported yesterday, writer/filmmaker Nora Ephron has passed away. If you look through her IMDB page as thousands of people are probably doing right now, you’ll realize she has quite the filmography with When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle. Those two films alone succinctly defined so many of the conventions of what has made a romantic comedy a romantic comedy, but in a way that didn’t want you to curse the eventual falling in love between the two leads.

The sub genre of romantic comedies so often these get put down, and rightfully so, because many of them are unoriginal, predictable, and cardboard all the way through. We can only hope that rewatching Sleepless in Seattle or When Harry Met Sally… restores your faith and make you appreciate what has been so ripely parodied, even today.

Comedy Central Picks Up Series from Anthony Jeselnik, Amy Schumer, and Ben Hoffman

Comedy Central Picks Up Series from Anthony Jeselnik, Amy Schumer, and Ben Hoffman

Amy Schumer will have a sketch show very similar to Louie.

Ben Hoffman will be a man on the street that tries to take different life journeys with advice from his ex-girlfriend, dad, and therapist

Anthony Jeselnik will have a show from the dark, twisted mind of Jeselnik of which he commented on the untitled show getting picked up, “Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money”

LA Comedy Rundown 6/28/12

comedy shows, live, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Channel 101 @ Downtown Independent Theater Sat. Jun. 30th 8PM/10PM FREE
Jerrod Carmichael… And Funny People @ UCB Theatre Sat. Jun. 30th 10PM $10
Undefined @ Hollywood Improv Lab Tues. Jul. 17th 7:30PM $10

I didn’t make this, because it looks too cool. But go to the screening on Saturday, or watch the LIVE FEED, which by obvious will also be on Saturday. Either way, Saturday.

COMEDY CRAWL
Nightcap with Paul F. Tompkins Comedy Central Pilot Taping @ Hollywood Center Studios 5PM/8PM FREE w/RSVP
Gallows Humor @ Vlad the Retailer’s 8PM $5
Risk! LA Presents @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Don’t Tell My Mother @ Bang Comedy Theater 8PM $15
Profiles in Cowardice w/Brent Sullivan @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25
Jurassic Live: Dino Action Show @ GLAD Auditorium 8:30PM/11PM $20
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
The Tony Clifton Revue @ The Comedy Store Main Room 9PM $20/2 drink min.
Lady to Lady w/special guest Retta @ Little Modern 9PM $3
The Comedy Palace @ Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE

OPEN MIC RUN
ROCKPAPER COFFEE 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/lottery
PALMS BAR 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Starts 6:30PM/Ends 8PM/First come, first served/5 min./One drink min.
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.
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

Here’s Your Millionth Reminder That Season 3 of Louie Premieres Tonight

10:30PM. FX.

If that’s not your millionth reminder, refresh the page a few more times or until you forget everything else you were supposed to do tonight besides watch Louie.

Also, CK is past selling 100,000 tickets and grossing $4.5 million and he’s on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.

Entire Community Cast Coming Back For Next Season

Entire Community Cast Coming Back For Next Season

This headline could also read “Dan Harmon Still Pretty Much Only Person To Not Return to Community”.

Mike Birbiglia’s ‘Sleepwalk with Me’ Gets a Poster

The first poster for Mike Birbiglia’s Sundance hit Sleepwalk with Me is here! The film, which confronts Birbiglia’s real-life struggles as a touring comedian with a sleepwalking affliction, premiered at Sundance in January and will headline the Just For Laughs Film Festival in Montreal next month.

Jim Jefferies, Lewis Black, and More to Have Specials on Epix

Jim Jefferies, Lewis Black, and More to Have Specials on Epix

Epix is doing more than tossing their hat into the comedy ring by airing several comedy specials featuring Jefferies, Lewis Black, Kevin Smith, Jim Norton, and more.

Also, they’re going to have a panel special a la The Green Room with Paul Provenza on HBO/Talking Funny on Showtime, with Ben Stiller, Ben Stiller’s All-Star Comedy Roundtable with Chris Rock and Jim Carrey, moderated by Bill Hader.

ALSO, they’re going to have a Best of Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball, which, by all accounts, was fantastic with Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Hannibal Buress, and much much more.

At this point, we’d say that Epix has more thrown down a comedy gauntlet.

Todd Barry Having an Hour Comedy Central Special

Todd Barry’s Super Crazy will air on Sat. July 21st 11PM and the DVD/album release will come the following Tues. July 24th.

Also, Todd says that he is going to tour in every theater Louis CK is going to this fall on the same night and charge twice as much through Ticketmaster.

Maybe, passive aggressive remarks over social media is “super crazy” for Todd Barry?

Improvised Stand-Up Show ‘Set List’ Going to TV

Across the pond, Sky Atlantic HD is bringing 14 episodes of the revolutionary improvised stand-up show, Set List, that started here in Los Angeles. The picture above is their set being built at the Electric Brixton in London.

In short, this will be amazing and will air in the States at some point soon. Not only is the show itself amazing, but they’re line-ups will be just as awe worthy with both Yanks and Brits in Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Ross Noble, Russell Kane, Greg Proops, Frank Skinner, Rich Hall, Dana Gould, Reggie Watts, Todd Barry, Eddie Pepitone, Judah Friedlander, Rick Overton, and more.

Creators Troy Conrad and Paul Provenza have wrought one of the most unique comedy “arenas” in existence by having performers improvise stand-up material on the spot based off of never before seen, bizarre topics such as “genocide note”, “castration addiction”, “snow white supremacist”, and more. The television version will feature 3 comics going through their “set list” magically coming up with material right then and there along with clips from behind the scenes and in the green room without, as we’re happy to report, a language restriction.

Set List has played all over the world a numerous festivals and regularly throughout some of LA’s best comedy venues (UCB, Nerdist Theater). If you no idea what we’re talking about then watch this sizzle reel, then follow them on Twitter and/or Tumblr and see the purest version of how comedians’ brains work. They’ll be doing episodes in San Francisco next month and in LA as well.

By the way, we should probably mention this is one of our favorite shows to see.

LA Comedy Rundown 6/29/12

comedy shows, live, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Joke Machine @ Nerdist Theater Sat. Jun. 30th 8PM $10
The Spanglers Present: U Know U Want This @ Comedy Central Stages Wed. July 11th 8PM FREE w/RSVP

COMEDY CRAWL
Bill Burr @ Ontario Improv 8PM/10PM $25/2 item min.
Jay Larson @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
Sugar Pill @ Dangerfield’s 3 8PM $5
The Gay Beatles @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Surprise w/Rob & Sofiya 8:30PM FREE
An Evening with Dominic Dierkes and DC Pierson @ Nerdist Theater 9PM $10
The Tony Clifton Revue @ The Comedy Store Main Room 9PM $20/2 drink min.
80 Minutes or Less @ Hollywood Hotel 10:30PM No cover/one drink min.

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
UCB THEATRE 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/Lottery/10 spots only/5 min./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

Why Would Madonna Need a Street Team with Billy Eichner Around?

Conan sent Billy Eichner to Israel to discuss pressing foreign policy issues as well as Madonna opening her tour in Tel Aviv. Literally, Eichner yells “BRAIDS!” when hearing that Madonna will have braids during her performance. From that alone, Madonna should make her whole publicity team Billy Eichner.

Two Trailers to Watch Right Now: Frank and Robot and Klown

Through drastically opposite in the NSFW spectrum, we are really into the trailers for Frank and Robot and Klown.

Frank and Robot is a unique, modern take on the buddy heist comedy with, like the title promises, Frank Langella and a robot.

Klown is a Danish comedy described as superior, but more outrageous Hangover.

You watch and guess which is NSFW.

Your Coffee Table Should Have Bill Murray and Humblebrag on It

There is a coloring book filled with illustrations of Bill Murray called Thrill Murray that are decidedly harder to color than most coloring books from Belly Kids.

There will soon be a collection of humblebrags in a book, Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty, from none other than Harris Wittels.

With both of these prominently on display at your house, you’ll be the coolest person in your Louie watching party.