Recent News

The Burn with Jeff Ross Premieres Tonight

August 14, 2012

Following his appearance as Joe Paterno on the Roast of Roseanne last night, Jeff Ross will be premiering his series The Burn on Comedy Central tonight 10:30PM where, instead of knocking celebrities down several pegs, he’s taking anyone and everyone down. This show also has a neatly arranged accompanying special, available now, where Jeff Ross goes town to town as the Roastmaster General fulfilling his calling in Jeff Ross Roasts America.

Ross stopped by Kimmel last night to promote this show and showed a clip of him pestering a parking enforcement officer a la Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/15/12

August 15, 2012

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
The Incubator @ Nerdist Theater Thurs. Aug. 16th 8PM $10
Charlyne Yi’s Come Back Show @ UCB Theatre Thurs. Aug. 16th 8PM $5
Wendy Liebman @ Ice House Fri. Aug. 24th 8:30PM/10:30PM $20-$27/2 drink min.

COMEDY CRAWL
Doug Benson Movie Interruption: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter @ Cinefamily 7:30PM $14 (stand by only)
This American Wife: IRL @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8
Girls of Summer w/Garfunkel & Oates @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $25
Key & Peele Season 2 Summer Sneak Peak @ Second City Hollywood 9PM FREE (stand by only)
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Bar & Cafe 9:30PM FREE
Hamclown! @ Little Modern 9:30PM FREE
Sad People Talking @ Nola’s 9:30PM $5
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
The Hoop Dreams Comedy Hour @ Neon Venus Theatre 10PM $3
Dot Comedy @ Hollywood Laugh Factory 10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.

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/Lottery/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 BEVERLY 3253 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/First come, first served/6 min./No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/mixed mic
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts

Kyle Kinane Once Did a Show with a Comedian Referencing Mr. Yunioshi

August 15, 2012

Though Breakfast at Tiffany’s was released in 1961, it wasn’t too long before 2012 that hilarious Kyle Kinane had to do a show with a supposed clean comedian who wore cartoonish Chinese glasses, which is only worst than Mickey Rooney’s impression of a Chinese person in the Audrey Hepburn classic.

Kinane recounted the experience for The AV Club’s Stand Down animated web series.

Nightline Profiles Marc Maron as Seriously Funny

August 15, 2012

ABC’s Nightline sometimes covers comedy in a segment they call “Seriously Funny”, which they, last night, chose to be Marc Maron and the revitalization of his career through the WTF Podcast.

Here’s Another Great Comedy Book Trailer in Kung-Fu Lesbian

August 15, 2012

Dan Curry (The Onion News Network, The Eric Andre Show, very funny stand-up comedian) wrote his first pulp novel, Kung-Fu Lesbian, that will be released next month (release party at Nerdist Theater Sept. 14th). Until that time, there’s a trailer to tide you over featuring Eric Andre as a member of the Nation of Islam.

Tickets and the Line-up for The San Francisco Comedy & Burrito Festival is Here

August 15, 2012

The San Francisco Comedy & Burrito Festival is coming soon, if you consider two months soon, on Thurs. Oct. 11th-Sat. Oct. 13th and early bird passes are now available for $55.

Line-up to include:
Matt Braunger, Brendon Walsh, Billy Wayne Davis, Guy Branum, Taylor Williamson, John Roy, Andy Haynes, Sean Patton, Mike Drucker, Will Weldon, Jon Huck, Tony Sam, Kevin Kataoka, Drennon Davis, Aparna Nancherla, and a whole lot more.

…and of course, burritos-“Each pass comes with a coupon for two super burritos (excluding seafood burritos) redeemable at our two sponsor taquerias Pancho Villa and El Toro.”

LA Comedy Rundown 8/16/12

August 16, 2012

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch & Special Guest Co-Host Emo Phillips @ Steve Allen Theater Sat. Aug. 18th MIDNIGHT $8
Picture This! An Animated Live Comedy Show Taping @ Little Modern Wed. Aug. 22nd 10PM FREE

Poster by Griffith Kimmins

COMEDY CRAWL
Rifftrax Live: Manos the Hands of Fate 8PM
Charlyne Yi’s Comeback Show @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand by only)
The Incubator @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Matt Portman’s Bar Mitzvah @ Jaragua 9PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Creepshow @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5

OPEN MIC RUN
CAFE AMERICANO 5770 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/3 min./No purchase necessary
PALMS BAR 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Starts 6:30PM/First come, first served/One drink min.
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.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First St., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up 6:45PM/lottery/5 min./20 spots only
ECHOES UNDER SUNSET 1310 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6:30PM/pre-booked 5 min. spots by lottery by e-mail/3 lottery 3 min. spots available if show up/One drink 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
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT

The 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week 8/15

August 16, 2012

The 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week 8/15

Though a little late, this week’s 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos for The Nerdist is here with a nice solid chunk of web video summer fun from a comedian watermelon eating contest to a glimpse to the end of the world when you make bad provision choices to overly invasive policies of being in an improv group. Check them all out and have some nice guffaws.

If you want to be considered for the 5 MIFV, submissions are taken every week per the rules at the bottom of the post at the link.

Rory Scovel Crushes with Batman Jokes Right After the Aurora Shootings

August 16, 2012

Rory Scovel is a huge Batman fan and, as one of the funniest comedians today, he, of course, has Batman material that he breaks out when a Batman movie comes out like The Dark Knight Rises. Yet, when he was about to do the Go Bananas Comedy Club in Cincinnati, the Aurora shootings just happened the night before putting Scovel at a conundrum as to what to do on stage.

This is all in the latest episode of Scott Moran’s Modern Comedian as well as seeing Rory in a Batman mask.

Bill Burr’s “You People Are All The Same” Now on Netflix

August 16, 2012

Bill Burr: You People Are All the Same

It’s finally here: Another hour of America’s favorite self-aware firebrand, Bill Burr, in this latest special You People Are All The Same. It’s exclusively streaming on Netflix, which you, whether you’re working at the moment or not, should highly consider watching right now if you have an account there.

Your Wishes After the Christopher Guest Sketch at the Oscars Have Been Granted (He’s Getting a Show)

August 16, 2012

Your Wishes After the Christopher Guest Sketch at the Oscars Have Been Granted (He’s Getting a Show)

You were wishing for a series starring Chris O’Dowd getting greenlit by HBO and BBC Two, right?

Let’s See How Offended People Get by IFC’s Bullet In the Face

August 16, 2012

Tonight and tomorrow at 10PM, IFC is possibly airing their most daring show to date, Bullet in the Face, with Eddie Izzard and Eric Roberts, that has been written about being potentially too violent for television. Based off of the clips we’ve seen of pregnant fighting and Eddie Izzard pontificating (which might be the highlight of the show), there shouldn’t be too many essays written about it, certainly not in the vein of “Toshgate”.

Watch both parts (again, Eddie Izzard is reason enough to give any show a chance) and see the reaction, whether it be necessary and unnecessary, over the next few days.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/17/12

August 17, 2012

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Everything Is Festival Presented by Cinefamily Sat. Aug. 18th-Tues. Aug. 28th
Sleepwalk With Me LA Premiere @ Nuart Theatre Fri. Aug. 31st $8.50-$10.50

COMEDY CRAWL
Dead Authors @ UCB Theatre 6:30PM $5
Pizza Day 13: Readymade @ Lamppost Pizza 7PM FREE
Peachy Keen @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
Harmontown @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Swarm @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Ed Helms Presents The Whiskey Sour Hour @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $30
The Ho Ho Show @ Hollywood Hotel 10PM $5/One drink min.
The Tony Clifton Revue @ The Comedy Store 11:30PM $20/2 drink min.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Screening @ New Beverly Cinema MIDNIGHT $8

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
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/5 min./One item min.
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 N. Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/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
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

There’s a Comedy Festival in Humboldt Happening Right Now

August 17, 2012

Somehow, The Shits & Giggles Comedy Festival slipped under our radar and kicked off last night with Kyle Kinane headlining. Put on by the Hummingbird Healing Center and humor mag Savage Henry Independent Times in Humboldt, CA, there’s still two nights to go with plenty of shows featuring some wonderful California comedy with Howard Kremer, Alex Koll, Nick Rutherford, Cornell Reid, Barbara Gray, Sean Green, Paul Danke, and more.

All of this for only $25.

Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass Respond to Joss Whedon’s Sleepwalk With Me Challenge

August 17, 2012

Several days ago Joss Whedon demanded that people boycott Sleepwalk With Me for fears that it would overtake his $1 billion+ grossing Avengers in box office sales. Obviously, Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass aren’t going to take this laying down and made a response video in which they figure the exact formula as to how to beat The Avengers.

New Batman Parody from Pete Holmes, Matt McCarthy, and Front Page Films

August 17, 2012

It’s a great day whenever a new parody of Batman comes from the team of Pete Holmes, Matt McCarthy, and Front Page Films is uploaded to the Internet. This particular day is particularly great because McCarthy plays Scarecrow and Batman’s fears when sprayed with fear gas are a little questionable…

Comedy Central Just Released Their Fall Lineup

August 17, 2012

Comedy Central Just Released Their Fall Lineup

Mash-Up with TJ Miller is premiering on Oct. 9th. Mark your calendars several times over.

Before a Live Action Justice League Movie, There Will Be a Robot Chicken Special to Make Fun of It

August 17, 2012

While speculation of whether a Justice League movie would even compare to The Avengers, Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken is going to do a great send-up of the entire DC universe.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/18/12

August 18, 2012

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
The Midnight Show w/Pete Holmes Taping @ Warner Bros. Studios Tues. Aug. 21st & Thurs. Aug. 23rd 2PM FREE w/RSVP
Pixar Shorts Collection Vol. 1 @ LACMA Fri. Aug. 24th 8PM FREE

COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy by the Pool 7PM FREE
We Have a Hammock-Backyard Comedy Show 8PM FREE
Don’t Tell the Neighbors 8PM FREE
Henry Phillips @ Molly Malone’s 8PM $8
Dylan Brody’s Thinking Allowed @ Fake Gallery 8PM $10
Rory Scovel @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Shit Show @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch and Special Guest Co-host Emo Phillips @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
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/3-5min./$2 cover
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/One drink min./First come, first served
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.
TRIBAL CAFE BEVERLY 3253 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Booked show at 9:30/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery

Developments on Arrested Development

August 18, 2012

First off, a new season of Arrested Development is indeed happening on Netflix, so you can stop doing whatever ritual that you do, including having your fingers crossed, that it would come back for real. On top of that, there’s more exciting news about the fate of the Bluths as they’re gearing up for a long-awaited 4th season.

Mad Men’s John Slattery joins the cast.

This season will segue into a feature length movie.

Ron Howard will be stepping in front of the camera.

Hopefully, it will be before too long when we hear “I’ve made a huge mistake.” as a callback dozens more times.

Mike Phirman Hits on Riki Lindhome Through Eban Schletter’s Theremin

August 18, 2012

Eban Schletter, one of the few comedy acts that plays a theremin, lent his talents to Mike Phirman during his live show Fantastical Musicorium where Phirman serenades the one and only Riki Lindhome of Garfunkel & Oates.

Spoiler alert: it’s magical.

Get Your Tickets for the Riot LA Comedy Festival Is Going to Be Amazing

August 19, 2012

Riot LA, one of most anticipated LA comedy events this year, has just released their schedule and tickets and passes are now on sale.

On the bill, Maria Bamford, KCRW, The Moth, Superego, Patton Oswalt, Paul F. Tompkins, Brian Posehn, Pete Holmes, James Adomian, Kyle Kinane, Todd Glass, Marc Maron, Best of Kabin NYC, Jimmy Pardo, Dan Harmon, Team Coco Live, Jon Dore, Sean Patton, Chelsea Peretti, Jodran Jesse Go, Brett Gelman, and more of our favorite comedians and comedy from LA and abroad.

The festival is all on one block with the venues practically next door to each other and, best of all aside from the wonderful comedy on display, Early Bird passes (which get you into everything except for a KCRW Benefit) are only $45. Also, there will be an entire parking lot repurposed for food and local vendors like a proper festival should have.

This is the marquee comedy event the city of Los Angeles deserves and has been long overdue, so please make this the highlight of your September like we will from the 21st to the 23rd.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/19/12

August 19, 2012

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Celebrity Celebrity: Benefit Show for the Pablove Foundation @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre Sun. Aug. 26th 8PM $50-$250

COMEDY CRAWL
Cinematic Titanic at Everything is Festival @ Saban Theatre 7PM $20
Stardumb @ Flappers Burbank 7PM $15/2 item min.
The Anytime Show @ Little Modern 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Un Cabaret @ Bar Fedora 8PM $20-$55
Magic Bag @ Little Modern 8PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Good Evening America @ Theatre Asylum 8:30PM $15
Neal Brennan & Friends @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
Patton Oswalt & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $25
Powerviolence @ Strait Jacket Society 9PM FREE
Top Story Weekly w/Raj Desai @ iO West 9PM $5
Shut Up! I Hate You @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
HYBRID! @ iO West 11PM $5
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

OPEN MIC RUN
PARADISE PERKS 15475 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/10 spots only/No purchase necessary
STARLIGHT THEATRE 1125 Victoria St., Costa Mesa, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/Mixed mic/No purchase necessary
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
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/mixed mic
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/7 min./One drink min.
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/lottery/$2 cover/3-5 min.
THE BARREL 4547 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/7 min./One item min.
FLAPPERS CLAREMONT 532 W. 1st St., Claremont, CA/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary

Physical Comedy Can Be Brilliant As Shown by Hand vs. Andy

August 19, 2012

Not that we’re suggesting that any of you doubted the hilarity of someone getting hit by something in a non-fatal way, but the jokes around someone getting hurt can be incredibly clever and just as satisfying as high concept word play.

See Andy Peters in his web series fighting a hand as the perfect example.

August 19, 2012

Just in case it wasn’t clear how great Riot LA will be in what we posted yesterday, this is their official poster.

Also, once again, passes/tickets are now on sale.