We’re big fans of these profiles that Last Call with Carson Daly does, but they get put up so sporadically that you have to check back every once in awhile to find when they have comedy folks on.
For instance, they’ve just recently had Tig Notaro, W. Kamau Bell, and Rob Delaney. Watch and enjoy with your Sunday brunch.
Photo by Rebecca Adler Rotenberg
It would seem as though that this comedy thing we try to cover here might be catching on. A couple of weeks ago we attended Wired Magazine’s Wired Insider Culturazzi Event Series, which sounds more exclusive than the majority of the shows we get to go to. Still, we were happy to find that the “gastronaut”, “digital gentleman”, “adventure capitalist”, “smarter upstarter”, and more subscriber distinctions of Wired Insider members were going to see the likes of Maria Bamford, TJ Miller, James Adomian, Sean Patton, Kristen Schaal, Jerrod Carmichael, and Andrés Du Bouchet; i.e. some of our favorite comedians working today. Also, with Funny or Die and the wonderful folks at Cleft Clips (The Super Serious Show, The Plop List) producing, we had no doubt it’d be a night of comedy to remember, especially considering most of the high powered folks in the audience don’t normally watch comedy live.
Here’s a rundown of some of the evening’s highlights/reasons why, hopefully, Wired Insiders will become comedy fans for life/parts of a total sum why more comedy events like this should happen more often because it’s hilarious, life affirming, etc.
Photo by Rebecca Adler Rotenberg
-An appearance by Conan writer Andrés Du Bouchet’s Danny Yeah Yeah, the most amazing “warm-up act” you’ve ever seen, and a round of the Yeah Yeah game.
–Sean Patton killing with just flipping a water bottle around at the top of his set
–Jerrod Carmichael getting an entire room to laugh at a pro-Michael Jackson and kids joke
–Kristen Schaal auditioning to be a magician’s assistant
–James Adomian’s story of how he once opened for Joan Rivers (buy his album Low Hanging Fruit to hear it)
–Maria Bamford just being there, which, if you’ve seen her perform recently, should be good enough to make you laugh and feel better about life in general than you have in awhile.
–TJ Miller making fun of the Marriott Hotel, which is where this event took place, after TJ was listing sponsors of this show on stage, then a Marriott rep yelled “and Marriott!” in such a way that seemed like expert tightrope walking with jokes, ending his set in a cloud of sprayed mist and big applause.
Photo by Rebecca Adler Rotenberg
ON THE HORIZON
The Super Serious Show w/Kurt Braunohler @ Club Fais Do Do Thurs. Nov. 15th 8PM $13 in adv., $20 at door
Rob Schrab’s Birthday/Found Crap @ Cinefamily Sat. Nov. 17th 7PM $12
COMEDY CRAWL
North Star Comedy Hour & Meat Raffle @ Genghis Cohen 7:30PM FREE
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Best of iO Sketch @ iO West 8PM $5
Harmontown @ Nerdist Showroom 8PM $10
Melissa! @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
Simon Amstell @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
The Apple Sisters @ Elephant Lab 8PM $15
Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Pretty, Pretty Pony @ Westside Comedy Theater 11PM FREE
OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served/No purchase necessary
HAPPY HOUR STORY EXPERIMENT @ HOLLYWOOD STUDIO BAR & GRILL 6122 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6:30PM/Storytelling only/One item min.
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/1 item min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
ANCHOR BAR 2675 Irvine Ave., Costa Mesa, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min.
PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz)/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE BEVERLY 3253 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up7:30PM/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
THE IMPROV SPACE 954 Gayley Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/Ends 11PM/No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
ECHOES UNDER SUNSET 1310 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:15PM/First come, first served/One item min.
GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA (USC Campus nestled between 3 dorms approx. 1 block N. of intersection of Figueroa and Exposition)/USC student sign-up 9PM/Non-USC student sign-up 9:15PM/If not USC student, may possibly not get up/First come, first served/7 min./No purchase necessary
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10PM/Lottery/4 min./No purchase necessary
Everyone remembers those teenage years when you would huddle up with your friends and look at pornography in print, right? No? You never did that? Well, either way, the amazing Dead Kevin sketch group has you covered with their reenactment of how that memory exactly went for everybody.
Also, this is surprisingly pretty SFW as long as you’re listening on headphones.
Not that anyone was doubting the comedic acumen of HBO, but it’s great to find out that:
–they have Louis C.K. doing a new stand-up special to be taped while he’s on his massive tour.
-that special will be available for download on LouisCK.net a few months after.
–Lena Dunham’s Girls is starting to shoot Season 3 before Season 2 even airs.
If you’re still having a case of the Mondays right now, it’s your fault.
Um, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, & Billy Connolly Are All on the Nerdist Podcast
Yeah, this is happening today. Let out your inner (or outer) comedy nerd out or learn about some comedy legends from across the pond.
The Morning After Podcast Has Farewell Episode
Here’s something you don’t hear too often: the official end of a podcast. Most podcasters, when ending their shows, let them fade away, often out of growing disinterest or disappointment in listener-ship.
The Morning After Podcast, however, has been helmed by the funny duo of Jake Weisman and Eli Olsberg for two years, gained a following from both comedy fans and adult entertainment enthusiasts, and now is at its swan song like a TV show and its series finale. It’s great to see that the medium of podcasting has moved to a point of popularity where an official end to a quality show feels necessitated.
This week’s This Better Be Funny has Jamar Neighbors and has lots of unintentional roasting. Give it a listen.
Huddling up at one of the most crowded and unbearable places in LA, the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex, guest Jamar Neighbors goes down the riff brick road with Jake and Jeremy roasting rappers, mostly the dead ones, people who shop at pre-paid phone stores, which still exist, and getting a little touchy feel-y about love (which Jeremy hilariously cringes at like always). All in all, it was worth standing out in the cold and rain to make fun of big tourist groups.
ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Voltron @ Space 15 Twenty Wed. Nov. 14th 7:30PM FREE
The Walsh Brothers @ UCB Theatre Sat. Nov. 24th MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
COMEDY CRAWL
Performance Anxiety @ The Pleasure Chest 8PM $7
Brink of Extinction w/Bryan Coffee @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
Ryan O’Flanagan & Hannah Gansen @ ACME Comedy Hollywood 8PM $8
Simon Amstell @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
Tommy Johnagin @ Comedy & Magic Club 8PM $15/2 item min.
Comedy Bang Bang @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Blamblamblam! @ R-Bar 9PM FREE
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Public School Stories @ M Bar 9PM No cover/$10 food/drink min.
Contempt: A Benefit Show for Political Prisoners @ Little Modern 9PM $10
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.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served/No purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
THE MOTH @ BUSBY’S EAST 5364 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Doors 7PM/Starts 8PM/Storytelling only/5 min/Must be on theme “transplant”/Lottery/10 spots only/$8 cover
TRIBAL CAFE BEVERLY 3253 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:45PM/First come, first served/6 min./No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO. 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/lottery/One item min.
PALMS BAR 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Ends 7:55PM/5-7 min./First come, first served/One drink 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/First come, first served/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
ACME COMEDY HOLLYWOOD 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10:30PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
PALMS BAR 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 11PM/First come, first served/One drink min.
Continuing their awesome series of art tributes to comedy and pop culture at large, Galleries 1988 has made their next exhibition dedicated to the comedy of Judd Apatow. We’re sure there will be insides jokes and obscure references left and right with all of the pieces to be presented, but, more exciting than that, Judd Apatow himself will be hosting the opening reception on Dec. 4th.
Comedy Central Records released a very nice pair of albums today: the audio version of Rob Delaney’s ‘Live at the Bowery Ballroom’ and TJ Miller’s ‘Mash Up Audiofile’. Like we’ve said before, we highly suggest that you pick these up, especially if you haven’t seen Delaney’s special or any episodes of Mash Up (there’s an episode tonight at 12:30 on Comedy Central).
One of the Nerdist YouTube channel’s latest concoctions is Jimmy Pardo’s roast bonanza called Write Now!. It has Pardo hosting, one stand-up, and three writers who write roast jokes during the stand-up’s set for $50. Yes, we know that the dais and the guest of honor all grill each other in a traditional roast, but on Write Now!, the writers, Jimmy, the stand-up, and the audience all get it from every which way, making it for some really sarcasm-laden fun.
Watch this latest episode with Kumail Nanjiani getting his set picked and incorrect ethnicity picked apart.
ON THE HORIZON
The Jesse Miller Talk Show @ Hollywood Improv MIDNIGHT Fri. Nov. 16th $5/1 drink min.
Charlyne Yi’s Art Show Opening @ Scoops Ice Cream Sat. Dec. 1st 7PM FREE
COMEDY CRAWL
John Hodgman Book Signing @ Amoeba Records 7PM FREE
Comedy Voltron @ Space 15 Twenty 7:30PM FREE
Not For Nothin’ @ Little Modern 8PM FREE
Smartest Man in the World w/Greg Proops @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
Meltdown @ Nerdist Showroom 8:30PM $8
Hamclown! @ Little Modern 9:30PM FREE
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
OPEN MIC RUN
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Lottery/3-5min./$2 cover
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Starts 6PM/3 min./No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO. 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/lottery/One item min.
REDWOOD BAR & GRILL 316 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles, CA (Downtown)/Starts 6:30PM/No purchase necessary
DAVE’S CHILLIN’ AND GRILLIN’ 2152 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/Women only can sign-up/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.
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
SPANISH FLY GASTROPUB 3800 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/mixed mic/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
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 MIDNIGHT/First come, first served
The 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week 11/16 at The Nerdist
Dead Kevin is back, Waco Valley makes it’s first appearance, and Myq Kaplan is back on Letterman. Figure out what the sentence means by clicking the link and checking our picks for our 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos column at The Nerdist.
If you want to be considered for the 5 MIFV next week or any week, please read the rules at the end.
One of the comedians we’ve been enjoying seeing come up in LA is Jake Weisman and if you get a chance to catch when he comes to your town, we highly recommend it.
With that being said, you can get a taste of what Weisman brings to the mic in this latest performance at the Hell Yes Fest in New Orleans as well as a Louie-esque takedown of a terrible heckler that involves plenty of insults, an attempt to spoon, and drugs. Essentially, watch this and do the following: laugh, say “oh shit” a few times, and never heckle/do coke.
It’s no secret that Conan O’Brien’s production company Conaco has been branching out, pitching and selling new shows. Here’s one of them, a new take on the police procedural drama supposedly, featuring some of our favorite funny people Sean Conroy, Eddie Pepitone, and James Adomian.
Comedy Bang Bang Live Is Coming to an End Nov. 27th
One of LA comedy’s longest running, most respected institutions, Comedy Bang Bang, at one point known as Comedy Death Ray, at UCB Theatre, formerly at M Bar, is having its swan song at the end of this month, Nov. 27th. People lining a couple of blocks a sidewalk coming to watch some of the city’s best comics is always a beautiful thing and it will be sad to see the live show go.
Though the weekly show ends this month, there will still be the Comedy Bang Bang Nativity Pageant on Dec. 4th at the Montalban Theatre. Even with all of this in mind, Scott Aukerman undoubtedly will have something else in store for what he does live and we’ll all definitely be waiting in line on whatever street it is for it.
In anticipation of their return next year, Portlandia on IFC has just released a book, ‘Portlandia: A Guide for Visitors’ that’s a handy guide to the world of Portlandia. Whether it’s actually handy in Portland is up to you to find out.
Either way, this is step one to avoiding having to shop on Black Friday. Oh, and just for the hell of it, here’s the link to buy the book at Portland’s own famous Powell’s City of Books.
‘Eddie Murphy: One Night Only’ Is Probably Closest We’ll Get to Eddie Murphy Doing Stand-Up Again
Tonight at 10PM, Spike TV is having a tribute special to the one and only Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy: One Night Only. He will make an appearance as will Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, and CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.
According to the pictures, Eddie Murphy will be on stage holding a microphone, which, as we said above, will be the closest we’ll get to see him doing stand-up again even though we all desperately want that to happen.
ON THE HORIZON
Jen Kirkman & Friends @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Nov. 17th 10PM $18/2 item min.
The Willie Hunter Show w/Special Guest Bill Burr @ The Comedy Store Mon. Dec. 3rd 11PM No cover/2 drink min.
COMEDY CRAWL
Beards of Comedy @ Nerdist Showroom 7PM $10
Live Read of Manhattan, Directed by Jason Reitman @ LACMA 7:30PM $10
The Comedy Garage @ Rafa’s Lounge Art Gallery 8PM FREE
A Carlin Home Companion @ Santa Monica Playhouse 8PM $10
The Super Serious Show @ Club Fais Do-Do 8PM $13 in adv., 20 at door
The Business LA @ Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe 8PM $5
Tommy Johnagin @ Comedy & Magic Club 8PM $15/2 item min.
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $25
Set List @ Nerdist Showroom 9PM $10
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Matt Portman’s Bar Mitzvah @ Jaragua 9PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Midnight at the Improv w/Wayne Federman @ Hollywood Improv MIDNIGHT FREE
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
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Starts 6PM/3 min./Counts as audition/No purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/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.
TRIBAL CAFE BEVERLY 3253 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served/6 min./No purchase necessary
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./
THE COMIC BUG 1807 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/3 min./mixed with booked spots/No purchase necessary
COFFEE BEAN 12930 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA/Starts 7PM/mixed mic/lottery/No purchase necessary
CAFE MUSE 259 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/5 min./First come, first served/$3 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 Burn with Jeff Ross to Return for Six Episodes
Beware everyone of either getting roasted by Jeff Ross or yelled at by Billy Eichner because they’re both officially coming back.
The Burn returns to Comedy Central in early Jan. 2013.
Pictured above is the curtain in front of which, over the last 2 years has housed some of the most innovative and original comedic talents in LA and beyond (people ran their album hours here, all character comedy shows happened, and gypsy jazz got mixed with comedy, and more) . It’s the curtain of the The Hollywood Improv Lab, the side room to the much more renowned Hollywood Improv and it was just announced that it will be closing it’s doors as part of this Improv’s new set of renovations.
We don’t know what is happening with this curtain just as we don’t know what’s happening with the space, but we suspect that there’ll be something great in store as the Hollywood Improv in general has been really, to our liking, revamping their line-ups, schedules, and experimenting (i.e. giving Wayne Federman a midnight show in the main room that’s completely free to attend-it’s happening tonight if you’re interested)
The amazing web series Modern Comedian by Scott Moran is finally back and now under the auspices of PBS Digital. We’re thrilled to hear that it’s going to be a weekly series that all of you should watch even if you’re casually interested in comedy.
Here’s the latest episode profiling one of LA comedy’s most punk rock comedy group/show/house/etc. Powerviolence.
There are no surprises here with Dan St. Germain’s My Damn Channel web series ‘Kicking Dan Out’, just a really fun time watching Germain getting himself kicked out of several different situations such as an apartment or out of a juggalo group. There’s even this latest one where Dan gets kicked out of an OWS protest.
Johnny Carson Biopic To Be Made
An entire generation of people will be surprised to find that Carson always refers to Johnny Carson way before Carson Daly in the late night world when this movie comes out. Interestingly, being penned by the guy behind Hitchcock starring Anthony Hopkins.
We don’t know who would play Carson exactly, but we hope it’ll be some late night host worthy comedian for authenticity’s sake.