Bill Murray made an appearance on Letterman last night and, of course, did it in the style of Bill Murray, which means being kidnapped, having a thermos of hot cocoa, and re-watching the lighting of 30 Rock Christmas tree.
Enjoy your Friday with some Bill Murray now.
The concert film and part documentary ‘Tell Your Friends’, the Liam McEneaney and Victor Varnado’s NYC based live comedy show is now on both on DVD and CD from AST Records. It features performances by Reggie Watts, Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal, and more along with the story of performing in alternative venues, hence the term “alternative comedy”.
We just think it might be something you into this holiday season.
As South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint is officially resigning as of the end of this year, there is an opportunity for one Stephen Colbert (remember his Super PAC?) to take office should the South Carolina governor choose to appoint Colbert to office.
This is really happening and here’s Colbert last night on the Colbert filling you in on the details complete with Hobbit feet.
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Director of ’21 Grams’ and ‘Babel’, to Do a Comedy
Surely, when enough time passes Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu will be heavily featured in the Criterion Collection for his engrossing and moving dramas. But, the Mexican director is now set to do a comedy that might be a kind of a cross between The Incredibles and Waiting for Guffman.
This will definitely be interesting to watch like if Barton Fink had to write a superhero movie and then it was getting greenlit.
Not only is Billy Eichner is back on the streets of NYC with the second season premiere of Billy on the Street reserving the volume of his voice to those who earn his wrath by answering pop culture trivia, according to him, wrong tonight on Fuse 10PM, he’s got Will Ferrell, Rashida Jones, and more joining him.
Get prepared for what will happen tonight with this preview.
ON THE HORIZON
The 4 & 20 2 Year Anniversary @ All Star Lanes Tues. Dec. 11th 8PM FREE
Gosh, This Is Festive Benefit @ Hayworth Theater Wed. Dec. 19th 8PM $12 in adv., $15 at door
COMEDY CRAWL
Happy Hour Recess Improv: Merry Fucking Mashup @ Artworks Theatre Annex 7PM FREE
Space Boners @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE
The Thrilling Adventure Hour Holiday Special @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 7:30PM/10:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Joel Hodgson: Riffing Myself + MST3K “Santa Conquers the Martians” @ Cinefamily 8PM $14-$90 (stand by only)
Don’t Tell The Neighbors 8PM FREE
The 2012 Channy Awards @ Downtown Independent Theater 8PM FREE w/RSVP
Set List w/Eddie Pepitone & Friends @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Lost Moon Radio Holiday Special @ Atwater Village Theatre 8:30PM $13
Girth @ Echoes Under Sunset 9PM $5
Hello Giggles Presents: Gossip @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8
OPEN MIC RUN
FAR BAR 347 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 1PM/Ends 3PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
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-ish/5 min./First come, first served/No purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/One drink min./First come, first served
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
Funny or Die just did a little Kaiser Permanente work humor by having Bob Balaban (the narrator in Moonrise Kingdom). This informative video gives a glimpse into what it’s like if your healthcare plan limits you to the hospital that implements seemingly arbitrary misguided weekly cultural celebrations, like “Santa Fe Thursdays”.
‘Sleepwalk With Me’ the Movie Is Now Available on iTunes
For anyone who asked for an iTunes gift card for Christmas, just cut out the middle man and get them this.
Kevin Smith’s Swan Song Film to Possibly Be ‘Clerks III’
A few things have to be lined up before this happens, but, if it does, maybe it’ll be in black and white and set in one location.
Hannibal Buress has gone from making fun of the rap game to going into the rap game… and still making fun of it. “Gibberish Rap” features a minute of Buress spitting into the mic with lyrics so dense he felt they needed a clear and verified explanation.
Basically, MCs need to take notice that Hannibal will now be making fun of rap in more things than just his jokes.
ON THE HORIZON
Loud Village presents… Comedy for the Holidays @ Troubadour Mon. Dec. 10th 8PM $10 in adv., $15 at door
Fourth Annual Best Doorknockers Christmas Pageant @ Steve Allen Theater Sat. Dec. 15th 8PM $10
COMEDY CRAWL
1642 Comedy & Social Club @ 1642 Beer and Wine 6PM FREE
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Little Modern 7PM FREE
Crashbar Improv @ Impro Theatre 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Un Cabaret @ First and Hope 8PM FREE
¡El Show! @ El Cid 8PM $5
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ Strait Jacket Society 9PM FREE
Top Story Weekly! w/Wayne Federman 9PM $5
Skinny Sundays @ Hollywood Improv 9:30PM $14/2 item min.
Hot Sauce @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Hybrid! @ iO West 11PM $5
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)
OPEN MIC RUN
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2907 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 4:30PM/Starts 5PM/4 min./No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 5PM/Ends 7PM/5 min./First come, first served/1 item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served/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.
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
IMPROV JAM @ IMPRO THEATRE 1727 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA Ste. 208/Starts 9:45PM after Crashbar/Anyone can play
Here’s a nice short film from Free Comedy! to enjoy this Sun. morning starring very funny people Tom Shillue, Nick Turner, Jason Saenz, and Travis Irvine demonstrating that maybe if Bruce Wayne’s parents had been magicians, Batman would have been a magician.
Stephen Colbert Will Not Be a U.S. Senator For Now
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made a FB post in response to the flood of tweets that Stephen Colbert encouraged his fans to send in order to make Colbert the replacement for resigning South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint. Apparently, Haley is citing when Colbert forgot that the state drink of South Carolina is milk.
If that’s good enough reason to prohibit someone from public office, can we impeach anyone who says, oh, something like “legitimate rape” instead of waiting for them to lose an election?
2nd Annual Indie Improv Tournament Open For Submissions
While all the schools that teach improv in LA have some sort of tournament system and/or a regularly scheduled cagematch, it’s much harder to put together a tournament without such a school/venue in place.
That’s why it’s impressive to see that not only have the several independently produced improv shows in the city (Crashbar, TNT, the 11th Hour Show, Manifesto Show, etc.) banded together to put on The Indie Improv Tournament, but they’re doing it for their second year in a row. If you have a team of anyone, you can submit until Dec. 21st. Details at the link.
ON THE HORIZON
Crave: The Comedy Rave Fri. Dec. 14th 8PM $5 in adv., $10 at door
Andy Kindler & Friends @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Dec. 29th 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Loud Village Presents… Comedy for the Holidays @ The Troubadour 8PM $15
Paul Scheer’s 4th Annual Sexy Christmas @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
Harmontown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
Melissa! Christmas Show @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
Oh Boy… @ Lola’s 8PM FREE
The Apple Sisters @ The Elephant Lab 8PM $15
We Hate Hurricanes: Hurricane Sandy Benefit @ Club Nokia 8:30PM $38.50-$58.50
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Pretty, Pretty Pony w/Damien Fahey @ Westside Comedy Theater 10PM FREE
Dat Shit @ Westwood Brew Co 10:30PM FREE
OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/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.
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.
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10PM/Lottery/4 min./No purchase necessary
The 2012 Channel 101 Channy Awards Winners
To us, this is just as important as all the other awards news of academies, critics’ associations, etc. So, take a look at all the winners of this year’s run of Channel 101, then go to Channel101.com and watch/rewatch every minute of every series over and over.
Also, there’s a NYC Channel 101 and they had an awards ceremony this past weekend too. Here are there results.
That’s right, a special episode of Portlandia will air this Friday 10:30PM on IFC. Luckily, that’s enough time for everyone to see something in the episode that they will try to buy someone for Christmas and actually find it/make it/put a bird on it.
Maria Bamford Is Doing a Reddit IAmA Right Now
We usually just RT this type of stuff, but Maria Bamford, in our opinion, makes for a special case. If there’s a person that you should delve into the Reddit universe to ask anything because she is great, wonderful, and one of the funniest people doing comedy today, then Bamford would definitely be the one.
Just watch her Special Special Special and you’ll know why.
photo featured in LA Weekly article
Though there aren’t too many details about this, the legendary live comedy show Un Cabaret with Beth Lapides and Mitch Kaplan has taped a few of their shows and are getting them on Amazon. Based off of this tweet and a few sidebar comments at their show last night, you’ll be able to get in on watching one of the longest running shows in LA if you can’t get to downtown LA on a Sunday night.
More details to come.
Comedy Bureau readership,
There is a big announcement about SF Sketchfest 2013 that’s coming up this Friday, but we’re sworn to secrecy by the binding agreement of a press release to not say anything else. That being said, we have read that press release and it’ll be some damn fine news if you had or didn’t have plans to see your comedy dreams in real life in San Francisco from Jan. 24th to Feb. 10th of next year.
So, just stay tuned (or you can check back for the big announcement on Friday). Consider this like all those almost superfluous news stories that announce when a teaser trailer is going be released.
Best of luck trying to contain yourself until then,
The Comedy Bureau Staff
This Better Be Funny Podcast: This Better Be Funny Ep. 52 with Lauren Ashley Bishop
This week’s This Better Be Funny is with Lauren Ashley Bishop!
Joining Jake and Jeremy this week is comedian/twitter extraordinaire Lauren Ashley Bishop at Birds in Franklin Village where they test if anyone really identifies as a hipster by talking shit about hipsters, come up with a diet that doesn’t involve changing what you eat, but simply listening to Jeremy talk, and great ways to up your “regifting game” this holiday season. Spoiler alert: No one in Franklin Village identified themselves as a hipster and Jeremy, again, doesn’t get to fight anyone.
ON THE HORIZON
The Weekend Pilots w/Special Guests Ron Lynch & Jerrod Carmichael @ Titmouse Animation Studios Wed. Dec. 12th 8PM $12
HelMel Alley Holiday Bash @ HRLDRY Sat. Dec. 15th 8PM FREE w/canned food donation
COMEDY CRAWL
Bret Ernst at Venice Underground @ Townhouse 7:30PM $15
Dylan Moran @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $30
Hob Nobbin’ with Susan Burke @ Lola’s 8PM FREE
TNT Improv @ Underground Theater 8PM FREE
Paul Reiser @ Comedy & Magic Club 8PM $20/2 item min.
The 4 & 20 Year Anniversary @ All Star Lanes 8PM FREE
This Is New… @ Jumpcut Cafe 8PM FREE
A Very Ronna & Bev Hanukkah Special @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Public School Stories @ M Bar 9PM No cover/$10 min.
Flyover Comedy @ Hollywood Improv 9:30PM $14/2 item min.
Wrangle Improv Cagematch @ Little Modern 11PM FREE
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
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
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/5 min.
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
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
PALMS BAR 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 11PM/First come, first served/One drink min.
THE COMEDY STORE BELLY ROOM 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 11PM (when Crazy Cindee’s show lets out)/Lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ UNDERGROUND THEATER 1314 N. Wilton Pl., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 11PM after TNT Improv/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
Cinefamily Is Having an Online Telethon
Unable to go to the very cool neighborhood of Fairfax Village to see all the cool stuff at Cinefamily @ The Silent Movie Theatre, here’s your chance to get in on the action. They’re having an old school telethon to raise money for restoration and improvements done the new school way by streaming on the Internet.
Slated to be there on Sat. Dec. 15th 1PM all the way to Sun. Dec. 16th 1PM (in one way or another): Nick Offerman, Neil Hamburger, Robert Downey Jr., Animation Breakdown, Guy Maddin, Everything Is Terrible, Duncan Trussell, and more.
Watching heckling videos has been one of the schadenfreude things that people flock to on the Internet. However, it’s a rare case that you get to see it broken down and analyzed after the fact. Luckily, Scott Moran’s Modern Comedian has caught just that with the very funny Joe DeRosa trying to do perfectly funny material about nurses.
This is 101 of how to come back from yelling back and forth at an audience member, by the way. Watch it now.
As we have previously reported, Tom Shillue is well on his way to releasing 12 comedy albums in 12 months. Today, Shillue is releasing “Big Room”, the 2nd of 12 and another collection of wonderful stories. We’ll be interested to see if a collector’s pack will be released at the end of all of this.