Sara Benincasa To Have Web Series for VH1
According to this tweet, the very funny Sara Benincasa just finished shooting a web series for VH1 called The Sara Benincasa Show.
We don’t have any details on the show or when it’s coming out beyond that, but the fact that Sara is going to have her own show should be more than enough to make all of you excited.
It’s been years since the great behind the mic documentary I Am Comic from director and comedian Jordan Brady; three years in fact. And now, after all that time, Brady is coming out with the follow up to I Am Comic in I Am Road Comic following the tales and travels of comedians that do the road and perform wherever they can get paid to talk into a microphone and discovering ultimately why they do it.
Watch this teaser with TJ Miller, Jen Kirkman, Judah Friedlander, and Doug Benson.
Comedy Central’s Finding Their Next Album Release From “Up Next” Contest Winner
In an intriguing move for their stand-up, Comedy Central is holding a contest called “Up Next” in which they will give their winner a digital comedy album recording, a college tour spot, a guest DJ slot on their Sirius XM channel, $2500, a spot on a Comedy Central stand-up series, and more. The contest is to be held exclusively at Comedy Central certified comedy clubs around the country starting next month (find participating locations and dates here).
We’re curious to see how this plays out and if a diamond in the rough is truly found from this. Also, we’ll keep you updated if there’s an entrance fee.
ON THE HORIZON
Hey Buddy @ Bootleg Theater Sun. Aug. 18th 7:30PM FREE
Jerrod Carmichael @ Comedy & Magic Club Tues. Aug. 20th-Thurs. Aug. 22nd 8PM $15/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
The Jeselnik Offensive @ Hollywood Center Studios 6PM FREE w/RSVP
Comic Relief Zero – An Everything Is Terrible Stand Up Special feat Tony Clifton at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 7:30PM $15
Ha Ha Hills Comedy Show @ Brewdog Pub 7:30PM FREE
The Business LA @ Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe 8PM $5
The Evening Hour with Sean Conroy @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Rick Overton’s Noodle Bar @ iO West 9PM $10
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Captain Planet @ Echoes Under Sunset 9:30PM FREE
Natasha Leggero in London! Paris! Costco! @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Loud Village at the Improv @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $5/2 item min.
The 11th Hour Show @ The Clubhouse 11PM FREE
OPEN MIC RUN
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/3 min./First come, first served/25 spots only/counts as audition/No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/lottery
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM-ish/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
COFFEE BEAN 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA Suite 180/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/Mixed mic/No purchase necessary/Hosted by Jason
ECHOES UNDER SUNSET 1310 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Lottery/4 min./1 item min.
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up 6:45PM/Only 20 spots available/5 min./Hosted by Paula Johnson
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 12PM at FB page/First 23 spots guaranteed/Starts 7PM/5 min./lottery spots for walk-ins/one drink min.
FANATIC SALON 3815 Sawtelle Blvd., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/Ends 9:30PM/$5 cover/7 min./water and coffee provided/Hosted by Lydia Robinson
IT’S A GRIND 247 Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA/Starts 7:30PM w/possible featured performer/Open mic from 8PM-10PM/First come, first served/Hosted by Shayne Michael
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
INDIA’S FLAVOR 156 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10PM/Hosted by Meline Tovmasian
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM after Main Room show
In a rare off stage appearance, Neil Hamburger gives a candid interview to Adult Swim’s Think Talk on the state of this YouTube thing, bad interview questions, and being America’s Funnyman (because apparently no one else was doing it).
We hope we’re not giving the whole sketch away here, but Jack McBrayer is pretty great here on this Conan “exclusive” for the new season of Breaking Bad.
There’s a Network Bidding War Over Second Tina Fey Co-Produced Project
It must not be a shock to anyone that Tina Fey was going to rest on the many laurels gained from 30 Rock after the series ended, but it’s amazing that she just sold a series to NBC with Robert Carlock, and now, has several networks interested another project all in one week.
We’re really looking forward to see what comes of all of this during pilot season.
MIT Media Lab Hosting Comedy Hack Day, A Comedy App Competition
When we say that comedy is an incredibly burgeoning art form, there are so many examples of that happening such as Cultivated Wit‘s Comedy Hack Day, a competition for app developers and comedians to come up with funny ways to pass the time on your mobile devices.
In fact, the venerable MIT is hosting the event and Baratunde Thurston was the emcee as well as W. Kamau Bell being a judge of the last edition in case if you’re curious how legitimate the event is.
Also, if you’re interested, you can currently enter the next Comedy Hack Day happening this September.
Set List: The Improvised Show just got 40 more episodes ordered at the Nerdist Channel to be shot anywhere from Nerdmelt here in LA to The Cabo San Lucas Comedy Festival to Edinburgh Fringe Festival to JFL 42 in Toronto.
Some of the performers that have taped/to tape soon include: Greg Proops, Brendon Walsh, Baron Vaughn, Eddie Pepitone, Jon Daly, Greg Fitzsimmons, Kyle Kinane, The Sklar Brothers, and Chris Fairbanks.
Oh, did you not know that Set List is killing it everywhere?
Many has the cartoon been made that takes place in grade school full of weird, bizarre, creepy, but ultimately funny set pieces. Yet, it has rarely been done sans animation in a school converted from a cursed insane asylum.
Well, that’s where we are all in luck with Matt Peters (you might have just seen him on Orange Is The New Black) & Aaron Alberstein’s pilot presentation for their series ‘Institutionalized’ comes in featuring just what we were mentioning above, a bunch of really funny people like Davey Johnson, Lizzy Cooperman, director Mike Upchurch, and a lot of twisted hilarity.
Watch the 10 min. pilot presentation here.
Eddie Pepitone to Launch Podcast Where He Rants Solo
For a long, the brilliant Eddie Pepitone put his hat in the podcast ring with The Longshot Podcast, but is now venturing off on his own to make his own podcast where he rants about things, which is kind of Pepitone’s speciality.
Pep Talks with The Bitter Buddha Eddie Pepitone will launch next month, so get ready for some of the funniest yelling about anything and everything you’ve ever heard.
Some of your favorites are coming back (Luther, etc.) and there will obviously be some new classics, but either way, you really need to watch this trailer for this upcoming season of Key & Peele, returning to Comedy Central Wed. Sept. 18th.
ON THE HORIZON
Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen: Kurt Braunohler Album Release Party @ The Virgil Mon. Aug. 19th $5 in adv., $8 at door
Taylor Williamson @ Hollywood Improv Fri. Aug. 30th 8PM $15/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
Baby Talk with Dan Levy @ Nerdmelt Showroom 7PM $10
Brand New Ball @ UCB Theatre 7PM $5
Almost Ladies @ Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe 8PM FREE
Peachy Keen @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
The Manifesto Show @ The Clubhouse 8PM FREE
Unnecessary Evil @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Quote Unquote @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $10/2 item min.
The Swarm @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Tom Rhodes @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Hello Giggles: After Dark @ Nerdmelt Showroom 9PM $10
Lady to Lady: Variety Show & Dance Party @ Echoes Under Sunset 9PM FREE
Show & Tell: Mike Judge’s Judgmental Sampler at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 10PM $15
Diamond Lion @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5
Camp! @ The Clubhouse 11PM FREE
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World @ New Beverly Cinema MIDNIGHT $8
OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/First come, first served/must improvise set of never before seen provided set list/No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./One item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/booked show after/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
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/5 min./1 drink min.
SABOR Y CULTURA 5625 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is a lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary
BOB’S ESPRESSO 5251 N. Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ CLUBHOUSE 1107 N. El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, CA Ste. 110/Starts around 10:30PM after Manifesto Show/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM/lottery
IMPROV CAGEMATCH @ WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 12:30AM/Sign-up team at wctcagematch@gmail.com/improv teams go head to head/Hosted by Courtney Barnett & Joey Greer
Emily Heller’s wonderful tarot card reading web series at Above Average, “The Future” returns with both guest Janeane Garofolo and sponsor from a local sandwich chain that we’ve never heard of, which may or may not affect “the future”.
If you want to (and should) learn more about and get life advice from the guy, the hilarious Kurt Braunohler, who did a Kickstarter to write a joke in the sky, please watch his debut stand up set on Conan that taped yesterday right here.
Also, you can and need to pre-order his upcoming album “How Do I Land?”, which gives you the option of getting a commemorative two sided dildo.
Ed Helms-Produced Comedy Lands at ABC
Of this latest round of comedy development news, we haven’t heard much from ABC as NBC and Fox having been doing much of the buying lately.
Yet, ABC just nabbed a series to develop that Ed Helms is producing, though we’re a little curious as to whether Helms or someone else will be on camera or not though.
Joe DeRosa’s comedy album titles are pretty fantastic including “The Depression Auction” and“Return of The Son of Depression Auction”. To finish off the hat trick for album names, DeRosa’s latest is simply called “You will die."
If that doesn’t already peak your interest, know that Joe is pretty damn funny and that this latest album You will die. is now on pre-order for an October release. Given the title’s name, you should probably just get in on this while you can.
Greg Fitzsimmons 1 Hour Special “Life on Stage” Premieres on Comedy Central This Sunday
Greg Fitzsimmons is having his first 1 hour special taped last year making its way to Comedy Central. “Life on Stage” will premiere this Sun. Aug. 18th at Midnight, which should give you more than enough time to watch whatever award winning dramatic series that you’ve been obsessed with out of the way.
These days, just because a comedy isn’t a straight dramedy where the humor lies in the complexity of life, usually centered around an ever present unresolved existential crisis, doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth seeing.
Well, the idea that this is the case for what’s popular in specialty box office comedy is our theory anyway behind why most critics are panning Jerusha Hess’ Austenland currently playing at The Landmark. Jennifer Coolidge rollicking through a Jane Austen fantasy while just wanting to get boned is funny enough for the price of admission and should get you off any sort of pretension against a neatly packaged romantic comedy in an offbeat setting.
You’ll especially enjoy this if you hated reading Jane Austen in high school.
Brendon Small, Ron Lynch, Baron Vaughn, Chris Walsh, Matt Kirshen, Samm Levine, Matt Besser, Ali MacLean, and more, making for a cast of some of the funniest people we know and you will hopefully know soon, all star in this wonderful parody of Homeland or any anti-terrorist hour drama.
Watch the first episode over at FKR.TV right now and get hooked like we did.
ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Living Room Tues. Aug. 20th 9PM FREE
Jim Jefferies @ Irvine Improv Fri. Aug. 30th-Sun. Sept. 1st $30/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Garage at Echo Park Rising @ Rafa’s Lounge Art Gallery 4PM FREE
Brent Weinbach at Echo Park Rising @ New California Barbershop 5PM FREE
Comedy Bang! Bang! The Musical at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 5PM $14
The Mo Show @ Nerdmelt Showroom 7PM $10
Video Variety Show Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 7:30PM $14
Comedy Voltron @ Space 15 Twenty 8PM FREE
Jimmy Pardo @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Nancy & Beth ft. Megan Mullally & Stephanie Hunt @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $30
Horrible Movie Night @ Nerdmelt Showroom 9PM $10
Fox ADHD Pizza Party at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 9:30PM $12
Bestie x Bestie @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Jonah Ray & Friends @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $18/2 item min.
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch Big 8th Anniversary Show @ Steve Allen Theater 11PM $15
12 Shiny Nickels @ Westside Comedy Theater 11PM $10
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
OPEN MIC RUN
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 3:30PM/Starts 4PM/Ends 6PM/5 min./One item min.
FLAPPERS BURBANK YOOHOO ROOM 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Starts 4:30PM/First come, first served
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 ½ James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Lottery/3-5min./$2 cover
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
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.
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts around 11:30PM/lottery
Here’s the Line-up for the 2nd LA Podcast Festival
WTF with Marc Maron, Never Not Funny w/Jimmy Pardo, Walking the Room w/Dave Anthony & Greg Behrendt, Fitzdog Radio w/Greg Fitzsimmons, The Todd Glass Show, Probably Science, The Jake Fogelnest Podcast, The Dana Gould Hour, The Indoor Kids, Dining with Doug and Karen, Jordan, Jesse, GO!, improv4humans w/Matt Besser, Keith and the Girl, Deep Shit with Baron Vaughn, and more TBA are all coming to beautiful Sheraton Delfina Hotel in Santa Monica this October for the second edition of The LA Podcast Festival.
If the line-up wasn’t enough to get you to go, know that we went last year and had a blast that we wouldn’t have just listening to an episode of it later.
Fox Wins Bidding War for Tina Fey/Robert Carlock Comedy
With this buy over several other interested networks, Tina Fey/Robert Carlock could potentially have series both at NBC and Fox, which we don’t have any problem with.
Dan Telfer Releases 24 Min. Set/Half Hour Special on Vimeo
Dan Telfer has just uploaded a long 24 min. set of his stand-up on Vimeo, free to watch, but hopefully for PayPal donations. If you were unaware, with commercials, most half hour stand up specials on TV actually time out to just under that time.
Basically, Dan’s giving you a half hour special for whatever you want to pay and you should take advantage of this.
ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Tent at FYF Fest @ LA State Historic Park Sat. Aug. 24th & Sun. Aug. 25th
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World @ Aero Theatre Sat. Aug. 31st 7:30PM $11
COMEDY CRAWL
Everything Is Vine… And So Are You at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 1PM $12
Maria Bamford Show & Tell at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 5:30PM $15
Crashbar Improv @ The Clubhouse 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Hey Buddy @ Bootleg Bar 7:30PM FREE
Catsby @ Asylum Lab 8PM Donations accepted
UnCabaret @ First and Hope 8PM $20-$30
Harmontown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
The Drop-In Show @ Hot Mess Vintage 8PM FREE
Top Story Weekly w/Megan Koester @ iO West 8PM $5
Neal Brennan & Friends @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
Shut Up! I Hate You @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
“The Phynx” Hosted by Patton Oswalt at Everything Is Festival @ Cinefamily 10PM $12
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)
OPEN MIC RUN
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 3PM/Starts 4PM/No purchase necessary/Hosted by TJ Amick
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 4PM/Ends 6PM/5 min./One item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM-ish/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
LOS GLOBOS 3040 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:45PM/Starts 7PM/5 min.
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/7 min./One drink min.
COCK N BULL 2947 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 8:45PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS CLAREMONT 532 W. 1st St., Claremont, CA/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
JARAGUA 4493 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:15PM/Lottery/4 min./No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ THE CLUBHOUSE 1107-A El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts around 9:45PM after Crashbar/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
