Recent News

Jon Stewart Is Now the Highest Paid Host in Late Night

August 22, 2013

daily show, jon stewart

Jon Stewart Is Now the Highest Paid Host in Late Night

Is this headline truly surprising to anyone?

If having your network get an interim host for the late night show bearing your name because you really want to a shoot a movie that your network has no stake in for the Summer, it should be a pretty good sign that you’re of high value to that network.

Also, Jon Stewart has made The Daily Show into one of the most reliably hilarious cultural phenomenons in recent memory, so, his pay shouldn’t be surprising.

If Wes Anderson Had Made a Webisode, It Might Be Like This Good Cop Great Cop Sketch

August 22, 2013

good cop great cop, wes anderson

Sketch group Good Cop Great Cop employ seemingly out of place costumes and awkward pauses to perfection making for, as mentioned above, what we’d roughly imagine a webisode from Wes Anderson might look like.

Watch “Karen” and see what we’re talking about here.

FX Orders Seth Rogen-Produced ‘Bigfoot’ Animated Comedy Pilot

August 22, 2013

animated, bigfoot, fx, fxx, seth rogen

FX Orders Seth Rogen-Produced ‘Bigfoot’ Animated Comedy Pilot

After the success of This Is The End, we’ve all been wondering what’s next for Seth Rogen behind the camera and it turns out an animated series on Bigfoot over at the soon to be launched FXx is what’s in store.

The details of the show aren’t completely outlined yet, but we would think that a Rogen voiced Bigfoot would seem fitting.

The UCB Comedy Improv Manual by Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts Out Now

August 22, 2013

ian roberts, improv comedy, matt besser, matt walsh, ucb

The UCB Comedy Improv Manual by Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts Out Now

When considering who are the modern masters of improvisational comedy/who should write an instructional book on improv, a good place to start with that list is the founders of The Upright Citizens Brigade.

Luckily, that just happened as Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts, ¾ of the original UCB 4 (the other one if Amy Poehler and we’re guessing she’s got a little busy with everything she’s doing to join in here) have written and released an instructional book on long form improvisational comedy.

If you have any interest in improv to any degree, The UCB Comedy Improv Manual just might be a good thing to buy.

Laffster Now Streaming Live Comedy Shows and Offering Special Interactive Auctions

August 22, 2013

laffster, livestream, walking the room

Some of you might have heard of a comedy tech start up in Laffster over the last several months and some of the unique things that they were trying to do as a comedy content distributor/aggregator.

Well, you might be interested to hear that they’re going into new territory by streaming live shows online such as a live taping of Walking the Room in addition to an accompanying interactive auction that would include, in this case, a personal 10 min. podcast ep. from Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony or a personal phone call from Dave telling you to go fuck yourself, like a nice mix of Ustream and Kickstarter for comedy

They’ve already done similar special livestreams with the likes of Gina Yashere and Harvard Sailing Team and it might be something to look out for if you don’t live in LA or NYC and especially don’t have patience/money to go to a festival.

Watch Stephanie Allynne in Hilariously Bizarre Kind-of-Christian-Basketball-Talk-Show “Take a Knee”

August 22, 2013

buhhhhhh, jash, stephanie allynne

Please commit the name Stephanie Allynne to memory if you haven’t been witness to her in such great things like The Midnight Show or, most recently, In A World.

Trust us, she’s so damn funny in those things and more, so let this faux Christian/basketball talk show starring Allynne “Take a Knee” along with other funny folks like Kyle Mooney and Lauren Lapkus over at Jash’s buh channel be yet another example of why you shouldn’t forget about her.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/23/13

August 23, 2013

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Air Sex Championships & Comedy Show @ The Satellite LA Sat. Aug. 24th 7:30PM $10-$12
Pete Holmes Living at Largo @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre Tues. Aug. 27th 9PM $25

COMEDY CRAWL
This Friday Forty @ Nerdmelt Showroom 7:30PM $10
House Party Comedy Show 8PM FREE
Peachy Keen @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
The Manifesto Show’s 2nd Annual Chekov’s Gun Night @ The Clubhouse 8PM FREE
A Good Time @ Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe 8PM $5
Andy Kindler & Friends @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $20/2 item min.
Between The Sheets @ M Bar $15
Walking the Room Live @ Nerdmelt Showroom 9PM $10
Gigglepuss @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $6
We Have a Hammock 9PM FREE
Van Jam @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $10/2 item min.
Camp! @ The Clubhouse 11PM FREE
Hell Baby Screening Q&A @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5
Diamond Lion @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5
Doug Benson Movie Interruption: Evil Dead @ Cinefamily MIDNIGHT $14 (stand by only)

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

Aziz Ansari To Write Relationship Book, Reportedly Gets $3.5 Million Advance

August 23, 2013

aziz ansari, book deal, He's Just Not That Into You, relationships

Aziz Ansari To Write Relationship Book, Reportedly Gets $3.5 Million Advance

Aziz Ansari’s stand up material has taken a really funny turn to relationships as of late that really break down the finer points of why they don’t work, ostensibly going towards giving up on them all together. This book is surely going to spring from those jokes.

However, there are no details on what the title of the book is, but we’re thinking it might be somewhere around, “WE’RE JUST NOT THAT INTO EACH OTHER”.

Tina Fey’s Daughter Might Be Grow Up To Be Darkly Funny Comedy Person

August 23, 2013

interview, letterman, sociopath, tina fey

The art form of comedy and how illusive being at any good at is sometimes begs the question if comedy is in any sort of DNA. We don’t have an exact answer to that, but it will be interesting to see if Tina Fey’s daughter Penelope might offer some insight into that.

We’re only basing that observation on the bizarre, sociopathic tendencies that Tina brought up during her appearance on Letterman this week (at the very least, they could make for some funny stories). Watch the clip of the Letterman interview here.

NBC Developing ‘Reality Bites’ Sitcom with Ben Stiller

August 23, 2013

adaptation, ben stiller, development, nbc, reality bites, red hour

NBC Developing ‘Reality Bites’ Sitcom with Ben Stiller

NBC, in yet another surprising turn, has added an adaptation of the 90’s cult classic comedy Reality Bites to their development slate.

Interestingly, the adaptation will still take place in the early 90’s before the Internet, which we’re absolutely sure will be the source of so many jokes that will eventually be turned into .gifs if this show ever sees the light of TV screens.

More Dead Kevin Coming Soon

August 23, 2013

2nd season, dead kevin, sketch comedy

More Dead Kevin Coming Soon

One of our favorite sketch groups Dead Kevin is coming back with another season of three twenty something guys (Ahmed Bharoocha, Ryan O’Flanagan, Jack Robichaud) finding the worst, but most funny outcome of just being in and around an apartment.

Episodes for Dead Kevin’s second season coming this fall.

Wits Announces Fall 2013 Lineup Featuring Dave Hill, Maria Bamford, Jim Gaffigan, David Cross, and More

August 23, 2013

american public media, dave hill, david cross, jim gaffigan, maria bamford, minnesota, mpr, wits

Wits Announces Fall 2013 Lineup Featuring Dave Hill, Maria Bamford, Jim Gaffigan, David Cross, and More

Wits, the true blue variety show taped, broadcast, etc. from the Fitzgerald Theater in Minnesota just announced the line-up for their series of shows coming this fall and it almost reads like a festival line-up.

In addition to have great musical acts such as Aimee Mann, Ted Leo, Yo La Tengo, and Busdriver, Paul F. Tompkins, Tim Heidecker, Dave Hill, Jim Gaffigan, Maria Bamford, David Cross, Ellie Kemper, and more are set to be part of various Wits episodes often in pretty great mini radioplays.

Luckily, they do tape much of the show and put it on YouTube like this clip of Maria Bamford and Bill Corbett & Kevin Murphy from Rifftrax spin on the Wizard of Oz.

Patrice O’Neal’s “Unreleased” Available Now as Digital Download

August 23, 2013

comedy album, crowd work, patrice o'neal

Patrice O’Neal’s “Unreleased” Available Now as Digital Download

The latest posthumous album to be released from Patrice O’Neal clearly titled “Unreleased” featuring some of his renowned crowd work is slated to come out as a physical CD in the beginning of October, but, if you just want to do a digital download for $10, you can get it from Patrice’s site right now.

The World’s End Opens Today

August 23, 2013

edgar wright, simon pegg, the world's end

Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg’s latest movie and third part of their so-called Cornetto Trilogy (in each of the movie, they eat an ice cream treat known as a Cornetto/also, Simon Pegg seems to gets more bad ass in each one), The World’s End, is out today. For how great, the other two in the trilogy, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, were, The World’s End definitely should be on your list of what to watch this weekend.

Here are showtimes around Los Angeles.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/24/13

August 24, 2013

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Happy Contest Time @ 3 Clubs Tues. Sept. 3rd 8PM FREE
Super Ego Live @ UCB Theatre Fri. Sept. 8th 8PM $10

COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy at FYF Fest @ LA State Historic Park 2:30PM $99 for 2 Day Pass
Air Sex Championships & Comedy Show @ Satellite LA 7:30PM $10-$12
Comedy By The Pool 8PM $5 donation
Maria Bamford @ Hollywood Improv 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Saturday Night Laughs @ Inside Jokes LA 8:30PM $15-$150/2 drink min.
Booze Cruise @ Nerdmelt Showroom 9PM FREE
How Did This Get Made? w/Paul Scheer @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $25
2nd Annual Class of Chicago Fest @ Fake Gallery 10PM $10
Hello Giggles Presents: Jealous @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
12 Shiny Nickels @ Westside Comedy Theater 11PM $10
The Post Apocalypse Variety Hour @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

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 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/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

Both Aasif Mandvi and Michael Ian Black Join Fox’s New ‘Us & Them’ Making It Much More Intriguing

August 24, 2013

aasif mandvi, fox, michael ian black

Both Aasif Mandvi and Michael Ian Black Join Fox’s New ‘Us & Them’ Making It Much More Intriguing

Sitcoms that lean towards romantic comedies are certainly nothing to get excited over as that seems to be the focus of many of them.

However, casting both Michael Ian Black and Aasif Mandvi for the new Fox series “Us & Them” makes for a much more enticing series that has definitely peaked our curiosity.

L.A.’s Famous ‘500 Days of Summer’ Bench Closed in Budget Cuts

August 24, 2013

500 days of summer, los angeles, movie locations, sites

L.A.’s Famous ‘500 Days of Summer’ Bench Closed in Budget Cuts

Due to budget issues, Angel’s Knoll where the famous (or infamous depending on who you identified with in the movie) bench from 500 Days of Summer is located is now closed off.

It may sound cheesy, corny, possibly even dumb, but we’ve sat there plenty of times and nostalgically gone through scenes of the movie while also laughing a little about the amount of homeless people they cleared out for those very scenes.

Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Is Now on Netflix

August 24, 2013

mike birbiglia, my girlfriend's boyfriend, netflix

Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Is Now on Netflix

For those of you that have been waiting patiently since Sleepwalk With Me came out as a movie for Mike Birbiglia’s next project to come out, well, wait no more as you can watch his latest special My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend now on Netflix.

It’s a great alternative if you can’t make FYF today.

Jackie Kashian’s Brings True Life Into Set List: The Improvised Stand Up Show

August 24, 2013

improvised stand up, jackie kashian, set list, wisconsin

Much of the time on Set List: The Improvised Stand Up Show, comedians are just rolling with whatever topic they’re thrown and often going to such heights of absurdity with none of their improvised material having much to do with them personally. Yet, there are still a handful of great comedians that can still bring their own experiences into the obtuse topics on Set List.

One such comedian is the wonderful Jackie Kashian, which you can watch how she ties in being from Wisconsin into her never before seen set list here from Set List at Nerdist’s YouTube Channel.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/25/13

August 25, 2013

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Kibitz Room Comedy @ Kibitz Room/Canter’s Mon. Aug. 26th 8:30PM FREE
Crave: The Comedy Rave Fri. Sept. 6th 9PM $15

COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy at FYF Fest @ LA State Historic Park 2:30PM $99 for 2 Day Pass
Crashbar Improv @ The Clubhouse 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Standup Schtick @ The Talking Stick 8PM FREE
UnCabaret @ First and Hope 8PM $20-$30
Harmontown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
The End of the World Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE
Top Story Weekly! @ iO West 8PM $5
Super Kudzu @ iO West 9PM $5
Neil Hamburger & Special Guests @ The Satellite LA 9PM $8
French Toast @ Taix 9:30PM FREE
Jeselnik @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
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
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

You Can Now Watch ‘Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film’ on Hulu

August 25, 2013

brooklyn, concert film, documentary, new york, tell your friends

You Can Now Watch ‘Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film’ on Hulu

A couple of years ago, Liam McEneaney made concert film/doc about his great comedy show in Brooklyn Tell Your Friends! and for awhile you could only see a trailer or maybe get the DVD of it (which includes a soundtrack if you’re interested), but now you can watch it for free on Hulu.

It has Reggie Watts, Christian Finnegan, Kurt & Kristen, Leo Allen along with interviews with Jim Gaffigan, Marc Maron, Janeane Garofolo, and more.

Whether you’re waiting for FYF or can’t go, it’s a pretty nice way to spend 80 min. this Sunday.

Enter McSweeney’s Annual Column Contest for Free

August 25, 2013

column, contest, mcsweeney's, op ed, submissions

Enter McSweeney’s Annual Column Contest for Free

Every year, the highly regarded brand for the humorous written word, McSweeney’s holds a contest to have a brand new column to bring into the fold. It’s free to enter, you can write or illustrate your column, and have until Aug. 30th 7PM PST to send it in.

You just might win $500 and a year contract with McSweeney’s.

We’re going to go ahead and guess that a lot of you have something that’s perfect for this, so get in on submitting already.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/26/13

August 26, 2013

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Lady to Lady @ Comedy Central Stages Tues. Aug. 27th 8PM FREE w/RSVP
The Heart, She Holler Season 2 Sneak Peek @ Cinefamily Wed. Sept. 4th 10:30PM FREE w/RSVP

COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Hot Tub with Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal @ The Virgil 8PM $5 in adv., $8 at door
The Black Version @ Groundlings 8PM $14
Kibitz Room Comedy @ Kibitz Room/Canter’s 8:30PM FREE
Drunken Tales of Shame & Glory @ Monty Bar 8:45PM FREE
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Totally J/K @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5

OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
SARDO’S 259 N. Pass Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/Ends 8:30PM/7 min./First come, first served/1 drink min.
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served/1 item min.
ANCHOR BAR 2675 Irvine Ave., Costa Mesa, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min.
THE WAREHOUSE LOUNGE 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA/Starts 7PM/Ends 7:45PM/First come, first served/5 min./8 spots only/No purchase necessary
NERDMELT SHOWROOM 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/25 spots only + 5 spots for following week/Lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA (nestled between 3 dorms approximately one block North of the intersection of Figueroa Ave. and Exposition Blvd.) USC student sign-up 7:30PM/Non-student sign-up 7:45PM/Starts 8PM/First come, first served/Limited # of slots/7 min./No purchase necessary
ECHOES UNDER SUNSET 1310 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:15PM/Lottery/15 5 min. spots/15 3 min. spots/One item min.
PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz)/Sign-up 8:15PM/Starts 8:30PM/lottery/No purchase necessary
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10PM/Lottery/4 min./No purchase necessary

Watch Doug Stanhope’s Latest Comedy Special “Beer Hall Putsch” on Netflix

August 26, 2013

beer hall putsch, comedy special, doug stanhope, netflix

Watch Doug Stanhope’s Latest Comedy Special “Beer Hall Putsch” on Netflix

Doug Stanhope is keeping up with the one comedy special per year trend with the release of his latest work “Beer Hall Putsch”. It was never a big group of comedians that were/are doing that, but we’re glad that the comedians turning out material at that rate are people like Louis CK and Stanhope.

Watch Beer Hall Putsch at the link exclusively on Netflix.

Jay Baruchel Producing Semi-Autobiographical Comedy at ABC

August 26, 2013

abc, development, jay baruchel

Jay Baruchel Producing Semi-Autobiographical Comedy at ABC

ABC has enlisted Jay Baruchel and a sitcom based on his life, which, based on the description, seems like what would happen in This Is The End if Jay left Seth Rogen and went back home to avoid Hollywood (also without the end of days happening).

We’re really curious to see whether this will end up being a single or multi-camera sitcom, especially for how family oriented the series could be.