The very first Improvisation Comedy Club, now known internationally as The Improv with several locations across the U.S., was founded by Budd Friedman and he stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to wax nostalgic about Jimmy coming up in comedy.
Watch a nice walk down comedy lane between Budd and Jimmy here.
‘Rick and Morty’ Has Made a Rushed Licensed Online Game That Will Make Thanksgiving Tolerable
The highly anticipated animated series from Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland Rick and Morty has made a video game a “rushed licensed game” that’s so damn fun, just for how meta and proactively self aware it is.
If you’re having a decidedly not great Thanksgiving, this might make up for it/will keep you entertained until next Mon. Dec. 2nd when Rick and Morty premieres on Adult Swim 10:30PM.
TV Everywhere and Comcast Aiming to Make TV More Twitter Friendly
TV Everywhere and Comcast are developing a Twitter specific button/app that will allow users access to an embeddable link to whatever show/content they’re tweeting about.
Could this have saved Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell or Nikki & Sara Live? We will never know, but this is the sort of thing, especially given Nielsen’s new inclusion of Twitter chatter into ratings, that might have helped.
ON THE HORIZON
The Eric Andre Show Live @ Echoplex Tues. Dec. 3rd 8PM $12
Prompter @ UCB Theatre Fri. Dec. 13th 8PM $10
COMEDY CRAWL
Dave Waite @ Flappers Yoo Hoo Room 7:30PM/9PM $10/2 item min.
Unnecessary Evil @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Chris Porter @ Ontario Improv 8PM/10PM$17/2 item min.
Jay Larson @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $15/2 item min.
Peachy Keen @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Diamond Lion @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5
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.
PANINI GARDEN 2715 Main St., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Ends 9PM/Lottery/Hosted by Solange Castro
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
TAO COMEDY STUDIO 7466 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/First come, first served/5 min./$5 cover includes drink
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM/lottery
Dealing with your television provider is more than a hassle, but Paul F. Tompkins brand new show No, You Shut Up on Fusion is proving that you might want to go ahead and try to deal with whoever to get Fusion.
Watch Tompkins interview this vulture/war correspondent/author.
The very funny Dan Telfer had a sort of riff session at the release party of his last album that even includes more of his famous “best dinosaur” bit and has recorded it into this EP The Pacman Always Rings Twice.
Not only should you get it and listen what Dan after a beer and a whole bottle of wine is like, but you can do so at the price of whatever you want to pay.
Get The Pacman Always Rings Twice at Bandcamp now.
Conan O’Brien, the man who brought The Pete Holmes Show to TBS, visits Pete, just a short walk across the Warner Bros. Studios backlot, and they compare starting out in late night as well as Conan pointing out a little known fact about Pete’s body.
Watch parts one, two, three, and four now.
Pardcast-a-Thon 2013 Is Under Way
If you’re not doing the whole Black Friday thing, enjoy the fun of the 2013 Jimmy Pardo’s Pardcast-a-Thon being livestreamed at the link and use that money you might have spent on doorbuster deals to donate to Smile Train, the charity Pardo has been supporting with Pardcast-a-Thon for years.
ON THE HORIZON
Crashbar Improv Says Goodbye @ Artworks Theatre Dec. 1st & 8th 7PM FREE
The Imaginary Radio Program with Special Guest James Adomian @ Ham & Eggs Tavern Sat. Dec. 7th 9PM FREE
COMEDY CRAWL
Chris Porter @ Ontario Improv 7PM/9PM $17/2 item min.
Dave Waite @ Flappers Yoo Hoo Room 7PM/9PM $15/2 item min.
Thanksgiving Leftovers @ Rafa’s Lounge Art Gallery 8PM FREE
The Movember Nerdmelt Comedy Show @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Underbelly 1 Year Anniversary @ Echoes Under Sunset 9PM FREE
Ben Schwartz Presents Snowpants @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Jimmy Dore & Friends @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $18/2 item min.
12 Shiny Nickels @ Westside Comedy Theater 11PM $10
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8
The Walsh Brothers @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5
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.
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
BREWDOG PUB 8300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/First come, first served/4-8 min./Mixed mic/1 item min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts around 11:30PM/lottery
This week had so many good guests on The Pete Holmes Show one of which was the amazing Bill Burr.
Wonderful humorist David Rees has not only brought joy to many through his writing, but has also enlightened us all on the discipline of artisanal pencil sharpening. His book How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, & Civil Servants
Luckily, How To Sharpen Pencils has been made into a short mini doc that is both actually informative as well as damn funny and has been making the rounds at film festivals.
Watch How to Sharpen Pencils as directed by Kenneth Price and written by David Rees himself now.
And Here Are The 2013 Channel 101 Channy Nominations
Among all the nominations coming up this award season, you might have overlooked the ones for the awesome homegrown talent known and seen here in LA in Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab’s Channel 101.
There were so many great short form programs such as Car Jumper, Marquis Vs., Baby Mentalist, and more that graced the screen of the Downtown Independent as well as the screens of many a laptop connected to the Internet.
Details on the actual awards ceremony, but now enjoy the list of nominees that includes such categories as copyright infringement.
ON THE HORIZON
Sappity Tappity Comes Home: A Christmas Special @ UCB Theatre Fri. Dec. 6th 8PM $10
Happy Contest Time @ 3 Clubs Tues. Dec. 3rd 8PM FREE
COMEDY CRAWL
Crashbar Improv Says Goodbye Pt. 1 @ Artworks Theatre 7PM FREE
Chris Porter @ Ontario Improv 7PM $17/2 item min.
I Love Burbank @ Flappers Yoo Hoo Room 7PM $10/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Philippines Benefit at Venice Underground @ Townhouse 8PM $10
UnCabaret @ First and Hope 8PM $20-$30
Harmontown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
John Ennis Presents “The Country Western Show” @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
The Drop-In Show @ Hot Mess Vintage 8PM FREE
Patton Oswalt & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Neal Brennan & Friends @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
Chatterbox Comedy @ The Chatterbox 9PM FREE
Gravid Water @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
French Toast @ Taix 9:45PM FREE
Powerviolence @ Theatre 6470 9:30PM FREE
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)
OPEN MIC RUN
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.
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/7 min./One drink min.
THE PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 8:45PM/Lottery/No purchase necessary/Hosted by Harry Moroz, Pedro Salinas, and Sarah Morisano
PIG N’ WHISTLE 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/6 to 8 min./Mixed mic/5 min.
CAFECITO ORGANICO 710 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/Ends 9PM/5 min./First come, first served/$2 donation/Hosted by Simon Gibson
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Zane Golia
COCK N BULL 2947 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 8:45PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ ARTWORKS THEATRE 6569 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts around 10PM after Crashbar/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
Ron Burgundy Co-Anchors Real Newscast in North Dakota
Will Ferrell seems dead set to subvert the idea of art imitating life with all these live, in character, Ron Burgundy appearances. He might have just achieved that by co-anchoring a real newscast as Burgundy in North Dakota, actually delivering the news as well as peppering a little bit of “classy” here and there.
If the Anchorman property were to have more sequels, we’re guessing that this would be Anchorman 5?
Brent Weinbach’s Gangster Party Line Is a Real Number That Has Plenty of Great Voicemails
Brent Weinbach’s hilarious video Gangster Party Line, which has gone viral, uses a real phone number, which so many people call and have left “some shit talkin” voicemails. There are thousands upon thousands of voicemails that they’re going through to highlight the best, some of which are already posted on the site at the link, gangsterpartyline.com.
On occasion, “someone” will answer the phone and talk some shit like we saw last night at Underbelly, making for one of the funniest things we’ve seen all year.
Apparently, the holiday season has started off with nice spicy bang as the great Kyle Kinane has gotten into a hilarious back-and-forth with the Pace Picante Twitter account as it has been automated, a “glitch” as Pace Foods says, to respond positively (i.e. GRAB SOUTHWEST BY THE BOTTLE in response to anything, positive or negative).
Testing the limits of their robots, actual humans responded, tried to work it out with some exchange of salsa, at which point Kinane continued to have fun and this may have all ended up being a big rigmarole in getting free salsa, win over Danica McKellar, and more.
Either way, thanks to Kyle Kinane for starting off December right by having a good amount of fun with a corporate Twitter account.
ON THE HORIZON
Tig Has Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre Tues. Dec. 13th 9PM $25
An Evening with Jake Weisman @ Nerdmelt Showroom Fri. Dec. 20th 9PM $5
COMEDY CRAWL
Monday Night Improv @ The Clubhouse 8PM FREE
Hot Tub with Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal @ The Virgil 8PM $5 in adv., $8 at door
Very Federman Christmas @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25
Doug Benson Movie Interruption: The Polar Express @ Cinefamily 9:45PM $14
Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Crash Test @ 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.
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Starts 6PM/Mixed mic/No purchase necessary
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
8 ESPRESSOS 11901 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 7:45PM/Female performers only/No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7:30PM/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/If not student, you might not get up/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 8:45PM/Starts 9PM/lottery/No purchase necessary
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up 9:30PM/Starts 10PM/Lottery/4 min./No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ THE CLUBHOUSE 1107-A El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts around 11PM after Monday Night Improv/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
First Episode of Brody Stevens: Enjoy It! is Online at Comedy Central
If you missed the premiere of Brody Stevens’ Enjoy It or really need a good introduction into the comedy and life of Steven Brody Stevens, the entire first episode is up at Comedy Central for you to watch.
So, get some positive energy in your Mondays, so you won’t even think about having “a case of them”.
Update on Kyle Kinane vs. @Pace_Foods
Within the last 24 hours since we reported this story of one Kyle Kinane hilariously taking on the automated corporate Twitter account of Pace Picante, not only have several news sources online picked up the story, but it’s become an entry in the Pace Food Wikipedia page, several other corporate higher ups got involved, and someone at Pace might have lost their job.
We’d like to think this whole incident might lead to an entire social media manual for corporations in how to handle the Internet and not implode, specifically dealing with comedians, and how they’ll still probably get it kind of wrong.
UPDATE: This entire incident was orchestrated by “master prankster” @RandyLiedtke.
Set List Makes Its UK Television Debut in a Few Hours
From the walls of the Fake Gallery here in LA to the broadcast feed of Sky Atlantic HD, Set List: The Improvised Stand Up Show will premiere in the UK as a TV series.
Congratulations to them and, if you can watch it at 10:15PM in the UK, we highly suggest you do and not miss what has become an international comedy phenomenon.
A few weeks ago mysterious Hollywood insider blogger Nikki Finke had a falling out with the site she created Deadline, one of the world’s leading entertainment news sources.
Well, instead of looking up all the details, we’d rather watch this “dramatization” by Funny or Die that’s pretty close what we imagined to what happened.
Another great live action/puppet show is coming our way in Kids Court with Andy Kindler at Nerdist YouTube’s Channel tomorrow.
Along with No, You Shut Up w/Paul F. Tompkins, there could be a more than welcome trend of traditionally live action shows parodied with a real life host and puppets starting to come around.
Rick and Morty Premieres Tonight on Adult Swim.
Commit to memory, set a reminder, set another reminder, and maybe mark that archaic thing that you have hanging on a wall somewhere with numbers called a calendar that tonight will be the world premiere of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s new Adult Swim series Rick and Morty.
Oh yeah, it’s at 10:30PM tonight on Adult Swim. We probably should have mentioned that before everything else, but, just do all of that memorizing and reminding now because the series, of what we have seen, is so damn funny.
ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Night @ Lorenzo Thurs. Dec. 5th 8:30PM FREE
Dead Authors w/Paul F. Tompkins & Special Guests Scott Aukerman & Neil Campbell Fri. Dec. 6th 6:30PM $5
COMEDY CRAWL
TNT Improv @ The Clubhouse 8PM FREE
Comedy Night 2 Year Anniversary @ Best Fish Taco in Ensenada 8PM FREE
The Eric Andre Show Live @ The Echoplex 8PM $12
A Very Tinkle Christmas @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
An Evening with Daniel Sloss @ iO West 8PM $5
Not for Nothin @ Echoes Under Sunset 8PM FREE
Put Your Hands Together @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
Happy Contest Time @ 3 Clubs 8:30PM FREE
We’re Having Fun Here @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Andy Kindler Album Taping @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Talkin’ Shit 300th Episode Party & Live Show @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $5/2 item min.
OPEN MIC RUN
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/Stand-up, sketch, improv all welcome/5 min.
HOLLYWOOD IMPROV 8162 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5:30PM/Starts 5:45PM/Lottery/20 spots available
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served/$3 min.
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
IO WEST 6366 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Starts 6:30PM/Ends 8PM/Lottery/5 min./1 drink min.
THE MOTH @ ZANZIBAR 1301 W. 5th St., Santa Monica, CA/Doors open 7PM/Starts 7:30PM sharp/Stories only on theme of “hooked”/Lottery/10 spots only/5 min./$8 cover
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO. 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/First come, first served/One item min.
BYBLOS 1964 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 9PM/Sign-up is lottery/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 7:45PM/Ends 9:30PM/5-7min.
THE OTHER DOOR 10437 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/To get a booked spot, email mouthypants@gmail.com by Monday at 5 PM/20 names will be chosen at random/Sign-up for 20 lottery spots starts at 7:30 at the show/Go to facebook.com/mouthypantscomedy for more details
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 9PM/Starts 10:30PM after booked show/Ends 12AM/No purchase necessary
PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 9:45PM after booked show/Lottery
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
THE COMEDY STORE BELLY ROOM 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 11PM/Lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary/Roast battle between 2 comedians at end/Hosted by Brian Moses and Rell Battle
JASH Is Now Taking Video Submissions to Feature via Twitter
You now have the chance to submit your videos to be featured on JASH’s YouTube network by tweeting at them.
We’re not sure if this will set you on your way to being a YouTube star, but it wouldn’t hurt. Also, if you didn’t do the math, this is a free contest to submit to.