During her interview on Letterman, Lena Dunham revealed that she was thoroughly delighted to get a 3rd season of Girls (premiering this Sun. Jan. 12th 10PM on HBO) considering everything she did in season two, suspecting that she had gotten away with enough according to HBO.
With that in mind, Letterman gives her a little more encouragement on doing her own show. Watch the clip here.
Sasheer Zamata Joins ‘Saturday Night Live’ As New Cast Member
After the wave of criticism of the lack of diversity at SNL, then a sketch making fun of said criticism last year, Lorne Michaels “secretly” auditioned a group of black female comedians to be cast members.
Yesterday, it was announced that, from that group, Sasheer Zamata will be the newest cast member at Saturday Night Live. We hope that she kills it in her first episode.
The Pete Holmes Show is still currently on hiatus, but the magic from an interview/hang out between Pete Holmes and Ron Funches will, at the very least, make today or whatever day you watch this pretty great.
Watch the interview and feel better about things in general.
Craig Robinson’s Mr. Robinson Going to Series at NBC
NBC has just ordered a handful of episodes from Craig Robinson’s pilot Mr. Robinson to air, which, according to the description, sounds a lot like School of Rock as a TV series starring Craig Robinson.
Anyone taking bets for whether they’ll do a parody of the song Mrs. Robinson at some point?
Louis C.K. has been noted over the last few years with reinventing the wheel of media by selling his own comedy special on his website for $5, doing every job on his TV show that’s humanly possible along with getting final cut, etc.
His latest milestone will be selling a movie, shot in black and white, that he made partially on his own dime, Tomorrow Night, on his own website. He made this announcement last night on The Tonight Show and revealed that it never got distributed anywhere in 1998.
In 2014, black and white seems to no longer be a deal breaker for audiences and with all the acclaim that CK has gathered since 98, it’s probably a good time for this.
Here’s the trailer for Tomorrow Night; you might know a few people making cameos like Conan O’Brien or JB Smoove.
ON THE HORIZON
Drunken Tales of Shame & Glory @ Monty Bar Mon. Jan. 13th 8:45PM FREE
The Super Serious Show with Beth Stelling @ The Virgil Wed. Jan. 15th 8PM $7 in adv., $10 at door
COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Central’s “@midnight w/Chris Hardwick” @ Hollywood Center Studios 3:15PM/6:30PM FREE w/RSVP
The Highland Park Show @ Cafe De Leche 7:30PM FREE
Room 101 Improv @ The Flight Theater 8PM FREE
Pints & Puns @ Angel City Brewery 8PM FREE
Comedy Central Showcase @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $5
Entendre! Entendre! @ The Cat & Fiddle 8PM FREE
Meltdown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8:30PM $8 (stand by only)
Radio Picture Show @ The Virgil 8:30PM $5
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Extra Credit @ The Clubhouse 10PM FREE
OPEN MIC RUN
PANINI GARDEN 2715 Main St., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 5:30PM/Starts 6PM/Ends 9PM/First come, first served/5 min. or 8 min. w/purchase/Hosted by Jordan Likover
FLAPPERS BURBANK 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/3 min./No purchase necessary
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/Lottery/3 min./$2 cover
ICE HOUSE STAGE 2 24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up 5:30PM/Starts 6PM/4 min./Lottery/No purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO. 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/Ends 8PM/First come, first served/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.
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/5 min./1 drink min.
CORKY’S LOUNGE 5043 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/No walk ins/Must sign-up in advance at jaketaveren@monkeyheadconcepts.biz/Starts 7PM/pre-booked spots 10-12 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Daniella Arce
ZOEY’S CAFE 185 E. Santa Clara, Ventura, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/First come, first served/10 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Samantha Ross
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7:30PM/Ends 9PM/Lottery/6-8 min./No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/mixed mic
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM w/one drink min./Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
O’HARRA’S BAR 1000 Gayley Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM after booked show/Lottery/3-5 min./No purchase necessary
THE OYSTER HOUSE 12446 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA/Starts 10PM/Ends 1AM/First come, first served/5 min./Hosted by Gary Carver
HOUSE OF TACOS 5616 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
IMPROV JAM @ THE FLIGHT THEATER 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts around 11PM after Room 101/Anyone can play/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM/First come, first served
One of the more fascinating things in comedy over the last several years has definitely been Charlie Todd and his happy cohorts known as Improv Everywhere. They blur the lines between performance art/flash mob/live comedy and have done so very well with things like the No Pants Subway Ride or pranking a TED talk.
Now, there’s a whole documentary about them called We Cause Scenes: The Rise of Improv Everywhere that you’ll probably buy after you watch this trailer.
TBS Renews The Pete Holmes Show for 13 Weeks
Many of you we were wondering what the word was on The Pete Holmes Show when it went on hiatus last year.
Luckily, the word is “renewal”.
The Pete Holmes Show just got picked up for 13 more weeks and returns to TBS on Feb. 24th, incidentally (or not so incidentally) the same day as Late Night with Seth Meyers premieres.
Harland Williams is one of our favorite late night guests usually evidenced by his unfiltered tomfoolery while on Conan.
Here’s another great example of it in his latest Conan appearance.
Sara Benincasa Writing ‘Agorafabulous’ Pilot for USA Network
The wonderful Sara Benincasa has gotten her book Agorafabulous!: Dispatches from My Bedroom
Hopefully, we’ll hear about it getting green lit before too long.
FX Tries For Another Rock Comedy with Pilot From Denis Leary
Two years ago, FX had Dana Gould and Dave Grohl developing a rock comedy, which we’re really excited about, but ended up not going very far beyond development.
In 2014, a force behind one of their longest running series in Rescue Me, Denis Leary, is taking another crack at a rock comedy in a pilot called Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.
Perhaps, this one will fare a little better.
Hulu announced this morning a slate of original programming to come out this year featuring many comedy series.
One of those comedy series is The Hotwives of Orlando that has a cast boasting Casey Wilson, Kristen Schaal, Angela Kinsey, Andrea Savage, Matt Besser, and more as well as being executive produced by Paul Scheer and Jonathan Stern.
ON THE HORIZON
The Tomorrow Show w/guest hosts Katie Crown & Davey Johnson @ Steve Allen Theater Sat. Jan. 11th MIDNIGHT $8
Auggie Smith @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Jan. 18th 10PM $15/2 item min.
COMEDY CRAWL
Big Money @ The Virgil 7PM FREE
DC Pierson Will Steal Your Girlfriend @ UCB Theatre 7PM $5
Harland Williams @ Irvine Improv 8PM $22/2 item min.
Impro(vs)tand Up @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
Westside Comedy Laugh Party @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Little Joy @ Little Joy Cocktails 8:30PM FREE
The Comedy Garage @ Rafa’s Lounge Art Gallery 9PM FREE
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Mantzoukas and… @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
The Vault @ The Clubhouse 10PM FREE
RIOT LA Passes $85-$500
Kumail Nanjiani @ Downtown Independent Theater 8PM $20
Sklarbro Country @ The Smell 8PM $15
Best of Riot LA @ Five Star Bar 8PM $15
8 Ball with Ron Funches @ The Lexington 8PM $10
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
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign up is 12PM at Facebook page/See http://www.facebook.com/BombShelterComedy for more info and to sign up/First 23 spots guaranteed on Facebook/Lottery for remaining spots/Starts 7PM/One drink min./5 min./Hosted by John Silver & Ryan Pfeiffer
ECHOES UNDER SUNSET 1310 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Lottery/4 min./1 item 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
LOADED 6377 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Ends 9PM/15 spots only/7 min./No purchase necessary
RAFA’S LOUNGE ART GALLERY 1836 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7:30PM/10 spots/Lottery/3 min./Mixed in with booked spots/Hosted by Scott Luhrs
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
IT’S A GRIND 247 Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served
INDIA’S FLAVOR 156 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 9:15PM/Starts 10PM/Hosted by Atif Myers
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM after Main Room show
UAE to Release Shez Cassim After 9 Months of Imprisonment Over an Internet Parody Video
After months of wholly undeserved jail time and a recent public outcry, Shez Cassim, the maker of an Internet parody video on youth culture in Dubai, will be released and come home to the U.S.
Good job, Internet.
Never Not Funny with Jimmy Pardo Moving to Earwolf
That’s right, the trailblazing podcast known as Never Not Funny with Jimmy Pardo, which you had to pay to listen to, is now moving to Earwolf and will be free to all to listen to.
Only a select few (Conan O’Brien, Patton Oswalt, SF Sketchfest, Scott Aukerman) are up from the hundreds upon hundreds of episodes Pardo’s recorded, but we’re sure you’re like us in being excited for Pardo goodness for all.
Comedy Central’s “@midnight w/Chris Hardwick” is on at midnight, which should be late enough to not censor most words/images.
Yet, those FCC rules still hold up for some reason as you’ll see Hardwick explain during a taping of “@midnight”.
Oh, you’re watching “@midnight” right? It’s back on four days a week on Comedy Central at the self-titled time.
Louis C.K., Modern Family, The Colbert Report and More Get DGA Awards TV Nominations
Along with 30 Rock, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel Live, all the above got DGA Awards nominations for television and their respective directors.
Interesting to note: One of those Modern Family nominations is for Bryan Cranston.
Patton Oswalt Drives Around, Sort Of, With Jerry Seinfeld in a DeLorean
Jerry Seinfeld breaks out his DeLorean collection for the Patton Oswalt episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Besides, Patton taking Jerry to Handsome Coffee Roasters in the Arts District in downtown and the DeLorean perhaps not working so well, need way say more to watch (do so at the link)?
The hysterical Steve Coogan appeared on The Daily Show this week to talk about his critically acclaimed latest work Philomena, which isn’t really a comedy for the harrowing story it tells. Yet, Coogan put humor into the film to make the weighty topic of coerced adoption more palatable.
Watch him explain the balance during the interview here.
The Spoils of Babylon Premieres Tonight on IFC
What might be the most epic comedy mini series (it certainly has the look for it) on TV, The Spoils of Babylon starring Tobey Maguire and Kristen Wiig premieres tonight on IFC at 10PM.
Let’s see if it’s a hilarious cross between The Heart She Holler and There Will Be Blood that we think it very well might be.
ON THE HORIZON
The Mike Eagle Show @ The Mint LA Sat. Jan. 11th 9PM $8 in adv., $10 at door
What’s New @ Nerdmelt Showroom Tues. Jan. 14th 9PM FREE w/RSVP
COMEDY CRAWL
The Manifesto Show @ The Clubhouse 8PM FREE
Unnecessary Evil @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Harland Williams @ Irvine Improv 8PM/10PM $22/2 item min.
The Humor Code @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
Set List @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $30 (stand by only)
Whiz Bang! @ The Capri 9PM FREE
2 Degrees of Alie @ iO West 10PM $5
Diamond Lion @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5
Camp! One Year Anniversary @ The Clubhouse 11:30PM FREE
RIOT LA
Todd Barry @ Downtown Independent Theater 8PM $25
Eddie Pepitone’s Bloodbath @ The Lexington 8PM $10
This Is Not Happening with Ari Shaffir @ Five Star Bar 8PM $15
Best of Riot LA @ The Smell 8PM $15
Silly Putty with Dan St. Germain 8PM $10
Greg Fitzsimmons @ Downtown Independent Theater 10PM $20
Slingshot with Dov Davidoff @ The Lexington 10PM $10
Best of Riot LA @ Five Star Bar 10PM $15
Improv 4 Humans w/Matt Besser @ The Smell 10PM $15
Stand Up on the Spot w/Jeremiah Watkins @ The Jalisco 10PM $10
Midnight Run with Andy Haynes @ Five Star Bar MIDNIGHT $10
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
HOLLYWOOD IMPROV 8162 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5:30PM/Starts 5:45PM/Lottery/20 spots only/3 min./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.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2907 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/Lottery/No purchase necessary/Hosted by Don Takano
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
BOB’S ESPRESSO 5251 N. Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served/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
IMPROV JAM @ THE CLUBHOUSE 1107 El Centro, Los Angeles, CA Ste. 110/Starts 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
With a 3rd season nearing it’s premiere and the order for a 4th season just ordered, we’re wondering if HBO just likes seeing what Lena Dunham will go for each season with Girls before renewing it.
Either way, we’re glad to get more Girls coming for the next year or so.
The Saga to Make a Richard Pryor Biopic Possibly Continues with Lee Daniels
For several years, a biopic about legendary comedian Richard Pryor has been attempted to be made several times and has fallen short of being that very biopic.
Perhaps, critically acclaimed director Lee Daniels will be the one to spearhead the movie to being made as he in talks with The Weinstein Company to do this elusive project.
If this happens, this might be the first Lee Daniels movie with a little bit of humor in it.
Chad Daniels comes back to the stage at Conan for his second set at the show. Though they’re are definitely some purists who would disagree, we’re glad to see more comics dressing how they want during the late night sets like Daniels does here with a hoodie and letting their comedy speak for itself.
Watch Chad Daniels return here.
Comedy Central is doubling down in their series greenlights today with picking up Big Time in Hollywood, FL produced by Ben Stiller and the animated Moonbeam City, produced by Conan’s Scott Gairdner and Rob Lowe with Lowe, Kate Mara, Elizabeth Banks, and Will Forte all doing voices.
So, it’s a pretty good day for Comedy Central.