Recent News

Comedy Central Orders Talk Show Pilot “Gettin’ Some Strange with Kurt Braunohler”

August 14, 2014

comedy central, kurt braunohler, pilot order, roustabout

Comedy Central makes another great move by ordering a talk show pilot from the amazing Kurt Braunohler. Braunohler’s Roustabout hasn’t even premiered yet and the network is already wanting more from Kurt, which should be a really good sign for what’s to come.

If you were at the last Riot LA Comedy Festival, you probably got to see the last incarnation of a Kurt Braunohler talk show, which featured interviewing guests with a lie detector test, several “mistimed” surprises, and a second line leading the whole audience through the streets of downtown LA to an after party.

Let’s hope that some semblance of that will make it to the Gettin’ Some Strange pilot.

Netflix To Release Comedy Specials From Bill Cosby, Bill Burr, Chelsea Peretti, and Jim Jefferies Throughout The Rest of 2014

August 14, 2014

bill burr, bill cosby, chelsea peretti, comedy special, eddie pepitone, jim jefferies, netflix

In addition to the upcoming comedy special from Eddie Pepitone, Netflix is really going deep with comedy specials as they have lined up hour long comedy specials from some of the biggest names in comedy right now including Bill Cosby, Bill Burr, Chelsea Peretti, and Jim Jefferies.

This month, we’ll be able to see Jeffries’ “Jim Jefferies: BARE” and Pepitone’s “Eddie Pepitone: In Ruins”, then, in Nov., Peretti’s “One of the Greats” and Cosby’s “Bill Cosby 77” will be released. Finally, in Dec., Bill Burr’s latest “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” will cap off one hell of a run in stand-up specials by Netflix.

Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani on Explicit Graffiti, Being Body Slammed, and More on Conan

August 14, 2014

cartoon crushes, comedy central, conan, hell gigs, jonah ray, kumail nanjiani, maleficent, silicon valley, the meltdown with jonah and kumail

With The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail now on Comedy Central, both Jonah and Kumail joined Conan O’Brien in a nice chat covering Kumail’s mom getting grossed out by a certain fictional graffiti logo on Silicon Valley as well as Jonah and Kumail’s hell gig stories and their cartoon crushes that seem to hold true even as adults.

Cinefamily to Screen a Run of “Monty Python Live (Mostly)” Next Week

August 14, 2014

cinefamily, monty python, silent movie theatre

From Wed. Aug. 20th to Tues. Aug. 26th, Cinefamily at The Silent Movie Theatre will be having a run of the latest performance by Monty Python recorded live at the O2 Arena in London.

Until the DVD comes out, this is probably your best chance of seeing the show that sold out in record time, so don’t miss out if you’re in LA.

Rory Scovel Is Simply Magical at The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail

August 14, 2014

comedy central, nerdmelt, rory scovel, the meltdown

Rory Scovel is one of the most spectacular comedians right now and you really need to do yourself a favor and just watch everything he does. That way, you would be sure to catch Rory go for an applause record (i.e. having the audience never stop clapping) and crowd surfing while simultaneously telling jokes at The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail.

If you love the playfully unstoppable spirit of Robin Williams live on stage, you will absolutely love this.

Festival Supreme Moving to the Other Side of the USC Campus at The Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds

August 14, 2014

exposition park, festival supreme, jack black, kyle gass, los angeles, tenacious d, the shrine, usc

Exposition Park will no longer be the site of the 2nd Festival Supreme, but don’t worry as this does not mean it’s cancelled. The date is the same, the mind blowing, amazing line-up is still the same, and, actually, they’re in the same part of town.

The Shrine Expo Hall and Grounds, another gigantic LA venue, will be the home for this year’s Festival Supreme, which is literally a brief walk from Exposition Park on the south side of the USC campus (The Shrine is on the north side).

Tickets are still on sale for $99.

Jon Dore Made a Mockumentary About Winnipeg That’s Appropriately Title “A Dore to Winnipeg”

August 14, 2014

canada, cbc, jon dore, mockumentary, winnipeg

The hysterical Jon Dore went to Winnipeg for two reasons. 1) The Winnipeg Comedy Festival this past April 2) to make a mockumentary of exploring Winnipeg, Canada.

The result is Jon’s “A Dore to Winnipeg” that will premiere on CBC this Fri. at 9PM EST. While many of us here in LA don’t have CBC, you can get a glimpse of what will hopefully come stateside with this clip of Dore visiting the childhood home of Neil Young.

Perhaps, there could be a DVD box set of this and the other experimental documentary set in Winnipeg, Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg.

Will Arnett Launches His Own Production Company Electric Ave. with First Look Deal at CBS

August 14, 2014

cbs, electric ave., production company, will arnett

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

That’s right, Will Arnett has launched his very own production company Electric Ave. that has an exclusive first look deal at CBS and is already in final negotiations to option a project for development.

Not only is exciting news that Arnett has own production arm, but, if our sources are correct, they’ve got some more exciting stuff up their sleeve.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/15/14

August 15, 2014

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
An Evening with Randy Liedtke @ Nerdmelt Showroom Tues. Aug. 26th 9PM $5
Picture This! An Animated Comedy Show @ Steve Allen Theater Fri. Aug. 29th 9PM $12

COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy at Echo Park Rising @ Time Travel Mart 7PM FREE
Play by Play @ UCB Theatre 7PM $5
The Liquid Feet Show @ The Sweat Spot 8PM $5
Unnecessary Evil @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Biscuits & Davey @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
Chris Porter @ Brea Improv 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
Matthew McComedy @ Karma Lounge 8PM FREE
The Swarm @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Bo Burnham & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $30 (stand by only)
Hampton Yount Album Recording @ Nerdmelt Showroom 9PM FREE w/RSVP (stand by only)
The Sklar Brothers & Friends @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $15/2 item min.
Comics Quitting @ Westside Comedy Theater 11:30PM FREE

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/Ends 8PM/5 min./First come, first served
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
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts 11:30PM/lottery/3-5 min.

Eddie Pepitone: In Ruins, Pepitone’s First Comedy Special, Now Out on Netflix

August 15, 2014

comedy special, eddie pepitone, in ruins, netflix

An hour long comedy special from the undeniably hysterical Eddie Pepitone has finally arrived early this morning at Netflix as the first in their upcoming run of great comedy specials.

Eddie Pepitone: In Ruins, directed by Steve Feinartz and shot live at The Bell House in Brooklyn, should definitely be what you’re watching today rather than whatever is opening at your local multiplex or other things on your Netflix queue.

Please watch over and over here.

Derek Waters Tells The Origin Story of Drunk History

August 15, 2014

comedy central, derek waters, drunk history, late night, origin story, seth meyers

With Drunk History’s third season ordered at Comedy Central, series creator Derek Waters got to chat with Seth Meyers at Late Night about the actual inception and development of Drunk History.

Spoiler alert: It involves someone getting drunk…

Oh Yeah, Here’s The Whole Rory Scovel Crowd Surfing Bit at Meltdown

August 15, 2014

crowd surfing, meltdown, rory scovel

Yesterday, we posted Rory Scovel going for an applause record and linked to a brief Instagram video of Rory also crowd surfing while telling jokes.

Well, Meltdown’s resident photographer Tyler Ross captured the whole bit of Scovel crowdsurfing including the build-up, which we assure you is every iota as great as you’d would hope it would be.

CBS Makes Put Pilot Commitment For Dan Sterling Comedy From Phil Lord and Chris Miller

August 15, 2014

cbs, chris miller, dan sterling, phil lord, pilot season

This week, CBS has been making some good moves in branching their comedy branding out.

In addition to giving Will Arnett’s newly formed production company Electric Ave. a first look deal, they have now made a put pilot commitment to a project from Dan Sterling, a former EP on The Office, brought to them by comedy’s newest power duo, Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 and 22 Jump Street, Last Man on Earth).

Let’s hope CBS keeps going in this direction this pilot season.

Cameron Esposito Makes Her Conan Debut a “Safe Space” For All

August 15, 2014

cameron esposito, conan

With her album Same Sex Symbol on the way for a Oct. 7th release (you can pre-order now), Cameron Esposito made what will hopefully be the first of a number of stand up appearances on Conan last night.

In her set, she not only has great material, but spreads a message of inclusion to straight people as well as people that like overcorrecting.

Mike Birbiglia Joining ‘Orange Is The New Black’

August 15, 2014

mike birbiglia, netflix, oitnb, orange is the new black

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

For the third season of Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, the comedian behind Sleepwalk With Me and My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Mike Birbiglia is coming for a recurring role. It’s not clear what he’ll be, but it wouldn’t be hard to imagine for it to not be a potentially scene-stealing role.

Our guess would be some of new, atypical prison chaplain.

Craig Ferguson Planning on Leaving His 12:35AM Talk Show For a 7PM Talk Show

August 15, 2014

craig ferguson, late late show, syndicated, talk show, tribune media

As of now, Craig Ferguson is lining up his next show after his departure from The Late Late Show at CBS, which he’s aiming to be a syndicated talk show that would air right before primetime for networks at 7PM.

He’d also be going from an hour to a half-hour as well as leaving a broadcast network to syndication through Tribune Media, which owns WGN America.

Pending these final negotiations, Ferguson’s new show, where he’ll probably be even dissuaded from having his innovative curse word censoring on The Late Late Show, will look to premiere in the latter part of 2015.

We’re throughly curious as to how this new show will look, sound, feel, be formatted, and, also, what will happen to Geoff Peterson.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/16/14

August 16, 2014

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World @ New Beverly Cinema Fri. Aug. 22nd MIDNIGHT $8
Ronna & Beverly @ UCB Theatre Fri. Aug. 22nd 8PM $10

COMEDY CRAWL
RTDOK Presents at Echo Park Rising @ Rafa’s Lounge Art Gallery 4PM FREE
Chris Porter @ Brea Improv 7PM/9PM $17/2 item min.
We Watch Wrestling LIVE Podcast @ The Copper Still Bar 8PM $5
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Tig Has Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $30
Comedy at Echo Park Rising @ Echoes Under Sunset 9PM
Brew Haha in Marissa’s Backyard 9PM Donations accepted
Ben Schwartz Presents Snowpants @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
The Shit Show @ iO West 11PM $5
12 Shiny Nickels @ Westside Comedy Theater 11:30PM $10
Midnight Run at Echo Park Rising @ Echoes Under Sunset MIDNIGHT FREE
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow! Presents Crapshoot! @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

OPEN MIC RUN
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 2PM/Ends 4PM/First come, first served/Hosted by Trina Roderick
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 3:30PM/Starts 4PM/Ends 6PM/5 min./One item min
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 4PM/Ends 7PM/First come, first served/5-10 min./Hosted by Marty Wurst and Jeanne Whitney
MAKAI COFFEE 2771 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 4:30PM/Starts 5PM/First come, first served/5-7 min./No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS BURBANK YOOHOO ROOM 102 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA/Starts 4:30PM/First come, first served
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade & 4th St.)/Sign-up 5:45PM/Starts 6PM/Lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Graham Rodgers and Scott Schnurr
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 6:45PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Kasey Koop and Jenny Young
GROUNDWORK COFFEE 1501 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM/Ends 10PM/First come, first served/5 min./One item min./Hosted by Raab
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts around 11:30PM/lottery/3-5 min.

20th Century Fox TV Gives Julius Sharpe Two Year Overall Deal

August 16, 2014

fox tv, julius sharpe, overall deal

As overall deals for networks are starting to come in, Fox has made a nice move by giving one of their long time writers Julius Sharpe, also a funny stand-up, an overall deal.

You’ve probably enjoyed Sharpe’s work at Family Guy and The Cleveland Show and hopefully, now you’ll see his name in a bigger capacity over at Fox with shows he’s developing.

Nikki Glaser Is Investigating Comedy Central’s Core Demographic by Crashing on a Couch

August 16, 2014

comedians crashing couches, comedy central, demographic, emmy blotnick, key demo, nikki glaser, ratings

To further tap into the zeitgeist, Comedy Central is doing some “investigating” of their core demographic of young people.

More specifically, they’re sending the very funny Nikki Glaser and her producer Emmy Blotnick to a house full of young, creative types to crash on their couch and gather data, however that’s supposed to work. From that, they made a web series aptly called Comedians Crashing Couches.

The first two episodes are up and more so than finding out what the kids are into these days, we’re wondering if Nikki will stay sane through the whole process.

The 2nd High Plains Comedy Festival Is Next Week

August 16, 2014

adam cayton holland, andy juett, colorado, comedy festival, denver, high plains comedy festival

The first High Plains Comedy Festival did so well that they’re back again next week for their second go around according to this video with the festival’s founders Adam Cayton-Holland and Andy Juett.

Literally, it’s next week (Thurs. Aug. 21st-Sat. Aug. 23rd) and you can and should get your tickets now as the line-up is pretty fantastic.

Dave Hill Recording His First Comedy Album Next Month for AST Records

August 16, 2014

a special thing, ast records, brooklyn, comedy album, dave hill, nyc, union hall

The prolifically funny Dave Hill has somehow not blessed us all by recording a live comedy album for all of us that need a piece from Dave preserved forever in time.

Luckily, that’s changing next month, Sept. 3rd, at Union Hall when Dave records his very first comedy album off the consistently awesome label AST Records. The show itself is already sold out, but it would be most certainly worth trying to stand by for tickets.

LA Comedy Rundown 8/17/14

August 17, 2014

comedy shows, los angeles, open mics

ON THE HORIZON
Girly Magazine Party @ Steve Allen Theater Thurs. Aug. 21st 8PM $12
Ithamar Has Nothing to Say @ Second City Hollywood Sat. Aug. 23rd 8PM $10

COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Yard Sale with Sandy Danto @ Hollywood Improv 4:30PM $10/2 item min. (yard sale is free to attend)
Sun Club in Echo Park 5PM FREE
Comedy at Echo Park Rising @ Time Travel Mart 7PM FREE
Chris Porter @ Brea Improv 7PM $17/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction @ The Virgil 8PM FREE
Harmontown @ Nerdmelt Showroom 8PM $10
Sunday School Dropouts @ Vaucluse Lounge 8PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 8PM $5
Neal Brennan & Friends @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
Power Violence @ 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.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 4:30PM/Starts 5PM/Lottery/5 min./Hosted by Lizzy Pilcher
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM/5 min./First come, first served
THE LEXINGTON 129 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary/Hosted by Mark Alexzandr
SORRY NOT SORRY @ WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade & 4th St.)/Starts 7PM/Ends 8:30PM/Lottery/Stories only/6-8 min./Hosted by Ethan Stanislawski
LYRIC HYPERION THEATRE 2106 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 9PM/Lottery/3 min./No purchase necessary
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
COCK N BULL 2947 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 8:45PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/5 min./No purchase necessary
THE COMEDY STORE BELLY ROOM 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 11:30PM/Lottery/3 min./Hosted by Erik Marino and Brian Moses

Bob’s Burgers, Between Two Ferns, More Win at Last Night’s Creative Arts Emmys

August 17, 2014

between two ferns, bob's burgers, colbert report, creative arts emmys, emmys, orange is the new black

The Creative Arts Emmy Awards (i.e. the Emmys for primetime TV that you won’t get to see on the normal telecast for The Primetime Emmys) were awarded last night and it’s great to see that Bob’s Burgers has gotten some well deserved attention as well as Between Two Ferns knocking it out of the park this year with their Barack Obama episode.

Congratulations to them as well as our other favorite comedy programs that got a statue listed below. Also, here’s the full list of winners from last night.

Bob’s Burgers (Outstanding Animated Program)
Between Two Ferns (Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program)
The Colbert Report (Outstanding Writing for a Series)
AFI Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks (Outstanding Variety Special)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Digital Experience (Outstanding Interactive Program)
The Simpsons (Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance [Harry Shearer])
Orange Is The New Black (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series [Uzo Aduba], Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series)
Saturday Night Live (Outstanding Directing For a Variety Series, Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special, Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special-Non-Prosthetic, Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series [Jimmy Fallon])
The Daily Show (Outstanding Picture Editing For Short-Form Segments And Variety Specials)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Comedy Series Or A Variety Program)
Modern Family (Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation)

Aubrey Plaza Makes Sure To Talk About Bachelorette Parties as Awkwardly as Possible

August 17, 2014

aubrey plaza, bachelorette party, conan

Aubrey Plaza has been, for a long time, someone fascinating to watch on late night talk shows for her blurring of kidding and being serious all while seeming embarrassed, but in an endearing way.

Of course, that all comes into play when she chatted with Conan about a bachelorette party she had to organize along with all of the stereotypical bachelorette party paraphernalia she had to order.

Amy Schumer Gets Double Standard Even as Highly Trained Secret Agent

August 17, 2014

amy schumer, inside amy schumer

Even in the highest levels of clandestine task forces where only the most skilled of field agents are employed, Amy Schumer has found herself being relegated to lesser non-highly-trained operative roles versus men that are just assigned cool codenames.

Watch Operation Enduring Mouth here.