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Pick of the Day: Sorry/Not Sorry + Abby/Megan/Andy Not C.K. (in LA) 8/3

July 2, 2024

Sorry/Not Sorry, a crucial documentary from Caroline Suh, Cara Mones, and the NY Times, chronicling the fall and then unfortunate rise once more of disgraced comedian Louis C.K. has just made its way to its release and Lyric Hyperion is doing a very special screening of the movie this Saturday IN ADDITION to an extremely special, exclusive stand-up show featuring Abby Schachner, Megan Koester, and Andy Kindler.

The trio are a band of very funny comedians as well as some of the major voices that spoke out about C.K. in the documentary, which should make for one hell of a night of stand-up.

Screening of Sorry/Not Sorry is at 7PM and the stand-up show, aptly called Abby/Megan/Andy Not C.K. is at 9:30PM. Tickets to either show is $15 a pop and you can (and should) go get ’em here and here respectively.

Pick of the Day: IN PROGRESS: A LIVE RORY SCOVEL EXPERIENCE (Goodbye LA Edition) 7/8

June 28, 2024

News

elysian, improvied, rory scovel, stand up

The time of Angelenos getting to enjoy the magic and majesty that is Rory Scovel and his comedy on a regular basis might be coming to a close soon. Scovel has given the LA comedy scene such revelatory comedy experiences (we will never forget when he did a set as a disembodied Werner Herzog voice and roasted the show’s house band for not accurately playing “space music”).

SO, DON’T YOU DARE MISS THIS GOODBYE LA EDITION OF IN PROGRESS SHOW AT THE ELYSIAN ON JULY 8TH at 7:30PM. Tickets are still available at $15 a pop and you best go get them right this second right here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 222: Emily Catalano & Finally Having Your Own Crowd

June 26, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

emily catalano, hey, stand up

The slow burn, ultra clever joke tellers of the 2020s are a rare breed, but they are a delight whenever they magically appear. Such is the case with Emily Catalano who came up in SF/Bay Area and has since transplanted successfully down in LA (don’t worry, she goes back to the Bay quite a bit as well as touring all over the country) serving up her finely honed and sharpened, wry and oh-so-wondrous bits. We catch up with Emily as she is about to release her delightful debut album HEY. this Friday and what the journey to that has been, especially as she was set to do this in 2020.

Follow Emily @catalano_emily on IG and get her album HEY. this Friday fresh from Blonde Medicine.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by Jim McCambridge

TCB Debriefing 6/15/24-6/24/24: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, Reggie Watts, Alex Edelman, Onika McLean, Between the Temples, Elijah Wood, John Hastings, Marge Simpson/Nancy MacKenzie, Space Balls, Resident Alien, What’s Funny Fest, Murray Hill, Eric Idle, Eugene Mirman, Mr. Bean, Free Eric Andre Tix

1. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. We’re sold on just the title alone (and how charming that it’s also French). It definitely feels like part of the Last Lovers Left Alive side of the vampire comedies. Please enjoy the trailer here. If you’re digging it, it’s rolling out in limited release now.

2. It has almost been a decade since the brilliant Reggie Watts has released a proper new hour, but, thankfully, we’re not going to reach that decade mark. Watts’ new comedy special Never Mind is set to premiere on VEEPS (the new streaming service of du jour it would seem) next month. Take a gander of what sort of esoteric hijinks Watts gets into this time with the trailer for Never Mind here.

3. Alex Edelman officially won a damn Tony for his nearly unbelievable solo show, Just For Us. May this set a precedent for more stand-ups to win Tonys for their shows about how they put their lives on the line just out of curiosity amongst other things.

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A post shared by Alex Edelman (@alexedelman)

4. In and around, high and low, and all around the five boroughs, Onika McLean is a name you’ll see all around the NYC comedy scene and that’s largely because she’s killing it wherever she goes with a sweetness-tinged honesty. See what New Yorkers get to see all the time with her set from Don’t Tell here.

5. Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane together and it’s not a Wes Anderson movie? Take a gander at what might be an extremely charming comedy of later age comedy from Nathan Silver, Between the Temples, here, then look for it in theaters very soon.

5. Elijah Wood spent so many years of his life in New Zealand playing Frodo Baggins in the monumental cinematic achievement that is the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and he is now set to kind of flip that experience by returning to NZ in a film where he plays a “washed up Las Vegas illusionist” looking for a mythical panther (ok, so maybe it’s kind of the same?) in the upcoming Bookworm (Deadline).

6. John Hastings has put a special that’s actually more of a fascinating documentary about how well-read and sharp he is at crowd work no matter where he is in the world. It’s almost as if there were some sort of crowd work decathlon, you might want to put your money on Hastings. See why with his special John Hastings: The Times They Are a John Hastings here.

7. The voice of Marge Simpson, Nancy MacKenzie, has passed away at 81 (Deadline). RIP and let it be known that we’re not interested in an AI generated sound alike of Marge.

8. A sequel to Mel Brooks’ landmark Star Wars parody, Space Balls, is in the works with Josh Gad set to star (Variety). What are the odds that this sequel is called Space Balls: The Foreskin Awakens?

9. Resident Alien, the current show you can watch Alan Tudyk put on a clinic when it comes to comedic character acting, is getting fourth season, though it will be at USA Network rather than SyFy (THR). This announcement will probably double as a reminder that the USA Network is still going.

10. Years before JFL Montreal had to postpone and Just For Laughs had to figure out its money woes, JFL Chicago got the axe. Thankfully, Lil’ Rel and Knowledge Beckom are bringing a big time comedy festival to Chicago, a city that more than deserves one with Whats Funny Fest this fall (Deadline).

11. Murray Hill has such a knack for stealing scenes, most recently in Somebody Somewhere, that it’s about time he got his own show. Thankfully, that process is underway with Hill developing a campy gumshoe comedy “Shorty Big Time” (Deadline).

12. Not sure if there will ever be another Monty Python live tour, but you can count on Eric Idle touring his solo hour, a familiar title of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, LIVE! that’s touring throughout the U.S. and Australia from Sept. to Nov. Go get tix here (and don’t wait for them to sell out).

13. Eugene Mirman is going on tour in September and November as well (though just the Midwest and West Coast) with his An Evening of Whimsy and Mild Grievances. Fingers crossed that he does live Russian language lessons from I’m Sorry (You’re Welcome). Get tix here!

14. There is going to be a whole channel dedicated to Rowan Atkinson‘s seminal character, Mr. Bean (Deadline). If this is the way to get folks on board with Blackadder, so be it.

15. We’ll leave you with this: Remember, we got some free tix to giveaway for The Final Eric Andre Show LIVE @ The Bellwether on July 19th. If you want in, let us know at thecomedybureau@gmail.com.

Pick of the Day: Final Sounds Great (in NYC) 6/27

June 24, 2024

News

brooklyn, nora jefferies, nyc comedy, paige smith hogan, sounds great

When greeted with the centuries old maxim “All good things must come to an end,” it’s a pretty fun response to shoot back, “SOUNDS GREAT!”

Therein lies the perfect intersection of circumstances as Nora Jeffries and Paige Smith-Hogan’s Sounds Great stand-up comedy show at Our Wicked Lady in BK is coming to a conclusion this very week, specifically on Thursday, June 27th at 7:30PM. As it’s the swan song show, the line-up is stacked upon several stacks of beloved NYC comedic minds and will be likely one of those affairs that you’re going to want to pay your respects, stay the whole time, and have a damn great night saying goodbye to a long running NYC comedy show.

On the bill thus far is:

Andy Ward
Anne Stesney
Ash Diggs
Ben Kim
Christian Mangual
Clara Olshanksy
Colby Smith
Justin Catchens
Karli Marulli
Kelso
Mariah Oxley
Matt Albino
Melody Kamali
Meredith Dietz
Noah Rocklin
Nolawee Mengist
Rayne McGowan
Schulyer Robinson
Sean Zorn
Tim Kov

and, of course, Paige Smith-Hogan and Nora Jefferies!

Per usual, it’s free and you might want to clear out your Thursday night.

Pick of the Day: Josh Sharp’s New Thing (in NYC)

June 21, 2024

News

brooklyn, josh sharp, littlefield, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

Leave it one of the stars and minds behind the groundbreaking Dicks: The Musical to try something so ridiculous ambitious as having hundreds and hundreds of slides accompany brand new stand-up material.

Come Thursday, July 25th, Josh Sharp will attempt to have a 1000 cues memorized as there will be at least that many slides in a presentation coinciding with his new hour of stand-up. May some grace smile on the tech person in tech booth that evening and that Sharp revel in this pretty absurd (albeit very funny) challenge.

Josh Sharp’s New Thing is set for 8PM that Thurs. 7/25 at littlefield. Tickets are $18.67 a pop and you can (and should) go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 221: Rachel Scanlon & The Gay Reality

June 19, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

rachel scanlon, stand up comedy

Fresh off the heels of releasing a brand new very shiny, funny hour, Gay Fantasy, the marvelous Rachel Scanlon seems have everything lined-up with a new special dropping, in the midst of 2024’s Pride. We chat with her on this week’s TCB Field Report all about it and what work really goes into the making of a “gay fantasy” (and what that means for her, both now and in the future).

Follow Rachel @rachelscanloncomedy and watch her brand new special Gay Fantasy here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: Brent Weinbach: Popular Culture Taping (in LA) 6/29

June 17, 2024

News

brent weinbach, stand up comedy, taping, ucb

Brent Weinbach has proven time and time again that he’s at the forefront of the art of comedy and he’s about to do so again at the end of this month.

The comedian who conjured up comedic brilliance by impersonating an audience member crying or coming up with Gangster Party Line or perfecting what very much seems like conducting a comedy laboratory on stage, but it all go exactly according to plan is recording his very next special. Weinbach will be taping Popular Culture at UCB Franklin on Saturday, June 29th at 7PM and 9:30PM. Tickets for the early show are already sold out, but you can still snag some late show tickets if you act fast and have $15 on you (which, for this, you should).

Go get ’em here.

TCB Debriefing 6/2-6/14/24: Hannah Einbinder, After Midnight, Conner O’Malley, Petey DeAbreu, Pope Visit, Sabrina Brier, John Early, NIAJF Introducing, Sam Morril, Comedy of War, Group Therapy, Ghosts, Carmen Lynch, Liz Miele, Adventure Time, Abbi Jacobson, Palm Royale, Beavis & Butthead, Owen Thiele, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Wallace & Gromit, Animation+, Tim Robinson, Free Eric Andre Tix

1. Every now and again, we’ve gotten to see comedians from their very inception of their career, cutting their teeth at whatever venue that they can possibly find to the storied, yet rarefied success and fame that one would hope for as a stand-up comedian, often reflected by their face and name being plastered on a giant billboard. We’re thrilled that Hannah Einbinder is one such person as we’ve bore witness to some of her earliest sets in the strangest places that had seeds of her undeniable comedic verve and prowess these days on display at a gorgeous El Rey Theatre. Her very first comedy special, HBO’s latest comedy release, Everything Must Go, shows off not only a confident Einbinder that seems like she’s on her third special, but is a very welcome, colorful, agile, and hysterical break (shout out also to director/one of the the Three Busy Debras, Sandy Honig) from the litany of stand-up crowd work videos that seem to be all that the art form has to offer these days. Additionally, Hannah impressively makes a go at tackling critical, current issues, often in a very niche ways, but cleverly devises very layered, nuanced, very fun bits as sugar to make the necessary medicine go down. With that all said, please enjoy Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go now streaming on Max.

2. After Midnight officially scored a season 2 (Forbes). That’s not entirely surprising given that the original went for 600 episodes, but we’ll be curious to see if Taylor Tomlinson and co. will get their own original recurring segment that rivals #hashtagwars.

3. Leave it to the imagination (and screaming ability) of the one and only Conner O’Malley to create a definitive satirical comedy special of the zeitgeist that perfectly skewers the intersection of A.I. and comedy and everyone’s anxiety around it. Please enjoy the brilliance of Stand Up Solutions right now if you haven’t done so already. SERIOUSLY, stop reading this and go and watch it. DO IT. One can only hope that this guides a whole new wave of what comedy specials can and should be in the months and years to come.

4. The sheer exuberance and poetry of Petey DeAbreu‘s comedy and vision of NYC should qualify him to be a “comedian laureate of the five boroughs”. If that’s not a thing, let’s make it one. See why with his Don’t Tell set here.

5. From Chris Rock to Seinfeld to Jimmy Fallon to Conan O’Brien to dozens upon dozens of comedians from around the globe (though it should be noted that this includes well over 50 Italian comedians and only one British one, Stephen Merchant) met with Pope Francis this week (via THR). This will be all of their late night stories for the next three to five years.

6. THE TikTok star to watch, Sabrina Brier, is going into the audiobook game with a title that might surprise you, “That Friend” (via Variety).

7. John Early is having yet another banner year with one of the most fun entrances Seth Meyers has had in awhile and going on a tour with his band, The Lemon Squares, that we had previously thought we were only going to get to see in his special Now More Than Ever.

8. Netflix Is a Joke Festival concluded it’s second edition a few weeks ago and, with it, their second round of “Introducing…”, their version of New Faces/Comics to Watch. For our money, keep an eye out on the wondrous and original stylings of Kel Cripe and Mandal.

9. Amazon is placing its latest bets of comedy special money on Sam Morril with You’ve Changed. Wonder what sort of money (or Amazon gift cards) Amazon is shelling out to bring on folks who have Netflix specials on to their side from the streaming giant. From the looks of it, it doesn’t get more classic looking of a comedy special than what Morril has up suit sleeves for this one, especially since it was only a few years ago that he did a rooftop special.

10. As there are comedians in the Ukraine doing comedy during this war with Russia, so comes a documentary of them doing just that, Comedy of War: Laughter in Ukraine. That has to be the first war in history that has had multiple documentary works made of it while it still is very much going on. Take a gander at Comedy of War‘s trailer here, then you can stream it via Comedy Dynamics right now.

11. Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat is doing “Group Therapy” as a comedy show with the likes of Mike Birbiglia, Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Byer, Tig Notaro, Atsuko Okatsuka, Gary Gulman, and London Hughes. That’s a gala worthy line-up, but something that ought to be undeniably engrossing to watch. Take a gander at Group Therapy here.

12. Ghosts is such a hit for CBS that it’s following in the footsteps of The Office and having a German spin-off (Deadline).

13. Carmen Lynch might be setting a new bar for comedians that started in English and expanded to performing en Español. Get a taste of what that’s like with a trailer for Una Hora de Carmen Lynch here. Watch the whole special here.

14. Liz Miele is the latest comedian to unfairly suffer the wrath of YouTube’s hate speech algorithm. Thankfully, making a video about it has resulted in a reinstatement of ads, which Liz can go on and continue to make money off her self-produced and self-released special, as is the hope of many a comedian these days.

15. FYI, Adventure Time is pretty much getting into the cinematic universe business now (Variety).

16. First, Broad City, then an expansive remake/spin-off of A League of Their Own, and now Abbi Jacobson is getting into an adaptation of a “gender-bending, body switching” story that explores the “nature of true partnership” with Isle McElroy’s People Collide (Deadline). Love Jacobson’s arc of projects here and can’t wait to see where else she goes with it.

17. The creme de la creme of comedy classes will meet again between Kristen Wiig and Carol Burnett since Palm Royale has got a second season (Deadline).

18. The revived Beavis & Butthead scored a third season at Comedy Central (Deadline). A special thanks should go to Heidi Gardner and Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day.

19. There’s another adopted comedy based off the life of actor Owen Thiele in the works (THR). Fingers crossed that it will be more realistic and, thus, less rosy than Trying.

20. Late Night with Seth Meyers will no longer have a house band in just a few months (Variety) and this very well might be the first sign of late night being REALLY reimagined/shaken up/imploding.

21. There will be a Wallace & Gromit holiday movie and, honestly, no one else should even try as that’ll be more than enough adorable humor/adventure for the holiday season (via THR).

22. Hey Millennials, remember when Cartoon Network was the center of your universe? Well, there’s a new streaming service (that has to be your favorite phrase to hear these days, right?), Animation+, looking to fill in that nostalgic void (via The Wrap)

23. Please enjoy Tim Robinson in not a ITYSL sketch (but it kind of is?), but a promo for the new edition of skate. here.

24. Jimmy Fallon will be giggling his way through interviews through 2028 (via Variety).

25. We’ll leave you with this: If you want tix to Eric Andre @ The Bellwether in LA on 7/19, we might know someone. Hit us up.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 220: Tommy Tiernan & Returning to America for Comedy

June 13, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

tommy tiernan

Internationally renowned Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan is set to come back through North America for a big tour, playing a gig virtually every single night of the run. Tiernan’s tenacious imagination has seen him through decades of comedy around the world as well as record for a singular stand-up comedy performance going past 36 hours. We catch up with him as he gets ready to cross the pond and dig into what he loves about performing in America despite our global reputation.

Follow Tommy on IG @officialtommedian and get tix for his upcoming North American tour here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @tommyallday

Pick of the Day: Dave Ross Tapes His First F*cking Special (in NYC) 6/22

June 5, 2024

News

brooklyn, dave ross, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

It’s no secret that The Gutter has quickly become a hot spot for stand-up in not only Brooklyn, but NYC as a whole and that a lot of quality specials are being produced under that CYSKNYC banner.

The latest such taping will be none other than the debut special of one Dave Ross, formerly beloved LA comedy stalwart now transplanted and really in his groove in the NYC scene. It has been years since Dave’s very first recorded hour, the wonderfully named, The Only Man Who Has Ever Had Sex, and we can’t wait to see Dave’s signature voice and effortless and hilarious shifts between sarcasm and sincerity in a full fledged comedy special.

For those in NYC, get tickets for one of the two tapings on Sat. Jun. 22nd at 8PM or 10:30PM (they’re only $10) and be part of what should be hell of a great night of stand-up comedy.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 219: Dave Ross & Getting Back Into Doing Everything

June 5, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

dave ross, nyc comedy

There was a time where Dave Ross was doing seemingly all the things you could be doing in comedy in LA and doing them so well. While that was years ago, Dave has since transplanted himself to NYC, taken some much needed rest, and then revved himself back up to putting on his own live shows, putting out a record out once a month, and prepping for his very first special taping (on 6/22 @ The Gutter in Brooklyn-Tix available here). We catch up with Dave while he’s on the road to talk all about thriving in NYC and diving back into everything he took a break from.

Follow Dave @davetotheross and keep up at davetotheross.com, buy his 7 inch records/merch here, and go to his first special taping last

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @tommyallday

TCB Debriefing 5/19-6/1: Hacks/Hannah Einbinder, JFL, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Fantasmas, Ali Clayton, Ali Siddiq, Clare O’Kane, Paul Scheer/June Diane Raphael, Am I OK?, Make Some Noise, Ren Faire, Jenny Zigrino, The Undervale, Steph Curry, Aubrey Plaza/Joe Wengert, Laid, Steve Carell

1. Well, everything is coming up Hacks (and, by extension, Hannah Einbinder). Coming hot off the heels of a blisteringly hot 3rd season, Hacks, has been renewed for a fourth season (Zaslav allowed a good creative decision to happen?). On top of that, Hannah Einbinder’s very first comedy special, Everything Must Go, just released its first special and set the premiere date of Jun. 13th on Max. Taped live at LA’s El Rey Theatre, it truly was something marvelous, especially as a goddamn debut special (the ingenuity, poise, and sharpness would make one believe this is far past her first hour special). Take a gander with the trailer for Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go here.

2. Just For Laughs indeed has filed for bankruptcy protections in Canada as they were operating with millions of dollar of debt to their name. They have begun the sale of select assets to ensure they stay afloat, which still sounds uncertain (THR).

3. Maybe you didn’t get to see Everything Everywhere All at Once in theaters (or at all for some ungodly reason), but thankfully, you’ll have a chance to see the Oscar Best Picture Winner in IMAX come August (Indiewire).

4. While Los Espookys is long gone, Julio Torres is finally on the track he should be on with nothing but accolades for Problemista and more magically real, beautifully funny absurdity with his HBO series, Fantasmas. Take a gander at what he has up his ethereal sleeves with the trailer here, then look out for it’s premiere on HBO/Max come next week on Jun. 7th.

5. Ali Clayton has arrived. She has done so in quite the fashion too with her debut album, Country Queer, that dives deep into discovering herself and her queer identity being from the South. Clayton’s drawl, warmth contrasted with her candor and vividly colorful writing is one of the best ways to kick off Pride this June. Please enjoy and listen to Country Queer now, fresh off the presses from Blonde Medicine here.

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6. It’s a rare feat to tell a story over the course of an hour and it be so thoroughly engaging that it makes for a captivating special, especially when it’s a hilarious take on your journey through the criminal justice system here in the U.S. of A. Ali Siddiq has not only achieved said feat, but done a hat trick with part 3 of Domino Effect, which might be the first legit comedy special trilogy that is narratively tied altogether. Siddiq’s poise and uncanny ability to find the comedy gold in his time going to prison are so solid that you kind of don’t notice the special is almost 90 minutes long. Please enjoy Domino Effect Part 3: First Day of School, now on YouTube, here.

7. Clare O’Kane is yet another shining example of someone who did write at SNL and has yet to show off their true potential in comedy (Tim Robinson anyone?). Fresh off Eugene Mirman‘s Pretty Good Friends Records, Clare’s sophomore album, Everything I know how to do, maintains a delightfully bubbly spirit while wading into the deep end of many personal anecdotes about polyamory, pansexuality, rejected SNL sketch pitches, sharp feet, and more often with Clare’s ironically silly flourishes. You can and should listen to Everything I know how to do here.

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A post shared by Clare O'Kane (@clareisokane)

8. Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael are taking the next step in their ascent as a comedy power couple by co-hosting an awards show, The Humanitas Prizes, this year in September (Variety).

9. Speaking of comedy power couples, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne are co-directing their first feature together, Am I OK?, that seems like it’s probably taking a lot of cues from early on in their relationship with a sort of lost Dakota Johnson finding that she might be into women after having nothing but misfires in dating men. See how close they come to real life with the trailer here, then look for it on Max come Jun. 6th.

10. Dropout might have gameshows better figured out than GSN as you can see with the season 3 trailer of Make Some Noise. This game show in particular has such a beautifully simple game, but gets many of the world’s very best improvisers to twist and contort the show into some Dropout magic.

11. Ren Faire, a doc coming to HBO seems like King of Kong, but for one particular Ren Faire in Texas. See for yourself in the trailer here, then look for it on HBO/Max come this Sunday, June 2nd.

12. A good amount of the country will have a chance to see the amazing Jenny Zigrino live coming up and a good amount of the country should not miss out.

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A post shared by Jenny Zigrino (@jennyzigrino)

13. CBS’ Ghosts will have some competition at Netflix with The Undervale (not to mention that it will have the guiding hand of Dan Harmon as a producer) (Variety).

14. Let’s see if Steph Curry can best LeBron and Space Jam: A New Legacy with GOAT, Steph’s animated sports comedy feature (THR).

15. There’s more animated comedy worth keeping track with an animated series order for Joe Wengert and Aubrey Plaza‘s Kevin that follows a cat that wants to not live with humans anymore (THR). Not sure whether Joe or Aubrey (or someone else) would voice the cat, but either of them would be the perfect voice for an wonderfully anti-human cat.

16. The Stephanie Hsu comedy Laid that follows the mystery of formers lovers all strangely dying has gotten a stacked supporting cast now featuring John Early, Chloe Fineman, David Denman, and Andre Hyland (Deadline).

17.. Steve Carrell will be returning to a comedy series that ISN’T the revival of The Office, but, instead, takes him to a college campus with the producing hands of Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses (Deadline).

18. We’ll leave you with this: Sorry for taking so long. Turns out that running a theater while running a bureau is a lot of work.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 218: Noah Eberhart & How To Comedy Photography in 2024

May 29, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

comedy photography, nyc comedy

One of the best working comedy photographers out there, Noah Eberhart, returns to the The Comedy Bureau Field Report to not only update us on the NYC comedy scene, which he’s firmly rooted in these days, but have an in-depth discussion on the ins-and-outs of comedy photography and working with shows/venues and building your notoriety (as well as taking care of yourself both financially and mentally).

Follow Noah @enemypixels

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Self-Portrait by Noah Eberhart

Pick of the Day: Tomorrow Show 19 Yr Anniversary Spectacular 6/1

May 23, 2024

News

19th anniversary, los angeles comedy, ron lynch, the elysian, tomorrow show

Tomorrow! with Ron Lynch is going to mark its 19th year on Jun. 1st at The Elysian as one of the LA comedy’s bastions for the wonderfully weird, hysterically strange, and torchbearers for fun at the midnight hour.

Pretty much every Saturday at midnight, somewhere, somehow, Ron and company (mostly Davey Johnson) have shepherded some of the best, most original acts in and adjacent to comedy and, as far as we’re concerned, a legend in our books.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that, for their 19th, Ron will have:

JACK BLACK

DANA GOULD

KATE MICUCCI

LAURA KIGHTLINGER

JACK DAGGER

JAMES ADOMIAN

JAY LONDON

and CHRISTINA CATHERINE MARTINEZ • CHAD DAMIANI • CAROLINE CUMMINGS • BRIANNA AHLMARK • BILL O’NEILL • ANTHONY DEVRIES • MAX BAUMGARTEN • BRIAN BARLOW • KIKI MAROON • NICK STARGU • TORI NOQUEZ • ITHAMAR ENRIQUEZ • KARL HERLINGER • DRENNON DAVIS • KRISTEN LUNDBERG • JEN LIV

It’s going to be one damn good celebration that will actually start at 9:30PM (then likely go into tomorrow). Tickets are currently sold out, but they are doing stand by for the show and you should make plans to try to squeeze yourself in.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 217: Jake Kroeger & Running a Bureau and a Theater (and a Million Other Things)

May 22, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

jake kroeger

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to run a theater and a bureau at the same time (alongside running this very podcast), you’re in luck as this week’s episode is TCB’s very own Jake Kroeger interviewing none other than himself with his involvement as the Artistic Director of the Lyric Hyperion Theater on top of running TCB for almost 14 years. (and being on the ball to a degree where he can just talk extemporaneously for 40 minutes about curating, writing about, and doing comedy).

Follow Jake @notthesupermaket and thecomedybureau.com

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

TCB Debriefing 5/11-5/18: Spaghetti Fest, Nikki Glaser, Conan O’Brien Must Go, Hulu, Ramy Youssef/Will Ferrell, Only Murders in the Building, Blair Socci, Seth Meyers, Happy Gilmore, Entertainment System Is Down, Rick & Morty: The Anime

May 18, 2024

News

blair socci, conan o'brien must go, happy gilmore, hulu, molly gordon, nikki glaser, only murders in the building, ramy youssef, rick and morty, ruben ostlund, seth meyers, spaghetti fest, will ferrell

1. The Elysian is getting ready for the 3rd edition of its never-before-seen-genre/definition-defying comedy festival, Spaghetti Fest, where they look to present completely original, brand new productions that pretty much swing for the fences with whatever their intended goal is. Submissions are open, but are due Jun. 15th for the fest set for this November. Get more details/submit here.

2. Nikki Glaser dazzled the world of Netflix with her set on The Roast of Tom Brady (and blew everyone out of the water; no one even came close to her set). Her brand spankin’ new hour special, Someday You’ll Die is a further display of Nikki still ascending in her comedy powers. She never fails to put on a clinic with stand-up in regards to word economy, diction, delivery, stage presence, and the always tricky part of verisimilitude in one’s performance, but also, sneakily, goes on a journey of comedically exploring the inevitability of death from her vantage point. It’s material that should come off darker, but Glaser’s joke writing and telling are simply that death comes off a much more light topic. Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die is now streaming on Max.

3. Max finally made a smart decision regarding a TV show and renewed Conan O’Brien Must Go for a second season. Fingers crossed that O’Brien can not only travel to way more places for this second season, but will also get Werner Herzog for another brilliant, scorching intro.

4. We were wondering when Hulu was going to get into the comedy specials game with Netflix, Max, and Amazon already firmly planted in it. Looks like that time is now and they’re leading off with a sure bet in Jim Gaffigan (Variety).

5. Coming off the heat from Ramy Youssef in Poor Things, Josh Rabinowitz co-writing Babes, and Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell, the idea of a golf comedy with all these folks is pretty enticing (Variety).

6. Thank goodness that Only Murders in the Building is back for a fourth season and keeping Steve Martin in comedy and Martin Short on screen regularly as it should be. Take a gander at season 4, due out on Aug. 27th on Hulu, with the teaser here.

7. Both figuratively and literally, Blair Socci is one of the most unique and entertaining voices in stand-up comedy right now. See this notion in action with her Don’t Tell Comedy set here.

8. Seth Meyers and his revolutionary casual look as host of Late Night will keep on keepin’ on through 2028 as Meyers just renewed his NBCU deal this past week (Variety).

9. Many millennials are probably getting a sequel that they’ve wanted for a long, long time with Netflix greenlighting a sequel to one of Adam Sandler’s classics, Happy Gilmore (Deadline).

10. Molly Gordon is sitting back at the director’s chair for a new project, Small Parts, after pretty much nothing but love (and well deserved) for Theater Camp last year. Carmy really f’d up, didn’t he? (Deadline).

11. Ruben Östlund, the amazing comedy auteur behind Force Majeure and The Square and Triangle of Sadness, will have Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and Daniel Brühl for his latest pic, the wonderfully titled, The Entertainment System of Down. That will have made Östlund taken down masculinity, the art world, rich/beautiful people, and, thankfully, “the biz”.

12. Rick and Morty is officially a cinematic universe unto itself with this first look at Rick and Morty: The Anime, due out to Adult Swim and Max later this year.

13. We’ll leave you with this: Timing standing ovations should be outlawed.

Pick of the Day: Pre-Pride Proud to Feed LA (in LA) 5/28

May 16, 2024

News

ashley ray, Dylan Adler, escape artist lovers, hollywood food coalition, little secret, luke rathborne, margaret cho, nick thune, pride

The weather in LA’s a lot more reliable (fingers crossed) these days and, as such, one of LA’s coolest hidden gems, Little Secret, is getting things going again. Always seamlessly blending comedy, music, and social justice, Little Secret will be hosting a special benefit for Hollywood Food Coalition with Gift Horse Project called Pre-Pride Proud to Feed LA.

On the bill is astounding line-up of Margaret Cho, Nick Thune, Ashley Ray, Dylan Adler, Luke Rathborne, & Escape Artist Lovers along with Michael Imperioli, Rain Phoenix, Jena Malone, and Rooney Mara (and tunes from DJ Allie Teilz).

All that show can be enjoyed for only $16 right now and all proceeds go to Hollywood Food Coalition. Go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 216: Mike Bridenstine & Comedy Bar Show 101

May 15, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

comedy shows, los angeles comedy, microdose, mike bridenstine

Over two years, Mike Bridenstine has transformed a very atypical space for comedy, the lovely neighborhood bar that is The Fable in Eagle Rock, CA, into one hell of a destination for a weeknight stand-up show, Microdose, at a bar in Northeast LA. We have Mike return to the TCB Field Report to break down the basics of what it takes to make a field-of-dreams-comedy-show out of a locals’ favorite tavern.

Follow Mike @mikebridenstine and microdose @microdosecomedy on IG. Microdose is every Wednesday at The Fable at 8PM, free admission.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: The Stepfathers 4 Years Later (in NYC) 5/27

May 13, 2024

News

alex dickson, connor ratliff, improv, nyc comedy, sebastian conelli, shannon o'neill, the stepfathers

One of NYC’s most revered and celebrated improv groups, The Stepfathers, is finally returning to the stage after a long slumber because, well, something happened in 2020. Honestly, NYC improv hasn’t really been the same without them, so let’s hope this is the improv version of Punxsutawney Phil signaling the end of winter coming.

The comedy brilliance of Shannon O’Neill, Connor Ratliff, Alex Dickson & Sebastian Conelli will be assembling at Caveat on Monday, May 27th at 7PM and go above and beyond with “making sad things funny”. Tickets are only $24.41 and, somehow, there are still a few left for you to snag. Better go get them here while you can.

TCB Debriefing 5/4-5/9/24: The Office, Jon Stewart, Dropout Presents, David Cross, Sam Morrison, Cole Escola, Isabella Rossellini, Cate Blanchett, Alec Berg, SXSW, SNL

May 10, 2024

News

alec berg, cate blanchett, cole escola, daily show, david cross, dropout, greg daniels, isabella rossellini, jon stewart, sam morrison, sxsw, the office

1. As the annals of television and entertainment history will remember The Office as a cultural institution that spanned several generations of fans where many a sitcom has not, it shouldn’t come as an entire surprise that The Office, the U.S. version, is going to be revisited with a new paper based business and different cast (not to dissimilar to the dynamic that What We Do in the Shadows the series has to the original movie of the same name) (Variety). Greg Daniels will be back at the helm, but Domnhall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore are the only two cast members announced thus far. We’re going to take a wild guess and say they won’t be the Jim and Pam of this spinoff of the show.

2. If you’re a little distraught by Jon Stewart only hosting Mondays on The Daily Show, fret not. He’s going to also do a podcast called The Weekly Show (AP)

3. Dropout has been busy working in semi-secret with recording not one, not two, but several specials between Brennan & Izzy, Courtney Pauroso, The Big Team, Hank Green, and more. Take a gander at Dropout’s foray into the comedy specials game (following their massive success with absurdist improv game shows) here.

4. The one and only David Cross is starting his 40 plus city stand-up tour later this year, called The End of the Beginning of The End, on 9/11, which, arguably, is kind of too perfect. Best go get tickets here while you still can.

5. Sam Morrison is upping the ante with his solo show that’s currently destined for Broadway by essentially by Beverly Hills’ exclusive playhouse, the Wallis Annenberg Center from 9/20-10/13 (Deadline). Sam is so damn funny that it’s worth putting up with going to Beverly Hills.

6. History will likely remember Cole Escola‘s version of Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, despite them not “doing” any “research”. Please enjoy Cole admitting that fact and more on Seth Meyers this week here.

7. It’s somewhat cryptic and yet, very much straightforward as to what cinema legend Isabella Rossellini has gotten herself into this time with Green Porno and Other Shorts. In any case, the contrast of her ever-calming voice and animals copulating is pretty damn funny. Take a gander at the trailer for her Green Porno and Others Shorts here, then go watch it now on Mubi.

8. Is Cate Blanchett in a comedy/sci-fi era? She has Borderlands coming up after portraying the Nordic mythological figure Hela in the MCU and now, a sci-fi comedy Alpha Gang where she plays an alien invader from the folks that brought one of the strangest releases in awhile (well, since Everything Everywhere All At Once), Sasquatch Sunset (THR). If this is the case, we are more than ready for Blanchett to do more rounds of Hot Ones to promote it.

9. Lovers of Barry and Silicon Valley, rejoice in the coming of another Alec Berg co-created series (this one will be with Adam Countee). Coming to Hulu, will be Berg and Countee’s take on the world of Formula 1 racing, which ought to be refreshing, unflinchingly satirical take that seems to have a bit of a Succession streak to it (it follows a racing family dynasty). (Deadline).

10. SXSW is branching out to London next year (The Guardian) (i.e. they’re have a non BBQ edition of SXSW).

11. SNL is on the verge of its 50th anniversary, which will lead to a gigantic retrospective of the comedy monolith (and maybe a possibility of Lorne finally handing to the keys to, ummm, a Tim Robinson type)

12. We’ll leave you with this: Free Ben Schwartz tix on 10/5 anyone? E-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com and we’ll see if we know some guys (it’s just one guy).

Pick of the Day: Abolish Everything: Tournament of Champions (in NYC) 6/1

May 8, 2024

News

abolish everything, annie rauwerda, chandler dean, debate, game show, nyc comedy

In such divisive times, some great comedy gold can be mined from leaning in even further to those divisions (well, when they’re kind of pretty absurd). Hence, Chandler Dean’s Abolish Everything is a rollicking ride of passionately pleaded cases to abolish, as the title suggests, anything and everything as decided by the finely curated line-up of comics on the bill.

It’s been such a hoot, that Dean is going to have an Abolish Everything Tournament of Champions featuring the comics that are the very best at talking up the ridiculous things that should be scorched from this world. On June 1st, at Caveat in LES, the following Abolish Everything heavy hitters will go toe-to-toe:

Henry Block
Augusta Chapman
Sarah Gruen
Amy Muller
Annie Rauwerda
Kathryn Margaret Rose
Cara Michelle Smith
Marielle Sarmiento
Jason Siegel
Felipe Torres Medina

Tickets are $20 right now, but $25 day of. You can also access a livestream for $10. Get more info and tix right here right now.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 215: Kel Cripe & Being Handpicked by Netflix

May 8, 2024

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

babe motel, kel cripe, netflix is a joke

Kel Cripe is one of the very lucky few (along with their bright and shining talent/sweet demeanor that’s deserving of the spotlight) to have been highlighted by the massive Netflix Is a Joke Festival that’s currently underway. Cripe got picked as one of their “Introducing” comedians (essentially Netflix’s answer to JFL New Faces) and we talk all about their journey to that very stage (both literally and figuratively) and what it’s like. Also, Kel is part of one of LA’s currently cherished sketch groups, Babe Motel, and they fill us in on how to balance all of this while ascending into the comedy spotlight.

Follow Kel @kelcripe_ and @thebabemotel on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: No More Mr. Mean Guy (in LA) 5/16

May 6, 2024

News

experimental comedy, los angeles comedy, lyric hyperion, nick vatterott, stand up comedy

Nick Vatterott is hands down one of the most innovative comedians around (just watch any of his late night sets or his special Disingenuous) who constantly bends rules/reality/joke structure into some of the most hysterical things we’ve ever seen.

Vatterott will be taking on a new challenge coming up by attempting to take a different approach than what seems to be the tenor of the times (Netflix did just put on a 3 hour roast of Tom Brady that’s a far cry from what roasts were in Dean Martin/Don Rickles’ day) with stand-up comedy: being nice.

Next Thursday, May 16th at 9:30PM at Lyric Hyperion, Nick will attempt what seems impossible these days by not being “Mr. Mean Guy” and being hysterical. If there’s someone to pull it off with his clever revelry in absurdity, it would be Nick and whoever else he has up his sleeve.

Tickets are only $10 for this experiment of Nick’s and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 4/26-5/3: SF Sketchfest, Ian Abramson, Dave Merheje, Peabody Awards, Alex Edelman/Tonys, Keke Palmer/SZA, Scooby Doo, Chonga Girls, The Ugly Stepsister, Netflix, Jerry Seinfeld

May 3, 2024

News

alex edelman, chonga girls, dave merheje, ian abramson, jerry seinfeld, keke palmer, netflix, peabody awards, scooby doo, sf sketchfest, sza, ugly stepsister

1. SF Sketchfest, one of the biggest comedy festivals in the entire world, is now taking submissions for (pretty much) anything and everything for next year’s festival (Jan. 16th-Feb. 2nd). Find out more details, deadlines, submission fees, and more at sfsketchfest.com/get-involved.

2. Ian Abramson has told jokes in a shock collars controlled by the audience, challenged comedians to perform in an empty space while an audience watch a live feed from a remote location (and this was well before the pandemic), and even created his own DIY version of SNL when COVID-19 indefinitely postponed Saturday Night Live in 2020. With such daring feats, it’s almost unbelievable that Ian hasn’t done the simple, tried and true format of a comedy special (especially since Ian is one of the most original and purely silly comedians working today). Thank goodness for Heist, Ian’s first hour special that was just released by Comedy Dynamics, which, effectively is a greatest hits of the beautifully intricate absurdist comedy that Ian has perfected. Many a time there is a dual joy to be had from an Abramson bit in the mere spectacle of him being able to do it (or survive it in the case of the shock collar) and how surreally and deeply funny it really is. Suffice it to say that if you’re pining for the stand-up of 70s Steve Martin, get into everything Ian Abramson right now.

3. Dave Merheje continues his well deserved ascent in comedy with a killer Don’t Tell set. Per usual, Dave blurs the line between being off-the-cuff and doing material better than almost anyone since he’s so extremely present on stage. Please enjoy his set here.

4. The Career Achievement and Trailblazer Award for this year’s Peabody Awards are going to comedy with the honors going to the comedy legend Mel Brooks and potential comedy legend in the making Quinta Brunson (Variety).

5. Alex Edelman will be getting the T of EGOT covered very soon because of the brilliance of Just For Us.

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6. Don’t be surprised if the upcoming Keke Palmer and SZA buddy comedy from Issa Rae is the buddy comedy you didn’t know you were waiting several years for (Deadline).

7. Though it’s far from a sure thing, Tinseltown is dead set on cashing in on live action versions of animated IP, hence another go at a live action Scooby Doo (Deadline).

8. Fingers crossed that The Chonga Girls will have the magical ingredient to make multicam work (it’s a long way to fall from Seinfeld to Big Bang Theory, FYI) as a concept again with their CBS project in development (Deadline)

9. If you were wondering if there was going to be some sort of gritty reboot of all the Disney canon following Winnie the Poo: Blood and Honey, indeed that is a thing. Just check the villain origin story vehicle that is The Ugly Stepsister coming as the first feature from Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt (Variety).

10. Netflix is sticking with their stars by giving specials to pretty their biggest stars (that don’t keep tripling down on problematic trans jokes) Ali Wong, Bert Kreischer, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy and Michelle Buteau. Wonder if they’ll ever get back to their roots when started off with a not-yet-famous Ali Wong, Tom Segura, and Jen Kirkman.

11. We’ll leave you with this: Jerry Seinfeld is still not over not being able to do his iPhone bit at colleges?

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