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Pick of the Day: OK Stupid (in NYC) 5/3
May 1, 2024
News
brooklyn, caroline doyle, dating game, dating show, emily kob, nyc comedy, ok stupid, union hall

Reality TV purports to show strangers finding true love, but there is so much that goes into casting and producing such a thing that it’s hard to imagine it being truly genuine.

Thankfully, Caroline Doyle and Emily Kob are bringing you unfiltered truth when it comes to a comedy dating game show with their show, OK Stupid, by having actual blind date on stage with a beloved local comedian.

For this edition, fast rising NYC comedy up and comers Marley Gotterer, Julia Desmond, and Evan Lazarus will be joining Doyle and Kob through all the delightful blind date comedy chaos. This next edition of OK Stupid is set for this Friday, May 3rd at 10PM at Union Hall. Tickets are only $15.64 and we highly suggest getting them here.

 

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 214: Caitlin Linden & Sketch Comedy Outside of SNL
May 1, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Believe it or not, there is a world of sketch comedy outside of Saturday Night Live (and a thriving one at that). Hot LA sketch group Rabble Rabble and the group’s marvelous writer/performer Caitlin Linden are a splendid example of that, taking far more than a week (and rightfully so) to put together an hour-ish show of sketches that are narratively tied together and abjectly absurd in such a beautiful way, unique to Rabble Rabble. Caitlin talks to us about the whole of what goes into being part of comedy sketch team that sells out regularly as well as what she wants to do on her own.

Follow Caitlin @caitmonstar and Rabble Rabble @gorabblerabble on IG and get tix for their 5/25 show @ The Elysian here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by Jasper Lewis

Pick of the Day: A Tale of Two Titties: Stupid Cancer Fundraiser (in NYC) 5/7
April 29, 2024
News
cancer, julia johns, nyc comedy, solo show, storytelling

While there is a wave of solo shows that are coming around right now as Edinburgh Fringe and various other Fringe festivals are on the horizon, you might wonder which ones to put your money and time into and which one’s to, perhaps, skip.

Well, Julia Johns’ A Tale of Two Titties is certainly in the category of solo shows you’ve got to watch. Over the last few years, Johns, a cancer survivor, has made, possibly, the most delightful show that you could make about going through such an awful experience and a unique one at that since it’s illustrated personally by her. It’s ultimately a joyful, hopeful show that’s bristling with several refreshing brushes of silliness that might be the perfect blend of what one might need to see on stage right now.

For New Yorkers, the amazingly titled A Tale of Two Titties will be playing at Littlefield come Tues. May 7th at 8PM. Tickets are $15.08 and will be raising funds for Stupid Cancer, an org dedicated to “empowering adolescents and young adult cancer patients”.

Get get tix right here right now.

TCB Debriefing 4/20-4/25/24: Kate Willett, Cole Escola, Chris Gethard/Eddie Pepitone, Cora Bora, Roots of Comedy, DINKS, Robot Dreams, Clue, Hyperobject, Flipside, 9 to 5, Free Ben Schwartz Tix
April 25, 2024
News
9 to 5, ben schwartz, chris gethard, cole escola, cora bora, dinks, eddie pepitone, jennifer aniston, kate willett, Meg Stalter, pbs, roots of comedy

1. Many a comedian has excavated their sexual history and proclivities for comedic material, but more often than not just for the spectacle of it and nothing else. There is nuance and finesse to being frank and completely and unforgivingly honest on a comedy stage, especially when it comes to about sex and relationships and one Kate Willett puts on one hell of a show doing just that. Her new hour special, Loopholes, is stellar display of dissecting what might be one of the most trodden upon topics in stand-up comedy, but, of course, done by a very thoughtful, crafty, and forward thinking Willett. Credit to her for infusing plenty of socialist, leftist twists throughout the hour as well. The phrase the “glass gutter” is still, in our minds, a sort of trailblazing sentiment put forth by Willett in a previous album and Loopholes offers a very enjoyable, very accessible look into vast swaths of spectrums that exists between dating and politics, even just on the left side of things.

Please enjoy Loopholes, now streaming on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime.

2. Exquisite alt/indie/queer comedy is going Broadway, everyone. Cole Escola‘s play centered on Mary Todd Lincoln, “Oh, Mary!” is going to play at the Lyceum Theater this Summer and hopefully this will shake up Broadway forever (Variety).

3. Chris Gethard and Eddie Pepitone are going on tour. That’s pretty much all that needs to be said. Oh yeah, go get tix at chrisgeth.com.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Gethard (@chrisgeth)

4. After years and years AND YEARS of scene stealing in pretty much everything she’s in, Meg Stalter (finally) is getting top billing with the indie comedy, Cora Bora, where Meg pretty much plays herself (a blessing for us all). Get your first look at Cora Bora with the official trailer here, then look for it in theaters on Jun. 14th.

5. PBS SoCal has tapped Jesus Trejo and a wondrous, diverse collection of stand-up comedians from around the country to explore the actual stories, “roots” if you will, behind the actual jokes that they tell on stage. Take a gander at the trailer for Roots of Comedy here

6. Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael are finally getting back to some of their improv roots with the new Marta Kauffman series DINKS (short for Dual Income No Kids) as it will be an improvisational multi-cam (Deadline). Perhaps, Scheer and Raphael getting to be a little Curb-esque might be the key to doing multi-cam in 2024?

7. The Creator and the upcoming J. Lo vehicle, Atlas, seemingly take an apologist view on A.I., but in the most maudlin way possible. Robot Dreams from Pablo Berger takes a much more whimsical route with a dog and robot becoming his new best friend (and got an Oscar nod to boot) that seems much more akin to Brian and Charles.  Take a gander with the official trailer for Robot Dreams here, then look for it in theaters on May 31st.

8. A reimagining of Clue might be coming to a screen near you (yet again) as Sony and Hasbro have shaken hands to develop a project around the storied board game (Variety). The arms race between studios for toy based IP is well under way, in case you didn’t know, thanks to LEGO Movie and Barbie.

9. Adam McKay is getting into the podcast game with the likes of Connor Ratliff, James III, and Allan McLeod (Deadline). While less caustic and biting than Don’t Look Up, these Hyperobject Industries podcasts have an underlying missive about shaping cities and challenging corporate structures on top of talking about “Tiny Dinos”. Perhaps, it’s the next wave of edutainment.

10. Documentaries are getting meta/comedically self-reflexive and we’re into it. Check the trailer for Chris Wilcha’s Flipside coming soon from Oscilloscope Laboratories.

11. The seminal 80s comedy 9 to 5 is getting a reboot courtesy of Jennifer Aniston and Diablo Cody (Deadline). Since Cowboy Carter has a Dolly Parton cover on it, will Beyonce do a cover of the iconic theme? Kind of just makes sense.

12.We’ll leave you with this: Ben Schwartz is returning to The Orpheum Theater in LA on Sat. Oct. 5th (tix avail now) and your favorite Bureau might have some tickets if you want them. E-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com to find out.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 213: Shane Mauss & Comedy a la Science (or Science a la Comedy)
April 24, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
shane mauss

As a comedian who was a science communicator who was a comedian, Shane Mauss has had a long circuitous road towards living kind of an idyllic comedy life by playing the venues he wants with crowds made up of his own fanbase (not to mention wheeling and dealing with his other passions by starting a legal drug company). Catching up with him on this episode of TCB Field Report was astounding as to see how much he has carved his very own niche and living the life he wants to live as a comedian on the road (in case you thought that was entirely extinct path in comedy).

Follow Shane @shane_mauss

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by Jon Ohia

Natasha Vaynblat: Childless Freak (in LA) 5/21
April 22, 2024
News
los angeles comedy, natasha vaynblat, solo show, stand up comedy, ucb

Following a humdinger of a debut stand-up album, We’re All Dads Here, NYC’s Natasha Vaynblat is onwards to a brand new hour, this time focused on the beautiful idea of not having kids (should be such a more popular notion these days, to be honest).

And, as a bonus, Vaynblat will be in LA to work on this hour as a treat for Angelenos that don’t have access to seeing her playful wit in action on a nightly basis. So, on Tues. May 21st at UCB Franklin, Natasha will be doing the gorgeously named Childless Freak with a trio of splendid openers, Sam Taggart, Alexa Loftus, and Ashley Brooke Roberts. Tickets are only $10 and you ought to get them here.

Pick of the Day: Uh Huh (in LA) 4/23
April 19, 2024
News
christina catherine martinez, experimental comedy, los angeles comedy, milan patel, paul danke, stand up comedy, todd glass, veronica osorio

What goes into the magic that makes the live experience of a Comedy Bang! Bang!, Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen, The Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail that brought hundreds upon hundreds of comedy lovers together every week? Well, honestly, there isn’t enough time or inches in this post to get into the finer points of that, but rest assured that the magic sauce behind each sauce is different and is part and parcel of the times they happened in.

With that in mind, a trio of Paul Danke, Christina Catherine Martinez, and Jake Kroeger are looking to capture that verve with Uh Huh. A tight, but free in spirit (mostly) stand-up show that gives you the unequivocal best of the LA comedy scene (and TCB’s Jake Kroeger and the beloved Danke and Martinez are the three best folks to give it to you).

This very first Uh Huh (hopefully with more to come) is set for Tues. Apr. 23rd at 7:30PM with a grand line-up of Todd Glass, Curtis Cook, Milan Patel, and Veronica Osorio. Tickets are $15 right now if you want to get in on the ground floor of something special. Go get tix here.

 

TCB Debriefing 4/14-4/19/24: The Office, Nikki Glaser, WGA Awards, Hacks, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, The Chair Company, David Jonsson
April 19, 2024
News
chair company, david jonsson, hacks, netflix, nikki glaser, queer comedy, the office, wga awards

1. So, one, the possibility of a new version of The Office from Greg Daniels and Michael Koman is coming closer and closer to fruition and two, this possibly new Office, will star Domnhall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore (Deadline). The enduring popularity of the U.S. iteration of The Office across generations almost definitively makes it more popular than previous sitcom monoliths like Seinfeld and Friends, but one has to wonder if a new Office is going to be like What We Do in the Shadows brilliantly spinning off the movie or more like Joey. The casting of Gleeson and Impacciatore is curious as it feels as though Scranton, PA will not be where this new Office will be set. Are they going back to the UK? Will it be in the EU? Maybe it’ll be in somewhere even more removed (Topeka, KS?). We probably won’t have to wait too long as we’re guessing this will be fast tracked through development.

2. Thank goodness we’re getting a new hour special from Nikki Glaser, who, for our money, has one of the best joke deliveries in comedy today. Coming soon to HBO will be her lovingly titled new hour, Someday You’ll Die, and you can see what we’re saying just in this trailer here. Look for the hour to premiere on HBO on May 11th (and presumably be on Max at the same date).

3. Comedy dominated the WGA Awards (i.e. won outside of the comedy specific categories) this year. The comedy winners are as follows:

Comedy Series–The Bear

Original Screenplay-The Holdovers

Adapted Screenplay-American Fiction

Episodic Comedy–Poker Face

Comedy Variety/Talk Series–Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Comedy Variety/Sketch Series–I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

Comedy/Variety Special–Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love

Animation-The Simpsons

TV & New Media Motion Pictures-Quiz Lady

Thank goodness I Think You Should Leave is finally getting its due. See the full list of winners here.

4. One of the best comedies about stand-up comedy in quite some time, Hacks, with award worthy turns from Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder is finally returning for its third season. Behold its first trailer here, then look for .

5. Netflix is starting the corporate push for Pride Month early with the trailer for their doc about queer comedy pioneers, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, due out Jun. 18th. Take a gander at what will be important stories/history lessons from Todd Glass, Margaret Cho, Guy Branum, Bob the Drag Queen, and so many more here.

6. We were already sold on Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin’s HBO project, The Chair Company, by virtue of the fact that Robinson and Kanin, but this pilot has gotten even more intriguing with the addition of frequent John Early/Kate Berlant collaborator Andrew DeYoung coming on to direct and EP (Deadline).

7. From the ultra charming Rye Lane to making his very own show, things are coming up David Jonsson (Deadline).

8. We’ll leave you with this: Maybe Rob Schneider isn’t for anyone?

Pick of the Day: Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk to Drink (in NYC) 5/23
April 18, 2024
News
bell house, brooklyn, fern brady, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

While a good lot of Yanks might know the name Daniel Sloss, there are definitely way more Scottish comedians that you ought to know and enjoy. Fern Brady is a name of another Scot that you should commit to memory for all her wit and frankness (see and please enjoy Power & Chaos).

Brady is in NYC next month and will be playing for one night in Brooklyn’s own Bell House for two shows. One of them is already sold, but you can still get tix for the 10PM show on Thurs. May 23rd, which you really ought to do sooner rather than later. They’re $40.60 a pop and you can (and should) go get ’em here.

 

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 212: Kate Willett & Comedy Making a Difference: Question Mark
April 17, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
activism, kate willett, nyc comedy

Kate Willett is not only coming out with a special that really stands out of the rest of the pack this year (and oh what a pack of dozens there is of YouTube specials uploaded every week), but is already working on her very next hour and a solo show as well as being as involved as possible in socialist communities and activism, which sometimes has its intersection in comedy. This week’s TCB Field Report talks to Kate about coming up with her keeping the tides of her comedy going as well as navigating her way between pursuits in comedy and trying to effect direct change.

Follow @kate.willett on IG and please watch and enjoy Loopholes on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime on 4/23.

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

Pick of the Day: UCB NY Previews Starting 4/23
April 17, 2024
News
improv, nyc comedy, sketch comedy, upright citizens bridage

It feels like so long ago that the Upright Citizens Brigade had a presence/space in NYC and, well, that’s because it has been. As the COVID-19 pandemic caused a wave of venues shuddering in 2020, UCB was certainly not immune and had to close up shop indefinitely both in LA and NYC.

Thankfully, here in 2024, UCB Franklin has been more than alive and kicking again and finally, at last, the very new UCB NY at 242 East 14th Street in Manhattan (right between Gramercy Park and Ukrainian Village) will open with previews of their staple shows (Harold, Maude, Spank, etc.) starting Tues. Apr. 23rd.

Tickets are all very much on sale right now and you best snatch them up quick before they very likely will sell out. Do so right now right here.

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Pick of the Day: Birds. Bees. Bits (in LA) 4/29
April 15, 2024
News
christene lozano, clubhouse, ify nwadiwe, Mae Martin, mano agapion, paul scheer, rebecca drysdale, sandra daugherty

A comedy show that has a line-up of Rebecca Drysdale, Paul Scheer, Rachel Bloom, Mano Agapion, and Ify Nwadiwe, no matter what the concept is, is very much worth your hard earned money to see.

Come Monday, April 29th @ 7:30PM at The Clubhouse, this beyond stellar cast is going to discuss the eternal topic of “the birds and the bees”. Thus far, there is no real further description by Clubhouse founder Rebecca Drysdale as to what this query might entail other than sex experts Dr. Sandra Daugherty and Dr. Christene Lozano will be on hand, ostensibly, to also explore this comedic quest with “87% gay writer Rebecca Drysdale”.

In any case, some brilliant improv and some sexual revelations will be had and that should very much make you want to RSVP for a seat at Clubhousebusinesscenter@gmail.com right now.

TCB Debriefing 4/8-4/13/24: Conan O’Brien/Hot Ones, Matt Stone/Trey Parker, I Used to Be Funny, Monopoly/Margot Robbie, The Contestant, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Packfest
April 13, 2024
News
conan o'brien, hot ones, i used to be funny, john mulaney, kendrick, margot robbie, matt stone, monopoly, netflix is a joke fest, packfest, Rachel Sennott, ralph barbosa, the contestant, trey parker

1. Conan O’Brien vs. Hot Ones. Point Conan (and then some). We’d almost put money that no other late night host would put on a better show on Hot Ones. Please enjoy this in all its hilarious, disgusting glory (complete with Jose Arroyo as some sort of MD) here.

2. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are partnering with Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free‘s pgLang to make live action movie musical (Deadline), which, based off the successes of Book of Mormon and Kendrick being, well, Kendrick, we’re going to guess this project might be pretty good.

3. Red hot off a blazed trail of Bottoms from last year, the astounding Rachel Sennott is coming to screens this year with a role much more close to home as she will be playing a stand-up really going through a heavy bout of grieving with the (very probably) aptly named i used to be funny from the amazing hands, vision, and mind of one, Ally Pankiw (director of probably one of your new favorite Black Mirror eps.). Take a gander at i used to be funny with the trailer here, then look for an indie rollout beginning in June.

4. Since Margot Robbie, with the help of Greta Gerwig, conquered with Barbie, she is now being tapped to adapt the cruel board game classic Monopoly into a feature length film (BBC News). No matter the take that Robbie chooses to go with in making a Monopoly movie, get ready for an entire boatload of think pieces about late stage capitalism.

5. Right before The Truman Show, Japanese television had a much more alarming, very real version of it that starred an up and coming comedian. See what they hath wrought in the upcoming Hulu documentary, The Contestant. See for yourself in the trailer here, then look for it on Hulu starting May 2nd.

6. Netflix Is a Joke Fest is only a few weeks away and you can feel the streaming giant going full press with their entire comedy roster now stretching from Mulaney doing a docu-series of Los Angeles called Everybody’s in LA (since Mulaney’s a voice for LA now?) and Netflix’s rising star from around the heart of TX, Ralph Barbosa, hosting Netflix’s Introducing series (the NIAJF’s version of New Faces).

7. Speaking of festivals, the small, but mighty Pack Theater is throwing their own festival this Summer, PackFest, and they’re taking submissions for comedy of all kinds RIGHT NOW.

8. We’ll leave you with this: Sorry for the delay on this latest debriefing, our laptop died and we had to buy a new one. If you’d like, you can help us recoup the cost via Venmo @jakekroeger or at patreon.com/thecomedybureau.

Pick of the Day: Heavy Manners New Chair Fundraiser (in LA) 4/18
April 11, 2024
News
heavy manners library, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy

Truly one of LA’s hidden gems, Heavy Manners Library, has gotten themselves a mighty fine upgrade in space taking over what used to be the Echo Park Film Center. They’ll be able to put on more grand events like Comics O’Clock with an extra 1000 square feet of room to do so.

It would sure be nice if they had some snazzy new chairs to go with the new expansion and, as you might know, especially if you run your own venue, show, or small business, that ain’t cheap.

Thus, Heavy Manners Library is doing a very special benefit to get fancy new chairs for the rows and rows of audiences that will be coming through their doors on Thurs. Apr. 18th. The benefit show will feature many LA comedy faves including Mitra Jouhari, Jamie Loftus, Rachel Pegram, Kyle Mizono, Rachel Kaly, and Kel Cripe. Tickets are only $15 and you can (and should) go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 211: Jessica Svendsgaard & Starting an Improv Festival Called MILF
April 10, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
comedy festival, improv comedy, indie improv, jessica svendsgaard, los angeles comedy

Of all the disciplines in comedy, improv might have had the longest road back from lockdown. Connected to that, improv festivals that used to be an annual celebration to be relied on are now having to be revived from the ashes. Thus, one of the oldest indie improv nights in LA, Mach Improv, is taking up the mantle from what used to be known and beloved as The LA Indie Improv Festival and throwing their very own 12 hour improv festival, the wonderfully abbreviated MILF (Mach Improv LA Festival), later this month at what essentially is LA indie improv HQ, The Clubhouse. Mach’s very own Jessica Svendsgaard tells us all about the festival, the state of improv in spring 2024, and why all of this is important/worth doing in times like these.

Follow Jessica @thebyebyemancuckedme on IG and get all info for MILF on Sat. Apr. 27th at The Clubhouse from Noon to Midnight at milfcomedy.com.

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

Pick of the Day: Newcomers (in NYC) 4/15
April 9, 2024
News
bell house, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

It’s time for Newcomers, another round of The Bell House anointing another round of up-and-comers that have cut their teeth in the highly competitive, very crowded comedy scene to grace one of Brooklyn’s most venerable stages. 15 handpicked comedians will show off their tightest sets as if they were doing late night back in the time and place when that was much more commonplace.

On this edition of Newcomers, will be:

  • Salma Zaky
  • Anne Lim
  • Joey Hamburger
  • Sean Peecook
  • Sam Ike
  • Allie Lawrence
  • TaTa Sherise
  • Momo
  • Neel Ghosh
  • Grace Leishman
  • Jess Elgene
  • Tommy Bayer
  • Taylor Rogers
  • Grace Johnson
  • Eli Ruffer

Don’t miss their debut on Mon. Apr. 15th at 7:30PM. Tickets are $12.85 and you can (and should) go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 4/4-4/7/24: Kyle Kinane, Jackie Kashian, Murray Hill, Legally Blonde, Babes
April 7, 2024
News
babes, don't tell, ilana glazer, jackie kashian, kyle kinane, legally blonde, michelle buteau, murray hill, stand up comedy

1. Oh, thank goodness there’s a new hour of Kyle Kinane to offer the pitch perfect solace to the high octane insanity that has been 2024. His latest hour special, Dirt Nap, is Kyle doing what Kyle does best with lengthy punchline filled stories and intricately colored observations all in service of a big comedic payoff (that, in a way, feels like a bonus since the journey in of itself is so goddamn fun). Kyle does over 8 minutes on describing Fast X here and, for our money, is more fun than the movie itself. That’s just one fraction of how much of a joy Dirt Nap is, even with being perfectly aware uncertain times we live in. Please watch and enjoy Dirt Nap on repeat here.

2. It’s kind of absurd that Jackie Kashian doesn’t have a sitcom focused around her and her dyed-in-the-woo-salesman of a dad. Kashian is and has been one of the funniest comedians working today and her bits about her dad are pretty much priceless. See for yourself here in Jackie’s Don’t Tell set.

3. Mindy Kaling’s next sitcom, Murray Hill, seems like Kaling is aiming to make her version of Friends with a logline of “…five work-obsessed twenty-somethings who strive for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhood, Murray Hill” (Deadline).

4. Amazon Prime has a Legally Blonde spin-off in the works (Deadline). The legacy of Elle Woods endures, but we hope that there isn’t any Kim Kardashian lawyer storyline in this project.

5. Though it would seem that Michelle Buteau/Ilana Glazer vehicle helmed by Pamela Adlon Babes isn’t about abortion, it feels like the same sort of buzz that Obvious Child got is coming up for the buddy/birth comedy. See for yourself with the first official trailer here, then look for it in theaters right after Mother’s Day on May 17th.

 

6. We’ll leave you with this: Please help out wonderful person/hilarious comedian Jen Saunderson with her mom’s battle against stage IV cancer at the GoFundMe here.

Pick of the Day: Microdose 2 Year Anniversary (in LA) 4/10
April 6, 2024
News
curtis cook, free show, harper rose drummond, howard kremer, kelcey ayer, lizzy cooperman, los angeles comedy, mike bridenstine, rory scovel, stand up comedy

The ways of the world and how the winds of change violently shove anything and everything out of place, the prospect of anything lasting past a year is a significant feat. One Mike Bridenstine, beloved LA comedian/author (get the Perfect Amount of Wrong now)/podcaster, has not only had his weekly stand-up show Microdose, neatly perched on the hills of Eagle Rock at The Fable, but has worked it into a party of a show kicked off along with the host seemingly made out of pure hosting energy, Danny Ledsinger.

Microdose has grown into quite the contender with Bridenstine’s handpicked line-ups as a weekly stand-up showcase in LA, especially on Wednesday nights when a dearth of the LA comedy scene’s primo indie stand-up shows take place (on top of surviving through the aftermath of COVID lockdown, multiple strikes, historic rain for LA over the last two years). Microdose is crowning their two year anniversary this coming Wednesday at, per usual, 8PM, but with a gargantuan line-up including Rory Scovel, Lizzy Cooperman, Howard Kremer, Curtis Cook, Harper Rose Drummond, Kelcey Ayer, and David Jackson.

Please enjoy Microdose this coming Wednesday for their 2 year celebration (and every Wednesday after). Keep up with line-ups and more @microdosecomedy on IG.

Pick of the Day: PSYCH! A Diagnostic Stand-Up Therapy Comedy Show (in NYC) 4/27
April 4, 2024
News
caveat, emily flake, kate sisk, kenice mobley, mental health, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, therapy

It’s not a hard requirement to have mental health issues when pursuing a career in comedy, but there certainly to seems to be a strong common thread between many stand-up comedians and their difficulties with anxiety, depression, and the like. It certainly comes through in many of their wonderfully crafted jokes/bits/stories.

Other times, you hear comedic material and you might ponder, from the audience, is the person on stage OK?

With that in mind, Aimee LeCours, both a comedian and LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) is going to talk to a rousing line-up of NYC comedians about what they talk about on stage and possibly see what exactly lies beneath what might seem, on the surface, just a pretty great joke for the upcoming live show, PSYCH!

Emily Flake, Kate Sisk, and Kenice Mobley will get put under the emotional microscope on Sat. Apr. 27th at 4PM at Caveat in NYC’s LES. Tickets are only $15 and you best go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 3/31-4/3/24: Chair Company, George Carlin, 5th of July, Amy Silverberg, Smartypants, Las Culturistas, Martin Short, Worldwide Comedy Month
April 3, 2024
News
amy silverberg, chris estrada, dropout, george carlin, las culturistas, martin short, smartypants, steve feinartz, tim robinson, Worldwide comedy month, zach kanin

1. HBO smartly has ordered a pilot from the golden minds of Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, the duo responsible for the best sketch show of this decade, I Think You Should Leave. You’ll be happy to know that this pilot, The Chair Company,, is perfectly set up for Robinson to play some sort of everyman that loses it in an office and has plenty of opportunity to yell, one of the things Robinson is better at than almost anyone (Variety).

2. In settlement with George Carlin Estate, the AI created special impersonating George Carlin from Dudesy will be taken down (Variety). Please remember this as this will be both an important milestone for dealing with AI both in art and comedy going forward.

3. Though Hulu stupidly (with a capital “S”) canceled This Fool, Chris Estrada is far from done with putting out his splendid brand of LA born-and-bred alt comedy. This just released short film, 5th of July, co-written and directed by the amazing Steve Feinartz, almost plays like part of what would have been the next season of This Fool. Please enjoy here.

4. Amy Silverberg has not only been a long time favorite of ours that we have the expressed privilege of seeing coming up in the LA comedy scene, but she beautifully contrasts her poetic turns-of-phrase sourced from her background as a writing professor and the grit of a very honest, truthful, vulnerable stand-up comedian. Please enjoy her CC Stand-Up Featuring set here.

5. Dropout has you hooked with Game Changer and is getting into more chaos (though slightly edutainment focused) with their latest upcoming series, Smartypants. Take a gander here.

6.. Matt and Bowen are getting Las Culturistas closer to where it should be in the pantheon of culture with takint their very own Culture Awards to the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn come this Summer.

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A post shared by Lauren Mandel (@laurenmandel)

7. We’re pretty sure that Martin Short was probably some sort of “Mayor of Fun” already, but he now officially bestowed the title of Mayor of Funner, CA (THR)

8. As 800 Pound Gorilla has christened it, Worldwide Comedy Month has arrived. THERE SHOULDN”T BE A SINGLE DAY YOU DON’T SEE COMEDY.

9. We’ll leave you with this: A Real April Fools’ Day should be on April 2nd since corporations, like so many other things, kind of ruined the April 1st version.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 210: Red, White & You & Everyone Else You Know
April 3, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Together, Dakota Ray Hebert, Danny Knight, Dylan Jay Williamson, Ryan Moccasin, and Shawn Cuthand are the touring (mostly) indigenous sketch/stand-up comedy troupe, Red, White, & You,  hailing from up above in Canada. They all found each other/bonded/made each other laugh (i.e. the best way to form a comedy group) in Saskatoon (and hopefully will put on the map outside of being a joke reference of a city for Canadian comedians) and have really gelled into a special group touring all over North America. This week’s TCB Field Report talks to Red, White, & You about not only continue the push for indigenous representation in the arts, but showcasing, like great comedy often does, how we are all more alike than we aren’t.

Get all the info and tour dates for Red, White & You at redwhiteyou.ca and buy tickets for their Asylum NYC shows on Sat. Apr. 13th here (7:30PM) and here (9:30PM).

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

Pick of the Day: A Sports Show For People Who Don’t Know About Sports (in LA) 4/17
April 2, 2024
News
los angeles comedy, megan gailey, sports

March Madness, for those in the know, extends past the actual calendar dates of March, but for those not in the know, you might be wondering why you have to keep hearing about “bracketology” for several more days.

In either case, one Megan Gailey, marvelous comedian and sports expert, is to bring both sides together with her very special show A Sports Show For People Who Don’t Know About Sports that will enlighten the sports-averse (on top of showing you how inherently funny the rules and culture of sports can be). You might not like the word “bracketology” after this, but you’ll be able to laugh at people’s ridiculous brackets being busted late into March.

A Sports Show For People Who Don’t Know About Sports is set for Wed. Apr. 17th at 9:30PM at Lyric Hyperion. Tickets are only $15 right now and you best go get them right now right here.

Pick of the Day: Katrina Davis: Not Funny: A Collection of Stories and Untold Joke Origins (in LA) 4/5
April 1, 2024
News
katrina davis, los angeles comedy, solo show, stand up comedy, storytelling

It’s touching to see that Katrina Davis, though she has left LA for NYC, is going to be back in the City of Angels plenty for the foreseeable future. Davis was beloved in the LA scene and we have no doubt she’s making quick work of the NYC comedy scene.

Come this Friday, April 5th, Davis will be the main attraction at The Elysian with a very special hour show that mixes storytelling, stand-up, and illustration with the idea that those in attendance will get the back story on some of her bits.

Entitled Not Funny: A Collection of Stories and Untold Joke Origins, we’re sure that there will be more than plenty of laughs as well as plenty of cathartic feels throughout the entirety of the show. Tickets are $16 and you best go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 3/26-3/30/24: Tig Notaro, Kinds of Kindness, House of Laughs, Yannick, Leah Rudick, Beautiful Anonymous
March 30, 2024
News
beautiful anonymous, house of laughs, kinds of kindness, leah rudick, quentin dupieux, world of wonder, yannick, yorgos lanthimos

1. Ever since we saw Tig Notaro share her famous Taylor Dayne story, it was evident to us that Tig has a preternatural ability to milk a moment/incident. What might be a passing occurrence to most, Tig’s unwavering commitment to the life of a bit have both served her hilariously when it’s happening and later on in a story on stage. Hello Again, Tig’s latest special, is a playful reminder that Tig’s bread and butter of drawing every last drop of humor from minutia in her life, with the added flavors of her being married and raising children, is still very tasty and satisfying. Even when Notaro completely reenacts her performance of Hello to Adele at a celebrity shindig, which is quite the set piece for this hour, it’s a great sign that there are many years of Tig’s wondrous mischief to come. Tig Notaro: Hello Again is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

2. Behold, just a taste of a taste of the latest work from the comedy auteur of our time, Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Lobster, The Favourite) with Kinds of Kindness.

 

3. Drag Queens and brilliant queer comedians (including Abe Farrelly, Cameron Esposito, Danny Franzese, Darienne Lake, Jared Goldstein, Jaymes Mansfield, Jimbo, Joel Kim Booster , and host Lawrence Chaney) are coming together at the intersection of House of Laughs, an upcoming comedy showcase series on the streaming service WOW Presents Plus. It’s such a great line-up that maybe, just maybe you might consider signing up for another streaming service? Take a gander for yourself with the trailer here before House of Laughs premieres on Apr. 2nd.

4. When it comes to the completely absurd, few filmmakers are quite as adept and nuanced (and so damn hilarious) as Quentin Dupeiux (Wrong, Wrong Cops). Looks like he’s staying on that track with YANNICK. Take a look at the unhinged, hysterical chaos that’s in store with this trailer here.

5. Leah Rudick and every side/facet/voice/character of her are on a grand tour of North America. You better not miss out at any of the dates and cities below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leah Rudick (@leah_rudick)

6. Chris Gethard and his all exquisite inclusive creation, the podcast Beautiful Anonymous, are expanding to now have a zine that, as you might have guessed, you could be a part of. It can be art, stories, photos, etc., but it has to be sent through the actual physical mail and, of course, be anonymous.

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A post shared by Beautiful/Anonymous (@beautifulanonymouspod)

7. We’ll leave you with this: Indie cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse is up for sale, which should tell you a lot about the limits of taking something independent to the big leagues and trying to keep it sustainable.

Pick of the Day: RED BASTARD (in NYC) 3/31
March 28, 2024
News
brooklyn, brooklyn comedy collective, clown, eric davis, nyc comedy, red bastard

While there is certain a burgeoning of clown in the LA comedy scene for the last few years at this point, denizens of NYC comedy aren’t necessarily treated to the same sort of ready access to this facet of the comedic arts. For that reason, New Yorkers daring to see the boundaries of comedy and where they’re at these days outside of stand-up, sketch, and improv, might want to mark down this Sunday at 7PM on their calendar.

That’s the time and day when Red Bastard, acclaimed, award winning Edinburgh Fringe act is taking over the Brooklyn Comedy Collective to do his very special odyssey of a solo show (especially so for a select number of brave audience members). At the risk of revealing of what is up Red Bastard’s bulbous sleeves, we won’t say much more other than tickets are $16.88 and, if you get one, you’ll very likely have some sort of transformative experience on top of laughing your ass off.

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