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International superstar touring UK comedian Russell Howard was actually slated to do a whole run of shows in LA at Dynasty Typewriter in spring 2020. You know that didn’t happen and we all headed indoors to explore what virtual comedy was like.

With the Omicron variant sparking several closures of public gatherings and indoor events across the world for, at least, the rest of the year, one can only look to further in the future for an assured (probably) return, once more, to indoor comedy shows at proper venues.

So, Howard rescheduled the show far, far in advance in 2022 to get ahead, at the time, of anything might happen with the ever evolving pandemic (like the Omicron variant of COVID-19). He has four shows lined-up for Friday Apr. 8th and Saturday Apr. 9th both at 8PM PT & 10PM PT. We’re not the betting types, but we’re pretty sure that these shows will happen and the high energy, sharply funny, and positive energy of Howard is something you could probably use right now.

Go buy tickets at $25 a pop for Howard’s late shows on those dates since the early shows have already sold out.

Search Party Finds Dory Starting a Cult in Season 5 Trailer

December 21, 2021

News

alia shawkat, charles rogers, cults, hbo max, jeff goldblum, john early, john reynolds, meredith hagner, sarah violet bliss, search party

It has been far too long since the last season of Search Party to see what the hell they were going to do for the final season. In truth, any moment longer than the last frame of season 4 felt too long (especially as it seems like we’re going back into some sort of lockdown again due to Omicron).

Thankfully, season 5 is just a few weeks away and this latest look at the fifth and final season is especially juicy and ripe for the daring, often unhinged (in a great way) satire that Search Party has become. After trying to find and rescue various characters over the seasons, it looks as though Dory is lost yet again, but not in the physical sense so much as lost herself in leading a cult (and partnering with a dubious Jeff Goldblum) in the process.

If you thought that John Early’s Elliott pretending to be a Gay Republican conservative news pundit or how Dory was kept captive by a psychopath was wild, it would seem this season has a lot more in store and might just be as crazy as what the real world is (yet thankfully, very fictional).

Get a taste of what’s to come with the season 5 official trailer here, then look for the series to begin streaming on HBO Max come Fri. Jan. 7th.

Kim Jong-un Bans Laughing (and Happiness in General) in Honor of 10th Anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s Death

December 21, 2021

News

kim jong-un, north korea

(via The Guardian)

When it comes to honoring the dead, more often than not people naturally find themselves in a state of reflection, which is why the anniversary of someone’s death or a national tragedy is a “day of observance” rather than a holiday. Certainly, one doesn’t need to set up some government mandate that commands people be sad “in honor” of a noted figure’s passing from this mortal coil.

Well, whiny child dictator/Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un has decided that he actually does need to enforce people’s sadness in honor of his father, Kim Jong-il, the Supreme Leader of North Korea before him, and his death 10 years ago to the day. Jong-un has just issued an official ban of laughter in addition to alcohol and any sort of general sign of happiness for a period of 11 days as a proper time of mourning.

It’s the latest missive from the petulant despot that is intended for his subjects to take him with the utmost seriousness, but is so overly absurd that one can only laugh at him for the idea of banning laughter. It’s not too dissimilar from Jong-un’s neighbor, Xi Jingping, outlawing depictions of him as Winnie the Pooh, which inevitably invites only more ridicule and roasting. Even when Kim Jong-il died, the way that people cried was so performative that it seemingly almost borders on laughing.

In the context of comedy, it’s so beautifully ironic that such a ban can’t be feasibly enforced across the board and, for whatever it’s worth, there has to be a contingency of North Koreans that are laughing in private or, at least, to themselves about how surreally obtuse this all is (when they’ve gotten a spare moment from fearing for their lives). There’s an undeniable performance quality to

Someday, someone from this regime will end up doing some type of comedy, specifically about their time in North Korea and we’re sure it’ll be illuminating as much as it’ll be hilarious.

Pick of the Day: Nore Davis’ 5th Stand-Up Album Recording (in NYC) 1/29

December 21, 2021

News

album recording, brooklyn, live taping, nore davis, ny comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

If there was ever an uplifting voice of comfort in comedy that also kept it completely honest and vulnerable and, most importantly, so very hysterically funny, there would be a very tiny short list with the name Nore Davis clearly on it.

For the dozens of times we’ve seen him live and all the hours/specials/albums we’ve heard/seen, Nore has been a constant in offering a rare hopeful outlook threaded through his deftly crafted material and undeniable charm and finesse on stage. His comedic artistry even shined through on Zoom, the rare feat during this time of COVID-19, and he made a thoroughly enjoyable album via Zoom.

So, that said, you shouldn’t miss his latest album recording (it’ll be his fifth one) at Union Hall on Sat. Jan. 29th at 7:30PM ET & 10PM ET when, one can only hope, the current Omicron surge will have subsided. Get tickets for $20 here.

Showtime’s Latest In-Depth Comedy Doc Will Be W. Kamau Bell’s We Need to Talk About Cosby

December 20, 2021

News

bill cosby, docu series, showtime, w kamau bell

Perhaps, as a titular nod to 2011’s We Need To Talk About Kevin, W. Kamau Bell has put together an entire docu-series exploring the mythos of Bill Cosby and the tragic reveal of the monster that he really is. Bell looks to explore how we’re supposed to even move forward with the knowledge that he perpetrated his sex crimes for decades and we wouldn’t believe it because he was proverbially “America’s Dad”, especially if you’re a middle aged black comedian right now.

This will be the latest in the line of documentary deep dives into the history of comedy, no matter how dark or real the territory is, by Showtime. Impressively, they’ve recently had docs on Dick Gregory and Charlie Chaplin and The Comedy Store and, from the looks of it, they’re going to keep pushing in that direction, which we’re, of course, on board for.

Get a look at We Need to Talk About Cosby and why the title is still so relevant with the series teaser here. Look for the premiere on Showtime on Jan. 30th.

Pick of the Day: Girl God (in LA) 1/15

December 20, 2021

News

april clark, girl god, Grace Freud, los angeles comedy, sketch comedy

Most venues, bars, theaters are opting to go dark in LA and NYC for, seemingly, the rest of the year. Thus, we’ve got to look to next year for some sort of light of a future comedy show to catch at this stretch of that ever present, metaphorical tunnel.

So, earlier in the fall, Girl God (Grace Freud and April Clark) served up their special brand of “hot trans dykes who do dumb shit on stage” (that’s their very own description of their act) to NYC for a taping. Coming Sat. Jan. 15th at 10PM PT, LA will get the Girl God treatment at The Elysian with an exclusive performance that ought to be the sort of absurdist start to 2022 we all need.

Do not miss on the brilliantly daft antics of Freud and Clark and go get your tickets for $16 right here right now (and hope that shows aren’t cancelling or postponing a month from now).

Pick of the Day: One Star New York (in NYC) 1/3

December 17, 2021

News

caveat, emily winter, lindsay boling, martin urbano, new york moments, nyc, nyc comedy, ophira eisenberg, storytelling

Welp, left, right, and center, comedy shows right now in NYC are getting postponed and cancelled because of the Omicron surge of COVID-19. So, we’ll just have to look past the holidays for something that is, as of this moment, still on the books and will still be a damn good time.

With that in mind, we’d like to highlight Back Fat Variety’s One Star New York, a show that celebrates the worst of NYC as told by some of its best funny people. We’ve always thought of NYC as a place that requires Stockholm Syndrome to live there and it looks like this show revels in that notion.

Expressing their love for the Big Apple through their worst recollections of it will be the lovely collection of Ophira Eisenberg, Martin Urbano, Linsday Boling, and host Emily Winter. One Star New York will be taking place at Caveat where vaccination and masks are thankfully required on Mon Jan. 3rd at 7PM ET. Tickets are $15 right now and you ought to get them here.

Righteous Gemstones Season 2 Gives a Better Look at How Ludicrous Season 2 Will Be

December 16, 2021

News

adam devine, danny mcbride, edi patterson, eric andre, hbo, john goodman, righteous gemstones

We’ve already gotten a taste of season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones with this delicious teaser, but, as of today, we get a full taste of what’s to come with the Gemstones’ conniving televangelist ways. Boy howdy, the Gemstones are not wasting any time at all in descending into more, very unchristian chaos (especially with the inclusion of Eric Andre as another Christianity profiteer).

Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, and Adam Devine seem to be in even more peak form for being a corrupt family from the looks of this trailer. Can’t wait to see how the pro wrestling match figures in this season’s arc.

Look for season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones on Jan. 9th on HBO/HBO Max.

Pick of the Day: 50 First Jokes (in NYC) 1/8

A gathering of 50 comedians, much less 50 audience members indoors wasn’t really happening at the start of 2021. So, it’s been awhile since we’ve had the legitimate in-person annual comedy kick-off to a new year with 50 First Jokes.

Perhaps, pending some variants, an actual in-vaccinated-person edition of 50 First Jokes will happen for 2022 in NYC. The Bell House in Brooklyn will host the bright and shiny new jokes from the best of the NYC comedy scene, which ought to have a different, more electric urgency to them considering where we are now and where will be three weeks from now.

On the bill thus far: Alison Leiby, Anthony Devito, Chanel Ali, Charlie Bardey, Devon Walker, Dina Hashem, Emmy Blotnick, George Civeris, Kate Willett, Kenice Mobley, Martin Urbano, Max Wittert, Petey DeAbreu, Rojo Perez, Sam Taggart, Shalewa Sharpe, Sonia Denis, Tom Thakkar, and host John F. O’Donnell.

Of course, as you can tell by the count of those names, there will be way more comedians shuffling onto the Bell House stage to get out their freshest bits (as we round the corner on nearly two years of this waking nightmare).

2022’s 50 First Jokes is set for Sat. Jan. 8th at 8PM ET. Tickets are $15 right now and you best get them here before they sell out.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 90: Sean Casey & Making Works in Progress Cozy

December 15, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

glendale room, los angeles comedy, mask mandate, sean casey, the black list

At this side of the pandemic, there’s a whole row of exciting new comedy venues that have popped up in the stead of all the ones that have closed, one of them being The Glendale Room, located in the vibrant streets of Downtown Glendale. This week’s TCB Field Report has the founder of The Glendale Room, Sean Casey, chat with us about providing a crucial space that can be comfy for those on the rise in comedy or those with success, a place to be a “work in progress”. On top of all of that, it might be the coziest venue in town with its bookstore vibe.

Also, “hot” takes on comedy The Black List, CA’s new universal indoor mask mandate, and more.

Follow The Glendale Room @theglendaleroom on IG and Twitter.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

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

Pick of the Day: Johnny Pemberton (in LA) 12/22

December 15, 2021

News

johnny pemberton, los angeles comedy

One of the more dynamic performers that LA has known and loved is the comedic whirlwind that is Johnny Pemberton. Whether he’s wearing an oversized suit playing (if we remember correctly) a cruise ship comedian or donning a rat tail and a Southern accent to play teamster/DJ/mystic/Hollywood insider Dicker Troy or tying himself at one of a rope to Josh Fadem or just being his very own self on stage, Pemberton’s daring has had us hysterically laughing and gasping for over a decade now.

It’s just another thing we miss from the before times that is thankfully coming back, specifically next Wed. Dec. 22nd at the Yard Theater in East Hollywood at 7PM PT for Johnny’s Cool Fun Nice Hour. Don’t miss out on whatever Pemberton has dreamed up and is fearlessly going to put his all into on stage. Tickets are only $10 and you really ought to go get them here.

Nick Cage Gets Meta (Even More So Than He Ever Has) for “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”

December 14, 2021

News

nicholas cage, trailer, unbearable weight of massive talent

For the last couple of decades, Nicholas Cage has built a mythos out of his outlandish performances in movies that range from awards contenders to straight-to-DVD. The movie Mandy was almost designed exclusively to have Cage to cut looser than he has ever before (and somewhat eschewed story to help achieve that goal).

So, perhaps, taking a cue from Jean Claude Van Damme and his meta-character study, JCVD, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent follows Cage being Nick Cage in taking on ludicrous gigs to pay off his ever burgeoning pile of debts, many as far out as he is (i.e. private island, dinosaur skull, etc.) and then having to be the real life version of his insane characters to pull a “real” covert operation. The lines between all the various shades of Nicholas Cage is fascinating here, especially with Nick consciously playing a supposedly farcical version of himself in this most Nick Cage of Cage vehicles from Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten.

We can only ponder what the hell promo for this is going to be like.

Dive into the Nicholas Cage themed rabbit hole of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with the red band trailer here.

Pick of the Day: Goopy [w/Anna Seregina & Kyle Mizono] (in LA) 12/17

December 14, 2021

News

anna seregina, elysian, goopy, kyle mizono

2019 was a time where we got to see the groundbreaking duo that is Anna Seregina and Kyle Mizono go up at stages all around LA and dazzle audiences doing whatever the hell they wanted. Usually, that would involve one of them interrupting (or coming out of nowhere to help) the other and do some of the most beautifully absurd comedy we’ve seen in our tenure at TCB.

Fast forward to now, on this side of the pandemic and Anna and Kyle are starting to pick back up from where they left off and do sublimely ridiculous bits on more and more shows. In fact, they got their very own date for their very own show, Goopy, the show where Anna and Kyle do the aforementioned whatever-the-hell-they-want, at the still bright and shiny new Elysian Theater on Fri. Dec. 17th at 8PM PT.

Tickets are $12 and it would be a really great holiday gift to yourself or anyone who needs a hearty laugh for the insane times we live in. Get them here.

This Year’s Black List Has Plenty of Comedy on It (as, Perhaps, a Sign of the Times)

December 13, 2021

News

2021, the black list

Every year, The Black List publishes a list of the best, amongst producers and reps, screenplays that haven’t been produced yet. Often, there are a myriad of dramas at varying degrees of seriousness that would hint at a possible Oscar run if the script made it to the big screen. It has happened more than a few times that a screenplay on The Black List actually did make a huge splash in the awards season including Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech, Argo, and Spotlight.

Because of the prevailing darkness and chaos of these times, the need for a laugh seems more imperative than ever and that notion might be reflected pretty strongly in this year’s Black List.

If you take a gander at the 73 screenplays mentioned and their accompanying log lines, you’ll notice stories about the rise of William Hung, Dennis Rodman’s infamous 48 hours in Vegas, an alien invasion comedy between a Grindr hookup gone awry, the Vagina Monologues done at a Catholic School, a dating app rom com between a Chinatown store clerk and a CEO, a viral solo Bachelor Party Weekend, dating for new friends as an adult, a biopic that culminates at the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner (after which Trump ran for POTUS), hot girl summer drug ring, the worst dinner ever, Martin Shkreli, and a divorce party gone wild just to highlight a few.

We haven’t gotten a chance to read these scripts, but you can see the whole list for yourself and clearly see a very robust chunk of comedy coming up for the 2021 Black List.

Fingers crossed that the Shkreli biopic has the tone of Adam McKay’s VICE if it ever gets made.

Pick of the Day: Blam! Blam! Blam! (in LA) 12/14

December 13, 2021

News

anna seregina, daniel webb, davey johnson, jamel johnson, james adomian, james fritz, kimberly clark, lizzy cooperman, nana the cat lady, paul danke

Yet another touchstone LA comedy show returns on this side of the pandemic. Truly, we just had no idea who or what was going to survive when March 2020 came to pass. There was a point at which we, and so many others, legitimately thought that perhaps none of it would come back. We continue to thankful for the instances where some of our favorite things in comedy have survived and are making a big, big comeback.

One such thing is another one of the LA comedy scene’s longest running comedy shows, Blam! Blam! Blam!, the monthly institution at K-Town’s super cool R-Bar is making its first official show since lockdown happen right at the end of 2021. For years, we loved spending a late night on Tuesdays at 3331 W. 8th St. with Paul Danke at the helm and a beautiful mix, curated by DeMorge Brown, of stand-ups, characters, and the always mind-bending surprise from Davey Johnson.

This return of Blam! Blam! Blam! has all of its favorites including:

James Adomian
Lizzy Cooperman
James Fritz
Nana the Cat Lady
Kimberly Clark
Anna Seregina
Jamel Johnson
Daniel Webb
Tom Waits

Don’t miss out this Tues. Dec. 14th. Get there at 9PM PT if you want street parking to be slightly less difficult.

Moontower Just For Laughs Austin Set for Apr. 13th-24th & Badges Are Now on Sale

December 10, 2021

News

comedy festival, just for laughs, mjfla, moontower

Earlier this year, the comedy institutions of Moontower and JFL joined forces to expand the annual Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival from a weekend affair into a much bigger week and change extravaganza to be called Moontower Just For Laughs Austin.

They hadn’t locked down dates at the time, but it was announced that Wednesday, April 13th to Sunday, April 24th boasting over 100 comedians throughout 10 venues. The specifics of that have yet to be revealed, but we have no doubt that go to venues, especially the Paramount Theatre, will be a big part of the festival and that there will be a myriad of national touring headliners and big time comedy podcasts and bright and shining new rising stars of comedy based in Austin, TX.

If you miss watching comedy in Austin badly, you don’t even have to wait for the inevitable poster stacked with so many of your favorite comedians. You can buy your MJFLA badge right now starting at $125 and going up all the way to $1,250 for premium VIP benefits and access.

Go get those badges and stay tuned for the MFJLA line-up here.

iHeartPodcast Network Talent/Staffers Unionize at WGA East

December 10, 2021

News

iheartpodcast, iheartradio, union, wga

(via Deadline)

For those continuing to wonder where the world is with podcasts and its burgeoning popularity, unionizing is a pretty good barometer for the size and scope of where the medium is. There has to be enough business, infrastructure, and, of course, people involved to justify a union for collective bargaining on behalf of employees whose demands might be otherwise overlooked or ignored.

Thus, it’s kind of a thrilling announcement that iHeartPodcast Network talent including hosts, producers, and writers are signed on with WGA East in order to guarantee basic benefits and working conditions. That’s such a big step considering that the world of podcasting has been a wild west since its inception despite exponential growth in both popularity and profits in the last decade or so. Under the iHeartPodcast Network umbrella are The Nikki Glaser Podcast, How Did We Get Weird? with Vanessa and Jonah Bayer, Life Will Be the Death of Me with Chelsea Handler, Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, a number of Jamie Loftus audio projects/shows, and Will Ferrell‘s own imprint, Big Money Players.

The idea of any sort of comedy being part of a union feels like a fever dream. So many of the career paths in comedy are so solitary, nebulous, and circuitous that any sort of organizing on the part of talent is nothing short of a miracle. The idea of being a part of a podcast union, especially one that represents a handful of some of the most popular comedy podcasts, is astonishing, yet, thankfully where we have arrived.

We’ll see if this has a ripple effect across the podcasting spectrum (and maybe even, dare we say, comedy itself like folks have tried and failed in decades past).

Pick of the Day: Femmes the Rules (in LA) 12/14

December 10, 2021

News

amy silverberg, bailey norton, danny palumbo, Holmes Holmes, mike joyce, Molly Kearney, sammy mowrey, simon gibson

Even though so much time has passed since the last Femmes the Rules, the live comedy show where men get interrupted, it seems as though, in 2021, that men haven’t learned to shut up when they need to be shutting up.

Thank goodness that Femmes the Rules is making a come back to feature female/non-binary comedians getting the full license to interrupt a male comedian during their set however they please (including a 3-strike rule), then get to do their set free of any interruptions. All hail Sammy Mowrey and Bailey Norton for bringing this crucial show from the pre-pandemic era all the way to The Airliner on Tues. Dec. 14th at 8PM PT.

On this first post-lockdown Femmes the Rules will be:

Molly Kearney and Mike Joyce
Holmes Holmes and Simon Gibson
Amy Silverberg and Danny Palumbo

Tickets are $5 right now, so go get ’em while you can right here.

Hasan Minhaj Launches 186K Films with Bollywood Dance Competition Comedy “For The Culture”

December 9, 2021

News

186k films, bollywood, for the culture, hasan minhaj

(via Deadline)

When the cancellation announcement for Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj came, it was heartbreaking and seemingly being entirely out-of-left field. We thought that Minhaj was on the forefront of where topical/late night comedy was heading and it kind of gave us a spark of new vitality in the genre. Netflix and their ever-mysterious metrics seem to disagree.

Thankfully, that was only a milestone in the rise of Hasan as he has gotten a major role on season 2 of The Morning Show on Apple TV+ and, now, is pushing forward with his own production arm, 186K, with his go-to collaborator, Prashanth Venkataramanujam. Minhaj already hit the ground running with a feature comedy that is focused on competitive Bollywood dancing called For The Culture.

Other than Prashanth and Hasan co-writing the movie, there are no other details for it at this time, but we can only hope that this is yet another milestone in a set of several grand milestones for Hasan. We truly have a hard time imagining that Hasan put out Homecoming King and doing Patriot Act and then not doing something even bigger in scope than all of that combined. We hope that 186K might be that very thing.

Pick of the Day: Hari Kondabolu-New Material Night (in NYC) 1/2

December 9, 2021

News

hari kondabolu, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

The march of comedians returning to the stage from their pandemic sabbatical continues and we’re thankful that more and more of our favorite voices in comedy are taking the mic once again and offering their perspective and blessed levity for what is likely the most insane times of most of our lives.

One such person that we can’t wait to hear and see do comedy again, especially in relation to 2020-2021 is Hari Kondabolu. Hari might be one of the most intelligent voices in comedy, especially when it comes to the big, current issues of our day. His writing is so impeccably funny and shows how well crafted a joke can be, even if its tackling very dense, nuanced complicated subject matter.

So, don’t miss out on Hari doing all brand new jokes at Union Hall at the top of 2022, Sun. Jan 2nd at 5:30PM ET and/or 8PM ET to be exact. Tickets are only $7 and we’re pretty sure they’ll sell out sooner rather than later. Go get them here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 89: Dylan Adler & The In-Betweens

December 8, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

Dylan Adler, netflix is a joke fest, spotify

Discovering Dylan Adler for the first time this year was absolutely one of the highlights of 2021 for us at TCB. His mix of Broadway flair, darkly personal comedy, and acrobatics (Dylan does a backflip in his act) blew us away when we saw it on a rooftop of a parking structure and must be a real gift to the NYC comedy scene. Dylan joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger for this week’s TCB Field Report to follow his rise in the NYC comedy scene through queer and asian comedy spaces and spaces that are very much not that.

Also, “hot” takes on Netflix is a Joke Fest returning, comedians trying to renegotiate their deals with Spotify, and more.

Follow Dylan @dylanadler6 on Twitter, @dylanadler_ on IG, and @dylanadler7 on TikTok

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

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

Please Enjoy Blair Socci’s Late Night Debut on Corden

December 8, 2021

News

blair socci, james corden, late late show, late night, stand up

When it comes to unique voices, there are so few in comedy as unique as Blair Socci’s. Her actual voice and the comedic voice that she has honed for years are something marvelously hysterical and wholly original. It’s just a joy to hear the cartoon-like quality of her delivery coupled with her getting very personal with her life story of being raised über athletic, then still having feminine expectations by her über masculine OC family.

Honestly, Blair should be doing late night all the time. She is, quite simply, a pure joy to watch.

We can only hope that streak starts with Blair’s first late night set on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Please, please, please enjoy it here.

Pick of the Day: Chatterbox Comedy Night-Return of (near LA) 12/26

December 7, 2021

News

chatterbox, los angeles comedy

Leading up to lockdown, one of LA’s very best shows was actually a bit of a trip from Los Angeles proper. In the humble streets of Covina, since 2010, The Chatterbox has housed a beloved weekly show (and weekly open mic) that was heralded so much for its energy and vibe that it was worth the drive from WeHo/Silverlake/DTLA/Highland Park to 943 N. Citrus Ave.

Simply called Chatterbox Comedy Night, a packed crowd assembled with only a bit of promotion just after 9PM like clock work on Sunday nights to see some of the best line-ups that the Greater LA Area, thanks to Steve Hernandez, had to offer (as well as a showcase worthy up and comers).

Thankfully, The Chatterbox itself survived and the open mic has already made its return and, as of Sun. Dec. 26th, the marquee Sunday show will be returning to its long held time slot. Proof of vaccination and masks (when not drinking) will be required.

Plan accordingly after whatever you’re doing for Christmas so you can make it out there for what will very likely the best, last shows of 2021.

Pick of the Day: Alice Hamilton Taping (in LA) 12/8

December 6, 2021

News

alice hamilton, live taping, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy

We are grateful that for a good portion of 2021 that we’ve gotten to actually watch enough good ol’ live, in-person comedy that we’ve had a chance to see and discover comedy folks that we haven’t had a chance to ever see. It should come as no surprise, but that’s one of absolute favorite things to do and part of the reason why we watch several hours of live comedy every night of the week.

One of the folks that we delightfully came across this year was Alice Hamilton. Whether it was an overly hip taco spot or the rooftop lounge of a chic hotel, we enjoyed Alice’s very sharp writing and unshakeable presence on stage. Thankfully, more and more folks are seeing what we’re seeing around town and Alice gets up quite a bit.

With that in mind, Alice is doing a taping this Wednesday at 8:30PM PT at the Fourth Wall Comedy Cafe in Thai Town where you can see her do an extended set (which is always such a rare thing in town). She’ll be joined by Miranda Meadows and JP Puthenveetil opening the show, which will be FREE.

Don’t miss this chance to see Alice’s marvelous comedy stylings (especially since space is limited). RSVP here.

Netflix Is A Joke Fest Is Back (and Even Bigger?) for 2022

One of the first major comedy festivals to get postponed indefinitely because of COVID-19 was Netflix’s gigantic celebration of comedy that brought out all their biggest stars and their accompanying constellations, Netflix Is a Joke Fest. It was also going to be the first big comedy festival in LA in years (since Riot LA in DTLA ended its run).

For 2020, Netflix seemingly spared no expense to make the biggest comedy festival they could in Los Angeles and it was heartbreaking to see none of that happen in 2020 and have no idea if and when it would happen again.

Well, on this side of the pandemic, Netflix Is a Joke Fest was just announced to be back on, running from Thurs. Apr. 28th-Sun. May 8th, and Netflix is making sure to make it even bigger it would appear. Their stable of venues includes LA’s biggest (which wasn’t planned for 2020) including Dodger Stadium, Staples Center (now known as Crypto.com Arena), The Forum, and The Hollywood Bowl on top of beloved LA comedy haunts, old and new, The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Improv, Dynasty Typewriter, and The Elysian.

The top billing for the line-up is also more robust than we remember. On the schedule, the streamer has David Letterman, Tina Fey/Amy Poehler, Ali Wong, Eddie Izzard, Larry David, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Seth Rogen’s Table Reads, Marc Maron, Jane Fonda/Lily Tomlin, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Colin Quinn, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Ilana Glazer, Jimmy Carr, Taylor Tomlinson, Margaret Cho, Ben Schwartz, and Kevin Smith.

Oh yeah, there’s Dave Chappelle too as well as Aziz Ansari who are two of Netflix’s biggest gets within their talent pool, but have had the “cancellation” treatment. We have no doubt that their shows will sell out.

As they are billing it as the “biggest comedy event in history*, *probably” (SF Sketchfest does have way more programming and the Edinburgh Fringe is bigger than most festivals, period.), they’ve also filled out their line-up with plenty of folks (including many of our absolute favorites) that you shouldn’t miss if you’re putting the money down for Netflix Is a Joke Fest. That includes Todd Glass, Melissa Villaseñor, Guy Branum, Natalie Palamides doing Laid, Beth Stelling, James Adomian, Robin Tran, Mae Martin, and Sam Jay.

You can take a gander at the schedule here, then go get tickets starting this Fri. Dec. 10th at NetflixIsAJokeFest.com.

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Pick of the Day: Russell Howard (in LA) 4/8 & 4/9

Search Party Finds Dory Starting a Cult in Season 5 Trailer

Kim Jong-un Bans Laughing (and Happiness in General) in Honor of 10th Anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s Death

Pick of the Day: Nore Davis’ 5th Stand-Up Album Recording (in NYC) 1/29

Showtime’s Latest In-Depth Comedy Doc Will Be W. Kamau Bell’s We Need to Talk About Cosby

Pick of the Day: Girl God (in LA) 1/15

Pick of the Day: One Star New York (in NYC) 1/3

Righteous Gemstones Season 2 Gives a Better Look at How Ludicrous Season 2 Will Be

Pick of the Day: 50 First Jokes (in NYC) 1/8

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 90: Sean Casey & Making Works in Progress Cozy

Pick of the Day: Johnny Pemberton (in LA) 12/22

Nick Cage Gets Meta (Even More So Than He Ever Has) for “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”

Pick of the Day: Goopy [w/Anna Seregina & Kyle Mizono] (in LA) 12/17

This Year’s Black List Has Plenty of Comedy on It (as, Perhaps, a Sign of the Times)

Pick of the Day: Blam! Blam! Blam! (in LA) 12/14

Moontower Just For Laughs Austin Set for Apr. 13th-24th & Badges Are Now on Sale

iHeartPodcast Network Talent/Staffers Unionize at WGA East

Pick of the Day: Femmes the Rules (in LA) 12/14

Hasan Minhaj Launches 186K Films with Bollywood Dance Competition Comedy “For The Culture”

Pick of the Day: Hari Kondabolu-New Material Night (in NYC) 1/2

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 89: Dylan Adler & The In-Betweens

Please Enjoy Blair Socci’s Late Night Debut on Corden

Pick of the Day: Chatterbox Comedy Night-Return of (near LA) 12/26

Pick of the Day: Alice Hamilton Taping (in LA) 12/8

Netflix Is A Joke Fest Is Back (and Even Bigger?) for 2022