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Pick of the Day: Sad Sacks (in NYC) 12/1

November 18, 2021
News
anthony devito, casey james salengo, chris gethard, doug smith, ny comedy, solo show

With the exposure of solo shows from the UK and Australia and the ever changing DNA of comedy specials these days, we hope that you’ve expanded your consideration of what constitutes an hour of comedy these days. Certainly, in America, it can be quite difficult to develop such material as there has been historical expectation at comedy shows of cut and dried jokes, honed or raw. The inclination towards vulnerability in comedy, even though that was Richard Pryor’s bread and butter, has only really become a trend over the last decade.

With that in mind, it’s important to have space for such genre bending, more emotionally deep works of comedy that fall into that age old label of “solo show”. Thus, Sad Sacks @ Caveat in NYC’s LES is born. Celebrated and seasoned comedians Chris Gethard, Casey James Salengo, Anthony Devito, and Doug Smith all have their solo shows that they’re working on and will be performing excerpts of it together at this very special showcase. It’ll be a comedy show that has the whole range of emotional color that, we’d argue, makes for a much more enriching experience.

So, do not miss out getting tickets for Sad Sacks on Wed. Dec. 1st at 7PM ET. They’re $15 and you can go get them here.

Please Enjoy Jackie Kashian’s New Special “Stay-Kashian”, Finally Arrived on This Side of the Pandemic

November 17, 2021
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy album, comedy special, jackie kashian, stand up comedy, stay kashian

For all the comedians that didn’t take a break during this historic global pandemic, Jackie Kashian managed to perform more than almost anyone and, more importantly do so safely. A large part of that had to do with her actual affinity towards virtual comedy (truly, Jackie’s joke can transcend the emotional distance of Zoom) and her tireless work ethic to the art form of stand-up comedy.

The result of countless hundreds of hours of Zoom, drive-in shows, outdoor shows, etc. etc. as well as numerous attempts to record her latest hour only to be thwarted by a new wave of COVID protocols brought on by the COVID-19 variants is this latest hour Stay-Kashian. The special seems to pick right up where Jackie left off in March 2020 when live in-person stand up went away for an extremely long “sabbatical”.

Quite simply, Stay-Kashian is a very good hour of stand-up as Jackie is particularly good at crafting them (arguably one of the very best these days). Kashian has always hit a dream comedic balance of personal, observational, satirical, clever, and aspirational with the rapid fire delivery of a multi-cam sitcom and this latest special is a further testament to that. Most comics end up doing just OK with aiming for two of those adjectives.

Kashian goes to the well of a lot of her best material, her family, specifically her father full of oblique, yet keen wisdom. That said, it’s more clear in this hour than ever before that Jackie could dissect any topic with her colorful twists of description and sharp moral observations that we could really listen to her joke about anything (as we often do during Jackie & Laurie).

Clearly, the pandemic couldn’t stop the comedy of Jackie Kashian and Stay-Kashian is proof positive of that.

Please enjoy it as a special that you can stream on YouTube here and stream it as an album here thanks to 800 Pound Gorilla.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 86: Catherine McCafferty & First 8 Days Living in NYC

November 17, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
catherine mccafferty, jfl, lethal weapon, nft, nyc comedy, party down

Catherine McCafferty is on the way to achieving the dream of many comedians, being bi-coastal. McCafferty had been based out of LA for years doing stand-up, acting, and more, but has now just freshly broke ground in NYC. It was 8 days in for her on the day she recorded this episode of TCB Field Report with Jake Kroeger and it’s a great portrait of expectations meeting reality and the whirlwind that transplanting from one metropolis to another can be.

Also, “hot” and actually hot takes on Party Down revival, JFL NFTs, and an upcoming Lethal Weapon sequel with Mel Gibson attached to direct.

Find Catherine @catherine_mccaff on IG

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: 15th Annual Thanksgiving Feast (in LA) 11/23

November 17, 2021
News
alex berg, alex fernie, deborah tarica, julie brister, laci mosley, suzi barrett, todd fasen, zeke nicholson

Even at this stage of the pandemic, the presence of top flight improv still isn’t what it once was, no matter where you go. The fate of UCB is still TBD at this point in time and the other smaller improv schools/theaters are only starting to have their house teams to get back in the swing of things.

That’s all to say that a chance to catch tip top level improv shouldn’t be missed and such a chance is coming up at The Elysian with The 15th Annual Thanksgiving Feast (that probably would have happened at UCB Franklin if circumstances were different). It’s an improvised Thanksgiving Dinner with a more than plentiful handful of LA’s best improvisers including:

Suzi Barrett
Alex Fernie
Alex Berg
Deborah Tarica
Julie Brister
Todd Fasen
Laci Mosley
Zeke Nicholson

If you could remember who was going up on several different teams every week pre-lockdown, it was all of these folks. So, once again, don’t miss out on your chance to see them live and in person (with proof of vaccination of course) and get a bit of levity before heading into the fray of a family Thanksgiving.

The 15th Annual Thanksgiving Feast is set for Tues. Nov. 23rd at 8PM PT at The Elysian. Tickets are $15 and you really ought to go get them here.

Party Down Revival Happening at Starz, Though Without Casey

November 16, 2021
News
party down, starz

For the Party Down loyal that carefully kept asking “Are we having fun yet?”, secretly hoping that the series would make a triumphant return (if networks are going to keep coming back to IP, might as well make it something that people were actually asking for), your wishes have been granted.

There indeed will be an actual revival of the cult comedy classic focused in on disillusioned catering service employees and their infamous pink bow ties. Starz was able to wrangle back the creators and the overwhelming majority of the cast, but, unfortunately, Lizzy Caplan, who played Casey (often played against Adam Scott for a will they/won’t they relationship), won’t be joining in due to prior commitments to other projects at Paramount+ and FX.

Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Ryan Hansen, Megan Mullally, and Martin Starr are all set to come back and that’s definitely something to be relished, but, until the season premiere, it’ll be a mystery of how they’re going to deal with Casey’s absence.

Considering the new Sex and the City is going forward without a Samantha, are series revivals are just going to push forward any way they can whether that includes principal cast or not? We’re sure there will be plenty more such revivals to find out if that’s true.

we're back in business. #PartyDown pic.twitter.com/iKPaW2OIYG

— Party Down (@partydownstarz) November 16, 2021

 

Please Enjoy the “Don’t Look Up” Trailer (and Start Heeding the Very Clear Message Adam McKay Is Trying to Send)

November 16, 2021
News
adam mckay, don't look up, jennifer lawrence, leonardo dicaprio, netflix

Adam McKay’s devastatingly searing Vice took on the life and times of one Dick Cheney. Before that, McKay put the world on notice of his new leaf as a satirist auteur and a brutally effective one at that with The Big Short, focusing on the few that profited off of knowing the 2008 housing market crash was going to happen.

So much science has pointed out how clearly climate change is being caused by man made choices and the world as a whole, at this point, seems to be doing very little other than lip service. That’s where McKay is positing his lens on this go around with Don’t Look Up, a cautionary tale about ignoring all the signs of trouble that are very clear to see, but just so much easier to ignore and go on living life as you were (hence the film’s title).

Just from the trailer, you can see this might even be more biting than either Vice or The Big Short to the point that having a gigantic cast that features the big and brightest stars in Hollywood seems secondary to the message at stake when the nations and countries of the world aren’t addressing very clear and present danger.

Odds are you’ve probably seen this trailer already (DiCaprio and Lawrence are the stars of it after all and Meryl Streep plays POTUS), but for the sake of the point Adam McKay is trying to make, watch it again here, then watch it on Dec. 10th in theaters or Dec. 24th on Netflix.

Pick of the Day: I Never Get to Wear This (in LA) 11/20

November 16, 2021
News
bri pruett, clint coley, felicia folkes, giulia rozzi, los angeles comedy, puterbaugh sisters, sammy mowrey

If you’re the sort of person that wishes your comedy shows has a lot more style and flair to them and not just any old mix of denim, leather, hoodies, and whatever t-shirts are clean, there might be a show now just for you.

I Never Get To Wear This is a carefully curated live comedy show that not only picks the line-up for how great their comedic stylings are, but is also incredibly discerning about which comedians can turn a look. Of course, a show like this has a theme for the performers to inspire an iconic ensemble.

This month will be “Thanksgiving finery” and the line-up of Giulia Rozzi, The Puterbaugh Sisters, Felicia Folkes, Clint Coley, and Sammy Mowrey will undoubtedly put together the best Thanksgiving Day parade of jokes accented by the perfect set of accessories.

This edition of I Never Get To Wear This is set for Sat. Nov. 20th at 8PM PT at Third Wheel Studios. Tickets are $10-$20 (sliding scale) and you really ought to get tickets here.

Pick of the Day: Hannah Gadsby: Body of Work (in LA & NYC) 2022

November 15, 2021
News
hannah gadsby

Hannah Gadsby has already cemented a legacy in comedy history with her groundbreaking special Nanette and her brilliantly funny Douglas. At this point, it should be imperative to make time for whatever Gadsby’s next round of work is.

With Douglas out in 2020, we bet there would have been a brand new hour underway for Gadsby had 2020 been saddled with, well… being 2020.

That said, 2020 is well behind us and 2021 is almost at a close and, by 2022, the world will get a chance to see how Gadsby will electrify the world of comedy (or the world in general) as Hannah is going on her Body of Work tour all across the globe.

Specifically, she’ll be in NYC from May 11th-14th (venue TBA) and in LA at Theatre at Ace Hotel on June 17th. Tickets are on sale just yet, but you can sign-up for pre-sale here and make sure that you have every moment possible to get tickets, which you should do because all these shows ought to sell out.

Indefensible with Jena Friedman Might Be the Best True Crime/Comedy Show This Year or in Recent Memory

November 12, 2021
News
indefensible, jena friedman, sundance tv, true crime

The genre of true crime is so popular at this very moment in time that it would almost seem that there was never a time where it wasn’t frequently the main focal point of casual conversations. As you probably very well know, comedy has even benefitted from such a boon as many of the top comedy podcasts often are the top true crime podcasts and, more importantly, are some of the top podcasts in general. My Favorite Murder and Last Podcast on the Left have earned such popularity that they’ve been able to go on global tours and launch their very own podcast networks on the strength of each of their individual following.

That’s all to say that the intersection of comedy and true crime has been very fertile ground for content over the last several years.

However, what about that ever-debated notion of whether comedy can actual make a difference, be funny and make a cohesive and incisive point, and move the needle towards making people’s lives better rather than just be more exploitative than not for some comedic shock value? We believe that Jena Friedman is doing the work to make that a reality, most recently, with her brilliant series, Indefensible with Jena Friedman.

Firstly, she focused her whole set on Conan in 2019 to this obsession with true crime, especially in regards to women since stories of serial killers and mass murderers paint a truly terrifying world that we live in. Following that, Jena has gone several extra miles to not just source comedy from the tragedy that are all these stories of harm, but satirically, yet cogently highlight the most toxic corners of humanity and why we need to not let such things happen again. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case in comedy when joking about serial killers.

This journey continued with a couple of specials under the banner of Soft Focus with Jena Friedman over at Adult Swim where she got to cleverly get under the skin of such infamous figures as John McAfee, the ex-tech-mogul-turned-international-fugitive during a face-to-face interview.

Indefensible takes Jena’s work to whole other level as she has the canvas of an entire series to dissect the literally fatal flaws in our legal system as well as the ever present biases that prevent proper justice violence against the most vulnerable in our society.

Also, she gets to make dick jokes at high powered lawyers’ expense to their face, leaving them befuddled as if they just found out that they were on some high brow prank show (note that Jena did write on Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm).

It’s very satisfying and hysterical and something that no real true crime or hidden camera comedy sketch show has ever done to our knowledge (save for Colbert at Bush for the White House Correspondents Dinner). The resulting effect is a demystifying of the oft-unquestioned authority of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the legal system as a whole and some of the most engrossing, hysterical real life moments on TV. The way that Jena almost effortlessly allows some of her interviewees to corner themselves is truly masterful and is absolutely must-watch TV.

At the same time, she takes great care to respect the voices and privacy of the victims, many of whom did not get the justice that they deserve and speaking to many experts in the field about why, again, justice isn’t being served when it most certainly should be. As we hinted at above, this isn’t just about punching up at people who deserve it for a good laugh, but, as Jena has done in all the time that we’ve known her, trying to make a tangible difference for a clear and present danger.

We can only hope that she gets renewed for several seasons so she could can keep doing her important work on behalf of the voiceless and marginalized and crafting and telling some of the best dark jokes in comedy history.

You can now stream episodes of Indefensible with Jena Friedman on Sundance TV.

 

Pick of the Day: Community Power: Hugo Soto-Martinez Fundraiser (in LA) 11/16

November 12, 2021
News
andrea more, atwater village, club tee gee, dan mintz, demi adejuyigbe, fundraiser, hugo soto martinez, james adomian, kate berlant, los angeles comedy, sandy honig, stand up comedy, steve hernandez

Many of the very best line-ups for comedy shows often come with the purpose of raising money for a worthy cause. That was definitely true all of last summer as gala level line-ups assembled on Zoom to raise money for mutual aid, undocumented relief, and local representative campaigns.

That will be true yet again as Hugo Soto-Martinez is raising money for a run at LA City Council (quick reminder that two LA City Council members were indicted on federal charges in the last year or so and we need good folks in those seats) as someone who is a more fair, equitable, and safe life for Angelenos. Thus, he has been doing pop-up comedy fundraisers as of late.

This latest edition of Community Power will feature the stellar comedy stylings of:

Dan Mintz (Tina from Bob’s Burgers!)
Kate Berlant
James Adomian
Demi Adejuyigbe
Sandy Honig
Steve Hernandez
Andrea More

That’s beyond a stacked show on Tues. Nov. 16th at 7PM PT at Club Tee Gee and one that you pretty much shouldn’t miss for any reason. Tickets start at $10 and sales all go towards Hugo Soto-Martinez for City Council 2022!

Go get them here before they sell out (Tee Gee is a beautiful and very intimate venue, so space is limited, FYI).

Please Enjoy Laurie Kilmartin’s Parenting Tips/Latest Late Night Set on Corden

November 12, 2021
News
james corden, late late show, late night, laurie kilmartin, stand up comedy

In addition to being a fantastic staff writer for Conan O’Brien for years and years, Laurie Kilmartin has always kept sharp as a stand-up comedian. In fact, her writing might be some of the sharpest in stand-up comedy today as Laurie never ever stops working at her craft. Throughout lockdown, she did Zoom, drive-in shows, and outdoor shows as much as she could and, for our money, has some of the best COVID material in comedy, end of discussion.

Now that Conan has sailed off into the sunset of TV and comedy history (to return at some point in a non-late-night form on HBO Max), Kilmartin has really honed in her stand-up even more so than she already was doing. She just released her latest album Corset now available for purchase and/or streaming.

Laurie also got to do her very first set on The Late Late Show with James Corden and impart some exemplary strategies for raising your kids. Please enjoy her set here (and then follow everything she does).

 

Please Enjoy Good Cop Great Cop’s Take on Performance Reviews

November 11, 2021
News
charlie hankin, good cop great cop, matt porter, performance review, sketch comedy

As we near two years of going through this very real life nightmare of the pandemic, we’re at a point where things are truly are coming back. That includes one of our favorite sketch groups around, Good Cop Great Cop (Matt Porter and Charlie Hankin).

They used to crank out sketches all the time that struck a great balance between sheer absurdity and grounded reality, all while keeping a figurative straight face. We’ve posted plenty of them throughout the years (even their CC digital series New Timers), but 2020 definitely put that on pause (as it did the whole world).

Thankfully, both Matt and Charlie are doing fine and are officially back at it as evidenced by this latest Good Cop Great Cop sketch about performance reviews. From the looks of it, they have not lost a step. Please enjoy it here.

Pick of the Day: Thanks But No Thanksgiving (in NYC) 11/20

November 11, 2021
News
BIPOC, comedy show, indigenous, native american, ny comedy, thanksgiving, union hall

We sincerely hope that, at this point in time, especially with all the reckoning that we all were supposed to be going through with racism in America, that you know the history behind Thanksgiving isn’t the idyllic picture that you were very likely shown when you were a kid.

That said, there’s a comedy show coming up that’s being put up by all Native American comedians on Lenape land at Union Hall. Brian Bahe, Dash Turner, Tai Leclaire will put on this non-Thanksgiving holiday variety show that will still be a great time, but free of any whitewashed American Turkey Day make-em-ups.

Thanks But Not Thanksgiving: A Native American Variety Show is set for Sat. Nov. 20th at 7:30PM ET at Union Hall. Tickets are $10, $12 on the day of.

Also, the event says “One free horse per audience member.” You should go for a lot of reasons, but one of those reasons should definitely be to find out if you actually get a horse of some kind.

Get tickets here now.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 85: Skyler Higley & Where We Are with Adoption Jokes

November 10, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
adoptee, adoption, alanis morrissette, cbs, dave grohl, national adoptee awareness month, search party, transracial adoptee

It is National Adoption Awareness Month and, for those that don’t know TCB’s very own Jake Kroeger‘s story, he’s adopted. So, we thought it would be a perfect time to have both a great comedian on who is an adoptee and also talk about adoption jokes from the adoptee perspective (and how hopefully it’s no longer a punchline to suggest someone is weird or stupid).

That’s why Skyler Higley joined in with us this week for TCB Field Report all the way from Chicago. Skyler’s journey as black kid adopted by white parents in Salt Lake City and being raised Mormon all factors into a lot of the great comedy he has put out (much of which has found it’s way to Conan, Clickhole, and The Onion). It’s a great, deep philosophical conversation on the nature of identity and how it indelibly ties into comedy, even if you’re pretty in the weeds about what your identity is.

Also, “hot” takes on Alanis Morrisette’s CBS comedy, Dave Grohl’s Studio 666, and season 5 of Search Party being the final season.

Find Skyler @skylerhigley on IG and @skyler_higley on 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: Kate Berlant: Live You’ve Never Seen Her (in LA) Tuesdays in Dec.

November 10, 2021
News
elysian, kate berlant, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy

Even though we’re just traipsing into the holiday season, The Elysian is doling out the gifts left and right. The latest gift or, we should say, set of gifts, is an entire month long residency from the one and only Kate Berlant. Previous to Dec. 2021 throughout the pandemic, you probably only got to catch Kate’s nuanced, self-reflexive, high brow silliness on some virtual shows or her wondrous podcast, Poog, with Jacqueline Novak.

Now, in LA, you’ll have the chance to see Berlant work out a brand new hour in person every Tuesday in December at LA comedy’s new favorite destination, The Elysian. Well, chances to see that are going fast as most of the shows are sold out already and tickets for a date that was just added Dec. 28th are still available for $20.

Go get them right now before they sell out again!

The Final Season of Search Party Premieres in Jan. 2022 and Has Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Griffin, and John Waters

November 9, 2021
News
hbo, hbo max, jeff goldblum, john waters, kathy griffin, search party

Search Party is only a couple of months away from unveiling its fifth and final season. That’ll be such a gift when 2022 arrives and the pandemic still isn’t over and new Search Party will be a very welcome respite from that.

Jan. 7th, 2022 will be when HBO Max rolls out new episodes every week and we’ll dive in once again with Dory, Drew, Portia, and Elliot for another round of chaos of desperate searching for something, both literally and figuratively. This time, they’ll be joined by yet another stunning cast of guest stars including the aforementioned Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Griffin, and John Waters, which has our mind furiously pondering what  sort of absurdity G. Charles Rogers and Sarah Violet Bliss convinced them to do on this show (just check the first look images) that has really gone to the most unpredictable places from where it started in season one. Many of our favorite folks in comedy will also be joining in for this swan song of Search Party including  Aparna Nancherla, Angela Trimbur, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Greta Titelman, Joe Castle Baker, Larry Owens and Michelle Badillo.

The holidays will very likely be more hectic than they have ever been with the world actually, kind of being open and, thankfully, this will be on the other side of it.

Pick of the Day: John Mulaney: From Scratch (near LA) 12/10

November 9, 2021
News
john mulaney, long beach, los angeles, stand up comedy

Last time John Mulaney did his run of work in progress shows over at the Troubadour, they sold out pretty much immediately. That was well over two week of shows and tickets were all snapped up before you could really find out that Mulaney was even in LA.

Now, he’s set to play a much, much MUCH bigger venue, The Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention Center and has three dates lined up. Well, two of them are already sold out, but a third date was just added on Fri. Dec. 10th at 7PM PT. Do take note that show is almost sold out too and the starting price of $69 hasn’t deterred folks from getting tickets ASAP.

So, don’t waste any more time and go get tickets right this instant to see Mulaney live with From Scratch in LA while you still can.

Bill Burr Has Just Launched a Dark Comedy Anthology Series “Immoral Compass” on Roku

November 8, 2021
News
al madrigal, bill burr, bobby lee, nick swardson, roku, tyler fabo, vince vaughn

Roku, the home to Quibi originals, is now putting out there very own original content exclusive to their platform. For our money, they swung pretty well for their first series as they’ve got Bill Burr starring and presenting an anthology series (as if Burr is the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt, but just a jaded guy in a garage instead) that lives up to the title of the show, Immoral Compass.

Created by Tyler Falbo, Burr guides as a probably reliable narrator through what seems to be like a darker (and more cohesive) version of The Premise. Al Madrigal, Nick Swardson, Vince Vaughn, and Bobby Lee all make guest appearances and be terrified to varying degrees in their respective episodes.

Get a gander of what’s in store with Immoral Compass here with the official trailer, then, if you’re digging it, you can go watch it on The Roku Channel right now.

Pick of the Day: The Jesse Miller Talk Show (in LA) 12/11

November 8, 2021
News
andre hyland, dynasty typewriter, jesse miller talk show, los angeles comedy, mitra jouhari, noel wells, talk show

To this very day, Andre Hyland‘s creation, The Jesse Miller Talk Show, remains as one of the craziest and best talk shows we’ve ever seen (that includes any of the ones on TV all the way to ones that happen in someone’s apartment).

For the unfamiliar, The Jesse Miller Talk Show puts one Jesse Miller at the monster truck driver’s seat of his very own talk show that blends the outrageous energy of self-proclaimed media mogul that you might find outside of many 7-11s in LA that celebrities may have frequented with a seemingly unlimited capacity for pop culture knowledge and wordplay. Also, there’s heavy guitar shredding from Darryl (Paul Oyen) and plenty of PDA with his sidekick/boo Tanya (Anna Lee Lawson).

In short, it’s a good time and we’re glad to see that it’ll be going back up, in-person, on this side of the pandemic at Dynasty Typewriter on Sat. Dec. 11th at 10PM PT. So far, Jesse will be putting his dazzling interview tricks on display for Noël Wells, Mitra Jouhari, and a special surprise guest.

Tickets are $15 right now, so you best go snatch them up right now.

After Two Years, We Got a New Season of The Righteous Gemstones on the Way (Trailer)

November 5, 2021
News
adam devine, danny mcbride, edi patterson, eric andre, hbo, hbo max, john goodman, righteous gemstones

Fall 2019 was not necessarily an innocent time, but definitely more innocent that where we have been and where we are now. That just happen to be the time when Danny McBride’s latest series The Righteous Gemstones dropped on HBO and it’s satirizing of televangelist empires was undeniable. A season 2 was pretty much unquestioned, but then COVID-19 did, you know, what it’s still doing.

In fact, that time was so long ago that we almost forgot that there was even going to be a second season the searing dramedy that is Danny’s biggest undertaking thus far. Thankfully, the world of faith for profit is more than ripe for picking apart especially with how much religious gatherings have thrown a wrench into COVID-19 protocols.

Thus, you ought to look forward to second season of The Righteous Gemstones on Jan. 9th on HBO and HBO Max. From the looks of the trailer, they’re going bigger than in season 1. DeVine has his literal own christian army, McBride tries to hug someone through a plastic tarp on TV because of COVID, and Eric Andre is going to be tangling with the Gemstones. See all the wondrous madness for yourself here.

Pick of the Day: Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 Screening (+ Deleted Scenes) (in NYC) 11/12

November 5, 2021
News
9/11, documentary, julie seabough, Nick Fituri Scown, ny comedy festival, too soon

Of all the comedy documentaries that came out this year, it’s pretty much imperative that you watch Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 from Julie Seabaugh and Nick Fituri Scown before all the others. It’s exhaustive chronicling of comedy about 9/11 from the point of 9/11 to now is astounding and gets into the elemental parts of comedy and, specifically, how we heal, individually and as a culture, from unspeakable, historic tragedy.

While you can watch it online, you really not to ought to miss a very exclusive, in-person screening presented by the New York Comedy Festival where there will be deleted scenes and clips from international versions of the doc that have not been seen by U.S. audiences (i.e. way more 9/11 jokes and stories about 9/11 jokes that are absolutely worth watching).

This extra special screening of Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 is set for Fri. Nov. 12th at Stonestreet Studios at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Tickets are $10 right now and you better go snag them here.

Taika Waititi’s on Board for Another Space Epic, The Incal, Even More Out There Than Thor

November 4, 2021
News
alejandro jodorowsky, jemaine clement, taika waititi, the incal

When all is said and done, Taika Waititi’s imagination might be one of the most captivating and entertaining of this century (and most certainly of the last two decades). Whether it be wayward vampires, MCU heroes, or WWII Germany, Taika has ceaselessly dazzled with his films, which brilliantly paint with all of the emotions, but also happen to be very funny.

I'm honoured to announce I’ll be bringing the maestro, the hero, the true creator, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s masterpiece THE INCAL to the big screen. Also stoked to be teaming up again with @jemaineclement and @peterbwarren on this. @alejodorowsky #Moebius https://t.co/a6rvCqV5jq pic.twitter.com/I8cbafw5hO

— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) November 4, 2021

That’s why it’s exciting that Taika is going back into outer space, sans the MCU, with his next film and will be teaming up with long time collaborator/accomplice Jemaine Clement as well as Peter Warren and is going to be an adaptation of another monumental imagination of our times, the one from Alejandro Jodorwosky.

Jodorowsky’s attempt to adapt Dune decades before David Lynch and Denis Villeneuve unfortunately didn’t amount to any sort of finished film (or footage at all, for that matter). That said, Alejandro took the spirit of what his adaptation was going to be into a graphic novel, L’Incal. Similar to its inspiration Dune, it had quite the success as a comic book and is often hailed among the best of the art form. L’Incal doesn’t follow a magical prince, but rather a bumbling detective in the middle of an existential crisis who just happen to stumble on one of the most powerful artifacts in the whole of the universe.

As irony would have it, all these years later, a massive, studio backed adaptation of Dune has hit theaters, despite the ongoing presence of the pandemic, and L’Incal is not only be made into a full fledged movie, The Incal, but being done with the sheen and marvel of Taika Waititi attached. There is so much potential here for something truly great, perhaps more indelible than the film adaptation of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Keep tabs on Taika’s The Incal at theincalmovie.com and see the announcement between Taika and Jodorowsky here.

Pick of the Day: Butterboy 4 Year Anniversary (in NYC) 11/15

November 4, 2021
News
aparna nancherla, jo firestone, littlefield, maeve higgins, ny comedy

The Monday night 8PM slot at Littlefield in Brooklyn has been a historic one and stewarding it is to be an beloved anchor for the NYC comedy scene. Eons ago, seemingly, it was Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen on Mondays at Littlefield, then it was Night Train with Wyatt Cenac, and, for the last four years, it has been Aparna Nancherla, Jo Firestone, and Maeve Higgins as the smashing trio behind Butterboy.

The NY Comedy Festival is indeed next week and that edition of Butterboy will be part of the festival, but the week after, on Mon. Nov. 15th, Aparna, Jo, Maeve, and their DJ Donwill are going to mark the fourth year of doing Butterboy and making sure NYC comedy has the perfect panacea for any sort case of the Mondays.

Already, they’ve got Joe Pera, fresh off the season premiere of Joe Pera Talks With You, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, fresh from her on The Tonight Show, and Lili Michelle, who just finished her run of one of the best and longest running outdoor shows throughout the pandemic, Peaches & Cream. Undoubtedly, there will be some great surprises TBA.

So, you ought to snag your tickets quick for this one. Yes, they are still $10 right now.

Pick of the Day: Fake Birthday with Caitlin Cook and A.J. Holmes (in LA) 11/14

November 3, 2021
News
atsuko okatsuka, langston kerman, liza treyger, los angeles comedy, musical comedy, naomi ekperigin, silverlake, variety show, zach zucker

One of NYC’s most fun variety shows is the comedy and music mash-up at Fake Birthday with Caitlin Cook and A.J. Holmes. Holmes is a Broadway dynamo and Cook has toured the globe with her über clever musical comedy (she did a whole solo musical comedy show based on bathroom graffiti). Together, they have been the duo at the core of Fake Birthday and with their musical comedy powers combined (and a stellar line-up of guests), they’ve made quite the spot for themselves in the thriving NYC comedy scene.

So, Cook and Holmes are stopping into LA for an exclusive show at Silverlake Lounge, which, if you’re in and around LA, you absolutely make your Silverlake to catch. They’ve gathered an exemplary LA line-up with Atsuko Okatsuka, Naomi Ekperigin, Zach Zucker, Langston Kerman, Liza Treyger, and Ethan Kuperberg all joining with their own grand comedy stylings in between original songs from Cook and Holmes.

This LA edition of Fake Birthday is set for Sun. Nov. 14th at Silverlake Lounge at 8PM PT. Tickets are $16.95 and you ought to go snag them right now (especially since it’ll be AJ Holmes’ actual birthday for this Fake Birthday).

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 84: Kate Banford & Homes for Weirdness

November 3, 2021
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
charlie chaplin, dan levy, elysian theater, eugene levy, kate banford, los angeles comedy

LA’s newest home for comedy, especially the kind that colors outside the lines, The Elysian, is officially alive. We have artistic director Kate Banford join us for this week’s TCB Field Report to give us the origin stories of both herself (her first theater in Philadelphia, The Good Good Comedy Theatre) and this shiny new theater (and even explain why they went with a skunk for a logo). Banford has long since done and championed comedy that pushes the art form forward and, with so many LA venues closed over the last two years, it’s a saving grace that Kate and company have come in with The Elysian in Frogtown (or more formally known, but never referred to as Elysian Valley).

Also, “hot” takes on Vulture’s Comedians You Should & Will Know list, Dan and Eugene Levy’s lifestyle series, and the new Charlie Chaplin doc on Showtime.

Find Kate @katebanford on IG and @kbanf on Twitter at and The Elysian at elysiantheater.com and on IG and Twitter @elysiantheater

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

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