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Recent News

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HBO Max Developing Aida Rodriguez Comedy with Tiffany Haddish Attached to EP

January 30, 2020
Uncategorized
aida rodriguez, hbo max

HBO Max Developing Aida Rodriguez Comedy with Tiffany Haddish Attached to EP

Of the lives of a comedian that you could explore in a sitcom, Aida Rodriguez sure has one hell of a life where she fought tooth and nail to get where she is now. 

Just listen to her ep. of The Crabfeast and you’ll get a pretty get sense of how compelling her story is. Knowing that Haddish will be EP’ing and that Rodriguez will get to star and co-write this project that follows, “an Afro-Latina comedian (Rodriguez) who is trying to kick start a career while raising two very different teenagers on her own over multiple time zones,” has us pretty intrigued. 

Additionally, HBO Max’s development slate just keeps getting more and more enticing.

January 30, 2020
Uncategorized
australian wildfire, benefit show, bobcat goldthwait, comedy variety, dj douggpound, mark proksch, megan koester, neil hamburger, rob zabrecky, the satellite, zebulon

Neil Hamburger, America’s favorite lounge act character that mostly roasts music, is going really big this month. There will be a bigger line-up than his usual residency has slated (that will probably get bigger than this flyer), but all of this will be done in service of Australian Wildfire Relief.

As you can see, this night of true variety will be dazzling, hysterical, and, of course, go to a great cause. 

Go get your tickets here (they’ll probably sell out fast)!

Steve Martin Has a Grand Old Time Running Bits with Stephen Colbert (and Giving a Little More Info on His True Crime Comedy Series with Martin Short)

January 30, 2020
Uncategorized
interview, stephen colbert, steve martin

It should come as no surprise that comedy greats Steve Martin and Stephen Colbert being in the same room together on last night’s Late Show would spark plenty of bits, jabs, riffs, etc. (as well as genuine moment remembering Terry Jones) that harkens back to a great classic late night interview. From start to finish, Martin and Colbert had hijinks planned (or inspired in the moment) and it’s kind of what you would hope for with a Steve Martin appearance on The Late Show.

Also, Steve Martin really does have an upcoming Hulu series with Martin Short where they investigate murders, but only in the building they live in called Only Murders in the Building. He gives a little more insight what very well could be a delightful cross between My Favorite Murder and Too Much Tuna/Oh, Hello.

January 31, 2020
Uncategorized
ahmanson, book of mormon, dtla, musical comedy

Another run of Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone’s brilliant, lauded, subversive musical/religious satire The Book of Mormon is happening in LA, this time at the Ahmanson in DTLA’s Music Center. 

They’ll be running six nights a week from Feb .18th-Mar. 29th (no Monday performances) and tickets are going for $45-$179. It’s a lengthy run, but you not to miss your chance (and don’t be surprised if certain nights get sold out).

Get your tickets here.

Gary Gulman Set to Write Memoir ‘K Through Twelve’

February 1, 2020
Uncategorized
books, gary gulman

Gary Gulman Set to Write Memoir ‘K Through Twelve’

Gary Gulman has already established himself as one of the best stand-up comedy’s best artisans and his HBO special The Great Depresh really laid out how wonderful Gulman can be when getting deeply personal about his past and struggles with depression in his comedy.

We can only imagine that him weaving an entire memoir out of his childhood would be one hell of a beautiful book. Thus, we can’t wait for K Through Twelve to hit shelves, both real and digital.

Big Lebowski Spin-Off/Spiritual Sequel/Etc. “Jesus Rolls” Gets a Teaser

February 1, 2020
Uncategorized
jesus rolls, john turturro

Almost 22 years ago, we were introduced to one of John Turturro’s more iconic characters, Jesus Quintana via The Big Lebowski. Even though his part was relatively small, his purple ensemble and mannerisms is one of the more noted facets of The Big Lebowski canon.

A score of years later, Turturro is following Jesus’ story in his own style (as he is writing and directing in addition to starring) in Jesus Rolls. As you can see in this teaser, it’s a tad (if not more) different than your typical Coen Brothers fare (though it has cast stacked like Joel and Ethan would).

We’re actually very excited to see where Jesus Rolls goes as we still have a soft spot for Turturro’s big swing of a dark rom com musical Romance & Cigarettes.

See what you think after watching the teaser for Jesus Rolls here, then look for it in theatrical release on Feb. 28th.

February 3, 2020
Uncategorized
baron vaughn, comedy show, dynasty typewriter, hampton yount, jonah ray, los angeles, movie riffing, mst3k

The stars of the latest iteration of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Jonah Ray, Baron Vaughn, and Hampton Yount will assemble once again to roast those sorts of movies that beg the sorts of confused questions, “How?” “Why?”

Though, this time, they’ll be doing so as themselves sans any sort of puppetry or outer space back drop. Join them at Dynasty Typewriter later this month for Destroy All Movies to revel in their razor sharp, speedy riffing.

Tickets are $15 right now and $20 on the day of. Save a bit of cash and get tickets right now right here.

Desus & Mero Return for 2020 Tonight

February 3, 2020
Uncategorized
desus and mero, showtime

The freshest, legitimately fun (and that goes for the audience, the viewer, and Desus & Mero themselves) late night show is finally back for their second season/first episode of 2020/returning after a break that was too long for our taste. 

If you haven’t gotten into the unbelievably rambunctious fun of Desus Nice and Kid Mero riffing in studio or on the street, please acquaint yourself with their YouTube Channel.

Then, get into Desus & Mero’s return properly tonight at 11PM with one of their biggest guests thus far (and perhaps a rite of passage in the realm of late night), David Letterman.

Get Your First Look at a Quibi Comedy with This Trailer for “Flipped” with Kaitlin Olson and Will Forte

February 4, 2020
Uncategorized
arturo castro, kaitlin olson, quibi, trailer, will forte

Up until this weekend, you’ve mostly come to know Quibi via a bunch of intriguing announcements of acquisitions, series orders, and additions to their development slate. 

Yet, this past weekend, we got our first legitimate look at a scripted comedy series, Flipped, that honestly looks pretty fun. Kaitlin Olson and Will Forte is a pretty great pairing and a series that forces them to renovate the houses of drug cartels and other baddies has our curiosity peaked. Certainly, the trailer gives us some sort of sense if the Bluths of Arrested Development tried some scheme involving HGTV and we’re on board for that.

Even though there is a lot more to see before we can truly make a call on Quibi, they do continue to impress us.

See for yourself in the trailer for Flipped here, then keep a look out for it on Quibi on Apr. 2020.

Maria Bamford’s Weakness Is The Brand Is the First Great Comedy Special of 2020

February 4, 2020
Uncategorized
comedy dynamics, comedy special, maria bamford, stand up comedy, weakness is the brand
image

If comedians ever reached a status from which they could be officially considered “national treasures”, such a designation should be bestowed on one Maria Bamford. Her latest hour special, Weakness Is The Brand, is by far her most conventional special (it’s in one location and it’s a traditional theater), but it shows that Bamford’s strangely beautiful comedy wares are something to truly revel in.

Bamford not only is a master of her stand-up comedy craft, but so in tune with her comedic voice that she can make her act work anywhere (as evidenced the previous Special Special Special where Maria performed in front of her parents at her house) or anyhow (whether she’s touching on mental illness or the idea that she’s a mental illness comedian or anything else). On Weakness Is The Brand, there’s an even more freewheeling Maria that, if you can imagine, that’s more delightful as she jumps back and forth around the fourth wall and joyfully leans into her act outs/voices. The self-awareness of her persona, her material, the audience, the viewer, etc. that she expresses throughout the special is remarkable and pretty damn funny as well.

On top of all of that, there’s a touching original song with her husband Scott Marvel Cassidy that leaves us feeling hopeful and elated like we do with every Maria Bamford special that we can remember.

Maria Bamford: Weakness Is The Brand is now available from Comedy Dynamics on almost platform that you stream comedy specials.

February 4, 2020
Uncategorized
mfm, my favorite murder, ssdgm, unauthorized musical

Even in seeing just a staged live reading of My Favorite Murder: The Unauthorized Musical, we were really blown away with how cleverly wrought and expertly executed Dahlya Glick, Michael O’Konis, and Andrew Young’s musical tribute to one of the biggest podcasts around, the comedy true crime juggernaut My Favorite Murder. The mystery that Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark solve in the musical, the Elvis song, how Steven figures into the whole thing, and the range of songs are really worth catching live.

Even if you aren’t that familiar with the pod, the true crime comedy combo distilled into hysterical musical numbers are pretty damn satisfying. 

So, we can only imagine how fun this initial run of the full scale production at the newly minted comedy variety venue Silver Park Arts will be like at the end of March, beginning of April. Get your tickets for $13 right now right here.

Please Enjoy This Amazing (and Historic) Interview of David Letterman on Desus & Mero

February 5, 2020
Uncategorized
david letterman, desus nice, interview, kid mero

Looks Desus & Mero have both just received a torch of sorts from late night legend David Letterman.

Nearly 26 years ago, David Letterman made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, a show that was being kept on an incredibly short leash at the time even though Letterman’s name followed “Late Night with” not even a year earlier. What transpired between Conan and Dave that night was the closest thing we’ve seen to a legitimate blessing from late night host to the other, generation to generation, class to class as well as a killer interview. Conan O’Brien is forever thankful to Dave for the appearance as you can see decades later on Conan here.

Last night, on the season 2 premiere (on Showtime) of Desus & Mero, an even more distinguished and stately David Letterman graced the studio where Desus Nice and The Kid Mero riff up a storm of jokes, bits, runs, etc. that make some of the most exciting things in late night in recent memory. Not only is the interview pretty fantastic (the Tarantino vs. Dave story alone is worth watching), but Letterman again gives his blessing (even much more explicitly this time around than with Conan) to Desus & Mero. 

If anyone is making a timeline of late night history, please put a pin right here that might signify where late night is headed (Dave also voices this opinion FYI).

With all of that said, please enjoy the full half-hour-plus interview of David Letterman on Desus & Mero here.

February 5, 2020
Uncategorized
choreography, comedy dancing, comedy show, dance show, kat burns, los angeles

Kat Burns has won two Emmys for putting together the brilliant choreography on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. That’s all we should need to say in order to convince you to see her show that blends the worlds of dancing and comedy. You should note that she’s also down choreo for Wet Hot American Summer, Another Period, Weird Al Yankovic. 

As far as we can see, Kat brings comedy and dance together unlike anyone else.

Thus, you should catch her big variety show The Raggle Taggle Dance Hour that will feature dancers getting a little silly and comedians cutting a rug and more. Please go get your tickets here.

Please Enjoy David Brown and Mike Lane’s Delightful Short Film “Ants”

February 6, 2020
Uncategorized
david brown, mike lane, short film, sketch comedy

Just when we needed to watch something abjectly silly and absurd and brilliantly dumb today, long time sketch comedy collaborators David Brown and Mike Lane delivered this short film, Ants.

If you need a pick me up today for some reason, this might do the trick.

Enjoy Ants here.

February 6, 2020
Uncategorized
comedy show, experimental comedy, lyric hyperion, valentine's day

You’re Gonna Love This might be the perfect comedy show to go see on Valentine’s Day? 

You’re Gonna Love This, presented by Maddie Connors & Katy Fishell, has female/queer comedians present all the sorts of things that their significant others tried oh so hard to get them into (whether it’s the sort of thing that they would love or not).

It’s a tribute to loves past, but also a justified dissection of a perhaps ridiculous thing that they had to “go along with”.  

For this special, Valentine’s Day edition, they have a wondrous line-up Megan Gailey, Jared Goldstein, Robby Hoffman, Nori Reed, and Jon Millstein who we’re sure have some hysterical things about the things that they were forced into liking.

Tickets are $10 (and they usually sell out). So, go get your tickets right here, right now.

Please Enjoy Erin Jackson’s Charming Set on Seth Meyers

February 6, 2020
Uncategorized
erin jackson, late night, seth meyers, stand up comedy

Erin Jackson is starting to rack up late night sets with her refreshing charm. She’s already done Conan and she just performed a lovely set on Late Night with Seth Meyers that really showcases a winning, upbeat persona and really great sense of timing. 

So, please enjoy Erin Jackson on Late Night with Seth Meyers here.

The Jesus Rolls, John Turturro’s Big Lebowski Spin-Off, Gets a Full Trailer

February 6, 2020
Uncategorized
full trailer, jesus rolls, john turturro

Finally, we’re getting a better grasp of what John Turturro has been cooking with this curious project. Spinning off from Jesus Quintana from The Big Lebowski, The Jesus Rolls seems to have the same sort of curious, offbeat odyssey feel of the original movie (though we imagine Turturro is going to have plenty of his verve running throughout the film). 

Thus far, we’re on board to get lost in Quintana’s world and its very own cast of atypical characters. 

See for yourself in the full The Jesus Rolls trailer here, then look for its release on Fri. Mar. 6th.

February 7, 2020
Uncategorized
blamblamblam, comedy show, koreatown, los angeles, stand up comedy, variety show

13 years for anything in LA comedy is an incredible feat. Blam!Blam!Blam! is just about to reach that very mark, thanks to the care of one DeMorge Brown, with doing a monthly show, late on a Tuesday, putting up a barrage of comedians from every sort of discipline and giving you one hell of a mind-bending comedy experience in one of the most curious bars in all of Koreatown, R-Bar.

So, this Tuesday, Feb. 11th around 9:30PM (doors 9PM), you should pay your respects to the Blam and come see the likes of: 

TROY WALKER, BRODIE REED, FRANKIE QUINONES, LAURA KIGHTLINGER, GLENN FANCHER,  AMBER NELSON, PAIGE WELDON, M.K. PAULSEN, NANA IWASAKI, MAX BEASLEY, OMAR NAVA, JOHN ROY, CHAD DAMIANI
PLUS a musical selection from ALANA NABORS

Also, Paul Danke will be presiding over the evening once again Blam!Blam!Blam!’s faithful host and, of course, there will be “comedic passions” expressed from Davey Johnson and Anna Seregina.

Get more info about Blam!Blam!Blam! 13th Anniversary here.

Ben Schwartz Announces Middleditch & Schwartz Specials to Premiere on Netflix

February 7, 2020
Uncategorized
ben schwartz, comedy special, long form improv, netflix, thomas middleditch

Last year, Ben Schwartz and Thomas Middleditch took what very well may be one of the the most successful improv groups of all time, Middleditch + Schwartz, and taped multiple performances for the purposes of a comedy special. Long form improv on TV is a rare thing to see, but leave it to Ben and Thomas to figure out how to really make it work.

During his appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers last night, Schwartz announced that there will be three different specials capturing three different performances by Middleditch + Schwartz coming to Netflix soon. 

These specials could be very well break new ground for long form improv, largely a discipline in comedy that only gets seen live and we personally, really can’t wait to see what the two have cooked up together in the moment.

February 10, 2020
Uncategorized
clowning, comedy show, dr brown, los angeles, lyric hyperion, natalie palamides, silverlake

The Lyric Hyperion has become a destination to see comedy that’s different, boundary pushing, genre-blending, eye-opening, and, of course, so much damn fun. 

One of the pillars of the theater is the occasional runs of the “Monday Nights” crew of Bill O’Neill, Courtney Pauroso, Natalie Palimides, Chad Damiani, Juzo Yoshida, Max Baumgarten, Ian Bratschie, and Christina Catherine Martinez led by Lyric Hyperion ringleader and artistic director Dr. Brown. They are the best of the best of their clowning/solo performers banded together for some top shelf tomfoolery (plenty have won awards and they even got to be featured on FX’s Cake last year).

Mon. Feb. 17th at 7PM will see the return of the Monday Night Crew for a special fundraiser benefit for the Lyric Hyperion (as a non-profit, it needs all of our support). Tickets are $15 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

February 10, 2020
Uncategorized
jacqueline novak, last podcast on the left, maria bamford

2020 Moontower Comedy Festival Adds Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak

At this point, it should come as no surprise that Austin’s annual Moontower Comedy Festival stacks and stacks and stacks their line-up and summons many of comedy’s best from around the country.

Already, they had a pretty stellar line-up, but they just announced a pretty grand set of headliners as you can see above including Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak, Todd Barry, Chris Fleming, Marlon Wayans, and Ronny Chieng.

If you’re not already going and are really itching to go after seeing this new line-up, go get details, tickets, etc. here.

February 11, 2020
Uncategorized
comedy show, dynasty typewriter, larry owens, los angeles

The exquisite and magical wonder of Larry Owens is not only returning to LA next month, but he’ll be doing so for a whole evening at Dynasty Typewriter.

Owens’ theatrical, commanding, musical-forward comedy has gained him plenty of acclaim in a very short time.

Don’t miss this chance to experience a full show of Larry Owens (along with the fantastic guests of Matt Rogers and Naomi Ekperigin) and get your tickets for $15 right now right here. 

Please Enjoy a Much Needed Dose of Jo Firestone with Another Tonight Show Set

February 11, 2020
Uncategorized
jo firestone, late night, stand up comedy, tonight show

“See Jo Firestone” should be an additional definition to the word “delightful” in any and all dictionaries. 

Firestone got to return to the Tonight Show stage for her second set in front of Fallon. You can’t help but smile and laugh at as well as really consider the true demographic of women’s clothing company Ann Taylor. 

Enjoy Jo Firestone on The Tonight Show here.

February 12, 2020
Uncategorized
comedy show, kyle ayers, los angeles, never seen it, podcast, silverlake, solomon georgio, table read

It has been a minute (several minutes actually) since Kyle Ayers’ fantastic show/podcast Never Seen It where comedians reimagine celebrated, beloved movies that they have never seen and then do a table read of their version. 

We still can’t forget how funny the heavy metal take of Mary Poppins by Henry Zebrowski is and we have no doubt something insanely and hysterical unexpected is going to be read live next month at Lyric Hyperion.

Tickets for this latest edition of Never Seen It are on sale now and you can (and very much should) get them here.

Trailer for Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch Is Everything You Want from a Wes Anderson Movie (Yet Again)

February 12, 2020
Uncategorized
french dispatch, trailer, wes anderson

In posting here about the wondrous and delectable trailer for Wes Anderson’s latest offering, The French Dispatch, it seems, to us, rather repetitive to comment on the signature look of a Wes Anderson picture, the routinely glorious and stacked casts within his films, how every frame could be framed and hung in a gallery, how quotable the dialogue is, how cool the soundtrack is, and the sheer dreaminess of his movies. If you have any hint of a notion of Wes Anderson, it’s very likely you already know about all of that.

Also, The French Dispatch very clearly seems to possess all of those Wes Anderson elements.

Instead, we’ll remark on how amazing it is that Wes Anderson has created such a mystique about him as well as delivering on said mystique with every new work that he can (and most likely will) keep making films that are oft described as “so Wes Anderson” or “the most Wes Anderson that Wes Anderson can be” and we all still love it. Any reinvention by Anderson is oh so slight and probably undetectable on a first viewing. It’s the magic trick that we never get tired of and certainly The French Dispatch seems like it will be keeping that streak going and we personally can’t wait for July 24th when it comes out. 

For now, just enjoy watching the trailer for The French Dispatch over and over as you marvel at the small morsels of it that we’re afforded at the moment.

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