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Recent News

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Please Get Katie Hughes’ Debut Album “Queen of the Castle”
September 14, 2020
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy album, debut album, katie hughes, queen of the castle, stand up comedy

Because of the restrictions of the pandemic, we don’t get surprised like we used to with comedians that we’ve never seen live before that just happen to be on one of the many shows that we used to watch on a nightly basis. Also, there is still only a certain percentage of comedians that are even doing live-streamed comedy right now and the sliver of live, outdoor shows that are happening around the country (not really in LA still) can only be seen locally. Coming across something new, like all things right now, is harder than it used to be.

That’s all to say that it was very nice surprise to hear Katie Hughes‘ debut album Queen of the Castle as Hughes is based out of Atlanta nixing any chances to see her live on stage over the last several months. For a debut album, Hughes as charmingly self-assured and confident in her blend of personal revelations and wildly colorful set of assorted characters throughout her own life, especially for her very first record. Hughes’ specificity in her voices and writing about her journey from her growing up poor in North Carolina to dishing out her brand of artisanal, vulnerable silliness is so rich and really makes Queen of the Castle a satisfying listen. Again, it was such a joyful surprise to listen to Hughes for the first time and we’re excited to what she whips up in the years to come (you know, when stand-up comedy can happen like it used to).

Katie Hughes: Queen of the Castle comes out Tues. Sept. 15th from 800 Pound Gorilla Records. You can (and very much should) pre-order/buy/stream it here.

Last Week Tonight Gets Renewed Through 2023
September 14, 2020
News
hbo, john oliver, last week tonight, renewed

The 2020 election is just a couple of handfuls of weeks away and the insanity of it, on top of the general insanity of our times, is undeniable. So, having something like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to give a more nuanced, satirical take on things (though staying clear of any sort of satire paradox with Oliver’s very clear stance on issues) is pretty important.

While we did sadly lose Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj this year, 2020 is seeing a re-upping of Last Week Tonight for three seasons and keep Oliver deep diving into all sorts of topics (that will hopefully be less dark after Nov. 3rd?) all the way through 2023. No matter what happens, John Oliver will continue to be an important part of the late night, political comedy eco-system and have an effect on popular discourse as many people’s entry point into thinking about niche issues come from his particular coverage of them.

Currently, Last Week Tonight is on hiatus, but will be back in full force for October and undoubtedly will be hot on the election trail and whatever absurdity 2020 violently throws at us (as a result of a system that was not checked enough bringing us to where we are now).

.@HBO renews Emmy-winner @lastweektonight with @iamjohnoliver for three more seasons. The deal will keep the hit show on the network through 2023: https://t.co/l0XDu16dEb pic.twitter.com/ZrigE5hkpy

— HBO PR (@HBOPR) September 14, 2020

Pick of the Day: Stand Up Comedy and the Law 9/23
September 14, 2020
News
cardozo school of law, comedy law, fame center

Comedy has always sort of ridden the edge (and often gone over it) of what’s legal and “allowed”. The inherent rebellious nature of comedy makes one of the most troublesome art forms out there. That being said, it is good and helpful to know where those lines, boundaries, precedents, and laws are at the current moment.

So, the Cardozo School of Law’s Intellectual Property Law Society and FAME Center are having a very special evening on Zoom called Stand Up Comedy and the Law that will examine “joke theft, contracts/negotiations with comedy clubs and television networks, non-disclosure agreements for audience members, and First Amendment rights,” with both comedians and lawyers. With the cultural reckoning that is going, comedy is being re-examined at every level right now and gathering all those conversations into one night is pretty enticing. It’s not often that comedy gets this sort of special panel discussion and it ought to be a very illuminating evening (and yes, there will be Q&A).

The panel will feature:

  • Veronica Mosey – Comedian
  • Diane Krausz – Law Offices of Diane Krausz
  • Sachin Bansal – General Counsel at SecurityScorecard, Comedian
  • Jeremy Schacter – IP Associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Comedian

Stand Up Comedy and the Law will take place on Sept. 23rd at 3:30PM PT/6:30PM ET. Tickets are free with RSVP.

Please Enjoy Trailer for Offbeat Alien Invasion Comedy “Save Yourselves!”
September 11, 2020
News
bleecker street, john reynolds, save yourselves, sunita mani, trailer

It would seem the debate on whether art imitates life or it being the other way around continues as there is plenty of movies and TV that were more prescient about everyone’s lives being lockdown while under invasion from a virus.

The latest entry into this debate is sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves! that follows Sunita Mani and John Reynolds attempting to sequester themselves from their phones and people only to discover that an alien invasion has happened while they were trying to find themselves. It may not be a pandemic, but their fears seem so familiar to what we had for the last several months. We will say the aliens are definitely way cuter than COVID-19 and this almost feels like an alt universe spin-off of Search Party, which we’re on board for, as Reynolds very much feels like Drew here.

See for yourself in the trailer here, then look for Save Yourselves!‘s release in October.

First Look at Season 5 of The Eric Andre Show (Premiering Oct. 25th)
September 11, 2020
News
adult swim, first look, season 5, the eric andre show

It has been a minute or two since The Eric Andre Show got to wreak terrific havoc with destroying numerous talk show desks and shocking folks with any one of a cornucopia’s worth of characters from Eric Andre himself. Luckily, this dadaist, absurdist break from reality that The Eric Andre Show offers will be coming relatively soon, right before Halloween in fact on Sun. Oct. 25th on Adult Swim.

There’s no trailer as of yet, but these first few stills from season 5 might give you some of the controlled chaos that Andre dished out for this year. If anything, these new episodes will be a very welcome respite from the election that will be happening not too long after the premiere.

Strap in, shave your head, your ass, and the thin membrane separating your skull from your brain. The Eric Andre Show returns October 25 at midnight on #adultswim @ericandre pic.twitter.com/VSWxlieBZd

— adultswim (@adultswim) September 10, 2020

View this post on Instagram

SEASON 5 of THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW is finally coming out!!! October 25 @adultswim What do you think of my new look?

A post shared by Eric Andre (@ericfuckingandre) on Sep 10, 2020 at 11:46am PDT

Pick of the Day: Every Place I Cry 9/24
September 11, 2020
News
dynasty typewriter, jess mckenna, musical improv, nick mandernach, ross bryant, zach reino

Whether we like it or not, we are all in our feelings all the time in these days of COVID-19. Stuck at home, faced with the reality of the world literally and figuratively being on fire.

So, why not get in your feelings with some of the best musical improvisers out there in Every Place I Cry, a “fully improvised emo experience” that ought to satisfy your nostalgia as much as be cathartic for this truly absurd, but very real world we live in. Jess McKenna, Zach Reino, Nick Mandernach, and Ross Bryant are almost unrivaled in their improv and musical skills and form the fictional titular emo band, Every Place I Cry. Even as folks that don’t particularly care for emo, EPIC got to us.

They’ll be doing a live-stream via Dynasty Typewriter on Thurs. Sept. 24th at 6PM PT/9PM ET. Tickets start at $5 and you can (and should) get them here.

Borat 2 Is Reportedly Already In the Can
September 10, 2020
News
borat, borat 2, sacha baron cohen

(via Collider)

Given the break that Sacha Baron Cohen took before he did Who Is America?, one might think he would wait an inordinate amount of time before attempting any of his undercover characters that he’s so famous for. Yet, a sequel to his landmark film and character, Borat, has already wrapped shooting.

It’s no surprise that this news comes after Cohen has finished filming since he already has to go to extremely great lengths to obscure his identity. However, one can imagine that there is no way that he could just do Borat and donning other characters might have been just Cohen’s angle this time.

Who Is America?, while effective in its execution and presentation, was a reminder of the dystopian America that many who tuned in were well aware of. The prospect of seeing Cohen’s damning, unapologetic, taking-a-long-hard-look-in-the-mirror style of satire at a time when the fractures of the world are more visible than ever will be a curious case while lockdown continues in 2020.

YouTube Music and NIVA Partnering to Save Live Venues
September 10, 2020
News

The federal aid that the National Independent Venue Association has been seeking via saveourstages.com has yet to come, but there might be some relief coming via YouTube Music. Announced yesterday, NIVA and YouTube Music will partner to facilitate live performances across the country as well as give a helping hand in raising funds directly for their Emergency Relief Fund.

Many of these music venues across the U.S. do have dedicated comedy nights like The Satellite LA, which had to close their doors to live performance only to reopen as a restaurant in the not so distant future due to the uncertainty of when they would be allowed to open for live shows again. The details of what this partnership between NIVA and YouTube Music have yet to be seen, but we imagine that it’ll involve some some virtual fundraising shows for NIVA and maybe some live-streaming support for what will have to be limited capacity shows in the not so distant future.

We’ll have to wait on what that will really look like, just like we have to see the rest of everything else in the world is going to be every single day.

View this post on Instagram

Thanks @youtubemusic ! Today, YouTube Music and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) announce a partnership with the goal of helping to preserve independent live music venues across the United States through the Save Our Stages initiative. NIVA's mission is to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live music venues and promoters throughout the United States. Together, YouTube and NIVA will work on unique programming that will help bring live performances back into music venues safely. In addition, YouTube will help raise awareness and funding for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/c/niva

A post shared by NIVA (@nivassoc) on Sep 9, 2020 at 11:23am PDT

Pick of the Day: Return of Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen (and Launch of Patreon) 9/14
September 10, 2020
News
hold the phone, hot tub with kurt and kristen, kristen schaal, kurt braunohler

Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen has been such a bedrock in the world of community wherever it has been. NYC, LA, festivals across the country, etc. have gotten blessed with Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal and the extremely well curated and produced line-up of stand-ups, variety acts, and other marvelous weirdos every Monday for several years.

Even in this pandemic, Hot Tub Home Edition, presented by CleftClips along with Hold The Phone Comedy, has brought some peace and joy to Mondays (as well as a reminder that it is Monday in a world where time feels meaningless). They took August off, but are now coming back in this coming Mon., Sept. 14th and will be launching a Patreon that has also sorts of exclusive goodies for supporters. Depending on what tier you sign-up for, you can get discounted merch, access to archived shows, live audience access for Hot Tub Home Edition, and even Q&As with Kurt and Kristen.

Sign-up for Hot Tub’s Patreon and support one of comedy’s most venerable indie institutions here.

If you can’t spare the support, you can still enjoy Hot Tub Home Edition for FREE at holdthephone.tv every Monday at 8PM PT/11PM ET.

JFL Montreal Announces Line-Up For Their First Online Edition
September 9, 2020
News
amber ruffin, hannah gadsby, jfl montreal, just for laughs, kenya barris, nicole byer

JFL Montreal, one of the biggest, longest running comedy  festivals in the world, is pushing forward with having a festival of some kind this year. It won’t be quite the limited capacity, mask-wearing attempt at a festival that the Venice Film Festival just had, but JFL has assembled a handful of big stars including Hannah Gadsby, Nicole Byer, Kenya Barris, Amber Ruffin, and Andy Kindler for what will be the very first online JFL Montreal Comedy Festival. Oh yeah, it also will be free.

It’s a much, much more trim version of what is normally just over a week of the main festivities, but a showcase of Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch will still be happening and the “Creators” category of New Faces will be featured (doing live stand-up or sketch over Zoom probably wasn’t the best way to feature New Faces). Andy Kindler on the line-up most certainly means that there will be another annual State of the Industry Address from Kindler (one of JFL’s biggest highlights for our money) and what Andy has to say about the state of comedy this year will very likely be even more unforgettable than it normally is.

This virtual edition of JFL Montreal will be streaming for FREE on Fri. Oct. 9th & Sat. Oct. 10th right here. No need to RSVP or get one of several different festival badges.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 24: Steve Hernandez & Calculated Risks
September 9, 2020
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
chatterbox, comedy news, comedy podcast, ellen, i'm thinking of ending things, jake kroeger, maria bamford, snl, steve hernandez, ted alexandro

Before lockdown, one of LA’s best comedy shows, sometimes described as one of the best indie comedy shows in the entire country happened on Sunday Nights at The Chatterbox in Covina. Steve Hernandez not only built the show from the ground up over several years, but has also grown his own personal podcast empire in co-hosting Views From the Vista, The Male Gaze, and Who’s Your God? (as well as an upcoming fourth podcast that he reveals on the pod). Steve zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to talk on how Steve meticulously has adjusted and planned for the survival of all those things and what may or may not come for live comedy in LA in the coming months and years. Also, there’s some “hot” takes on SNL promoting Ego Nwodim to repertory player and Ellen DeGeneres setting a return date for her show and promising that “we’re gonna talk about it.”

In the midst of all of that, Jake gets into his hang-ups with the new Charlie Kaufman movie I’m Thinking of Ending Things even though he hasn’t seen it yet.

Follow Steve @hernia on IG and @bighern on Twitter.  Listen/subscribe to Views From the Vista, The Male Gaze, and Who’s Your God?

Shout outs: Maria Bamford’s You Are (a Comedy) Special, Ted Alexandro’s CUT/UP

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: Your Mom’s House Podcast: Live and Uncensored 9/18
September 9, 2020
News
christina p, live podcast, tom segura, your mom's house

Comedy power couple Tom Segura and Christina P also have, in case you didn’t know, a powerhouse podcast between them two called Your Mom’s House. The rise in popularity of Segura and P’s lives via their podcast has afforded them to bring in other podcasts into their fold and build their very own studio for the entire YMH’s family.

As the times of COVID-19 continue on like they have been, they can’t necessarily do a big live podcast in a packed venue, but they can do an edition of Your Mom’s House that, for the first time, is live and uncensored. If you’re acquainted Segura and Christina P, you ought to know that something special and (maybe not entirely family friendly) will happen.

So, Your Mom’s House: Live and Uncensored will happen Fri. Sept. 18th at 5PM PT/8PM ET. Tickets are $10.53 and you can and should go get them here.

After 35 Years, Austin’s Cap City Comedy Club to Permanently Close
September 8, 2020
News
austin comedy, cap city comedy club, closure

(via CBS Austin)

For years now, we’ve heard that Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, TX is one of the best comedy clubs in the country. For much longer than our time here at TCB, Cap City has been a beloved, full time comedy venue by comedians of sorts of stature as well as being the hub of the annual Moontower Comedy Festival.

The enduring lockdown that has forced comedy clubs to remain dark for months and months and will very likely continue to do so has made the prospect of re-opening for many venues near impossible. In the case of Cap City, the uncertainty of when they’ll be able to effectively and safely put on shows again proved to be “insurmountable”. So, after 35 years of operation Cap City sent a letter to the city of Austin that they will not reopen at whatever time that will be able to happen in Austin. Rich Miller, Margie Coyle, Colleen McGarr and Duncan Strauss of Cap City are not entirely closing the door of Cap City coming back in some other form, but the pandemic has rendered the return in their current form unrealistic.

As far as nationally renowned comedy venues go, Improv Olympic in Chicago closed earlier this year along with all of UCB’s NYC-based venues and we have a hard time imagining these closures within comedy stopping at Cap City. So, with that in mind, it’s as good a time to remind everyone about the National Independent Venues Association (NIVA) and their push to get more relief for venues that will have to remain closed because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Visit SaveOurStages.com for more info and action.

Quentin Dupieux’s Latest “Mandibles” Deals With a Giant, But Seemingly Chill Fly
September 8, 2020
News
mandibles, memento films, quentin dupieux, trailer

The mind that brought you Wrong, Wrong Cops, and Deerskin is back with what looks to be another bonkers absurdist journey (that’s somewhat grounded in a certain type of reality). Quentin Dupieux has always been one to really wreak some fun havoc on the “deep end”, so to speak. So much of his filmography we’ve enjoyed for how brilliantly daft and wildly imaginative it is.

His latest piece, Mandibles, a French language comedy, follows two men who discover they have a giant fly in in the trunk of their car. While startling, everyone seems pretty cool about it and are wondering how to be chill about having the one of a kind giant fly (noticeably not like Jeff Goldblum as a fly) around or even what to do with it. We’re pretty certain that this trailer only scratches the surface on how magnificently weird Mandibles will get.

Mandibles just played the Venice Film Festival this past weekend. We’ll keep you in the loop if and when you’ll be able to see it/stream stateside.

Pick of the Day: Lorelei Ramirez-Art Is Easy-Citizenship Day Celebration
September 8, 2020
News
benefit, bowen yang, julio torres, karen chee, lorelei ramirez, new american economy, new americans campaign

In honor of Citizenship Day (U.S.) on Thurs. Sept. 17th, Lorelei Ramirez will be doing a very special edition of her Art is Easy that will tie together comedy, art, and an extensive look at immigration in the U.S. It’s a hysterical, mind-bending sort of show unlike really anything that you’ve gotten to see anywhere else on the Internet (unless you’ve been joining Lorelei with their Art Is Easy live-stream).

Joining Lorelei will be the likes of such comedy and art luminaries as Julio Torres and Bowen Yang, both from SNL, and Karen Chee from Late Night with Seth Meyers. It very well may be one of the more enlightening nights of comedy you’ll ever get to experience.

This edition of Lorelei’s Art Is Easy as part of a Citizen Day Celebration is set for Thurs. Sept. 17th at 4PM PT/7PM ET. RSVP here (donations, $10 is suggested, will be accepted for New Americans Campaign to help mitigate the costs associated with citizenship)

Please Enjoy Ted Alexandro’s “CUT/UP”, An Hour Special Stitched Together From Several of Ted’s Recent Sets
September 7, 2020
News
comedy cellar, comedy special, helium portland, stand up comedy, ted alexandro, village underground

At this time, there is still no way other to put together a special that features a full audience inside a proper comedy venue right now. The prospect of getting packed into a comedy club or small theater for a special or just a night of comedy is still far off because of COVID-19. So, Ted Alexandro made the best of what he had, which was assembling an hour of tape of him headlining and doing the same hour at The Comedy Cellar and Village Underground in NYC and Helium Comedy Club in Portland.

Though it might seem like a new frontier, putting an hour comedy special from several different performances isn’t entirely without precedent. Dave Attell did it wonderfully with Road Work, Maria Bamford really went all over the place with Old Baby, and Adam Sandler followed suit with 100% Fresh.

Ted’s new hour CUT/UP stands apart from these three “cut-up specials” as this hour had to be made this way. A well deserved round of applause should go to Matthew L. Weiss for editing and maintaining Ted’s rhythm in bits while cutting between different performances.

Ted himself delivers another very satisfying hour of stand-up that feels both classic and very of the moment. Alexandro’s craftsmanship as a stand-up is undeniable, which is part of why he continues produce so many great bits that move and shift with the ever changing times like with gun control crisis as well as how he evolves in his own life with him just about to become a father.

You can spend the rest of this Labor Day (or any other day for that matter) enjoying Ted Alexandro’s CUT/UP for free as the entire special is streaming on YouTube right here.

Pick of the Day: Cage in the Park presents Night of Too Many Cages 9/12
September 7, 2020
News
artists striving to end poverty, cage in the park, chris gethard, night of too many cages, planet scum

This coming Saturday, there reportedly will be an event called “Night of Too Many Cages” that will both have something to do with tapping into the energy of world renowned movie star Nicholas Cage and raise money for Artists Striving to End Poverty. Also, we do know that Chris Gethard and his online comedy network Planet Scum Live will be hosting and streaming said event and it’s presented by, of course, Cage in the Park.

Other than that, we have no idea what’s going to happen (kind of like the one and only Nic Cage himself). It’s probably better that a Nic Cage themed event is shrouded in secrecy (there’s a little bit that you can glean from this teaser about a thousand Nic Cages though).

Whatever a Night of Too Many Cages ends up being, it ought to be some sensational chaos that you should be in (virtual) attendance for (as well as raising money for a good cause).

Night of Too Many Cages is set for Sat. Sept. 12th at 5PM PT/8PM ET and streams at Planet Scum. Donations will be accepted for ASTEP during the show (but you can donate now if you’d like).

One night. One mission. One thousand Nicolas Cages. Join us. https://t.co/adoxKatumO #NicolasCage pic.twitter.com/euvWxndkCQ

— cageinthepark (@cageinthepark) August 31, 2020

Of Course Maria Bamford’s Self-Help Guide to Doing an Hour of Stand-Up Is Hysterically Self-Aware and Meta
September 4, 2020
News
audible, how to, how to do comedy, maria bamford, self help

There are so many books on how to do stand-up and a plethora of teachers that offer courses on how to do stand-up. Often, those books are very reductive in their understanding of comedy and can often feel dated and, even more importantly, not feel/seem/be that funny.

Cue Maria Bamford’s You Are (A Comedy) Special: A Simple 15-Step Self-Help Guide to Forcibly Force Yourself to Write and Perform a Full Hour of Stand-up Comedy.

Bamford created yet another marvel of comedy, following her handful of brilliant hour specials as well as her critically acclaimed TV show and beloved web series, with a colorful guide on her process of developing her own hour of material. For those in the know, Maria’s particular process for developing comedy is so incredibly unique, which shouldn’t be surprising as Maria is one of the most distinct voices (or collection of voices) in comedy history. This two hour plus audio guide details every step of Maria creating and honing her own hour, which is, in of itself, such a hysterical trek through Maria’s mind (very similar to her stand-up). As such, You Are (A Comedy) Special is unlike any other guide to doing comedy that more encourages you to find your path rather than paint by numbers. That’s probably one of the biggest takeaways you can have from any comedy course.

Get a bit of a taste of the audiobook here.

Maria Bamford’s You Are (A Comedy) Special: A Simple 15-Step Self-Help Guide to Forcibly Force Yourself to Write and Perform a Full Hour of Stand-up Comedy is available now, exclusively on Audible. Go get it here.

Some beloved Behind the Scenes of the making of my @audible_com Original "You are (A Comedy) Special" that's available NOW!!

HERE-> https://t.co/XvcGYtdc3E pic.twitter.com/s5mnr4Nnx7

— Maria Bamford (@mariabamfoo) September 3, 2020

Watch Eddie Pepitone Perform in a Little League Field Because That’s Where Live Comedy Can Happen Right Now
September 4, 2020
News
eddie pepitone, in person comedy, oxnard, stand up comedy

Conventional live comedy that properly happens in a tightly packed, dark venue that, more often than not, serves alcohol, is still far off from happening like it used to because of COVID-19. For now, the world of attempting of live comedy is a crowded field of all sorts of experiments. Drive-ins, performing on one side of a glass door/window to an audience outside (i.e. watching folks perform like you’re at a zoo), or performing in the wide open outdoors in a park.

For the sake of social distancing, baseball fields seem to naturally delineate a more than healthy distance from the performer and, as one could figure, all performers are using an individual microphone. That was the set-up for the outdoor show that Eddie Pepitone did just a few days ago and, of course, Eddie is the perfect prophetic voice to yell jokes at a baseball diamond designed for children while the end times feel so close.

Filmmaker Steven Feinartz documented the outing and performance for us all to enjoy in (complete with dramatic score) here.

Here’s a Short Doc on my first show back this past weekend in Oxnard from @stevenfeinartz pic.twitter.com/oaEDQ6tYjm

— eddie pepitone (@eddiepepitone) September 3, 2020

Please Get and Enjoy Eliza Skinner’s Debut Album “Regarding My Lovers”
September 4, 2020
News
aspecialthing, ast records, comedy album, eliza skinner, musical comedy, regarding my lovers, stand up

Many folks in comedy say they are multi-talented or they’d describe themselves as a multi-hyphenate. Yet, few comedians are truly as multi-talented as Eliza Skinner. There isn’t a facet of comedy we can think of that we haven’t seen Eliza excel at in the decade that we’ve seen her go up all over the country. Her comedic expertise stretches through stand-up, improv, sketch, musical comedy, writing, podcasting, puppets, and more and always features her candor and vulnerability in a hilarious way.

Skinner’s debut album, Regarding My Lovers, carefully highlights Eliza’s wide range with very personal stand-up and a handful of original songs recorded in studio that are an epic journey in their own regard. The album title, which is usually a reference to one line in a comedy album or special, is actually quite spot on as Skinner dissects so many of her past relationships and plays specific vignettes of them in hilarious bits. We’ve enjoyed Skinner’s comedy for so long that we are thrilled that she has a full length album out now to really show off everything we’ve said here.

Eliza Skinner: Regarding My Lovers is out today, fresh from AST Records here. You can stream it too on your favorite streaming platform here.

 

Pick of the Day: Do Re #MeToo: Sexist Songs Reclaimed by Righteous Feminists 9/17
September 4, 2020
News
abortion access front, laura benanti, laura jane grace, lizz winstead, margaret cho

It should be no secret that some of the most popular songs, the ones that people hum until they sing the part of the chorus that they remember, further affirm the patriarchy and limit women to traditional gender roles and expectations in subtle and very not so subtle sexist ways.

Do Re #MeToo is a special evening, presented by Abortion Access Front (AAF), that combines comedy and music to highlight how truly toxically masculine some of music’s hits/bangers/etc. are.

Slated to perform thus far are:

Margaret Cho, Peppermint (RuPaul’s Drag Race, Broadway’s Head Over Heels), Tony Winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods), Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s), Veruca Salt, Bethany Thomas, Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), Ambrosia Parsley, Holly Miranda, and Jackie Venson.

Lizz Winstead, AAF founder and co-creator of The Daily Show, is set to host and the marvelous Michelle Buteau is set to be a virtual bar tender.

Do Re #MeToo will stream via Crowdcast on Thurs. Sept. 17th at 6PM PT/9PM ET. Admission is pay what you can! Go get your tickets right now right here.

Mo Welch’s Comic Strip “Blair” Sold to HBO Max
September 3, 2020
News
blair, hbo max, mo welch

(via Deadline)

For years, the very funny Mo Welch has not only dazzled stages with her stand-up, but she has also made a comic strip that she’s posted online called “Blair”, centered on Blair, an “antisocial icon”. Welch has even put a book together from the comic called, How to Die Alone: The Foolproof Guide to Not Helping Yourself.

Now, Welch is moving on up to potentially have Blair be on TV. With Chelsea Handler attached as an EP, Blair just got bought up as a project at HBO Max. We can only hope that it gets pick up to have an animated series that speaks to our collective feelings of being stuck in so many literal and figurative ways right now.

We’ll keep you posted if it gets a series order at HBO Max or elsewhere.

Please Get and Enjoy Mike Carrozza’s Purely Silly Debut Album “Cherubic”
September 3, 2020
News
blonde medicine, comedy album, mike carrozza, stand up

If reality is too much right now (and we’re betting that it is), you might be seeking something far removed from the present moment, something abjectly silly, absurd (and cheekily self-aware).

If that is indeed the case, you might want to dive into Mike Carrozza‘s debut comedy album Cherubic that has so many delightful twists, turns, tomfoolery, hysterically intentional “long walks” and is, overall, just a genuine stroke of joy (oh, how rarely we use that word these days). This whole album, whether Mike is in the bit or outside of it making fun of how silly a premise is, takes you down so many avenues and it’s a delightful ride all the way through. Truly, you can imagine Carrozza beaming through all his carefully constructed shenanigans that are undeniably fun and it harkens back to a time and place that, well, is just not now. Carrozza hails from Canada and this first hour bodes well for more jubilant comedy coming on  down from up north.

Mike Carrozza’s Cherubic comes out this Fri. Sept. 4th. Pre-order/buy  fresh from Blonde Medicine here.

Pick of the Day: Eddie Pepitone (Virtually Headlining)
September 3, 2020
News
all things comedy, eddie pepitone

Eddie Pepitone’s latest special For The Masses is, for our money, still one of the very best hours of comedy this year. It’s a testament to trying to catch him whenever you can, no matter when, where, or which virtual platform he’s using.

Eddie has been continuing his Live From the Bunker series on IG Live, but the chance to see him headline is rather rare and, again, should not be missed whenever it comes around.

Luckily, you’ll get a chance to see Eddie virtually headline in what will be an international comedy stand-up show. The Comedy Club & BeComedy UK and All Things Comedy are all collaborating to bring an exclusive evening/afternoon of Pepitone with Stella Graham and Luca Capani featuring all across the pond.

This performance is set for Sun. Sept. 6th at 1PM PT/4PM ET/9PM BST and tickets are €11.50. You best get them here real quick.

Please Enjoy Lisa Curry’s Debut Album “Alive For a While”
September 2, 2020
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alive for a while, comedy album, debut, full force records, lisa curry, stand up

In the realm of dark comedy, there is a certain line to observe. It doesn’t necessarily have much to do with how dark you get, but more to do with how forced or artificial a particularly sinister punchline might be. Going dark/blue for dark/blue’s sake, more often than not is not that impressive or, truth be told, all that shocking.

Lisa Curry‘s dark streak in her comedy, however, unmistakably comes from a very genuine place and she has the sharp writing to deliver it perfectly. Her debut album Alive For A While puts Curry’s verve for dark jokes impressively on display. Line after line, Curry paints furiously strokes in the imagery of her own stories and observations, but never loses the tether to her own experience making for cathartically funny bits.

Another layer that makes this debut hour more impressive is that Curry recorded it in London rather than any home club she might have her in the U.S. Going very dark for your first hour overseas is quite the feat and Curry really makes it work.

So,  please get and enjoy Alive For A While, out today, right here.

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