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Pick of the Day: Festivus: Seinfeld Trivia Extravaganza & Airing of Grievances (in NYC) 12/23

December 19, 2023

festivus, nyc comedy, seinfeld, trivia

Festivus, the Seinfeld-ian holiday that’s inclusive of all the veritable Grinches during the holiday season, is on 12/23 (AKA the eve of Christmas Eve). It does strike us as strange that one of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time has its own holiday and that there are not more comedy shows that integrate it right around this time of year.

Thankfully, there’s, at the very least, a Seinfeld-themed trivia night that’s dedicated to Festivus. Head to Midtown Manhattan (a feat of strength unto itself?) to Slattery’s Midtown Pub at 5PM to not only test your Seinfeld depths of knowledge, but also enjoy a customary Airing of Grievances.

Reserve a spot (w/$20 item min.) for Festivus: Seinfeld Trivia Extravaganza & Airing of Grievances here.

TCB Debriefing 12/18/23: Ziwe/Santos, Mo Welch, Colin From Accounts, Emma Willmann

December 18, 2023

colin from accounts, curb your enthusiasm, dad jokes, don't tell comedy, emma willmann, fox nation, george santos, mo welch, ziwe

1. Breaking: Ziwe proves that Showtime was indeed idiotic for cancelling her show with this old-school Baited style interview with disgraced former Congressman George Santos. Please enjoy what should take up at least a paragraph in upcoming American History textbooks.

2. Sometimes, a hat on a hat works. Mo Welch made an entire comedy special featuring a clever subversion of the “dad joke” trope that is intercut with documentary footage of her reconnecting with her dad, 20 years estranged (oh yeah, it’s called Dad Jokes). Equal parts brash, hilariously dark, heart-string-tugging, and enthralling, Welch amazingly brings all these disparate tones and elements into a beautiful dramedic harmony for a mesmerizing hour special that really lives up to the moniker of a “special”. Watch Dad Jokes now on demand on Veeps.

2. The international Aussie rom com Colin from Accounts gets on with production of its second season (Deadline). Perhaps, in its 3rd season, people will be convinced to pay for Paramount +?

3. Curb Your Enthusiasm will be ending with a 12th season, which means it went 3 seasons further than Seinfeld. Had Seinfeld gone 12 seasons, would it have had a better finale?

4. Emma Willmann tells the truth about not being the best taxpayer (technically, a criminal?) in a damn fun Don’t Tell set. Please enjoy here.

5. We’ll leave you with this: Welp, Fox Nation is putting on a comedy tour.

Pick of the Day: 17th Annual 50 First Jokes (in NYC) 1/6

December 18, 2023

2024, bell house, john f o'donnell, new year's, stand up comedy

Christmas harkens, which means the new year approaches, which means a new 50 First Jokes is almost upon us. That’s right 50 or so (probably more) of NYC comedy’s best and brightest do the very first joke they came up with since the turn to 2024 in a rapid fire joke extravaganza.

As always, John F. O’Donnell is hosting and The Bell House will be home to this mini-marathon of the shiniest new jokes of 2024 from such venerable NYC comics as:

Charlie Bardey
Kevin Iso
Shalewa Sharpe
Fareeha Khan
Zach Zimmerman
Moss Perricone
Kenice Mobley
Dan Perlman
Rojo Perez
Maggie Crane
Max Wittert
Casey James Salengo
Brittany Carney
Chloe Radcliffe

There will be two shows for 50 First Jokes this year at 6:30PM and 10PM (and maybe the 10PM will be more polished, but also, em, more unhinged?). Tickets are $20 right now and you best go get them here and here, respectively.

TCB Debriefing 12/14 & 12/15/23: Blair Socci, Poor Things, Carol and the End of the World, Critics Choice/Spirit Awards/Black List, You’re Dating a Narcissist

December 15, 2023

blair socci, carol and the end of the world, comedy special, critics choice awards, dan guterman, emma stone, martha kelly, netflix, poor things, ramy youssef, spirit awards, the black list, yorgos lanthimos, you're dating a narcissist

1. The voice and the attitude alone make Blair Socci the sort of comedian that you can’t ignore, whether you’re paying for two drinks to sit at a cramped comedy club table or hanging in the back as a comedian. Socci’s delightful cartoon-esque voice and penchant for unfiltered truth are kind of a perfect comedic contrast. In her first hour special, Blair goes in hard on the follies of men, the Disney hegemony versus Only Fans, and, of course, the crime that is the existence of Triscuits and we’re willing to bet that you’d enjoy even if you’re the target of the joke because Blair is just that undeniably funny. Thank goodness a crisp, minimalist special Live from the Big Dog (even though it was shot at Hollywood’s Bourbon Room) is here to give the shine that Blair has deserved for far too long. Blair Socci: Live from the Big Dog is streaming on demand on Veeps. Peep it here.

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2. To say something is Yorgos Lanthimos‘ most ambitious work to date is truly saying something considering landmark dark comedies The Lobster and The Favourite are also in his filmography. Yet, Poor Things boldly stands tall and dreams as absurdly big as possible, highlighting everything beautiful and grotesque in truly being alive (a la being reanimated by a obsessive surgeon), especially as a woman in 19th century Europe, or a pastel colored, dreamy nightmare version of it anyway. Emma Stone delivers yet another performance of a life time as Bella Baxter and Lanthimos sagely utilizes the talents of comedians Ramy Youssef and Jerrod Carmichael for the 2023 comedy that will stick with you, having you stew about all of it’s incisive and fiery commentary on, well, everything in life/society/culture/existence for weeks (and probably months) after the credits roll. Poor Things is playing in limited release now and opens wider on 12/22. Oh, you probably won’t hear a more unique score in any other movie this year thanks to Jerskin Fendrix.

3. Martha Kelly could very well be the voice of us all in the impending end times (and the lead voice in the Dan Guterman Netflix animated series Carol and the End of the World–get your first look here; due out Dec. 15th)

4. All hail Barbie and American Fiction for nominations at The Critics Choice Awards and Spirit Awards coming next year. Honorable mention for Poor Things and Bottoms as well. Comedy is running real strong this awards season.

5. Whole bunch of clear cut (and often dark) comedy in this year’s Black List, the annual list of the best/most popular unproduced screenplays, including the top script which follows a rescue dog suspecting his owner is a serial killer, Bad Boy by Travis Braun, and Alex Kavutskiy & Ryan Perez‘s super meta High Concept. Peep the whole list here.

6. Marisa Tomei, Sherry Cola, and Ciara Bravo are starring in an upcoming rom-com that hones in on a psychologist trying to talk a daughter out of marrying a narcissist, aptly called You’re Dating a Narcissist (THR). The marquee trio is enough to peak interest here, but the atypical rom com structure has us colored very intrigued.

7. We’ll leave you with this: OK everyone, how much longer are we going to woo and cheer for Nicole Kidman during the AMC pre-roll? It’s getting tiresome, especially if it’s coming right before something like Godzilla Minus One.

Pick of the Day: The Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail (in LA) 1/8

December 15, 2023

jonah ray, kumail nanjiani, largo, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy, the meltdown

Yes, you’re reading that right. There will be a very special, one-night-only, edition of The Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail, the legendary LA weekly show at the backroom of Meltdown Comics AKA Nerdmelt Showroom on Jan. 8th, 2024.

For all that time, Meltdown was regarded by many a comedian and comedy expert (and their always sold out audiences) as one of the very best stand-up comedy showcases in the entire country. Hundreds of folks would pack into what was a storage room for a comic book store and created one of the most die hard audiences of a comedy show we have ever known. It should be noted that the front row of the show was the very same people every week and they all ended up being life long friends.

Anyways, tickets just got announced for this very special evening at the very fancy Largo at the Coronet Theatre and we’d be honestly surprised if they’re not sold out while you’re reading this. Go get at $46 a pop here.

Pick of the Day: Jamie Loftus Presents: Santa University (in LA) 12/21

December 14, 2023

christmas, elysian, holidays, jamie loftus, los angeles comedy, santa claus

From the wild depths of Jamie Loftus‘ imagination (an imagination that’s responsible for doing a meta solo show about reimagining losing her virginity in several different versions) comes with her latest radical work, turning the idea of a holiday Christmas show inside out in the best, most absurd way possible.

Called Santa University, Jamie has created a “600 page musical” about an underachieving aspiring Santa trying to cut it at Santa University to be the one true Santa Claus. We have no doubt that this will be hilarious comedy mayhem that even the Grinchiest person could enjoy.

Jamie Loftus Presents: Santa University is set for Thurs. Dec. 21st at 7:30PM at The Elysian. Tickets are $15 and you best get them here.

TCB Debriefing 12/13/23: Kenny DeForest, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Trevor Noah/Anthony Anderson/Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham

December 14, 2023

anthony anderson, cannes, emmys, grammys, greta gerwig, kenny deforest, lena dunham, netflix is a joke fest, trevor noah

1. Truly, deeply rest in peace, Kenny DeForest. A wondrous human being and great comedian taken from us all far too early (as you can see in the outpour of tribute and grief in his name). For now, what might be best would be donate to his Memorial Fund that was formerly a Recovery Fund and also watch his latest special, Don’t You Know Who I Am?, which came out just a few months ago (again, Kenny was on the path doing many a great thing in comedy).

2. Netflix Is a Joke Fest makes its first announcement of many about the hundreds of big time comedians and dozens of venues that will be happening in and around LA come May 2024. Go peep the schedule and get tickets here.

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3. Trevor Noah is back at the Grammys, Anthony Anderson is stepping up to the hosting plate for The Emmys, and Greta Gerwig, riding high off of Barbie, will be the Cannes Film Festival Jury President all next year. Come to think of it, we would be thoroughly intrigued at the prospect of Greta Gerwig hosting an awards show, especially since she also can do this.

4. Lena Dunham has an ex-pat rom com going at Netflix that’s set to star Meg Stalter (Hacks) and Will Sharpe (White Lotus S2) (Variety). Having Meg Stalter as the star of series/movies is definitely where the future of comedy should be headed.

5. We’ll leave you with this: Shout out to every comedy album and special that’s coming out right now and won’t be able to be considered for “2023 Best Of” lists.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 194: Joe Zimmerman & Baby Hitler Jokes & More

December 13, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

joe zimmerman, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

Truly, one of our favorite specials of the year is Joe Zimmerman’s Cult Classic, which is saying a lot considering the wide spectrum of truly enjoyable hours of stand up comedy that were released in 2023. So, we have Zimmerman on this week’s TCB Field Report to get into what went into such a fantastic hour of stand-up, specifically achieving a great baby Hitler bit (when there have been so many before Joe’s) as well as the landscape of NYC comedy from Joe’s POV.

Follow Joe Zimmerman on IG @joezimmerman and watch Cult Classic here. As of the recording of this podcast, Kenny DeForest sadly passed away. You can support his memorial fund in his memory here. Kyle Ayers’ GoFundMe for aid for treating his Trigeminal Neuralgia is here as well.

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

Pick of the Day: 50 Worst Jokes (in LA) 12/28

December 13, 2023

50 worst jokes, babs gray, best of 2023, brodie reed, los angeles comedy, silverlake, stand up comedy, worst of 2023

As the days fade away towards the end of 2023, year-end/best of lists are coming out aplenty. There is plenty to be celebrated with the very best in comedy of this year (Barbie might be the purest comedy to win a Best Picture Oscar in decades?). With that said, what about the worst?

Well, more accurately here, what are the worst jokes of some of the funniest folks in the LA comedy scene (the worst jokes of the year live in the comments of any social media platform)? That’s right, Babs Gray (Lady to Lady) is returning, along with co-host Brodie Reed, to have an absurdly fun, ridiculous evening of certified funny people doing what has proven to be their worst joke of the year (and you best bet that any attempt at an actual good joke will be met with boos). We’d argue that it’s almost more wild and unforgettable than the diametrically opposed 50 First Jokes that happens all over the country.

50 Worst Jokes will go down on Thurs. Dec. 28th at 7;30PM at Lyric Hyperion, complete with dance party afterwards. You can get all this show (and a chance to boogie at LH’s gorgeous theatre) for just $10 right here.

TCB Debriefing 12/11 & 12/12/23: Maria Bamford, Ian Lockwood, Kenny DeForest, Julian Velard

December 12, 2023

ian lockwood, julian velard, kenny deforest, maria bamford

1. People often bandy about the overuse of the words “genius” and “legend” when applied to a comedian, often arguing that it gets tossed about way too frequently and thus devaluing and actual “geniuses” and “legends”. In case it wasn’t clear from Maria Bamford‘s entire body of work, she more than qualifies for both labels without, as far as we’re concerned, debate. Her latest hour special Local Act affirms Bamford’s singular comedic brilliance through precision voice and character work and self-awareness, inclusivity, empathy, and honesty all baked into the DNA of ever single one of her jokes. It also highlights how Bamford continues to be one of the very best human beings in comedy as she does a fast paced open mic of other “local acts”, up and comers in LA comedy (and her husband), letting her dedication to community live on in perpetuity in a truly beautiful special in LA comedy’s tiniest venue, Public Displays of Altadena.

You can now stream Maria Bamford: Local Act on AppleTV, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, and more.

2. NYC comedy staple Ian Lockwood sings a pop tribute, Orbo, to A.I. dealing with the existential prison that is sentience (and might have a better hook than A.I. anthem[?] Grimes’ We Appreciate Power).

3. Kenny DeForest, a great and big-hearted comedian, was struck by a car while on a bike in NYC and has had to get emergency brain surgery to get some sort of stable condition. A GoFundMe has been made to help him and his family deal with the oncoming onslaught of medical bills that are inevitably coming in Kenny’s lengthy road to recovery. They have met their goal of $150K as of this post, but we’re sure more costs are coming with a incident of this magnitude and we have no doubt that Kenny and his family could use all the support that they can get.

4. Julian Velard croons what is, effectively, a beautiful PSA about the waking nightmare of telling a piano man to play Billy Joel’s Piano Man.

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5. We’ll leave you with this: Congrats to Datgirl Serene and Matthew Fine for reading this far and getting completely free tix to Brett Goldstein this past weekend at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Pick of the Day: Comedy Fundraiser for Gaza (in NYC) 1/28/24

December 12, 2023

bell house, fundraiser, gaza, medglobal, nyc comedy, stand up comedy

If you were wondering if and when there was going to be a humanitarian aid fundraiser comedy show for those in crisis in Gaza, wonder no longer. The Bell House is stepping up to host one such big fundraiser for MedGlobal’s Gaza Emergency Appeal that is wholly dedicated to addressing the dire lack of and diminishing hospital resources in the region due to the war.

Simply called a Comedy Fundraiser for Gaza, the evening will be summoning the comedy talents of Katie Boyle, Mohanad Elshieky, Maeve Higgins, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Phoebe Robinson, Sabeen Sadiq, Nataly Aukar, and Fareeha Khan for a damn fine evening of NYC comedy’s best and brightest.

Comedy Fundraiser for Gaza is set for Sun. Jan. 28th at 8PM. Tickets are $50.90 and you best go get them here.

Pick of the Day: We Still Like You (in LA) 12/14

December 11, 2023

allison rose, danii gallegos, los angeles comedy, storytelling, tyjuan lewis, we still like you

Many a storytelling show highlights captivating moments or passages in people’s lives, but more often than not, those are stories where the storyteller themselves end up being the hero. Sure, that’s all well and good that we’re watching a good person tell the story of how they ended up winning, but isn’t a redemption arc equally, if not more, enthralling?

Cue the long running, nomadic storytelling marvel that is We Still Like You. The funniest comics/storytellers are summoned to tell a story where they were more antagonist that protagonist in a hysterical celebration of human vulnerability with the audience cheering, at the end, “WE STILL LIKE YOU”. Truly, it’s unlike any other storytelling event we’ve been to and we’re glad to see it’s return here in LA this week on Thurs. Dec. 14th at The Mid City Yacht Club with the likes of such comedy gems as Dylan Adler, Rivkah Reyes, Jake Noll, Amy Silverberg, and John Michael Bond along with hosts Danii Gallegos, Allison Rose, and Tyjuan Lewis.

Tickets for this are only $10 and you best go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 12/8/23: Andy Iwancio, Dusty Slay, Naughty, SF Sketchfest

December 8, 2023

andy iwancio, dusty slay, olivia wilde, sf sketchfest

1. Sometimes, holiday gifts aren’t hiding in a tree or in a stocking or even deeply hidden behind only to be forgotten until a round of spring cleaning. Sometimes, a comedy album, one free of being a special first only to be released as an “album” so it could qualify for Grammy nominations, comes in around December only to dazzle and startle and make us, most importantly, laugh heartily. This year, that album comes from Andy Iwancio with Better Living Through Femmistry, a supremely delightful ride in being all flavors of sarcastic, ironic, subversive through a trans woman lens in 2023. There is even a certain raw quality to the recording that adds a cheeky punk rock layer to Iwancio’s whipsmart writing, steadfast delivery, and delightful openess.

Please enjoy and give a listen to Better Living Through Femmistry here.

2. Netflix subscribers will be “having a good time” when Dusty Slay‘s hour special Workin’ Man comes out Jan. 16th.

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3. The writer of Cocaine Bear is teaming up with Olivia Wilde (don’t forget that Booksmart was a certified and critically acclaimed hit) to make a “Bridesmaids in the North Pole” called Naughty (Deadline). We’re assuming that some version of the tagline for this movie might be “You’re going to want to be on this naughty list.”

4. SF Sketchfest is almost a month away and, like a SF comedy advent calendar, they’ve got more treats to peep everyday leading up to it, especially this holiday season (including Puddles Pity Party and The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin).

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5. We’ll leave you with this: A polite reminder to audience members that it’s best to assume that comedians on stage can hear you talking during the show, no matter what you’re saying.

Pick of the Day: Tommy McNamara: Christmas Boy (in NYC) 12/19

December 8, 2023

christmas, nyc comedy, union hall

Yep, Christmas is approaching fast and the deluge of holiday themed comedy shows are well under way. There are so many, kind of like the normal plethora of comedy shows, that you wonder which ones might be the ones to check out. Definitely, beloved Brooklyn/NYC comedy fave Tommy McNamara reprising his annual holiday comedy bash, Christmas Boy, with sharply wrought mirth and song will even warm the heart of the Grinchiest person in the audience.

Having a line-up of NYC’s very best of Josh Gondelman, Alex Kumin, Mike Hanford, Ashley Hamilton, Nick Naney (as Santa), Pay Byrne, Chris Donahue, and Kevin O’Brien will be a gift to any and all in attendance.

Christmas Boy is slated for Tues. Dec. 19th at 7:30PM @ Union Hall with tix going for $11.55. Go get ’em here.

TCB Debriefing 12/7/23: Jacqueline Novak, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Joe Pera/Atsuko Okatsuka, Surrounded

December 7, 2023

atsuko okatsuka, donald glover, jacqueline novak, joe pera, maya erskine, mike falzone, mr and mrs smith, surrounded

1. Jacqueline Novak finally puts the frosting on the cake for her long running, critically acclaimed solo show, Get On Your Knees, the most hysterically poetic meditation on blowjobs, with it coming to Netflix as a special on Jan. 23rd.

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2. The trailer for Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Donald Glover and Maya Erskine is here. If you’re Gen-Z, this isn’t your sibling’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith (with Brad and Angelina) and if you’re a Millennial, this isn’t your great grandparents’ Mr. & Mrs. Smith (from Hitchcock). Get ready for a dark, moody, and quietly sassy Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime on Feb. 2nd.

3. Joe Pera and Atsuko Okatsuka are both wonderful and both deserving of your time and money and have just added dates to their upcoming tours. Get tix now at joepera.com or at atsukocomedy.com/#tour.

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4. In case you didn’t know, Mike Falzone went VR with his hit in-the-round crowd work show, Surrounded and it went well enough that they got a second season coming at the end of the month. That gives you enough time to put a VR headset on your Christmas list.

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5. We’ll leave you with this: We might still have free tix for Brett Goldstein on Sun. 12/10 in Pasadena. E-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com to find out.

Pick of the Day: Scary Little Krampus (in LA) 12/15

December 7, 2023

christmas, dani collucci, elysian, krampus, los angeles comedy, variety show

Truly, one of the most astounding holiday comedy shows in LA is Dani Colluci‘s Scary Little Krampus. Collucci gets done up as a fully formed Christmas demon, Krampus (it’s pretty much a big budget movie level make-up job) and hosts the sort of holiday comedy show for those who want Halloween to be all year long (looking at you, Jack Skellington).

Joining her on the dark side of Christmas will be a cadre of wonderful weirdos dedicated to make Fri. Dec. 15th at The Elysian a night to never forget (because you’ll be hilariously haunted by it?).

That’ll include:

Matt Olson
Freak Nature Puppets
Nnamdi Ngwe
Ryan Asher
Chad Damiani
Dean Evans
Camirin Farmer
Sam Walt Jones
Maureen SanDiego
Jessie Prez
Nate Pringle
JJ Phillips
Aerica Goetten
Andrew Goetten

Tix for Scary Little Krampus are going for $20 and we highly suggest that you snag them right now right here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 193: Johnny Gold & The Importance of Small Scenes

December 7, 2023

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

inland empire, johnny gold, la comedy

As instrumental as the hubs of LA and NYC are to comedy, smaller scenes are crucial to the art form too. Johnny Gold returns to the TCB Field Report to extoll the virtues and dissect the experience of small, upcoming comedy scenes. He ought to know since Johnny was one of the first comics we ever met in the LBC in in the 2010s and is now getting up in small rooms and mics in the I.E. in the 2020s.

Follow Johnny @johnnygold777 on IG

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

TCB Debriefing 12/5/23: Norman Lear, Kyle Ayers, Last Week Tonight, Jesse David Fox, Jackie Fabulous, Taskmasters

December 6, 2023

brendon walsh, brian keith etheridge, jackie fabulous, jesse david fox, john oliver, johnny ryan, kyle ayers, last week tonight, norman lear, taskmasters

1. R.I.P. Norman Lear. Rather than write a whole screed about how much of a legend to comedy, television, and representation he is, we’ll just say that he’s much more deserving of The Mark Twain Prize for Humor, an award that’s supposed to honor people in comedy who have effectively changed the dialogue that Americans have with each other, than the majority of the recipients. Yes, he was not a performer, but the landscape of comedy and American sitcoms are wholly influenced by Lear.

2. Kyle Ayers is brilliant and hilarious and also suffers from Trigeminal Neuraligia AKA “Suicide Disease”. Ayers deserves all the support we can muster, especially because calling the American Health Care system a joke is being nice. Please support his GoFundMe here.

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3. In the biggest no brainer ever, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is renewed for three seasons through 2026.

4. Vulture/Good One’s Jesse David Fox explains explaining comedy on Seth Meyers, despite some folks thinking that comedians are just making it all on up the spot and not hard working artisans. Please watch and enjoy here. Also, go get his book Comedy Book-How Comedy Conquered Culture-and the Magic That Makes It Work for further explanation of how exactly comedians do the magic that they do.

5. The amazing, effervescent Jackie Fabulous is going on tour. Please go get tix at jackiefabulous.com.

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6. Brendon Walsh and Brian Keith Etheridge (South Park) and Johnny Ryan have an animated series, Taskmasters, that incorporates prank calls that just got a script commitment at Fox (Deadline). Fingers crossed that this turns into a green light as Walsh is the living king of prank calls.

7. We’ll leave you with this: Tickets to a cool comedy show count as a great holiday gift.

Pick of the Day: Brett Goldstein (near LA) 12/10 + Tix Giveaway

December 6, 2023

brett goldstein, los angeles comedy, pasadena, stand up comedy

If you’re nestled in the cozy heights of Pasadena surrounded by a much more classic LA aesthetic, we get that you probably don’t want to leave all that often to LA proper or even hike it to something cool at Highland Park. That leaves limited comedy options for you if that’s the case. The Ice House, LA’s oldest comedy club is back in action, but they can only give you so many options.

Suffice it to say that it isn’t every night or even every week or every month that someone like Brett Goldstein (i.e. Roy Kent and Hercules) comes through the Pasadena city limits. Yet, Goldstein is headlining the classic Pasadena Civic Auditorium this Sun. Dec. 10th at 7PM. It’s a hop, skip, and not even a jump from Old Pasadena, so you can get in a stroll and probably some very expensive wine in before you head to the show.

Tickets start at $72 and you can buy ’em here, but we actually have a couple pairs of tickets if you want them. Just let us know at thecomedybureau@gmail.com!

TCB Debriefing 12/4/23: Ziwe/George Santos, Cole Escola, Central Park, Bill Burr

December 4, 2023

amazon, apple tv plus, bill burr, central park, cole escola, george santos, ziwe

1. Ziwe might be interviewing freshly ousted U.S. Representative George Santos. This is further proof that Showtime/Paramount is wholly foolhardy and short-sighted (for the sake of profit margins) for cancelling an iconic show.

Let’s do it @ziwe 😜 https://t.co/Y4TbeZEGOg

— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) December 3, 2023

3. The brilliance of Cole Escola will not be denied. This “lost” pilot for “Our Home Out West” is equal parts pitch-perfect camp and sharply drawn absurdism in a charming dreamy version of a Western with Cole giving Eddie Murphy a run for his money in playing multiple characters. Please watch and enjoy “Our Home Out West” now and over and over.

3. Apple TV+ cancels the musical comedy series Central Park after three seasons (Deadline). So much for a Bob’s Burgers, Great North, Central Park mega crossover episode in the Loren Bouchard-iverse (is that a thing, yet?).

4. Bill Burr has just announced his 2024 dates and we have a feeling you better set several reminders if you want to get tickets at billburr.com/tour if you want to get tix on Wednesday.

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5. We’ll leave you with this: Amazon is brazenly taunting your dependence on them as a corporation in the Fallout trailer. Shop accordingly (i.e. maybe not on Amazon) this holiday season.

Pick of the Day: Christmas Is Cumming with Alan Cumming & Guests (in NYC) 12/7

December 4, 2023

2 Perfect Gentelmen, alan cumming, Antwayn Hopper, Gayle Rankin, holiday fundraiser, nyc comedy, The Boy Band Project, variety show, Yves Matthieu

Alan Cumming is come back to his namesake venue Club Cumming for a pull-out-all-the-stops big holiday variety show fundraiser. Without even telling you anything else, it is currently sold out, but the line-up and cause are so good, it’s worth making plans for stand by.

Christmas Is Cumming with Alan Cumming will be raising money for Trinity’s Services and Food for the Homeless (SAFH) in NYC and feature the likes of, not only Alan, but the gorgeous piano playing of Henry Koperski and comedy/music/queer talents of Matt Rogers, Gayle Rankin, Antwayn Hopper, 2 Perfect Gentelmen, The Boy Band Project, Yves Matthieu, and more.

It’s quite the holiday show, absolutely one that you shouldn’t miss if you’re in NYC on Thurs. Dec. 7th at 10PM, and entirely worth squeezing in the back at Club Cumming. Take note that tix are $50 with all proceeds going to Trinity’s SAFH.

TCB Debriefing 12/1/23: Blair Socci, Jamie Lee/Nikki Glaser, JFL Vancouver, Chelsea Handler, Arclight/Cinerama Dome?

December 1, 2023

blair socci, chelsea handler, cinerama dome, jamie lee, jfl vancouver, nikki glaser

1. We’ve seen Blair Socci be a comedic force to be reckoned with (especially if you’re a fan of Triscuits) ever since we first saw her years and years ago. She just came out with her first hour special Live from the Big Dog and, we have to say, Blair is worth trying to figure out another streaming service (Veeps)

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3. Jamie Lee and Nikki Glaser co-starring in a sitcom, Unsettling, where they go in on co-parenting a kid since they reached their 30s childless? Even though we’d never ever have children (don’t @ us, please), we’re on totally on board for anything Lee and Glaser do, both together or separately. (Deadline)

3. JFL is really back in full force, huh? Both Moontower JFL Austin and JFL Vancouver line-ups just had their first announcement and both are jam packed. Get tickets for the Mid-Feb festival if you’re in and around Vancouver at jflvancouver.com.

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4. Chelsea Handler will return to host The Critics Choice Awards (Variety). If she gets a third go around hosting this, will that be enough holes on her awards show punch card to get another late night show?

5. We’ll leave you with this: You can uncross your fingers if you were hoping the ArcLight/Cinerama Dome in LA was going to reopen next year. Try 2025. (Deadline). It’s pretty much the last movie theater to reopen if it was indeed going to reopen.

Pick of the Day: Julian Velard Is In the Middle of Something (in LA) 12/10

December 1, 2023

julian velard, los angeles comedy, musical comedy, solo show

Julian Velard is many a thing including a masterful pianist with golden pipes with wit and panache to match. He’s also middle aged and in, well, the middle of figuring things out.

Part of figuring it out is doing an entire beautiful and hilarious and vulnerable and raw solo musical show about the whole ordeal of being in the middle of your life/getting your ducks in a row/figuring out how the hell the future is going to work out. We’ve seen the show and Julian hits a wonderful comedic and emotional nerve with his premise where something like This Is 40 or a deluge of sitcoms about being middle aged missed the mark.

So, don’t miss the next time Julian Is In the Middle of Something, which just happens to be pretty close to the middle of this month, Sun. Dec. 10th at 9:30PM at the Lyric Hyperion in fact. Tickets are $15 and you really ought to go get them here.

TCB Debriefing 11/30/23: Moontower, Kimmel/Aidy Bryant, Leo Reich, Daily Wire Adult Animated Series

November 30, 2023

aidy bryant, austin comedy, daily wire, jfl laughs, jimmy kimmel, Leo Reich, moontower

1. Moontower JFL Austin makes their first line-up announcement, so plan accordingly.

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2. Jimmy Kimmel is, of course, hosting the Oscars again and Aidy Bryant, a little more surprisingly, is hosting the Spirit Awards next year. Kimmel will probably do another solid job and become this generation’s poster boy for The Oscars, but we hope that Aidy uses her husband Conner O’Malley in a bit, if not several for the Spirit Awards telecast.

3. Take a gander at Leo Reich‘s first special, Literally Who Cares? coming direct to HBO (then probably watched by you at Max). As far as Gen Z comedy specials go, Leo is who putting their money on.

4. Conservative entertainment brand The Daily Wire is trying their hand at an adult animated series with the likes of Adam Carolla and Candace Owens set for the voice cast (Deadline). Get ready to be upset?

5. We’ll leave you with this: Anyone’s Spotify Wrapped have a comedian as their top artist?

Pick of the Day: JANE LYNCH & KATE FLANNERY: A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS (in NYC) 12/1-12/3

November 30, 2023

jane lynch, kate flannery, nyc comedy, tim davis, tony guerrero quintet

With the start of December tomorrow, we’re into the heart of the holiday season and, as such, a plethora of holiday themed variety shows are coming ’round the corner. One of those that you should absolutely not miss is Jane Lynch: A Swingin’ Little Christmas featuring Kate Flannery & Tim Davis with The Tony Guerrero Quintet. It’ll be a rollicking good time of song, comedy, mirth, and the cheeky twists that would only come with Lynch, Flannery, and Davis all at the venerable Joe’s Pub.

A Swingin’ Little Christmas is actually on tour, but doing a run at Joe’s Pub this Fri. Dec. 1st-Sun. Dec. 3rd at $50 a pop (w/2 drink or 1 item min.). Go get yourself and/or your loved ones/dear friends a gift in the form of a ticket here.