amy dresner – The Comedy Bureau

September 22, 2018

addiction, amy dresner, echo park, jerry stahl, live reading, my fair junkie

Last year, Amy Dresner’s as-honest-you-can-get, but still very, darkly funny memoir, My Fair Junkie was released. Amy’s story and voice are enthralling and, consequently, we told you to go get the book.

It is even easier to get now as My Fair Junkie is out on paperback. To commemorate the occasion, Amy will be doing a live reading with another celebrated author on addiction, Jerry Stahl at Stories Books & Cafe in Echo Park on Fri, Sept. 28th at 8PM. As far as live readings go, this is one that you’re not going to want to miss.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Please Get Amy Dresner’s Chronic Addiction Memoir “My Fair Junkie”

September 19, 2017

Uncategorized

addiction, amy dresner, dark comedy, hachette, memoir, my fair junkie

Yes, there are plenty of comedians that have a plethora of infamous stories about addiction that they have worked into very funny, yet harrowing tales.

Even within that subgenre/niche, the life of Amy Dresner is captivating, heartbreaking, and damned hysterical as well. Dresner used to do stand-up that we really loved, which is where she first caught our eye. In transitioning to writing full time, we were hoping a book like My Fair Junkie would come out.

Fortunately, My Fair Junkie is out now and available in hardcover and as an audiobook. Please get it here.

Morning Debriefing 6/24/11

1) Nick Kroll on Conan.

2) EW made a list of top comedy podcasts following the footsteps of Rolling Stone. This will be probably the first time I’ve said this in ten years, but Rolling Stone made the better, more informed list.

3) The Ogre Mage EP will be out soon: “@zachlunch Listening to the new @OgreMage EP over and over. Soon, my children. Soon. #OgreMage”

4) Top 5 Reggie Watts Performances [via Serial Optimist]

5) A Drink with Dave and hilarious comedienne Amy Dresner.

6) Sean Patton just got the Tip of the Hat from us.

7) Ne’er a debate about who knows more about Catholicism will be more entertaining than this one between Stephen Colbert and Jack White.

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Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

8) COMEDY CRAWL
The Business @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Maria Bamford @ Flappers Burbank 8PM $17/2 item min.
Rick Shapiro @ Vlad the Retailer 9PM $5
Comedy Car Hole @ Comedy Car Hole 9PM FREE
Second City Late Night @ Second City Hollywood 10PM $5
Maria Bamford @ Flappers Burbank 10PM $17/2 item min.
Stood Up Friday Night: Good Vs. Evil @ Moving Arts Theater 10PM $5
Re-Animator-Cast Benefit Show @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $15

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
UCB 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/lottery/5 min. spots/10 spots available
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/$3 min./mixed mic/booked show in middle around 8PM
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts Midnight/First come, first served
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served

10) So did anyone else not see the first episode of Louie because they needed human interaction at least one time in the day then realized everyone was at home watching Louie, anyone?

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Morning Debriefing 2/24/11

1) If you’re not watching live comedy in a garage this weekend, then you’re really missing out something awesome, amazing, and uniquely Los Angeles. DO NOT MISS both The Comedy Car Hole in West LA this Fri. 9PM and The Comedy Garage in Burbank Sat. 10PM. Oh yeah, they’re both completely free (and have ample street parking).

2) The More Fucked Up You Are, The Better Your Material by the hilarious Amy Dresner [via Antithesis Comedy]

3) The Origins of Meltdown (you know the awesome live comedy show every Wed. 8:30PM $8 in the back of Meltdown Comics at 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA say that 5 times fast) [via Turnstyle News]

4) OK, I know that I’m repeating myself here, but seriously, Emo Phillips is in town next Monday Feb. 28th at the Steve Allen Theater for Cartoon Dump and if you don’t go to that please don’t make eye contact with me. Similarly, you should be watching or DVR’ing to watch repeatedly Comedy Central Presents Kyle Kinane Fri. Feb. 25th 11PM (that’s tomorrow).

4) ON THE HORIZON
Found Footage Festival @ Largo Tues. Mar. 1st 8PM $20
This is Your Library w/Patton Oswalt @ Marc Taper Auditorium-Central Los Angeles Library Thurs. Mar. 3rd 7:30PM $15
Mary Lynn Rajskub Pilot Taping Sun. Mar. 6th 3:30PM FREE

4) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo 7:30PM $25 (sold out-might be tickets at door)
Comedy Speakeasy @ TSR Lounge 8PM FREE
Harland Williams @ Flappers Burbank 10PM $20/2 drink min.
Good Neighbor @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand by only)
Conan Writers’ Showcase @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min.
Hamclown 4: Ham Clowner @ Alexandria Hotel 8:30PM FREE
Comedy Palace @ The Palace 8:30PM FREE
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE

5) OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM
THE SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 7PM
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guaranteed
TKO SHOW @ 212 CAFE 212 Pier Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 9PM

6) Recently: Some people think that Umami Burger is the best burger in America. That may be all well and good, but it still can’t physically take down the Baconator, at least the way Comedian Eric Andre describes it.

7) Special Thanks to upstanding citizen and funny man Steve Schneider for his donation to the Comedy Bureau.

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Morning Debriefing 1/24/11

1) You want something to donate to that will both fulfill that need to be a better person while simultaneously support some good natured hilarious people that I know AND even supporting people in their struggle with recovery from addiction? Go HERE and donate to the “We Are Not Saints” Comedy Concert Film Project featuring Ian Harvie, Felon O’Reilly, and Amy Dresner to accomplish all three of those goals at the same time.

2) Neil Hamburger is back in town. Here’s the proof.

2) Montreal Showcases Schedule. It will be updated frequently, I promise. (I just updated it ten minutes ago) Also, I can promise some of the funniest in LA will be showcasing, meaning they’ll “bring it” and it will be a good time.

3) The word is getting out-The Comedy Bureau is now linked in The Akaaba, a group of comedians and other live performing artists from around the country that all of you should definitely check out, the Serial Optimist, a side dedicated to being on the cutting edge of happiness (something that I would desperately wish to be closer to), and RentFoodBroke, a resource for the unemployed and the underemployed in LA. Continue good comedy folk to get the word out. PLEASE!!!

4) Big Trouble in Little Tokyo. Tomorrow. Matt Claybrooks and Lauren Ashley Bishop. I don’t think I can much more about it than that (besides it being at Señor Fish 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA, Sign-up 6:30PM, Starts 7PM)

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Even if there was MNF, there’s no excuse…
The Comedy Stick @ The Talking Stick 7PM FREE
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Cartoon Dump @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
Just for Laughs Showcase @ The Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM FREE
Comedy Night @ Jake’s 9PM FREE
Keep it Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE

6) OPEN MIC RUN-*updated*

7) Recently: The premiere of MTV’s newest scripted “Skins” has prompted advertisers such as Subway to pull their sponsorship of the show. My suggestion: make Jamie Lee and Shawn Pearlman’s “Anne Frankly” a show as the “deleted scenes” are better than on-air episode of “Skins”. (Jamie already works for MTV, come on…)

8) Oh yeah, also Sabor Comedy Lounge debuts tonight. They have an open mic. $5/2 drink min.

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Morning Debriefing 12/20/10

1) Trick @ Bordello Bar was dazzling, fantastic, and left me wondering only one thing: What exactly was the “trick”? Were my expectations for the show supposed to be duped by the fact that I parked by generic toy manufacturer/distributor Mega Toys? Was I supposed to be surprised that the Bordello Bar was packed to standing-room only with real people? Am I to presume Demetri Martin and Kyle Kinane’s unannounced special guest drop-in performances were going to hoodwink me? If that was the “trick”, the Comedy Bureau was not fooled (OK, the last one of those three I didn’t expect). In fact, producers/comediennes Brandie Posey and Emily Maya Mills had promoted their show so aggressively and built up the hype to a level that fighting through the rain and the guilt of still not being finished with Christmas shopping absolutely promised a great show, which Trick definitely was. Starting from the moment that audience members walked in, people were in for a treat with getting pictures with both Santa and a dreidel while listening to the sounds of DJ/comedian Denver Smith spinning everything from traditional Christmas music to the Tron soundtrack. All of this took place within the burlesque (please don’t refer to the movie) inspired setting of Bordello Bar colored almost entirely in red along every wall, curtain, chandelier, etc. Following “that”, the large crowd of people that traveled all the way from Whittier, Santa Monica, and even further got to witness live stand-up, musical, and sketch comedy in front of a “missionary chapel” backdrop draped in greatly contrasting blue light, which raised the spectacle of Trick even further (something that I previously didn’t think was possible). The Christmas Trick festivities proceeded with the incredible Emily Maya Mills on hosting duties,

then lovely hilarious songs from Hannah Gansen,

Mike Phirman,

and Chuck Watkins,

stand-up from a frustrated Santa Claus (played by Dave Child, elf played by Amber Kenny),

Kimberly Clarke,

Moshe Kasher,

and Brandie Posey,

an extremely alternative Christmas story from Brett Gelman,

absurdly funny sketch comedy from Good Neighbor,

and the “out-of-nowhere bolt” of Demetri Martin

and Kyle Kinane closing out the show.

Still can’t really figure out what exactly what the “trick” is, which is why I will definitely go to the next edition of this show and you should too. Trick takes places one Sunday a month at Bordello Bar just East of downtown LA. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on the next. one.

2) This is officially the shortest COMEDY CRAWL in the history of the Comedy Bureau and one that you can actually make both shows (well… if you are able to get into the second one that is….) What’s Up Tiger Lily @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE, Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only).

3) OPEN MIC RUN: CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM/10 min., TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (echo park)/Starts 8:30PM, SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min., PUKA BAR 710 W. Willow St., Long Beach, CA/Starts 8PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed

4) Now a message from comedienne Barbara Gray: If you haven’t heard, Casey’s cancelled the open mic because they felt it wasn’t bringing them business. Call Casey’s today and ask them if there is an open mic. Nothing offensive or rude, but I think this is a great way to just show them how many people they are missing out on coming to the bar. (213) 629-2353 is the number. They open at 11:30 am. Please pass this on to comics who may be interested.

5) The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo is going for PART 7: NO CHRISTMAS FOR DAVID LO PAN!!! Raffles a-plenty of food and pieces of Russell’s childhood and some other stuff my sleeve, not to mention, MARIANNE SIERK!!! Come to Señor Fish 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA. Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM!!!

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to AMY DRESNER-“@AmyDresner I just wept during an episode of Law & Order: SVU. My meds must be off.” I personally admire Amy for her brutal honesty on stage, which is a laugh riot, and her “bringing the goods” comedy wise every time I’ve seen her live. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on her next show.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Dave Chapelle-The Secret

8) Thanks to good and decent person Andrew Solmssen for donating to the Comedy Bureau. Please join him in being good and decent by donating here.

9) I’m wondering if I’ll ever get to a point of trying to be the Comedy Bureau and myself as a comedian where I yell “YOU’RE TEARING ME APAAAAAART!” via James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.

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Morning Debriefing 12/20/10

1) Trick @ Bordello Bar was dazzling, fantastic, and left me wondering only one thing: What exactly was the “trick”? Were my expectations for the show supposed to be duped by the fact that I parked by generic toy manufacturer/distributor Mega Toys? Was I supposed to be surprised that the Bordello Bar was packed to standing-room only with real people? Am I to presume Demetri Martin and Kyle Kinane’s unannounced special guest drop-in performances were going to hoodwink me? If that was the “trick”, the Comedy Bureau was not fooled (OK, the last one of those three I didn’t expect). In fact, producers/comediennes Brandie Posey and Emily Maya Mills had promoted their show so aggressively and built up the hype to a level that fighting through the rain and the guilt of still not being finished with Christmas shopping absolutely promised a great show, which Trick definitely was. Started from the moment that audience members walked in, people were in for a treat with getting pictures with both Santa and a dreidel while listening to the sounds of DJ/comedian Denver Smith spinning everything from traditional Christmas music to the Tron soundtrack. All of this takes places within the burlesque (please don’t refer to the movie) inspired setting of Bordello Bar colored almost entirely in red along every wall, curtain, chandelier, etc. Following “that”, the large crowd of people that traveled all the way from Whittier, Santa Monica, and even further got to witness live stand-up, musical, and sketch comedy in front of a “missionary chapel” backdrop draped in greatly contrasting blue light, which raised the spectacle of Trick even further (something that I previously didn’t think was possible). The Christmas Trick festivities proceeded with the incredibly Emily Maya Mills on hosting duties,

then lovely hilarious songs from Hannah Gansen,

Mike Phirman,

and Chuck Watkins,

stand-up from a frustrated Santa Claus (played by Dave Child, elf played by Amber Kenny),

Kimberly Clarke,

Moshe Kasher,

and Brandie Posey,

an extremely alternative Christmas story from Brett Gelman,

absurdly funny sketch comedy from Good Neighbor,

and the “out-of-nowhere bolt” of Demetri Martin

and Kyle Kinane closing out the show.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Dave Chapelle-The Secret

8) Thanks to good and decent person Andrew Solmssen for donating to the Comedy Bureau. Please join him in being good and decent by donating here.

9) I’m wondering if I’ll ever get to a point of trying to be the Comedy Bureau and myself as a comedian where I yell “YOU’RE TEARING ME APAAAAAART!” via James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.

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Post Brunch Update 11/4/10

1) It’s a theory that the further you drive outside of Los Angeles proper, the more stage time you can get as a comedian. Cafe on 2nd in Alhambra gives more support to that argument as you are guaranteed at least 10 min. after $3 cover. Being a mixed mic, musicians and poets actually want to listen to your set as opposed to bitter comics trying to going over their set or figuring out a riff off of you. Though I had to pay $3 and had to drive to Alhambra, all the way in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, I ended up getting 15 min., which is indispensable to building an act/developing stage presence/making sure you don’t bomb for 5 min. when it counts. Another “Bureau Approved Open Mic” Cafe on 2nd runs every Wed. and Thurs. Sign-up at 7PM. Starts at 7:30PM. $3 cover. 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA.

2) I don’t know why I’ve never been to Ed Galvez’s Punk House before, especially knowing that he puts up some of LA’s funniest on a stage in an alley behind the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica. With Sean Green at the reins, Eli Olsberg, Mike Holmes, Josh Androsky, Matt Manser, Erin Crapser, Ed Galvez himself, and a surprise appearance by Geoff Brousseau made for a night way more entertaining that watching people argue with the Christian evangelist on the actual 3rd St. Promenade. Running for over 4 years, Punk House is a testament to legitimately hilarious comedy shows outside of the Hollywood trifecta of the Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, and the Hollywood Improv. Ed Galvez’s Punk House @ The Westside Comedy Theatre. 9PM Every Wednesday. $8. 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in the alley).

3) The comedy crawl has too much comedy tonight for a clever metaphor. There’s just not enough space in this post to tell you literally how much amazing, astounding, fantastic, phenomenal, stupefying live comedy there is tonight. That’s why I’ll get to it now, right after I finish typing this very sentence that you’re reading. Go to MB Stand Up @ Flappers Yoo Hoo Room 7:30PM $5/2 drink min., then Literally Funny @ The Last Bookstore 8PM FREE, then Piñata @ Bang Comedy Theatre 8PM. $14, then Comedy Speakeasy w/Eric Andre and Amy Dresner @ TSR Loft (call 323-568-1616 for details), then Laugh for Haiti @ The Comedy Store 8PM $25/2 item min., then Full Throttle Comedy @ The Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min., then As Seen on Chelsea Lately w/Ryan Stout & Christina Pazsitsky @ Brea Improv 8PM $15/2 item min., then The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE, then “That’s My Baby” @ Barre Vermont 9:30PM FREE., then Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter @ The UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5.

4) LA Comedian/a quarter of the Southern Comedy Quartet Jarrod Harris has a new webseries, Action Figure Therapy, which amazingly manages to be more therapeutic for anyone watching than the actual “action figure” supposedly getting therapy. Check it out here.

5) Donate. Please. Donate to support the Comedy Bureau. Please. Unfortunately, I don’t think Pavlovian response applies here, but please donate.

6) The Comedy Bureau Calendars freshly updated w/ Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, Bang Theatre, and Sal’s Comedy Hole. Doubt it? See for yourself.

7) Breaking news for the Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Open Mic. There will be a 50 ft. cable to walk around almost like it’s a wireless mic. Also, to kick off with a bang and a mic toss, there will be inaugural performances to the incomparable Joe Braza and Lauren Rochelle. Nov. 9th. 6:30PM. Señor Fish. 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA

8) I think there’s a PG way to go about suicide jokes. There better be… BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE!!!

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Post Brunch Update 10/29/10

1) To all those pining for some decent stage time, the Sandwich Spot and TKO show open mics give you a nice run of trying out material/“build character”. Every Thursday, you can get two spots in one go. The Sandwich Spot @ 3101 Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA, Sign up at 6:30PM, Starts at 7PM. TKO Show @ 212 Cafe, 212 Pier Ave., Venice, CA. Starts at 9PM and ends whenever no one else wants to go up because it’s a 24 hr cafe (Why LA hasn’t figured out to have more 24 hr venues?).

2) Ulitimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 10/31-11/6. Enough said. Thanks Wisepix.

3) Amongst the ranks of LA’s funniest, Ron Babcock and Lizzy Cooperman star in the short film “A Stand Up Guy” directed by Sarah Rose Bergman and written by Sarah Rose Bergman & Sara Mattison. Part of the New Filmmakers LA Screenings @ Sunset Gower Studios. $5. 6:15PM. 1438 N. Gower St., Hollywood, CA. If Ron Babcock and Lizzy Cooperman have anything to do with it, you will laugh guaranteed, repeatedly, over and over and over.

4) Comedy Crawl for 10/29/10. Go to watch “A Stand Up Guy” like I told you above, then Eli Braden Live @ Genghis Cohen 8PM/w Hampton Yount, then Stood Up Friday Night @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM, then ProShoFoSho @ Our Secret Comedy Den w/Amy Dresner & Rick Shapiro 11PM.

5) If you more of a taste for one of the longest running open mics in the LA area and a show, meaning (especially for you comics) go up, then see some free comedy all in one place, try going down to iCandy in Long Beach for the Kerry Arnold Stevens Comedy Etc. Show. Sign ups @ 6:30PM. Starts @ 7PM. Show from 8:35PM to 10:35PM w/ Mark Fernandez, Gina Rodgers, and music from Judson & Mary. 1708 E. Broadway Ave. Long Beach, CA.

6) Señor Fish. Nov. 9th. A big bad new open mic will be in town. More details to come soon.

7) Though several months ago, this moment in comedy history happened.

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