barbara gray – Page 2 – The Comedy Bureau

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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THE COMEDY BUREAU

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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Morning Debriefing 11/28/10

1) Space Boners @ Silverlake Lounge was a great old-fashioned time, though in the freshest-hippest way possible. In what can be arguably the “hipster” epicenter of LA in Silverlake, the woman behind Space Boners and quite funny comedienne Barbara Gray manages to make an “alternative comedy” leaning show that is very welcoming and inviting to all. Despite many people thinking of “alternative comedy” as pretentious inside jokes about jokes, the simplistic atmosphere of the Silverlake Lounge coupled with Barbara’s fancy, ornately red and white curtains, which nearly every performer cleverly commented on (Paul Jay: Welcome to my Quinceñera!), set a nice scene for some of LA’s best and most original comics to do what EVERY comedian strives for: entertain a group of people in a darkened room from a lit stage. The intimate, though packed, crowd got an early holiday treat with performances from Dan Borelli, Vance Sanders, Paul Cibis, Jamie Lee, Paul Jay, Andy Peters, Tony Sam, Host Josh Androsky, and Barbara Gray closing out the show with a BANG/musical number (featuring Josh Androsky and Zach Ames). Whether you’re looking for something innovative and new in going out to comedy shows or not, Space Boners is definitely something to consider as it is completely FREE and will give you an enjoyable glimpse into a “different” brand of comedy without it feeling forced on you. Space Boners takes places one Saturday a month @ Silverlake Lounge, 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake) 7PM FREE. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on the next one.

2) I’ve never been a big fan of parades, which is essentially just standing, pretending to have fun while other people ACTUALLY have fun on intricately decorated floats/cars/horses/etc. Instead, I would suggest a better time at tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL with Laugh, Drink, Repeat @ Flappers YooHoo Room 7PM $10/2 drink min., ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE, Skinny Sundays @ Bar Lubitsch 8PM FREE, then French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE, Nighttime w/Dominic Dierkes @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5, and Hollywood Underground @ Hollywood Improv 9:30PM $14/2 item min.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM, SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM, MARTY’S 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed

4) Today is the FINAL DAY for submissions for Tig Notaro’s Untitled Comedy Tour. Post a two minute video of why your “living arrangement” is worthy of Tig Notaro and her friends here and you might have a damn fine LIVE comedy show exactly where you live.

5) The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Open Mic has gotten another sequel and will be having PART 4 this Tuesday with all the same great conventions you’ve come to expect from the trilogy and as well as a special guest performance from the one and only RYAN STOUT. Tues. Nov. 30th. Sign-up 6:30PM. Starts 7PM. Señor Fish. 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA (little tokyo/near downtown). DON’T MISS THIS!!!

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to JIM HEGARTY-“@jimhegarty ‘Either we break up or I murder you. So really it’s up to you when you think about it.’ #breakuplines” Jim performs is a regular on the LA comedy scene dishing out his great observations on family, Batman, and the Buffalo Bills in third world countries. There’s even more of this at his blog TallJim.com and at his Twitter here.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Emo Philips Once I was in San Francisco

8) The Comedy Bureau LIVE TWEETS every night here and needs DONATIONS here and will tweet here about I do comedy that needs donations here and how repetition seemingly, for the time being, doesn’t work.

9) I have heard more TSA Pat Down humor than holiday humor over the last few days, which makes me think that comedians are tired of talking about their dysfunctional family holiday dinners and would like TSA pat downs to become a holiday tradition.

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Morning Debriefing 11/1/10

1) Schtick or Treat @ Taix made the word “epic” seem a woeful and paltry adjective in attempting to describe what was one of the best times I’ve ever had a comedy show. Even though there were over 30 performers, it was the epitome of a “good ol’ time” the whole way through. Seriously, what other show in LA can you see “Steve Martin”,“Russell Brand”, “Carrot Top”, “Eddie Pepitone”, “Sarah Silverman”, “Rowdy Roddy Piper”, “Kyle Kinane”, “Gilbert Gottfried”, “Andy Kindler”, “Weird Al Yankovic”, and “Jake Weisman”? That’s right you can’t think of one until 364 days from now, but go to the normally schedule French Toast every Sunday 8:30PM for FREE at the same lovely 321 Lounge @ Taix.

2) Tonight’s “Comedy Crawl” is slightly more manageable, IF YOU CAN TELEPORT!!! Go to What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8:30PM FREE, then Hotel Cafe Presents: Hotel Comedy @ The Hotel Cafe 9PM $15, then Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE, then make your last “jump” to Crash Test @ The UCB Theatre 11PM $5. BLAM!!! (if that’s the sound you make when/if you teleport)

3) Like I mentioned yesterday, there’s a new feature in a long line of innovations from the Comedy Bureau that allows you to keep track of most regularly scheduled live comedy in LA. NOW UPDATED WITH THE J-SPOT. Other fine comedy establishments soon to follow. Again here it is, The Comedy Bureau’s very own Calendars.

4) Unlike “real people” with “actual money”, comedians have to/should be working on our act and, as such, THE COMEDY BUREAU will be attempting an open mic run of 3 spots, which, if you know anything about driving in LA, is near impossible. Well, IMPOSSIBLE CAN GO TAKE A DIRT NAP!!! TRIBAL CAFE. GROUND ZERO USC. TAIX. The Comedy Bureau’s very own Bureau Director will be live tweeting during this test of endurance/patience/more patience, so stay tuned for the play-by-play right here.

5) At least, someone likes us. Thanks Shayne-Michael.com

6) Now it has a face. The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Open Mic. NOV. 9TH. 6:30PM. Please don’t forget, mostly because I don’t have any enforceable consequences if you do.

7) Given the impulsive notion of large scale chain retailers in the U.S., is it too early to tell Black Friday jokes?

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