As promised, Showtime has posted The House of Lies Live improv comedy special, taped at the UCB Theatre here in Los Angeles, online for all of us to enjoy. Yes, it does have Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell doing improv with the likes of Ben Schwartz, Lauren Lapkus, and more.
So, you can watch it now or you can watch it/watch it again on Showtime tomorrow/New Year’s Eve at 10PM.
Showtime Kicking Off New Year’s Eve With ‘House of Lies’ Improv Special
The cast of Showtime’s House of Lies actually did a couple of improv shows at the UCB Theatre here in LA, which are now going to be aired as a New Year’s Eve special. So, you can stop making fun of Ryan Seacrest for an hour and watch Ben Schwartz, Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, as well as guest improvisers Eugene Cordero, Lauren Lapkus, and more offer up something entertaining that isn’t pop stars singing their hits.
If you can’t wait a day more, this House of Lies Improv Special will also be online the day before.
Benjamin Berman who you should know as the director of Comedy Bang! Bang on IFC has made a short film that is going to play The Sundance Film Festival next year called “I’m a Mitzvah”.
It stars Ben Schwartz and follows trying to get a dead friend’s body back from Mexico, which sounds like a great formula for a short to us. We can’t watch the short yet (it has play that festival first, at least), but there’s a trailer that you can and should watch for I’m a Mitzvah here.
Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation, Coffee Town) stops by and chats over classy drinks with Paul F. Tompkins on Tompkins’ Speakeasy web series and enlightens us all to how important living life is for comedy and the experience of free lance writing jokes for Letterman.
Following Funny or Die and their ‘iSteve’, Internet comedy giant College Humor is releasing their first feature length effort in ’Coffee Town’ with a more than solid cast in Glenn Howerton, Steve Little, and Ben Schwartz and has a bit of ‘Slackers’ vibe to it. We’re very interested to see if Internet comedy making feature length projects will become a trend very soon.
Here’s Coffee Town’s first trailer.
1) “@WKamauBell Comedians apologizing is the new black.” We agree 100%.
2) Jorge Garcia from Lost apparently tried out stand-up at the Laugh Factory. [via BTNPR]
3) Davey Johnson is really one of the funniest people we know. Watch ‘What’s What?’
4) Ben Schwartz interviewing Garry Shandling over Twitter.
5) Riki Lindhome of Garfunkel and Oates lands role in “Fun Cast”.
6) MLB blocks Chapter 11 Dodger Jerseys from being sold. Come on, Selig… that’s really funny.
7) ON THE HORIZON
Return to Babylon (babble on) @ Dark Horse Saloon Wed. July 6th 9PM
8) COMEDY CRAWL
Jimmy Pardo Hosting Charity Auction @ Amoeba Records 4PM FREE
Everything is Festival: Schrab & Harmon’s Found Crap V @ Cinefamily 4PM $10
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Two Headed Beast @ Stories Books & Cafe 8PM FREE
Re-Animator the Musical @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5
The Sklar Brothers @ Irvine Improv 11PM $10/2 item min.
The Midnight Show w/James Van Der Beek @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow!!! Presents 5 Minutes or Die @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8
9) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min.
10) So according to their posted calendars, the Comedy Store and Sal’s Comedy Hole will still be having their open mics run on the 4th of July. Anyone else running their mics/confirming they hate their families, don’t have friends? (Because no one hates fireworks and the taste of BBQ unless you’re a pinko commie)
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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
1) Series “House of Lies” that Ben Schwartz is in got picked up on Showtime!
3) The BBC recently visited NY and was marveled at their plethora of storytelling shows. Though the Moth started in NY, we’ve got plenty here in LA including This is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv, Public School Stories at M Bar, Two Headed Beast at Stories Books & Cafe, and plenty more that keep popping up. Check it BBC.
4) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 4/10-4/16. Thanks Wisepix.
5) If only I knew more about designing websites and HTML code, I could make an open mic map as pretty looking as this one on LA Comedy Insider.
6) The Comedy Bureau “Tip of the Hat” (meant to be written earlier this week) to the Walsh Brothers! (Next one will be on time)
7) ON THE HORIZON
Gelmania @ UCB Theatre Sat. Apr. 16th 10PM $10
West Memphis 3 Benefit @ Largo Tues. May 31st 8PM $30
8) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Laugh-Your-Ass-Off-Palooza @ Columbia College Hollywood 6:30PM FREE
Risk! True Stories Boldly Told @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Alonzo Bodden @ Ice House 8:30PM/10:30PM $17.50/2 drink min.
Christina Pazitsky @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $11/2 drink min.
Stood Up Friday Night: The Meaning of Life @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5
The Also-Ran Comedy Hour @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5
9) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/given set list to improv off of
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM
10) Yes, that “Report 00167” means I’ve blogged for 167 days straight including Christmas, New Year’s, and Martin Luther King Day. You’re welcome.
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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau