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bill hicks

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Richard Linklater Is Making a Bill Hicks Biopic

October 26, 2018
Uncategorized
bill hicks, biopic, richard linklater

Richard Linklater Is Making a Bill Hicks Biopic

We bet this will focus a good deal on Hicks coming up in Texas, perhaps specifically at the Comedy Stop in Houston where Hicks made his bones.

This is one of two biopics that Linklater, a filmmaker famous for working in pretty much any genre of film, has in the works. As such, we’re intrigued to see what angle, both story-wise and style-wise, Richard takes.

“Bill Hicks Box Set: The Complete Collection” Set to Come Out on 9/11

August 27, 2015
Uncategorized
9/11, bill hicks, box set, comedy dynamics, complete collection

Whether it’s be released or not, Comedy Dynamics is giving us all the definitive Bill Hicks collection.

12 CDs, 6 DVDs, and a photo booklet span every album and special that has seen the light of day as well as hours of unreleased performances by the legendary comedian.

While we can only imagine how Hicks would tackle talking about 9/11 on stage, you can be sure that he would be as fierce and unrelenting as he always was about fueling truth through his comedy and Fri. Sept. 11th, 2015 is probably as good a release date (even if it’s just a coincidence in this case) for a Hicks collection. 

Bill Hicks’ Albums and Specials Rereleased Today

April 29, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, comedy albums, comedy dynamics, comedy special, dangerous, rant in e minor, relentless, revelations, sane man

Thanks to Comedy Dynamics, the Bill Hicks catalog of his albums and specials are now available whenever and wherever you want starting today.

On Hulu, you can watch Hicks’ Revelations, One Night Stand, and Sane Man. 

You can also pick up his extensive discography including Dangerous, Rant in E-Minor, Relentless, Salvation on iTunes. 

FYI, you’ll want to carve out plenty of time for all of this. 

Bill Hicks’ “Relentless” To Play One Night Only on Apr. 27th via Fathom Events

April 9, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, fathom events, relentless

Now, you’ll be able to watch more than those clips about marketing and pop music for once.

Of Bill Hicks’ works, his special “Relentless” is probably the one that you’ve seen the most if you’ve seen any of Bill Hicks’ stand-up specials or TV appearances at all.

Thanks to Fathom Events, you’ll be able to see the special in its entirety in select theaters on Apr. 27th. Get your tickets for participating theaters here.

You can also see a trailer featuring bits that we’re guessing you’ve probably never seen before.

Humble Bundle Doing Another Comedy Release With Hicks, Maron, Stanhope, Birbiglia, and More

March 26, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, doug stanhope, electronic frontier foundation, humble bundle, marc maron, mike birbiglia, watsi

Last year, Humble Bundle let you support charity and get a whole bushel full of great comedy albums and specials including Louis C.K. and Maria Bamford.

Their latest stand-up comedy bundle has just released and includes two Bill Hicks specials, Marc Maron’s Thinky Pain, Doug Stanhope’s Beer Hall Putsch, and way more.

For the price of pay-what-you-want, you can get:

Comedy Specials
Bill Hicks “One Night Stand”
Bill Hicks “Totally Bill Hicks”
Marc Maron “Thinky Pain”
Mike Birbiglia “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend”
Doug Stanhope “Beer Hall Putsch”
Iliza Shlesinger “War Paint”
Brian Posehn “The Fartist”

Comedy Albums
Bill Hicks “Arizona Bay”
Bill Hicks “Rant In E Minor”
Mike Birbiglia “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend”
Doug Stanhope “Beer Hall Putsch”
Iliza Shlesinger “War Paint”
Brian Posehn “The Fartist”
Dr. Katz “Live” (with BJ Novak, Eugene Mirman, and Andy Kindler)
Brooks Wheelan “This Is Cool, Right?

Proceeds go to supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which is fighting the good fight against patent trolls and such for digital rights and Watsi that provides direct funding for medical care to those in need.

Like Michael Scott would say, this is a “win-win-win”. Go get this bundle quickly because you have less than a week to snatch it up.

Album of Unreleased Bill Hicks Material To Be Released Later This Year

March 16, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, comedy dynamics, unreleased

(via Rolling Stone)

Maybe there will be a bit about his last set being cut from Letterman? We’re not sure, but we’re guessing Bill talked about that on stage at some point before he passed away.

Of all the things that Comedy Dynamics is doing with the Bill Hicks catalog including a theatrical release of one his specials, a brand new album of unreleased tracks from Hicks has to be one that peaks the interests of all, whether they be Hicks fans or skeptics. 

The album is set for release on Oct. 27th and there are no details as to what exactly will be on it, but we’d guess it’s going to be a compilation of a number of Hicks’ sets like the few compilation albums that have been released over the last several years.

Whatever it ends up being, we all have all Spring and Summer long to ponder and guess what it might be. 

Bill Hicks Special “Relentless” To Get Theatrical Release

March 8, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, comedy dynamics, comedy special, relentless

(via Esquire)

To kick-off the big re-release of the entire Bill Hicks catalog, Comedy Dynamics is set for a theatrical run of Bill Hicks’ Relentless.

On Apr. 27th, Relentless will play in hundreds of theaters across the country, which will be nice to see as opposed to mere clips of the comedy special in various documentaries that have been made about Hicks over the last 20 years.

Seeing this special in theaters is probably now the closest you’d get to what it would be like watching him do stand-up at a club.

Comedy Dynamics Set to Re-Release Entire Bill Hicks Catalog

February 27, 2015
Uncategorized
bill hicks, comedy albums, comedy dynamics, comedy specials

(via The Laugh Button)

Comedy Dynamics has acquired the rights to all the specials and albums of Bill Hicks and will release them starting next month. Though Hicks passed away at very early age, he still left a very hefty body of work that most of us just get to see through YouTube clips. 

Now, we’ll have chance to enjoy Hicks’ genius in full. Keep your fingers crossed that the specials will appear on Hulu for free via Comedy Dynamics.  

Watch JFL Gala Clips of Jon Stewart, Mitch Hedberg, Chris Rock, Bill Hicks, and More

September 22, 2014
Uncategorized
bill burr, bill hicks, chris rock, dave chappelle, gala, jfl, jon stewart, just for laughs, louis ck, mitch hedberg, montreal, stand up

That YouTube channel that Just For Laughs was launching with unseen stand-up clips from so many of the greats like Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg, Chris Rock, Louis CK, and more is finally here.

Watch the likes of Jon Stewart doing stand-up from 1992 or Chris Rock from 1987 or Hicks from 1990 or Chappelle from 2000 or Bill Burr from 2004 or CK from 2003 or Hedberg from 1998.

You’re likely to get hooked on this and just know that there’s more on the way.

Just For Laughs Launching YouTube Channel With Their Largely Never-Before-Seen Archives

September 17, 2014
Uncategorized
bill burr, bill hicks, chris rock, dave chappelle, jfl, jon stewart, just for laughs, louis ck, maker studios

(via Variety)

The Just For Laughs brand has been one for the biggest comedy festivals in the world for quite some time. In their tenure of their festivals, so many of the big names you know and love nowadays performed on what was likely the biggest stage they’ve ever performed comedy on up until that point.

So, JFL thought it might be prudent to share some of their archives with the rest of us.

Thus, 500 hours of clips will be uploaded to a YouTube channel that’s being created with the help of Maker Studios, much of which hasn’t ever been seen outside of the festival. Clips will include performances from Dave Chappelle, Bill Hicks, Bill Burr, Louis CK, Mitch Hedberg, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, and way more.

When that starts, prepare for another thing to binge watch.

The Laugh Button: Bon Iver Slams MTV VMAs Using Bill Hicks

August 30, 2011
Uncategorized
bill hicks, Bon Iver, comedy, humor, mtv, music, stand up, tumblrize, VMAs

The Laugh Button: Bon Iver Slams MTV VMAs Using Bill Hicks

thelaughbutton:

This weekend marked the 2011 version of the MTV Video Music Awards. Where the former music network celebrates music videos, giving out moonmen to those that managed to get their video played. The flannel-bearded indie rocker known as Bon Iver who’s gone on record for hating MTV in the…

In the name of Bill Hicks?

Morning Debriefing 6/18/11

June 18, 2011
Uncategorized
30 minutes or less, andre hyland, bill hicks, cheap, colin hanks, comedy news, comedy shows, craig anton, criss angel, culver city, dave chappelle, free, good luck show, hollywood, jack follman, keith olberman, kyle kinane, los angeles, mad tv, parody, paul f tompkins, paul provenza, red band, richard linklater, ron lynch, sean patton, tip of the hat, tribute, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list

1) MAD MAGAZINE HAS A BLOG!!!

2) Curtiss Angel-Criss Angel’s Cousin Part 2 (Here’s Part 1 where he still believes in magic) NOTE: Follow anything Andre Hyland does. We’re not kidding.

3) My favorite picture of the week with Ron Lynch and Craig Anton…

4) Everyone is saying that the 30 Minutes or Less Red Band Trailer is giving away too much? Well, at least they’re giving away that it might be worth watching:

EMBED-30 Minutes or Less – Watch more free videos

5) This week’s “Tip of the Hat” goes to Sean Patton.  Look for the article/profile coming soon.

6) Favorite Season 1 Recap of Comedy Show of the Week: The Good Luck Show!

Good Luck Show, Season 1 RECAP! from Charlie watkins on Vimeo.

7) Bill Hicks Tribute by Paul Provenza, Colin Hanks, Richard Linklater, Keith Olberman, and more!!!

8) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 6/19-6/25. Thanks Wisepix.

9) Will Dave Chappelle Ever Really Make a Comeback? [via Punchline Magazine]

10) ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Revolver @ Hollywood Improv Lab Tues. Jun. 21st 10PM $5 
This Is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv Thurs. Jun. 23rd 8PM $5/2 item min.
Kyle Kinane @ Hollywood Improv Fri. July 1st  8PM $18/2 item min. 
Jack Follman: Recipe for Disaster Comedy @ Cafe Muse Sat. July 9th 9:30PM FREE 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
It’s A Long Way Down 8PM FREE 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Brian Posehn @ Hollywood Improv 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Jimmy Dore @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
Pod F. Tompkast LIVE! @ Largo at the Coronet Theater 8:30PM $25
Little Dick Sports @ Hop Louie 9PM FREE 
Gelmania @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5 
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only) 
The Tomorrow Show @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

12) 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. 

13) Saw a “comic” point out noises instead of telling jokes or do ANYTHING because apparently we weren’t on board with his weirdness, which he didn’t approve of, and then cut and run right after his set.  If he was trying to make sure that people won’t come to his shows where his name is on the bill, he’s doing a damn good job.

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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 6/7/11

June 7, 2011
Uncategorized
abbey londer, american, bill hicks, burbank, cheap, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy roasts, comedy shows, drew carey, fail, free, giveaway, hollywood, hostage negotiator, improv, improv comedy fest, jon daly, little tokyo, los angeles, open mic run, people watching, planking, rob corddry, sappity tappity, sataristas, silverlake, theatre of life, ucb, walsh brothers

1) American: The Bill Hicks Story is out on DVD today here in the States!!! 

2) You can win a copy of American if you submit your favorite Bill Hicks quote at the Sataristas FB event page here.

3) Do Modern Comedy Roasts Need More Class? (Punchline Magazine Article by the Comedy Bureau)

4) The Walsh Brothers Go “Planking”

5) One of the funniest people we know here at the Comedy Bureau (an early recipient of the Tip of the Hat) Abbey Londer is actually using her Twitter account, so we highly suggest that you follow @abbeylonder so you can catch “Stop fucking smiling at me it’s just a latte you idiot. #firemealready”.

6) Sappity Tappity, the Drunken Roller Skating English Christmas Tree (Jon Daly) Tries to Explain Himself.

7) Theatre of Life w/Nick Rutherford and Beck Bennett.  Essentially, it’s “extreme people watching”, well… as extreme as “people watching” can get.

8) Connected Comedy: What I’ve Learned in My First Three Months on Tumblr.  Great Article AND we’re mentioned in it.  Thanks Connected Comedy.

9) Bad Hostage Negotiator with Rob Corddry.  Plenty of you have seen this, but, truly, we’d regret not posting here.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Drinking Buddies Presents @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min. 
Drunk On Stage: Pride Week! @ Akbar 8PM FREE
The LA Improv Comedy Fest: The Armando Show w/Drew Carey @ iO West 8:30PM $25
Comedy Bang Bang @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
For a Few Geeks More @ Michael’s Bar & Grill 9PM FREE 
Lower Crust Comedy @ Genghis Cohen 9PM $6  

11) OPEN MIC RUN
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO @ SEÑOR FISH 422 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/6 min./first come, first served/no purchase necessary
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
WESTWOOD BREWCO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 8PM/first come, first served/$4 min.
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided 

12) A comedian asked me last night, “Is comedy even cool?”  To that I say, “YES!!!” and suggest you watch this.

Report 00177

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 6/3/11

June 3, 2011
Uncategorized
andres du bouchet, bar lubitsch, bill hicks, burbank, cd taping, cheap, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy shows, conan, eddie pepitone, empire strikes back, free, fullerton, george lucas, glendale, hollywood, how did this get made, larry david, los angeles, los feliz, nicholas cage, open mic run, patton oswalt, paul scheer, santa monica, silverlake, star wars, ucb, what to do

1) American: The Bill Hicks Story will be out on DVD in the U.S. June 7th w/5 hours of extras! Interviews, never before seen performances, and more!

2) Yesterday, I found [via A.V. Club] the perfect response to Patton Oswalt’s bit about stopping the Star Wars prequels. Thanks to Slick Gigolo, George Lucas can finally “Strike Back”.

3) Andres Du Bouchet is doing his CD taping next week at Bar Lubitsch on Wednesday and Thursday next week.  He’s a writer on Conan, but more importantly he got “boner” trending on Twitter.  Do not miss this.

4) Not quite sure what to make of this just yet, but MTV’s on Tumblr.

5) Larry David is both fun & sad for me to wait on, but mostly sad… by Brian Farrell

6) Puddin’-“Grandma”

7) Conan and the Basic Cable Band are performing for charity!!!

8) Paul Scheer’s How Did This Get Made? now has T-Shirts!!!

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Dead Authors @ UCB Theatre 6:30PM $5
First Fridays Comedy Variety Talk Show @ Theatre Asylum
9PM $5 
The Garfunkel & Oates Hour @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 
Re-Animator the Musical @ The Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
12 Shiny Nickels @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Stood Up Friday Night: Animals & Mythological Creatures @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5 
The Roast of TJ Miller @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)

10) 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
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 7PM
TRINITY CHURCH 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 8PM/must work clean/no purchase necessary/mixed mic
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served 

11) Jack Kervorkian jokes here we go (cue sound of sad party favor)…

Report 00173

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Nick Cannon Knows Comedy Better Than Co-Ed Magazine

May 20, 2011
Uncategorized
bill hicks, coed magazine, garfunkel and oates, hannibal buress, harris wittels, nick cannon

Nick Cannon Knows Comedy Better Than Co-Ed Magazine

I know the title of this post might be either surprising or incredibly obvious depending on your opinion of Nick Cannon.

Still, someone who picks Hannibal Buress, Garfunkel & Oates, and Harris Wittels as some of the hottest, up and coming comedians has an infinitely better idea about the state of comedy than an entire publication that calls comedy legend Bill Hicks underrated.

Daunted: The Comic Watching the Bill Hicks Movie Story

April 18, 2011
Uncategorized
american, bill hicks, opinion

This is not a review of American: The Bill Hicks Story.  There’s plenty of that going around the web that breaks down the story stringed together of Hicks’ life and the intriguing animation utilized to convey all the interview clips, stand up, etc. filmmakers Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas.  Instead of wasting time repeating what everyone else is saying, I’ll just go ahead and say see the movie.  It’s good.

Instead, this will be my collected and (semi) processed thoughts on watching American: The Bill Hicks Story at the Comedy Store, no less, with a room full of comics and comedy folks.

Whilst sitting at a booth in the main room, there were many feelings floating around my head watching a teenage Hicks emulating one of his first comedy heroes, Woody Allen.  The amount of evolution and re-invention he went through as an artist to go from working almost exclusively clean and talking about his parents to trying to free people’s mind and redefining an individual’s purpose in life, to me, was simultaneously inspiring and daunting.  Seeing the almost stereotypical downward Hollywood spiral that’s overplayed in nearly every movie about the entertainment industry was painful for me, as a comic, to watch.  As Hicks started to “expand” his mind with drugs and see where he could find his limits in how much he could take, it almost seemed necessary to Hicks’ development that he struggle out of hole that he kept digging.  

I’m on the opposite end of this spectrum. I personally have never ingested any type of hallucinogenic and have very rarely ever gotten drunk, much less belligerent.  Sure, I struggle through depression, had one break down or two, but I can’t let go out of the notion that Hicks had to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally to such an extreme to find his own way to espouse his views while making people laugh.  I know that it’s not a prerequisite to greatness, especially as an artist, that you become addicted to alcohol, coke, etc., but in thinking of what Hicks’ went through, that tired old phrase of “you’ve got a long way to go,” starts ringing in my head.

That’s not to say that I’m on the verge of quitting or even close to it.  In watching the Comedy Store’s very own Mack Lindsay to attempt to do 15 minutes to open for the screening to a bunch of comics and comment, “Even when Hicks is dead, it’s hard to open for him,” I found a weird sense of comfort in one of the reasons why I perform stand up comedy.

I know, for a fact, that I’m an infinitely better guitarist than I am a comic.  In having a decade in sporadically picking strings and ultimately being a lazy musician, I’ve developed a level of proficiency to where people enjoy seeing me play.  Yet, I don’t get nearly the same fulfillment and validation from soloing on a guitar in front of bunch of drunks and subsequently getting free drinks as much as I do struggling to make recovering alcoholics and drug addicts to laugh and get an applause break.  In short, I love/obsess about the purity of stand up comedy.

As Hicks found after walking entire rooms while yelling into the mic, being on stage alone poses an artistic challenge unlike any other where, no matter what you talk about, there is a responsibility to entertain.  With music, poetry, painting, films, an individual may do as they place without validation from anyone else.  Their art can be just for them. In such media, you can chalk up silence or a lack of adoration/compliments to people just “not getting it”.  Though no joke/bit/act will ever be universally funny, a few people have to laugh at it for it to ever develop artistically.  

This functioning principle of comedy is what largely attracts me to performing over other art forms.  No matter how much I’ve been “eating it” on stage lately spouting off about my own self-imposed isolation, the feeling of expressing your true self and then genuine validation is transcendent.  In fact, it’s addicting, even more so than drugs could ever be.  Having literally nothing to hide behind on stage, being one person against many, expecting you to do something for them while trying to not pander/sell out and even going so far as to enlightening people is daunting, but I love it.  I love that it’s daunting.  I love that there is my own personal point of view in both what I find funny and what I want to say on stage and people might not find it funny.  Actually, real people most likely, especially on material’s first time out, probably won’t find it funny.  Yet, I will revel in their silence for collective hours on end to find that intersection of myself, my ideas, opinions, personal truths, etc. and what’s funny to everyone else because that’s my addiction.

Even if I never become a junkie or find myself strewn across a bar drooling on myself, the obsession for truth in art like Hicks, no matter how it manifests itself, reaffirms my own personal journey as a comedian.

Still, I got a hell of a long way to go.

Morning Debriefing 4/10/11

April 10, 2011
Uncategorized
american, bill hicks, comedy awards, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, los angeles, morning debriefing, norm macdonald, open mic run, sports show, tip of the hat

1) As the Comedy Awards already happened and we already know who won, I’d say watch the premiere of Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show at 10:30PM April 12th first, but the Comedy Awards are chronologically on first at 9PM, so just watch both on Comedy Central.

2) You probably already suspected that American: The Bill Hicks Story was going to be reviewed like this, but it’s nice to actually read it in reality. [via PopcornBiz]

3) Weird Places to do Stand Up w/Chelsea Peretti, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer, and more! [via HuffPo Comedy]

4) Tip of the Hat for Jim Hamilton

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Without a Cause @ Boardners 7:30PM FREE
Feel Good Comedy @ Hollywood Improv 7:30PM $10/2 item min. 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Ian Federgreen Presents @ Flappers YooHoo Room 7:30PM $10/2 drink min.
#hashtag @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE 
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE 
Chatterbox Comedy Night @ Chatterbox 9PM FREE 
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Lettuce Entertain You! (W/Stand Up) @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. 
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed  

7) I apologize profusely for the tardiness of this post.  There’s no excuse other than I can write an update this complex via my smart phone.  Damn technology.

Report 00169

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 4/9/11

April 9, 2011
Uncategorized
american, american comedy fund, bill hicks, chateau marmont, cheap, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy store, culver city, downtown, free, hollywood, jim hamilton, los angeles, norm macdonald, on the horizon, open mic run, santa monica, silverlake, sports show, tina fey, tip of the hat, what to do

1) Want to be part of the audience of an episode of Norm Macdonald’s Sports Show (premiering tomorrow night on Comedy Central)?  Click that link.  Also, watch Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show tomorrow because, simply, it’s Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show and that should be reason enough.

2) Though it was posted yesterday, there may still be room for the Comedy Store screening of American: The Bill Hicks Story on Wed. Apr. 13th 8PM.  Try e-mailing at talent@thecomedystore.net.

3) Entertainment Fund Chiefs Pen Op-Ed urging need to raise money for American Comedy Fund via The Comic’s Comic.

4) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to Jim Hamilton.  Article/profile to follow later today. 

5) ON THE HORIZON
An Evening with Tina Fey in Conversation with Steve Martin @ Nokia Theatre Tues. April 19th 8PM $29
Humanist Comedy @ Bar Marmont Mon. Apr. 11th 8PM FREE

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
LA Comedy Shorts Festival @ Downtown Independent Theater
Ogre Mage @ Silverlake Lounge 6PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Lit Up! @ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Parish Hall 8PM $10
Christina Pazitsky @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $11/2 drink min.
The Anytime Show/Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theatre 8PM/10PM $5 
Dana Gould @ Hollywood Improv
8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Alonzo Bodden @ Ice House 8PM/10PM $17.50/2 drink min.
The Back Room @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
The Tomorrow Show & Midnight Show COMBINE @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed 

8) Said to someone last night, “I am the Comedy Bureau,” and felt more validated than ever for about 5 seconds before remembering I only have $5 in my wallet and my empty light is about to turn on.

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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 4/4/11

April 4, 2011
Uncategorized
australia, bill hicks, calendars, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy store, conan, echo park, garfunkel and oates, hermosa beach, hollywood, laemmle sunset 5, los angeles, marc maron, maria bamford, morning debriefing, open mic run, pasadena, sherman oaks, ucb, west hollywood, wtf

1) American-the Bill Hicks Story hits U.S. theatres this week on April 8th, but the earliest you can see it is April 13th at the Comedy Store then April 15th at the Laemmle Sunset 5.  Something is wrong with this picture.  If it changes, the Comedy Bureau will let you know.

2) LA via Australia–Hear clips of Garfunkel and Oates & Maria Bamford live in Melbourne

3) Brand New Open Mic coming next week: 
Smiles Nightclub
13615 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Every other Wednesday
5 minutes of stage time with 1 item purchase
$3 Domestic Beer, $3 Soda, Half off apps
Contact Chris Dunham or TK Matteson
www.facebook.com/chrisdunhamlive–www.facebook.com/tkocomedy 

4) The Comedy Bureau’s own calendars have been updated with a few new venues!

5) Once again, Conan on WTF w/Marc Maron.

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5

7) OPEN MIC RUN
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/multiple sets allowed/$5 min.
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/call (213) 483-4458
D’AMORE’S 8369 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM/Purchase required 
GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA/USC Campus/Nestled between 3 dormitories approximately a block away from the intersection of Figueroa and Exposition/USC student sign-up 9PM/non-USC-student sign-up 9:15/Starts 9:30PM  

8) Yesterday, the Comedy Bureau posted the article, “Why are THEY on the Show?” about the unfortunate trading of spots on shows that happens in LA and some readers were wondering a few things.  Specifically, The Comic’s Comic wondered about comics who struggle to get stage time starting their own room.  I have no problem with other comics starting their own room to get their own stage time if they can’t get it elsewhere.  Again, I reiterate stay away from trading spots.  Whether they are good or bad as comics is a matter of subjectivity to me really, but, as I point out in the article, if they can find an audience of their own, my opinion doesn’t really matter.  Another reader wondered that if a person works the Haha, Ice House, Comedy Store, Improv that they should get a shot at performing at another room.  First off, there are plenty of comics that are (and I’m putting this very politely) raw that get to perform at all of those clubs.  Once more, as I pointed in the article, plenty of comics can get laughs, but if they’re not funny to the booker, why should the booker put them up?  Last week, I saw someone do nothing but offensive material jumbling up the most controversial topics to date (i.e. Libya, Tsunami, and Liz Taylor’s Death) into one dick joke ridden mess and kill.  Did I laugh? I didn’t even smile.  Just because this comic happened to do good on a certain night because they had a good spot on the show, I don’t feel obligated or guilted to promote their comedy as, plain and simple, I don’t find them funny.  If you have any further questions regarding this article or anything else, please send them to thecomedybureau@gmail.com.

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March 29, 2011
Uncategorized
american, behind the scenes, bill hicks, comedy, comedy store, documentary, insider, story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAciiobw-A8

thecomedystore:

Exclusive Comedy Store clips from American: The Bill Hicks Story

The groundbreaking documentary about Comedy Store legend Bill Hicks, traces the life and legend of a Comedy outlaw  the intense highs and lows, and the sacrifices comics make to bring laughs to an audience.

Screening at Laemmle’s Sunset 4/15-4/21
Special Comics, Friends and Family Screening at The Comedy Store on 4/13
(For an invitation e-mail: Talent@TheComedyStore.net)

Every single one of you definitely need to be watching out for this…

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Morning Debriefing 3/25/11

March 25, 2011
Uncategorized
bill hicks, burbank, comedy central, comedy news, compatish, concert film, daily, drink with dave, flappers claremont, head to head, hollywood, improv, john oliver, landmark, long beach, los angeles, silverlake, sunset 5, theatre, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list, we are not saints, web series, wisepix

1) Though they have passed their fundraising goal, please continue to help the We Are Not Saints comedy concert film with the hilarious Ian Harvie, Felon O’Reilly, and Amy Dresner get even further off the ground.

2) Brand New Web Series from comedians Paul Danke, Cornell Reid, and Adam Jacobs! COMPATISH! It’s a head to head to head competition of mind and body between comedians, so WATCH!

3) Sure American: The Bill Hicks Story will be playing at the Landmark and the Laemmle Sunset 5, but why not watch it where his name is written on the wall?  Special screening to come in April at the Comedy Store.

 

4) A Drink with Dave with Dave Holmes IS NOW GOING TO HAVE DAILY EPISODES STARTING MAR. 28th.  Keep up with this series if you want to know what’s going on with the truly “up and coming” in comedy today.

5) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 3/27-4/2. Thanks Wisepix.

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Auggie Smith @ Flappers Claremont 8PM $15/2 drink min.
Story Time-Stood Up Friday Night @ Moving Arts Theatre
10PM $5 
The First Five @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/given set list to improv off of
UCB THEATRE 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
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 

8) If you wanna know how lucky we are here in LA, I saw the premiere of Season 2 of John Oliver’s NY Stand Up Show with Kyle Kinane, Rory Scovel, and Pete Holmes on Comedy Central who I’ve seen within the last few months, perform in someone’s garage or living room.

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Three Minutes to Nothing

March 5, 2011
Uncategorized
academy awards, bill hicks, comedy competitions, comedy shows, comedy store, funniest person, hollywood, kyle kinane, larry the cable guy, long beach, los angeles, louis ck, pit boss, reality tv, richard pryor

“The idea that art has to have a “best of” category destroys the entire concept.”
–Kyle Kinane

Stand up comedy, though it may appear as a toy marketed towards 18-49 year old males, is an art form.  Though referencing the most recent Academy Awards Ceremony, brilliant comedian Kyle Kinane points out above that art cannot and should not be compartmentalized into a contest.  

Art relies on subjectivity and perspective and as such, there is no 100% universal answer as to what is funny or even more specifically who is the Funniest Person that Bothered to Come to Long Beach on a Random Wednesday Night.  Thus, comedy contests, on principle, do not really decide who is legitimately the funniest comedian.  On any given night, pros can get heckled into a verbal clash of barbs and insults and open mic’ers can kill because every room is different every night with an ever changing audience.  Part of the art form of stand up comedy comes into play in this respect as the artist in the stand up comedian can and will not be funny to everyone.  There are plenty of people that don’t get Richard Pryor, think Bill Hicks is just a sad angry lonely man, and think Larry the Cable Guy is just the funniest damn thing that they ever done saw.  With the vast range of taste especially when it comes to what makes people laugh, most comedy contests deciding who is the funniest is inherently faulty.

This is only the first problem.

If there was a random audience that didn’t come for any specific comedian, a contest might start to be a somewhat fair gauge, but that is an unfortunate possibility in the way comedy shows are produced and promoted.  All comedy contests are put together mostly as a money making venture and along those lines are set-up to award those that bring the most people to the show without too much regard of how funny they really are.

Now, before I continue, this isn’t an espousal of “sour grapes” at losing at every comedy competition that I’ve entered, but this is rather a breakdown of why a swarm of comedians try to do their punchiest 3-7 minutes amidst a two hour show is an utter waste of time.

In mid November of 2010, I was in a comedy contest where I was competing for $75 and a spot at the Main Room of the Comedy Store by performing the best 3 minutes I could put together.  About a week before the show, I was notified that one of the stars of the reality show “Pit Boss” was partaking in the competition and subsequently was going to be filmed so her participation could be cut into an episode.  Because she was being filmed for the reality show, she brought her friends, family, crew members, producers, and so on and so forth.  Basically, SHE BROUGHT MORE HALF THAN THE ROOM.  At this point, the competition is absolutely rigged as there is no way that anyone else could possibly “be funnier” than the person that more than half the audience came for.  On top of that, this reality star is a “little person”.  That’s right, the show “Pit Boss” is about “little people” standing well below 5 feet tall who rescue pit bulls.  If there is a way to get more sympathy on your side as a performer, I’d like to know because it doesn’t exist.

Admittedly, I had a so-so set, especially being more of a long form comedian that is trying to jam punchy jokes into 3 minutes, but in sitting and listening to her set, it was very apparent that she had gone on stage perhaps only a few times before this occasion as she seemed over-rehearsed to the point of sounding like she was reciting jokes.  Still, that didn’t matter that she just had material about being incredibly short and a stoner that I’ll politely call “very green” because all of her friends, family, crew, etc. gave her applause breaks on nearly every joke like it was a special drop-in appearance by Louis CK.  At the end of it, it was no surprise that the $75 and the spot at the Comedy Store went to the “Pit Boss” star.  She technically did have the “best set” of the night, but try bringing all of your friends, family, and crew out every time you perform and have them clap for all of the same jokes told the same way.  I’ll save you the pondering as this will never happen and you will, as a true comedian, have to perform in front of strangers and how raw you are a performer will truly show through. (Note: 2nd and 3rd place also had brought several audience members, but had much more uneven sets).

Though I don’t believe I should have won the contest, there were other performers who, like myself, go night in and night out working on their act wherever they’re allowed to tell jokes and have become quite capable in performing stand up comedy in several different situations.  As that is what a majority of their time is spent on, very little time can be dedicated to promoting a contest where you have to wrangle your friends to watch you only do 3 minutes.  Given the circumstances, them being a group of people that has collectively decided, “I’m only going to laugh for my friend and no one else is even remotely as funny as them.”, a few of the true comics I knew had a decent set.  Still, like myself, they could have used that $75 to get gas to get home as we’re constantly driving all of the time or perhaps eat as several comics in LA are close to broke and/or starving.

We, the comics (referring to people that actually go up several times a week) didn’t bring anybody and consequently we didn’t have a chance of winning or even placing.  A cast member of a reality TV show does not need $75 or a spot at the Comedy Store.  Absolutely, there are ways that they could get both with just the TV credit alone and not have to perform in a contest unconsciously rigging the whole thing much to the disappointment and frustration of everyone else on the line-up.

As this is the trend of most comedy competitions, especially here in LA, in addition to being conceptually faulty in deciding who is the funniest, I submit to comedians that your time is better spent going to an open mic to work on your act and becoming a better comedian rather than trying to perform for your friends and gain the distinction of “funniest person for a few months in some contest that most people have no idea exists” because that will only take you as far as being really funny for your friends.

February 27, 2011
Uncategorized
bill hicks, comedian, comedy, dick clark, gallagher, letterman

Recently: It has been said that Tiger Woods might have to settle for mediocrity.  According to Bill Hicks, it’s going to have a get lot worst before that happens.  A lot worst.  RIP Bill Hicks.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Morning Debriefing 2/22/11

February 22, 2011
Uncategorized
bill hicks, chris dunham, comedy, comedy crawl, everybody's talkin, la, morning debriefing, on the horizon, open mic run, paul jay, wisepix

1) Hilarious comedian Paul Jay was recently threatened by someone unknown to the Comedy Bureau at the Westwood Brewco Open Mic, sometimes referred to as the “open mic of love” over an incident that happened about a month ago.  Apparently, the person dishing out the threats took offense to a comment that Paul made in trying to shut him up as this person was talking during the whole show.  If anything is “going down” tonight, I urge anyone there to have Paul’s back because he’s a good man, a funny man, and anyone who claims they were whispering during the whole show and then wants to fight over being told to be quiet is pretty much in the wrong.

2) Real People liking good comedy: Everybody’s Talkin’ Comedy Show Review (via Wisepix).  

3) The hilarious “Puddin” live action comic strip with Eddie Pepitone will be featured here everyday, but you can follow them on Twitter if you feel like beating the Comedy Bureau to the punch @puddinstrip.

4) ON THE HORIZON:
Birds of Prey @ Comedy Central Stages 8PM FREE/call (323) 960-5519
Eddie Pepitone Bloodbath @ Hollywood Improv Lab Mar. 8th
Glenn Wool @ Hollywood Improv Lab Thurs. Mar. 10th 10:30PM $5
LA Comedy Fest’s First Fridays Variety Show @ Theatre Asylum Fri. Mar. 4th 10:30PM $10
Timeline B (Sax Carr Taping) @ Meltdown Comics Fri. Mar. 11th 8PM FREE
The Midnight Show Showcase @ UCB Theatre Thurs. Mar. 17th 8PM $5

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Biscuits & Gravy @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Comedy Death Ray @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
First Therapy Comedy Show @ Blue Monkey Lounge 8:30PM FREE 

7) OPEN MIC RUN
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO @ SEÑOR FISH 422 E. 1st, Los Angeles, CA (downtown)/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Starts 8PM
WESTWOOD BREWCO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM  

8) Recently: Man was shot dead for eating popcorn too loudly at a ‘Black Swan’ screening.  This makes me wonder, briefly, why Bill Hicks didn’t go further in handling this heckler.

9) Special Thanks to Comedian Chris Dunham for his donation to the Comedy Bureau.

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Morning Debriefing 2/16/11

February 16, 2011
Uncategorized
american: the bill hicks story, bill hicks, comedy, comedy crawl, comedy is dead, jim jeffries, la, marty's, morning debriefing, open mic run

1) Just a reminder: American: The Bill Hicks Story will debut in LA at the Laemmle Sunset 5 in Hollywood on April 15th.  Please check back at the Comedy Bureau for more details on this as the date approaches.

2) Jim Jeffries on Lopez Tonight.  THAT’S JIM JEFFRIES DOING A CLEAN SET on cable television and pulling it off.  Well, just watched it and it’s pretty much clean until that last bit.  

3) If nothing else, the name, Comedy is Dead, should be a huge selling point, especially when it takes place within a real cemetery and Neil Hamburger is on the line-up.  Mar. 3rd. Hollywood Forever Cemetery 8PM $15. RSVP at comedyisdead@gmail.com

4) Whatever your opinion of Marty’s/The Open Mic, the open mic where you pay $5 to do multiple sets in front of nothing but comics 7 nights a week, 6 hours at a time, it was their one year anniversary yesterday.  Considering that pure comedy open mics have been quite the high turnover rate lately, the Comedy Bureau extends a congratulations to Marty’s for making it a year.

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Forget about the “hump” in hump day.
Web Series Unplugged @ El Cid 7PM $8
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 7:30PM FREE 
Getaloada Comedy @ Foundation Room-House of Blues 8PM FREE
An Anti Valentine Comedy Show and AA Meeting @ Harlem Place Cafe 8PM FREE 
Fix-Up Show w/J. Keith Van Straaten and Special Guest Henry Winkler @ ACME Comedy Theatre 8PM $15
Smartest Man in the World LIVE @ Comedy Central Stages 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 8PM FREE Call (323) 960-5519
Meltdown @ Meltdown Comics 8:30PM $8
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $8
Beer in the Shower @ Whitehorse Cocktail Lounge Inn 9:30PM FREE
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20/$30 VIP/2 item min.
Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ Next Stage Theatre 11PM $5

6) OPEN MIC RUN
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM 
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM 
CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM
LIBRARY A COFFEEHOUSE 3418 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM  

7) Recently: We’re in the thick of awards season. To show you how much I care, I’m posting this clip of Jerrod Carmichael doing absolutely no material on awards, but is hilarious.

8) Stickers saying, “The Comedy Bureau Approves” or something along those lines, thoughts?  OK, I get it.  I’ll stop.

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