bobcat goldthwait – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: I Married a Monster from Outer Space LIVE! (in LA) 2/14

February 12, 2024

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Comedy and Valentine’s Day is a strange mix, but they can work as bedfellows with some careful consideration.

Case in point, a very special live reading of another midnight movie classic led off by Dana Gould, I Married a Monster from Outer Space. This Wednesday, Feb. 14th, Gould will be joined on the hallowed Largo at the Coronet stage by Bobcat Goldthwait, Laraine Newman, Jonah Ray, Janet Varney, and more to celebrate(?) love(?) in the campiest way possible.

No need to worry about any feisty comedians probing into your relationship and, instead, you can just enjoy a sci-fi-horror-(unintentional)-rom-com (that’s a pretty good Valentine’s as far as we’re concerned) as presented by one of the most dedicated preservationists of best/worst movies with Gould.

Go get your tickets now at $46 a pop here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 148: Bobcat Goldthwait & Leaving Los Angeles

January 25, 2023

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Even before the pandemic, Bobcat Goldthwait had one of the most fascinating careers in comedy history with, as he says, “selling out” first as a stand-up, then finding his way to be a beloved indie director with work ranging from World’s Greatest Dad to God Bless America to Call Me Lucky to Jimmy Kimmel Live. Goldthwait continued along his own path as he moved from LA to the woods in Illinois to maintain his “day job” of doing stand-up comedy in order to make his small, but fiercely loved movies.

On this week’s TCB Field Report, Bobcat talks wonderfully in-depth with TCB’s Jake Kroeger about the ever-changing landscape of comedy through film/TV/stage through all the decades he has been in comedy and what lies ahead in the decades to come.

Follow Bobcat @bobcatgoldthwait on IG

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

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

Pretty Good Friends Is Going to Become Comedy’s Newest Record Label

October 20, 2022

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bell house, bobcat goldthwait, comedy records, eugene mirman, maeve higgins, pretty good friends, record label

The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival is already a pretty great calling card for a comedy collective and if you’re going from that to starting a record label, you’re probably going to be off to a pretty great start.

Such is the case with Pretty Good Friends who are shifting their efforts from live and film production to also becoming a comedy record label, seemingly along the lines of AST Records or Blonde Medicine. Already, they’ve got releases in the pipeline from Bobcat Goldthwait, Maeve Higgins, and Jon Glaser. We’re biased, but we’re thrilled to see that there will be a new label just dedicated a comedy, especially when it’ll be distributed by the crème de la crème of cool kids record labels, Sub Pop Records.

Mirman, in the most Mirman-esque way, on launching PGF, “One of the most exciting things about starting a comedy record label for fun with your friends is the array of confusing lawsuits happening around audio rights right now. But we are committed to endeavors that make little sense business-wise, but give us opportunities to hang out with friends and make stuff that makes us laugh.”

Just off the tail of New York Comedy Festival wrapping up, there will be a Pretty Good Friends Records launch party at the hallowed stage at The Bell House on 11/16. Get tickets here before they likely sell out quick.

Get Ready for a Docu-Special of Bobcat Goldthwait & Dana Gould Touring, a “Joy Ride”

September 16, 2021

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A docu-special from either Bobcat Goldthwait or Dana Gould would very much peak our interest, but a tour doc/concert film is something else altogether. Indeed, Goldthwait and Gould went on the road together, often performing on stage as a duo and they had the whole thing documented (including them driving from town to town to town to town).

Called Joy Ride, it not only shows to giants in comedy share some masterfully crafted jokes and some astounding stories, but it captures the unique, rare sort of friendship that is forged from some hardened bitterness. If you’re going to the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin later this month, you can catch the premiere of Joy Ride on Sept. 25th, but, if not, you’ll be able to stream it on demand or catch in theaters in limited release on Oct. 29th.

In the meantime, get a taste of all of we just mentioned above in the trailer for Joy Ride here. A very well may be a touring road doc/buddy comedy/comedy concert film unlike any other.

Please Enjoy Dana Gould Dressed Up as Dr. Zaius Hosting His Own Alternate Universe Late Night Talk Show

March 4, 2021

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It’s often hard to have a tenuous grasp on reality these days, so it should be pretty easy to suspend your disbelief for things like one of the iconic characters from the Planet of the Apes existing amongst a human majority and hosting his own take on a late night talk show, right?

Even if you very much want to stay present in this reality, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Dana Gould dressing up as Dr. Zaius and doing a full on late night talk show in some sort of semi-parallel universe where almost everything is the same except for the existence of Hanging with Doctor Z and “house bands” only having one member

Take a gander at Gould’s weekly Hanging With Doctor Z, specifically this ep. with Bobcat Goldthwait, here

Pick of the Day: SF Sketchfest’s Festpocalypse 1/30

It’s the first day of 2021 even though it feels like 2020 is still going on and doing it’s terrible, terrible thing, you can, if you’re up for it, try to start the year anew.

In that regard, we’d like to remind you of the first real big comedy event of the year (it’s still virtual, FYI): SF Sketchfest’s Festpocalypse. Coming in at the end of January right around when SF Sketchfest, one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals would normally happen, Festpocalypse will be a virtual event at a proportion that SF Sketchfest hasn’t ever done. Just take a gander at that line-up on the flyer. Even though it’s taking place over one day only, it really is a bill that they’d have at their normally scheduled, three week comedy festival extravaganza that takes over San Francisco.

Also, you should note that Festpocalypse is a fundraiser for SF Sketchfest to keep going in the future when doing a big time festival will be allowed.

Festpocalypse is set for Jan. 30th and will begin streaming at 5PM PT/8PM ET. Tickets start at only $20, but go up if you want to snag some merch. Go get them here.

SF Sketchfest Announces Virtual “Festpocalypse” Fundraiser This Coming January

OK, so there won’t be an in-person SF Sketchfest come this January. You already knew that, right?

Just because that’s the case, doesn’t mean that SF Sketchfest, one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals, won’t forego doing anything. In fact, they’ve got something pretty big on deck, virtually of course, called Festpocalypse. It will be a special, massive one night only event that will raise money to keep SF Sketchfest alive and well and going after all of the COVID-19 pandemic is finished.

How massive is it? Well, take a gander at who they have slated for Festpocalypse:

The Kids in the Hall, The State, Mr. Show’s David Cross & Bob Odenkirk, The Upright Citizens Brigade, Parv & Pudi with Parvesh Cheena and Danny Pudi, plus “Saturday Night Live” alumni Fred Armisen, Dana Carvey, Rachel Dratch, Janeane Garofalo, Tim Meadows, Laraine Newman, Sasheer Zamata and original writer Alan Zweibel. Sketch troupes Kasper Hauser, The Latino Comedy Project, White Women and Australia’s Netflix sensations Aunty Donna appear as well.

Festpocalypse also features top stand-up comics and writers including Brits Eddie Izzard and Noel Fielding, plus Margaret Cho, Jo Firestone, Ron Funches, Chris Gethard, Dave Hill, Joel Kim Booster, Bobcat Goldthwait, Emily V. Gordon, Dana Gould, Eugene Mirman, Arden Myrin, Aparna Nancherla, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Pollak, Greg Proops, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Reggie Watts and more. Also, live short film riffing with RiffTrax featuring “Mystery Science Theater 3000” alumni, fake Uptown Showdown debates, a visit with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and “Weird Al” Yankovic, a game show hosted by Jimmy Pardo, movie games hosted by Doug Benson, swift justice from Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn, and a rare reunion of The Slipnutz members Andy Blitz, Jon Glaser and Brian Stack.

Film and television stars slated for appearances include Alan Arkin, Paget Brewster, Chris Elliott, Elliott Gould, Christopher Guest, Jon Hamm, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Bill Irwin, Jane Lynch, Oscar Nuñez, Andrea Savage, and Aisha Tyler, as well as The Tenderloins, creators of the hit show “Impractical Jokers.” Cult cinema aficionado and drag superstar Peaches Christ will take a look back at the festival’s past film celebrations.

The show also features improv by Groundlings alumni The Black Version, the esteemed Improvised Shakespeare Company and festival regulars Theme Park. Musical performances will include Bill Frisell, Jean Grae, Rhett Miller, The Milk Carton Kids, Eliza Skinner, Epic Lloyd, Jonathan Coulton, Paul and Storm, and John Roderick.

How will they fit that much show into one night? We’re not really sure, but you best clear out Sat. Jan. 30th so you can watch, enjoy, and support SF Sketchfest via Festpocalypse starting at 5PM PT/8PM ET so you can pack in all of what’s listed above (i.e. all the live comedy you could possibly want from SF Sketchfest from the comfort of your own quarantine).

Tickets start at $20, which is pretty swell price. If you can’t make it on Jan. 30th, you’ll be able to watch it through Feb. 1st. Go get your tickets at sfsketchfest.com right now.

#Pick of the Day: SF Sketchfest Presents Plan 9 From Outerspace 10/29

October 28, 2020

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baron vaughn, bob odenkirk, bobcat goldthwait, dana gould, david koechner, janet varney, jean grae, jonah ray, kat aagesen, laraine newman, maria bamford, oscar nunez, paul f tompkins, plan 9 from outer space, sf sketchfest, tim meadows

In the search for a way to safely celebrate and somewhat adequately celebrate Halloween, might we suggest a special virtual adaptation of one of the most renowned cult films of all time, Plan 9 From Outer Space.

The amazing Dana Gould will be at the helm for this special live-stream event presented by, as they’re foregoing an in-person festival when they would normally have it in January, SF Sketchfest. Gould has led live-reads of Plan 9 From Outerspace over the years, but this edition will be special as there will be an original cast member, a real prop flying saucer which was used on set in Ed Wood’s shoot as well as a cast chock full of stars including Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jean Grae, David Koechner, Tim Meadows, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nunez, Bob Odenkirk, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Baron Vaughn, Kat Aagesen, plus musical accompaniment by Eban Schletter.

This very special edition of Plan 9 From Outer Space is set for Thurs. Oct. 29th at 6PM PT/9PM ET. Tickets are $10 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

SF Sketchfest Is Going Virtual (and Postponing What Would Have Been Their 20th In-Person Festival)

September 21, 2020

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baron vaughn, bobcat goldthwait, dana gould, david koechner, janet varney, jonah ray, maria bamford, paul f tompkins, plan 9 from outer space, sf sketchfest

Though some big time festivals and awards ceremonies have happened in the last month or so, they have been done so in a strange fashion with largely no audience, limited attendees, and everyone in masks, observing social distancing when possible, and still relying largely on remote interviews/guests/presenters.

One of the world’s biggest and most renowned comedy festivals, SF Sketchfest happens at the beginning of the year and, a few months ago, late January might have seemed like a safe time for when the pandemic might have been over, but that more and more seems to be not the case given the progress of vaccines and the continued return of COVID-19 case numbers rising around the world. So, SF Sketchfest has opted to postpone what would have been their 20th year and their big shindig for 2021 and, as you might guess, go virtual with live-streaming events to give the SF Sketchfest loyal something to look forward to.

They’ll be starting this virtual SF Sketchfest programming with a bang by doing a very special adaptation of cult movie classic Plan 9 From Outer Space that will feature miniature special effects and a marvelous cast including Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Gould, David Koechner, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Baron Vaughn and more TBA & musical accompaniment by Eban Schletter. This special virtual edition of Plan 9 From Outer Space is set for Thu. Oct. 29th at 6PM PT.

Tickets are $10 and can be snagged here.

Follow @sfsketchfest on Twitter and @sf_sketchfest on IG for updates on more happenings for the virtual SF Sketchfest.

Ian Abramson’s 7 Minutes in Purgatory Gave a Preview of What Comedy Would Be Like During COVID-19 Pandemic

April 9, 2020

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When it comes to comedians performing without a traditional audience like is the temporary norm for now, you might have heard references to comedy specials recorded years ago from Drew Michael or Harland Williams (Michael recorded it on a sound stage for HBO and Williams stood on a rock in the desert and did his hour).

We’d actually like to point you to something that is an even more apt comparison and a pretty spot on precursor to what how live comedy is performed and consumed right now. The ever innovative Ian Abramson put himself on the map a bit with ultra-innovative (at the time) live comedy show called 7 Minutes in Purgatory where comedians had to perform remotely, though near an actual venue without any chance to hear the laughs of the live audience that was in attendance for the show.

For the crowd, they were treated to watching a live feed of the comedian in the remote performance space and got to watch them try and perform. If you’ve seen a stand-up comedy show on Twitch, Instagram Live, Zoom, etc., you ought to know that 7 Minutes in Purgatory gave us a preview (even though it was unaware of doing so) of what was to come.

It was and is a great show and a daring comedic experiment that had comics recalibrate their act, try a daring bit that leans into the format, or automatically go into uber self-deprecation (exactly like they do now).

As an artifact of the before times, it’s even more fascinating to see what doing comedy in the way we have to do right now was like when we didn’t have to do that.

Get into the Comedy Central digital series version of 7 Minutes of Purgatory, that includes performances from Michelle Buteau, Jon Dore, Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait & Caitlin Gill, and more here.

January 30, 2020

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Neil Hamburger, America’s favorite lounge act character that mostly roasts music, is going really big this month. There will be a bigger line-up than his usual residency has slated (that will probably get bigger than this flyer), but all of this will be done in service of Australian Wildfire Relief.

As you can see, this night of true variety will be dazzling, hysterical, and, of course, go to a great cause.

Go get your tickets here (they’ll probably sell out fast)!

August 19, 2019

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Every once in awhile, Dana Gould assembles quite the cast to do a live reading of legendary best/worst movie Plan 9 From Outer Space.

This indeed is happening once more, this time on Oct. 29th at Largo with the talents of Janet Varney, Bobcat Goldthwait, Paul F. Tompkins, Matt Braunger, Steven Webber, and Laraine Newman, featuring live music by Eban Schletter.

When it comes to comedy around Halloween, this is always a pretty grand event. Get tickets ($35) here quick as they’ll probably sell out.

So, Dana Gould and Bobcat Goldthwait Are Going on Tour and Delightfully Calling It “The Show With Two Heads”

April 8, 2019

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This is one of those things that we didn’t know we needed in our life until it was announced into existence.

The fantastic comedy reputations of Dana Gould and Bobcat Goldthwait precede this tour (The Simpsons, World’s Greatest Dad, Stan Against Evil, Misfits and Monsters, as well as their own lengthy stand-up careers) and it’s something that will be very special, especially if you’re into clever, dark comedy.

The aptly titled The Show With Two Heads tour will take them all over the country and you really ought to snag your tickets now. Do so here.

The passing of Kevin Barnett came out of nowhere and was a shock to family, friends, and fans alike. As such, a gigantic, stupendous benefit (as you can see in the flyer above) for Kevin’s family will be held this coming Tuesday at the Echoplex.

Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds will be going to Kevin’s family. Go get them here before they probably sell out.

Also, you can support Kevin’s GoFundMe too.

Bird Luger Forever.

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

November 2, 2018

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On top of the one and only Bobcat Goldthwait putting on what’s sure to be a fantastic, special one-off show featuring the likes of Weird Al Yankovic, Dana Gould, Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas!, Jim “Kimo” West, and Demetri Martin this Saturday, November 3rd at 8:30PM at Largo at the Coronet Theatre, you’ll be supporting Helen Crimmins, Barry Crimmins’ widow, and her current battle against cancer (you can donate here if you’d like).

Tickets are $35 and you can (and should) go get them here.

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

Bobcat Goldthwait Makes a Return to His Signature Style with “Misfits & Monsters” Tonight

July 11, 2018

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For those who love Bobcat’s films World’s Greatest Dad and God Bless America, it’s been a minute since Bobcat has gotten to do his own sort of innovative dark comedy satire that he’s often celebrated as an auteur for. Certainly, Goldthwait has been busy in that time getting acclaim for his important documentary Call Me Lucky as well as directing several comedy specials and episodes of Those Who Can’t.

Well, that wait seems to be over with the premiere of his show Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters tonight at 10PM on TruTV.

Get a taste of what you’ve been waiting for with this preview that follows Seth Green being haunted by a cartoon bear he voices. It feels like Bobcat is picking up right where he left off tonally from God Bless America and running full steam ahead, which we’re completely on board for.

Fortunately for all of us, this is an anthology series and we’ll get to see several Goldthwait-esque tales in a row.

Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters Gets a Trailer

June 27, 2018

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Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters, the mutli-genre hybrid anthology from celebrated film auteur and comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, will be coming very soon (July 11th in fact).

Ever since this show was announced, how it would look, sound, and feel has been a bit of a mystery, but Bobcat’s past work (World’s Greatest Dad, God Bless America) had us imagining something crazy, clever, and wonderfully imaginative.

This trailer certainly didn’t disappoint.

Thus, let’s all look forward to the premiere of Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters on Wednesday, July 11th on TruTV.

June 5, 2017

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At the same time, you can support a great cause by raising money for Downtown Women’s Center, watch a very stacked comedy show, and also hang at Cinefamily, one of LA’s revered cultural institutions.

Get your tickets here (again, no tickets will be available at door; you must purchase them in advance).

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

Get a First Look at “Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters” Where Bobcat Is Thankfully Back in the Auteur Seat

May 22, 2017

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Auteurs in comedy are rare, but when they come around, they are quite something to behold. The films of Bobcat Goldthwait gives society at large a simultaneously unflinching and often hysterical look into the mirror.

His brand new show, Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters, that will be arriving at TruTV early next year, will bring us all new sorts of genre-bending satire from Goldthwait himself in the form on an anthology series.

You can see what we’re talking about in this creepy, yet funny clip from one of those stories, Bubba The Bear.

The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival Announces Line-Up

Chicago’s 26th Annual Festival, put together by the minds behind The Onion, The AV Club, Clickhole, and TruTV, will be in its 4th year at the end of May/beginning of June and has a pretty fantastic line-up that includes a sneak peek of Nathan For You, Patton Oswalt, 35mm screening of Idiocracy with Mike Judge, Aparna Nancherla, and more.

Individual tickets are on sale now or, if you’d prefer, you can buy a festival pass for $310 here.

Watch Another Round of 7 Minutes in Purgatory Where an Audience Remotely Watches Comedians Perform with No Audience

December 13, 2016

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This second season of Ian Abramson’s stand-up-comedy-equivalent-of-a-Skinner-Box, 7 Minutes in Purgatory, really showcases the stark contrast of what performing comedy without an audience while another audience enjoys it in a separate, remote location.

Just see how Maria Bamford beautifully handles performing in front of a 1000 empty seats while there’s a smaller, but mightier number of warm bodies three stories above her thoroughly delighting in her performance.

You can also see how host Ian Abramson, Jon Dore, Michelle Buteau, Colton Dunn, Caitlin Gill and Bobcat Goldthwait all handled the existential quandary of 7 Minutes in Purgatory in all different sorts of ways as well some inside commentary from their fellow performers/purgatory dwellers.

TruTV Orders Bobcat Goldthwait Anthology Series “Bobcat Goldthwait’s Messed Up Stories”

August 2, 2016

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It looks like Bobcat Goldthwait will finally bring his filmic vision (a la World’s Greatest Dad, Windy City Heat, Sleeping Dogs Lie, God Bless America), which he has been celebrated for, on to the small screen.

TruTV’s latest series order is quite the doozy as they’re giving Bobcat Goldthwait, who had been serving as a director on Those Who Can’t on TruTV, his own show that allows Bobcat to tell an anthology of different stories in different genres, all at his own whim.

Whether it be “1970s-era science fiction, psychological thriller, romantic comedy and reality”, Goldthwait will get to put his lens on it, which is reliably dark, unapologetic, and always hysterical.

If you’ve seen Bobcat’s work as an auteur, you’d know this is a big deal.

Comedy Crawl Is All Updated For Next Week.

We’re talking Crash Test, Crabapples, Sandbox, Reggie Watts and Karen, Prompter, Jim Gaffigan, The UCB Show, Underbelly, Eddie Pepitone, and so much more.

Check the Comedy Crawl calendar embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com to see all the show listings we’ve curated for next week and beyond as well as what any/all of those names above mean.

The 2016 High Plains Comedy Festival Announces Its Line-Up

June 22, 2016

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You might want to get to Denver in August.

From August 25th-August 27th, The High Plains Comedy Festival will bring yet another rollicking weekend of comedy to Denver’s already thriving scene.

Scheduled to appear thus far:

Adam Cayton-Holland
Andrew Orvedahl
Ben Roy
Bobcat Goldthwait
Jonah Ray
Sean Patton
Steve Agee
Aparna Nancherla
Baron Vaughn
Brooks Wheelan
Eliza Skinner
Brent Weinbach
Andrew Santino
Dulcé Sloan
Nick Vatterott
Sean O’Connor
Ahmed Bharoocha
Ian Karmel
Jermaine Fowler
Chris Garcia
Caitlin Gill
Joel Kim Booster
Noah Gardenswartz
Troy Walker
David Gborie
Kristin Rand
Bryan Cook
Chris Charpentier
Amy Miller
Jordan Doll
Sean White
Gilbert Lawand
Nato Green
Kate Willett
Kenny DeForest
Brandie Posey
Martin Morrow
Kristin Clifford
Sam Tallent