comedy documentary – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 74: Julie Seabaugh & 9/11 Jokes

August 25, 2021

9/11, 9/11 jokes, brody stevens, comedy documentary, julie seabaugh, sept. 11th, too soon

For our money, Julie Seabaugh is the preeminent comedy journalist out in the world and we’re so lucky to have her on TCB Field Report this week. Her expertise and depth of comedy knowledge are so far reaching, which came in quite handy for the upcoming documentary she co-directed, Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11. As such, we talk about the effect 9/11 had on comedy and, conversely, how comedy’s healing properties dealt with the aftermath (not unlike what’s happening right now). Also, “hot” takes on SF Sketchfest returning, Showtime’s updated comedy slate, and Brody Stevens Day.

Follow Julie on IG @julieseabaugh, get more info on Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 (premiering on Vice on Sept. 8th) at toosoondoc.com and get a Brody Stevens pin from Rockin Pins here.

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

Mark Your Calendars for 9/8 when “Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11” Premieres

August 18, 2021

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9/11 jokes, comedy documentary, documentary, gilbert gottfried, ian edwards, jeff ross, julie seabough, laurie kilmartin, matthew broderick, nathan lane, Nick Fituri Scown

Sept. 8th, 2021 will see the arrival of one of the best documentaries not only about comedy, but about the very DNA of jokes, the audiences hearing them amidst a historic tragedy, and the truly undeniably healing power of laughter.

Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11, co-directed by Nick Fituri Scown and Julie Seabaugh, has been long in the works aiming for a release nearing the 20 year anniversary of the events of September 11th, 2001. Even in the excerpt of their doc that recounted the story of The Onion having to put its first issue out after moving offices to NYC after 9/11, we were spellbound by the depth and scope of perspectives weaved together. The feature length Too Soon goes all over the place covering comedy in the days leading up to it, as it happened, and, of course, the fallout/the discovery of ways to joke about/laugh about one of America’s darkest days.

Interviews range from Gilbert Gottfried, who was lambasted for his 9/11 jokes being akin to the doc’s title, to Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick, who were doing a run of The Producers on Broadway at the time, to Scott Thompson, who attempted a terrorist themed solo comedy show, to Jeff Ross, Laurie Kilmartin, Ian Edwards, and numerous other comedians and people in comedy.

When it comes to joking about the taboo, this doc really shows how much people just need and utilize humor to get through the darkness (not unlike the current and perpetual moment of COVID-19).

With that in mind, you might want to catch it Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 on Sept 8th on ViceTV.

Trailer for FX’s Hysterical Promises Comedy Documentary About the Daring of Doing Stand-Up as a Woman

March 2, 2021

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comedy documentary, fx, hysterical, stand up comedy

Even though there has been a rising tide of women in stand-up comedy over the last several years, the prospect of taking on a still male-dominated field while patriarchal norms keep that all in place is still very daunting. That being said, it’s very clear that some of the funniest people in comedy do identify as women: Ali Wong, Nikki Glaser, Jen Kirkman, Tiffany Haddish, Maria Bamford, Tig Notaro, etc. etc.

Thus, FX has a comedy documentary called Hysterical honing on the trial and tribulations of doing stand-up as a woman through the lens of some of the funniest women on the mic, both famous and up and coming, including Glaser, Jessica Kirson, Marina Franklin, Rachel Feinstein, Iliza Shlesinger, and Kelly Bachman (the comedian who lambasted Harvey Weinstein to his face at a private NYC show).

Get a sneak peek of Hysterical with this trailer here, then look for it on FX on Fri. Apr. 2nd and on Hulu the next day.

Watch Some of the Biggest Comedians Purely Talk the Craft of Comedy in Teaser for “Dying Laughing”

June 5, 2016

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amy schumer, art form, chris rock, comedy documentary, craft, dave attell, documentary, dying laughing, eddie izzard, garry shandling, jerry seinfled, kevin hart, lloyd stanton, paul toogood, sarah silverman, stewart lee, trailer

Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Billy Connolly, Garry Shandling, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Hart, Dave Attell, Frankie Boyle, Omid Djalili, Kirk Fox, Eddie Izzard, Stewart Lee, Paul Provenza, Emo Philips, Bonnie McFarland, Tiffany Haddish, and more offer their take on the artistry and craftsmanship that actually goes into going on stage and doing stand-up comedy in the documentary Dying Laughing.

Directors Lloyd Stanton and Paul Toogood extensively interviewed all of the above and made what might be another documentary that showcases stand-up as being more than just a bunch of clowns rattling off jokes every night.

Watch the teaser here.

Here’s a Trailer for That’s Not Funny, a Documentary Where Comedians Defend Their Comedy

April 14, 2014

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comedy documentary, mike celestino, that's not funny

After plenty of interviews and Kickstarter projects, documentary director Mike Celestino is finally coming out with his finished documentary That’s Not Funny that offers a closer look on the comedic material that often sparks outrage, the comedians responsible, and their explanation of why they do said material.

When we were seeing this project being developed, there were plenty of great interview bytes from Kyle Kinane, Paul Provenza, Jackie Kashian, and more that you’d probably want to hear their two cents on this issue.

Watch the trailer for That’s Not Funny here.

There’s a Whole Documentary About Improv Everywhere

January 8, 2014

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charlie todd, comedy documentary, documentary, improv everywhere

One of the more fascinating things in comedy over the last several years has definitely been Charlie Todd and his happy cohorts known as Improv Everywhere. They blur the lines between performance art/flash mob/live comedy and have done so very well with things like the No Pants Subway Ride or pranking a TED talk.

Now, there’s a whole documentary about them called We Cause Scenes: The Rise of Improv Everywhere that you’ll probably buy after you watch this trailer.

Kevin Pollak Getting Into the Comedy Documentary Game

September 5, 2013

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christopher guest, comedy documentary, jim gaffigan, kevin pollak, lisa kudrow

Kevin Pollak Getting Into the Comedy Documentary Game

Kevin Pollak (who has his own podcast and has done a comedy special) is indeed going forward with a documentary about comedy, specifically digging at the process/minds of comedians/comedic actors/etc. like Jim Gaffigan or Christopher Guest or Lisa Kudrow.

If the growth in interest of how comedy works via documentaries exploring comedy doesn’t confirm a current boom in comedy, then we honestly don’t know what will.