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Pick of the Day: Spaghetti Fest (in LA) 11/1-11/11
September 28, 2023
News
comedy festival, experimental theater, los angeles comedy, the elysian

Another day, another comedy festival. That’s a saying, right? Well, certainly this Fall is full of comedy festivals of all shapes and sizes including the daring, all original, all brand spankin’ new experiment Spaghetti Festival (FKA Forget About Spaghetti Festival).

10 nights of 10 freshly dreamt up and produced shows that span comedy to experimental performance from all corners of LA are set to take over the Elysian from Nov. 1st–Nov. 11th. There will be shows that imagine realities beyond a concession stand, a Kyle Mizono-ified world of Being John Malkovich, Nosferatu’s Sweet 16, the end of a cult, and an entire clown interpretation of the Zodiac. The first one was a beautiful fever dream and this one ought to pick up right where the last one last left off.

All shows are at 8PM each night and individual tickets are $18, but you can save yourself $30 if you wanna catch all 10 shows by being a Spaghetti Festival Pass for $150. Get all the info, specific schedule, and tickets/passes here. Do it right now. Seriously. It’ll be the best thing you spend money on November (and that includes whatever the hell you do for Thanksgiving).

TCB Debriefing 9/15/23: Joe Pera Special, Derrick Brown Album, Spaghetti Fest, Thank You For Coming, Conan on Trump, Hasan Minhaj
September 15, 2023
News
bollywood, comedy festival, conan o'brien, derrick brown, hasan minhaj, joe pera, spaghetti festival, thank you for coming, the elysian

1. The most gentle soul in comedy, Joe Pera, is releasing his very first special, self-produced and set to be released on YouTube on Fri Oct. 6th. True to his spirit, it’ll be called Slow & Steady and very likely be the sort of soothing and surprising glee with the way the world is these days. Please enjoy Joe’s announcement here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @joepera

2. The multi-talented, multi-faceted, very funny and very evocative Derrick Brown has just come out with his first album, A Close Shave with Heaven, fresh off the presses from Pretty Good Friends. We’ll fill you in on Brown’s synchronous blend of comedy & poetry soon, but enjoy the record (and amazing cover) as it has dropped today (wherever you get your comedy albums).

3. The Elysian‘s Spaghetti Festival (AKA Forget About Spaghetti Fest) is set to return with completely original new, never before seen comedy productions come Nov. 1st-11th. Tickets, details, and line-up to come soon!

4. One of the gala films at TIFF is a Bollywood sex comedy that takes aim at the patriarchy cheekily called Thank You For Coming (Variety). A female empowerment comedy hailing from Bollywood is a pretty big deal and we hope Thank You For Coming finds its way to American theaters soon.

5. Preach, Conan O’Brien, preach.

6. Hasan Minhaj admitting to embellishing his stories in service of comedy is actually very much at the heart of the art form of comedy itself; artistic expressions that are, above all, in service of the joke.

Pick of the Day: Holy Shit Improv 2 Year Anniversary All Day Improv Festival (in LA) 7/15
June 9, 2023
News
comedy festival, improv, los angeles comedy, silverlake, silverlake lounge

Though UCB has reopened months ago, when and how the next Del Close Marathon, the legendary multi-day, non-stop improv festival, has yet to be revealed. As such, NYC has their Fun and Dumb Improv Festival out of the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, and in the stead of DCM here in LA, the good folks at Holy Shit Improv are throwing an all day improv festival featuring the very best in long form improv, house teams and indie teams alike, in Los Angeles. It will double as a two year anniversary of doing improv at Silverlake’s favorite gussied up dive bar, The Silverlake Lounge.

This Holy Shit Improv 2 Year Anniversary All Day Improv Festival will include sets from:
Holy Shit
Dinosaur Improv
The Big Team
JV
Pretty Darn Queer
The Smokes
Bitchin’
Astronomy Club
Bimbos
Menudo
Behind A Paywall
Rat Ass
Lemon Pepper Wet
NY Piss Rangers
LYLAS
The Big Boys of Comedy
Shag
PBR Tallboys
Queen George
Sister
DopeTown 300
WIld
Glass Clown

This quasi non-stop festival will run from 1PM-9PM on Sat. Jul. 15th. Tickets are only $17 (and you ought to know space is limited). Get tickets here right now.

2024 SF Sketchfest Submissions Are Now Open
May 5, 2023
News
2024, comedy festival, sf sketchfest

At May 5th, we’re nearing the halfway point of the year, believe it or not. That also means that the first big comedy of the year, SF Sketchfest, is also approaching. Taking place between the end of January and beginning of February, SF has brought thousands of amazing comedians and comedy shows and more to the Greater SF/Bay Area for over a score.

The 2024 SF Sketchfest should be no different and you could even be part of it. They’re taking submissions for all sorts of comedy folks/shows/podcasts/etc. for next year’s festival which will run from 1/19-2/4.

The deadline to submit is midnight PST on Sun. Sept. 3rd. You’ll get the news of whether you made it in on Sun. Oct. 15th. Best of all, the submission fee is only $10. Go get more details and submit to be part of one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals here.

Pick of the Day: Comedy Dynamics Festival Tapings (near LA) 4/5-4/9
April 3, 2023
News
comedy dynamics, comedy festival, comedy special, el portal theatre, free show, los angeles comedy, solo show, tv taping

To throw a comedy festival in LA, you have to bring something special to the table. The fact that there’s a festival’s worth of live comedy on a nightly basis (now that everything venue/show/etc. has returned after the pandemic) hasn’t really changed throughout the Greater LA Area.

With that in mind, Comedy Dynamics, one of the biz leader’s when it comes to producing comedy specials, is putting an entire eponymous festival this week, run out of NoHo’s El Portal Theatre that relies on their expertise. That’s right, it’s an entire week of comedy special tapings that hopes to capture lightning in a bottle from their favorites sourced from coast-to-coast including Samantha Ruddy, Cara Connors, Subhah Agarwal, Rachel Scanlon, Mary Basmadjian, Leah Rudick, Laurie Kilmartin, and Kylie Brakeman.

As it’s all tapings, the festival just so happens to be free to attend (so long as you RSVP) leaving you very little reason not to go. This Comedy Dynamics Festival runs from this Wed. Apr. 5th through Sun. Apr. 9th and you can RSVP for individual shows/tapings here.

Pick of the Day: Beautiful/CONonymous (in NYC) 5/4-5/7
February 17, 2023
News
beautiful anonymous, beautiful cononymous, brooklyn, chris gethard, comedy festival

Comedy festivals in such big hubs like LA and NYC are really hard to pull off. There’s the logistics side of it sure, but trying to bring up something different from the veritable festival that incidentally happens on a nightly basis in either city is a true challenge.

Thank goodness comedian/podcaster/raconteur Chris Gethard is back in the full of swing of things and throwing a Beautiful/CONonymous Festival come this May in Brooklyn. It will combine live tapings of Gethard’s signature podcast, Beautiful/Anonymous, as well as stand-up shows (complete with music from Shellshag, the band behind the Beautiful/Anonymous theme), meeting past callers from the podcast, waffles, dancing, and so much more.

Oh yeah, Wyatt Cenac, Joyelle Nicole Jonson, Adam Pally, Emmy Blotnick, Christi Chiello, Nick Fierro, Jo Firestone, Petey DeAbreu, Brittany Carney, Franco Danger, Andrew Fisher, and more comedians will be taking part in this four day comedy and feelings extravaganza too. Beautiful/CONonymous is set to run from Thurs. May 4th-Sun. May 7th at The Bell House (and Gethard watching Contact for the first time at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg).

It’s going to be truly something special and, hopefully, an annual thing for NYC comedy for a very long time to come.

You can get individual tickets for $25 a pop or a festival pass for $120. Whatever your choice is, make it fast and go get in on Beautiful/CONonymous here.

Life Is Beautiful Fest Is Back with Another Line-Up Worth Going to Vegas For
July 13, 2022
News
comedy festival, las vegas, life is beautiful fest, vegas comedy

Though Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Vegas has injected some new life into the comedy circuit in and around The Strip over the last few years, the primary attraction for going to Las Vegas has been and still is gambling.

That said, there are exceptions to that make it worth venturing to Sin City to catch something other than slot machines everywhere you look, professional gamblers playing poker at all hours of the day and night, and other activities that might be prohibited elsewhere in the U.S.

The Life Is Beautiful Fest is Vegas’ annual weekend festival that combines music, comedy, art, food, and more not unlike Tennesee’s Bonnaroo or SF’s Outside Lands and have quite the comedy line-up. For the 2022 edition, they stacked The Kicker, the comedy part of the fest, with one of NYC’s landmark shows, Butterboy with Jo Firestone, Aparna Nancherla, and Maeve Higgins, Joel Kim Booster who continues to have a banner year in 2022, the star upstart on SNL, Sarah Sherman, and even Hannah Einbinder and Megan Stalter playing Vegas as their brilliant selves versus Ava and Kayla on Hacks. Podcasts Going Deep with Chad and JT, Celebrity Book Club with Steven & Lily, and Y2YAY with Sydnee Washington and Marie Faustin are slated to go up at Life Is Beautiful Fest too running from Sept. 16th-18th in Downtown Vegas.

1-Day passes start from $180 plus fees and 3-Day passes start from $380 plus fees. If this all up your alley, go get passes right here right now.

The Elysian Is Throwing Its First Festival (and Is Now Taking Submissions)
June 3, 2022
News
comedy festival, elysian theater, experimental comedy, los angeles, los angeles comedy, open call, open submissions, underrepresented

In under a year’s time, The Elysian has made waves in the LA comedy scene and has become a hub for so many weird and wonderful folks that were scattered to the many winds of comedy when 2020 reared its grotesque head.

Now, they’re making another big mark on the scene by throwing their very own festival that will specifically “serve as a springboard for underrepresented creators and unusual work.” The Elysian’s First Festival will happen over ten nights from Oct. 20th-30th and is really open to lots of wild ideas, even if they’re not strictly comedy.

If you get picked, you’ll get a very nice neat package to help you develop the sweet idea you had for the festival including:

– A night at the Elysian
– A $500 production stipend
– Creative development support through a mentor from the Elysian community
– Promotional support, including headshots, graphic design support, and a professional recording of your show
– Tech support, including a full three hour tech rehearsal
– Free admission to the other shows in the festival
– Some kinda Fest swag

The deadline is Mon. Jun. 20th at midnight PT and you can potentially be part of the Elysian’s First Festival by submitting here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 102: Val Douroux & Starting Comedy Festivals
March 9, 2022
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
comedy festival, electric comedy, utah, val douroux

Of all the grandiose comedy goals one might have had over the last two years, starting a comedy festival in a national park in Utah was probably both far out of sight as well as far from being a potential reality. The effervescent and determined writer/comedian/producer Val Douroux truly pulled off doing a comedy festival in Zion National Park with the Electric Comedy Festival, not once, but twice. Douroux walks through that journey of starting a DIY comedy festival in the unlikeliest of times with TCB’s Jake Kroeger and shares in her joy for the art form.

Also “hot” takes on Muppet Mayhem, Spirit Award comedy winners, and more.

Follow Val @valdouroux on IG and Electric Comedy at @electriccomedynight on IG and @comedy_electric on Twitter

Photo by David Dudley

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

SXSW 2022 Announces SXSW Comedy Festival Line-Up for This Year (Yep, the First One Since 2020)
February 28, 2022
News
asssscat, byron bowers, comedy festival, creek and the cave, eddie pepitone, jim gaffigan, joe derosa, john cleese, jon daly, matt besser, mitra jouhari, rosebud baker, shane torres, sxsw, the comedy store, three busy debras

In Jan./Feb. 2020, we were so excited that we were getting to go to SXSW for their big comedy shindig for the first time. For years, SXSW’s comedy off-shoot was a pretty big, fantastic swell of comedy in Austin, an already very solid, thriving comedy scene as is.

2020 was 2020 and, of course, that didn’t happen. SXSW was actually one of the world’s first major festivals to postpone indefinitely due to COVID-19.

Now, here in Feb. 2022, SXSW is thankfully resuming their comedy festival and are doing things up bigger than we remember from last time. From Mar. 11th-19th, those in attendance will get to see the comedy stylings of:

Alyssa Stonoha • Andy Haynes • Anthony Atamanuik • Blair Socci • Bonnie McFarlane • Bruce McCulloch • Byron Bowers • Camilla Cleese • Danielle Schneider • Doug Benson • Dulcé Sloan • Eddie Pepitone • Eleanor Kerrigan • Emma Willman • Ian Lara • Jessica Michelle Singleton • Jim Gaffigan • Joe DeRosa • John Cleese • John Gemberling • Jon Daly • Kiry Shabazz • Liza Treyger • Logan Guntzelman • Marina Franklin • Mary Lynn Rajskub • Matt Besser • Matthew Broussard • Mike Lawrence • Mike Yard • Mitra Jouhari • Nick Thune • Punkie Johnson • Rich Vos • Ricky Velez • Rosebud Baker • Sandy Honig • Scott Thompson • Sean Patton • Shane Torres • Stuart Goldsmith • Vanessa Gonzalez • Yamaneika Saunders

as well as special presentations/events:

Adult Swim Presents Three Busy Debras Season 2 Sneak Peek •  ASSSSCAT (the first in-person since 2020) • The Comedian’s Comedian • A Night at the Comedy Store • Comedy with the Cleeses • The Creek & The Cave • Doug Loves Movies • Find Your Beach • Gotham Comedy Club • improv4humans • Matt Besser’s 420 Show • Roast Battle • The Stand NYC • Wide World of Dougs • Would You Bang Him?

Since SF Sketchfest had to postpone again, this will be the first big comedy festival of 2022 and you wouldn’t want to miss that, now would you?

If you don’t already have a badge for SXSW, you best get on that right now, right here.

Moontower JFL Austin Makes Its First, Very Big Inaugural Line-Up Announcement
January 19, 2022
News
austin tx, comedy festival, just for laughs, moontower

In 2021, however long ago that was, it was announced that the forces of the Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival and Just For Laughs were joining forces to expand from a four-day Austin, TX based comedy festival to more than double the size.

Well, as of today’s initial line-up announcement, it looks like Moontower JFL Austin (or MJFLA?) has definitely kicked it up a few notches with a pretty damn big first line-up announcement. Just from this first batch, MJFLA has over 80 comedians and 20 shows sourced from around all the country including Marc Maron, Nicole Byer, Nikki Glaser, Please Don’t Destroy, Michelle Buteau, and way more lined-up with a promise of even more to comics and comedy to be jam packed into the eleven days between Apr. 13th-24th, 2022.

Hopefully, when MJFLA comes around, that will makes us all feel a little less forlorn that we’ll have to wait another entire year before SF Sketchfest happens in person again.

Take a gander at the whole first portion of the MJFLA line-up below:

Abby Roberge

Adrienne Iapalucci

Ali Macofsky

Andrew Murphy

Andy Haynes

Andy Kindler

Angelina Martin

Anthony DeVito

Ashley Sharma

Avery Moore

Big Jay Oakerson

Brandi Davis

Brett VerVoort

Brian Gaar

Carlton Wilcoxson

Carmen Lynch

Cat Cohen

Chris Cubas

Chris Redd

Christina P

Dan Soder

Daniel Van Kirk

Danny Goodwin

Deb DiGiovanni

Deon Cole

Donnell Rawlings

Dylan Sullivan

Elizabeth Spears

Emma Willmann

Emmy Blotnick

Erica Rhodes

Goddamn Comedy Jam

Grace Kuhlenschmidt

Guy Branum

Hannah Berner

Holly Hart

Hunter Duncan

Ian Edwards

Irene Tu

Ivan Decker

Jackie Kashian

James Austin Johnson

Janelle James

Jay Whitecotton

Jeremiah Watkins

Jessica Kirson

Jesus Trejo

Joe Mande

Josh Adam Meyers

Joyelle NIcole Johnson

Kelsey Cook

Kurt Braunohler

Langston Kerman

Laurie Kilmartin

Maddy Smith

Marc Maron

Mark Normand

Matt Sadler

Michelle Buteau

Mike Macrae

Moshe Kasher

Natasha Leggero

Nathan Macintosh

Nick Saverino

Nicole Byer

Nikki Glaser

Not Another Dungeons & Dragons Podcast

Orlando Leyba

Pat Regan

Pat Sirois

Please Don’t Destroy

Rachel Feinstein

Rosebud Baker

Sasheer Zamata

Sawyer Stull

Scotty Landes

Sean Donnelly

Shapel Lacey

Solomon Georgio

Sophie Buddle

Taylor Dowdy

The Sklar Brothers

Trevor Wallace

Tyler Groce

Zac Brooks

Zach Zucker

Andy Kindler’s Particular Show

Bananas with Kurt Braunohler and Scotty Landes

Cat Cohen & Friend

Celebrate! with Sean Donnelly

Disgusting Hawk with Jessica Kirson

Dumb People Town with The Sklar Brothers and Daniel Van Kirk

Endless Honeymoon with Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher

Find Your Beach with Rosebud Baker and Andy Haynes

Glow Show hosted by Joey Z

Jack Tucker Comedy Standup Hour

My Dad Isn’t Danny DeVito with Anthony DeVito

My Momma Told Me with Langston Kerman

Seek Treatment with Cat Cohen and Pat Regan

Soccer Comic Rant with Ian Edwards

Stamptown with Zach Zucker

Stand-up On the Spot with Jeremiah Watkins

Tag It! with The Sklar Brothers

The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers

The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Dan Soder

The Jackie and Laurie Show with Jackie Kashian and Laurie Kilmartin

The Joke of Painting with Andrew Murphy and Avery Moore

The Worst with Big Jay Oakerson

Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

Stay up to date and get badges for Moontower Just For Laughs Austin here.

SF Sketchfest Will Return in a Year
January 14, 2022
News
comedy festival, sf comedy, sf sketchfest
Thanks to the Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19, SF Sketchfest had to postpone their in-person shows for another year. It was awful news after the year that 2020 and 2021 had been and the boatloads of levity that the gigantic annual comedy festival brings to any and all that are in attendance.
So, SF Sketchfest is foregoing trying to schedule something for later 2022 and opting to have their next in-person edition happen in 2023 when they would normally have it both for safety and venue availability reasons. Specifically, Jan. 20th-Feb. 5th, 2023 is when SF Sketchfest will rise again and, hopefully, the pandemic will be under much more control by then.
In regards to what current ticket holders might be able to do, the organizers of SF Sketchfest have advised, “…to hang on to their tickets as the festival reaches out to each and every ticket holder as soon as possible with new dates, details and options.” 
You can keep a close watch on any new updates (maybe an online satellite show of some kind?) at sfsketchfest.com.

Moontower Just For Laughs Austin Set for Apr. 13th-24th & Badges Are Now on Sale
December 10, 2021
News
comedy festival, just for laughs, mjfla, moontower

Earlier this year, the comedy institutions of Moontower and JFL joined forces to expand the annual Moontower Comedy & Oddity Festival from a weekend affair into a much bigger week and change extravaganza to be called Moontower Just For Laughs Austin.

They hadn’t locked down dates at the time, but it was announced that Wednesday, April 13th to Sunday, April 24th boasting over 100 comedians throughout 10 venues. The specifics of that have yet to be revealed, but we have no doubt that go to venues, especially the Paramount Theatre, will be a big part of the festival and that there will be a myriad of national touring headliners and big time comedy podcasts and bright and shining new rising stars of comedy based in Austin, TX.

If you miss watching comedy in Austin badly, you don’t even have to wait for the inevitable poster stacked with so many of your favorite comedians. You can buy your MJFLA badge right now starting at $125 and going up all the way to $1,250 for premium VIP benefits and access.

Go get those badges and stay tuned for the MFJLA line-up here.

SF Sketchfest Makes Gigantic First 2022 Line-Up Announcement
November 19, 2021
News
comedy festival, sf comedy, sf sketchfest

The days of having a ponderously big line-up for a live, in-person comedy festival seems like such a thing of a decade ago, despite Jan. 2020 (the last “normal” SF Sketchfest) only being nearly two year in the past.

Well, on this side of the pandemic, we’re getting back to SF Sketchfest being at full strength and announcing their massive schedule/line-up that spans around three weeks of some of the best comedy from North America and beyond. This morning, they just made the first official line-up announcement for 2022 SF Sketchfest running Jan. 7th-23rd, and, oh boy howdy, is it an early holiday gift for comedy fans of all kinds.

Just take a gander at what they’ve going so far:

SPECIAL EVENTS & LIVE IN-PERSON TRIBUTES

  • SF Sketchfest Tribute to Cheech & Chong
    50th Anniversary Celebration with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong in conversation with Ben Fong-Torres
  • SF Sketchfest Tribute to Laraine Newman
    with friends Dana Gould, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen and Cole Stratton
  • SF Sketchfest Tribute to David Alan Grier
    in conversation
  • SF Sketchfest Roast of Bruce Campbell
    with guests Jeffrey Combs, Sharon Gless, David Alan Grier, Kane Hodder, Cassandra Peterson (AKA Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), Ted Raimi, Jennifer Tilly and roastmaster Dana Gould
  • “Perfect Strangers” 35th Anniversary
    with Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot
  • “Viva Variety” 25th Anniversary Tribute
    A Very Special Evening with Mr. and the former Mrs. Laupin and Johnny Blue Jeans, aka Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Michael Ian Black, in conversation with Ken Marino
  • “Role Models” Live Read
    with David Cross, Beth Dover, Nyima Funk, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Phil LaMarr, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, A.D. Miles, Adam Scott, Bobb’e J. Thompson, David Wain, Matt Walsh and more, with live music by the Red Room Orchestra
  • The 5 Year Anniversary of the 10 Year Anniversary of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival
    with Eugene Mirman and friends Jena Friedman, Janeane Garofalo, Kristen Schaal, Sarah Vowell, Reggie Watts, and more
  • Let’s Make a Poop! With Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
    Game show podcast with celebrity panelists including “Weird Al” Yankovic and more
  • The 1491s
  • Asian AF
    with Jason Choi, Will Choi, Miss Golightly, Misha Han, Mic Nguyen and more
  • Maria Bamford
    with Jenny Yang
    Live at the Sydney Goldstein Theater
  • The Black Version
    with Jordan Black, Nyima Funk, Daniele Gaither, Phil LaMarr, Karen Maruyama, Gary Anthony Williams and Cedric Yarbrough
  • David Cross: I’m From the Future
    with Irene Tu
  • The Improvised Shakespeare Company
  • Judge John Hodgman
    with John Hodgman and Jesse Thorn
  • Stuff You Should Know
    with Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant
  • Upright Citizens Brigade: ASSSSCAT
    with Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, D’Arcy Carden, Jessica McKenna, Tim Meadows, Zach Reino and more
  • Varietopia with Paul F. Tompkins and more
CINEMA & TELEVISION SPOTLIGHTS
  • The Benson Movie Interruptions: “The Goonies” and “The Lost Boys”
    with Doug Benson and surprise guests
  • “Futurama” vs. COVID-3019!
    with David X. Cohen, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Lee Supercinski, Lauren Tom and Billy West
  • A Narfy Afternoon with “Pinky and the Brain”
    with Maurice LaMarche & Rob Paulsen, moderated by Cole Stratton
  • Riffapalooza
    with Bill Corbett, Frank Conniff, Kevin Murphy, Mary Jo Pehl, Jonah Ray and J. Elvis Weinstein
IMPROV & SKETCH
  • BriTANick
  • Dinosaur Improv
    with Owen Burke, Chad Carter, Rob Huebel, Jason Mantzoukas, Seth Morris, Charlie Sanders, Paul Scheer and more
  • The Groundlings: Cookin’ With GAS
  • Killing My Lobster
    With Cobranauts, Hosted by Mark Smalls
  • Naked Babies
    with John Ross Bowie, Rob Corddry, Brian Huskey and Seth Morris / PalmerTrolls with Ben Palmer
  • Please Leave The Bronx and The Great Difficulties
    Hosted by Matt O’Brien
  • SponTourCo
    with Paul F. Tompkins, Eugene Cordero, Tawny Newsome and Janet Varney
  • SuperMarried
    with John Ross Bowie and Jamie Denbo / Grifter, Hosted by Haley Hoffmeister
  • Theme Park Improv
    with Ian Brennan, Simon Helberg, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Jessica Makinson, Oscar Nuñez, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney with guest monologist Wendi McLendon-Covey
  • White Women
    with Ronnie Adrian, Zeke Nicholson, Ify Nwadiwe, Ishmel Sahid, Carl Tart and Lamar Woods
  • 3Peat
    with TSTMRKT, Hosted by Alexandria Love
THEATER & STORYTELLING
  • Bruce and Friend Kevin
    with Bruce McCulloch and Kevin McDonald
  • Celebrity Autobiography
    with Mario Cantone, Sharon Gless, Tony Hale, Wendi McClendon-Covey, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nuñez, Eugene Pack, and Jennifer Tilly
  • The Comedy Pack
    An afternoon of short comedies by Eugene Pack starring Tony Hale, Tim Kazurinsky, Oscar Nuñez, Jennifer Tilly, George Wendt, and more
  • Fake TED Talks
    with Jean Grae, Bruce McCulloch, Paul & Storm, Adam Savage, Laser Malena-Webber and more
  • Lottie Platchett Took a Hatchet!
    with Drew Droege, Tom Lenk, Ryan Garcia, Jessica Hanna, Tom DeTrinis, Justin Elizabeth Sayre and Pete Zias
  • The Medievalists: a play reading by Bill Corbett
    with Paget Brewster, Jason Ritter, James Urbaniak and more
  • Mortified
  • Porchlight: A Storytelling Series
    with guests David Cross, Chris Garcia, A.D. Miles, Ify Nwadiwe, and Atsuko, hosted by Beth Lisick and Arline Klatte, with music by Marc Capelle
  • RISK! with Kevin Allison
    with guests Mary Jo Pehl, Jonah Ray, Shalewa Sharpe and more
  • Selected Shorts: Too Hot for Radio
    with Tony Hale, Baron Vaughn and more
  • Stop Joking for 100 Years And Other Requests From My Kid (Stories of Parenting and Childhood)
    with Eugene Mirman and friends Nore Davis, Jena Friedman, Janeane Garofalo, Dana Gould, Natasha Leggero, Bobby Tisdale, Baron Vaughn, Reggie Watts and Jenny Yang
PODCASTS & TALK SHOWS
  • Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak
  • Alchemy This with Kevin Pollak
    with Chris Alvarado, Craig Cackowski, Joey Greer, James Heaney and Cole Stratton
  • The Bechdel Cast with Caitlin Durante and Jamie Loftus
  • The Bitchuation Room
    with Francesca Fiorentini, Nato Green and more
  • Community Focused Dynamics with Kaseem Bentley and Murahd Shawkey
  • Dead Eyes with Connor Ratliff
  • Doug Loves Movies with Doug Benson
  • The Endless Honeymoon Podcast with Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero
  • Gettin’ Better with Ron Funches
  • The George Lucas Talk Show
    With Patrick Cotnoir, Connor Ratliff and Griffin Newman
  • The Greatest Generation
    with Adam Pranica and Benjamin Ahr Harrison
  • Hello From the Magic Tavern
    with Arnie Niekamp, Adal Rifai and Matt Young
  • Hey Riddle Riddle
    with Erin Keif, JPC, Adal Rifai and more
  • John Hodgman & Adam Savage: Spin-a-Wheel Conversation
  • Jordan, Jesse, Go!
    with Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn
  • Lady to Lady
    with Tess Barker, Babs Gray and Brandie Posey
  • Live Wire with Luke Burbank
  • Mission to Zyxx
  • Nature Talks to Itself
    with Jace Armstrong and Justin Michael and guest D’Arcy Carden and more
  • Nerd Rage: The Great Debates
  • Off Book: The Improvised Musical with Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino
  • Pod Yourself a Gun: A Sopranos Podcast
    with Matt Lieb, Vince Mancini and Brent Flyberg
  • Ringheads with Bill Corbett and Sean Thomason
  • Talking Simpsons
  • Will You Accept This Rose? with Arden Myrin
    with Paget Brewster
  • Yo, Is This Racist? with Tawny Newsome and Andrew Ti
    with Mohanad Elshienky and Jean Grae
STAND-UP COMEDY
  • Todd Barry
    with Ever Mainard and Paco Romane
  • Janeane Garofalo
  • Joel Kim Booster’s Joy F*ck Club
    with Atsuko, Nori Reed, Jes Tom, Irene Tu
  • An Evening with Jeff Garlin: “Use Me” Tour
  • Michael Winslow
  • RB Butcher
    with Hayden Kristal
  • Beth Stelling
    with Ever Mainard and Hosted by Ja-Ron Young
  • Sasheer Zamata
  • Shane Torres
    with Mike Carrozza and Jane Harrison
  • Atsuko & Friends
    with Atsuko, Michael Ian Black and more
  • Smug Shift with Moshe Kasher and Brent Weinbach
    and guests Demi Adejuyigbe, Johnny Pemberton, Robin Tran and more
  • Everything’s Great!
    with Demi Adejuyigbe, Nick Kocher and Addie Weyrich and guests Ginny Hogan, Natasha Leggero and more
  • Jay Jurden / Peter Smith
    Hosted by Marcus Williams
  • The Charm Offensive
    with Krista Fatka, Paco Romane and David Roth and guests Julie Ash, Dro Knows, Jade Theriault and Marcus Williams
  • Comedy Baseball
    with Steve Ausburne, Matt Baetz, Colin Braun, DNA, Greg Gettle, Justin Gomes, Andrew Holmgren, Ben Kolina, Robert Omoto, Ivy Vasquez, Natasha Vinik and Mikey Walz
  • Cosplay Comedy
    with Leiroy Abueg, K. Cheng, Kyle Chrise, Jason Cole, April Cowgur, Bryce Druzin, Sarah Giambruno, Janie Hanmaker Gunn, Alexander McAllister, Arturo Raygoza and Hank Romero
  • Diversity Hires
    with Luisa Isbell and Sureni Weerasekera and guests Hayden Kristal, Alvin Kuai, Alexandria Love and Moe Yaqub
  • Donde Esta Mi Comedy? with Baruch Porras Hernandez
    and guests Julian Fernandez, Isa Medina, Jota Mercury and Armando Torres
  • DOPE Show with Kaseem Bentley and Murahd Shawkey
    with guests Ehsan Ahmad, Wally Baram, Ian Levy, Dauood Naimyar, Joshua Stokes and Sureni Weerasekera
  • Facial Recognition Comedy
    with Zahra Ali, Fizaa Dosani, Pallavi Gunalan, Sabeen Sadiq and more
  • Femmes The Rules
    with Mary Jane French, Sammy Mowrey and Bailey Norton and guests Jeena Bloom, Katrina Davis, Tyler Jackson, Drew Lausch, Ever Mainard and Mateen Stewart
  • Funnilingus
    with Dana Donnelly, Pallavi Gunalan and Ellory Smith and guests Blair Dawson, Diana Hong, Leah Rudick, Laura Sanders and Atheer Yacoub
  • The Gateway Show with Billy Anderson
    and guests Scott Eason, Melissa Shoshahi, Billy Sullivan, Armando Torres,
  • Interruption Show with Dalia Malek
    and guests Alex Falcone, Holly Lynnea, Matt Knudsen, Mic Nguyen and Chad Opitz
  • Jolli-baes with Andrew Orolfo
    and guests Marcus Cardona, Aivy Cordova, Andrew Lopez and Wilfred Padua
  • Kwaczala-palooza with Joe Kwaczala
    and guests Luke Craig, Dana Donnelly, Alex Falcone, Ellory Smith and Torio Van Grol
  • Lady to Lady and Ladyfriends
    with Tess Barker, Babs Gray and Brandie Posey and guests Alyssa Al-Dookhi, Nataly Aukar, Katrina Davis, Veronica Kwiatkowski and JoAnn Schinderle
  • Locals Only!
    with Steven Asifo, Hayley Beacon, Justin Careesi, Max Eddy, Geulah Finman, Jesse Hett, Gary Hughes, Nick Leonard, Orion Levine, Jeanette Marin, Melissa McGillicuddy, Annette Mullaney, Luke Soin, Ta’Vi, Jade Theriault, Travis Thielen, Andrew Young  and  Zorba Jevon Hughes
  • Mental Health Comedy Hour
    with Wonder Dave and Kristee Ono and guests Lola Anthema,Kari Burt and Dan Weber
  • The Old School Comedy Masters
    with Larry “Bubbles” Brown, Mike Meehan and Johnny Steele
  • Resistance is Fertile
    with Brooke Heinichen and Luisa Isbell and guests Darlene Bereznicki, Loren Kraut, Becky Lynn, JoAnn Schinderle and Ally Taylor
  • The Setup
    with Abhay and Richard Sarvate and guests Virginia Jones, Lizzie Martinez, Joe Praino, Steven Rogers and Atheer Yacoub
  • Special Release: Dhaya Lakshminarayanan & Karinda Dobbins
  • Talkies
    with George Chen, Aviva Siegel, Land Smith and Nick Stargu and guests Katie-Ellen Humphries, Chad Opitz, Jay Shingle and Jordan Thewlis
  • The SF Sketchfest Dozen:
    Will Miles & Blair SocciMike Drucker & Nori Reed
    Amy Miller & Zach Zimmerman
    Johnny Pemberton & Jenny Yang
    Shalewa Sharpe & Sam Tallent
    Fumi Abe & Joyelle Nicole Johnson
  • SF Sketchfest Threesomes:
    Grant Gordon & Hannah Pilkes & Jeff Wright
    Katrina Davis & Hanna Dickinson & Mike Merrill
  • SF Sketchfest Killer Lineups:
    Chris Garcia, Kate Willett, Sahib Singh, Jes Tom, Shain Brenden and Seth Allen
    Nore Davis, Robin Tran, Andrew Orolfo, Maeve Press, Casey Ley and Nick Sahoyah
    Mohanad Elshieky, Yamaneika Saunders, Orlando Leyba, Kenice Mobley, Joe Kwaczala and Laura Sanders
VARIETY & GAME SHOWS
  • Choose Your Own Adventure — A Drag Show
  • Comedy Psychos
    with Leiroy Abueg, Holly Annabel Brown, The Advertising Brothers, Joel Jimenez, Chris Riggins and Alyssa Westerlund
  • The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin
  • Drennon Davis & DJ Real
    Hosted by Darlene Bereznicki
  • Filipino AF
    with Will Choi and Joy Reguillano
  • Get It?! with Joe Klocek
    with Joseph Anolin, Aivy Cordova and Ryan Goodcase
  • Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm & Friends
  • Kyle Gordon / Don’t Watch This Show Live!
    Hosted by Krista Fatka
  • Music Night
    with The Doubleclicks, DJ Real, Chaki, The Satan Sisters, Ben Visini and Mikey Deadleg
  • Play Date with Puddles, Dave Hill and Steve Agee
  • Shit Arcade with Mike Drucker
  • Tinder Live with Lane Moore and Janeane Garofalo
  • Turning Tricks — The Magic Show
    with Robert Strong and guest magicians Jade, Jay Alexander, Kevin Blake, Andrew Evans and David Gerard
  • Uptown Showdown Debate: “In Person vs. Remote”
    Hosted by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan with RB Butcher, Jen Friedman Dana Gould, Baron Vaughn and more
  • Vanessa Gonzalez / The Latino Comedy Project Presents: “Gentrif*cked!”
  • Wheels Off with Rhett Miller
    with Natasha Leggero

EMERGING STAND-UP, SKETCH, IMPROV & PODCASTS

Abhay, Aivy Cordova, Alex Falcone, Alex Price, Alexandria Love, Ali Clayton, Ally Taylor, Alvin Kuai, Alyssa Al-Dookhi, Alyssa Westerlund, Andrew Holmgren, Andrew Lopez, Andrew Young, Annette Mullaney, Armando Torres, Arroz Con Pho, Arthur Gaus, Atheer Yacoub, Aviva Siegel, Babs Gray, Back Alley Racket Club, Bailey Norton, The Ballroom, Baruch Porras Hernandez, Becky Lynn, Ben Kolina, Ben Visini, The Big Boyzzz, Billy Anderson, Bingewatch, Black Cat Sketch Comedy, Blair Dawson, Brandie Posey, Brian Sullivan, Brooke Heinichen, Business Casual, Butt, Chad Opitz, Chaki, Chicken Scratch Improv, Chris Riggins, Clara Bijl, Cluedunit, Cobranauts, Colin Braun, Colin Mahan: Himselves, Comedy Dance Chicago, Dalia Malek, Dan Weber, Dana Donnelly, Darlene Bereznicki, Dauood Naimyar, David Nguyen, David Roth, Daytime Talk at Night, Diana Hong, DNA, The Doubleclicks, Drew Lausch, Dro Knows, Drunk Theatre, Ehsan Ahmad, Ellory Smith, Emily Walsh, Erick Hellwig, Ever Mainard, Fizaa Dosani, Fred Le, Friendo, Garage, Gary Hughes, George Chen, Geulah Finman, Ginny Hogan, Girls Night, Goldbaby, Granny Cart Gangstas, Greg Gettle, Grifter, Hayden Kristal, Hayley Beacon, Haley Hoffmeister, Holly Annabel Brown, Holly Lynnea, Isa Medina, Ian Levy, Improv All-Stars, Ivy Vasquez, Jack Blankenship: A Funeral For My Face, Jade Theriault, Jake Mattera, Jalisa Robinson, Jason Choi, James Mwaura, Jamie Wolf, Jane Harrison, Janesh Rahlan, Jay Shingle, Jeanette Marin, Jeena Bloom, Jenn Scott, Jeremy Furlong, Jesse Hett, JoAnn Schinderle, Joe Praino, Joel Jimenez, Joey Avery, John Hastings, John Kennedy, Jon Blair, Jordan Thewlis, Josef Anolin, Josh Covitt, Joshua Stokes, Jota Mercury, Julia Hladkowicz, Julian Fernandez, Julie Ash, Justin Careesi, K. Cheng, Kari Burt, Karthik Lavangu, Kaseem Bentley, Katie-Ellen Humphries, Krista Fatka, La Spazzatura, Lady ADHD, Land Smith, Laura Sanders, Lauren Vernea, Leah Rudick, Leiroy Abueg, Lemon Pepper Wet, The Lesbian Agenda with Sophie Santos, Linda Hollywood’s Big Hollywood Night, Living Impaired, Liz Stone, Lizzie Martinez, Loren Kraut, Lucas Zelnick, Luisa Isbell, Luke Craig, Luke Soin, Luxury Cruise Singles Mixe, Marcus Cardona, Marcus Williams, Mark Smalls, Martin Phillips, Maryland Night Live, Mateen Stewart, Matt Baetz, Matt Knudsen, Matt O’Brien, Matt Storrs, Max Eddy, Melissa McGillicuddy, Melissa Shoshahi, Mic Nguyen, Mike Lane: Mixed Race Sweetie, A Million Shetland Ponies, MIke Carrozza, Mikey Walz, Milwaukee!, Misha Han, Miss Directions, Model Minority, Moe Yaqub, Moon Goon, Murahd Shawkey, Nataly Aukar, Natasha Vinik, Nick Leonard, Nick Skardarasy, Nick Stargu, Odell & DeJong, Orion Levine, Paco Romane, Pallavi Gunalan, PalmerTrolls with Ben Palmer, Papp Johnson, Peet Guercio, Phil Griffiths, Public Works, RecRoom Improv, Reid Clark, Richard Sarvate, Robert Omoto, Ronn Vigh, Running With Glitter, Ryan Goodcase, Ryan Thomas, Sabeen Sadiq, Samantha Gilweit, Sami Sutker, The Satan Sisters, Scott Eason, Sean Keane, Seth Allen, Shain Brenden, Shoot the Moon, Squad Patrol, Stephen Taylor, Steven Asifo, Steven Rogers, Strong Male Leads, Super Black: An Improvised Blaxploitation Film, Sureni Weerasekera, Surviving San Francisco: Still Got That Weak-Ass Fro, TammyTeaLove, Ta’Vi, Tess Barker, Tony Camin, Torio Van Grol, Tory Ward, Travis Thielen, Trouble With Shapes, TSTMRKT, Ty Clay, Tyler Jackson, Veronica Kwaitkowski, Vincent Chuang, Virginia Jones, Walker Glenn, Wild Wild Christian, Wilfred Padua, Winslow, Women of Color Anonymous, Your Friends Comedy, Zach Wycuff, Zahra Ali, Zorba Jevon Hughes.

If you couldn’t find several comedy treasures for you in there, we honestly don’t know what to do with you.

Tickets for all SF Sketchfest shows will go on sale Sun, November 21 at 10AM PT/1PM ET. Get more details and buy tickets this Sunday at sfsketchfest.com.

Pick of the Day: North Coast Comedy Festival (in NYC) 10/5-10/10
October 4, 2021
News
astronomy club, borabish, comedy festival, north coast, nyc comedy, will hines

Sure, sure, there’s a big ol’ comedy festival coming to NYC in November that’s named after the city itself. However, that’s not the only comedy festival you should be looking forward to in the city. In fact, there’s a brand spankin’ new comedy festival having its debut this Tuesday 10/5 through Sunday 10/10, The North Coast Comedy Festival (and it won’t just be mostly stand-up).

In fact, it’s put on by NYC’s very own hip hop improv group North Coast and will feature so much of NY’s best sketch and improv (and some great stand-up too) including Astronomy Club, Borabish, The Shuffle, Will Hines, and so much more.

It’s all (and that’s 18 shows total) going down at Asylum NYC in Chelsea. You can get a festival pass for access to all the shows for $180 or get tickets to three of your choice for $49. Go get those passes and more details (including line-up and schedule) here.

Moontower Comedy Festival Partners with JFL to Expand from 4 Day to 10 Day Festival
September 24, 2021
News
comedy festival, just for laughs, moontower comedy

Collabs in any sector were one of the defining things of creative endeavors of this era. The pandemic has accelerated the trend as brands, companies, initiatives, and even festivals have partnered up to stand stronger in numbers.

When it comes to comedy festivals in North America, both Austin’s Moontower Comedy Festival and the various festivals operating under the Just For Laughs umbrella are top tier. Just announced today, both Moontower and JFL are partnering to create the Moontower Just For Laughs Austin festival set for next Spring, April 2022. Undoubtedly, the cache between the two will make for a more formidable comedy line-up than Moontower already commands, but details as to what that might be like have yet to be revealed.

However, Moontower JFL Austin will span 10 days as opposed to the 4 day weekend that Moontower has covered in years previous. Considering that a good chunk of comedy moved down to Austin during the pandemic merely because it was open, despite COVID-19 not being over, before much of the rest of North America, we can’t wait to see what sort of programming Moontower/JFL are going for and how much they’re going to balance national/international acts with local talent (which very well might include comedians that transplanted from LA and NYC).

We’ll just have to wait and see, but MJFLA ought to be one of the biggest comedy festivals on the continent from what’s being hinted at here.

One of the First In-Person Comedy Festivals This Year Will Be in Brooklyn: The Tiny Cupboard Penthouse Comedy Summer Comedy Festival
June 18, 2021
News
brooklyn, comedy festival, nyc comedy, tiny cupboard

OK, so Moontower is in September. JFL is going to Cancun in the Fall. Then, there’s a bunch of big time comedy festivals that are counting on 2022 to do their thing in person (Edinburgh Fringe, SF Sketchfest).

Now, with the full tilt sprint of live comedy reopening across the biggest cities in the U.S., one might be wondering if there’s going to be a comedy festival before any of the aforementioned happenings.

Well, Brooklyn’s Tiny Cupboard, which has been holding down local stand-up comedy in Brooklyn, for however long this pandemic has lasted. To mark their run, they’re holding their very own festival in August, with Penthouse Comedy (who has also been very active in doing in-person shows in NYC), that utilizes their rooftop and their indoor space, The Pink Church, for four days.

The festival has been minted as The Tiny Cupboard Penthouse Comedy Summer Comedy Festival (or maybe people will start calling it TCPCSCF?).

Like a festival should, they’ve got a massive line-up that features many of NYC comedy’s best and brightest stand-ups, podcasts, and more. Just take a gander at that flyer and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

Tickets are only $25 for a single day pass and $75 for all four days. Best go get them here.

Just For Laughs Is Headed Down to Cancún for JFL Escapes!
June 11, 2021
News
comedy festival, debra digiovanni, jfl, jim jefferies, nicole byer, nikki glaser, ron funches, The Goddamn Comedy Jam, tom segura

As the prospect of travel to more than wherever you can drive in your car becomes better and better, we fully expect to see comedy festivals pop up in some pretty exotic locales. Just For Laughs is already leading the way by taking themselves all the way on down from Canada to the sunny beaches of Cancún, Mexico.

From Nov. 3rd-7th, Jim Jefferies, Nicole Byer, Tom Segura, Nikki Glaser, Ron Funches, Debra DiGiovanni, The Goddamn Comedy Jam, and more will be taking over to do comedy shows for what we normally thought of just as spring break destination. In addition to shows, there will be a whole package that provides 5-star resort accommodations, parties of all kinds, and other JFL exclusive events.

The early bird package prices for everything are starting at $859, but note that you will be fully refunded if the festivities get rescheduled due to COVID-19 (as that pesky pandemic is still not over).

Go get more details/book a package here.

Netflix Is a Joke Festival Is Happening in 2022
June 7, 2021
News
comedy festival, netflix, netflix is a joke fest

One of the first major comedy festivals to get taken away by COVID-19 was what was supposed to be LA’s next big comedy festival, Netflix Is a Joke Festival. They had all sorts of big time headliners and plenty of their handpicked talent lined up for dozens and dozens of shows set for spring 2020.

Of course, that didn’t happen and seemingly, we were unsure of the fate of the festival when it the whole thing was scrapped as lockdown took hold in America.

Now, Netflix is aiming for Apr. 29th-May 8th of 2022, ostensibly just over two years from the original date for the actual, inaugural Netflix Is a Joke Festival. No line-up is announced as of yet, but trust that with several months time and it being Netflix footing the bill, it’s will very likely big and, by then, you might not even need a mask to watch a comedy show indoors.

Get more info at netflixisajokefest.com

The Santa Cruz Comedy Festival Will Still Be Happening This Year (as a Drive-In)
September 25, 2020
News
alexandria love, butch escobar, comedy festival, dave ross, dna's comedy lab, drive in theater, jason burke, kevin camia, laurie kilmartin, merrill davis, stand up comedy

For six years, Santa Cruz has been treated to their very own comedy festival thanks to its local comedy club, DNA’s Comedy Lab.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which it feels almost necessary to reiterate that it’s still very much happening and there’s still very much not a vaccine, has kept most comedy clubs closed and made nearly all comedy festival cancel or postpone their dates or go for a virtual edition. Drive-in comedy shows have also been an option that have arisen in this time, though mainly only taken on by acts that were big enough of a draw to support a nationwide tour of big theaters.

DNA’s Comedy Lab is breaking new ground by doing their 7th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival completely as a drive-in next month, Sat. Oct. 3rd-Sun. Oct. 4th. They’ll be staging at in the parking lot of Saturn Cafe/Walgreens at 201 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA. For a handful shows over these two nights, they’ve got a damn good line-up with Laurie Kilmartin, Kevin Camia, Merrill Davis, Dave Ross, Jason Burke, Alexandria Love, and Butch Escobar.

If you’re up for venturing up to Santa Cruz, you might want to catch this drive-in comedy festival, perhaps one of the first of its kind in just a couple of weeks.

Tickets are $60 per car, $10 of which go to benefit the Ben Lomond Volunteer Fire Department. Go snag your tickets here.

Did you think we would miss a year of the Santa Cruz Comedy Festival?? HA! We’re back baby with an epic lineup and we’re doing it drive in style! Check out https://t.co/DjoPoOhnyr for details & tickets ? 10/3-10/4 pic.twitter.com/8mWVNjaUmI

— DNA's Comedy Lab (@DNASComedyLab) September 22, 2020

The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival Is Next Comedy Festival Happening Virtually
August 27, 2020
News
comedy festival, palm springs, palm springs international comedy festival, virtual festival

A la Robert Frost, some comedy festivals are opting to take the road less traveled and opting for a virtual edition of a festival rather than postpone or outright cancel. So far in 2020, off the top of our heads, there has been virtual comedy festivals from Adult Swim, Austin Sketch Fest, Flappers Comedy Club, and the Pack Theater and, for the time being, it would seem that will likely keep happening as the pandemic persists.

Now, The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival is taking the virtual route from Sun. Oct. 11th-Sun. Oct. 18th and will be live-streaming shows that include Stand-up, Improv, Sketch, Feature Film, Short Film, TV Pilot, Web Series, Animation, and Music. While you don’t actually get to enjoy the trappings of Palm Springs for the festival, the PSICF is indeed happening and you’ll get to tune into their shows at your leisure for a whole week. Tickets are $10-$40 depending on how much access you’d like to have.

If you’re a stand-up that would like to get in on the festival, they are still taking submissions until Sept. 15th.

To submit, get passes, and more details, visit psicf.org.

Netflix Is a Joke Fest Is Cancelled for 2020
July 10, 2020
News
comedy festival, los angeles, netflix, netflix is a joke, netflix is a joke fest

It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion than any sort of big festival that had been slated for most of 2020 is getting cancelled or, at best, postponed to 2021. That includes the inaugural run of Netflix’s big time comedy festival Netflix Is a Joke Fest that was going to be one of the notable comedy events that Los Angeles was going to be home to in quite some time.

Originally, Netflix Is a Joke Fest was going to happen just over a month after lockdown went into effect in Los Angeles. Then, it was postponed for later this year without very many other details. Now, as LA has suddenly turned into a hot spot for COVID-19, the streaming giant announced their decision to nix the festival entirely on this go around. Full refunds will be issued unlike other major festivals that have cancelled like SXSW, but as to what else might happen with Netflix Is a Joke Fest is a mystery at this point.

In fact, Netflix added in their announcement, “We will come back with something extra special, but until then, please stay safe.”

For the rest of the 2020 for comedy in LA, there are some shows that are lined up in October, but it’s best to think of those as tentative at this point.

 

The PIT’s 10th Annual Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest Is Another Festival Going Virtual and Is Taking Submissions
May 29, 2020
News
comedy festival, improv comedy, nyc, virtual festival

For much of the world, festivals are still far off from happening and, as such, many of them are opting to go virtual instead of just postponing until next year. NYC’s The PIT‘s is opting for the virtual option with their annual 10th Annual Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest, which will be streaming on July 4th (which will be nice especially if you’re worried about folks overdoing their 4th of July gathering).

They’ve partnered with @sociallydistantimprov, & @studentdriverimprov to put the entire online version of this Indie-Pendence Day Improv Fest and, yes, they’re taking submissions and, yes, they’re open to teams from anywhere and everywhere!

The deadline to submit your team will be Sun. Jun. 14th 9AM PT/12PM PT.

Get more details and submit here.

Ruby LA Queer Comedy Festival Is Going Virtual and Taking Submissions
May 28, 2020
News
comedy festival, lgbtq, ruby la queer comedy festival, submissions, the ruby la

As you well know the fate of festivals in these times are far off, some all the way in 2021, due to the necessity of social distancing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, many innovative minds persist and devise other ways to safely hold a festival and highlight performers that deserve the spotlight. One such festival is The Ruby LA Queer Comedy Festival as they are going to hold their annual LGBTQ focused fest, but will do so by live-streaming NEW, pre-recorded material/performances/sketches from the best LGBTQ voices in comedy.

Right now, they’re taking 3-5 videos submissions for:

  • Stand-up
  • Story-telling
  • Sketches
  • Songs
  • Characters
  • Rants
  • Performance Art
  • Or any funny thing you can think of to submit

The deadline to submit is Jun. 7th at 11:59PM PT and The Ruby LA Queer Comedy Festival will be live-streamed on Jun. 14th, then posted on Jun. 15th.

Submit and get more details here.

The Ruby LA Queer Comedy Festival 2020

Just For Laughs Montreal Rescheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 11
April 3, 2020
News
comedy festival, just for laughs, montreal, rescheduled

Normally, the internationally renowned Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival would be held annually in the summer in Montreal, Quebec as it has been for decades. Of course, as you well know, normal is on hiatus for awhile.

Yet, let it be known that will not be the case forever. JFL Montreal, that one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals will indeed still be happening, but will be now taking place from Sept. 29th-Oct. 11th.

That includes all of their star studded gala shows, New Faces, and the plethora of showcase shows that comprise their multi-week festival. We wouldn’t be surprised if attendance numbers might be closely monitored for social distancing and safety depending on where we’re all at this fall, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll livestream it (as we will all be well used to that by then).

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