comedy gives back – The Comedy Bureau

TCB Debriefing 9/13/23: Comedy Gives Back Healthnet, Real Time with Bill Maher, Strike Force Three, Luenell, Meme Fighter Hiring

September 13, 2023

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1. Comedy Gives Back, the 501 (c)3 non-profit dedicated to serving comedians and the comedy community, has just launched Comedy Gives Back Healthnet, a proposed low-cost alternative to healthcare (a thing that many comedians have to pay for out of pocket or, often times, just skip altogether). It’s not full on healthcare, but it’s $200 a year for:

-Smart Virtual Care ™, where you input your symptoms to receive advice from GigSafety.net’s network of healthcare professionals who check your symptoms and recommend a plan of action.
-One free telemed appointment annually (additional telemed appts vary depending on level of care needed, but start as low as $25)
-Access to low-cost and transparent pricing for prescriptions (existing and new)
-Access to low-cost and transparent pricing for Specialists, Hospital stays, X-rays, and more
-Access to virtual mental health therapy
-Access to a self-led recovery treatment program
-Access to risk-sharing health coverage (at an additional cost).

Get more details at comedygivesback.com/cgbhealthnet

2. Real Time with Bill Maher is set to return to air without its writers since they continue to be on strike. (Deadline). This means that late night will now consist of Bill Maher and Greg Gutfeld, which is almost as sad as how long the strike has gone.

3. The other hosts of late night are staying union strong for now and are opting to a live podcasting taping with the Jimmys (Kimmel and Fallon) and Colbert on Sept. 23rd in Vegas (Variety). Seth Meyers and John Oliver won’t be in attendance making it a “Strike Force Three” event though proceeds from the taping will go to the hosts’ respective staffs. If they really want to sell tickets they’ll have the majority of the conversation focused on Fallon and the past years at The Tonight Show.

4. Dave Chappelle’s name is actually not causing controversy today as his name is attached to a brand new Netflix special from the great Luenell, due out Sept 26th (Billboard). You’ve seen Luenell in countless TV shows and movies and you’ll now get to see her take center stage for her first Netflix special later this month.

5. Want to make memes as a job? Well, Meme Fighter is looking for you.

Meme Fighter is hiring for a part time MEME CONTENT CREATOR.

You read that right. We’re hiring someone to make memes for us.

Details, application instructions and more details here: https://t.co/KcKso0krSW

— Meme Fighter (@MemeFighterApp) September 13, 2023

6. We’ll leave you with this: comedy is richer when you have a life outside of it.

Pick of the Day: Comedy Gives Back-Laughing for Good (in LA) 12/8

November 29, 2022

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For a more comedy focused part of this Giving Tuesday, you might want to go get your ticket for Comedy Gives Back’s Laughing for Good, a very stacked night of stand-up comedy at the Hollywood Improv next Thurs. Dec. 8th at 8PM. Comedy Gives Back have been a safety net for comedians, for several years now, when it comes to needs for physical and mental health as well offering tons of grant money to comedians that were out of work as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This is a special night they’re putting on to raise money for their efforts that will be graced by the immeasurable comedy talents of Sarah Silverman, Gina Yashere, and Erin Jackson in conjunction with Comedy Central already pledging $10K as an official partner.

You won’t have to give $10K to go to the show. Tickets just start at $75 and go up to $250 if you’re feeling extra generous. More special guests will be announced that will very likely make it even more worth your while.

Go get them here or, if you can’t go to the show, you can donate directly to Comedy Gives Back here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 116: Comedy Give Back (Amber J Lawson & Zoe Friedman) & Looking Out for Comedians

June 15, 2022

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

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Though the comedians today aren’t as unhinged as those of decades past, the community of comedy is one that is still very much in need of supportive infrastructure rather than the less blind leading the more blind as it is now. Thanks to Comedy Gives Back, working comedians have some sort of a safety net as CGB is dedicated to making sure that comedians (who so often help folks get through the darkest of times), can get through their own dark times.

This week’s Comedy Bureau Field Report has two of the three founders of Comedy Gives Back, Amber J Lawson and Zoe Friedman, talk about their altruistic aims to make sure things like living expenses, health insurance, mental health, and more are covered rather than relying on a deluge of GoFundMe’s.

Comedy Gives Back’s Brody Stevens Festival of Friendship 818 Walk is on Aug. 20th. Register here.
Donate to Comedy Gives Back here.
Follow Comedy Gives Back on all platforms @comedygivesback

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

Pick of the Day: Brody Stevens Festival of Friendship 818 Walk (near LA) 8/20

May 25, 2022

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While comedy misses the great Brody Stevens dearly, we still hold his unstoppable POSITIVE ENERGY in all of our hearts since his passing in 2019. Comedy Gives Back, the org that serves, “as a safety net
for comedians in need of mental health services and addiction treatment,” is a big part of honoring Brody’s memory, which is why there will be the 2nd Brody Stevens Festival of Friendship 818 Walk benefitting Comedy Gives Back on Sat. Aug. 20th.

There will be a 5K walk from 11AM to 1PM in the streets of Reseda following the debut of the “Brody Forever 818″ mural in Brody’s hometown. There will be a ceremony right after the walk around 1PM PT featuring speakers and comedians all for Brody that you”ll not want to miss.

Registration is $50, but $60 if you do it on the day of. Get more details/register here.

Comedy Gives Back Launched BIPOC COVID-19 Stand Up Relief Fund for February

February 9, 2021

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Comedy Gives Back started early on in the pandemic with giving relief to comedians that were and would continue to be out of work. In fact, they did a gigantic 8 hour live-stream marathon to raise money for said relief fund.

While that was a big chunk of money that got spread out, they’re still very much on a mission to support comedians out of work in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically for the month of February, Comedy Gives Back is dedicated to issuing 400 BIPOC specific COVID-19 Stand Up Relief Grants. They actually popped into our weekly Office Hours on Clubhouse and said that there’s still plenty of free money from this fund to be given out if you qualify (i.e. you’re a BIPOC comedian and made money doing stand-up comedy above a certain threshold).

You can apply for this grant or, if you’re a saint of comedy, donate to the relief fund here. Note that you can apply for this grant even if you have received relief from their general fund.

Pick of the Day: Black Comics Matter-Benefit for Comedy Gives Back 9/24

September 17, 2020

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Though progress has been made for racial equity and meaningful representation for BIPOC, there is still a ways to go in that regard. Next Thursday, Sept. 24th at 6PM PT/9PM ET is a good chance to keep moving the needle forward with the Ladies of Comedy Association’s fundraiser for black performers via a BIPOC specific fund at Comedy Gives Back, an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of comedians, a group that historically doesn’t do well looking after themselves.

Slated to perform at noted virtual venue, Nowhere Comedy Club, is a stellar line-up critically acclaimed and rising star comedians including Janelle James, Dewayne Perkins, Calise Hawkins, Rob Haze, and host Franqi French.

Tickets are ranging from $20 to $500 and you can (and should) go get them here now.

December 30, 2019

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The verve of one Brody Stevens, who we unfortunately lost this year, will always live on in the millions of people that got to witness him, his spirit, his comedy, and all of his plethora of catchphrases.

Any opportunity to pay tribute and remember Brody should always be taken and thusly, you should find your way to this special event An Evening to Celebrate the Comedy of Steven Brody Stevens that honors Brody’s memory, premieres a YouTube channel for Brody (Yes! You got it!), and raise funds for the charitable organization Comedy Gives Back that seeks to aid comedians who are in dire straits with their mental or physical health and can’t afford help.

So, please go get your tickets for An Evening to Celebrate the Comedy of Steven Brody Stevens here.

Comedy Gives Back’s Live Stream Is Happening Right Now

November 6, 2013

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Comedy Gives Back’s Live Stream Is Happening Right Now

The international comedy digital telethon event in benefit for Malaria No More is happening right now at Dailymotion and will be going on all day through the night including the string of shows that will feature Dana Gould, Maria Bamford, Marc Maron, Garfunkel & Oates, Rhy Darby, Greg Behrendt, IFC, Earwolf, The Birthday Boys, Comedy Bang! Bang! and more at some point today.

You’re not doing anything all day today and have a bunch to donate, right?

Comedy Gives Back Doing Digital Comedy Telethon for Malaria No More

October 16, 2013

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Comedy Gives Back Doing Digital Comedy Telethon for Malaria No More

The old school is meeting the new school with a livestream, multiplatform comedy benefit done in the style of a telethon for Comedy Gives Back for Malaria No More, an organization dedicated to eradicating Malaria.

On Wed. Nov. 6th, Dailymotion will be streaming globally a 24 hours of live comedy sourced from live shows taking place all the way from London to Los Angeles to Sydney featuring the likes of Reggie Watts, Greg Berhendt, Rhys Darby, Marc Maron, Rove McManus, Eugene Mirman, and more.

You can buy tickets to one of the events as well as donate to Malaria No More right now all at the link.