comedy news

Morning Debriefing 1/7/12

1) The wildly popular comedy podcast that first rose to prominence as Comedy Death Ray, Comedy Bang Bang, is now going to be a show on IFC and now the world will know of its hilarity. (Hopefully, “the world” will be bigger than that of cable and Internet users that don’t generally watch comedy).

2) F’yeah! Eastbound and Down just dropped their promo for Season 3.

3) David Cross wore a giant sweatshirt on Kimmel (Parts One and Two).

4) Somewhat in the same vein, Andre Hyland, AKA Jesse Miller, eats old pizza on Channel 9 in Cincinnati. 

5) LA Weekly made one of the most solid comedy lists we’ve seen in the last several months with their 10 Comedy Acts to Watch in 2012 because some of the “most-in-the-know” people were consulted on it including us. Speaking of which, please take a look at our exhaustive list that basically tells you what comedy was in 2011.

6) Good job by the Oscars having Funny or Die help them with their first promo. It definitely works for us.

7) Alright, here’s a whole situation that we wished dearly didn’t happen:
–Patton Oswalt lashed out an audience member who was taping him from center 2nd row last Thursday at the Palace Restaurant consequently walking her and her two friends from the show that they just stopped into to see him.
-Upset at the degree of lashing out that occurred even after the audience member had left, comedienne Barbara Gray felt compelled to write about the event on her blog setting many in the comedy blogosphere to task writing about the virtue of not taping comedians working on material to make a living.
-Luckily, thankfully, and several other affirmative adverbs, Patton Oswalt wrote his own explanation and WILL continue to perform at the Palace Restaurant and other small venues “when he can”.
–Barbara Gray will continue to do stand-up, like she did wonderfully at last night’s 50 First Jokes, because being “blackballed” for writing something like that would be incredibly petty and unnecessary, especially for how talented (as Oswalt has said about her) she is.

9) So, Patton Oswalt, after his critically acclaimed Finest Hour, is already working on another album and Barbara Gray is going on tour. These are two things to definitely both be happy about and to watch for.

10) Another thing to be happy about: Riot LA’s Alternative Comedy Festival Total on Kickstarter: $6,879 of $20,000 with 27 days to go. 

11) ABC ran a story on Angelo Bowers and Josh Adam Meyers. It’s great to see that Angelo will be remembered on the LA local news. Maybe people in Cleveland will remember…

12) ON THE HORIZON
Herman Melville: A Whale of an Evening @ Hollywood Improv Lab Sun. Jan 15th 8PM $5
Portlandia @ Echoplex Mon. Jan 16th 8:30PM 

13) COMEDY CRAWL
Harland Williams @ Irvine Improv 7PM/9PM $22/2 item min.
Fargo & Big Lebowski Drink Along @ Downtown Independent Theater 7PM $10
Hutch’s Comedy BBQ & Laughs @ Hutch’s Barbecue 8PM FREE
Laurie Kilmartin @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15
Two-Headed Beast: A Storytelling Show @ Stories, Books, & Cafe 8PM FREE
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5
The Midnight Show w/TJ Miller @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
The Tomorrow Show @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

14) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
ICE HOUSE 24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA/Starts 4PM/Sign-up is lottery/No purchase necessary
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
THE DAILY GRIND 109 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA/Starts 5PM/5 min./No purchase necessary
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min. 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

15) One of the more uplifting things I’ve heard while going to an independently produced comedy show in 2012 thus far: As walking to a show, a man walking beside me turned and asked, “Do you have tickets to the show?” Surprised that strangers want to talk to me, I responded, “Yes.” Then, he said, “Do you have an extra ticket for me?” Random strangers want to see comedy. IT’S WORKING!!!

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Morning Debriefing 1/6/12

1) It’s just one those “drop everything you’re doing and watch this and forget about whether it’s fake or not” type of things: PLEASE WATCH Harrison Ford watching himself as Indiana Jones because he’s “never” done that before.

2) There have been many benefits for the recovering Josh Adam Meyers and late Angelo Bowers that have been popping up around LA. The Hollywood Improv is dedicating next week’s Comedy Juice, one of their stalwart main room shows, to both Josh and Angelo with Marc Maron, Harland Williams, and more. All sales will be donated. Also, Scott Boxenbaum’s PayPal link for donations has a new web address at DonateForJosh.com and stories, notes, etc. are being collected For Angelo’s mother. Lastly, do yourself a big favor and remember Angelo the best way possible by following on Twitter @AngeloJokes.

3) As the presidential candidates fall one by one, Funny or Die has thankfully partnered up with Yahoo to preserve their memory in hilarious parody debate form.

4) Unlike the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Writers’ Guild of America knows that comedies (as well as which ones) were pretty great in 2011.

5) LA JFL Montreal Showcase Schedule! Get ya LA JFL Montreal Showcase Schedule!

6) Totals for Riot-LA’s Alternative Comedy Festival after launching on Tuesday: $6,556. This is really happening and we couldn’t be happier. (Note: Total is probably higher when you’re reading this.)

7) According to these promos, Fox’s Bob’s Burgers and Adult Swim’s Delocated are coming back soon. That’s almost enough promos to loop on YouTube and watch over and over until their season premieres air. Also, NBC’s Community WILL BE coming back.

8) Pictures in the life of comedy that you will see posted everywhere on the Internet today: Bill Cosby sitting by himself amongst rows of seats with his face on it and Dan Harmon cleverly and hilariously channelling his rage.

9) Kate Micucci’s “Walking in Los Angeles” gets a wondrous music video.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Dead Authors @ UCB Theatre 6:30PM $5
50 First Jokes LA @ Downtown Independent Theater 7PM $10 (stand by only)
Harland Williams @ Irvine Improv 8PM/10PM $22/2 item min.
Set List @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Eddie Pepitone @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Really F*cking Great @ Fanatic Salon 9PM $10 

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served   
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

12) For future reference to any idiot making a Worst Comedians of [insert a period of time], anyone who has made groups of people laugh on a regular basis is not anywhere close to being the worst comedian.

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Morning Debriefing 1/5/12

1) It’s weird to say (when you think about it), but RIOT is definitely on pace and let’s keep it going. The proposed LA alternative comedy festival is at this moment $4,310 of $20,000 and was just mentioned on Vulture. Don’t you want RIOT? Let’s keep this going, please.

2) Dave Attell basked in the memories of his porn next to an attractive young lady again on Conan, Judy Greer also had great family stories also on Conan, Tracy Morgan got back to being Tracy Morgan on Leno. Can Tina Fey top all of this tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS 11:35PM)?

3) Educated yourself today as the South Park documentary “Six Days to Air” is now on Netflix.

3) So, Grace Helbig of Daily Grace is moving to LA for two months… 

4) Hot dog puppets and the lesbian pool scene from Wild Things make for a great start to Thursday thanks to Annie Lederman and Abbey Luck.

5) Michelle Bachmann isn’t done until Erin Gibson’s Michelle Bachmann has the final say.

6) Funny or Die is doing 80’s TV intro parodies. Our favorite, Prairie Children. Why can’t we invent time travel and make these really happen back in the 80’s already?

7) One of our favorite blogs, Concocted Conversations, now, is taking submissions as illustrated by this concocted conversation.

9) ON THE HORIZON
Emo Phillips Narrating Peter & The Wolf @ Glendale Philharmonic Sun. Jan. 8th 4PM $7.50-$14

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Greg Proops: Smartest Man in the World LIVE @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Harland Williams @ Irvine Improv 8PM $22/2 item min.
The Eddie Peptione Bloodbath w/special guest Patton Oswalt @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5 
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE 
Stand-up Spotlight: Moshe Kasher @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 

11) OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/No purchase necessary
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

12) Well, if anything that the last few days have proven, never ever believe comedians when they say they’re horrible people.

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Morning Debriefing 1/4/12

1) Whether you know it or not, this is the moment LA comedy has been waiting for, so don’t let it pass you by AND CERTAINLY MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. We’re talking about RIOT, the proposed LA alternative comedy festival by Abbey Londer, and if it reaches its goal, more things like its hilarious PSA video with Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Megan Mullally, Jimmy Pardo, Kumail Nanjiani, Dana Gould, Todd Glass, Thomas Lennon, Kyle Kinane, Pete Holmes, Eric Andre, and more will happen (and that’s a good thing, in case you were wondering).

2) As you might have saw from our posts yesterday, comedians Angelo Bowers and Josh Adam Meyers were involved in a severe car accident with a drunk driver from which Angelo, sadly, has passed away. Meyers suffered several injuries and is in (according to the last we heard) critical condition, but is talking and is currently at Cedars Sinai in the North Tower, Room 8020 with available visiting hours from 7AM to 9PM. Tonight, donations will be collected for Josh’s medical expenses at Beer in the Shower at the Dreams Bar & Cafe in Hollywood and Venice Underground in Venice, a show that Josh was booked to perform at, or, if you cannot attend and still want to donate, you can do through a Paypal link on Scott Boxenbaum’s website. The best way to remember Angelo is through his jokes and a Twitter account @AngeloJokes has been started for that very purpose. Please follow because he was incredibly funny like so: “If you’ve never been to a Cher concert then you’ve never lived… With your aunt and her lover.” –Angelo Bowers

3) Last night on late night, Chris Gethard claims he’ll basically fight anyone on Fallon and Will Arnett shows how bad at Twitter he is on Letterman. Tonight, Dave Attell will be on Conan and might possibly look less homeless than he did on the Tonight Show (TBS 11PM)

4) Something to really watch for: there’s going to be comedy content from IGN and the very funny Mike Drucker is going to be the head writer of it.

5) “Work It is a tightly written pilot. ABC, don’t you dare use that as a pull quote — please understand that "tightly written” does not mean well written.“-The Internet’s Jake Fogelnest recaps with no remorse the first episode of ABC’s "Work It”

6) Also on Twitter, Tommy Wiseau… 

7) Today’s Puddin w/Eddie Pepitone will make you think twice about what you’ll do with gift cards… 

8) ON THE HORIZON
Joke Lab @ Hollywood Improv Lab Wed. Jan. 18th 8:30PM $6
Reggie Watts @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts Sat. Jan 14th 9PM $20

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Just for Laughs Montreal Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 7PM/8:30PM/10PM $5
A Kiss From Daddy/The Birthday Boys @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8
The Good Bits @ WitZend 9PM $5
Venice Underground @ Townhouse & the Del Monte 9PM FREE
Frolic! @ Far Bar 9PM FREE
A Very Special Bowser’s Castle @ Fenix 5-4 9PM FREE
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Bar & Cafe 9:30PM FREE
Fresh Faces @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.
Matty’s Pizza Party @ Next Stage Theater 11PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
BRONSON’S 5851 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) It’s really sad that no one really says, “Eh, you should really stick to comedy.”

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Morning Debriefing 1/3/12

1) Someone named Troy Holm not only has the gumption to steal material from Doug Stanhope, but also has the, for the lack of a more vile word, daring to not bother changing any words or phrasing when posting on his blog, which has been taken down. That’s the type of thing that will screw your Wikipedia page over forever.

2) 2012 has barely started and already there are great comedy tapings a-plenty. Key & Peele are taping with a live audience and Jonah Ray is taping his next album both this month.

3) The LA Times included Ben Schwartz and Key & Peele in their Faces to Watch for 2012. Those are endorsements you should definitely listen to.

4) Chris Gethard has proclaimed himself the King of Authors as the release of his book A Bad Idea I’m About To Do is coming next week.

5) The Producers Guild Awards are out with nods to Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, Parks and Recreation, the Colbert Report, and more. Then, reality TV, as you’ll notice, now has its own categories.

6) Eddie Pepitone is everywhere (everywhere in this instance is Laughspin and the AV Club).

7) Anyone care to start a theme blog of Victoria Jackson being out of place?

8) Improv Everywhere’s Annual No Pants Subway Ride now has t-shirts to go with no pants.

9) The fifth episode of our This Better Be Funny Podcast asks the question: Can we write one truly original joke about Chipwrecked after watching it?

10) ON THE HORIZON
Fargo & The Big Lebowski Double Feature Drink-Along @ Downtown Independent Theater Sat. Jan. 7th 7PM $10 in adv, $15 at door

11) COMEDY CRAWL
This Is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $5/2 item min.
The BEATdown Los Angeles @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Good Luck Show @ Good Luck Bar 8PM FREE
This Is New… @ Lulu’s Beehive 8:30PM FREE
Comedy Bang Bang @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Geekscape Presents: Tokyo Drift @ Michael’s Bar & Grill 9PM FREE
Holy Fuck @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
JFL Montreal Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5 

12) THERE’S SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING THAT IS GOING TO GIVE COMEDY IN LA THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES AT HOLY FUCK TONIGHT THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS, NECESSITATING OUR ANNOYINGLY TYPING IN ALL CAPS. 

13) OPEN MIC RUN
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
DAVE’S BAR 708 Broadway, Glendale, CA/Starts 10PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

14) HEY EVERYONE, LANA DEL REY LIKES BILL HICKS, SO CAN EVERYONE LIKE COMEDY NOW PLEASE?

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Morning Debriefing 1/2/12

1) From what we know, Comedy Central’s got a real good roster of specials coming up, starting with John Mulaney Jan. 28th 10PM.

2) Brent Weinbach will be live taping his next album at the UCB Theatre LA on Jan. 28th and we should all be in attendance because something hilarious in a way we never thought of ever is going to happen.

3) Finally, the late night talk show circuit resumes and tonight the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has both Tim Meadows and Myq Kaplan (CBS 12:35AM)

4) A full episode of the new season of Portlandia? 2011 should be taking notes on how to start a year off.

5) Yes, though belated, A Drink With Dave delivered their Christmas special with Damien Fahey, Alie & Georgia, and more.

6) Who is Jake Fogelnest? Study up (it’s a short doc on Fogelnest trying to revive his show Squirt TV featuring Sarah Silverman, Andy Richter, and comedy faces/voices you’re probably familiar with) then follow his internet postings and never-ending fight against non-things/sea punks.

7) WordPress loses more ground to Tumblr as Paul F. Tompkins has taken the side of the Tumbls. Follow him now, even if you have to join Tumblr to do so.

8) Our 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011 includes anything from Jon Stewart’s pizza rant to Aubrey Plaza being awkward on the late night talk circuit to Eddie Pepitone dominating to the World’s 1st 3D Stand-up Set to several other things that need to be on other comedy lists in 2012.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
The Not Inappropriate Show @ UCB Theatre 4PM $12
The Mixer @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
PALACE RESTAURANT 2112 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz)/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
PETIE’S PLACE 6025 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/one drink min./first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided    

11) I saw Chipwrecked and couldn’t come up with one joke that I liked because that’s how jokes about bad movies usually work.

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Morning Debriefing 1/1/12

1) We vastly underestimated how long it would take make a list of 100 things, much less a list of 100 of the funniest things we were lucky enough to see last year, so please do enjoy for our sake The 100 Best Things in Comedy That We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011.

2) HBO is unveiling a new comedy series today from Chris Lilley (Summer Heights High) called Angry Boys at 10PM. Hopefully, HBO will be rolling out more comedies very soon after cancelling three of them.

3) Megan Amram gives an extremely accurate prediction of what New Year’s Resolutions in the year 3012 will be like

4) The Just for Laughs Montreal showcases in LA are just around the corner…. just sayin’. More updates to come.

5) The Monday night open mic, Jake’s in Pasadena, will be shifting to Wed., starting this week. So Jan. 4th go to 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA at 8:30PM for sign-up and 9:30PM start/4 min./no purchase necessary. Not a bad addition for Eastside comics for 2012.

6) Once again, if you’re thinking of resolving to do stand-up as your New Year’s resolution or thinking about doing it in general, here’s a handy guide to making it more palatable (NOTE: we said more palatable, not palatable).

7) ON THE HORIZON
Sklar Brothers @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Jan. 14th 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Jimmy Pardo @ Hollywood Improv Sat. Jan. 21st 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Ha: Stuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 2PM/7PM $45-$55 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 5PM/No purchase necessary  
*IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMEDY OPENS MICS RUNNING TODAY that wish to be listed, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

10) I know it is redundant, but I’d like to thank all who read, subscribe to, repost, RT, share, etc. what I post because it keeps all the work I do worth it. Also, a very special thanks to all the people that donated to the Comedy Bureau and helping sustaining our efforts. Oh, you didn’t know we took donations? Well, now you do.

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Morning Debriefing 12/31/11

1) It is Dec. 31st, 2011, which means tomorrow will be Jan. 1st, 2012, WHICH MEANS it is the end of the year, WHICH REALLY MEANS we can most fairly judge what The 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2011. That’s our year end comedy list that we’ll be posting today.

2) In the mean time, you can check LiterallyUnbelievable.org’s top responses to Onion articles of 2011 in parts one and two. That’s right, Literally Unbelievable has been pointing out how aloof people who think the Onion is reporting real news for several months and people still haven’t figured it out.

3) Todd Barry has some Twitter suggestions for episodes of Season 3 of “Louie”/Season 1 of the show Todd Barry would rather see “Todd”, a Todd Barry desired spin-off of the hit series Louie.

4) Another 2011 comedy list that’s one you should pay attention to while we stall to get ours posted is Mary Van Note’s Best Comics of 2011 You Probably Don’t Know. We know most of them and she’s right. Ron Lynch, Sean Patton, and more are pretty much the best.

5) We’re not big on New Year’s Resolution, but let’s join Jim Hamilton in punching billionaires in the face.

6) Some of you were asking for another Saturday open mic and your wishes we heard. Next Saturday at 5PM, the Daily Grind in Pasadena will be starting a brand new open mic where everyone gets 5 minutes. Not bad, 2012.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret w/David Cross in person @ Cinefamily Mon. Jan. 9 8PM $10

8) COMEDY CRAWL
The Not Inappropriate Show @ UCB Theatre 4PM $12
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 7PM $45-$55
Michael Rayner @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $40

9) Though there are plenty of people ringing in 2012 at comedy clubs, we’re assuming that most comedy open mics aren’t running tonight. If we’re wrong about that, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com or Tweet us @thecomedybureau.

10) Sincerely thank you to all who have been following my posts, articles, retweets, tweets, and more over 2011. Hopefully, you can clone all of yourselves several times over in 2012 and, at least, quadruple the number of readers I have here. 

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Morning Debriefing 12/30/11

1) The A.V. Club unveils its Podmass for the Best Podcasts of 2011, which, you’ll notice comedy dominates without it being labeled Best Comedy Podcasts of 2011, and Paste Magazine does the same with its 10 Best Comedians of 2011. Tomorrow, we’ll unveil our 100 Best Things in Comedy in No Particular Order Not At All Compiled by the A.V. Club, NY Magazine, or Pitchfork of 2011.

2) The web series Shit Girls Say has gotten so popular that several parodies of the parody of girl sayings have been made. Shit Monks Say is definitely one worth watching and laughing at.

3) So, there will be a 1st Annual Wayne Federman International Film Festival next month at Cinefamily with movies presented by Garry Shandling, Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Kindler, and more. Maybe becoming a Cinefamily member isn’t such a bad idea?

4) You didn’t expect Bill Maher, of all people, to tweet something mean about Tim Tebow following a Broncos loss?

6) SNL’s Chris Kelly does every 2011 Pop Culture List Ever.

7) If you’re resolving to actually do stand-up as your New Year’s Resolution, here’s a little guide we wrote for the Nerdist that will limit the amount of self-loathing you might go through in January.

8) You probably know our holiday LA open mic procedure, so just let us know if there is a comedy open mic in the LA area on New Year’s Eve or Jan. 1st by e-mailing thecomedybureau@gmail.com

9) James Urbaniak and the 5 Second Films crew make Eddie Pepitone dance on today’s Puddin’ for ulterior motives.

10) ON THE HORIZON
Sad People Talking @ Royal/T Mon. Jan. 16th 8PM $5
Rob Delaney @ Hollywood Improv Fri. Jan 20th 8PM $20/2 item min. 
The Hive Showcase @ Hive Gallery Thurs. Jan. 26th 8PM FREE 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Maria Bamford @ Fake Gallery 8PM $10 
Shitty Holidays @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand by only) 
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $45-$55
Michael Rayner @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served   
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

13) It’s funny how many comedians have shelved certain material because the world isn’t ending.

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Morning Debriefing 12/29/11

1) One of the funniest people we know, Hampton Yount, just released his live comedy album “Unbearable” for however much you want to donate for it, “Radiohead-In Rainbows-style”. Yes, Hampton isn’t as big as Radiohead, but download and donate profusely anyway because he’s way funnier than Thom Yorke.

2) The SF Weekly chats with Greg Proops when making fun of politics hits too close to the bone and then you end up crying while watching A Christmas Carol.

3) Wonderful resource for comedians, Connected Comedy, rounded up their Top 20 Articles on Comedy This Year. It’s probably more helpful than the hundred of “Who to Follow on Twitter” lists that were made last week. 

4) Hello Giggles is looking for a YouTube intern…

5) The poster for Casa De Mi Padre really makes us think that are going to definitely be some shenanigans during Will Ferrell’s next stop on Conan, or should we say, Conando.

6) A funny thing happened while we were going through our feeds this morning: Rory Scovel sings Christmas songs as a cat on the Todd Glass Show.

7) Here’s a collection of “critics” that give good reviews to movies that everyone else seems to hate. [via JFine]

8) ON THE HORIZON
Eddie Pepitone @ Hollywood Improv Fri. Jan. 6th 8PM $18/2 item min.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Gallows Humor @ Vlad the Retailer’s 7:30PM $5 
Star Dreck @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $38-$45
This Feels Terrible: The Love Show @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Writers’ Room w/Jimmy Pardo @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) It would seem by this pic of Kyle Kinane and Matt Braunger, taken by Mike Burns, all going to see Bob Seger in a stretch limo, that you can “live the dream” through comedy.

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Morning Debriefing 12/28/11

1) The future is here Mr. Gittes! The 2nd Nerdist Podcast Stand-up Special is here w/Pete Holmes, Rory Scovel, Hampton Yount, Jim Hamilton, Brent Weinbach, and more.

2) Former Senator Arlen Specter does a solid 8 min. set of stand-up, to the point where you really wonder if he’s been coached and had material written for him.

3) Emily Heller, one of Comedy Central’s most recent Comics to Watch, started a theme blog that takes every caption contest in the New Yorker and offers a submission that involves talking about getting dicks sucked called, Suck My Dick New Yorker. Please enjoy.

4) This was posted a few months ago, but Pythagasaurus, the trigonometry-based Tyrannosaurus Rex cartoon, is definitely worth pointing out over and over. [via LaughingSquid]

5) One of the more entertaining and less aggravating comedy lists of 2011 comes from Splitsider in their 10 Funniest Video Games of 2011.

6) Here’s a holiday edition of the Nerdist’s 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week with plenty of Christmas comedy mayhem.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Thursday Thing w/Dana Gould @ Nerdist Theater Thurs. Jan. 19th 8PM $8 in adv., $10 at door 

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Ha: Unstuffed & Unstrung @ Irvine Barclay Theatre 8PM $38-$45
You’ve Seen These Guys @ Brea Improv 8PM $15/2 item min.
Comedy For Dorks @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT 

10) For how disruptive it is during comedy, I’d like to think that it’s surprising that someone is working on the silent blender, but, sadly, because it’s for comedy, it’s not surprising at all. 

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Morning Debriefing 12/27/11

1) So, as far as we know, Rick Shapiro recorded a DVD special, but doesn’t have the Masters, even though the courts ruled in Shapiro’s favor, because someone is withholding the tapes. He was served. A Rick Shapiro special is something we would love to see, so hopefully this plays out, however it plays out, in such a way where that will happen.

2) The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Season 1 comes out on DVD today. It’s a good way to placate yourself waiting for Arrested Development news.

3) One more song from Reggie Watts’ “On Life and Quantum Entanglement” came out today and now I can’t get the word “skirball” out of my head.

4) Did you know there’s a Twitter user that’s completely dedicated to tracking the podcast appearances of Paul F. Tompkins? @trackPFT. If there’s anyone that warrants such a thing, it would be Tompkins.

5) Adam Scott vs. Jimmy Pardo in the Scott/Pardo Patrol. It might sound confusing, but it’s very funny and exactly what it sounds like/

6) From the mind of Brent Weinbach, comes his version of a human handshake. (psst, NSFW at end)

7) The 4th installment/episode of the This Better Be Funny Podcast (that’s our podcast) is here and if you’re wondering what it’s like being at an open mic as a comedian, listen to Jake Kroeger, Jeremy Paul, and guest Matt Champagne give you exactly how “out there” we all are as funny people.

8) Today’s Puddin’, “Alphabet”, is NSFW, but also explores class warfare, so that balances out.

9) Indeed, Thanks @AlfLamont…

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Performance Anxiety @ The Pleasure Chest 8PM $7 
Stand-up Spotlight: Moshe Kasher @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 

11) OPEN MIC RUN (Beware as venues frequently cancel open mics during the holidays without notice)
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/first come, first served
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

12) From what we understand, every comedy show that’s “Comedy on New Year’s Eve” should be promoted truthfully as “Comedy vs. New Year’s Eve”.

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Morning Debriefing 12/26/11

1) Portlandia made it in the New Yorker, but I have a feeling that’s not their version of “making it”.

2) Independent event space, Towne Hall, that would like to host plenty of comedy, is on its last day of taking donations on Indie GoGo until 11:59PM PST. 

3) With P. Diddy and the Mona Lisa, here’s the makings of the next great meme. [via PaymanBenz]

4) Apparently Christmas for comedy fans isn’t over as Amazon has a bunch of cheap downloads for comedy albums from Louis CK, Bill Burr, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, Eddie Pepitone, Tim Minchin, and more. [via DriftRoberts]

5) Just like every holiday (just like we did over the last two days for Christmas), we’ll be assuming that there are no open mics in the LA area for comedians on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. If this information is inaccurate, like always, please e-mail thecomedybureau@gmail.com.

6) Ryan Singer got everything he wanted for Christmas. EVERYTHING…

7) And so did, Jamie Lee, sort of, maybe, not really….

8) Today’s Puddin’ features James Urbaniak and Eddie Pepitone’s bible of alibis…

9) ON THE HORIZON
Nick Offerman’s “American Ham” @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre Fri. Jan. 13th 8:30PM $25

10) COMEDY CRAWL

Well, we thought that, at least, one of the normally scheduled weekly shows on Monday would be running tonight, but, man oh man, we thought wrong. However, tomorrow promises to be a great comedy night with Performance Anxiety and Moshe Kasher @ UCB.

11) OPEN MIC RUN (as it’s still the holiday season, please be aware that some of these open mics might be cancelled at the last minute)
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

12) Lakers lost and the Clippers won on opening day and there goes LA sports jokes for the next two weeks.

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Morning Debriefing 12/25/11

1) Yes, it’s Christmas and we’re still working because bureaus aren’t supposed to take a day off, right?

2) Also, the Jesse Miller Talk Show says Merry Christmas STRAIGHT UP!!!

3) …And so does John Hodgman with his Christmas Today in Ragnarok…

4) …And so do robots from the mind of Rob Kutner…

5) …And so does this best Christmas card ever from a couple of our favorite comedy folks, Joel Mandelkorn and Mandee Johnson…

6) …And, of course, our favorite Christmas TV special ever, Black Adder’s Christmas Carol.

7) ON THE HORIZON
The Indoor Kids LIVE @ Nerdist Theater Sat. Jan. 14th 8PM $8 in adv., $10 at door 

8) If you’re jonesing for a COMEDY CRAWL today, The Comedy Store is doing A Very Merry Jewish Christmas w/Brody Stevens, Moshe Kasher, and more. (9PM $15/2 item min.)  and the Laugh Factory has their 32nd Free Christmas Day Feast for the Underprivileged at 1PM.

9) If you’re jonesing to do an open mic, you’re just going to have to resort to talking to yourself in the mirror or in your car today. Sorry.

10) May all of you not get too much material or become too inspired to do comedy from the holidays.

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Morning Debriefing 12/24/11

1) The Nerdist’s Year in Review airs tonight on BBCA 9PM. Another example of how pretty much anything that happens from Dec. 26th to Dec. 31st is pretty much inconsequential.

2) The Chris Gethard Show sends their holiday greetings the way any comedian would truly send out such a thing (i.e. panicking while trying to go caroling in the NYC subway)

3) We got to make a semi-snarky list of Christmas comedy for the Nerdist. We make up for the snark by spreading funny Christmas things that should be better known to all.

4) We’re still on this Hitchens’ non-sense about women not being funny because they don’t have to be? Oh, a lot of people don’t think it’s non-sense? The most frustrating thing about Hitchens’ argument about women not being funny is that it serves no real purpose other than to infuriate and have the makings for an affirmative action landscape in comedy. How about we find out we just find out what makes funny people funny vs. what doesn’t and try to keep the qualifiers to just being funny? That way, we can figure out how this “parody thing” from Denis Leary came to be.

5) Let us not forget that TBS’ 24 hours of A Christmas Story starts tonight at 8PM because, believe it or not, just like some kids have no idea who John Lennon is, some kids have never seen A Christmas Story.

6) Yes!!! Someone started meme-ing Thomas Kinkade!!! [via the Comedy Hipster]

7) ON THE HORIZON
Guys With Feelings LIVE @ Comedy Central Stages Feb. 2nd 8PM FREE

8) As we’ve announced more than a few times, we’re assuming there are no active open mics in the LA area today or tomorrow for comedians. If that’s incorrect, please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

9) Nearly all the venues that regularly have comedy in LA have closed their doors for the next two days. However, if you need a fix tonight, the Comedy Store (Original Room 9PM $15/2 item min.) and the Laugh Factory (8PM/10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.) both have live comedy featuring Ian Edwards, Jeff Garlin, and more.

10) Our good friend Jeremy Paul has made it known that while Christmas jokes abound, no one seems to make any bits of humor on Sol Invictus. Also, there are no Krampus jokes that we’ve heard, only to leave us at the inevitable reaction with such mines to be exploited comedically, “WTF?”.

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Morning Debriefing 12/23/11

1) There’s a going to be a political comedy called Dog Fight with Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, and, now Dan Aykroyd (via PCB). I guess that’s what happens when Bill Murray keeps ripping up new drafts of the new Ghostbusters movie. 

2) Megan Amram writes two poems about Manischewitz and Abe Lincoln. That sounds like the holidays to me.

3) Jimmy Pardo was on Attack of the Show!!!

4) Serial Optimist chats with Riki Lindhome about Garfunkel & Oates, Scary F**ked Up Christmas, and fail safe gifts. 

5) For those of you looking for the underground stars of Twitter, here’s Tracy Marquez’s 140 Underrated Tweeters List.

6) It’s one hell of a Puddin’ today with the 5 Second Film folks and James Urbaniak AND a special guest complete with accordion. 

7) Below is a picture of a YouTube video with snowflakes generated through YouTube’s media player. A little much with the holiday cheer don’t ya think YouTube? (And yes, that’s Todd Barry trying to be an Advil spokesman)

8) Once again, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the day after that is Christmas, which, sadly, we cannot celebrate the freedom of Christmas shopping being over, but, with that being said, we are going to assume all LA area open mics aren’t happening.

9) Two things that Los Angelenos, comedy involved or no, will be happy about: free rides on the Metro on Christmas Eve and the City of Los Angeles not issuing parking citations for street sweeping violations from Dec. 26th to Dec. 30th.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
The Roast of Baby Jesus @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Rick Shapiro: One Man Show @ Vlad the Retailer’s 9PM FREE
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10 

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary???
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served???
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

11) Don’t worry, I’m going to make a 2011 Comedy List. That’s why there isn’t a Tip of the Hat this week.

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Morning Debriefing 12/22/11

1) Last night, Louis CK summarized various charities in the most hysterical way possible on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Marc Maron reveals why he switched doctors after a prostate exam on Conan.

2) Here’s first promo for this year’s Critic’s Choice Movie Awards hosted by Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel. Is this what award show hosting has been waiting for?

3) Merry Christmas from the Bachmanns (the Funny or Die version)!

4) For those in the know, R. Kelly has written several more chapters of Trapped in the Closet. They haven’t been made, so it’s not quite a Christmas present for us all, but he’s supposedly written them.

4) One of our favorite sketch groups, Birds of Prey, do their take on the Wrestler.

5) In “their new project news”, Woody Allen goes to Rome and Edgar Wright has written sort-of a musical.

7) It’s the eve of the eve of Christmas Eve and just like every other major holiday that isn’t the best time for live comedy, we’re letting everyone know that we’re assuming all open mics in the Greater LA Area are cancelled for Christmas Eve and Christmas (the 24th & 25th/Sat. & Sun.). If there is, for some reason, an open mic for comics to perform at in LA on those two days please e-mail us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

8) ON THE HORIZON
Set List @ UCB Theatre Fri. Jan. 6th 8PM $10
The Midnight Show w/TJ Miller @ UCB Theatre Sat. Jan. 7th MIDNIGHT $5

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Kool Thing @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $10
The Josh & Josh Show: Happy HannaKwanzamas @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
The Comedy Palace @ The Palace Restaurant 9:30PM FREE
Hottt Newww Videooo!!! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN (due to holidays, some of these venues might cancel open mics at last minute)
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/1 item min./first come, first served
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
VINNY’S PIZZA 12740 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/first come, first served/No purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) And now the next era of sports jokes in LA may be ushered in by a bunch of poser Clipper fans claiming they told everyone “What did I tell you ‘bout Clipper Nation?”

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Morning Debriefing 12/21/11

1) For all these names to be stringed together in this Debriefing item is simply amazing. Last night, Joe Mande explains why Christian holidays rule and Patton Oswalt breaks down the logic of the Little Drummer Boy on Conan. Tonight, Marc Maron will stop by Conan (11PM TBS) and Louis CK will continue media domination on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35AM NBC)

2) YouTube sensation Epic Meal Time to become a G4 Pilot. Anybody going to call this “The Miracle on G4 Street”? OK, we’ll not talk to anybody for the rest of the day.

3) Comedienne Jamie Lee does a fantastic send-up of the so-called Nordic celebrity complaining about the supposed trivialization of the butter shortage in Norway.

4) Andy Peters and Justin Ian Daniels, two of the funniest folks we know that need to be known by more people NOW, started their own podcast on wrestling nostalgia, The Rough House. It’s the standard “dead inside” comment, if that doesn’t want to make you listen.

5) Jesse Thorn’s Maximum Fun is looking for interns…

6) The A.V. Club vote Louie and Parks and Recreation to top out their best TV of 2011.

7) Also, in the A.V. Club, some attention is overdue attention is paid to Eddie Pepitone and his album, A Great Stillness.

8) NY Magazine’s Vulture gathers “the 10 Best Descriptions of What Rooney Mara Looks Like in the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. Any comedians care to top those?

9) Today’s Puddin’-“Jingle Bells” outdoes any Mannheim Steamroller version of the song ever.

10) We do host a podcast, This Better Be Funny, that we’d like to prove the guests on the latest episode, Jim Bruce and Scott Yarborough, wrong in that nobody will listen to it.

11) ON THE HORIZON
Henson Alternative @ Irvine Barclay Theatre Dec. 28-Jan. 1 $38-$100

12) COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Slice Christmas Special @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $10
Frolic! @ Far Bar 9PM FREE
Conan Stand-up Showcase @ Flappers Burbank 10PM $12/2 item min. 

13) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SMILES NIGHTCLUB 13615 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/Sign-up 5:45PM/Starts 6PM/first come, first served
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery/no purchase necessary
TICKLES COMEDY ROOM 10282 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA/Starts 7PM/no purchase necessary
BRONSON’S 5851 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/first come, first served/No purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

14) If you’re going to audibly say “EEWW!” to any bit of comedy during a live show, just know that you will be laughed at and not with.

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Morning Debriefing 12/20/11

1) NBC buys family comedy from Kelly Oxford and the blogosphere rejoices.

2) Drunk History does Christmas with Allan McLeod, Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey, and Eva Mendes and all is right with the world (at least while you’re watching the video, that is).

3) Check out the winners for Laughspin’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards.

4) Tonight, both David Wain and Billy Eichner (Fuse TV’s Billy on the Street) will be on Last Call with Carson Daly (1:35AM NBC), then, also, both Patton Oswalt and comedian Joe Mande will be on Conan (11PM TBS). 

5) Seth McFarlane on Conan.

6) New trailer for Will Ferrell’s Casa De Mi Padre that sounds reminiscent of Conando.

7) Kurt Braunohler moves on from the world of animals to the Secrets of America (yes, it’s a new web series of facts about America that may or may not be true, but are always really f’n funny).

8) Louis CK gets to headline the 68th Annual Radio & Television Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner where CK will hopefully outdo Seth Meyers in making someone scowl like Donald Trump while everyone else is laughing.

9) The arrival of the Dark Knight Rises trailer means only one thing: Another sketch with Pete Holmes as Batman.

10) ON THE HORIZON
50 First Jokes @ Downtown Independent Theater Fri. Jan 6th 7PM $8 in adv./$10 at door 
The Super Serious Show @ Club Fais-Do-Do Thurs. Jan 19th 8PM $13 in adv./$20 at door 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
C-Spot @ Best Fish Taco in Ensenada 7PM FREE
The 4 & 20 @ All Star Lanes 8PM FREE
The Good Luck Show @ Good Luck Bar 8PM FREE
The Dork Forest Live @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge @ Red Rock Bar & Eatery 8PM FREE
Robert Buscemi’s Album Taping @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/first come, first served/$5 min.
AMSTERDAM CAFE 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/first come, first served 
WESTWOOD BREW CO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/lottery/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/mixed mic 
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Sign-up 9:45PM/Starts 10PM/lottery/$1 cover
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided   

13) I’m thankful that my family isn’t to comedy so they don’t have to tell me what jokes I should be doing.

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Morning Debriefing 12/19/11

1) Jon Daly has a podcast and it’s called Rafflecast. Jon Daly gets to do whatever he wants. That’s all you should need to hear in order to listen.

2) Tonight, Young Adult writer Diablo Cody will be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (11:35PM NBC) and Seth McFarlane will be on Conan (11PM TBS). 

3) Eat your heart out Food Network. There’s no way proper cooking is as entertaining as the new episode of Henry Phillips’ Henry’s Kitchen.

4) And now, for the rousing conclusion to Danger 5’s Diamond Girls, after which, there should be a proposal for an Alternative WWII History course in colleges around the country.

5) The NY Times does a piece on Louis CK and finds that he’s getting ever closer to making a million on Live From the Beacon Theatre.

6) Is there some sort of animal crackers video contest that Puddin’ could win?

7) ON THE HORIZON
Stand-up Spotlight: Moshe Kasher @ UCB Theatre Tues. Dec. 27th 8PM $5 

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Starfish Circus Christmas Benefit @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $30 
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE 
Brunch @ The Park Restaurant 9PM FREE
Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5  

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
TOWNE HALL 799 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CA #110/Starts 8PM/$10/Sign-up at townehall.la@gmail.com/mixed mic
RAINBOW BAR & GRILL 9015 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up before 8PM/Starts 8:30PM/$2 cover/mixed mic
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is lottery/no purchase necessary
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided    

10) Before you make what you think is an “obligatory” Kim Jon Il joke—OH LOOK, the trailer for Dark Knight Rises.

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Morning Debriefing 12/18/11

1) It’s been found! Patton Oswalt’s appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson where Ferguson they delve into the existence of God and the Oscars. Already found: Patton Oswalt on NPR.

2) Also, in Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson news, John Hodgman appeared earlier this week and, like Oswalt, talk about religion, though, on his turn, about the Church of Satan.

3) LA based comedians Ryan Stout, Jonny Loquasto, Sean Green, and more are getting written up abroad and by “abroad”, we mean El Paso, TX and the Bay Area.

4) We updated our calendars page to have the New Beverly Cinema and Cinefamily @ The Silent Movie Theatre because uniquely funny stuff happens there on a semi-regular basis. Did you even know that we have a page that links to every LA comedy venue’s calendar page?

5) Go see Young Adult. We were able to afford to see a movie this month and it was hilarious, heartbreaking, incredibly gratifying, and, at times, discomforting (in the way that well crafted comedy should be). Also, it’s pretty funny that Patrick Wilson will probably never break out of his old prom king role.

6) Jim Hamilton makes the best faces, especially when paired with a Christmas sweater.

7) Seriously, why isn’t Jackie Kashian on a Best of 2011 list… of any kind?

8) ON THE HORIZON
Robert Buscemi Album Taping @ Downtown Independent Tues. Dec. 20th 9PM FREE 

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 7PM $22/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Powerviolence @ The Complex 9PM FREE
Jeselnik & Co. @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Deskpiece Nation @ iO West 10PM $5
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only) 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/lottery
PARADISE PERKS 15475 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/only 10 spots available
NERDIST THEATER 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (back room of Meltdown Comics)/Sign-up 7:15PM/Starts 7:30PM/lottery/30 spots available/no purchase necessary
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/mixed mic
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee available   

11) “Everyone in LA, where the hell are you going that is exactly where I’m going making me relapse into a fit of unnecessary road rage.”-Everyone going to the Grove right now.

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Morning Debriefing 12/17/11

1) Before the results are revealed on Monday, get your votes in for The Laughspin 2011 Reader’s Choice Comedy Awards. It really does mean a lot to whoever wins.

2) Why wouldn’t there be Louis CK fan art?

3) For those of you unaware (or just forgotten the deadline), there’s still ample time to get in submissions for the NYTVF’s Comedy Central Short Pilot Contest. On a much more broader note, the Beverly Hills Film Festival is taking submissions.

4) Since we are in the thick of the holiday season and many folks are going home from LA (because very few people are “from here”), please contact us at thecomedybureau@gmail.com in regards to whether, if you host an open mic, are going to actively do so over the next two weeks.

5) On a related note, the Redwood Bar in Downtown has an open mic now?

6) Once and for all, we get the full story on Brody Stevens over the last year and why we’re glad to have him back on the scene in LA Weekly.

7) The Channel 101 community outdoes the red carpet of most awards ceremonies at the 2011 Channel 101 Channy Awards at the Downtown Independent Theater.

8) ON THE HORIZON
Conan Stand-up Showcase @ Flappers Burbank Wed. Dec. 21st 10PM $12/2 item min. 

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 7PM/9PM $22/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Handshucked @ Moving Arts Theater 8PM $5
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes & Guest Kevin Eastman @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
The Brendon Small Secret Experimental Show @ The Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10-$300
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM $17/2 item min. 10PM $39/2 item min.
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25 
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (stand by only)
Hour of Power: Presented by Devastator @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $10
Sappity Tappity: A Drunken Romp Through Liquor Forest @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
Tournament of Nerds: Holiday Smackdown @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min. 
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery  

11) For next year’s Art Basel, a live performance installation should have a lone comedian at an open mic of a sparsely attended dive bar with Telemundo’s Christmas specials playing in the background. That would probably one of the most heart-wrenching pieces on display.

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Morning Debriefing 12/16/11

1) Andy Kindler answers only one question on CNN Comedy.

2) Here’s Michel Gondry’s version of Taxi Driver in less than 3 minutes. For those still mad at Be Kind Rewind and Science of Sleep, just watch the damn thing and enjoy yourself.

3) Bill Hicks’ birthday would have been today, so commemorate it by perhaps downloading some of his early, early stuff on 12/16/61.

4) Pics from the 2011 Comedy Bang Bang Nativity Pageant at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre made it into LA Weekly.

5) So, the Party Down movie is close to happening, but David Cross has his reservations about Arrested Development’s return? What gives universe?

6) Today, Amy Poehler will be on The Ellen Degeneres Show (4PM KNBC)

8) Fast Company like the odds for @RobDelaney, both the comedian and the Comedy Central Pilot.

9) The belated Tip of the Hat this week goes to the hilarious and electrifying Lizzy Cooperman.

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Dan Cummins @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
Small and Tall Tales @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8PM $25
Memories From the Happy House @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Jeffrey Ross @ Brea Improv 8PM/10PM $22/2 item min.
Re-Animator Songbook Performance @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $35-$300
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
The 12 Shiny Nickels @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
Count Creepula’s Horrifically Holiday Improvised Movie @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM 10:30PM $5
Bill Hicks’ Ninja Bachelor Party Screening Cinefamily Fundraiser @ The Comedy Store 11:30PM $10

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served   
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery 

12) Anyone going to make Christopher Hitchens jokes? A considerable percentage that answers “no” to that question are incredibly hypocritical.

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Morning Debriefing 12/15/11

1) STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW (Yes, that means breathing too) and watch Asterios Kokkinos do the world’s first 3D stand-up set. (Note: You don’t need the glasses to laugh)

2) Louis CK gives Jay Leno probably one of his best interviews all year in parts one, two, and three. Tonight, John Hodgman (who was hilarious on the Daily Show last night) will be on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS 12:35AM)

3) Mike Bridenstine and Mike Burns’ Gentlemen Scumbags podcast is coming out with a “ "Best of” album soon. You’re probably going to get an iTunes Card for Christmas and this is a good way to spend it.

4) The Golden Globe nominations came out today and we could not, for the life of us, remember what Episodes and Enlightened were until the images of their billboards popped in our heads. Also, we yelled at our computer (we only have one of those) a lot for the obvious snubs and confusing choices in what got nominated for comedy (slash musicals, because those are pretty much the same thing, right?).

5) Time Magazine names Kristen Wiig, Louis CK, and Trey Parker & Matt Stone as People That Matter this year. Also, Herman Cain should thank Funny or Die for also being included on this list.

6) Dave Ross should really be sponsored by Vans. Here are his reasons why.

7) Bill Cosby will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Despite what you think of his politics, it’s well deserved. 

8) Just a semi-friendly reminder, Don’t Steal from Louis CK.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
The Super Serious Show @ Smashbox Studios 7PM $15
The Smartest Man in the World LIVE w/Greg Proops @ Bar Lubistch 7PM FREE
Westside Comedy Laugh Party @ Westside Comedy Theater 8PM $10
Third Annual Best Doorknockers Christmas Pageant Ever! @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10-$300
Risk! A Storytelling Show @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Lost Moon Radio @ Club Fais-Do-Do 8:30PM $13-$25
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Comedy Garage: 6th Annual Christmas Sweater Party @ Monkspace 10PM $5 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/1 item min./first come, first served
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

11) There’s nothing quite like the wide range of comedians leaving a venue all the way from taking three hours to say goodbye/get another joke in all the way to slipping off like self-involved ninjas.

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Morning Debriefing 12/14/11

1) FX’s The League gets renewed for its fourth season! If only the negotiations for sports leagues were actually this easy…

2) Sacha Baron Cohen is the Dictator in this new trailer, not Jeffrey Ross at the last Comedy Central Roast.

3) TJ Miller & Nick Swardson are going to Hell & Back. Stop-motion animation style. 

4) Please get some joy in your life by watch Nick Vatterott and Nick Frost on Conan. Further your joy with Louis CK on the Tonight Show (NBC 11:35PM) and Patton Oswalt on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS 12:35AM).

5) Drunk History coming back for Christmas might be the best gift ever. Full disclosure: We have poor friends that can’t afford gifts.

6) Font Wars? Yes, it’s a real thing between the Comics Sans Project vs. Bans Comics Sans

7) Next Wednesday, there’ll be a new open mic in Hollywood at The Bar, sign-up 7PM, starts 7:30PM, no cover/no minimum, and hosted by Stan Macie.

8) In Louis CK news, he made some money on his special and was on NPR’s Fresh Air.

9) Comedian/singer Karen Kilgariff knows how to do Christmas right.

10) Do not miss this week’s 5 Most Intentionally Funny Videos This Week from the Nerdist.

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Murray Valeriano Taping @ M Bar 7PM No cover/$10 min.
Shotgun Story Worthy, The Game Show Podcast @ El Cid 7:30PM $8
Persona! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM $5
Your Dose of Comedy @ Ice House Stage 2 $10/2 drink min.
Trepany House Benefit Opening Night @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $35-$300 
Meltdown Presents: The Nerdist Stand-Up Special @ Nerdist Theater 8:30PM $8 
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Cafe & Bar 9:30PM FREE
Dot Comedy @ Laugh Factory 10PM $20-$30/2 drink min.
Stampede! @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5
The Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ Next Stage Theater 11PM $5 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
SMILES NIGHTCLUB 13615 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/Sign-up 5:45/Starts 6PM/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 7PM/lottery
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/mixed mic
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 
LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/7 min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available  
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT  

13) To every bit of comedy that doesn’t work, know that it was still funny, even if only to the one person that created it.

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