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TCB Debriefing 3/1-3/4/24: Dan Soder, DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, Hacks, Worldwide Comedy Month, Martin McDonagh

March 5, 2024
News
800 pound gorilla, ceasefire, comedy special, dan soder, do not expect too much from the end of the world, hacks, martin mcdonagh, max, on the road, radu jude, Worldwide comedy month

1. Much of the art form of stand-up comedy comes in subtleties. The skills of presence and delivery and writing often are best when they’re seamless in someone’s act. If you throw in some of the very best impressions/voices at the ready, you’ll get a fantastic piece of stand-up from one Dan Soder. Soder’s second special, On The Road, just released on YouTube covers a lot of common ground when it comes to subject matter, but Dan’s almost undeniable warmth, specificity in his takes, and uncanny knack for nailing a voice of a character really this 40 minute special crackle, almost without you knowing it since it’s delivered so very casually. A more classical, observational style of stand-up can still very much work in 2024, especially if your name is Dan Soder. Please enjoy Dan Soder: On The Road here.

2. It would make sense that a movie called DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD throws pretty much every traditional cinematic and narrative convention aggressively out of a window. Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude made a foreign comedy/satire that thankfully isn’t a cutesy rom com or fish-out-of-water story, but something that feels more akin to an episode of The Eric Andre Show. See for yourself with the official trailer here.

3. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder return as one of the best duos that television has to offer these days on Hacks. Please enjoy a taste of what’s to come with season 3 with Hacks S3 teaser here (then set a reminder for the premiere on May 2nd on Max).

4. 800 Pound Gorilla Media is declaring April as Worldwide Comedy Month and given what April 1st is, was there really any other choice.

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5. For as much as Hong Kong has really squashed any sort of subversive ideas, especially regarding beliefs, philosophies that don’t fall in line with Beijing and Xi Jinping, it’s pretty curious that one Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Banshees of Inisherin), one of the more subversive voices we have in film and theater, is having a “Masterclass Retrospective” in the upcoming Hong Kong International Film Festival (Deadline)

6. We’ll leave you with this: NYC comedian Nomie K. Baker joins in a 24 hour vigil to demand the NYC City Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a sobering reminder that innocent folks are dying every day in Gaza and that noise should be continued to be made for a ceasefire until it happens.

TCB Debriefing 2/22-2/26/24: Rory Scovel, Spirit Awards, Free Time, Jon Benjamin, Free Bill Burr Tickets

February 26, 2024
News
bill burr, boy kills world, comedy special, free time, jon benjamin, rory scovel, spirit awards

1. If were keeping score (and rest assured, we are) Rory Scovel has the second great comedy special of 2024. The first one goes to Jacqueline Novak capping off her years-long run of the spectacular Get On Your Knees and Scovel delivers his most evolved meta, yet completely accessible hour of stand-up with Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between.

There isn’t a spare moment without an aside or an aside to an aside, but no matter where Rory goes, he has a knack for keeping the hour on the rails even if it appears his actively and repeatedly taking course off of them. That’s just one layer of Scovel flexing his comedic verve and masterful skill. The gleeful dissection of religion and sex is so joyous, one might easily need a second viewing to see just how damningly good Rory’s observations are and how painstakingly crafted they are to seem so effortless. Whether it’s creating comedy out of thin air or making pitch perfect jokes seem conversational, Scovel has got all of that (and a more than a few things in between) covered and then some.

Rory Scovel: Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between is now streaming on Max.

2. The Film Independent Spirit Awards, one of the major awards ceremonies where comedy actually stands a chance of winning, were just awarded this past weekend. Oddly, this year’s Oscars has the most comedies nominated, perhaps ever, making it more in line with its indie cousin, The Spirit Awards.

As far as comedy is concerned, American Fiction won for Best Lead (Jeffrey Wright) and Best Screenplay (Cord Jefferson). The Holdovers took home Best Cinematography (Eigil Bryld) and Best Supporting Performance (Da”Vine Joy Randolph), Jury Duty got it for Best Ensemble Cast, and Fremont won the very special John Cassavetes Award.

See the full list of winners here.

3. Rising NYC comedy star Colin Burgess leads off what could be one of the off-beat comedies of the year with Free Time, a tale about quitting (and nailing the timing for that). Take a gander at the first trailer here.

4. Jon Benjamin has reached a new height in his career by voicing a Bill Skarsgård character in an action movie. See for yourself herewith the Boy Kills World trailer.

5. We’ll leave you with this: Anyone want Bill Burr tickets for Wilshire Ebell show this Tues. Feb. 27th? Hit us up at thecomedybureau@gmail.com

TCB Debriefing 12/14 & 12/15/23: Blair Socci, Poor Things, Carol and the End of the World, Critics Choice/Spirit Awards/Black List, You’re Dating a Narcissist

December 15, 2023
News
blair socci, carol and the end of the world, comedy special, critics choice awards, dan guterman, emma stone, martha kelly, netflix, poor things, ramy youssef, spirit awards, the black list, yorgos lanthimos, you're dating a narcissist

1. The voice and the attitude alone make Blair Socci the sort of comedian that you can’t ignore, whether you’re paying for two drinks to sit at a cramped comedy club table or hanging in the back as a comedian. Socci’s delightful cartoon-esque voice and penchant for unfiltered truth are kind of a perfect comedic contrast. In her first hour special, Blair goes in hard on the follies of men, the Disney hegemony versus Only Fans, and, of course, the crime that is the existence of Triscuits and we’re willing to bet that you’d enjoy even if you’re the target of the joke because Blair is just that undeniably funny. Thank goodness a crisp, minimalist special Live from the Big Dog (even though it was shot at Hollywood’s Bourbon Room) is here to give the shine that Blair has deserved for far too long. Blair Socci: Live from the Big Dog is streaming on demand on Veeps. Peep it here.

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2. To say something is Yorgos Lanthimos‘ most ambitious work to date is truly saying something considering landmark dark comedies The Lobster and The Favourite are also in his filmography. Yet, Poor Things boldly stands tall and dreams as absurdly big as possible, highlighting everything beautiful and grotesque in truly being alive (a la being reanimated by a obsessive surgeon), especially as a woman in 19th century Europe, or a pastel colored, dreamy nightmare version of it anyway. Emma Stone delivers yet another performance of a life time as Bella Baxter and Lanthimos sagely utilizes the talents of comedians Ramy Youssef and Jerrod Carmichael for the 2023 comedy that will stick with you, having you stew about all of it’s incisive and fiery commentary on, well, everything in life/society/culture/existence for weeks (and probably months) after the credits roll. Poor Things is playing in limited release now and opens wider on 12/22. Oh, you probably won’t hear a more unique score in any other movie this year thanks to Jerskin Fendrix.

3. Martha Kelly could very well be the voice of us all in the impending end times (and the lead voice in the Dan Guterman Netflix animated series Carol and the End of the World–get your first look here; due out Dec. 15th)

4. All hail Barbie and American Fiction for nominations at The Critics Choice Awards and Spirit Awards coming next year. Honorable mention for Poor Things and Bottoms as well. Comedy is running real strong this awards season.

5. Whole bunch of clear cut (and often dark) comedy in this year’s Black List, the annual list of the best/most popular unproduced screenplays, including the top script which follows a rescue dog suspecting his owner is a serial killer, Bad Boy by Travis Braun, and Alex Kavutskiy & Ryan Perez‘s super meta High Concept. Peep the whole list here.

6. Marisa Tomei, Sherry Cola, and Ciara Bravo are starring in an upcoming rom-com that hones in on a psychologist trying to talk a daughter out of marrying a narcissist, aptly called You’re Dating a Narcissist (THR). The marquee trio is enough to peak interest here, but the atypical rom com structure has us colored very intrigued.

7. We’ll leave you with this: OK everyone, how much longer are we going to woo and cheer for Nicole Kidman during the AMC pre-roll? It’s getting tiresome, especially if it’s coming right before something like Godzilla Minus One.

TCB Debriefing 10/13/23: Omid Singh, Found Footage Fest, The Afterparty, David Krumholtz, Diablo Cody, Ramy Youssef

October 13, 2023
News
comedy special, david krumholtz, diablo cody, found footage fest, free tickets, lisa frankenstein, omid singh, ramy youssef, stand up comedy, the afterparty

1. Omid Singh has tirelessly worked on his stand-up day in and day out for years in the very crowded LA comedy scene. Yet, you wouldn’t even think about the time he’s put in with the ease, self-assuredness, and quiet command of the stage in his first special, Lil Special. Singh seems carefree and yet on-point for tried and true material that includes a very informative Indian dance lesson. Please enjoy what undoubtedly will be a precursor to a great hour special with Lil Special now on YouTube here.

2. Found Footage Fest has found more footage and more dates and cities to spread the gospel of forgotten VHS content. Go get tix at foundfootagefest.com/tour

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3. There will probably be an afterparty after The Afterparty was just cancelled today by Apple TV+, but it’ll very likely be invite only (and have no murder at it).

4. David Krumholtz once graced the Internet as Gigi with WeatherFrom.com, then was in Oppenheimer, and is now set to play a lit professor with six months to live (Deadline). Look for Lousy Carter in early 2024 to continue to a trend of angry professors in dramedies (Lucky Hank, The Holdovers).

5. Diablo Cody returns (note that Juno came out 16 years ago) with her latest project, Lisa Frankenstein (Deadline) that seems to be a teen rom com with a Frankenstein in it? So, maybe akin to Warm Bodies, but way cooler dialogue?

7. We’ve got free tix for Ramy Youssef headlining The Regent in LA next week. Let us know if you want tix at thecomedybureau@gmail.com this weekend and they very well could be yours.

8. We’ll leave you with this: We guess, get Taylor Swift to be a fan of your comedy?

TCB Debriefing 10/10/23: Joe Pera, Kiss Me Kosher Postponed, WGA Ratified, Matt Rogers Tour, The Thin Man, Seinfeld, Garbage Pail Kids,

October 10, 2023
News
brad pitt, comedy special, garbage pail kids, have you heard of christmas, joe pera, kiss me kosher, margot robbie, matt rogers, seinfeld, the thin man, wga

1. If you need a sense of peace, a sense of calm, some warmth, and a belief in humanity all delivered in the form of a comedy special, please look no further than Joe Pera’s brand new hour special Slow & Steady. Akin to pretty much everything Joe does, Pera shows a beautiful side to comedy that comes from a place of simplicity and a certain sense of worldly innocence as well as a cheeky self-awareness of his whole persona. Thankfully, Slow & Steady is streaming free on YouTube for you to enjoy over and over anytime you want.

2. Kiss Me Kosher, an irreverent rom com set in Tel-Aviv that has a secret Israeli/Palestinian romance has postponed its U.S. release (Deadline). Sadly, it’s probably going to be quite awhile before that sees a U.S./wider release.

3. The WGA overwhelmingly ratified their new contract with AMPTP (CNN) and thank goodness there is any sort of good news today at all.

4. Forget all your other holiday traditions because Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas? is going on tour in celebration of the Have You Heard of Christmas? album (which should be an instant holiday classic). Go get tickets here immediately because they’ll probably be sold out by the time the holiday season starts.

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5. Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt’s production banners are in cahoots to remake the comedy classic The Thin Man (Variety). No word on casting, but we would be fine with a sort of Babylon reunion with Robbie and Pitt sharing top billing.

6. Jerry Seinfeld says something might be happening regarding the end of legendary eponymous sitcom Seinfeld (EW). Details are scarce beyond that, but maybe this will provide enough mishegoss to guarantee another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm as well.

7. There was an adaptation of cult favorite card series, The Garbage Pail Kids, with the likes of David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and Josh Bycel in the works. With the WGA side of the strike over, the project appears to still be alive (Deadline). Keep the fingers crossed that it survives the other side of the strike.

8. We’ll leave you with this: now is a great reminder that the equation “tragedy + time = comedy” is true for bother audiences and the comedians.

TCB Debriefing 10/4/23: Beth Stelling Special, The Drew Barrymore Show, Chloe Troast on SNL, Moshe Kasher, Zainab Johnson,

October 4, 2023
News
beth stelling, chloe troast, comedy special, moshe kasher, netflix, snl, stand up comedy, the drew barrymore show, zainab johnson

1. The long awaited follow up from Girl Daddy, a special that will be remembered as one of the best of this decade, is finally here. That’s right, Beth Stelling brand new special, If You Didn’t Want Me Then, has just been released on Netflix this morning and delivers on the high expectations that were riding on it. Stelling is somehow even more self-assured in this hour (when that’s already her specialty), commanding the theater and anyone watching it as a special on Netflix with such ease and casual grace. It’s that sort of ever present sense of calm (reinforced by her choice of tea rather than the standard issue bottle of water on the stool) that makes her punchlines and tags and asides pop so acutely. Her continued, evolving portrait of herself as a woman in this day and age is so rich and full even though it feels like an old friend (albeit, your funniest friend) is just catching you up to speed over the last few years. Just give Beth her own late night talk show already. While we wait for that to happen, enjoy If You Didn’t Want Me Then now streaming on Netflix here.

2. The Drew Barrymore Show is now set to return after the debacle of trying to return during the WGA Strike, then rescinding the announcement. That said, her head writers Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe have declined the offer to return as a result of not only Drew trying to get back on the air during the strike, but finding out via social media ticket giveaways (THR). So, expect at least one, if not a few, “very special episodes” of The Drew Barrymore Show when it finally makes back to TV

3. Chloe Troast will be SNL’s newest cast member and, as of this debriefing, the only new cast member to be added this season. We hope this signals a continuation of SNL getting weirder and wilder as it has with Sarah Squirm, Please Don’t Destroy, James Austin Johnson, and Bowen Yang.

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4. Some folks actually did get around to their King Lear during lockdown. One of those folks is the brilliant comedian Moshe Kasher. Moshe already has one astounding memoir under his belt with Kasher in the Rye and is set to release his next one, Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes, on Jan. 30th. Kasher is such an exquisite writer and storyteller that he shouldn’t have to make a promo on IG to promote the book, but he did anyway so you can enjoy something until the book’s release. Pre-order Subculture Vulture here.

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5. Take your first gander at Zainab Johnson‘s very first hour special, Hijabs Off, due out on Oct. 24th on Amazon Prime. It’ll be the perfect time to watch it as you probably also try to get two day shipping on whatever last minute costume you’re coming up with for Halloween.

 

6. We’ll leave you with this: Should we rebrand the term “gallows humor” as “2020s humor”?

TCB Debriefing 10/3/23: Blake Wexler Special, Nateland, Only Murders in the Building, Mulaney, CYSWK

October 3, 2023
News
blake wexler, comedians you should and will know, comedy special, john mulaney, nate bargatze, nateland, only murders in the buidling, stand up comedy, vulture

1. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, Blake Wexler’s pandemic fueled exodus from LA back to Philly, then releasing a humdinger of a comedy special makes our hearts here at TCB flutter. Daddy Long Legs is the debut hour special from Wexler and Blake makes the sort of first grand impression with a special that one could hope for their very first hour. Taking cues from mentor Todd Glass, Blake is an agile balance of silly and sincere and exuberant and nuanced. He doesn’t so much navigates through this hour as he jubilantly flies through it and it’s quite the ride he takes you on. Please enjoy Daddy Long Legs streaming now, for free, on YouTube, courtesy of 800 Pound Gorilla, here.

2. Nate Bargatze has added entertainment mogul to his resume with the official unveiling of his content company Nateland (Deadline). Though it’s focused on “family friendly” fare, amazing specials from Joe Zimmerman and Greg Warren produced by Nateland suggest that there is plenty to be enjoyed by adults who hate “family friendly” content.

3. Only Murders in the Building will get a fourth season, which means comedy/banjo legend Steve Martin will stay in the realm of comedy for a little longer, thank goodness.

4. John Mulaney just announced dates for a national tour running through all of November and December. If you want tickets, you better go to johnmulaney.com right now before they all sell out.

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5. Vulture’s 2023 class of Comedians You Should & Will Know was finally unveiled yesterday and, in case you didn’t already know, we have something to do with it. Please go enjoy what might be the most fairly run list (we run it kind of like the MacArthur Genius Grant) of “who’s next/who to watch” in all of comedy.

6. We’ll leave you with this: if you’re wondering how commonplace parallel thought is in comedy, late night had five months off due to the WGA Strike and still managed to land many of the same jokes about the same news items on their first night back.

Chris Fleming Goes Through HELL to Bring Us All Unbridled Joy

August 24, 2023
News
chris fleming, comedy special, peacock, stand up

While the self-styled truth tellers certainly seem to hold their sway in comedy these days, there are those who choose to take an oath to the absurd and play-fueled side of comedy. Chris Fleming is a shining, shimmying beacon of the unfettered joy of being silly and utterly ridiculous in stand-up comedy (while also still being very genuine). HELL, his latest hour special, is delightfully contrary to the title with Fleming taking viewers on a trip fantastic through his psyche and the furthest reaches of his imagination, complete with punchlines and act outs and probably the best wardrobe of any comedy special this year.

There is a certain tight tether to reality that nearly every stand-up comedian firmly holds on to during their act (improvisers/clowns/sketch folks obviously take advantage to obscure reality). Fleming foregoes this and, instead, galavants between hyper-specific observations in his actual life (hence why he opens this hour by saying it isn’t for “people with wives”) and an alternate universe where Fleming’s anxieties get ballooned into cartoonish proportions (his own personal “hell” complete with mutant theater creatures perhaps?). Chris himself even takes a big poke at the continuity of his own special during a very involved crowd interaction as well as peers into the void of the camera in order to permanently make eye contact with whoever is watching Hell. The fluctuation between, shall we say, multiverses is such a phenomenal ride that logic takes a back seat with no reservations.

Similar to the breadth and undertaking of Nick Vatterott‘s Disingenuous, Chris Fleming boldly goes where pretty much only Chris will go in Hell, but does so with abandon and the physicality of a contortionist on their day off. It might be fair to say that no comedian is having as much fun on stage as Fleming does and, it turns out, that fun is pretty damn infectious.

Chris Fleming: HELL is streaming now on Peacock.

After Everything We’ve All Been Through Since 2019, Ben Roy Delivers Yet Again with “Hyena”

August 1, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, ben roy, comedy album, comedy special, stand up comedy

Nearly 20 years in, Denver comedy luminary Ben Roy has nearly perfected his euphoria-fueled-shot-in-the-arm style of comedy that combines the energy of a Battle of the Bands showdown with the vivid and expansive detail of an impressionist painting. Roy’s comedy is a true thing of raw hilarious beauty. That sentiment continues to be true with his latest hour, fresh off the presses from 800 Pound Gorilla, Hyena.

Many a comedian over the last year or two have released what will likely be their one and only special that will touch on the COVID-19 pandemic and, as such, there is more than plenty of well-trodden territory when it comes to dealing with COVID and post-pandemic life. Roy visits said territory, but he’s such a satisfying force of nature to watch and nails the specificity and details in his writing that Hyena isn’t going to make you go through another tiresome COVID chunk. If anything, Ben’s firebrand persona makes him even stand out here when talking why he’s pro-vaccine, but for reasons that are hilariously political and transparently self-serving. More so than most other “catch-up from 2019” specials, Ben’s take/observations on the last three years are what we hoped such a comedy special would be in 2023.

We’ve talked about the vast spectrum of color that Ben uses with his pen (probably one of those tactical ones that can break through a car window) before with his past hours. It’s so mesmerizing (e.g. his game show pitch for “It’s Asbestos”) that it’s worth noting once more. Roy conjures up imagery not unlike Patton Oswalt, but goes at it with his punk rock conviction giving some sort of feeling that you’re laughing at the color palate of a nuclear tinged horizon at sunset. That’s one of the big reasons Hyena as well as every other Ben Roy release before this are so compelling to watch/listen to.

At the moment, you can rent Ben Roy: Hyena exclusively from 800 Pound Gorilla to see Roy murder at one of most comedians’ all time favorite comedy clubs, The Comedy Works in Downtown Denver for only $10. Come Thurs. Aug 10th, you’ll be able to stream Hyena for free, at your convenience, on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube Channel.

Please Enjoy a Damn Fine Debut Hour from Tom Thakkar, “Thakkar Noir”

July 25, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, stand up comedy, tom thakkar

Tom Thakkar inalienably has fun on stage.

It’s a simple notion to be sure, but it’s beyond evident that he has so much fun doing all of his bits and act-outs and asides to the crowd in a way that seems atypical of so many comedians these days. Many of the hour specials and albums that end up in our inbox at TCB often highlight how much a comic that is going through the motions, merely trying to never do this hour again and, consequently, seeming disconnected from the crowd in front of them. In contrast, Thakkar gleefully revels in getting into his material for his latest hour Thakkar Noir, much to the endless delight and applause of the live crowd at The Comedy Fort in Fort Collins, CO, that you can’t help but get charmed into joining in on the laugh riot.

Tom’s voice is so animated, at times even sounding like a classic Morning Zoo-esque DJ, that it comedically compliments his sharp, satirical tongue. From dissecting the experience of his ethnically ambiguous biracial background (and making fun of the mostly caucasian crowd in front of him on top of it) to enlightening everyone on the benefits of a  “hot people tax”, Thakkar often has a subversive depth to his material. It’s the proverbial medicine with a very sweet spoonful of sugar.

Tom pokes and prods his audience when he gets into material that could be divisive, but contains such a warmth that he more than gets away with it. Having a genuine smile through most of your special also helps in that regard as well as very nimble, fast-paced delivery that never ever feels exhausting (even with his absurd Welcome to the Jungle/Margarita Madness bit).

Thakkar Noir is a rollicking hour that signals lots more to come from a comedian that many comedians already loved and, hopefully not too long from now, many others in and out of tight knit comedy circles will love too.

Tom Thakkar: Thakkar Noir is now streaming on select platforms, including YouTube, now. Please take your pick and enjoy it thoroughly and repeatedly here.

Yes, Jackie Kashian’s Latest Special “Looking Back” Was Shot Though the Rear View Camera on Her Car

July 14, 2023
News
comedy special, experimental comedy, jackie kashian, rear view camera, stand up comedy

Having seen stunt comedy specials that were done in the desert to no audience, presented as ASMR, or even done to a camera on a darkened soundstage almost like a dramatic monologue, one might think that we would have seen at least a few comedy specials done in the rear view camera of a car by this point. The novelty alone, especially after having gone through the pandemic, is tempting and, thankfully, one of our favorite stand-up comedians working today took on the challenge.

Yes, Jackie Kashian had a camera record the heads up display when the car is in reverse, showing Jackie with a mic standing in the middle of a street/alleyway to make a special. Sure, in-person performances have been happening for awhile now, but that doesn’t change the fact that the comedy special format still needs to be pushed, broken and remade, redefined, etc. With the deluge of specials that have found their way to YouTube in the last several months from comedians at all levels that were pretty much just the classic doing an hour in front of an intimate audience, Jackie performing to her film crew (yes, there was a crew for this) is a very refreshing and jaunty experiment.

It’s not an hour and it’s not even Netflix’s 15 minute version of a special, but just a tad bit over ten minutes in total. That’s enough canvas to actually do a set and revel in the sheer ridiculousness of the entire concept, which Jackie juggles beautifully (as she is one of the best writers that stand-up comedy has these days). Of course, Jackie can draw up a great 10 minutes for rear car camera and she does and, on top of that, opted for a title that’s almost too perfect, Looking Back.

It’s a tiny comedy special, but Jackie Kashian: Looking Back was more enjoyable than several hours of comedy that we watched over the last few months. Please delight in it here.

John Early Wonderfully Gives All Sides of Himself on “Now More Than Ever”

June 30, 2023
News
comedy special, hbo, john early, max, now more than ever

A comedian on the threshold of doing an hour special can take a look at the landscape of comedy today and very easily get the notion of doing something, anything different, since the majority of comedy specials are still predominantly comprised of a single person on stage talking for an hour in front of a full theater or club. Then, comedians like John Early opt to let their imagination run wild and give us a rollicking pastiche of all facets of themselves as Early did with Now More Than Ever.

On paper, there are several different levels to Early’s hour on Max (notably referenced as HBO Max in this special, which will be a fun deep cut reference the more time that passes). Early couches his genuine, painstakingly crafted stand-up as interstitials within a sort of rock-doc/concert film for his fictional band The Lemon Squares (though they’re pretty damn fun as a cover band). So, that’s technically two sides of Now More Than Ever.

Then, there’s the meta/mockumentary element where John has the sort of chaotic fun that he has done so long with his long time comedy collaborator, Kate Berlant, showing comedic discord behind the scenes with The Lemon Squares. On top of those three layers, there seems to be final topping of Early being satirically self-aware of himself, his material, the concept of a comedy special, etc. Early doesn’t recuse himself from “being part of the problem” when calling it out in jokes and takes a mischievous pleasure in shouting out his parents out in the crowd with a spotlight and dragging them at the same time. In some schools of comedy thought, there might be “too many hats on hats” here, but Early’s magnetism, shrewd observations, and impeccable Britney voice does really ties everything together.

Suffice it to say that there’s a lot that’s packed into Now More Than Ever, but it all meshes together in a dreamlike fashion, blurring between varying levels of verisimilitude of John, but resulting in a special that’s a hilariously delightful greeting card to waking up in the awkwardness-fueled, tech-obsessed, new-new lost generation of the 2020s. It might be the choice special to watch on July 4th weekend.

John Early: Now More Than Ever is now streaming on Max, formerly HBO Max.

Morgan Jay Spreads Joy (and Big F*** Energy) with “Live at the Village”

June 5, 2023
News
comedy special, morgan jay, musical comedy

Aside from his high pitched golden pipes and soothing guitar picking all while being able to seamless switch between earnest dramedy songs and crowd work, Morgan Jay really has a masterful knack in connecting with an audience. His latest hour special, Morgan Jay – Live at the Village, puts on a clinic with having the crowd so much on the same wavelength with him that it’s not awkward that they cut to them so often (crowd shots feel shoehorned-in, at best, in most comedy specials these days). This might be the most fun that call-and-response has ever been in a hour of comedy.

Singing your crowd work is something special and unique to Morgan and the way he croons to audience members is kind of irresistible. Jay handily utilizes his ability to hit those high notes that only some other comedians save for a single song in their hour or a tiny impression of some pop diva, but pairs it with a low key, often sultry R&B vibe. This gives the perfect comedic canvas for his satiric, yet heartfelt love songs.

Throughout Live at the Village, Jay possesses such a rambunctious (and often prurient) energy that the ride through his performance is something between going through the Tunnel of Love and Space Mountain. Jay even goes so far as explicitly wanting the crowd to make sure to engage in sexual congress, but there is an air of silliness that keeps things from getting too horny. That dynamic is made even more ironic with the fact that this special is taped at The Village, a legendary recording studio that’s hosted such a star-crossed band as Fleetwood Mac.

Morgan Jay: Live at the Village is streaming now on YouTube, at your convenience. Go watch, sing along, and enjoy it here.

Nate Craig Has the Classiest-Looking, Modern Comedy Special with “Live at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge”

June 2, 2023
News
comedy special, nate craig, stand up comedy

To see a well-tailored suit on a comedian these days, you’d almost wonder what exactly they’re trying to pull (even if it is for their special in an extremely snazzy cocktail lounge). Yet, the shine of fine woolen pin stripes and neon is almost a misdirect for Nate Craig in his latest special, Live at the Green Mill, used to heighten every bit of irony, satire, and mischief he has tucked underneath his pocket square.

Indeed, Craig chose the long-standing classy Chicago institution, The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, to tape his hour, rather than a cavernous theater with Art Noveau touches that has become standard issue for hour comedy specials these days. It’s a keen choice as stand-up comedy is best enjoyed in an intimate, dark space, while also evoking comedy from decades past where comedians only had lounges and nightclubs to show off their comedy wares. Nate uses this timeless, moody atmosphere to really make his understated sarcasm and subversion really pop (not unlike the aforementioned pocket square).

Craig even goes so far to be ironic to Swift-ian levels in a few bits (especially when it comes to “baby huffing dungeons”), something the old Colbert used to do. It’s a much appreciated surprise considering that amount of times comedians stop themselves in specials to make their intentions clear as to, comically, not get “cancelled”. Just a little bit of subversion goes a long way with Live at the Green Mill throughout the very enjoyable ride through very in-depth act outs of Americans coming out of the deadly haze of COVID-19.

Above all, Craig has such a preternatural command of the stage here that doesn’t feel forced in the slightest. Nate hits that sweet spot, wire to wire, of being fully present, not sounding over-rehearsed, and still, clearly having so much damn fun. Though there’s an air of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks throughout this hour, Craig’s presence brightens up the evening to be almost the exact opposite of lost souls trying to find each other in a diner.

Nate Craig: Live at the Green Mill is now streaming on YouTube, free, at your convenience, courtesy of All Things Comedy.

Greg Warren Makes The Best Peanut Butter Sales Jokes of All Time with “The Salesman”

May 23, 2023
News
comedy special, greg warren, stand up comedy, the salesman

In the ever evolving quest to stand out in stand-up comedy these days, especially if you’re a cis-straight white man, the already crowded field, many of whom are still also cis-straight white men and the well-worn territory of comedic material up the ante to make a mark in the comedy ether.

“The Salesman”, the latest hour/special from veteran comedian Greg Warren, shows that the challenge described above is not impossible, yet one that needs something intensely personal, clever, and unlike anything you’ve really seen before in order to beat it. To our knowledge, an hour of comedy that mostly touches on the comedic ins and outs and nuances of selling peanut butter is something that has never been attempted, much less done so superbly to uproarious laughter and repeated applause. Even in the realm of solo shows that are essentially narrative driven hours of stand-up comedy, selling consumer goods hasn’t historically been a hotbed of inspiration.

Warren indeed sources most of The Salesman from his life and times working as a salesman almost as if he’s doing the peanut butter sales version of Steve Martin’s renowned bit “made for” a convention of plumbers from Let’s Get Small. That said, Greg’s deep dive of the capitalist machinations and dynamics that come into buying a jar of peanut butter from your local grocery store are fascinating, all while achieving that always desirous moniker: being relatable. You might have to had grown up in America and be subject to the peanut butter brand hierarchy to understand Jif’s dominance as a brand, but exceptionalism is pretty natural to the human experience.

No need for Last Week Tonight to cover peanut butter sales. Warren has done a pretty exhaustive and very enjoyable satirical tour of the whole industry that you can and should go enjoy right now. Greg Warren: The Salesman is streaming now, free of charge, on YouTube here.

Gareth Reynolds Has a Great Hour on England, Weed, and Other Things with “England, Weed & The Rest”

May 12, 2023
News
all things comedy, comedy special, gareth reynolds, stand up comedy

While Gareth Reynolds has cemented himself as one of the riff-ers/podcasters around via co-hosting The Dollop, you ought to know that Reynolds is more than handy on stage with a mic and an arsenal of hilariously prickly observations, especially when it comes to his parents’ homeland, England.

Gareth’s latest hour, the very clear cut England, Weed & The Rest (i.e. his set list) is as straight-forward as the name of the special. It’s an hour of jokes of said topics, delivered marvelously in a deluge of masterful UK accents, masterful act outs, and very attuned crowd work. As such, the most surprising thing here is that sort of classical hour of stand-up, without any sort of dissection of the art of stand-up or dramedy-laced narrative, still can and does work in 2023.

Please enjoy Reynolds AKA “Limaguafth” and his hour England, Weed & The Rest, now streaming on YouTube courtesy of All Things Comedy here.

Ashley Gavin’s Makes Herself Known as a Great Comedian, No Other Adjectives Needed, with Debut Special “Live in Chicago”

May 11, 2023
News
ashley gavin, comedy special, don't tell comedy, queer comedy, stand up comedy

Almost every single comedian strives to be funny for being funny, no qualifiers needed. That goal is almost self-evident to the art form, especially given its requirement of an audience to laugh at the comedic work being presented on stage. At the same time, there is an ever-evolving conversation surrounding identity in comedy, the privilege, access, and the marginalization that can come of it, sometimes all three at once.

On top of effortlessly delivering a keenly crafted, clever hour of material, rising stand-up star Ashley Gavin really digs deep into this crossroads of the many precarious facets of who one can be as a comedian in her debut special, Ashley Gavin: Live in Chicago. More explicitly, Gavin ponders the success she has gained for being a brash, but gregarious lesbian on stage, but speaking to the truth that she is more than just her lesbian jokes (hence the presence of more solid 9/11 material than you’ve heard in a long, long time). The meta analysis of comedy and its reception in one’s own special is perhaps, going from a trend to movement (see Joel Kim Booster and Andrew Santino’s latest specials).

In the hopes that comedy, especially stand-up comedy, could ever be a meritocracy, Gavin has earned her comedy stripes. She has worked the road for years, played cruise ships (one of the most tedious gigs in comedy), had to tone herself down in so many different ways, etc. all while building an audience and honing her comedic voice. Throughout Live in Chicago, it’s undeniable that Gavin has seasoned veteran comedy chops and has found her own unique, oblique angles for her observations and perspective. Given the material, she almost dares the viewer to tag her as a “9/11 comedian” versus a “lesbian comedian”, when she just wants to explicitly be a beloved comedian.

For what our word is worth, she very much achieves that goal and does so in her very first special.

Ashley Gavin: Live in Chicago is streaming now for free, at your convenience on YouTube.

Pick of the Day: Tig Notaro: Hello Again [Taping] (in NYC) 6/10

May 3, 2023
News
comedy special, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, taping, tig notaro

Tig Notaro is taping a new special, which should be the only copy that you’d need to promote the two shows that she’s taping live at Brooklyn’s very own Kings Theatre.

In case you need a bit more:

Notaro has been an astounding singular voice in comedy as well as an inspiration and generation defining artist just from her impromptu album, Tig Notaro Live. Also, she’s taken on quite the on-camera career spanning Star Trek, fighting zombies in Vegas, and hosting her own talk show where she has no idea who her very famous guests are. That’s just a quick crash course in how marvelous Tig is as a comedian and performer.

Oh yeah, she also has the best bit using the stool in all of stand-up comedy.

So, do not miss the taping of her latest special, Hello Again, set for Sat. Jun. 10th at 7PM ET & 10PM ET at Kings Theatre. Tickets start at $60 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

 

“Vacation Baby” Shows Hari Kondabolu’s Amazingly Intelligent, Socially Conscious, Self-Aware Sense of Humor Survived the Pandemic

April 25, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, hari kondabolu, stand up comedy, vacation baby

Several comedy specials that have rolled out in the last year or so have been a varying blend of material that had already been worked out for years before lockdown, of how they fared during the pandemic, and, usually, attempts to get back to some sort of “normal” life. It can almost be considered its own sub-genre of comedy special with its tropes of surface level jokes about COVID-19 and being more divided than we have ever been. Of course, as with all well-trodden territory in comedy, there are still ways to be insightful, original, and, most importantly, refreshingly funny about the whole thing.

Hari Kondabolu, a comedian who is high-brow and socially conscious and, simultaneously, a meticulous joke-smith that aims to be as accessible as he is inclusive, delivers such work with his latest special, Vacation Baby. Kondabolu’s last special, Warn Your Relatives, came in 2018 on Netflix (and he also released albums that were compilations of older material during the pandemic) and was, again, the great balance of playing to the top of Hari’s intelligence and being chock full of hard punchlines. Vacation Baby, released last week, picks up, almost effortlessly where he left off nearly five years ago seamlessly connecting whip-smart material about Indian identity, socio-economics, and politics along with raising a child during the pandemic, staying relevant as an older Indian comedian, and a beautifully human story about ignoring e-mails from AOC when she first ran for Congress. Kondabolu taping it at veritable hometown venue for himself, The Bell House in Brooklyn, has the comforting feeling of unpausing from early March 2020 and enjoying the processed humor of everything that has happened almost until now.

For the more alt-comedy-ish folks out there, there’s a meta running gag throughout the hour that exemplifies just how much range Kondabolu’s comedy really covers. With all of that intact after everything we’ve all been through, Hari shouldn’t have to worry about relevance as a voice in comedy, part of great, vulnerable bit in Vacation Baby, for a long time to come.

Hari Kondabolu: Vacation Baby is now streaming completely free on YouTube at 800 Pound Gorilla’s page here. Watch and please enjoy ASAP.

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.

Mae Martin Is a Master of Earnestness (and Talking Gender Identity) on “SAP”

March 30, 2023
News
comedy special, Mae Martin, sap, stand up comedy

The prospect of truth when it comes to comedy, especially stand-up comedy, can often conjure up a world-weary voice at a mic, standing slack from the weight of everything that they’re going to tell you. It’s not common, however, to have truth presented with a forest backdrop with a spritely, bubbly Mae Martin sharing all of themselves with the funniest details, stories, and confessions all neatly honed together in an hour.

Martin’s latest Netflix special, SAP, goes against the typical grain when it comes being truthful with stand-up and very much leans into its title (not a references to “Spanish Audio Program” in case you were wondering) of being emotionally open and being uncompromisingly yourself. Whether that’s having difficulty of thinking of new baby names to share when in a new relationship or opting to run into your ex despite warnings from your best friend and very much being the opposite of the “good night” you wanted to have, Mae takes great joy in tapping the comedy of her own “sap”, an overarching theme of this hour, to celebrate the magnificent absurdities of being alive as a human being. Even though Martin doesn’t shy away from highlighting from their flaws, this hour is tender in such a lovely way where everyone wins/feels good (versus the notion of a comedian being a self-deprecatingly sacrificial lamb for laughs). It’s a much more soothing comedy special than one that might typically be described as “unfiltered truth”.

Also, Martin, as a non-binary comedian, succinctly shares their thoughts on the unfortunate punching down of trans-identity and jokes about gender identity in general that is, for our money, one of the best responses to the poorly thought out bits from Gervais, Chappelle, etc. Martin earnestly and hilariously highlights how paradigm-shifting and alienating it can be to opt out of the gender binary rather than just go for a cheap punchline. Go figure that the best material and points about gender would come from a non-binary comedian?

Overall, you’ll have a much more fond idea of snow globes thanks to Mae Martin, maybe even akin to Rosebud in Citizen Kane, after watching SAP, and that’s probably all for the better given the chaos of these times.

Mae Martin: SAP is now streaming on exclusively on Netflix here.

You Know That the World Gets a Bit Better When Kyle Kinane Releases a New Hour; This Latest One Being “Shocks & Struts”

March 23, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, kyle kinane, shocks and struts, stand up comedy

Ever since Death of the Party, Kyle Kinane has been releasing truly beautiful hours of comedy that showcase the artistry that can happen with just the a mic, mic stand and one’s tightly honed thoughts and words. That was true in his landmark debut album and is still so very true with his latest special, Shocks & Struts, fresh off the presses from 800 Pound Gorilla Media.

The comedic world view of Kinane is equal parts epic poetry and some of the keenest observations in all of comedy and, above all else, a missive of hope in people and of the world despite the absurdity in the world he has so deftly highlighted in all of his jokes. This latest hour sees Kinane coming off the pandemic, after having left LA, resettling in Portland, getting a van, and playing the road without having lost an iota of his comedic prowess. The only difference is that this special taps into a world that seems as scarier than any other in our lifetimes with the pandemic, the threat of AI, the very real consequences of climate change, etc. etc. Again, Kyle so colorfully and masterfully weaves and paints a funny, yet quietly beautiful picture of a world where, perhaps, vaccines causing autism is the key to combatting the “Singularity”.

Also, Kinane, as an almost signature part of his comedic repertoire, highlights humanity in a hopeful way despite whatever snap judgments he has. On Death of the Party, it was being relieved when going #2 at a scary bar and here, on Shocks & Struts, it’s getting saved in the desert from a “dude” named “Garrett” who had an egregiously gigantic truck.

As we said in the headline, the world is just a bit better with a new Kinane special and such is the case right here right now with Shocks & Struts. You can rent the special for another week from 800 Pound Gorilla Media or watch it on YouTube com Mar. 30th.

Jenny Zigrino Sends Up All the Generations with Her Debut Hour Special “Jen-Z”

March 13, 2023
News
comedy central, comedy special, jen z, jenny zigrino, stand up comedy

The tapping of generational divides is a time honored source of comedy and very likely will be until, well, the end of time. That said, it takes exceptional comedic prowess, skill, and talent to find unique, singular footing on such well-tread territory. The keen wit and acumen of Jenny Zigrino in her first marvelous, amazingly self-produced hour special Jen-Z very much hit that mark (as well as broke away from the unfortunate comic habit of purely punching down at younger generations).

Zigrino herself is a Millennial and cheekily called it Jen-Z with plenty of great material on how Generation Z stole the thunder that Millennials had going for them going right before COVID-19 shuddered everything for awhile (Also, Jenny’s COVID material delightfully stands out from the countless hours of it we’ve seen over the last three years). Gen-X and Baby Boomers are in the mix too since Jenny does her due diligence to make inclusively satirize all ages.

Again, Jenny makes sure that any sort of generational bitterness gets evened out by a very insightful and funny balance for folks younger (who want everyone to be sexually gratified) and older (who didn’t have to find love through a dating app). Throughout Jen-Z, it’s a great reminder that people of all times are trying their best and some of the best comedy comes from finding where people’s “best” is sometimes just worthy of a participation trophy.

Jenny Zigrino: Jen-Z is now streaming on YouTube for your convenience, free of charge. Look for Jen-Z as an album from Blonde Medicine on Apr. 14th.

A Kyle Kinane Special, Shocks & Struts, Approaches

March 7, 2023
News
800 pound gorilla, comedy special, kyle kinane, stand up comedy

One of the best comedy voices in our generation/era belongs to one Kyle Kinane. Kyle might get bashful with such a statement, but that humility feeds the ingenious bits and poetic hilarity that has seen him through several brilliant hours of comedy. When we first started covering comedy over a decade ago, we fell in love with Death of the Party, Kinane’s first album and pretty much watched this 10 minute bit about oversized pizza on repeat for a week.

Needless to say, the prospect of another special of Kinane’s coming out soon is extremely exciting and has been long awaited (Trampoline in a Ditch came out in 2020). Shocks & Struts is that special and Kinane just posted a teaser that has us thinking there is something very special coming on this month with this hour.

See for yourself here and then, likely, pay $10 because you’ll want to see as soon as you can starting Mar. 15th.

Howdy gang. New special on deck. March 15th for $10 dollars for you early birds, or wait until March 30 and get it for FREE.https://t.co/IiHdzLeImE pic.twitter.com/V2fokMcQXf

— Elon Musk (for serious Im totally him) (@kylekinane) March 7, 2023

Nick Youssef Beautifully Shows the Uselessness of Toxic Masculinity on “Take Care”

March 6, 2023
News
comedy special, nick youssef, take care

As historic as it is that Chris Rock performed his latest hour special as a live-to-stream broadcast on Netflix, the vision of the world that Rock paints seems, in a word, defeatist (except for the final passage where he screams about Will Smith being a bitch for slapping him over and over), especially when it comes the whims of men and their relationship to their masculinity. When you remember that Rock is 58, his proclamations about how women’s beauty runs the world seem a little less surprising.

In contrast, Nick Youssef’s latest hour, his special Take Care, presents a subversively nuanced idea of what a man and mental wellness can (and should) be in 2023. Through a seamless work of resonant and funny personal stories with what an actually healthy relationship looks like (i.e. plenty of crying is allowed), the feeling of getting the right depression meds, keen observations of “men being men” from a distance (though still viewed as a man), Nick concludes that men, and really everyone, would do so much better if they took the title of this special to heart.

This hour makes you wonder how, in 2023, toxic masculinity can be so toxic still when there is much more empathetic and evolved side to those folks who go by he/him, but does leave you hopeful that there is a growing death-rattle-ish air to the men afraid of being “feminized”. That’s a rare feat as is in comedy at any time, but even more so in a year that features a big time comedy special called “From Bleak to Dark”.

Lucky for us all, Nick Youssef’s Take Care is streaming for your convenience, free of charge, on YouTube right here.

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