2) Last night, I took part in my first roast and unfortunately most of my act deals with roasting myself, which is the angle that I took while dishing out insults. I’m pretty sure the only person that appreciates this approach is the guest of honor being roasted, to all those planning on partaking in a roast in the near future.
5) OPEN MIC RUN CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM PUKA BAR 710 W. Willow St., Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/10 min. HARLEM PLACE CAFE 124 W. 4th St. (in alley between Main and Spring St.)/Starts 8PM/e-mail speakeasyopenmic@gmail.com for spots D’AMORE’S 8369 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM/Purchase required GROUND ZERO CAFE 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA (USC on campus nestled in between dorms near intersection of Figueroa and Exposition)/USC student Sign-up 9PM/Non Student Sign-up 9:15PM/Starts 9:30PM 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 Cover/Free coffee & water.
6) I wonder if anybody reads this part or if this just look at the listing of shows.
The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to RON LYNCH:
“Mmmm mmmm mmm MMMMMM MMMM MMMM!?!?” (Yes, you read that right, Ron unintelligibly mumbled during his entire set last Monday at a bar…. and killed)
If you hear about me talking about Ron Lynch in person, I might say something like, “I wish these were my words, but someone beat me to them: Ron Lynch is a National Treasure.” I told that to Ron once and he told me that was enough of the flattery. The sheer humility of one of the most original and jaw-droppingly funny comedic voices of our generation is, in itself, worthy of a “Tip of the Hat”.
“On paper”, Ron’s act might seem almost too simple and hard to figure how exactly he’ll pull it off, but, by the end, it becomes more brilliant than you can imagine. Last Monday, he literally mumbled his entire set where you couldn’t understand a single thing that he was saying. Still, his deft touch and uncanny awareness as a performer not only got a bar full of twenty-something drunkards laughing, but applauding him victoriously. As is the case with Ron Lynch, there are only so many ways that I could describe what happened, but you really just have to witness him responding to audience suggestions of doing impressions while still mumbling and get uproarious laughs yourself.
Simply put, Ron shows us what comedy can be and the true artistry behind just entertaining a bunch of strangers in a darkened room, which is why he really is a more of a “wonder of the world of comedy” rather than a “national treasure”.
One of my favorite shows in Los Angeles, the Tomorrow Show, is produced and hosted by Ron Lynch every Saturday at the Steve Allen Theater starting appropriately at midnight and is something that really is “bucket list” worthy every time that you go. If you can’t stay up for that, then check back here at the Comedy Bureau for any other dates he performs because, rest assured, they’ll be here.
1) In an ongoing confusion about the upcoming Comedy Awards, what exactly is “breakthrough” about any of the nominees for Breakthrough Performer of the Year? Most of these people have been around comedy for quite some time and are somewhat established, but the only thing that I can figure in regards to being breakthrough is that they have something, a TV show mostly, that’s really popular this year, as opposed to someone just having a whole round of debuts on the late night circuit as a comic whose name is just started to get known around entertainment and comedy circles alike. To be accurate, the award should be called Biggest Jump by a Comedic Performer in IMDB Starmeter This Year.
5) OPEN MIC RUN PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/$5 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/multiple sets allowed
6) I think have come to a point where I can only “nerd out” about comedy because all that I know. Unfortunately, that’s what I do for “work”, so I think I’ve become that guy who just can’t stop talking about work no matter where he is. Details on this development to follow.
1) One of my absolute favorite shows in town, The Super Serious Show, now has a youtube account so now ALL OF YOU can see just how damn fantastic it is. Check it here.
3) I’m not a big fan of reality TV and even a less of a fan of the monstrous “American Idol”, but when comedian Paul F. Tompkins recaps an episode of it, it’s actually entertaining to the point where I don’t feel that I’m dumbing myself down to enjoy myself.
4) One liner extraordinaire Jim Hamilton, according to him, will be on TV very soon. Details to follow as the Comedy Bureau gets them… from Jim himself (just follow @jim_hamilton like we do)
5) Three Minutes to Nothing-Why Comedy Contests are Largely a Waste of Everyone’s Time by the Comedy Bureau
7) OPEN MIC RUN SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min. WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed
8) Getting a business card from a girl because you’re “just that sad” still counts as getting a number, right?
2) The Scoomie Awards-an award show recognizing distinction in open mic comedians in LA is coming up soon and is taking suggestions for categories. Here are some of the best suggested categories so far–take note Comedy Awards. (Listed in alphabetical order by first name)
-The “I’m an F-18, Bro” Award for Overconfidence Andrew N. Solmssen
-Best Post Show Karaoke Performance Andy Peters
-Most Likely to Die Before the Scoomies Dave Ross
-The Award for Slightly More Honest Than I’d Care For, Conversely Best Fictional Stage Life -Best Reworking of Mitch Hedberg’s Persona James Bruce
-The Robert Yasumura Up-and-Comer Award and Scholarship Jeff Wattenhofer
-The “Getting the Light Means 5 More Minutes, Right?” Award Jim Hegarty
-Most Likely to Have Killed at Flappers Prior to Attending Open Mic/Show Currently Bombing At Joseph Larkin
-Kutest Komedy Kouple Josh Androsky
-Best Potential Mug Shot Julia Bensfield
-Most Likely to Sign Up But Leave Before It’s Their Turn….Award…..Good luck trying to get an acceptance speech Marianne Sierk
-The Heavy Meta Award -Obscure Referenciest -The TMI Award Matt Manser
-“Female Comic Under the Sway of Domineering, Abusive Ike Turner-like Impresario" Moses Robinson
-Most-sogynist -The "When the hell did YOU get funny??” Award Paul Jay
-The “Wait–This Person Doesn’t Look Damaged at ALL, So Why is He/She Up There? Oh, Oh Wait. Oof. Nooow It Becomes Plain. This Person Makes Me Look Like the Picture of Mental Health. This is PAINful to Watch.” Award -The “PLEASE Shut Up About How Much Porn You Watch And Pot You Smoke You Horny Perverted Runt Troll; We Guessed Already By Looking At You” Award Robert Buscemi
-The Saddest Bear in The Forest of Depression Award -The Goes to More Open Mics in a Week than You Do in a Month Award -The Most Likely To Stop Doing Standup and Start Doing Improv Award -The Dryhumps you when Drunk Award -Lifetime Achivement Ron Babcock
-The “My Cat Is My Stage Time at Home” Award Shawn Carlow
-Most Likely to Thrive at Homelessness Vanessa Ramos
3) Jen Kirkman’s new album “Hail to the Freaks” is coming soon. More details to come as soon as the Comedy Bureau receives them. Stay tuned.
7) OPEN MIC RUN HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM THE SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 7PM CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guaranteed TKO SHOW @ 212 CAFE 212 Pier Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 9PM
8) Anyone know how to put actual code for ads on Tumblr? It would be pretty great if this was my job and I’d keep everyone even MORE updated on everything LA comedy, wouldn’t it? Please e-mail thecomedybureau@gmail.com if you have tips/suggestions/help/etc.
Recently: Kenya MP Gidion Mbuvi to fight for right to wear bling. Also, it turns out Mbuvi might have been a culprit to write this letter by Osama Bin Laden read by Comedian Tony Sam that might very well be incredibly lost in translation.
James talks to Gene and Brodie about his stand-up, sketch, acting, and writing career and his impersonations of Jesse Ventura, Alex Jones, Brody Stevens, Paul F. Tompkins, Eddie Pepitone, and many more. The conversation also turns to “Saturday Night Live” and their monopoly on network television sketch comedy, archaic recording formats, the hotness of Mario Van Peebles, tense phone calls from Huell Howser, and the impending apocalypse and takeover of Earth by octopus people.
1) Remember when I said there will be something posted HERE in March? Well, it’s March and later today you’ll find out what I was legally obligated to keep under wraps until now. HINT: Pretty much all comedy competitions are a waste of time.
2) Comedy Central Specials that you NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR: Jay Larson on Mar. 11th and Norm MacDonald on Mar. 12th. More details to come…
6) OPEN MIC RUN THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM LIBRARY A COFFEEHOUSE 3418 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM
7) It’s a rare occurrence as I’m actually feeling pretty good. Such is the life of a comedian/comedy journalist/blogger/insomniac…
5) The Scoomie’s are coming soon. That’s right the awards for comedians by comedians and not really anyone else just like it should be. Have category suggestions? Go here.
6) Last night Chris Fairbanks’ Comedy Special aired late on Fuel TV. It’s the first comedy special they’ve aired and hopefully they’ll air it again. Check back here for details.
8) OPEN MIC RUN BACK HOME IN LAHAINA 519 E. Carson St., Carson, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO @ SEÑOR FISH 422 E. 1st, Los Angeles, CA (downtown)/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Starts 8PM WESTWOOD BREWCO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
9) Did you know you could reach the end of your Twitter feed? Of course you don’t because you’re still part of society.
Hey, guy! Look at you! Look who’s all grown up with his own Internet connection! I’m assuming it’s your own Internet connection. I mean, it is your own, right? I suppose it could be your mom’s. Is it your mom’s? Is she right there with you now? Hi, guy’s mom!
(photo by Robyn Von Swank)
