dave merheje – The Comedy Bureau

TCB Debriefing 4/26-5/3: SF Sketchfest, Ian Abramson, Dave Merheje, Peabody Awards, Alex Edelman/Tonys, Keke Palmer/SZA, Scooby Doo, Chonga Girls, The Ugly Stepsister, Netflix, Jerry Seinfeld

May 3, 2024

alex edelman, chonga girls, dave merheje, ian abramson, jerry seinfeld, keke palmer, netflix, peabody awards, scooby doo, sf sketchfest, sza, ugly stepsister

1. SF Sketchfest, one of the biggest comedy festivals in the entire world, is now taking submissions for (pretty much) anything and everything for next year’s festival (Jan. 16th-Feb. 2nd). Find out more details, deadlines, submission fees, and more at sfsketchfest.com/get-involved.

2. Ian Abramson has told jokes in a shock collars controlled by the audience, challenged comedians to perform in an empty space while an audience watch a live feed from a remote location (and this was well before the pandemic), and even created his own DIY version of SNL when COVID-19 indefinitely postponed Saturday Night Live in 2020. With such daring feats, it’s almost unbelievable that Ian hasn’t done the simple, tried and true format of a comedy special (especially since Ian is one of the most original and purely silly comedians working today). Thank goodness for Heist, Ian’s first hour special that was just released by Comedy Dynamics, which, effectively is a greatest hits of the beautifully intricate absurdist comedy that Ian has perfected. Many a time there is a dual joy to be had from an Abramson bit in the mere spectacle of him being able to do it (or survive it in the case of the shock collar) and how surreally and deeply funny it really is. Suffice it to say that if you’re pining for the stand-up of 70s Steve Martin, get into everything Ian Abramson right now.

3. Dave Merheje continues his well deserved ascent in comedy with a killer Don’t Tell set. Per usual, Dave blurs the line between being off-the-cuff and doing material better than almost anyone since he’s so extremely present on stage. Please enjoy his set here.

4. The Career Achievement and Trailblazer Award for this year’s Peabody Awards are going to comedy with the honors going to the comedy legend Mel Brooks and potential comedy legend in the making Quinta Brunson (Variety).

5. Alex Edelman will be getting the T of EGOT covered very soon because of the brilliance of Just For Us.

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6. Don’t be surprised if the upcoming Keke Palmer and SZA buddy comedy from Issa Rae is the buddy comedy you didn’t know you were waiting several years for (Deadline).

7. Though it’s far from a sure thing, Tinseltown is dead set on cashing in on live action versions of animated IP, hence another go at a live action Scooby Doo (Deadline).

8. Fingers crossed that The Chonga Girls will have the magical ingredient to make multicam work (it’s a long way to fall from Seinfeld to Big Bang Theory, FYI) as a concept again with their CBS project in development (Deadline)

9. If you were wondering if there was going to be some sort of gritty reboot of all the Disney canon following Winnie the Poo: Blood and Honey, indeed that is a thing. Just check the villain origin story vehicle that is The Ugly Stepsister coming as the first feature from Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt (Variety).

10. Netflix is sticking with their stars by giving specials to pretty their biggest stars (that don’t keep tripling down on problematic trans jokes) Ali Wong, Bert Kreischer, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy and Michelle Buteau. Wonder if they’ll ever get back to their roots when started off with a not-yet-famous Ali Wong, Tom Segura, and Jen Kirkman.

11. We’ll leave you with this: Jerry Seinfeld is still not over not being able to do his iPhone bit at colleges?

Pick of The Day: TCB @ Townhouse Venice (in LA) 9/21

September 16, 2022

News

amy miller, dave merheje, jet eveleth, los angeles comedy, milan patel, venice

Yes, we’re going to become more of a regular fixture at The Townhouse Venice. We had our first taste of putting on a show of the true, from-decades-past, speakeasy, Townhouse, that’s right at the iconic entrance to the Venice Boardwalk a few months back and it was every bit the rollicking, all-encompassing, intimate night of comedy that we’ve dreamed of doing for awhile.

So, Townhouse Venice has invited us here at The Comedy Bureau for another special handpicked evening of the best comedy folks (after having watched comedy every day/night of their life for 13 years or 10,000 hours several times over) on Wed. Sept. 21st.

This edition will feature the comedy stylings that you might have seen on Ramy or Vulture’s latest Comedians You Should and Will Know list including Dave Merheje, Amy Miller, Jet Eveleth, and Milan Patel.

Doors are at 7PM, show is at 7:30PM, and tickets are $10. Go get ’em here quick.

Please Enjoy Jon Dore as Comedy’s HR Rep on “Humour Resources”

There has has to be a lot of ingenuity in making any sort of content throughout the pandemic (that isn’t over yet). Necessity being the mother of invention has led to tons of Zoom comedy, but also given us some genuinely funny shows such as Baited with Ziwe on Instagram Live.

Another such show that attempted to deal with the creative conundrum of COVID-19 and very much succeeded is the new CBC comedy series, Humour Resources starring Jon Dore and created by Adam Brodie, Dave Derewlany, and Dore. With the obstacle of so many things having to rely on the front facing cameras for any sort of human interaction, Dore stars as an alternate universe version of himself that has retired from stand-up comedy and chooses to become an HR representative for all of “Comedy” (if all of comedy was housed under one umbrella corporation).

The show is centered around Dore having HR meetings of all shapes and sizes with beloved Canadian and American comedians including Sarah Silverman, Courtney Gilmour, Dave Merheje, Nikki Glaser, Casey Corbin, The Lucas Brothers, Tom Green, Ronny Chieng, DeAnne Smith, Scott Thompson, Sophie Buddle, Eric Andre, Debra DiGiovanni, Arthur Simeon, Rory Scovel, Kyle Brownrigg, Aisha Brown, and Reggie Watts. Even though it’s technically an HR meeting, this feels like Dore’s über clever version of how he would do a late night panel interview if he were given the slot for a talk show.

Thus, there’s a delightful mix of The Office and Conan throughout, especially since Dore has to deal with a quietly chaotic suburban home life while trying to maintain the appearance of a professional member of a Human Resources department. For awhile, if you were in the U.S., you couldn’t really watch it freely, put Just For Laughs is graciously streaming episodes for free on their YouTube channel, releasing them one by one.

At the accommodation of your very busy schedule, you can (and should) enjoy Humour Resources here.

Pick of the Day: FresHair 6/25

June 9, 2021

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comedy shows, dave merheje, echo park, in person shows, jade catta preta, los angeles, rell battle

Before the pandemic happened, one of Echo Park’s biggest barbershops, American Barbershop, was home to a handful of really fun comedy shows. During the pandemic, they transitioned to having it outside, but still with a very cool, vintage barber’s chair on stage.

Now, with things opening up again, FresHair Comedy is going strong putting on a very cool comedy show in the heart of Echo Park in LA. They’ve got, for this latest show this month, Dave Merheje, Rell Battle, and Jade Catta-Preta along with esteemed producers Renee Gauthier, Ryan Dalton, and Allison Leber on the line-up and there will be, as we have seen them do in the past, plenty more great LA-based comedians (or ones that just happen to be in town).

This June edition of FresHair is set for Fri. Jun. 25th at 9PM PT and tickets are on sale starting at $15. Go snag them up before they sell out.