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The 101 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To in 2023 in No Particular Order

January 2, 2024
News
aaron jackson, academy museum, addi somekh, addie weyrich, albert brooks, alex edelman, alexander payne, alison stevenson, American fiction, andy iwancio, ari aster, asteroid city, barbie, beau is afraid, ben roy, Ben Wasserman, beth stelling, blair socci, bottoms, brad wenzel, cam gavinski, carol and the end of the world, chad damiani, chop and steele, chris estrada, chris fleming, civil dead, clay tatum, cole escola, cunk on earth, david drake, david gborie, demi adejuyigbe, Diane Morgan, dicks the musical, dream scenario, drew lausch, emma morgan, emma seligman, emma stone, ever mainard, extraordinary, fortune feimster, frankie quinones, futurama, gareth reynolds, green room, greg barris, greta gerwig, handsome podcast, hari kondabolu, harley quinn, hasan minhaj, how to with john wilson, i think you should leave, il fungo, jackie johnson, jackie kashian, james adomian, james hamilton, jamie loftus, jay jurden, jenny zigrino, jerrod carmichael, jesse david fox, jessica sele, joe kwaczala, joe pera, joe zimmerman, john early, john oliver, john waters, josh sharp, joy ride, julia sweeney, katherine blanford, kyle ayers, kyle kinane, langston kerman, last week tonight, lbj the play, leslie liao, Mae Martin, marc maron, maria bamford, mark vigeant, michael j feldman, mike bridenstine, mike lindell, mo welch, molly gordon, moses storm, nate craig, nick lieberman, paul giamatti, paul provenza, perfect amount of wrong, poor things, protected under parody, Rachel Coster, rachel kaly, rachel mac, Rachel Sennott, raine allen miller, reservation dogs, richard perez, richelle meiss, rob reiner, rye laine, sabrina wu, sam walt jones, scout durwood, steph tolev, sunanda, the holdovers, the other two, theater camp, this fool, tig notaro, tim robinson, Tina Friml, tom thakkar, tyler jackson, veronica osorio, wes anderson, whitmer thomas, yorgos lanthimos, zach teague, ziwe

Sorry for the delay and getting this on the 2nd. As always, we wanted to be thorough and not miss out on anything in late December like other lists (and, boy howdy, there were). Anyhow after working tirelessly through New Year’s Day up until now, here is our grand list of the 100 best things in comedy we saw/heard/etc. in 2023, in no particular order.

*An egregious error has been made in not including Gary Gulman’s brilliant new hour special. It’s so egregious that we are, for this one time only, expanding from 100 to 101. May Gary forgive us for the tardy inclusion.

  1. Jerrod Carmichael turned awards hosting on its head with his performance at The Golden Globes (kind of like he did with his SNL monologue and he should be hosting way more things).
  2. In addition to stealing every scene that they were in for Joy Ride, Sabrina Wu has more than put themselves on their map as a stand-up, especially with a stand out set on Netflix’s Verified Stand-Up.
  3. Cole Escola might have just outdone Eddie Murphy in regards to how many characters you can comically play on screen at the same time with their “lost” pilot for the Western “drama”, Our Home Out West.
  4. Diane Morgan’s Philomena Cunk has reached Alan Partridge status with Cunk on Earth.
  5. Between her interview with George Santos and her seminal collection of essays, Black Friend,, Ziwe‘s iconic status continues to grow and Showtime will look more and more stupid for cancelling her show.
  6. LBJ the Play achieves comedic brilliance while also, somehow, bridging the wide gap between President Lyndon B. Johnson and gender identity.
  7. The Perfect Amount of Wrong by Mike Bridenstine gives a great portrait of how kindred spirits in a comedy scene, specifically North Chicago alt-comedy, can evolve into some of the most celebrated performers of our time (and make you wonder what the magical ingredients are in 2024 to make that sort of thing happen again).
  8. The hysterical Rachel Kaly attempted to get back on Conan after appearing as a child with jokes that she wrote when she was a child. The journey was thankfully all captured in the blisteringly hilarious short film ATTN: CONAN O’BRIEN.
  9. Everyone who got to see Ben Wasserman do what will likely the best show to ever happen at a funeral home/mortuary/cemetery with Live After Death has been forever changed for the better.
  10. Yorgos Lanthimos outdid himself again with the exquisite, towering, fairy tale satire that is Poor Things featuring a career defining turn from Emma Stone (and Ramy Youssef).
  11. Kyle Kinane‘s Shock and Struts delivered the goods, almost in the way that the truck in a 20+ min. closing story delivered him and his truck out of the desert.
  12. Michael J. Feldman‘s solo show No, But I’m Definitely in a Better Place Than I Been in a Long Time is the solo show we both all deserve (and can revel in as it hits that gallows humor nerve perfectly).
  13. Addie Weyrich must have set some sort of record by having the overwhelming majority of the audience at The Addie Show individually take part of the show (complete with one of over 100 note cards with specific instructions on it).
  14. Addi Somekh made us rethink both balloon hats and the world arounds us with Inflatable Planet.
  15. Sure, Meg Ryan made a return to form in a rom com this year, but Rye Lane, the feature debut of Raine Allen Miller, in our minds, is the top of the pops for romantic comedies in 2023.
  16. Mae Martin plus a forest of trees on stage plus Abbi Jacobson directing equals Sap, one of the most dreamy comedy specials in recent memory.
  17. Mark Vigeant never ceases to amaze with his commitment to the bit, cleverness to go meta, and his vulnerability, all on wondrous display with his solo show, Mark Pleases You.
  18. Chad Damiani‘s half hour of silent improv is a ridiculous treat, even as shirts come off, sweat flies everywhere, and the narrative thread is often illusory.
  19. Scout Durwood pulls out all the stops for the marvelously off-the-rails cabaret/variety show Everybody Go Go and you should take up every opportunity to see it wherever and whenever you can.
  20. The songs, the moves, and the sharp comedy of Drew Lausch and Zach Teague are a force to be reckoned with.
  21. Greg Barris offers both a restorative emotional experience and a deluge of silliness with his latest album Deep Healing.
  22. The Other Two will forever be remembered as having some of the very best industry jokes of any comedy of all time. It’s almost worth working some awful Hollywood desk to enjoy every bit on the show.
  23. In a comedy world of unrelenting truth tellers and edgelords, one Tyler Jackson opts to revel in purely absurd bits and is masterful at it.
  24. Rachel Mac’s Teacher of the Year makes a case for Rachel Mac being one of the funniest teachers working today, which is saying a lot because, whether you know it or not, many teachers live a double life as a comedian.
  25. We got witness the top-to-bottom brilliance of Richard Perez with his solo show, I Have To Do This, and he has made new romances just a little more tolerable/bearable though this collection of (somewhat) grounded rom com vignettes.
  26. Joe Zimmerman’s special Cult Classic faithfully holds up the torch for classical, observational stand-up comedy without sounding like Seinfeld and being able to find a refreshing angle on killing baby Hitler.
  27. The fact that Bottoms is the second Emma Seligman/Rachel Sennott feature length film and that the first one was Shiva Baby should prove to you that they have a lot more delightful, hysterical havoc to wreak on the big screen in the not so distant future.
  28. May your very first special be as on point as Blake Wexler’s Daddy Long Legs.
  29. Cam Gavinski: how to make everything about you forever and always is yet more evidence of Cam being someone who has so much ambition and vision with their comedy, but has the rare ingenuity to actually pull it off.
  30. Very few people break down comedy and analyze it at the molecular level quite like Jesse David Fox does. The Vulture editor and long time host of Good One conclusively summarizes all of his succinct and astute observations on comedy in his appropriately titled Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture-and the Magic That Makes It Work by Jesse David Fox.
  31. Greta Gerwig’s take on Barbie was a feat on so many levels (financially, philosophically, tonally) all while being so damn fun. Don’t be surprised if comedy runs the table again this awards season.
  32. Being unapologetically genuine and exuberant are a great pairing for comedy and Rachel Coster is a perfect example of that.
  33. As far as taking big swings for specials, very few swung as big as Alison Stevenson with making up a streaming service for her special VUBITV+ Presents: Alison Stevenson: H*rny B*tch: A Comedy Special to “premiere” on and do a bunch of BDSM bits on top of it. It’s such a good time because of it.
  34. Tina Friml is a shining gem amidst a field of angrily smoldering embers and you should go seek out her stand-up whenever you can.
  35. It’s called Hell, but Chris Fleming and his groovy attire front what might be the silliest special on a major streaming platform. Kudos to Fleming keeping true to being utterly ridiculous.
  36. The imagination of Sam Walt Jones is wonderfully bigger than most as shown, just this year, by doing an entire live parody series of Survivor that actually spans several weeks and feels like a splendidly mutated Wonderland version of the show.
  37. LA got a wonderful addition to its scene this year with one Katherine Blanford whose warmth and cleverness ought to see her go real far in Tinseltown.
  38. The sultry voice of Leslie Liao blends comedically so well with her frank observations about herself and it has been a true joy to see her rise out of the ranks.
  39. Langston Kerman and David Gborie seem to be able to do no wrong with their podcast My Momma Told Me even though it’s dedicated to parsing out (and “legitimately” considering) some of the most ridiculous conspiracy theories out there.
  40. Richelle Meiss had a hit on her hands with an unauthorized musical parody of The Bachelor and she did an equally pitch perfect send up of Real Housewives this year. We would love if she just took on all trash TV with her musical parody prowess.
  41. Moses Storm got back to his more experimental comedy roots this year and devised a solo show, Perfect Cult, where he created a cult with the audience. Storm’s mixing of his own experiences, which, in turn, inform how he creates this in-show cult is so fun that you might just want to follow Storm wherever he goes.
  42. Veronica Osorio put all of her being, experiences, desires, and penchant for mischief into her Venezuelan Shamanic clown show, Medicine Woman, and made for one of the most enchanting, mystifying, original solo shows we saw all year long.
  43. Kyle Ayers is unfortunately afflicted with Trigeminal Neuralgia (AKA “Suicide Disease”) and yet, through his own indomitable comedic will, made a non-stop laughs solo show, Hard to Say.
  44. Beth Stelling‘s latest special If You Didn’t Want Me Then is so undeniably good (kind of like Girl Daddy) it should be the calling card for Beth to be in anything and everything that she wants to be.
  45. Kristoffer Borgli‘s Dream Scenario is one of the most radical movies of the year and did so by having Nicholas Cage play one of his most unassuming roles in his entire career. For our money, it’s the best and most original comedy about dreams since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
  46. Julia Sweeney‘s story about the death of her mom, when we heard it at UnCabaret, is one of the best, purest distillations of a comedian’s archetypal relationship with their parents.
  47. So much comedy on the big screen this year had wonderful bite to it, but American Fiction might have some of the most devastatingly funny lines delivered perfectly by Jeffrey Wright and crafted by Cord Jefferson.
  48. Mo Welch went above and beyond in going meta and daring with Dad Jokes, a half stand-up special/half docu-special with super dark dad jokes and then trying to reconnect with your estranged dad.
  49. Alex Edelman infiltrating a White Nationalist meeting as a Jew and turning it into Just For Us is every bit as illuminating and hilarious and resonant as you think it could be (and then some).
  50. As one can see from Live from the Big Dog, the comedic power of Blair Socci will not be denied.
  51. The Academy Museum’s exhibit John Waters: Pope of Trash is an ornate tribute to the auteur and one of the best displays of camp cinema/humor/etc. we’ve ever seen.
  52. How Hasan Minhaj handled the controversy around his New Yorker interview highlighted so much about comedy that people should never forget.
  53. Joe Pera’s first hour special Slow & Steady is a perfect distillation of Joe’s calming and politely off-kilter comedy that is the perfect salve for these times. Also, Joe has the best audience cutaway to the security guard of any special ever.
  54. LA now has its own, postmodern bouffant troupe Il Fungo and, as a postmodern bouffant troupe is wont to do, they bridge the sublime and the silly wonderfully.
  55. While comedians riffing off each other is well-mined territory in podcasts, Mae Martin, Fortune Feimster, and Tig Notaro hanging out on The Handsome Podcast has a magical quality to it.
  56. Julian Velard has the most amazing existential song about being a piano player being asked to play Billy Joel’s Piano Man in his marvelous musical solo show Julian Velard… Is in the Middle of Something.
  57. John Early is up to his meta hijinks in his HBO special Now More Than Ever that dresses up his hilarious stand-up in the middle of a classic rock doc. Also, bonus points go to John for the way he points out his parents in this hour
  58. A very special Green Room with Paul Provenza happened this year as it was all in Paul’s backyard and showed how comedy can shine the through darkest of traumas with Doug Stanhope, Andy Andrist, Kristine Levine, Annie Lederman, and Henry Phillips.
  59. Though Demi Adejuyigbe isn’t doing his September videos anymore, he is still dishing out brilliance in other forms as he did in 2023 with his declaration for 2023 Halloween costumes.
  60. For all the talk about The Boys, best not sleep on a UK satire on super powers from Emma Morgan, Extraordinary, which is decidedly less explicit and (maybe more) charming, in the keep-calm-and-carry-on British manner.
  61. As far as a classical looking and sounding comedy special goes in 2023, it doesn’t get much better than Nate Craig: Live at the Green Mill.
  62. For a show that’s so unpredictable and existentially rapturous, let’s all hold hands and take a moment for the final season of How to With John Wilson coming to a close last year.
  63. NYC comedy darling James Hamilton put out one hell of a debut album with I Don’t Deserve These Deals; the sort of album that makes you wonder how wrong the Grammys are about their nominations for Best Comedy Album.
  64. Thank goodness for the doc following Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett‘s fake strongman duo Chop & Steele and capturing how you might have to go, legally, to defend looking stupid on TV for fun.
  65. Let the hilarious weirdness of the life of one Jessica Sele wash over you with her debut album Weird Vibes.
  66. The new, new, new, NEW Futurama, believe it or not, is pretty damn good (and fully aware of how many times it has been revived).
  67. Albert Brooks: Defending My Life is a great and necessary reminder of how much Albert Brooks is a comedy pioneer as a performer/actor/director as well as a touching tribute from one of his best friends, Rob Reiner.
  68. Joe Kwaczala not only delivers on his album’s title of Funny Songs & Sketches, but cleverly delivers a grand variety of ingenious, innovative bits that points to Joe perhaps deserving a full on sketch show somewhere.
  69. While Barbie rode high this year, let us not forget the R-rated comedy of 2023, Joy Ride (that also a touching story about identity, adoption, and taking the baton from Crazy Rich Asians and running wild with it).
  70. Harley Quinn, now in its 4th season, continues to be a bright, hysterical, subversive light in the imploding world of comic book based IP.
  71. The NYC branch of Comedians You Should Know really made moves this year and one of those moves was one of its heads, David Drake, putting out his very first special that hit the perfect mark of self-deprecation with That’s It.
  72. At this point, you’d wonder how John Oliver could possibly up the ante with his prank calls to action with Last Week Tonight. Then, John went ahead and fixed a New Zealand bird election for the Pūteketeke and gave us an answer.
  73. If you want to see victory and self-acceptance and healing and an irresistibly funny solo show, look no further than Jackie Johnson: How To Get a Second Husband.
  74. Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas’ Civil Dead is a charming lowkey twist on what it means to be a ghost and/or the buddy comedy.
  75. Protected Under Parody might be the best sketch show going in LA even though it happens in the bar area of a hip movie theater.
  76. If you don’t already know the name Steph Tolev, you best know it now and remember it fully. The self-ascribed “Queen of Filth” is playing all over the country now and she’s as good at going blue and working a crowd as anyone out there.
  77. Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson made one of the most unhinged, unapologetically queer comedy of the year with Dicks: the Musical, doing A24 proud for their first musical. Let it be known that 2023 could be called the “Year of Dicks and Bottoms”.
  78. Countless hours of comedic observations have been dished out about generational differences, but the amazing Jenny Zigrino has some of the best and sharpest jokes in that realm in her special Jen-Z.
  79. Marc Maron pulled a hat trick with his latest hour in offering one of his most touching, darkest, and best specials yet with From Bleak to Dark.
  80. The only saving grace of Mike Lindell existing is that James Adomian keeps getting to play him brillliantly on Kimmel as he did throughout the year and even over this past holiday season.
  81. Even though Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, and Nick Lieberman had a touching, laugh riot of a tribute to theater kids everywhere with Theater Camp, this feature debut of Gordon and Lieberman is the definitive mockumentary of 2023.
  82. If you’ve mowed through dozens of specials and wondered if comedy has become stale/complacent/hollow, get a shot in the arm with Ben Roy‘s latest hour Hyena and rest easy (after laughing a whole damn lot).
  83. Brad Wenzel and his latest hour, joke. joke. joke. shows that the art form of the one liner, a corner of comedy that often seems to be of yesteryear, is alive and well (and can thrive in the 2020s).
  84. All hail the best sketch show on television, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, full stop. No further explanation should be needed.
  85. Her book Raw Dog, in our minds, has elevated Jamie Loftus into the status of comedy luminary (and is the sort of humor that the Mark Twain Prize actually seeks to honor if you read the award’s mission statement).
  86. The series of IG reels/Tik Tok It’s Not an Issue with Ever Mainard and their Mom on is simply blissful ridiculousness between a mom and their non-binary adult child.
  87. Wes Anderson retains his pristine symmetrical comedy auteur status with his most self-reflexive (and cheeky) work yet, Asteroid City.
  88. If they were a wing of a modern art museum dedicated to video art as dramedy, it should have the entire season of Carol & The End of the World playing on a loop. Hats off to Dan Guterman for creating a beautiful existential valediction to 2023 in the form of an adult animated series.
  89. As time passes, the comedic observations about pandemic times have become more and more worn, but such original and insightful and personal voices like those of Hari Kondabolu make for something special as he did with Vacation Baby.
  90. It might be strange to have a veritable set list as the title of your special, but England, Weed & The Rest from Gareth Reynolds belies his expert skills, especially when it comes to crowd work and making fun of being English. Salutations to Birthday Chicken.
  91. While working the road can wear on the psyche and will of a comedian, some get energized by the challenge and Tom Thakkar is clearly having so much damn fun playing clubs night in and night out wherever he is. That energy (along with thoughtful material about race and politics) is captured wonderfully on Thakkar Noir.
  92. Andy Iwancio not only has some of the very best trans jokes (go figure that the best trans jokes would come from a trans person) in her album Better Living Through Femmistry, but joyfully gets rambunctious about the recording of her album during the actual recording of it.
  93. The genre mash-up of horror and comedy (and your whole outlooking on existence and meaning) might be changed forever (and for the better) because of Ari Aster‘s Beau Is Afraid.
  94. Sunanda‘s solo show dedicated to their love of Britney Spears and their journey to self-actualization from it, the aptly names Sunanda Loves Britney,
  95. Comedy in pathos might have been best displayed in 2023 in the latest collaboration of Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti with The Holdovers.
  96. The trios of Chris Estrada/Frankie Quiñones/Michael Imperioli and Jake Weisman/Matt Ingebretson/Pat Bishop continue on their path to making one of the best comedies of this decade, balancing satirical subversion and the ludicrous all set in a grounded East LA with season 2 of This Fool.
  97. The third season of the modern day indigenous dramedy Reservations Dogs completes a wondrous arc and achieves its best episodes yet making for a rare instance of a TV series getting to do what it set out to do.
  98. The fact that Jackie Kashian made a special using the rearview camera of a car is so funny on its own and then there’s the fact that Jackie is also one of the funniest comedians working today that make Looking Back special.
  99. Whether you go by laughs per minute or just gut feeling, Jay Jurden is indisputably one of the best stand-ups on any stage these days. Just watch his Don’t Tell set, if you haven’t already, and you’ll see what we’re saying.
  100. Even though she might be against the organized religious aspects of it, let’s canonize Maria Bamford as a saint for her brilliant special Maria Bamford: Local Act and hit book Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult.
  101. Gary Gulman is a paragon of the art form of comedy in every single facet of it since he has, perhaps, the deepest understanding of the craft of stand-up, and that has been the case with Gary for a long time. His latest hour, Born on 3rd Base, might be his very best work yet.*

Pick of the Day: Heart of Darkness: DARKNESS FOREVER (in LA) 9/29

July 17, 2023
News
greg barris, los angeles comedy, zebulon

Comedian/mystic/raconteur Greg Barris has been gallanting from city to city and engaging in comedic deep healing for decades now, often under the banner of his otherworldly variety show Heart of Darkness.

If you’re a long time comedy fan out of NYC and LA, we hope this news won’t make you feel too old, but Heart of Darkness is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. That’s 20 years of Barris spreading comedic joy, forgiveness (there’s usually a forgiveness song where audience members get forgiven), ethereal tunes, and more in many different places, but always to such an open-hearted crowd.

This Heart of Darkness: DARKNESS FOREVER 20th Anniversary/2o Years of Darkness is set to revel in the darkness at Zebulon in LA on Fri. Sept. 29th at 7PM with the likes of Amber Coffman, Nick Thune, Moshe Kasher, Kurt Braunohler, and Pete Harper. The show might be a ways away from now, but “20 years of darkness” deserves to be sold out in advance. Go get your tickets for $22.25 a pop here.

Please Enjoy Greg Barris’ Late Night Debut on Corden

March 9, 2023
News
greg barris, james corden, late late show, late night, stand up comedy

Fresh off the release of his stellar album Deep Healing, Greg Barris is making quite the rounds with his stand-up in 2023. His self-effacing, hip charm and semi-mystical hijinks have been a personal favorite of ours for, well, as long as we’ve been around as a Bureau (nearly 13 years at this point).

So, it’s a bit of a mystery as to why Barris just notched in his first late night stand-up set last night on The Late Late Show with James Corden, but we’re glad that it happened and that Greg did one of “the hits”, a bit about his expectations of dating people of a certain name.

With all of that said, go watch and enjoy Greg’s late night debut here.

Greg Barris Goes the Extra Mile to Bring Joy on “Deep Healing”

February 24, 2023
News
ast records, deep healing, greg barris

The crux of comedy, especially live stand-up comedy, is laughter from a crowded, dark room of mostly strangers. It’s that communal experience that is uplifting, affirming, and, often, healing and why many folks pay good money to see a person talk into microphone on stage. That said, comedian Greg Barris loves upping the ante on joy from just making the audience laugh with well-crafted jokes/bits.

On his latest album Deep Healing, Barris repeatedly takes audience members and validates them in plenty of different ways in front of a crowd, which seems like such a simple, small practice, but is true delightful surprise. That act is woven in between several bits that blend cleverness, silliness, and vulnerability in such candid topics as sexual kinks, America’s biggest problem, mantras, and more. True to the album title, there are more than a couple tracks entitled “audience healing” and Barris approach to what should be a more sober, spiritual affair, instead brings a lightness to the whole hour that is kind of irresistible (Greg’s down-to-earth, hip charm really helps with this as well).

As a result of listening to this album, you might just have a slight euphoric pep-in-your-step from Greg oscillating between his modern hippie subversive fun, similar to the one after you’ve felt an emotional/mental/spiritual weight lifted from you (hopefully, you’ve had such an experience already).

Greg Barris: Deep Healing is out now from AST Records here or wherever you get your comedy albums.

Pick of the Day: Greg Barris Deep Healing Taping (in LA) 6/11

June 6, 2022
News
album taping, deep healing, glendale, greg barris, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy
Whenever AST Records and Greg Barris are recording something, you need to go. Barris, ever clever, but always-in-tune-with-his-spirtual-side comedian/raconteur is, of course, aiming for something higher than just a new hour of stand-up.
Greg is calling this latest show DEEP HEALING and is considering it an “extreme act of audience participation”, which, for the lack of human connection we all suffered over the last two years, sounds pretty swell. Whatever Greg has up his sleeve for any and all that attend the very intimate taping at The Glendale Room this coming Saturday, June 11th at 8PM PT, we’re sure it will be transformative/leave you in stitches, only the metaphorical kind, at the same time.
Tickets are $15 right now and you better go snag them here (space is limited)

Pick of the Day: In The Green Room

April 29, 2020
News
chris fairbanks, gareth reynolds, green room, greg barris, james fritz, maggie maye, matt mccarthy, megan koester, paul danke, phoebe bottoms, ryan singer

Often, the green room of a live comedy show is one of the best places to be, especially if you want that fly on the wall experience of comedians that are off-stage, but still sharp whilst riffing with their contemporaries.

Being stuck in quarantine, the idea of gathering is still a bit away from happening (even with just comedians). Yet, you can still get a bit of the green room experience this weekly starting this Thursday 4/30 with the In The Green Room live-stream.

Set to hang back in that proverbial/virtual green room is many of Avail Comedy‘s very best including

Comedians Include*
Chris Fairbanks
Gareth Reynolds
Greg Barris
James Fritz
Maggie Maye
Matt McCarthy
Megan Koester
Nick Flanagan
Paul Danke
Phoebe Bottoms
Ramin Nazer
Ryan Singer
Sara June

* based on quarantine availability

Rather than having the news on all day, it’d be much, much better to just hang with comedians hanging with other comedians. Tune in at youtube.com/availcomedy at 8PM PT/11PM

July 5, 2019
Uncategorized
anniversary, comedy show, comedy variety, cooties, dana gould, greg barris, hannah einbinder, los angeles, los feliz, martha kelly, mimi cave, parker seaman, reggie watts, ryan sickler, silverlake, sklar brothers, super serious show

Truly, it only seems like a little while ago that a super cool variety show called The Super Serious Show started up in a super cool photo studio and provided a stellar variety showcase of stand-up, short film, characters, music, and more.

Yet, almost 9 years later, The Super Serious Show, now at the also super cool Virgil, continues to stand as that same stellar, very diverse, carefully handpicked comedy variety showcase we really love.

For their 9 year mark, they’re really bringing the goods as you can see in the 9 year anniversary line-up above. Don’t miss out on helping them celebrating 9 years and seeing a great, great comedy show.

You’re going to want to get your tickets ASAP ($7 in adv., $10 at door-cash only). Do so here.

And Here’s Your Chance to Win Tickets to Hot Tub on May 21st

May 17, 2018
Uncategorized
ashley barnhill, comedy show, dave stone, DoLA, free tickets, greg barris, hot Tub, joe derosa, kristen schaal, kurt braunohler, los angeles, madison shepard, ramon rivas
image

Another Monday is coming and that means another hot serving of Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen is coming too.

Oh, that also means we got a pair of tickets for you to win! Enter here: http://thecomedybureau.dola.com/giveaways

March 13, 2018
Uncategorized
amber coffman, greg barris, heart of darkness, james henry jr, kate berlant, mcqueen, reggie watts, zebulon

Running a comedy show in either NYC or LA for over a decade is a remarkable feat in of itself. To do so in both is another thing entire together that requires a bit of magic.

Such is Greg Barris’ Heart of Darkness, which will be marking its 15th year of galavanting back and forth across the U.S as a comedy/variety/quasi-spiritual experience show with a great line-up at the ultra hip Zebulon. Don’t miss out on this. 

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 7, 2017
Uncategorized
comedy show, drew carey, fairfax, greg barris, hollywood, lucas brothers, melrose, price is right, stand up, variety show, weho

NYC’s Greg Barris is bringing his Heart of Darkness back to the Hollywood Improv stage this Wednesday. Throughout the years we’ve always enjoyed the mix of a comedy show and “spiritual journey” that is Heart of Darkness.

Also, as you can see, you’ll get to enjoy the comedic stylings of Drew Carey, The Lucas Brothers, Barry Rothbart, Anna Seregina, and more!

Tickets are $10 (with a 2 item minimum). You can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Older Person Greg Barris and Younger Person Bridey Elliot Try to Have a House Party in Their Apartment

October 28, 2015
Uncategorized
bridey elliott, greg barris, mike pomranz, roommates, web series

The latest episode of Roommates, where Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott are roommates from completely different eras in time, yet are still both still trying to figure their life out, has them simply trying to pull having a nice, cozy house party.

See how that played out here.

“Roommates” Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott Get Into Alternative Baptism

October 21, 2015
Uncategorized
baptism, bridey elliott, greg barris, jeremy morris-burke, mike pomranz, roommates

The latest episode of noveau Odd Couple web series Roommates with Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott has Greg baptize his roommate, who is 16 years his junior.

Of course, it’s a much more “out there” baptism than your typical being lowered into a tub of water or being dunked into water. And by “out there”, we do mean drugs are involved.

Watch it here.

“Roommates” Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott Violate Some Personal Boundaries You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

October 15, 2015
Uncategorized
bridey elliott, greg barris, roommates, web series

When having roommates, having ground rules for each other’s personal boundaries goes without saying. Well, the actual ground rules are said, but the idea of having them is pretty much common law. 

With that being said, people like Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott in their web series Roommates have some rules that most folks probably don’t have to go through because they’re probably relatively normal/well-adjusted/same age/gender.

Watch the latest episode of Roommates to see what lines get crossed between two of the most mismatched people ever.

Greg Barris and Bridey Elliot Could Be an Odd Couple for the 21st Century in “Roommates”

October 9, 2015
Uncategorized
bridey elliott, greg barris, jeremy morris-burke, mike pomranz, roommates, web series

If there was a dire time that would drive dissimilar roommates into the same living situation, it would probably be now. 

Greg Barris and Bridey Elliott end up in such a situation where they’re different genders and vastly different in age in their new web series, aptly named Roommates. 

Watch the first episode here and see how you can see how they’d be the more true-to-life, modern update of The Odd Couple.

There’s a TV Trailer for Heart of Darkness with Greg Barris

July 24, 2014
Uncategorized
greg barris, heart of darkness, trailer, variety show

Greg Barris’ traveling variety show Heart of Darkness that features comedy, music, ideas, and spirituality(?) now has its own TV trailer.

We’re not sure what that means other than that it might be a TV show. What channel or network it’ll be at and when it will premiere has yet to be announced, but it’s still good news as far as we’re concerned.

Watch the trailer here.

Into the “Heart of Darkness” of an Old Fashioned Good Time

February 27, 2011
Uncategorized
andy kaufman, burbank moose lodge, chelsea peretti, comedian, comedy, comedy central, dima drjuchin, greg barris, heart of darkness, improv, los angeles, meltdown, meltdown comics, reggie watts, sean patton

The name “Heart of Darkness” promoted as a live comedy show might make many people a little queasy, thinking perhaps, that if they attend, they will be made uncomfortable on what is performance art attempting to be Andy Kaufman.  Though there is a higher brow in the brand of comedy that producer/host/comedian/ringleader Greg Barris wrangles for his show, one will never find themselves laughing only because they’re uncomfortably lost in the “Heart of Darkness”.

Taking place at unusual and unique venues that are a far cry from the traditional comedy club around the country, Greg Barris purposely makes his show more of an organic experience (he touches and forgives audience members) rather than another one of the stand up showcase shows that has spread like a virus across the face of Los Angeles.  In fact, at both the Burbank Moose Lodge or in the back room of Meltdown Comics for the recent two-show stint in LA, audience members got more the sense that they were hanging out after school and some really amazingly talented and hilarious friends rather than the $8 you paid to sit in a crowded room and see a “planned-enough performance”.  With a small line-up, all the performers got to play loose and at their pace, keeping the easy-going, laid-back vibe present throughout the duration of “Heart of Darkness”.

The Comedy Bureau was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Meltdown Comics edition that had a stellar line-up of comics including the incomparable Reggie Watts (as only briefly caught on tape here) floating between a multitude of accents, jokes, and songs, the painfully, but hysterically honest stories of Sean Patton, and the anxiously funny Chelsea Peretti as well as the head of the whole operation Greg Barris and his right hand man in the form of band Dima and Doctor Juchins.  The show was sold out and packed to the gills as I gladly stood the whole time.  

For anybody that has groaned when they have heard the joke set-up, “So I’m half…,” wondered if that was all that stand up comedy has become and why you’re possibly not having a good time, perhaps you should catch Greg Barris’ Heart of Darkness next time it’s in town to restore your faith in that there is indeed an alternative to stand up comedy that’s been stuck in the hey-day 80’s and it’s pretty damn funny.

Morning Debriefing 1/31/11

January 31, 2011
Uncategorized
chelsea peretti, comedy crawl, dave chappelle, garfunkel and oates, greg barris, heart of darkness, kyle kinane, morning debriefing, open mic run, reggie watts, sean patton

1) There have been actual reports of comedian Dave Chappelle sightings at both the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store performing comedy and hanging around.  More details to come as the Comedy Bureau receives them. 

2) Not only is Heart of Darkness with Greg Barris having another Los Angeles run, but it’s going to have none other than Reggie Watts in its line-up (not to mention Chelsea Peretti and Sean Patton).  YOU ARE A BAD PERSON IF YOU MISS THIS (*status of being a bad person subject to change). Feb. 12th at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood $8.

3) I want you to take a pen and go to whatever you use as a calendar and mark Feb. 25th as the date of Kyle Kinane’s “Comedy Central Presents” Special and then make sure you do nothing else that day that would prevent you from watching it.

4) Garfunkel and Oates “All Over Your Face” comes out tomorrow on iTunes and cdbaby.  I don’t know about you, but this will be replacing the Tron soundtrack in my car and though that statement is out of context, that’s pretty damn significant (I’ve listened to Derezzed over 250 times).

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-You won’t have to go to 7-11 after this one…
What’s Up Tiger Lily? Presents Melinda Hill CD/Pilot Release @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8PM/10PM FREE
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE 
Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

5) OPEN MIC RUN 1/31/11

6) Recently: Valentine’s Day Flowers are trending over the events taking place in Egypt according to Yahoo, which means a major portion of the male U.S. population has been in quite a dry spell.

7) Another 100 days, here we go.

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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Why Can’t Everyday Be ‘Sunday Sunday Sunday’?

January 11, 2011
Uncategorized
asterios kokkinos, comedy, eli braden, free, gian molina, greg barris, improv space, karl hess, kumail nanjiani, kyle kinane, la, westwood

On a cold wintry LA Sunday evening, one would be right in thinking that must denizens of their vast city would revert to shutting themselves in, especially since, as far as stand up comedy goes, Louis CK’s “Hilarious” was debuting on Comedy Central and Fox’s newest cartoon show, “Bob’s Burgers”, with a few hilarious comedians as well, was also premiering.  Yet, the reputation of the Sunday Sunday Sunday Show at the Improv Space in Westwood held up and boasted a packed crowd where extra lawn chairs were almost not enough to seat the capacity crowd.

Going on their 4th year running an independently run and produced stand up comedy show, Karl Hess (pictured above), Asterios Kokkinos, and Gian Molina have branded themselves amongst a neighborhood full of options of nighttime entertainment in the very hip and youthful Westwood as a place for a grand old time full of laughs the whole way through.  It only took 20 minutes for the entire Improv Space to fill up with a crowd of 40+ of both students and residents of Westwood where the theatre is located.

That feat isn’t entirely surprising when one considers that every line-up at Sunday Sunday Sunday rivals any show at any major comedy club.  This past Sunday, Kyle Kinane, Kumail Nanjiani, Eli Braden, Greg Barris, who are all comics that tour around the U.S. and who have been on TV, graced the Improv Space stage and showcased some of the best in what some might consider “alternative comedy”, but what is really just some of the most hilarious material from some of the most original performers on the comedy scene.  Spirited host Karl Hess (along with his mastery of “kicking the mic stand”) Asterios Kokkinos, and Gian Molina definitely do their part, not only in producing a great setting to attract great comics, but also in maintaining an energetic vibe on their stage through such things as opening the show on the them to the “A-Team”.  In this respect, this show rightfully aspires to be a part of the ground floor of the next generation in comedy.

Somewhat distanced from Hollywood, Sunday Sunday Sunday offers up to all the comedy lovers of LA yet another place on Sunday, as there are several great bar/lounge comedy shows that have gained notoriety, where you can go see a laugh for completely FREE, meaning no cover or minimum, (check Wisepix for more such listings) with some of the best comics working today.  In other words, we should replace two days of the week (perhaps Mon. and Wed.) and make them into SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY.  The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show is on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, 9:30PM at the Improv Space 951 W. Gayley in Westwood and is completely free of charge.

Why Can’t Everyday Be ‘Sunday Sunday Sunday’?

January 10, 2011
Uncategorized
asterios kokkinos, comedy, eli braden, free, gian molina, greg barris, improv space, karl hess, kumail nanjiani, kyle kinane, la, westwood

On a cold wintry LA Sunday evening, one would be right in thinking that must denizens of their vast city would revert to shutting themselves in, especially since, as far as stand up comedy goes, Louis CK’s “Hilarious” was debuting on Comedy Central and Fox’s newest cartoon show, “Bob’s Burgers”, with a few hilarious comedians as well, was also premiering.  Yet, the reputation of the Sunday Sunday Sunday Show at the Improv Space in Westwood held up and boasted a packed crowd where extra lawn chairs were almost not enough to seat the capacity crowd.

Going on their 4th year running an independently run and produced stand up comedy show, Karl Hess (pictured above), Asterios Kokkinos, and Gian Molina have branded themselves amongst a neighborhood full of options of nighttime entertainment in the very hip and youthful Westwood as a place for a grand old time full of laughs the whole way through.  It only took 20 minutes for the entire Improv Space to fill up with a crowd of 40+ of both students and residents of Westwood where the theatre is located.

That feat isn’t entirely surprising when one considers that every line-up at Sunday Sunday Sunday rivals any show at any major comedy club.  This past Sunday, Kyle Kinane, Kumail Nanjiani, Eli Braden, Greg Barris, who are all comics that tour around the U.S. and who have been on TV, graced the Improv Space stage and showcased some of the best in what some might consider “alternative comedy”, but what is really just some of the most hilarious material from some of the most original performers on the comedy scene.  Spirited host Karl Hess (along with his mastery of “kicking the mic stand”) Asterios Kokkinos, and Gian Molina definitely do their part, not only in producing a great setting to attract great comics, but also in maintaining an energetic vibe on their stage through such things as opening the show on the them to the “A-Team”.  In this respect, this show rightfully aspires to be a part of the ground floor of the next generation in comedy.

Somewhat distanced from Hollywood, Sunday Sunday Sunday offers up to all the comedy lovers of LA yet another place on Sunday, as there are several great bar/lounge comedy shows that have gained notoriety, where you can go see a laugh for completely FREE, meaning no cover or minimum, (check Wisepix for more such listings) with some of the best comics working today.  In other words, we should replace two days of the week (perhaps Mon. and Wed.) and make them into SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY.  The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show is on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, 9:30PM at the Improv Space 951 W. Gayley in Westwood and is completely free of charge.

LA’s First “Fifty First Jokes”

January 8, 2011
Uncategorized
bj novak, comedy, eddie pepitone, fifty first jokes, greg barris, james adomian, jamie lee, kumail nanjiani, kyle kinane, la, margie kment, maria bamford, matt braunger, matt knudsen, paul scheer, rob o'reilly, robert buscemi, rory scovel, walsh brothers, zephyr theatre

Some people might think nearly fifty comedians telling one joke each one right after the other is more of a horrid open mic gone even worst than an actual show, much less a laugh riot.  Yet, LA’s “Fifty First Jokes” never got close to being a “thunderdome of comedy”.  

Instead, “Fifty First Jokes” was an amazing and constantly hilarious rollercoaster showcase of many of LA’s best and brightest amidst its vast comedy scene coming up with the comedian’s version of a new year resolution: a brand new joke.  In fact, nearly any joke that any comedian tells can be seen as a resolution of sorts, which is why the entire to-capacity crowd at the Zephyr Theatre was on board laughing hysterically for the whole show through the jokes that killed to the “groaners” (that were still greeted with laughter) to even Maria Bamford mumbling on the floor in the character of an “angry comic”.

 

Started in NYC five years ago, producers/comics Margie Kment

and Rob O’Reilly (pictured at top) got permission to bring this format of a multitude of comics performing new material for approximately 90 seconds to LA and assembled a gorgeous stretch limo of a line-up that includes hilarious people from all different ilks such as BJ Novak of The Office

and Paul Scheer of Human Giant

all the way to one, Robert Buscemi,

a Chicago transplant that thankfully makes his comedy home here in LA, bringing his ingeniously absurd wit with him.  Other such amazing performers that shouldn’t be missed wherever and whenever they’re performing that went up included: Rory Scovel (killed without doing a joke),

James Adomian,

Jamie Lee,

Kyle Kinane (had his back to the audience for the first 30 seconds),

Kumail Nanjiani,

Matt Knudsen (made up a hilarious joke with audience participation),

Eddie Pepitone,

The Walsh Brothers,

and Matt Braunger.

NY comedian Greg Barris,

who had just arrived in LA after doing the NY “Fifty First Jokes”, even popped in and helped bring the inaugural LA version to that rare point where everyone, both comics and real audience members combined, simply had a great time for the entire show.

Unfortunately, such a comedy production of this sort can only take place once a year, but waiting just under 365 days is definitely worth hearing “Fifty First Jokes”. 

LA’s First “Fifty First Jokes”

January 7, 2011
Uncategorized
bj novak, comedy, eddie pepitone, fifty first jokes, greg barris, james adomian, jamie lee, kumail nanjiani, kyle kinane, la, margie kment, maria bamford, matt braunger, matt knudsen, paul scheer, rob o'reilly, robert buscemi, rory scovel, walsh brothers, zephyr theatre


Some people might think nearly fifty comedians telling one joke each one right after the other is more of a horrid open mic gone even worst than an actual show, much less a laugh riot.  Yet, LA’s “Fifty First Jokes” never got close to being a “thunderdome of comedy”.  

Instead, “Fifty First Jokes” was an amazing and constantly hilarious rollercoaster showcase of many of LA’s best and brightest amidst its vast comedy scene coming up with the comedian’s version of a new year resolution: a brand new joke.  In fact, nearly any joke that any comedian tells can be seen as a resolution of sorts, which is why the entire to-capacity crowd at the Zephyr Theatre was on board laughing hysterically for the whole show through the jokes that killed to the “groaners” (that were still greeted with laughter) to even Maria Bamford mumbling on the floor in the character of an “angry comic”.
 

Started in NYC five years ago, producers/comics Margie Kment

and Rob O’Reilly (pictured at top) got permission to bring this format of a multitude of comics performing new material for approximately 90 seconds to LA and assembled a gorgeous stretch limo of a line-up that includes hilarious people from all different ilks such as BJ Novak of The Office

and Paul Scheer of Human Giant

all the way to one, Robert Buscemi,

a Chicago transplant that thankfully makes his comedy home here in LA, bringing his ingeniously absurd wit with him.  Other such amazing performers that shouldn’t be missed wherever and whenever they’re performing that went up included: Rory Scovel (killed without doing a joke),

James Adomian,

Jamie Lee,

Kyle Kinane (had his back to the audience for the first 30 seconds),

Kumail Nanjiani,

Matt Knudsen (made up a hilarious joke with audience participation),

Eddie Pepitone,

The Walsh Brothers,

and Matt Braunger.

NY comedian Greg Barris,

who had just arrived in LA after doing the NY “Fifty First Jokes”, even popped in and helped bring the inaugural LA version to that rare point where everyone, both comics and real audience members combined, simply had a great time for the entire show.

Unfortunately, such a comedy production of this sort can only take place once a year, but waiting just under 365 days is definitely worth hearing “Fifty First Jokes”. 

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