Pick of the Day: Book Soup Presents Boom Chicago! (in LA) 6/29

May 25, 2023

book soup, boom chicago, ike barinholtz, live reading, los angeles comedy

If you’ve even had a cursory look into the history of live comedy, you’ve probably come across the name “Boom Chicago!” at least a couple of times. Acting as the Chicago improv pipeline to Amsterdam, numerous comedy stars made their bones at this renowned, sometimes infamous, institution. The likes of Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Ike Barinholtz, Colton Dunn, Heather Anne Campbell, and more have taken the Boom Chicago! stage all before their ascension in comedy.

It should stand to reason that there should be a book chronicling all of this, right? That’s why the release of Boom Chicago Presents the 30 Most Important Years in Dutch History by Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, & Saskia Maas (the founders of Boom Chicago) is imminent very soon. Ike Barinholtz will be hosting a special evening, presented by Book Soup, with the aforementioned authors/founders as well as stellar Boom Chicago alums that will be part panel, part improv, all at Gold Diggers in Hollywood.

On the bill thus far are:
Suzi Barrett (Drunk History, Kirby Buckets)
Jill Benjamin (History of the World, Part II, GirlBoss)
Liz Cackowski (SNL, Community)
Heather Anne Campbell (Rick and Morty, Twilight Zone)
Colton Dunn (Key & Peele, Superstore)
Josh Meyers (History of the World, Part II, Red Oaks)
Nicole Parker (Wicked, MadTV)
Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso)

Just a live reading of the book would be enough reason to go, but this is one of those stand-out, once a year type of shows that you absolutely don’t want to miss.

Book Soup Presents Boom Chicago! @ Gold Diggers is set for Thurs Jun. 29th at 8PM with tickets going for $38.58 (includes signed copy of Boom Chicago Presents the 30 Most Important Years in Dutch History). Go get tickets here, before they inevitably sell out (Gold Diggers isn’t that big, FYI).

Mel Brooks Will Finally Get to Make History of the World Part 2 (as a Series on Hulu)

October 18, 2021

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history of the world pt 1, history of the world pt 2, hulu, ike barinholtz, mel brooks, nick kroll, wanda sykes

Almost more unbelievable than 1981 being 40 years ago, Mel Brooks is going to finally have the follow up to his History Part of the World Part 1 and it’s going to be a series on Hulu.

Says Mel Brooks, “I can’t wait to once more tell the real truth about all the phony baloney stories the world has been conned into believing are History!” We wonder how he’ll cover the rise of disinformation in the 2010s.

We’ll be throughly curious to see what Brooks’ sense of humor, which is so thankfully intact at his advanced age of 95, will be like in 2022. The first movie got mixed reviews, but, perhaps, something as ponderous as the history of the world, even in parody form, will be better presented as a series. Also, the mix of creatives involved should prove for a fascinating blend of generations of comedy. Including on the producing/writing team are such comedy luminaries as Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, and Ike Barinholtz to name a few and, with that in mind, we wonder if the series can go even bluer than the original movie.

We’ll just have to wait until later in 2022 as production starts in spring next year.

In case you are unfamiliar with Brooks’ History of the World Part 1, here’s the trailer.

Please Enjoy Trailer for Paula Pell and John Lutz’s Mystery Comedy “Mapleworth Murders”

August 6, 2020

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annie mumolo, Ben Warheit, d'arcy carden, drew tarver, fred armisen, ike barinholtz, jack mcbrayer, James Anderson, john lutz, mapleworth murders, Marry Holland, maya rudolph, pam murphy, patton oswalt, paula pell, quibi, tim meadows

Quibi really did snatch up quite a bit of content when amassing their war chest before their launch a few months ago. Even though so many folks that opted in for a free trial didn’t stick around after said free trial ended, Quibi can still stand tall with some recent Emmy nominations and still having shows up their sleeve that might just catch your eye once they roll them out.

One of those series is coming very soon, Mon. Aug. 10th in fact, from Paula Pell and John Lutz called Mapleworth Murders. From the trailer, the series not only trails murderers in a humble, sleepy town, but also calls into question why (as with so many similar mystery/crime shows) have so many murderers in one place. Mapleworth Murders boasts quite the ensemble cast with Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, D’Arcy Carden, Tim Meadows, Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, Pam Murphy, Ben Warheit, Annie Mumolo, Ike Barinholtz, Marry Holland, James Anderson, and Drew Tarver.

Whether or not you’ve got or still have Quibi, you can certainly enjoy Pell and Lutz’s joyful send-up of Murder She Wrote with its official trailer here.

Pick of the Day: COVID Is No Joke Americares Fundraiser

April 24, 2020

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americares, chelsea handler, covid is no joke, elizabeth banks, fundraiser, ike barinholtz, jack black, mark duplass, mindy kaling, patton oswalt, tenacious d, wayne brady, will ferrell

It was our hope that the biggest and brightest names in comedy would be coming out to do big fundraiser in the fight against COVID-19. Indeed, they have and continued to do so.

The latest star-studded comedy fundraiser is Americares’ COVID Is No Joke that will air LIVE on covidisnojoke.org and Americares YouTube channel at 5PM PT/8PM ET on Fri. May 1st.

COVID Is No Joke will be a jam-packed hour of a comedy variety live-stream spanning stand-up, stories, sketches, etc. from the likes of:

Elizabeth Banks, Ike Barinholtz, Jack Black and Tenacious D, Wayne Brady, D’Arcy Carden, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Cotter, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Will Ferrell, Gal Gadot, Kyle Gass, Linda Hamilton, Chelsea Handler, Mindy Kaling, Kerri Louise, Jonathan Mangum, Patton Oswalt, Natalia Reyes, Adam Scott, Finn Straley, Paige Weldon, Jenny Yang and more with actor/director/producer and Americares own Tony Goldwyn set to host.

That line-up really spans so many different corners of comedy and even includes names of comedians that we really dig that you ought to know going forward.

The funds raised will go to providing essential equipment and support (including mental health) for frontline health workers here in the U.S. and across the globe. $100K worth of donations has already been guaranteed FYI.

You can support Americares now or during the event by making a donation on americares.org or by texting “JOKE” to 20222 to make a $25 donation.

June 22, 2018

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blockers, ike barinholtz, john cena, kay cannon, leslie mann

One of the Better Coming-of-Age Studio Comedies We’ve Seen in Awhile “Blockers” Is Now on DVD

We didn’t get a proper chance to give some well deserved praise for Blockers when it had its theatrical run, so we’re doing it right now, right here.

When it comes to big to mid-size studio released comedies (as opposed to the dramedy fare that makes the rounds at Sundance or TIFF), genuinely laugh-out-loud broad films are hard to come by over the last few years.

Blockers, directed by Kay Cannon and written by Brian and Jim Kehoe, blends physical comedy, raunchy humor, and a coming-of-age story quite nicely. Also, it’s a great original female comedy that isn’t being redone as a female version of a previously male-led comedy. It’s probably been said many a time already, but if you’re looking for a Superbad or Can’t Hardly Wait for 2018, Blockers might be what you’re looking for.

Also, John Cena continues to delightfully surprise in holding his own with well-respected comedic stars Leslie Mann and Leslie Mann.

So, with that in mind, go get Blockers on Amazon or iTunes right now.

The CW Hosting a MADtv 20th Anniversary Special Tonight

January 6, 2016

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alex borstein, bobby lee, ike barinholtz, jordan peele, keegan michael key, madtv, mo collins, will sasso

Some of you might not remember that a score ago, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Alex Borstein, Ike Barinholtz, Bobby Lee, Will Sasso, Mo Collins, and way more were all on one sketch variety show together.

That show was called MADtv and, tonight, The CW is doing a special honoring the show’s 20th Anniversary with the cast.

If you want to see what brought all these folks before they hit it really, really big, tune into The CW at 8PM.

The Cast of “Sisters” Uses Star Wars Toys to Say Why You Should You Go See “Sisters”

December 19, 2015

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amy poehler, ike barinholtz, late night, maya rudolph, paula pell, rachel dratch, seth meyers, sisters, star wars, the force awakens, tina fey

While Star Wars: The Force Awakens is poised to break every box office record known to man this weekend, it is still legal, as Amy Poehler and Tina Fey have been saying, to see both Sisters and Star Wars in the same weekend.

To hit that point home, the entire cast of Sisters including Ike Barinholtz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph on top of Tina and Amy as well as writer Paula Pell went on Late Night with Seth Meyers and voiced various Star Wars action figures to say why you should go see Sisters.

Indeed, they do make a great case for seeing both.

Amy Poehler Is on To Her Next Movie at Universal Where She’ll Star as a NBA Head Coach

July 24, 2015

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amy poehler, david stassen, ike barinholtz, nba, universal

(via Deadline)

We’re counting on one hell of a halftime speech.

Ike Barinholtz, who is in Poehler’s upcoming Sisters at Universal, co-wrote the next Poehler vehicle with David Stassen. They’ve put Amy at the center of a huddle to be the head coach of a NBA team.

Don’t be surprised to see pictures of Leslie Knope photoshopped at court side very soon.

Key and Peele Are Guest Editors for Entertainment Weekly’s Comedy Issue

September 24, 2014

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bob odenkirk, chelsea peretti, david cross, entertainment weekly, ike barinholtz, jordan peele, keegan michael key, key and peele

It might just be a coincidence that Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele started were tapped to guest edit this latest issue of Entertainment Weekly that just so happens to be their Comedy Issue. It might also be perfect timing with the season premiere of Key & Peele coming tonight on Comedy Central.

Either way, it sounds like they’ve rustled up plenty of great stuff like an interview with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross as well as a blind date with Chelsea Peretti and Ike Barinholtz.

Before you go to pick this up, this issue hits newsstands on Fri.