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The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 268: Isaac Landfert & Keeping an Alt Comedy Theater Alive IN THIS ECONOMY

September 17, 2025
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
la comedy, stray theater, yard theater

4319 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles has long been a home for alt comedy and despite the insanely chaotic times we live in, it will continue to be that way, in large part due to the efforts of Isaac Landfert. Formerly the YARD Theater, that venue will live on as The Stray Theater and continue on to be a space even more dedicated to its mission in the LA comedy scene. We talk about the preservation of the venue and the ins and outs of running a small comedy theater in the vast LA comedy scene with Landfert on this week’s TCB Field Report.

Follow The Stray Theater @thestraytheater and Isaac @isaaclandfert on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 253: Rebecca Drysdale & Using The Force With Improv

April 10, 2025
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
improv, improv classes, la comedy, rebecca drysdale

Still, to this day, Rebecca Drysdale is one of the funniest improvisers we’ve ever seen. Coupled with her vast writing experience, we’ll take any chance to have her on TCB Field Report and what a chance it was for this episode. We legitimately intertwine The Force from Star Wars into improv theory and practice (along with some other IP based metaphors) for a marvelously comedy philosophy heavy episode.

Follow Rebecca @beckdrys on IG and sign-up for her classes (the latest round start next week) at drysdaleclasses@gmail.com.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 250: Skyler Higley & MANDAL & Guaranteeing GUARANTEED!

March 19, 2025
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
guaranteed, la comedy, lyric hyperion, mandal, Skyler Higley, stand up, vulture

Skyler Higley and MANDAL are on the precipice of making what very well may be LA’s next stand up to always be at with GUARANTEED! presented by Vulture (and produced by our very own Jake Kroeger). The trio breaks down launching this very special show (as well as the use of RICO charges in crime thrillers).

Follow Skyler @skylerhigley and MANDAL @themandalman and get tix for GUARANTEED every 2nd & 4th Tuesday starting 3/25 @ 7:30PM right here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 249: Sarah Claspell & Doing Improv Literally Everywhere

March 12, 2025
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
improv, la comedy, sarah claspell, world's greatest improv school

Even though improv had one of the longest roads back from COVID, it’s back and more expansive than we remember. Sarah Claspell, a longtime celebrated veteran of improv in LA, walks us, on this week’s TCB Field Report, through how that’s happening both with her touring the world doing/teaching improv and co-owning the World’s Greatest Improv School (affectionately pronounced WEE-gis) and the best way to take notes on improv.

Follow Sarah @claspy across socials.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by Clay Larsen

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 247: Joel Mandelkorn & Closing Out a 20 Year Weekly Show

February 20, 2025
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
hot Tub, joel mandelkorn, kurt and kristen, la comedy

Legendary weekly comedy show, Hot Tub with Kurt Kristen, just marked its 20th year anniversary this past weekend and, for now, has come to its end. It marks the end of an era and the wonderment of what lies ahead with the new era ahead. As such, we talk with long time Hot Tub co-producer Joel Mandlekorn (shout out to his co-producer/partner Mandee Johnson as well for making Hot Tub one of LA comedy’s best shows) and pulling off one hell of a finale and where we all might go from here.

Follow Joel @cleftclips

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Last Podcast on the Left: JK Ultra Tour (in NYC)

December 6, 2024
beacon theatre, ben kissel, comedy tour, henry zebrowski, hollywood forever, la comedy, last podcast on the left, marcus parks, nyc comedy

Last Podcast on the Left barrels headlong into all things horror — as hosts Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski cover dark subjects spanning Jeffrey Dahmer, werewolves, Jonestown, iconic hauntings, the history of war crimes, and more.

Whether it’s cults, killers, or cryptid encounters, Last Podcast on the Left laughs into the abyss that is the dark side of humanity.

Starts 8PM PT

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 228: Ron Lynch & Taking a Small Break After 19 Years

August 7, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
la comedy, ron lynch, tomorrow

As far as we’re concerned, Tomorrow! and it’s consummate host Ron Lynch are an irrefutable institution to both LA comedy and alt/indie/experimental comedy. Lynch has helmed one of the most unique, out there, weekly shows in the entire country with Tomorrow! all throughout LA for nearly 20 years. Right now, Lynch is taking a teeny month break, supposedly the first one he’s taken in all that time.

We chat it up with Ron just as he’s about to score mark with Tomorrow! and everything leading up to it on this week’s TCB Field Report.

Follow Ron @ronlynch1 & @tomorrowwithronlynch on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: Bug Mane Maneifesto 3 (in LA) 4/24

March 27, 2024
News
bugmane, experimental comedy, la comedy, lyric hyperion, sketch comedy

There is, shall we say, an entity most popularly known as Bug Mane. Born of the desire to bring chaos on to The Doughboys podcast, Bugmane has taken a life unto its own, melding multiple facets of reality into their own realm of comedy and comedy to be reveled in.

Thus, it’s quite the occasion to take part of such spiritual mishegoss in person as you can at the Lyric Hyperion. That’s right Bugmane has been regularly doing so-called Maneifestos at Lyric Hyperion since the conclusion of 2023 and has the very next one lined up for Wed Apr. 24th at 9:30PM complete with the Bug Mane faithful of Mike Mitchell, Ivy Wolk, Kat Toledo, Paul Rust, Ryan Perez, Van Roubichaux, and, of course, DJ King Koeth.

So, best go get your tickets right now right here for $15 a pop while you still can.

 

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 208: Kurt Braunohler & 20 Years of a Weekly Comedy Show

March 20, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
hot tub with kurt and kristen, kurt braunohler, la comedy, live comedy, nyc comedy

2005 seems both so recent and yet so distant, but that marks the time at which a happenstance pairing of Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal backstage at the Peoples Improv Theater in NYC eventually led to run of the longest running, most beloved weekly live comedy shows in comedy history, Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen.

Coming up on its 20th anniversary (and subsequent swan song), Hot Tub has been a treasure in LA, NYC, and wherever its toured (notably, for us, in Portland & Edinburgh). Kurt joins us this week to give an oral history of what is and will always be one of the landmark comedy shows of the this part of the 21st century.

Follow Kurt @kurtbraunohler across socials and at kurtcomedy.com. Find all things Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen @hottub_show across socials.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger
Photo by @nickgast

Pick of the Day: Podcast But Outside Presents: Hi! Be A Guest (in LA) 3/28

March 12, 2024
News
andrew michaan, cole hersch, la comedy, live podcast, podcast but outside, ucb

It has been a minute since one of the most subtly clever podcasts ever devised, Podcast But Outside, has popped up, but we’re happy to say that Andrew and Cole and Cam the Intern will be back at it, pulling passersby off the street for $1 to interview them in front of a live crowd, starting up again this month.

Armed with a table, chairs, some mics, and some of the fastest quips/comebacks, Andrew Michaan and Cole Hersch have built quite the chit chat podcast that’s very possible for interviewing strangers on a podcast. Just take a listen to Podcast But Outside if you haven’t binged/done a deep already.

Their first live inside show in awhile will be at UCB Franklin come Thurs. Mar. 28th at 9PM. Tickets are $15 and you can (and should) go get them here.

 

Pick of the Day: (2024 Return of) The Frogtown Show (in LA) 3/9

March 6, 2024
News
emily maya mills, erin lennox, frogtown show, jared goldstein, la comedy, spoke bicycle cafe

These early months of 2024 are decidedly feeling not LA-ish, at least by LA standards (as we type this out and see several giant puddles on a WeHo street intersection). That said, there is still to be plenty sunshine and warmth to be had, especially coming up, which is why we’re thankful that The Frogtown Show @ Spoke Bicycle Cafe is finally returning.

Hosts Emily Maya Mills, Erin Lennox, and Jared Goldstein took all of this past winter off (as it is an outdoor show that can only provide so many heaters) and are aiming to roar back with their beautiful curated and arranged monthly stand-up show starting this Sat. Mar. 9th at 7:30PM for only a $10 suggested donation. Per usual, their line-up is stacked with Chris Estrada, Brandie Posey, Chad Damiani, Chris Garcia, and Savannah DesOrmeaux.

Weather forecast says it’ll be back to more than LA-ish this weekend, so make it out to Spoke this Saturday night. (FYI, it is easiest to get to Spoke Bicycle Cafe by bike). Keep up with all things Frogtown Show here.

Pick of the Day: Ester Steinberg LIVE RECORDING (near LA) 3/23

February 29, 2024
News
ester steinberg, la comedy, los angeles, santa monica, stand up comedy, the crow comedy club

Many attempts were made at making comedy specials when we were in the thick of pandemic times and, we’d say, very few were successful (especially the ones that were done outside and socially distanced). It takes a special grade of comedian to pull off doing stand-up like that and Ester Steinberg is one such rare talent to pull off doing a special to folks in their cars parked outside of The Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

With that in mind, you shouldn’t pass up what she can do in appropriate comedy environment, i.e. a comedy club, which is exactly happening for her next special. Ester will be taping her latest special next month on Sat. Mar. 23rd at 7PM & 9PM at Santa Monica’s Crow Comedy Club (LA’s only comedy club with FREE parking). Tickets are only $20 and you shouldn’t miss out on Ester doing stand-up since you won’t have to stay in your car to watch her. Go get ’em here.

 

Pick of the Day: CHEAT (in LA) 3/3

February 23, 2024
News
cheat, chloe radcliffe, la comedy, solo show

While comedy certainly does have the power to demystify the things that we don’t necessarily want to talk about or deem unsavory and being vulnerable is certainly part and parcel to that, how vulnerable is any single comedian willing to get to shine a comedic light on what’s so often kept in the dark?

Well, one Chloe Radcliffe, in one of the most radical acts of honesty we’ve seen in a comedic performance, has put together a beautiful, heart-wrenching, and hilarious solo show about how she has cheated in almost every relationship she has ever been. It’s the rare piece of comedy (and, if we’re to really mull it over, art) that shows humanity in its entire spectrum, transgressions to transcendence and everything in between and a wondrous journey to show that people are more than they often great/awful things they do. Simply called CHEAT, it’s undoubtedly one of the best solo shows/hours we’ve seen in recent memory and you should definitely go watch it ASAP wherever it’s playing.

For Angelenos, you’ll have another chance come Sun. Mar. 3rd at 7PM at The Elysian. Tickets are $20 and you can (and should) go get them here right now.

Pick of the Day: ROOMIES in Hell (in LA) 3/18

February 22, 2024
News
bar lubitsch, Dylan Adler, la comedy, sam morrison, weho

There was a time when, somehow, the hysterical Dylan Adler lived with the also hysterical Sam Morrison. Two NYC comedy powerhouses behind the same apartment door: can you imagine?

Well, imagine no more as Sam is coming through LA and reuniting/going through the ringer yet again with his former roommate, now turned beloved LA comedy transplant next month. Along with Joel Kim Booster, Hayden Johnson, Camirin Farmer, Reshma Meister & Sarah Stern, and Sam Oh, Morrison and Adler will show you all of the queer comedy brilliance that was (somehow) contained within a two bedroom apartment.

Delightfully called ROOMIES in Hell, catch Sam and Dylan and co. at Bar Lubitsch on Mon. Mar. 18th at 8PM for the nice price, only right now, of $5. Go get your tix here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 204: Hay Beacon & The Easier Way to Move on Up

February 21, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
hay beacon, la comedy

After spending so much time in LA that it seemed like they already lived in Los Angeles, Hay Beacon has made the move on down from SF to the City of Angels and we here at TCB are personally grateful to have such a delightful addition to our ever evolving comedy scene. For this week’s TCB Field Report, we talk to the freshly transplanted Hay and how they’re acclimatizing and an insightful perspective on how to move up from one comedy scene to another, especially if one is considered to be the “big show”.

Follow Hay @haybeacon across socials

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 203: Paul Danke & What Makes Live Comedy ALIVE

February 14, 2024
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
la comedy, live comedy, paul danke, stand up comedy

Part of the magic of live comedy, especially when it comes to just putting on stand-up, is that it seems like a lone person is captivating and inspiring spontaneous laughter to a group of strangers shrouded in darkness. Of course, the ingredients as to what make that magic actually happen are elusive and ever changing (not to mention, wholly impermanent). LA comedy torchbearer and beloved comedian Paul Danke and TCB’s very own Jake Kroeger dig into what makes live comedy special (when it is indeed special, of course) as well tease what they got up their sleeve to possibly make that happen.

Follow Paul @pauldanke across socials and get into his brand new album, Mad River, here.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: I Married a Monster from Outer Space LIVE! (in LA) 2/14

February 12, 2024
News
bobcat goldthwait, dana gould, janet varney, jonah ray, la comedy, laraine newman, largo, live read

Comedy and Valentine’s Day is a strange mix, but they can work as bedfellows with some careful consideration.

Case in point, a very special live reading of another midnight movie classic led off by Dana Gould, I Married a Monster from Outer Space. This Wednesday, Feb. 14th, Gould will be joined on the hallowed Largo at the Coronet stage by Bobcat Goldthwait, Laraine Newman, Jonah Ray, Janet Varney, and more to celebrate(?) love(?) in the campiest way possible.

No need to worry about any feisty comedians probing into your relationship and, instead, you can just enjoy a sci-fi-horror-(unintentional)-rom-com (that’s a pretty good Valentine’s as far as we’re concerned) as presented by one of the most dedicated preservationists of best/worst movies with Gould.

Go get your tickets now at $46 a pop here.

 

Pick of the Day: Comedy Central Featuring (in LA) 1/31

January 25, 2024
News
amberia allen, amy silverberg, andrea jin, comedy central, derrick stroup, gus constantellis, kalea mcneill, la comedy, lodge room, lorena russi, madison sinclair, morgan jay, orion levine, papp johnson, sean patton, stand up comedy, sydney castillo, zach noe towers

Comedy Central is still indeed a center for comedy in 2024. This will be reaffirmed by the their latest round of tapings for their short form stand-up digital series, Comedy Central Featuring, taped beautifully in gorgeous venues in LA and NYC. The latest round of CCSUF will return to LA’s Lodge Room complete with its ornate wood accents and warm atmosphere on Wed. Jan. 31st.

On the bill is a combo of all time favorites and great newcomers including Sean Patton, Morgan Jay, Zach Noe Towers, Amberia Allen, Andrea Jin, and more for a hot 5-7 minute set that will find its way to YouTube probably months from now.

Per usual, it’s free to attend (with RSVP) and an open bar for an hour. There are two tapings, one at 7PM and another at 9PM. Make sure you’ve got a reservation here.

Pick of the Day: Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head (in LA) 2/2 & 2/3

January 13, 2024
News
hasan minhaj, la comedy, off with his head, stand up comedy

It’s very rare that a comedian gets to headline the Pantages Theatre in LA. It’s a big lift, mainly reserved for the likes of Hamilton and Book of Mormon, and we think we can count, on one hand, the folks that have done it during our tenure here. Sebastian Maniscalco, Taylor Tomlinson, Jerry Seinfeld, and now, Hasan Minhaj.

Yes, Hasan is stopping in at the Pantages for his Off With His Head tour for not only one, not two, but now, three shows. Minhaj is running this latest hour with an early and late show on Feb. 2nd and a just added show on Feb. 3rd.

Tickets start at $52 and you best go get them here before they all sell out (and don’t depend on a 4th show getting added).

Pick of the Day: Not That Bad (in LA) 1/11 & 1/14

January 10, 2024
News
catherine mccafferty, la comedy, not that bad, solo show

As we all stare off into the far reaches of what 2024 might be, there’s a lot to worry about both globally and the things that are happening right at this very moment right in front of us all. Catherine McCafferty‘s solo show covering a lot of the lowlights of her life, but done so with humor and grace in a way that beautifully shows what it’s like to be on the other side of the worst times of your life.

McCafferty already took this for a run at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe and is continue to fine tune it and it’s a special sort of thing that you shouldn’t miss out on. The two latest performances of Not That Bad are at the Lyric Hyperion on Thurs. Jan. 11th at 9:30PM and Sunday Jan. 11th at 7:30PM. Tickets are only $10 right now and you best go get them here.

Pick of the Day: iL FUNGO presents Saturnalia: A Holiday Bacchanal (in LA) 1/20

January 9, 2024
News
clown, clowning, il fungo, la comedy, yard theater

With LA being kind of an epicenter of clown in recent times, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that LA has a premier bouffant troupe with costumes that rival those on The Masked Singer. Lucky for us, we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the rambunctious, often meta hijinks, of iL FUNGO (with Deidre Scott, Grant O’Connell, Grayson Morris, Joshua Kilcoyne, Mike Rose, Starlette Cravens, Tiffany Lawrence and Tyler Ramirez) time and time again and have a had such a damn good time (credit once again to the genius clown brain of Dean Evans).

In fact, we put them on our 100 Best List of 2023 and, with that in mind, you shouldn’t miss out on their reprise of their holiday show, Saturnalia, at the Yard Theater on Sat. Jan. 20th at 9PM. Tickets are only $12 and probably will sell out soon. Go get yours here.

Pick of the Day: Mike O’Brien Porn Plays (in LA) 1/28

January 4, 2024
News
experimental comedy, la comedy, mike o'brien

One of the most delightfully off-kilter minds in comedy today belongs to the head of one Mike O’Brien. A true comedy multihypenate (AP Bio, I Think You Should Leave, SNL, stand-up), you can always count on Mike to delightfully come out of left field with whatever he’s doing on stage or screen.

Cue Porn Plays, Mike’s latest experiment where he is taking real dialogue from real pornos then writing the entire other half in the form of one act plays AND having zero nudity or sex be part of the actual shows. If there’s to be an uncanny valley in the form of writing, this might be it.

Witness Mike’s creation on Sun. Jan. 28th at 7PM at The Elysian. Tickets are only $16 right now and you best go get them here.

 

Pick of the Day: Ron Lynch’s Tomorrow NYE (in LA) 12/31

December 21, 2023
News
la comedy, laura kightlinger, new year's eve, nye, reggie watts, ron lynch, tomorrow show
Per usual, there are plenty of options for New Year’s Eve if you’re opting to go out. Many of those options are incredibly expensive and, well, let’s just say, you might be better off buying a bottle of champagne and staying home and counting down to midnight yourself.
Thankfully, Ron Lynch, the long standing beloved host of Tomorrow! is coming in with, we think, the best bang for your buck with a special NYE’s edition. Yes, there will be the wide variety that you have come to know and love from Lynch and company, but this specific edition will include Reggie Watts, Laura Kightlinger, Freak Nature Puppets, Sethward, Nick Stargu, The Unkillable Jenny Lynne, Kristen Lundberg, and 3-D Space Film all at the one and only Bob Baker Marionette Theater (featuring, of course, the Bob Baker Marionettes).
Ron Lynch’s Tomorrow NYE is set for Sun. 12/31 at 10PM. All this show will only run you $23, which is truly a steal on NYE (leaving plenty of money for you to spend on overpriced Lyft/Ubers). Go get tix here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 193: Johnny Gold & The Importance of Small Scenes

December 7, 2023
News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report
inland empire, johnny gold, la comedy

As instrumental as the hubs of LA and NYC are to comedy, smaller scenes are crucial to the art form too. Johnny Gold returns to the TCB Field Report to extoll the virtues and dissect the experience of small, upcoming comedy scenes. He ought to know since Johnny was one of the first comics we ever met in the LBC in in the 2010s and is now getting up in small rooms and mics in the I.E. in the 2020s.

Follow Johnny @johnnygold777 on IG

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: The MisMatch Game (in LA) 10/29

October 24, 2023
News
dennis hensley, la comedy, lgbt center, mismatch game
You know, it would be quite the curiosity to see where the long running 60s/70s game show hit Match Game would end up in the 2023 programming slate on a big time network given its cheekily risque nature (maybe even OFTV?). Thankfully, you can ponder that and see the MisMatch Game with Dennis Hensley for an even more unhinged Match-Game –inspired game show live and direct with a splendid gathering of grand LA comedy folks, in the Halloween spirit, going as their favorite celebs.
Mismatching on Sun. Oct. 29th at 7PM will be:

Jackie Beat (Bea Arthur)
Julie Brown (Drew Barrymore)
Danny Casillas (Reba Areba)
Jackie Clarke (Ginni Thomas)
Sam Pancake (Lucille Ball)
Marc Samuel (Morgan Freeman)
As far as Halloween themed comedy game shows go, this should be at the top of your list. Go get tickets at $15 a pop right here.
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