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February 26, 2016
Uncategorized
beverly grove, comedy shows, coronet theatre, largo, los angeles, podcasts, superego, west hollywood

One of the funniest podcasts around, Superego, is returning to Largo to let loose Jeremy Carter, Mark McConville, Matt Gourley, and Paul F. Tompkins to wherever their beautifully chaotic improvised scenes takes them.

Superego Live! added a late show to their evening at Largo at the Coronet Theatre on Saturday, March 5th. The early show is sold out, but you can still get tickets for 10:30PM for $30.

The rest of our comedy listings are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Watch Paul F. Tompkins Interview The Both (Aimee Mann and Ted Leo) as Andrew Lloyd Webber

February 6, 2016
Uncategorized
aimee mann, andrew lloyd webber, coronet theatre, largo, paul f tompkins, ted leo, the both, varietopia

We know Paul F. Tompkins already has his own show, but this, along with everything else he’s doing right now, is proof he could have his own damn TV channel worth of content.

Watch Paul as Andrew Lloyd Webber interview with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo as real band, The Both, here.

Please Enjoy Paul F. Tompkins, Busdriver, Puddles Pity Party, Kristen Schaal, and Maria Bamford Cover David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”

January 13, 2016
Uncategorized
busdriver, david bowie, kristen schaal, largo, maria bamford, paul f tompkins, puddles pity party, space oddity, varietopia

Really, this performance of Space Oddity at Paul F. Tompkins’ Varietopia nearly 2 years ago is just perfect for today. Equal parts great in execution and fun for the wide range of performers on stage, it’s something you should probably just watch and listen to over and over for awhile.

RIP David Bowie.

Watch a Concert Film From The Old Largo with Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, Flight of The Conchords, and More

December 28, 2014
Uncategorized
aimee mann, andrew bird, elliott smith, flight of the conchords, fred armisen, greg proops, largo, los angeles, louis ck, patton oswalt, paul f tompkins, sarah silverman, zach galifianakis

Over 6 years ago, Largo was not the gorgeous theatre that you see at The Coronet these days. It was an even smaller venue with a bar in Fairfax Village here in LA. 

However, even back then, a mix of some of the best comedians and innovative musicians and singers all came together under the roof of Largo to play.

In 2008, a concert film was released of the old Largo with the likes of Fred Armisen, Fiona Apple, Greg Behrendt, Paul F. Tompkins, Elliott Smith, Sarah Silverman, Greg Proops, Sarah Silverman, Flight of the Conchords, Patton Oswalt, Louis CK, Zach Galifianakis, Aimee Mann, Andrew Bird, and more all performing.

Now, it’s online for you to enjoy on Vimeo in beautiful black and white. Watch LARGO here.

All Sound Checks Should Be Like This One at Paul F. Tompkins’ Varietopia (So Long as You’re Just in the Audience)

August 28, 2014
Uncategorized
largo, paul f tompkins, sound check, varietopia

Every bit of Paul F. Tompkins’ monthly variety show at Largo, Varietopia (next date Sept. 27th), is perfectly crafted for our enjoyment. Even the sound check, as you can see in this clip, is pretty damn fun.

Go Behind The Scenes of The Thrilling Adventure Hour

June 22, 2014
Uncategorized
behind the scenes, bts, largo, nerdist, paul f tompkins, thrilling adventure hour

The long running hit old time radio show/podcast known as The Thrilling Adventure Hour has been doing a Nerdist web series going behind the scenes. This is especially nice if you’re not able to go to Largo where Acker & Blacker‘s Thrilling Adventure Hour normally calls home because of price or it not being anywhere near where you live. 

See what goes on beyond the high society casual ghost hunters Frankie and Sadie Doyle, how the show develops, and more.

See What Sarah Silverman’s Special Performed in a Room of About 50 People Really Looks Like

October 30, 2013
Uncategorized
comedy special, hbo, largo, sarah silverman, we are miracles

It’s really hard to argue that comedy isn’t best enjoyed in an intimate space, which is why we have been very keen on Sarah Silverman’s latest HBO special We Are Miracles that was taped at Largo’s Little Room that has a maximum capacity well below the main room’s of around 300. 

Just look at this latest promo to see how nice to very simply watch comedy in that small of a venue and also realize that we’re all going to get to watch a new Sarah Silverman stand up special on Nov. 23rd on HBO 10PM.

Sarah Silverman’s HBO Special ‘We Are Miracles’ to Premiere at End of Nov.

October 15, 2013
Uncategorized
comedy special, hbo, largo, miracles, sarah silverman

Sarah Silverman’s HBO Special ‘We Are Miracles’ to Premiere at End of Nov.

The long awaited next comedy special from Sarah Silverman that was recorded at The Little Room at Largo at the Coronet Theatre is coming soon.

Specifically, Nov. 23rd at 10PM on HBO, we all will see We Are Miracles and what hopefully will be a trendsetter in not doing stand up specials in cavernous theaters. Watch a teaser at the link.

Tig Notaro’s Live Getting Physical CD Release

May 23, 2013
Uncategorized
album release, largo, live, tig notaro

Tig Notaro’s Live Getting Physical CD Release

Tig Notaro’s fantastic album Live that originally just supposed to be a long set at Largo last year is now getting a physical album release. It was deservedly regarded as one of the top comedy albums of the year by many publications and garnered great praise from Louis CK.

So, set aside money for this even if you already own the digital version.

September 1, 2011
Uncategorized
largo, zach standing in front a picture of zach

liezlwashere:

Largo | Doug, Zach, Jen, Joe, & Steve | 08.31.11

… here’s my single shot of the night. Goodnight folks.

Morning Debriefing 4/2/11

April 2, 2011
Uncategorized
austin, burbank, cheap, comedy central, comedy news, comedy shows, comic's comic, echo park, free, hampton yount, hell yes fest, hollywood, imporv, james gunn, jimmy dore, justin bieber, largo, los angeles, los feliz, matt ingebretson, morning debriefing, nerdist, nerdist theatre, santa monica, smart phone app, super, sxsw, tj miller, ucb, what to do

1) It’s official: The Nerdist Theatre has arrived (@nerdmelt) and the back room of Meltdown Comics is no more (well, sort of).  Kicking off their inaugural weekend off with Jimmy Dore’s Pop and Politics tonight and a live Nerdist Podcast w/James Gunn tomorrow night, the Nerdist Theatre is sure to be one of the “places to be” in LA.

2) LA via Texas and Texas via LA: Hampton Yount’s experiences at SXSW and Matt Ingebretson and the Hell Yes Fest in the Austinist.

3) The Comic’s Comic is now on Tumblr.  I think you should follow.

4) Comedy Central now has a smart phone app for free.  Perhaps you can find out when Mash-Up is on at 3:30AM again even more accesibly than visiting the Comedy Bureau.

5) ON THE HORIZON
TJ Miller Makes Mayhem @ Largo Sun. Jun. 5th 8PM $20

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Two Headed Beast: A Story Telling Show @ Stories Books & Cafe 8PM FREE 
Mike Phirman @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes & Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theatre 8PM/10PM $5 will get you into both shows
Truth or Dare @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5 
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8:30PM $25 (sold out, tickets may be available at door)
Comediaplex @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10 
The Roast of Justin Bieber @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
Ryan Stout @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $18 
The Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed      

8) May I stress that I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with people telling jokes that might be considered controversial or “too soon” as long as they’re inherently funny and not depending on mere hyperbole/graphic detail.  Perfect example from comedian Brooks Wheelan posted only a few days after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan: @brookswheelan This whole Japan thing is the biggest win dolphins have had since the ‘72 undefeated season. #LARRYCSONKA.  Nicely done, Brooks.  Nicely done.

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Paul F. Tompkins-Tip of the Hat 3/20/11

March 21, 2011
Uncategorized
826la, ast records, christmas, classy, comedian, comedy central, dead authors, h.g. wells, hbo, impersonal, largo, led zeppelin, live tweeting, midnight mass, p diddy, paul f tompkins, podcast

picture via Portoids

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to PAUL F. TOMPKINS for marking the 9th Anniversary of his own show currently taking place once a month at Largo at the Coronet Theatre, The Paul F. Tompkins Show.

Many comedians try to bring a certain air of class back to the stage, but few come as close as comedian Paul F. Tompkins.  Always dapper, charming, and possibly one of the most affable performers on the stage today, Tompkins never ceases to amaze in how he eases an audience into his act like they’re old friends sharing a very special aged bottle of whiskey merely reminiscing.  Whether he’s talking about “ghost stromboli” or the crazy costumed characters that set up shop near Hollywood and Highland or even pretending he’s author H.G. Wells, Tompkins, though dressed in a suit classy enough for one of the parties in The Great Gatsby, is a master of levity every time I’ve seen or hear him speak into a microphone.

The first time I listened to his album “Impersonal”, I listened to it on repeat for at least a week and a half because it kept me laughing, no matter how many times I heard it.  At the risk of sounding overly plebian, it was simply just fun to hear Paul’s act out of why the Irish were possibly the most picky people in the world during their horrid potato famine.  His uncanny, undeniable playfulness is why he’s just so wonderful to listen to and why, I think, he got himself trending on Twitter in LA by live tweeting the midnight mass before Christmas.

Comedian James Adomian told me after being on one of Paul’s shows, “If Mark Twain were still alive and to have a show, The Paul F. Tompkins’ Show is what it would be, though he wouldn’t be as well dressed.”  Given that there was a hilarious sketch self-reflexisively poking fun at itself, personal stories from Paul, a mash-up of both Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and P. Diddy’s “Come With Me”, which sampled from “Kashmir”, and a song sung in solidarity of the unions still protesting in Wisconsin, all done while wearing his trademark suit that’s nearly classier than “class” itself, I completely agree with Adomian.  Perhaps, one day, he’ll win the presitgious Mark Twain Prize for Humor bringing the comparison full circle. 

Currently, Paul, as mentioned, has his own delightful monthly comedy variety show at Largo as well as another monthly show at the UCB Theatre here in LA, Dead Authors, for the 826LA charity.  Paul shares much of these experiences on the Pod F. Tompkast, his own podcast available for download here.  Also, you can get his newest special, “You Should Have Told Me” from AST Records, then check all things Paul F. Tompkins at his website, get updates frequently from his Twitter @pftompkins, or check back at the Comedy Bureau for anything else he’s doing because it will surely be here.

Morning Debriefing 3/5/11

March 5, 2011
Uncategorized
american idol, britney spears, burbank, cartoon, comedy, comedy contests, comedy crawl, comedy shows, culver city, funniest, hollywood, jim hamilton, largo, los angeles, morning debriefing, neil hamburger, paul f tompkins, reality tv, rubber toys, smodcastle, super serious show, twitter war, ucb, west hollywood

1) One of my absolute favorite shows in town, The Super Serious Show, now has a youtube account so now ALL OF YOU can see just how damn fantastic it is.  Check it here.

2) Comedian Neil Hamburger now has a rubber cartoon face available for purchase for all those times that you need a reminder of war can successfully be waged via Twitter against celebrities.

3) I’m not a big fan of reality TV and even a less of a fan of the monstrous “American Idol”, but when comedian Paul F. Tompkins recaps an episode of it, it’s actually entertaining to the point where I don’t feel that I’m dumbing myself down to enjoy myself.  

4) One liner extraordinaire Jim Hamilton, according to him, will be on TV very soon.  Details to follow as the Comedy Bureau gets them… from Jim himself (just follow @jim_hamilton like we do) 

5) Three Minutes to Nothing-Why Comedy Contests are Largely a Waste of Everyone’s Time by the Comedy Bureau

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 11:30AM $10/2 item min.
North Star Comedy Hour @ Michael Woolson Studio
8PM 
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Smodcastle 8PM $8
Magic Bag @ Smodcastle 8PM $8
Battleship Pretension @ Meltdown Comics 8PM $5
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8:30PM $25/sold-out, but tickets probably available at door
Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only) 
The Tomorrow Show @ The Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min.
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed  

8) Getting a business card from a girl because you’re “just that sad” still counts as getting a number, right?

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Morning Debriefing 3/2/11

March 2, 2011
Uncategorized
birds of prey, Burbank Film festival, comedy, comedy central, comedy short contest, comedy shows, costa mesa, culver city, hollywood, hollywood improv, jay larson, largo, long beach, los angeles, maria bamford, meltdown, morning debriefing, norm macdonald, on the horizon, paul f tompkins, roast, santa monica, tess barker, weekend update

1) Remember when I said there will be something posted HERE in March?  Well, it’s March and later today you’ll find out what I was legally obligated to keep under wraps until now. HINT: Pretty much all comedy competitions are a waste of time.

2) Comedy Central Specials that you NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR: Jay Larson on Mar. 11th and Norm MacDonald on Mar. 12th. More details to come…

3) Have a short/sketch/viral video? Why not enter it in Burbank Film Festival’s Comedy Short Contest?

4) ON THE HORIZON
The Paul F Tompkins Show 9 Year Anniversary @ Largo Sat. Mar. 19th 8:30PM $25 (There’s still tickets for some reason)
Birthday Roast of Tess Barker @ Whitehorse Cocktail Lounge Inn Wed. Mar. 23rd 8:30PM FREE
A Great and Terrible Thing @ Hollywood Improv Lab
Tues. Mar. 29th 10:30PM $5

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Maria Bamford’s Singalong and Comedy Show @ Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock 8PM $5 suggested donation 
Birds of Prey @ Comedy Central Stages 8PM FREE
The Fix-Up Show @ ACME Comedy Theatre 8PM $12
Matt Kirshen & Dwayne Perkins @ Irvine Improv 8PM $17/2 item min.
Meltdown @ Meltdown Comics 8:30PM $8
Frolic @ Far Bar 9PM FREE 
Comedy Night @ Westside Bar & Grill 9PM FREE
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $8
Beer in the Shower @ Whitehorse Cocktail Lounge Inn 9:30PM FREE 
Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ Next Stage Theatre 11PM $5 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM 
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM 
CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM
LIBRARY A COFFEEHOUSE 3418 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 

7) It’s a rare occurrence as I’m actually feeling pretty good.  Such is the life of a comedian/comedy journalist/blogger/insomniac…

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Morning Debriefing 2/26/11

February 26, 2011
Uncategorized
12 mile, bill maher, black dynamite, burbank, chris hardwick, comedian, comedy, comedy central, dave holmes, drink with dave, eddie pepitone, flappers, g4, greg proops, harland williams, hbo, hollywood improv, jackie kashian, largo, los angeles, marc maron, meltdown comics, nerdist, oscars, paul f tompkins, puddin, silverlake, tip of the hat, ucb theatre, wtf podcast

1) The “insider comedian interview” format has gone viral… big time.  Forget about shoddy camera work in green rooms and back alley studios that double as living spaces.  Bigger names are coming out of the woodwork.  First Marc Maron w/his “WTF Podcast”.  Recently, Dave Holmes and “A Drink with Dave”.  Most recently, Bill Maher and “12 Mile”.  Did I mention that everyone should be watching/listening to these?

2) Everyone will be live tweeting during the Oscars and I will be here in our cavernous office keeping everyone up to speed as to what’s the funniest things written during the show.  We hand pick our featured tweets here and I almost suggest that you don’t need to watch the Oscars because the Comedy Bureau Twitter feed will be almost more entertaining (only because you need to watch the telecast to put it into context).

3) In case you were wondering, the Tip of the Hat, this week, goes to Eddie Pepitone for the start of the Puddin’ Comic Strip.  Article to follow later today.

4) ON THE HORIZON
NERDIST INDUSTRIES and ARS NOVA present: Nerdist Podcast Live: BLACK DYNAMITE! @ Meltdown Comics Mon. Apr. 4th 8PM $15
The Man with F.E.E.E.T @ Downtown Independent Theater Wed. Mar. 16th 9:30PM $20
Nick Rutherford & Friends @ Hollywood Improv Lab Wed. Mar. 30th 10:30PM $5  

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 11:30AM $10/2 item min.
Space Boners: Extra Boners Edition @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE
The Swarm @ UCB Theatre 7PM $5 (stand by only)
Channel 101 Screening @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Harland Williams @ Hollywood Improv 7:30PM/9:30PM $20/2 item min. 
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Smodcastle 8PM $8
Greg Proops @ Ice House 8PM/10PM $17.50/2 drink min.
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 drink min.
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo 8:30PM $25 (sold out)
Comedy Garage @ The World Famous Comedy Garage 10PM FREE 
Magic Bag @ Smodcastle 10PM $8
The Twelve Shiny Nickels Show @ Fake Gallery 11PM $5
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min.
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed 

7) This is the 127th Day of the Comedy Bureau and both my arms are still here.  Take that James Franco.

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Morning Debriefing 2/18/11

February 18, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy, comedy crawl, comedy store, jeff ross, justin bieber, la, largo, march comedy madness, matty goldberg, morning debriefing, open mic run, paul f tompkins, super serious show, trick, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list

1) Comedy Extravaganzas to Watch for: Jeff Ross’ Roast in Peace @ The Comedy Store Fri. Feb. 25th and The Paul F. Tompkins Show 9th Anniversary Celebration @ Largo Sat. Mar. 19th.  I can’t really afford any of this, but if you can, you’d really should tear up your money for missing it.

2) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 2/20-2/26.  Thanks Wisepix.

3) Due to the circumstances beyond their control, the very popular comedy and variety show Trick @ Bordello Bar has been cancelled for the month of February.  More details on the next show soon.  Also, note to new management, people would have come to the show in herds.

4) Open Call for the March Comedy Madness is taking place today at the Comedy Store Original Room from 3PM to 7PM.  They’re asking for 2 minutes of funny and apparently no entry fee, so what’s the harm in hitting another spot tonight.  Here are more details.

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Takin’ it easy… sort of…
The Jen Kirkman Talk Show @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Robot Seizure @ The Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Stood Up Friday Night: Musical Comedy @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5 
Stand Up Spotlight: Dave Foley @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

6) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM
iCANDY
1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM 
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM
TRINITY CHURCH 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 8PM 

7) Recently: Justin Beiber made some very astonishing comments about rape, then was shot in an episode of CSI, and subsequently still makes his music.  With all that in mind, I’d like to see him play Dwayne Wade one-on-one like comedian Matty Goldberg did.  Over and over.

8) The Super Serious Show is why most people should equate stand up comedy to overweight balding men insulting front row audience members with bigoted commentary and subsequently why you should believe in live comedy.

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Post Brunch Update 1/7/11

January 7, 2011
Uncategorized
bob's burgers, comedy, comedy bureau, comedy crawl, fox, gallery 1988, garfunkel and oates, glendale days inn, hollywood, hollywood improv, icandy, is this thing still on, la, largo, marc maron, marty's, moving arts theatre, new york times, newport beach, norm macdonald, open mic run, radisson, sapphire lounge, silverlake lounge, stood up friday night, triclops, trinity church open mic, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list, wisepix

1) Due to time constraints and the limits of my own physical abilities, despite personal disregard for my own well being, the Comedy Bureau Morning Debriefing/Post Brunch Update will now be abbreviated to feature all things LA Comedy that need to be posted as early as possible.  As such, more involved, intensive articles, reviews, write-ups, opinion pieces, etc. will be featured separately in its own individual post like today’s review of last night’s amazing “Fifty First Jokes” in a few hours.

2) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL has nothing to do with any massive numbers of birds dying or any other signs of a apocalpyse, so that’s enough reason right there to go.  Bob’s Burgers @ Largo-The Coronet Theatre 8PM $20, Garfunkel and Oates @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only), Norm MacDonald @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $20, Stood Up Friday Night @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min., TRICLOPS @ SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM, GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM, TRINITY CHURCH OPEN MIC 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 8PM/must work clean, SAPPHIRE LOUNGE @ NEWPORT BEACH RADISSON 4545 Macarthur Blvd., Newport Beach, CA/Starts 9PM/msg David Marley on Facebook to sign-up, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed.

4) The Ultimate Free & Cheap List 1/9-1/16. Thanks Wisepix.

5) Tonight at Gallery 1988 7PM, “Is This Thing On?” debuts scores of artists and their take on some of the most prolific and popular comedians of the current moment (i.e. there’s a painting of Louis CK as a zombie.)

6) Marc Maron and the WTF Podcast was just featured in the New York Times yesterday, which people hopefully don’t attach to the simultaneous death of hundreds of birds just a few days ago like my Dad does (Dad’s opinion of Maron “He seems angry. Hmmmm.”)  Just read it.  It’s important.

7) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to SHAWN PEARLMAN “@shawnpearlman It’s 10PM. Do you know where my watch is?” Shawn has some of the best, sharpest one liners in Los Angeles and you shouldn’t miss a chance to catch his cleverness. Website. Twitter. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for upcoming dates.

8) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Josh Fadem Stand Up Pratfalls

9) Donate to the Comedy Bureau. That is… if you ever want to laugh again. (*note: I have no ability to make people incapable of laughter).

10) I’m on a show tonight that has a theme of “Happily Ever After”.  The fact that I’m on a show with that theme is hilarious.

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Morning Debriefing 12/18/10

December 18, 2010
Uncategorized
adam carolla, asssscat, bill burr, charles allen, comediaplex, comedy bureau, ed greer, flappers burbank, gabbriella gatto, gail gramlich, hollywood improv lab, irvine, jokes from the underground, la, largo, meltdown comics, orlando bishop, paul danke, paul f tompkins, plug mcenroe, santa monica, scott bowser, silverlake lounge, space boners, this american mistake, two milk minimum, ucb, westside comedy theatre, zach ames

1) Jokes from the Underground @ The Hollywood Improv Lab is simply the start of something good.  Within the bounds of Hollywood where you can literally walk from one comedy venue to another, Jokes from the Underground manages to distinguish itself from just being another straight stand up show as one of the show’s producers Orlando Bishop told me that he wanted to have a show that no matter the circumstances, he and show producer/host Ed Greer would just enjoy the show themselves.  The idea of booking a live comedy show based actually on who is legitimately funny and who will actually entertain any audience is seemingly becoming one of those “novel ideas”.  Thus, there was a great variety of performers from all of the “sub-scenes” in comedy around LA county and beyond, which, as the show’s name suggests, proves that there are plenty of fantastic comics who don’t have a single TV credit that can “leave the place in a heap of dust” after their set.  With such integrity in putting a comedy show together, Orlando and Ed actually got people to fight through traffic, rain, Christmas parties to actually have an audience on this first edition of Jokes from the Underground, which made it for a splendid evening both as an audience member and as one of the performers.  Such a notion is yet another “novel concept”.  With host Ed Greer living up to his Twitter handle @EdGreerDestroys, the intimate crowd at the Improv Lab enjoyed the likes of Zach Ames, Gabbriella Gatto, Gail Gramlich, Scott Bowser, Orlando Bishop, Charles Allen, Plug McEnroe, Jake Kroeger (yeah, that’s me, if you haven’t figured that out by now), and Paul Danke.  It’s a line-up that shouldn’t be missed no matter how “underground” it is.  Jokes From the Underground will be on one Friday a month at the Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5.  Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on the next one.

2) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL will probably be better than most Christmas gifts I get.  This will be especially true if it’s another round of gift baskets from Hickory Farms and the actual bottom of the bargain bin at Best Buy.  Start with Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 12:30PM $10/2 item min., then go to Space Boners Christmas Spectacular @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE, then Adam Carolla @ Irvine Improv 7PM/9PM $30/2 item min., then Bill Burr @ Brea Improv 7PM/9PM $20/2 item min., then This American Mistake @ Meltdown Comics 8PM $5, then Comediaplex @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10, then ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10, then Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 SOLD OUT (in case you needed to know), then The Annual Christmas Sweater & Mustache Party @ The World Famous Comedy Garage 9PM Party 10PM Show FREE, then Hook-Up w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min., WESTSIDE ECLETIC 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM, SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min., MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed.

4) Trick in LA Times.  Seriously.  If you were expecting a “PSYCHE!” here, you obviously don’t know what Brandie Posey’s and Emily Maya Mills’ Trick @ Bordello Bar 8PM FREE has in store.  Read and find out WHY DON’T YA!?!  

5) The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Open Mic doesn’t take a holiday (mostly because we didn’t land on one).  Next Tuesday, we have a special guest performance in THE LOVELY AND UPROARIOUS MARIANNE SIERK!!!  Dec. 21st/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/Happy Hour until 9PM/You will FEEL empty for the rest of your life if you miss it/not really. 

5) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to EDDIE PEPITONE-“@eddiepepitone Greatest achievements- I once made a small lie into a crisis so big that I had to get plastic surgery done and relocate.”  Eddie is in consideration nearly every day for a “Tip of the Hat” and it’s no surprise why as he’s one of the funniest people I have ever seen, which is why this is his second “Tip of the Hat”.  From him yelling about people in Glendale to doing impressions of lounge singers that have Vietnam flashbacks, LA’s lucky to have Eddie Pepitone around.  SO GO CHECK HIS WEBSITE and please, please, please follow him on Twitter.

6) From the You Should Have Been There Lagoon: Doug Stanhope-This Generation Sucks

7) Wonder where the Comedy Bureau’s going to be? Follow us/me on Twitter because we don’t have a Comedy Bureau “Light” and if you want one, donate here.

8) Sorry fo any typos that you may read here.  In trying towrite and perform and do everything that you need to keep afloat in LA Comedy. I’minalittleofarush sometimes.  T’anks for reading.

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THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 12/5/10

December 5, 2010
Uncategorized
asssscat, cale hartmann, comedy, comedy bureau, comedy central hot list, comedy crawl, curtis rainsberry, eban schletter, echo park, french toast, glendale planetarium, hal rudnick, io west, james pumphrey, jeff garlin, jeff sloniker, joe wagner, la, largo, marty's, megan reeves, michael busch, midnight show, nic wegener, palms, stephanie allynne, sunset grill, thrilling adventure hour, top story weekly, ucb

1) The Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre is actually the first pure sketch show to be reviewed here at the Comedy Bureau and I’d be hard pressed to find a better one to start off with.  Interestingly enough, as the consistently hilarious host Brody Stevens left the stage after warming up the packed-to-standing-room-only UCB Theatre, I realized that I had not seen a sketch-only comedy show in quite some time, which, after last night’s Midnight Show, is something I am hoping to correct if it all possible.  The collection of furiously swift sketches had this great absurdity about them that, as the show progressed, made me drawn in even further as an audience member to where exactly they were headed.  One of my favorite sketches of the night that illustrates this perfectly was a fake TV spot for a futon store where sensational Hal Rudnick started off yelling why you would need to buy futon with a voiceover saying, “Futon!” at the end of each sentence, but quickly devolved into Hal making increasingly disturbing suggestions of not going “missionary” on a “Futon!” as that will break her pelvic bone “Futon!”  With a fantastic cast of Nic Wegener, Hal Rudnick, James Pumphrey, Stephanie Allynne, Jeff Sloniker, Curtis Rainsberry, and Cale Hartmann, the Midnight Show startles and jolts in the best way possible on a very late Saturday night/early Sunday morning with sketches and video clips with the deft producing of Michael Busch and Megan Reeves and the superb, discerning direction of Joe Wagner.  The Midnight Show is on the first Saturday of every month at the UCB Theatre (5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA) at Midnight and only costs $5.

2) If you’re not watching Tangled this weekend, you should go on tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL.  However, if you are watching Tangled this weekend, you DEFINITELY need to go on tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL.  Start off with Eban Schletter’s Cosmic Christmas @ Glendale Planetarium 5PM/7PM $10/$5 for under 12, then Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter @ UCB Theatre 6PM $2, then ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE, then French Toast: MC Mr. Napkins CD Release Party @ Taix 8:30PM FREE, then The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8:30PM $25, then Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5, and be glad that you didn’t support 3D.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: HAHA CAFE 5010 N. Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 6PM, PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM, SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed

4) STOP BEING A F’N SHUT IN AND GO SEE AMAZING WORLD OF ITS OWN THAT LA IS!!!! OK, if that didn’t work, you can watch Comedy Central’s Hot List at 10PM on Comedy Central featuring their top breakout comedians of this year which includes plenty of good folks featured regularly at the Comedy Bureau including Kyle Kinane, Reggie Watts, and Chelsea Peretti, that is, if you still insist on being a shut-in.

5) How about that?  Merrill Davis in LA Weekly.  That’s MERRILL DAVIS in LA WEEKLY! (Look, I typed it out twice so click the link and read it, OK?)

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to RYAN STOUT-“@stoutryan I’ve been sexually harassing this woman and I’m worried because I don’t think she knows about it. #LayingItOnThin #TooSubtle”  Forget about his Comedy Central Presents special, his frequent appearances on Chelsea Lately, and other spots on TV, Ryan is one of the sharpest writers I know throughout all of LA and just “crushes” audiences wherever he goes (got an applause break at my open mic) all in a very dapper suit.  Here’s his website and please follow him on Twitter here.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Henny Youngman heckles Milton Berle 1966

8) “Reason #3,212 to DONATE the Comedy Bureau: (imagine you being hypnotized) Because you wanted to.” Just tweeted this right here.

9) People wonder why I’m so positive and upbeat in this blog for the majority of it.  To those people, I say, “You should see my act sometime.”

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THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 12/4/10

December 4, 2010
Uncategorized
aa room, battleship pretension, bobby kern, burbank, comedy, comedy bureau, comedy crawl, fake gallery, garfunkel and oates, hecklers, hollywood, ice house, la, largo, marty's, matt braunger, meltdown comics, midnight show, open mic run, pasadena, steve allen theater, sunset grill, the thrilling adventure hour, tomorrow show, twelve shiny nickels, two milk minimum, ucb, west hollywood, westside comedy theatre, yoohoo room

1) ON THE SUBJECT OF HECKLERS (part 1), the Comedy Bureau would like to educate the general public that heckling is not a behavior that is in ANY way acceptable no matter what your set of circumstances you happen to be coming from.  It’s not a way to make the show more fun or as some “brilliant” people I’ve overheard say, “I’m helping them.”  At a comedy show, as an audience member, you are meant to sit and keep quiet and listen OR if you’re not into what’s being said, have enough respect for the person on stage trying to perform their act in what is (surprise surprise people that don’t think so) one of the hardest art forms ever conceived.  There is a discrepancy when the show is at a venue where the audience did not come for the show, but simply to hang out at a bar with their friends and are subsequently being “subjected” to comedy.  Even in this case, you always have the option of not listening.  With that all being said, if you are a person who came to see the show WITH THE INTENTION of heckling, you are UNDENIABLE PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING.  In last night’s case, I had to deal with one of these “I am Heckler” types and realized that there’s a sadistic nature about the whole exchange.  This person wants me to fail, to see me unravel as a performer, as if that is the way he will feel good about himself (sidenote: I don’t unravel. I deal with it and if you push me far enough, I’ll verbally rip you into enough shreds for confetti at New Year’s; ask Bobby Kern).  As the show was at an “AA room”, I had reasoned that the guy felt like he earned the “privilege” to heckle as he was in AA and had as a common phrase among that crowd “been through a lot of shit”. Especially since the show was formatted to follow the AA meeting and we, the comedians, were not holding anyone “hostage”, I don’t care if you just came from a funeral; If you came to see the show, then simply don’t heckle.  As comedians, whether we do this for a living or not, this is “work” for us and I will never go to the business where you are currently employed and say, “Did they warn you about us?”  This concludes Part 1 of ON THE SUBJECT OF HECKLERS.

2) Steve-O is still headlining the Irvine Improv this weekend for whatever reason.  For those of you that like to retain brain cells/your soul, go on tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers YooHoo 12:30PM $10/2 item min., then Battleship Pretension @ Meltdown Comics 8PM $5, then The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8PM $25, then The Twelve Shiny Nickels Show @ The Fake Gallery 11PM $5/21 and over, The Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only), then Tomorrow!!! w/Ron Lynch presents Crapshoot! @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8, and finish the night with your fist raised in the air a la John Carlos for supporting comedy that actually comedy, then actually good.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: ICE HOUSE OPEN AUDITIONS 24 N. Mentor Ave./Starts 4PM, WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica (in alley between 3rd St. and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM./3-5 min., SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed.

4) Good news for all decent people around the world that aren’t the aforementioned “I am Heckler” types: Matt Braunger along with Brent Forrester (writer/producer on The Office) has just gotten a pilot order from Comedy Central!!! Check out more details here and the Comedy Bureau will keep you updated on its progress in development.

5) The wonderful duo of Garfunkel and Oates are both amazing and delightful.  However, I think they would be amazing, delightful, and life-changing if they performed in my living room.  I can’t afford that, but maybe you can by auctioning for a private show from Garfunkel and Oates right here.  This is life-changing because it’s Garfunkel and Oates in the privacy of your own home AND all proceeds go to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to JIM HAMILTON-“@Jim_Hamilton With the stage covered in blood and lady halves, Boris realized why there aren’t more open mics for magicians.”  Jim Hamilton gets the distinction of being the first person to get a second “Tip of the Hat” and with all of the beyond clever one-liners he has, Jim definitely deserves it.  You can see him perform live and for FREE at one of the best shows in town this Tuesday, Dec. 7th at Holy Fuck! in the Downtown Independent Theatre (251 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA) 9PM.  I’ll probably say this several times throughout the course of the life of the Comedy Bureau: follow Jim Hamilton on Twitter here.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon-Bill Hicks’ Worst Gig Ever

8) If you missed the tweeting storm the Comedy Bureau had last night, check it out “open mic genius” quotes, etc. here and then donate because I drove from Long Beach to East LA to Fullerton to Garden Grove to Hollywood and back to Long Beach for comedy meaning all of you.

9) So in just over a month, 104 people like The Comedy Bureau on Facebook, 64 people follow The Comedy Bureau on Twitter, and 43 people follow us/really just me on Tumblr.  Thanks everyone for reading and all the support because it’s only going to get better (especially if I make any money at this).

Report 00043

THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 12/2/10

December 2, 2010
Uncategorized
212 cafe, alhambra, bar lubitsch, beverly hills, cafe on 2nd, comedy, comedy and cocktails, comedy bureau, comedy speakeasy, comedy90210, gibson amphitheatre, hollywood hotel, hollywood improv, how to live with chelsea peretti, la, largo, louis ck, open letter to open mics, paul scheer, roxbury cafe, sandwich spot, santa monica, sexy christmas spectacular, the josh and josh show, tko show, tsr lounge, ucb, universal city, venice, west hollywood

1) OPEN LETTER TO PERFORMERS AT OPEN MICS: I know that we are all somewhat selfish, mostly insecure artists begging for validation that due to being in LA usually means laughter/compliments/kudos instead of money. However, at an open mic, the expectation is to WORK OUT material, which means it’s OK if that “brilliant” ten minutes you have just written about your ethnicity doesn’t work. That material “not working” is part of building an act and you have to combine honesty with yourself and faith in your material to “make it work”. So, at an open mic, DON’T ASK THE AUDIENCE/JUST COMICS WHETHER WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS FUNNY OR NOT. Open mics are NOT workshops where talking and asking are permitted. Open mics are intended, though it can be hard to gauge due to the setting, to simulate performing in front of an audience without the pressure. If you really want to know if it was funny, ask yourself, “Did they laugh?” and you’ll have your answer (that’s part of being honest with yourself). Asking for validation not only tests the already short patience of everyone else waiting to go up, but also brings about an atmosphere where everyone feels like they can offer suggestions during other people’s sets, which subsequently ruins the opportunity to try material without a chance for an honest response at all. If it’s quiet during your set at an open mic, do not worry about it as, again, the expectation isn’t to be funny, but to work out your act. In conclusion, at an open mic, stay quiet, listen, and laugh if someone says something funny, then go up and just do your act. That’s it. Do this as much as possible because the comedy community here in LA will recognize and respect “hard work” and you will become better (if you strive to make improvements).

2) Yes, Louis CK is in town, but I can’t afford that so I’m going to a show that very well might be just as good that’s completely free. That’s why I make the COMEDY CRAWL every night to give all you good folks some options. Start off with Christina Davis CD recording @ Room 5 7:30PM $10, then Comedy Speakeasy @ TSR Lounge 8PM FREE (call 323-568-1616 to be audience member), then Comedy and Cocktails @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min., then Comedy90210 @ Roxbury Cafe 8PM $5, then Literally Funny @ The Last Bookstore 8PM FREE, then Red Zebra @ Crocker Club 8PM FREE, Running Your Mouth-The Game Show @ Hudson Guild Theatre 8PM FREE (call 323-960-5519) then Louis CK: Word @ The Gibson Amphitheatre 8:15PM $57.60, then The Josh and Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE, then Paul Scheer’s 2nd Annual Sexy Christmas Spectacular @ Largo 9PM $20, then How to Live with Chelsea Peretti @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park, Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM, HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont, Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM, CAFÉ ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guaranteed, TKO SHOW @ 212 CAFE 212 Pier Ave., Venice, CA/Starts 9PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s).

4) As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I’ve updated both the Greater LA Open Mic Map and The Greater LA Comedy Landscape with a “highlighted line” of everything that’s happening comedy wise tonight, which there’s plenty (i.e. the line is all over the place. Check all of this by clicking OPEN MIC RUN and COMEDY CRAWL at the appropriate links posted.

5) The Paul F. Tompkins DVD is finally HERE thanks to the great folks at AST Records! Well, not quite yet… “You Should Have Told Me” will officially drop on Dec. 14th, but will be available for pre-sale next week at AST Records. The Comedy Bureau will remind you plenty until then…

6) If you’re agoraphobic, too acclimatized to LA weather and can’t handle the cold, or just love watching TV, don’t miss Matt Braunger (mentioned several times here at The Comedy Bureau) tonight on Chelsea Lately 11PM on E! and Johnny Pemberton on MTV as the host of Megadrive at 11PM.

7) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to NEIL HAMBURGER for his “tweeting storm” on the upcoming feature film Yogi Bear-“Yogi Bear Oscar campaign to include mailings of narcotics-laden "picnic baskets” to drug-addicted Oscar voters. #bestpicture/Yogi Bear" becomes first film to be banned in Poland since “Hitler’s Giant Cock And Great Ideas Also” was banned from theaters in 1967/Taco Bell to put Aykroyd and Timberlake’s feces into refried beans during December to help prepare fans for experience of watching film/George W. Bush in “Decision Points”: “Say what you will, but no Yogi Bear movie was released during my 8-year Presidency”. #true/(CNN): “Aykroyd Channeled Spirits Of Charles Manson, Benito Mussolini During Yogi Bear Voiceover Sessions And Subsequent Serial Rapes”/(CNN): Popov Vodka to sponsor asphyxiation of children heard complaining about Yogi Bear movie on school playgrounds.“ Touring the entire U.S., Neil Hamburger takes his uniquely original brand of comedy that involves clearing his throat all throughout his act and often times holding several drinks while performing to wherever people will appreciate/hate him as he is heckled quite often (he released a record where he is severely heckled), which warrants comparisons to Andy Kaufman’s Tony Clifton. Neil has his own self-titled show in Los Angeles that’s currently on hiatus, but you can enjoy his website here and amazing Twitter here.

8) From the "You Should Have Been There” Lagoon (in conjunction with yesterday’s post): Stand Up Comedy Boot Camp Trailer

9) I’m using Coinstar today to afford lunch. Please donate to the Comedy Bureau and read about the inspired material/comedic journey from this event on Twitter here.

10) Steve-O is headlining the Irvine Improv this weekend. I hate initialisms and think they limit expressivity in the English language, but, seriously WTF!?!?

Report 00041

THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 11/22/10

November 22, 2010
Uncategorized
1739  public house, andres du bouchet, big trouble in little tokyo, cartoon dump, casey's, club 705, comedy, comedy bureau, comedy crawl, dame funny, donate, downtown, echo park, ground zero usc, hermosa beach, hollywood, hollywood studio bar & grill, jon lovitz comedy club, keep it clean, la, largo, los feliz, marty's, melgard mondays, melgard public house, Señor Fish, steve allen theater, tig notaro, tribal cafe, What's Up Tiger Lily?

1) Depression-a-palooza @ my own head, basically, is something you never want to go to.  Last night was the first time I didn’t go out in several months and let’s just hope this doesn’t happen too frequently, mostly because drinking alone is never a pleasant experience (i.e. I tweeted, “Apparently, I’m the star of Home Alone 7: It’s Your Own Fault Because You Won’t Try Online Dating. #straighttovideo #diealone #samething).

2) COMEDY CRAWL Cartoon Dump @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10, Tig Notaro’s Untitled Comedy Tour @ Largo 8PM $20, Dame Funny @ Jon Lovitz Comedy Club 8PM $20/2 drink min., What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8:30PM FREE, Melgard Mondays @ Melgard Public House 9PM FREE, Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE

3) OPEN MIC RUN: CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/7PMish, CASEY’S 613 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA (downtown)/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM/Starts 8PM, TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (echo park)/8:15PM, GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA (on eastern most side of USC campus/in between dormitories)/USC student sign-up 9PM/non-USC student sign-up 9:15PM/Starts 9:30PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed.

4) Tig Notaro’s Untitled Comedy Tour is taking submissions to come to your house/apartment/living space.  Just make a 2 minute video and post it on facebook here to have a chance to have Tig Notaro and her friends have a friggin’ comedy show in your backyard/living room/where you don’t sleep in your living space.

5) Big Trouble in Little Tokyo Open Mic is tomorrow night. Last week I gave away cheeseburger shaped cookies and a 15-min. drop in spot.  WHO KNOW WANTS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK?!?!? Show up and find out.  Sign-up 6:30PM.  Starts 7PM @ Señor Fish, 422 E. 1st St. in Little Tokyo.

6) The Comedy Bureau "Tips Its Hat” today to ANDRÉS DU BOUCHET for this amazing two-part tweet: “@dubouchet Having accomplished every goal I’ve set for myself (Andres points to blank sheet of paper), I now intend to relax for 30-40 years.  I pointed to the wrong paper in that last tweet. HERE’S my list of goals! (pointing to napkin on which I’ve written "HI ANDRES!” in ketchup).“  Andrés currently and deservedly writes for Conan here in LA.  Here’s his site/blog here and then you can follow him on Twitter here.  DO IT NOW!!!

7) Coming soon to the Comedy Bureau: "Tip of the Hat” Archive and everything and anything that’s “Bureau Approved” featuring everything that’s already been featured so all of you fine folks can find it quite easily instead of digging through all of these posts like I do.

8) I wouldn’t be asking for a donation if I wasn’t currently writing this blog on my bed.  Please donate to the Comedy Bureau so we can change this (mostly for a bigger bed).

9) Planning to watch Social Network today, then write 5 minutes on it.  Instead of being on the cutting edge with the latest news, I like being “dollar theater” topical, though I may need to start a show at a dollar theater for it to work.

Report 00031

THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 11/20/10

November 20, 2010
Uncategorized
asssscat, comediaplex, comedy, comedy bureau, comedy car hole, comedy crawl, comedy garage, doug o perkins, fake gallery, flappers burbank, flappers yoohoo room, harry potter hogwarts talent show, hollywood, kat radley, la, largo, lizzy cooperman, open mic run, paul f tompkins, ryan wise, santa monica, saturday night special, steve benaquist, trinity open mic, twelve shiny nickels, two milk minimum, ucb, walsh brothers, west hollywood, westside comedy theatre

1) Comedy Car Hole @ The Comedy Car Hole has been going for more than 7 years and last night was proof of why. With a tightly run, showcase-style, 90 min. show, the 60+ people in attendance having a great time in the back porch in front of someone’s of garage should give anyone with enough drive, passion, talent, intermittent bits of insanity to build a show wherever they can build one. Doug O. Perkins and Ryan Wise actually make their garage as much of a real venue as they possibly can with comfy seating, a “VIP Lounge”, and a legitimate stage with a legitimate curtain and cleverly built Comedy Car Hole sign. Last night’s crowd, which stuck around even with a slight mist of rain in the air, got to enjoy the likes of Steve Benaquist, Kat Radley, and even Comedy Bureau favorites Lizzy Cooperman and The Walsh Brothers. The Comedy Car Hole is once a month literally in a garage near Santa Monica and is completely free. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for the next one.

2) Trinity Open Mic @ Trinity Baptist Church in Santa Monica might sound like one “hell” of an intimidating open mic (OK, the pun was kind of intended). Actually, I have to admit that it was pretty great. All those elements that comedians hate about open mics such as people not listening/caring, the house lights being on or all the light beings completely off, etc. are almost non-existent here. Being in a church basement at 8PM, no one is really being held hostage for the show and thus, people want to listen to what you have to say. As it is a church, you do have to work squeaky clean, but most everything I heard music/comedy/spoken word wise was pretty “secular”. Also, there’s food for a small donation. Though, again, you have to work clean, I’d say this is another “bureau-approved” open mic. Trinity Open Mic is every 1st and 3rd Friday at 8PM in Trinity Baptist Church, 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA.

3) There’s actually a Harry Potter based show that, like it’s filmic inspiration, is sold out and has only stand-by available, but that shouldn’t stop you from some other great shows around town where you won’t have to talk about how you have never read the books and your possible lack of childhood, etc. (is that just me?) Anyways, tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL goes a little something like this: start off early with Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 12:30PM $10/2 item min., then go to ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand-by only), then go to Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo 8:30PM $25, then go to Comediaplex @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10, then Satuday Night Special @ Flappers-Burbank YooHoo Room 9:30PM $10/2 drink min., then Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Talent Show @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand-by only), then The Twelve Shiny Nickels Show @ The Fake Gallery 11PM $5, then Comedy Garage Thanksgiving CHARITY Bonanza! @ The World Famous Comedy Garage 9PM-Party/Show 11PM FREE, then Ron Lynch’s Tomorrow presents the Time Machine Show @ The Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8.

4) OPEN MIC RUN: WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica (in alley between 3rd. and 4th)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM, SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave. (at Fuller)/6:30PM/one item min., SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/7PM, MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 cover/multiple sets allowed.

5) Kyle Kinane is a comedic genius, another label the Comedy Bureau doesn’t use lightly, ON THE RISE who has been cast in sketches as a rapist and now most recently on Lopez Tonight, a racist stoner. Check it out here.

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” to the one and only Barbara Gray. “@BabsGray Hey guys, what should I eat for lunch? Subway or the barrel of a shotgun?”. Recently, Lionsgate just went with ahead with her short script, and, up ahead, she’s hosting What’s Up Tiger Lily? this week and has her own wonderfully named show Space Boners @ Silverlake Lounge coming up next Saturday 11/27. Follow her on twitter here or at her blog here.

7) From one garage with comedy to another…. Guess where the Comedy Bureau’s going to be? Well… First, at an open mic in a franchise coffee shop, then the Comedy Garage. Follow all the LIVE TWEETING here.

8) If I’ve already gone with the “jedi hand wave” to get you to donate to the Comedy Bureau, I’m invoking it again (imagine it happening right when you’re reading this), so you forget that I might have already done it once and THEN you’ll donate. Please give if you’re willing and able (jedi hand wave again) here.

9) Don’t judge comedy too quickly, unless it starts off “So I’m half…..”. That’s when I’m half on my way to doing something like this.

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