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maria bamford

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Maria Bamford Delivers Another Fantastic Commencement Speech, Though This One Is a Bit More Meta
May 21, 2020
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adult swim, commencement speech, maria bamford

Three years ago, Maria Bamford delivered one of the best commencement speeches of 2017 when she helped pay off some student debt with her speaking fee and made her whole speech for the University of Michigan Class of 2017 centered on the gesture.

This year’s graduation season happens to coincide with the historic COVID-19 pandemic, making commencement speeches vastly different and more challenging to nail in such weird times. Still, Maria managed to pull off the speech that all classes of 2020 need right now and even get more abstract and meta with it. Even though it’s for Adult Swim as opposed to an actual educational institution, Bamford’s candor and honesty is, as it always is, simultaneously so beautiful and hysterical.

Please enjoy Maria Bamford’s episode of Adult Swim’s Commencement Speaker Series here.

Please Enjoy This Chat Between Maria Bamford and Stephen Colbert, One of the Last Late Show Interviews at Ed Sullivan Theatre Before Lockdown
May 12, 2020
News
late show, maria bamford, stephen colbert

As the world went into lockdown, the world of late night talk shows was thrown for a loop as to what to do. Everyday, something changed, more things closed, and crowds of people started to disappear where they would normally be. Specifically, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert attempted to do a show without a crowd still in the Ed Sullivan Theatre. Also, Colbert dressed sharply and there will professional level broadcast cameras and, at the very least, there were, probably, crew in the building that you can hear live laughs from.

On this particular taping, the splendid Maria Bamford sat down with Colbert in, of all places, the audience, as there was no one taking up any of those seats at the time, for as normal of a late night style chat as they can have. Of course, Bamford is her same magical self in chatting with Colbert, but this interview also serves an artifact of a time that is so starkly from our own even though it was a only couple of months ago.

Please enjoy this chat and look back at the not so distant past here.

Ian Abramson’s 7 Minutes in Purgatory Gave a Preview of What Comedy Would Be Like During COVID-19 Pandemic
April 9, 2020
News
bobcat goldthwait, comedy central, experimental comedy, ian abramson, jon dore, maria bamford, michelle buteau, stand up comedy

When it comes to comedians performing without a traditional audience like is the temporary norm for now, you might have heard references to comedy specials recorded years ago from Drew Michael or Harland Williams (Michael recorded it on a sound stage for HBO and Williams stood on a rock in the desert and did his hour).

We’d actually like to point you to something that is an even more apt comparison and a pretty spot on precursor to what how live comedy is performed and consumed right now. The ever innovative Ian Abramson put himself on the map a bit with ultra-innovative (at the time) live comedy show called 7 Minutes in Purgatory where comedians had to perform remotely, though near an actual venue without any chance to hear the laughs of the live audience that was in attendance for the show.

For the crowd, they were treated to watching a live feed of the comedian in the remote performance space and got to watch them try and perform. If you’ve seen a stand-up comedy show on Twitch, Instagram Live, Zoom, etc., you ought to know that 7 Minutes in Purgatory gave us a preview (even though it was unaware of doing so) of what was to come.

It was and is a great show and a daring comedic experiment that had comics recalibrate their act, try a daring bit that leans into the format, or automatically go into uber self-deprecation (exactly like they do now).

As an artifact of the before times, it’s even more fascinating to see what doing comedy in the way we have to do right now was like when we didn’t have to do that.

Get into the Comedy Central digital series version of 7 Minutes of Purgatory, that includes performances from Michelle Buteau, Jon Dore, Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait & Caitlin Gill, and more here.

Pick of the Day: Brighter Comedy (BIG SUNDAY Benefit)
April 9, 2020
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betsy sodaro, big sunday, carl tart, dannah phirman, jason mantzoukas, kate micucci, maria bamford, nick kroll, phil lamarr, seth morris

If you can believe it (and we hope that you can because of how much we’ve got listed at our site), there is still plenty of comedy going on and lots of shows are raising money for great causes that are so deserving of your support.

One such event is happening this weekend called Brighter! It’ll be an atypical talk show that features Mickey and Robin Bright (Dannah Phirman, Seth Morris) who are divorcing while in quarantine and getting in touch with the likes of Maria Bamford, Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, Kate Micucci, Phil LaMarr, Carl Tart, Betsy Sodaro and more playing their neighbors in their “artist commune apartment building” to check-in/get advice to cheer up, especially given their situation. For those missing the sort of fare you’d get to see at UCB in the before times, this might be what you’re looking for.

The show will be in support of BIG SUNDAY, a Los Angeles-based non-profit, organizing free meal delivery for doctors, nurses and staffers who work in the ER in LA. Anyone can watch the show, but they will be taking donations.

Brighter! will be streaming live this Saturday Apr. 11th at 6PM PT at www.brightercomedy.com.

Handy Dandy Guide to Weekly/Daily Comedy Livestreams (While We’re All Hunkered Down))
March 31, 2020
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cabernet cabaret, catherine cohen, comedy quarantine, eddie pepitone, gareth reynolds, hot Tub, ian abramson, jim gaffigan, john hodgman, kristen schaal, kurt braunohler, last stream on the left, livestreams, lyric public access, maria bamford, mike birbiglia, paul feig, throwing shade

Though it was for a terrible reason, the world of comedy has pretty much pivoted on a dime (with growing pains to be sure) into a cornucopia of live-streaming through several online platforms. Two weeks into a good majority of the major comedy hubs of LA and NYC being sheltered in home, there have already been a whole row of weekly and even daily livestreams featuring your favorite comedians and comedy folks. Best of all, you don’t have to live in LA or NYC or really anywhere to see these. Many are free or for donations and can be seen so long as your WiFi is solid. Also, that means many of the best comedians around the country will be showing up on all sorts of shows as they just have to join in on Instagram Live, Twitch, Zoom, etc.

For the time being, these livestream shows have set up shop and will be here every week or most days of the week to keep you from going entirely insane while being stuck at home. Take note that there are plenty of one-off special events that are happening as well not mentioned here. Check our listings frequently for when and where those shows will be happening.

Obviously, we’ll update this post the more that we find.

 

Comedy Quarantine-daily stand-up show, Monday-Friday at 7pm PST/10PM on Instagram Live @comedyquarantine, hosted by Barbara Gray and Teresa Lee, donations accepted for comedians and COVID-19 relief.

Eddie Pepitone: Live From the Bunker-live rants and guest interviews from Eddie Pepitone, Monday-Friday, 4PM PST/7PM EST on Instagram Live @eddiepep, free.

Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen (Home Edition)-same great weekly stand-up show with Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal on Mondays at 8PM PST/11PM PST at http://holdthephone.tv/, donations accepted for comedians and COVID-19 relief.

New Material Show with Maria Bamford-Maria Bamford works out 1/2 hour of new material Monday-Friday 3PM PST/6PM EST on Zoom, donate $5 or more to food bank or Venmo $1 to @maroo-bamfoo.

Read More
February 10, 2020
Uncategorized
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2020 Moontower Comedy Festival Adds Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak

At this point, it should come as no surprise that Austin’s annual Moontower Comedy Festival stacks and stacks and stacks their line-up and summons many of comedy’s best from around the country.

Already, they had a pretty stellar line-up, but they just announced a pretty grand set of headliners as you can see above including Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak, Todd Barry, Chris Fleming, Marlon Wayans, and Ronny Chieng.

If you’re not already going and are really itching to go after seeing this new line-up, go get details, tickets, etc. here.

Maria Bamford’s Weakness Is The Brand Is the First Great Comedy Special of 2020
February 4, 2020
Uncategorized
comedy dynamics, comedy special, maria bamford, stand up comedy, weakness is the brand
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If comedians ever reached a status from which they could be officially considered “national treasures”, such a designation should be bestowed on one Maria Bamford. Her latest hour special, Weakness Is The Brand, is by far her most conventional special (it’s in one location and it’s a traditional theater), but it shows that Bamford’s strangely beautiful comedy wares are something to truly revel in.

Bamford not only is a master of her stand-up comedy craft, but so in tune with her comedic voice that she can make her act work anywhere (as evidenced the previous Special Special Special where Maria performed in front of her parents at her house) or anyhow (whether she’s touching on mental illness or the idea that she’s a mental illness comedian or anything else). On Weakness Is The Brand, there’s an even more freewheeling Maria that, if you can imagine, that’s more delightful as she jumps back and forth around the fourth wall and joyfully leans into her act outs/voices. The self-awareness of her persona, her material, the audience, the viewer, etc. that she expresses throughout the special is remarkable and pretty damn funny as well.

On top of all of that, there’s a touching original song with her husband Scott Marvel Cassidy that leaves us feeling hopeful and elated like we do with every Maria Bamford special that we can remember.

Maria Bamford: Weakness Is The Brand is now available from Comedy Dynamics on almost platform that you stream comedy specials.
January 14, 2020
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comedy show, los angeles, maria bamford, stand up comedy, the clubhouse

That’s four, count ‘em, four chances you’ve got coming up to see the one and only Maria Bamford work out a new hour of stand-up at the intimate, DIY space of The Clubhouse in Los Feliz (located right next to the Jons in a gigantic strip mall). 

This week and next week, you should really try and find a way to get to The Clubhouse at 2PM for one of these shows to see one of the funniest and best human beings do what they do best. 

Maria Bamford “Weakness Is the Brand” Trailer Promises a Wonderful Bamford Special at the Top of 2020
December 10, 2019
Uncategorized
comedy dynamics, comedy special, maria bamford, trailer, weakness is the brand

For us, Maria Bamford is not only one of the funniest, most honest, poignant comedians of our generation, but, probably, of all time. She also happens to be one of the best human beings around (her commitment to fostering community still astounds us to this day) and that undoubtedly gives the beautiful colors that run throughout her celebrated comedy.

Come Tues. Jan. 28th, we’ll be getting a brand spanking new hour from Maria called Weakness Is the Brand. From the looks of the trailer, it looks like it’ll be a straightforward special, but given the scope of her last two specials, The Special Special Special and Old Baby, we wouldn’t be surprised if she does something “special” yet again. If not, Maria’s material is more than enough to make a great hour for you to relish (again, see the trailer).

Maria Bamford’s Weakness Is The Brand will be available at several streaming services via Comedy Dynamics on Jan. 28th and you can pre-order it here.

Maria Bamford Will Have Her Own Mental Health Focused Talk Show “What’s Your Ailment?!”
December 5, 2019
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maria bamford, mental health, talk show, topic, what's your ailment
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First off, you should be excited that Maria Bamford will be having a brand new show. Maria is unequivocally one of the all time funniest people and also one of the comedians that approaches and normalizes mental health in such a beautiful way.

Her new series, What’s Your Ailment?!, that will be coming to streaming platform Topic will feature Bamford talking to other performers about mental health and we’re willing to be it’ll be some of the best conversations about anxiety, depression, etc. etc. that will be enlightening and riveting and have some undeniable, out-of-left field laughs. 

What’s Your Ailment?! with Maria Bamford will be perfect palate cleanser after Christmas as it premieres on Dec. 26th on Topic.
September 17, 2019
Uncategorized
benefit show, comedy show, gary gulman, judd apatow, largo, maria bamford, mental health, patton oswalt, stand up comedy

Gary Gulman is stopping by once more at Largo (he comes by about once a year). However, this time is extra special as it will be an evening that triples as a heads up on his upcoming HBO special The Great Depresh, a wondrous, wondrous line-up of comedians as you can clearly see with Maria Bamford and Patton Oswalt, and a benefit for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services as well as a conversation about mental health.

It truly is going to be a special night, even by Largo’s high standards, and definitely worth the $58.50 ticket price. Go get your tickets for this evening of The Great Depresh here.
August 12, 2019
Uncategorized
los angeles, maria bamford, stand up comedy

Maria Bamford, who is sincerely one of the best comedians and human beings around, is doing another run of afternoons to work out her latest hour of stand-up comedy at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz (1607 N. Vermont Ave. *next to Jons*).

Really, you ought to try to get free one of these afternoons whether it be this Tues., Wed., or Thurs. to see her hone material, which we have no doubt is silly, truthful, vulnerable, life-affirming, and beautiful all at the same time.

There’s a $5 suggested donation for these shows, but no one will be turned away if they can’t afford it.

Please get more details here.
July 2, 2019
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charity benefit, comedy show, danielle perez, freedom for immigrants, highland park, jackie kashian, kira soltanovich, los angeles, maria bamford, stand up, vince caldera

Other than trying to watch Maria’s social media feeds to see if you can watch her workshop her new hour over coffee with her or during her runs at The Clubhouse, you can watch her along with a great line-up of stand-ups and support the Freedom for Immigrants charity on August. 27th at Highland Park’s Hi Hat (5043 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA).

As far as we can see, you need to go to this if you can. Tickets are $40 (21+ only) and you can (and very much should) get them here. Don’t be surprised if they sell out. 
April 24, 2019
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free comedy, free show, los angeles, maria bamford, stand up comedy

One of the best comedians and humans other there, Maria Bamford, is doing another two afternoon shows this week at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz to hammer her new hour out. 

Donations are suggested. This is your chance to see Maria probably in the most intimate space that you can (so long as you can swing going to a show on 2PM on a weekday).
June 9, 2018
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comedy show, dtla, eastside, guy branum, harmontown, jon daly, k town, koreatown, los angeles, macarthur park, maria bamford, nathan fielder, team coco, todd barry, westlake
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The Dynasty Typewriter at Hayworth Theater is moving on from their soft opening phase to “The Prototype”, an entire season of programming, which, as you can see above, is very, very, very stacked with some of the best and most original comedy LA has to offer. 

If this all seems like your jam, you can even join to become a member of their exclusive QWERTY Club, which offers:

  • Free Entry to Members-Only Events (Including Season Opening Party)
  • Early Access to hear about sell out shows before they go on sale to the general public
  • 10% Off All Shows Throughout The Season
  • Select Member Perks from our Concession Stand
  • Invitation to Pre-show Mingle Events
  • QWERTY Card (Membership Rewards Program)
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We highly urge you to get tickets, membership to the QWERTY Club, and find out more about this theater run by a former typewriter company here.

Maria Bamford Gives You Reasons to Be Thankful for Awful Things with “Ave Maria Bamford”
December 12, 2017
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If there is any person who can see the light in the darkness that covers more and more of our world and consciousness on a minute-to-minute basis AND do so with levity, it’s Maria Bamford.

Thus, Bamford’s new web series Ave Maria Bamford on Topic is a blessing as Maria in a brightly colored church lays out “reasons” to be thankful for the awful trash fire that the world is in right now.

Enjoy the first two episodes here.

If You Need Something to Feel Good, The Second Season of The Lady Dynamite Is Now Streaming at Netflix
November 10, 2017
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lady dynamite, maria bamford, mitch hurwitz, now streaming
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You can always count on Maria Bamford to brighten your day.

Thankfully, just in time, there’s an entire brand new season of her series The Lady Dynamite that’s now streaming at Netflix.

We hope that it makes you feel like similar to the way this graphic above makes you feel.

The Lady Dynamite Season 2 Gets The Amazing Trailer That You Were Hoping For
October 18, 2017
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lady dynamite, maria bamford, mitch hurwitz, netflix, pam brady, season 2, trailer

The combination of Maria Bamford, Mitch Hurwitz, and Pam Brady had season 1 of The Lady Dynamite really turn the single camera comedy on its head in a dazzling way.

With season 2 coming up, you might have somewhat high expectations for how Maria’s life and the genre bending, meta nature of the show work together.

Well, the trailer for this new season delivers.

All episodes of The Lady Dynamite season 2 start streaming on Friday, November 10th.

Lady Dynamite Gets Snazzy and Futuristic in Announcing Season 2
September 8, 2017
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ana gasteyer, lady dynamite, maria bamford, netflix, season 2

You’ve got to wonder if this is what one of many corners in Maria Bamford’s mind looks like.
August 10, 2017
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This might be a gem of The Burbank Comedy Festival coming next week. 

Bruce Smith, the real life manager of Maria Bamford, star of Lady Dynamite, will be somehow facing off with the fictional manager of Maria from Lady Dynamite played by Fred Melamed.

As far as we know, the real life Bruce and fictional Bruce are breaking new ground here and we think you ought to not miss out.

Tickets to this event are free.

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

UCB Is Holding a Comedy Yard Sale Benefitting the ACLU, Full of Memorabilia From Your Favorite UCB Alums
June 2, 2017
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If you’re in LA and you’re into collecting comedy memorabilia from Parks and Recreation, SNL, Key & Peele, etc., you better come before noon to get a decent parking spot and first dibs for UCB’s Comedy Yard Sale to benefit the ACLU. 

If you’re not in LA, there is already plenty of stuff up for auction on eBay.

In a Commencement Speech at Her Alma Mater, Maria Bamford Gives Back Way More Than Just Sound Advice
May 20, 2017
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giving back, liberal arts college, maria bamford, minnesota, student loan debt, university of minnesota

If you’re weren’t sure about whether Maria Bamford is an American treasure that keeps giving and giving or not, please watch the short, but very sweet commencement speech she gives for the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts starting at 39:17.

Maria Bamford’s New Special “Old Baby” Delightfully Continues Her Mission of Inclusivity, Understanding, and Acceptance
May 2, 2017
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maria bamford, netflix, old baby, stand up, stand up special
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Over the years, Maria Bamford has done comedy specials in theaters and in her house in front of her parents. However, she hasn’t done both in the same special until now.

In fact, Old Baby, her new special that is now streaming on Netflix, shows Maria doing stand-up in front of a bench, at a movie theater, at a bowling alley, in a nice, big theater in DTLA, and more. 

All of this, as far as we can see, lines up with Maria’s life-affirming comedy as it is bringing people from all walks of life, literally, together to enjoy Maria’s expert repertoire of characters and brilliant comedic distillation of her world view, farts and all.

Go enjoy Old Baby now and you just might feel better about the world for a little while.

Maria Bamford: Old Baby Trailer Shows Maria Doing Stand-Up Literally Wherever She Can Stand Up
April 24, 2017
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comedy special, maria bamford, netflix, old baby, stand up, trailer

Backyards, theaters, book stores, bowling alleys, and living rooms, with or without a stage, are where Maria Bamford brings her comedy to the people.

She takes the idea of “stand-up” quite literally in the trailer for her latest special, Old Baby, coming to Netflix. As you can see, there is almost no place that Maria can and will spread her life-affirming humor to.

Her special starts streaming next week on Tuesday, May 2nd on Netflix.

Watch Maria Bamford Make Up Voices for Realtors and James Adomian Arm Wrestle Guy Branum on Talk Show the Game Show
April 19, 2017
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guy branum, james adomian, maria bamford, talk show the game show, trutv

Talk Show the Game Show is bringing talk show games to a whole other level as evidenced by these clips of Maria Bamford having to use her voice talents to bring pictures of realtors to life and James Adomian going head-to-head with Guy Branum in an arm wrestling match (with a spectacular finish we might add).

Also, unlike the majority of other talk show and late night games, the points and winners do matter and have a whole set of judges that keep them accountable to being the most entertaining guest throughout the evening. Again, we hope this revolutionizes playing games with celebrities on television going forward. 

By the way, there’s a new episode of Talk Show the Game Show with Guy Branum tonight on TruTV at 10PM.

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