Ellen DeGeneres to Host Oscars Again
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has enlisted the talents of Ellen DeGeneres yet again to host The Oscars. Obviously, the tone will be much different than that of a Seth MacFarlane hosted Oscars, but we’re curious to see how the monologue and various hosting duties will go having won a Mark Twain Prize for Humor since her last time as an Oscars host.
AMPAS Invites 276 New Members/Oscars Still to Have Bias Towards Drama Over Comedy
The Oscars have had a bias towards awarding dramatic movies ever since they started. If you look at the entire list of past winners, there’s almost no disputing that claim.
Now, if you look at the list of new members invited to be part of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, the governing and voting body of The Oscars, it doesn’t look like that bias will change that much. Sure, they have some youth and injected into the AMPAS membership with the likes of Joesph Gordon-Levitt and Rosario Dawson, which is good to see, yet the approximate representation from comedy is only a sliver with Paul Feig, Lena Dunham, and a few others.
It wouldn’t be as much of an issue if The Oscars were focused solely on honoring dramatic films, but the categories lack any such qualifier with Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, it would be great, and progressive to the art form of comedy, to see something besides a heavy handed period piece win.
The Onion Apologizes For Tweeting That Quvenzhané Wallis Is a Cunt
When it comes to the issue of freedom of speech, especially as it relates to satire and irony in comedy, there will always be controversy. The one factor that will always defend comedy from the ever present controversy is the notion that the comedy comes first (i.e. we wanted to go for the laugh) over anything (i.e. political discourse, shock, etc.).
After The Onion’s lightning rod tweet during the Oscars telecast by plainly, and we’re not going out of context here, calling 9 year old actress, Oscar nominee, and star of Beasts of The Southern Wild, Quvenzhané Wallis, “a cunt”, (the tweet has since been removed), this apology was issued by Onion CEO Steve Hannah without any irony whatsoever, a rarity from the offices The Onion.
This is a perfect example of how shock took precedence over comedy. Yes, it’s still satire, but it’s almost entirely satire with very little left to laugh at.
With The Academy Awards on tomorrow night, any outlet of comedy has been doing something referencing the event including Conan. This Conan “Oscar movie review” bit is pretty great and, hopefully, the jokes and bits at The Oscars will have the same level of goofiness about them.
Will Mainstream Awards Shows Ever Give Comedies The Respect They Deserve?
Consider this my “in-depth” post for today.
1) THIS IS THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT FOR BRIDGETOWN COMEDY FESTIVAL!!!! Details here.
2) Love’em or hate’em, the Oscars took place last night and several of us watched it, and plenty tweeted about it. Handpicked, hometown (LA/Hollywood) favorites were retweeted last night and are now featured here:
“@shanenickerson "Who are you wearing?” ‘Some guy named Ken I murdered.’-serial killer up for an Academy Award, being interviewed by Tim Gunn. #oscars"-Shane Nickerson
“@Puddinstrip I’ve seen Jake LaMotta do a better monologue. #oscars”-Puddin’ Comic Strip
“@kirkfox Strange. Not one nominee was wearing jc penny.”-Kirk Fox
“@NickYoussef "Anne Hathaway thinks Anne Hathaway is hilarious” – Anne Hathaway #Oscars"-Nick Youssef
“@FojasBradley Are the refs watching the #oscars? They don’t seem to be watching this game. #heatvsknicks”-Bradley Fojas
“@sbellelauren "hey everybody, go fuck yourselves” – james franco being interpreted to foreigners"-Lauren Ashley Bishop
“@thatRamosgirl Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi do NOT make me want to pledge money to this telethon. #Oscars”-Vanessa Ramos
“@FrankConniff Billy Crystal at the #Oscars got a standing ovation for everything except his work in movies.”-Frank Conniff
“@pattonoswalt Daniel Day Lewis has the depth of commitment to the craft of acting to die just to liven up next year’s death montage. #Oscars”-Patton Oswalt
“@MrsRupertPupkin I’ve already cried 3 times during the Oscars – Once because I’m out of wine and twice because I’m single. #Oscars”-Lauren Caltagirone
“@moshekasher Who is this jew? #OSCARS”-Moshe Kasher
“@normmacdonald you guys were the 83rd best hosts ever.”-Norm MacDonald
“@paulcibis If the hosts are operating at the level of a high school talent show, why not end with a grade school choir recital? #Oscars”
3) March 12th will probably be the first time in over a decade that I might actually watch SNL in a decade. Zach Galifianakis is hosting. How about that? Someone that has been paid to be funny on a consistent basis to host a program that’s supposed to be funny… what a novel concept… It just might work. Mar. 12th.
4) Recent Articles written by the Comedy Bureau: Tip of the Hat-Eddie Pepitone, Into the “Heart of Darkness” of an Old Fashioned Good Time.
5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily? On The Pulse Showcase @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Cartoon Dump @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $10
No Class Comedy @ Tommy’s Place on USC Campus 8:30PM FREE
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
6) OPEN MIC RUN
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM
HARLEM PLACE CAFE 124 W. 4th St. (in alley between Main and Spring St.)/Starts 8PM/e-mail speakeasyopenmic@gmail.com for spots
D’AMORE’S 8369 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM/Purchase required
GROUND ZERO CAFE 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA (USC on campus nestled in between dorms near intersection of Figueroa and Exposition)/USC student Sign-up 9PM/Non 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 Cover/Free coffee & water.
7) Couldn’t have said it better myself: “@kylekinane The idea that art has to have a "best of” category destroys the whole concept.“-Kyle Kinane
Report 00129
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
Puddin’-Eddie Pepitone Live Action Daily Comic Strip-“Lotto"
NOTE: NSFW (though it would be great if any nominee that lost last night at the Oscars sounded like this)
Recently: The Oscars happened much to a bore with mostly dull speeches and several failed attempts at humor/entertainment, proving once again, that it should be a private party and not televised for the confused, out-of-context viewing public. That is, unless someone’s acceptance speech was more unhinged and freewheeling like the brilliant James Adomian as Orson Welles merely trying to plug a wine. It’s kind of like Mickey Rourke any time that he wins an award anywhere. That’s how acceptance speeches should be.
1) 10 Comedians You Need to See This Year [via Crave Online/Sax Carr]. Say what you want about who is and isn’t on this list, but enjoyed reading this versus Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch a few months ago.
2) New Open Mic Tomorrow: D’amore’s-Monday, February 28th. D’Amore’s Pizza. 8369 W. 3rd St. Between Sweetzer and Orlando. Sign-up is 8:00pm – 8:15pm, lottery shortly thereafter. Purchase required. They’re gonna do a special. 2 slices for $3 dollars! See you there! Hosted by Jason Helfgott.
3) The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo. Ro Delle Grazie. Heather Thomson. New Tequilas at the bar? You betcha (subject to change). Señor Fish, 422. E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA. This Tues. Mar. 1st.
4) Apparently, there is a “comedy scene” of sorts in Claremont. Investigation by the Comedy Bureau to come soon.
5) #Oscars and probably #banksy on Twitter will be watched by the Comedy Bureau on Twitter tonight. Rest assured, you will be entertained.
6) ON THE HORIZON
What’s Up Tiger Lily? Presents ON THE PULSE Showcase @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill Mon. Feb. 28th 8PM FREE
Merrill Davis and Friends @ Hollywood Improv Lab Sat. Mar. 26th 10:30PM $5
Pizza Party @ Puka Bar Thurs. Mar. 31st 9PM FREE
7) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly! @ iO West 9PM $5
Smug Shift @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Sunday Sunday Sunday-Oscars Schmoscars @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE
Deskpiece Nation @ iO West 10PM $5
8) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min.
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
9) Much thanks to Matt Knudsen for his donation to the Comedy Bureau. I’ll be able to eat today.
Report 00128
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau
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.
Report 00127
THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau