paul danke – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Uh Huh (in LA) 4/23

April 19, 2024

christina catherine martinez, experimental comedy, los angeles comedy, milan patel, paul danke, stand up comedy, todd glass, veronica osorio

What goes into the magic that makes the live experience of a Comedy Bang! Bang!, Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen, The Meltdown with Jonah & Kumail that brought hundreds upon hundreds of comedy lovers together every week? Well, honestly, there isn’t enough time or inches in this post to get into the finer points of that, but rest assured that the magic sauce behind each sauce is different and is part and parcel of the times they happened in.

With that in mind, a trio of Paul Danke, Christina Catherine Martinez, and Jake Kroeger are looking to capture that verve with Uh Huh. A tight, but free in spirit (mostly) stand-up show that gives you the unequivocal best of the LA comedy scene (and TCB’s Jake Kroeger and the beloved Danke and Martinez are the three best folks to give it to you).

This very first Uh Huh (hopefully with more to come) is set for Tues. Apr. 23rd at 7:30PM with a grand line-up of Todd Glass, Curtis Cook, Milan Patel, and Veronica Osorio. Tickets are $15 right now if you want to get in on the ground floor of something special. Go get tix here.

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

TCB Debriefing 1/19/24-1/24/24: Jon Stewart, Oscars, Paul Danke, Ramy, Steven Wright, SNL 1975, Jean Claude Van Damme, Richard Pryor

January 24, 2024

News

colbert, jean claude van damme, jon stewart, late show, oscars, paul danke, ramy youssef, richard pryor, snl 1975, steven wright

1. Jon Stewart is returning to the role that made him the voice of a generation, kind of. Stewart will resume hosting duties at The Daily Show on Mondays and then serving as an EP all the other days, leaving the rest of the correspondents to switch off hosting duties (NPR). There’s a lot to hope for here as Stewart is returning in an election year when he, somewhat infamously, left during the 2016 election cycle with a potential to have to deal with Trump running under the GOP banner. Also, we’re to assume that he’ll be able to talk freely about China and AI, seemingly two topics that seemed to be dicey while he was at AppleTV+ with The Problem with Jon Stewart.

2. This year’s Oscars might be the most comedy highlighted one in history with American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, and Poor Things all garnering Best Picture nominations and accompanying noms in Best Acting, Writing, and Directing categories. Perhaps, a tip of the cap is deserved to last year’s Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once taking home all the awards to make high art comedies be taken seriously.

Also, Greta and Margot getting snubbed in their respective categories for Barbie is pretty objectively wrong.

See the full list of Oscar nominations, announced this morning, here.

3. Paul Danke has been one of the most reliable fixtures in LA’s vast, decentralized stand-up scene. For several years, Danke has only refined what was already an exacting comedy sensibility that finesses rhythm, specificity, attitude, and self-awareness that he has taken to stages DIY and pristine all over LA county (and CA and, well, the country). He has a knack for making specificity in observation accessible whether it be regarding the fate of the Dodger Dog or Jimmy Buffet’s legacy because of his unassailable cool even if he is taping an hour at a place as “out there” as Humboldt, CA. You can hear all of that and some 70’s soaked tunes on his brand new album, Mad River, fresh off the AST presses. Please enjoy Mad River right now right here.

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A post shared by Paul Danke (@pauldanke)

4. Ramy Youssef will have “more feelings” (on a new A24/HBO special) that will (probably) not have a solid British accent from the acclaimed Poor Things actor (and celebrated 21st century comedian).

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A post shared by ramy youssef (@ramy)

5. Steven vs. Stephen is quite the fun time and a reminder that Steven Wright is one of the best last night guests. Feel free to go down a YouTube rabbit hole to watch Steven Wright on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson after watching his Late Show interview here.

6. Rachel Sennott will be one of the stars of an SNL origin film from Jason Reitman, SNL 1975 (Deadline). If one of the cast of this movie ends up hosting SNL to promote this movie, it should stand to reason that they just redo 1970s SNL sketches for today.

7. The Muscles from Brussels, Jean Claude Van Damme is seemingly sticking with comedy (after his lauded, self-reflexive movie JCVD) with Le jardinier (Variety). Possible crossover with Le jardinier and The Beekeeper in the not so distant future?

8. After decades of trying to get some sort of biographical adaptation of comedy icon Richard Pryor’s life on screen, it looks like Kenya Barris might be the one to do with it an upcoming 10 part series (Variety). At this point, an entire doc could be made on trying to doing some sort of biopic on Pryor’s life.

9. We’ll leave you with this: Kids heckling clowns, the serious kind, is priceless.

Pick of the Day: Blam! Blam! Blam! (in LA) 12/14

December 13, 2021

News

anna seregina, daniel webb, davey johnson, jamel johnson, james adomian, james fritz, kimberly clark, lizzy cooperman, nana the cat lady, paul danke

Yet another touchstone LA comedy show returns on this side of the pandemic. Truly, we just had no idea who or what was going to survive when March 2020 came to pass. There was a point at which we, and so many others, legitimately thought that perhaps none of it would come back. We continue to thankful for the instances where some of our favorite things in comedy have survived and are making a big, big comeback.

One such thing is another one of the LA comedy scene’s longest running comedy shows, Blam! Blam! Blam!, the monthly institution at K-Town’s super cool R-Bar is making its first official show since lockdown happen right at the end of 2021. For years, we loved spending a late night on Tuesdays at 3331 W. 8th St. with Paul Danke at the helm and a beautiful mix, curated by DeMorge Brown, of stand-ups, characters, and the always mind-bending surprise from Davey Johnson.

This return of Blam! Blam! Blam! has all of its favorites including:

James Adomian
Lizzy Cooperman
James Fritz
Nana the Cat Lady
Kimberly Clark
Anna Seregina
Jamel Johnson
Daniel Webb
Tom Waits

Don’t miss out this Tues. Dec. 14th. Get there at 9PM PT if you want street parking to be slightly less difficult.

Pick of the Day: Picture This! 5/9

May 7, 2020

News

animation, brandie posey, comedy show, irene tu, live animation, mike l mayfield, paul danke, stand up comedy

One of the LA comedy scene’s most unique and marvelous shows has been, for quite awhile now actually, the live-animated comedy show, Picture This. For those unfamiliar or those so distanced from what happened in the before times, comedians perform and, in real time, animators would draw/sketch/animate based on their set.

We’re so thankful to hear that Picture This is coming to the comedy live-stream realm and, given the way Zoom is set up, all the comedians will likely have a better eye on the animator (as opposed to standing facing away from the screen where the animation is projected). Also, having another line-up including many of the best animators and illustrators in comedy paired with the comedy stylings of Kate Willett, Paul Danke, Irene Tu gets pretty damn close to putting on the show you would have gotten to see in LA or in several places along the comedy festival circuit.

So, look forward to having quite the Saturday afternoon this weekend with a brand spankin’ new edition of Picture This! Go get your tickets for $10 before they sell out!

THIS SAT 5/9 2p PT / 5p ET
LIVE ANIMATED COMEDY IS COMING TO A DESKTOP NEAR YOU ON @zoom_us with @Brandazzle @katewillett @Jason_Chatfield @MikeLMayfield & more!

$10 at https://t.co/9hZ7UEapTK OR https://t.co/EFdm8fkQxg
Include "Picture This" and your email in the payment note pic.twitter.com/aNwEBvrFHc

— Picture This! ? ? (@PictureThisShow) May 6, 2020

Pick of the Day: In The Green Room

April 29, 2020

News

chris fairbanks, gareth reynolds, green room, greg barris, james fritz, maggie maye, matt mccarthy, megan koester, paul danke, phoebe bottoms, ryan singer

Often, the green room of a live comedy show is one of the best places to be, especially if you want that fly on the wall experience of comedians that are off-stage, but still sharp whilst riffing with their contemporaries.

Being stuck in quarantine, the idea of gathering is still a bit away from happening (even with just comedians). Yet, you can still get a bit of the green room experience this weekly starting this Thursday 4/30 with the In The Green Room live-stream.

Set to hang back in that proverbial/virtual green room is many of Avail Comedy‘s very best including

Comedians Include*
Chris Fairbanks
Gareth Reynolds
Greg Barris
James Fritz
Maggie Maye
Matt McCarthy
Megan Koester
Nick Flanagan
Paul Danke
Phoebe Bottoms
Ramin Nazer
Ryan Singer
Sara June

* based on quarantine availability

Rather than having the news on all day, it’d be much, much better to just hang with comedians hanging with other comedians. Tune in at youtube.com/availcomedy at 8PM PT/11PM

May 3, 2019

Uncategorized

barbara gray, brodie reed, luke mcgarry, mike hollingsworth, mike mayfield, nick rutherford, paul danke, picture this

First off, there’s a National Cartoonist Society Festival happening down in Huntington Beach this month. Already, that’s something that should highly peak your interest as it will be a big shindig for comics and cartoons (plus a zombie walk).

On top of that, there will be one of our favorite concept shows, Picture This!, down in the OC for a special free, pop-up show in, perhaps, the perfect setting

They’ve got many of their favorites and stalwarts of the show coming down from LA to Huntington Beach and it’s your chance to see if you’ve avoided making the trek to The Virgil in Silverlake over the last few years.

Get more details here.

May 3, 2018

Uncategorized

catherine cohen, comedy show, DoLA, free tickets, kristen schaal, kurt braunohler, los angeles, paul danke, the virgil, todd glass

Here’s your weekly chance to win tickets for you and a loved one (maybe?) to next week’s @hottubshow!

Enter to win here: http://thecomedybureau.dola.com/giveaways

October 15, 2017

Uncategorized

comedy show, east hollywood, hollywood, ian abramson, jay larson, jermaine fowler, los angeles, los feliz, moshe kasher, natasha leggero, paul danke, sean patton, silverlake, stand up, the virgil, variety show

Not only is this a great week to be at The Virgil for both Hot Tub and The Super Serious Show, but we have free tickets for you to win for both shows!

Enter here: http://thecomedybureau.dola.com/giveaways

Paul Danke’s Debut Comedy Album “DANK” Also Out Now from AST Records

November 12, 2014

Uncategorized

a special thing, ast records, comedy album, dank, paul danke

We told you that AST Records is having a big week this week of album releases. So, after you’ve picked up Andy Peters’ “Exclamation Mark Question Point” from them, you should make your way to picking up AST’s next release this week, Paul Danke’s “DANK”.

It’s Danke’s first album and you get to what LA’s been privileged to hear from one of the Godfathers of The Comedy Garage the last several years.

Pick up your copy here.

Paul Danke’s Album From AST Records Due Out Next Month

October 20, 2014

Uncategorized

ast records, comedy album, paul danke

Earlier this year, Paul Danke recorded an album that would be in a line of great releases from AST Records this year. The time is now coming near for that debut album of Danke’s to come out.

More specifically, Nov. 11th is when you can get a copy and take a listen. We don’t have any details on a title or cover art, but we’re sure, with the focus on Danke, it’s going to be as casual cool as casual cool can be.

Paul Danke Recording Album for AST Records

April 6, 2014

Uncategorized

a special thing, ast records, comedy album, nerdmelt, paul danke

Paul Danke Recording Album for AST Records

Fri. Apr. 25th will be the night that the very funny Paul Danke lays down his sweet words to a record, a digital one that is. This comedy album will come from one of the best comedy album labels around AST Records.

Thus, we’d highly recommend both going to the taping at Nerdmelt LA on Apr. 25th (it’s free, by the way) and then picking up the album when it comes, hopefully some time later this year.

Morning Debriefing 8/26/11

1) Bill Burr on Letterman.

2) If you follow everything that I write, I spend quite a bit of time defending what comedians say, even if I think it’s hack, bigoted, etc., but somehow has made other people laugh. However, this latest case of an audience member telling a story of date-raping a girl at the show ASSSSCAT during the Del Close Marathon in NY is something that I can’t and won’t intellectually defend even if he was somehow kidding and made the whole thing up. From all accounts, people were cringing, verbally booing, and more in an attempt to get him to stop, which really breaks the main rule that I stand behind, which is “no matter what you talk about, you have to be funny.” Get the full story from Halle Kiefer at Splitsider.

3) On a much lighter note, the line-up for the comedy portion of the FYF Fest, which comprises about .5% of the festival, is FINALLY HERE. Emo Phillips, Marc Maron, and the Sklar Brothers are just a few names…

4) We didn’t even realize that Deadspin had a Comedy Week until yesterday. There’s some fascinating stuff, namely, a tribute to Mitch Hedberg, and a feature on Sean Patton. Thanks to Luke Cunningham for pointing this out.

5) Judges at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival actually picked the Top 10 One-Liners from all the comedians and we think that Matt Kirshen got robbed.

6) The Compatish finds and actually plays The Bachelor: The Game.

7) So, Nikki Glaser has fan t-shirts… (Special thanks to Scott Bowser pictured below)

8) Puddin’-“True Love”

9) ON THE HORIZON
“I’m Going Somewhere With This…”: Storytelling Show @ The Mint Sun. Aug. 28th 7PM
DC Pierson is Bad at Girls @ UCB Theatre Sun. Sept. 18th 9:30PM $5

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Brent Weinbach @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
The Business @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $8 online/$10 at door
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
The Second City Late Night w/Howie Kremer: Community Show @ Second City Hollywood 9PM $5 (sold out, tickets may be available at door)
Gina Yashere @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $10/2 item min.
Comedy Car Hole @ Comedy Car Hole 9PM FREE

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/$3 min./mixed mic/booked show in middle around 8PM
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
FLOODLAMP OPEN MEG[APHONE] 3201 W. Verdugo Blvd., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 7:30PM/Starts 8PM/under floodlamp/on megaphone/lottery/no purchase necessary
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 8PM/No foul language/No purchase necessary/first come, first served
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 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts MIDNIGHT
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery

12) OK, I love this city dearly and inhabitants, often transplants, are resentful of LA not living up to their expectations. It’s an unfortunate circumstance for any metropolis this size and I sincerely wish anyone that whines about being guilted to live here because they felt they had to in order to accomplish something would go back to where they came from. Even with that in mind and making my peace with all the shortcomings of Los Angeles, freeway construction at 1AM at every fucking off-ramp and on-ramp causing bumper to bumper traffic can go fuck itself once we make that possible.

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Morning Debriefing 8/18/11

1) The Late Show’s David Letterman called a Jew (when he’s not) and was threatened to be killed.

2) Peter Atencio will be the sole director for all episodes of the upcoming sketch series Key & Peele on Comedy Central. We absolutely can’t wait to see what he comes up with.

3) Laughspin gets another update from Jeff Mackinnon at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

4) The Compatish proves that miniature golf isn’t just for kids… or is it?

5) Tim Shaw expounds as to what it can take to be a truly great comedian and why that has made him retire from comedy.

6) Rob Delaney explains how having one of his jokes stolen invigorated him to conquer Twitter.

7) James Patterson has a beautiful story about why Yelapa isn’t a romantic getaway.

8) The singular Rick Shapiro will be on the Green Room with Paul Provenza (Showtime 11PM), Mark Hamill & Tony Hale are guest stars on NTSF:SD:SUV (Adult Swim 12:15AM), and Hitfix’s Alan Sepinwall makes a case for continuing to watching Louie, just in case you were on the fence (FX 11PM).

9) ON THE HORIZON
The Imaginary Radio Program @ Nerdist Theater Thurs. Aug. 25th 8PM $8

10) COMEDY CRAWL
The Super Serious Show @ Smashbox Studios 7PM $10 in adv/$15
Todd Glass @ Irvine Improv 8PM $17/2 item min.
An Intimate Evening with Moshe Kasher @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min.
The Dork Forest Live @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
The Hot House Comedy Show @ Hot House 8PM FREE-Invite Only
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 9PM $25 (sold out, tickets may be available at door)
Third Thursday Comedy Series @ Ruskin Group Theatre 9PM $5
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Live at Carnegie Hall* @ Hollywood Hotel 10PM FREE
The 11th Hour Show w/The Midnight Show @ Artworks Theatre 11PM FREE

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/$4 minimum/first come, first served
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
COFFEE BEAN 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, Suite 180/Starts 7PM/mixed mic/no purchase necessary
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary
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 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available

12) So, we got the most traffic we’ve ever gotten here yesterday and it was all because of a reblog/retweet of a PDF of a great article by Zach Dionne on the WTF Podcast. As it was misinterpreted by a few people as to who wrote the piece (it’s wasn’t us), we feel compelled to have an actual piece about Marc Maron here written by us, which will be a review of his new album “This Has To Be Funny”, to be posted very soon.

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Morning Debriefing 8/8/11

August 8, 2011

Uncategorized

comedy news, cornell reid, los angeles, paul danke, sean green, the moth

1) The Down Syndrome’s Association of the UK finds Doug Stanhope offensive. The fact it took the DSA so long to find and be offended by a clip of Stanhope ranting on Sarah Palin and her child with Down’s Syndrome, a clip that’s been online for almost 3 years not to mention Stanhope’s reputation for going dark with jokes about abortion, denouncing AA, etc., really undercuts their public outcry.

2) Weird Al Yankovic will officially have a televised concert special on Comedy Central to air on Oct. 1st and available for purchase on DVD/Blu-Ray Oct. 4th.

3) Neil Hamburger and his Britney Spears Haikus; in case you needed clarification, Hamburger is winning the war online against Spears’ fans.

4) The Comedy Garage Movie is on Hulu! Don’t forget to catch them at the UCB this Sat. Aug. 13th at 10PM $10.

5) Laughspin interviews one of the fastest and funniest mouths in the West, Jimmy Pardo.

6) Comedy podcast network Earwolf will now feature the best moments from their highly popular shows with Earwolf Presents.

7) The LA Times explores the the power of the (storytelling) Moth.

8) ON THE HORIZON
Storyworthy Live @ M Bar Thurs. Aug. 11th 7:30PM $10/$10 min.
Entertainment Hollywood Live! @ UCB Theatre Sun. Aug. 14th 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Bryan Coffee’s Brink of Extinction @ Steve Allen Theater Mon. Aug. 29th 8PM $10
The Walsh Brothers @ UCB Theatre Sat. Aug. 27th MIDNIGHT $5

8) COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily? @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Brunch @ The Park Restaurant 9PM FREE
Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
The Del Close Marathon Preview @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 8PM/no purchase necessary/first come, first served
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is lottery/no purchase necessary
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 min./multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee provided

10) Anyone have the full story on Ron Artest trying to get up at the UCB?

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Morning Debriefing 8/4/11

1) Russell Howard on Conan.

2) In one of the best Compatish’s yet, the gang goes raft racing and the trash talk goes to a whole other level.

3) So the comedy world will supposedly have it’s May 21st when Louis C.K. meets Dane Cook on Louie (FX 10:30PM). After the comedy world doesn’t implode on itself catch Rich Fulcher, Rob Riggle, and Paul Scheer on NTSF:SD:SUV (Adult Swim 12:15AM)

4) ON LATE NIGHT TV TONIGHT: Ron Funches on Conan (TBS 11PM), Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, Jamie Kilstein, and more on The Green Room with Paul Provenza (Showtime 11PM), and Todd Glass on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC MIDNIGHT)

5) Splitsider interviews the fantastic Paul F. Tompkins.

6) Laughspin catches up with Kyle Kinane while on the road with Daniel Tosh.

7) Puddin’-“Mexico” w/Andy Daly

8) ON THE HORIZON
The Super Serious Show w/Jonah Ray @ Smashbox Studios Thurs. Aug. 18th 7PM $15

9) COMEDY CRAWL
McDonald & Thompson from “Kids in the Hall” @ Irvine Improv 8PM $25/2 item min.
Red Zebra Comedy Explosion @ Crocker Club 8PM FREE
The Eddie Pepitone Blood Bath @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Commercial Break @ Palms Bar 8:30PM
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE
Live at the Carnegie Hall* @ Hollywood Hotel 10PM FREE

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/$4 minimum/first come, first served
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
COFEE BEAN 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, Suite 180/Starts 7PM/mixed mic/no purchase necessary
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary
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 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available

11) I tried to get into the Moth Storyslam last night, but couldn’t because 300 people who paid $8 to get in beat me to Zanzibar Live in Santa Monica last night. That’s 300 people who paid money to hear stories that may or may not be good by people they’ve most likely never heard of. Why can’t people be excited for comedy like this?

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Morning Debriefing 6/29/11

1) Last night, I went to the “scene” open mic in Portland at Suki’s and immediately thought, “Man, I wish I started comedy in Portland.” Ironically enough, as I’m dropping in from LA, the entire Portland comedy scene, which apparently was in attendance, was saying good bye to one of their heroes Richard Bain, who is coming down to LA. From the greenest-of-the-green-newbies to mainstays and respected figures in Portland comedy, everyone was there in support of Bain.

LA is so huge, just physically, and many comedians are so incredibly busy with their own act, sketch group that has to put a video out weekly, podcast that records whenever it gets a chance, show or two that they have to produce and promote, that the whole comedy scene in LA could never be in full attendance of anything. Yet, seeing even more camaraderie in comedy than the pockets of it that exist in LA would not only intrinsically make for better comedy, but would further dispel that image that LA’s a soul sucking town.

So, yes, I’m saying that if you’re a comedian in LA, go see a show that you’re not on or go support another comedian without trying to get booked.

2) Congratulations to Nick Kroll on getting the Nick Show Kroll picked up and Peter Atencio being attached to the Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele Project all for Comedy Central. Also, congrats to Comedy Central for making some solid picks for this season. [via Deadline]

3) Louis CK on The Daily Show getting Jon Stewart to beg him to stop. Fox News, are you taking notes?

The Daily Show – Louis C.K.
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

4) Hannibal Buress on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

5) Continuing a great run of comedy on late night TV this week, Jon Dore’s on Conan TBS 11PM. Watch, record, or do whatever you got to do to see it.

6) Speaking of Conan, James Adomian on one of his last days before going to NY was John Wayne in this sketch last night. Speaking of Adomian leaving, you better be at Meltdown tonight to catch him before he leaves.

7) Neil Hamburger Helper Cards? Yes, please. [via EightyFourFilms]

8) Behind the scenes of the Long Shot Podcast, SuperEgo, and the Never Not Funny Podcast with Christine E. Taylor.

9) ON THE HORIZON
Paul Danke & Cornell Reid Live Tweet a Movie @Corneezy/@PaulDanke 10PM FREE

10) COMEDY CRAWL
Greg Proops: Smartest Man in the World LIVE @ Bar Lubitsch 7PM FREE
Big Time Comedy Show-A Giraldo Benefit @ The Wiltern 7PM $34-$80+
Andrés Du Bouchet Center for the Performing Arts @ The Bootleg Theater 8PM $8
Meltdown @ Nerdist Theater (back room of Meltdown Comics) 8:30PM $8
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $8
Respect the Danger of Knives Presents @ Jake’s 9PM FREE
Facebook @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Beer in the Shower @ Dreams Cafe & Bar 9:30PM FREE

11) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
GRINDHOUSE CAFE 1051 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guarantee
CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM

12) According to this article on Megan Amram on Boston.com, we are a “Los Angeles based resource for professional comedians.” Anyone disagree? Are we more? Did you even read this far down? If you did, thank you. Also, follow @meganamram if you’re not already. She’s amazing.

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March 15, 2011

Uncategorized

andy peters, comedy show, costa mesa, funny or die, improv, josh haness, just for laughs, karl hess, los angeles, montreal, orange county, paul danke, westside bar and grill

brookswheelan:

Great show this Wednesday at the Westside Bar and Grill in Costa Mesa. Free and NO DRINK MINIMUM!

The Art of Coming Off Casual: Cut Off Jean Shorts

March 13, 2011

Uncategorized

comedian, comedy garage, cut off, funny or die, jean shorts, los angeles, paul danke, world famous

The Art of Coming Off Casual: Cut Off Jean Shorts

I’m not a big fan of shorts in general, but if anyone can make a pitch for wearing them, Comedian Paul Danke can…

The Art Of Coming Off Casual: The Art Of Coming Off Casual: The Saab Convertible – the unofficial car of the underemployed playboy.

March 10, 2011

Uncategorized

burbank, comedian, comedy garage, funny or die, los angeles, paul danke

The Art Of Coming Off Casual: The Art Of Coming Off Casual: The Saab Convertible – the unofficial car of the underemployed playboy.

pauldanke:

The Art Of Coming Off Casual: The Saab Convertible – the unofficial car of the underemployed playboy.

Being casual as hell takes kinda a lot of work but, as this is a blog exploring the nature of handling ALL things in a laid-back fashion, it’s important to explore the unique…

Morning Debriefing 12/18/10

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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Morning Debriefing 11/27/10

1) I have to give credit once more to Shayne Michael and the energy he has put back into the iCandy open mic/K.A.S. Comedy Etc. Show. With being one of the longest running open mics in the LA area, iCandy/Coffee Haven has seen its share of highs and lows and with a new sound system and a revitalized format that keeps a good energy about the room (i.e. booked show, raffles, etc.), comics who go to iCandy can expect to actually work on their material, which is the purpose of an open mic.

2) What better way to get into the holiday spirit than going to a run of shows that include the words: milk, asssscat, boners, back room, and family. THUS, don’t miss tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL with Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 12:30PM $10/2 item min., then Space Boners Gives Thanks! @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE, then ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only), then The Back Room @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10, and finish with Ron Lynch and Craig Anton host a Tomorrow! Family Thanksgiving @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: LAUNDROMIC 1054 Vine St. Los Angeles, CA/Starts 4PM, WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St (in alley between 3rd and 4th)/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 cover/multiple sets allowed.

4) As it was brought to my attention, even though I knew I needed to get around to it, the “Bureau Approved” page is updated again with a section for shows and open mics. Also, the “Calendars” page got updated with Comedy Store Line-ups and link directly to the Largo Calendar. I might be running out of ways to make this easier for you guys… I’m just sayin’.

5) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to PAUL DANKE “@pauldanke every black friday, I get up early, go to best buy, and when the doors open. I rob the shit out of people’s cars. #IPODSFOREVERYONE” When not chilling back in his jean jacket, Paul Danke absolutely rips it on stage. According to several sources, Danke closed out the Holy Fuck! One Year Anniversary like a hero, which is certainly no surprise to the Comedy Bureau. Going up all around town as well as his own fantastic show The Comedy Garage (run with Cornell Reid and Sean Green), Paul has definitely earned his praise for his stand-up as well as doing featured blogging for FunnyorDie.com. You can witness Paul Danke tomorrow at French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE or on his blog The Art of Coming Off Casual or his amazing Twitter.

6) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Michael Keaton does Stand-up

7) Donate here. Live Tweeting here. Donate here. Live Tweeting here. (insert catchy jingle that’s so catchy you would actually do either or both of the two)

8) On the subject of handling hecklers: Why is there the type of heckler who interrupts your set and then applauds and congratulates you after you yell at him for 4 minutes ripping him to shreds as a person? There should be a new subcategory of psychological disorders in DSM IV that addresses this.

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Post Brunch Update 11/21/10

1) Comedy Garage Thanksgiving Charity Bonanza @ The Comedy Garage was quite simply how comedy inside someone’s garage is supposed to be done. Not to be confused with other attempts at “garage” based live comedy, there were no hints of the inner workings of a comedy club (i.e. matching seats, nicely decorated stage, curtain, etc.) and also none of the pain of spending $15 on cover and having to pay a 2 drink minimum as Comedy Garage is completely free and often has beer to go around or, in last night’s case, FOUR LOKO. Instead of that overwhelming nature of a comedy club, there was a very chill, inviting house party atmosphere with people playing beer pong and enjoying each other’s company on the various collections of chairs and couches huddled around the astroturf-covered stage. One comedian during the show actually commented how the garage would be a high school kid’s dream with all the random assortments of snowmen and plastic penguins with a Gene Simmons mask fixed on it, though there was none of that childish negativity that festered back in high school (or at least that was my experience). In fact, the party goes on smoothly for a few hours before the show to get everyone in the perfect mood for a great live comedy show exceptionally produced by Sean Green, Cornell Reid, and Paul Danke. Despite temperatures dipping below 50, the Comedy Garage proved its great reputation for a “damn good time” with a crowd almost entirely of regular audience members who got to enjoy the likes of Brooks Wheelan, Joselyn Hughes, Alysia Wood, Rob Christensen, and the Comedy Garage gang (Sean, Cornell, and Paul) themselves. The Comedy Garage happens one Saturday a month in a garage in Burbank. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details on the next one.

2) Harry Potter is estimated at a $125 million opening this weekend and runs about 2 and ½ hours long. The more than 20 shows that I listed over this weekend didn’t even come close to equaling half a percent of that total and offered about 10 times the duration of amazing entertainment. Yeah, I know the numbers don’t work out exactly, but it’s worth it more to go on tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Start with Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter @ UCB Theatre 6PM $2 (stand-by only), then go to Chris Fairbanks Stand-up Comedy Special Taping @ M-Bar 6:30PM RSVP at fairbankscomedy@gmail.com, then ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7PM FREE, then Trick @ Bordello Bar 8PM FREE, then Comedy Without a Cause @ Boardners 8PM FREE, then French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE, then Dave Nieker’s 5 Comics @ Flappers Burbank YooHoo Room 9PM $10/2 drink min., then Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM, $5, then Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/6PM, SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/7PM/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

4) With the frequency and ferocity that the Comedy Bureau has been hitting open mics, I’ve updated the Greater LA Open Mic Map with new spots and added the reviews to each spot, letting you know whether it’s “bureau approved” or not right here. Also, the Calendars section just added the Downtown Comedy Club and Second City Hollywood (though I still haven’t figured out a flash workaround that doesn’t take traffic away from their site). Check that out here.

5) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to ABBEY LONDER. On Facebook, Abbey wrote, “Listen lady– I can’t tell whether or not your baby is a boy or a girl. So when I say ‘what’s this little man’s name?’ and you get alllll offended and say ‘what does he look like a boy or something?’ please know that I don’t care. Also: I made your non fat latte with half and half. Happy Holidays, bitch.” Check her out at the Hollywood Improv tonight at 9PM or, if you really like her, go to the second-to-last of her awesome “Sweet and Sour Comedy” at Genghis Cohen this Tuesday 7PM $5/free for comics. Also, THIS is her badass website.

6) I don’t know how Little Tokyo is still standing, but since it is, we’re going to have another BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO OPEN MIC this Tuesday Nov. 23rd @ Señor Fish (422 E. 1st St. in Little Tokyo). Sign-up 6:30PM. Starts 7PM. HUGE HINT: I try to not cut off the list, meaning if you get there by 9PM, I’ll get you up. Oh yeah, let’s all go to Holy Fuck!’s One Year Anniversary afterwards.

7) LIVE TWEETING/ME TRYING TO KEEP MY SANITY/CONVINCING PEOPLE I’M NOT GOING TO JUMP OFF THE 4TH ST. BRIDGE nightly, all right here.

8) “Going for donation number 2… Donation number 2, anyone? Anybody?”-The Comedy Bureau Donations volunteer…. if we could afford one. Please donate here.

9) It’s amazing how people always tell me these two things about this blog together. "Jake, I love your blog. It fills a need for LA Comedy.“ and "I’m just waiting to see one or two years down the road when your optimism burns out.” I love all of you too.

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Morning Debriefing 10/28/10

1) Despite showing up late, Beer in the Shower @ White Horse Inn Cocktail Lounge, catching Nick Vatterott and Jerry Rocha w/host Paul Danke was THE WAY to close out a Wednesday night especially if someone said about everything you’ve written a few hours earlier, “I don’t understand any of your fuckin’ shit, man. What the hell is going on your head? I can tell you don’t sleep. You should sleep and stop writing.” If only I skipped my screenwriter’s group, I would have caught the hilarity of Shawn Pearlman, Eddie Pepitone, and Fortune Feimster. Catch Beer in the Shower every Wednesday, 10PM @ White Horse.

2) Just because its miles outside of LA proper, doesn’t mean that there’s nothing funny about Long Beach. Comedians Chris Adams and Jerry Brandt prove that in spades and THEN SOME with their weekly podcast Drinking Buddies. This week, longtime LA comedy vet Don Barris and the hilarious Tim Babb talk everything from comedy to Disneyland to rape and, of course, drinking. See how everything connects here.

3) “Jesse Miller. Straight up.” –Andre Hyland. Every few weeks at the AMAZING Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ The Next Stage Theatre, Andre Hyland transforms into Jesse Miller and takes over with the Jesse Miller Talk Show (next one’s in November). Check out Jesse on a Trikke. Again, it’s straight up.

4) From the World Famous Comedy Garage, quintessential hipster LA comedian Paul Danke gives you some advice on Halloween costumes so you don’t look totally lame, unless you’re being ironic, well, then, you know what I mean…. Check it on Funny or Die here.

5) There will be a brand new open mic in town at Señor Fish in Little Tokyo starting Nov. 9th. Happy hour w/$3 beers & $2 fish tacos and more details coming soon.

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