pen15

Dave Ross is pretty much as cherished of a fixture in the LA comedy scene as one can be. Holy Fuck, WOMEN, Suicide Buddies, What’s it Called, and, of course, Good Heroin are just a few of the things that Dave has made over the last decade and change and left an indelible mark in comedy. So, Ross joins the Field Report this week to talk his mental/emotional/spiritual journey in both coming up in comedy in the 2010s and coming back to it out of lockdown. This conversation really spotlights the artistry in comedy and the sort of dedication and humility (on top of being funny) that comedy really requires.

Also, “hot” takes on PEN15, The Simpsons on Disney+ in Hong Kong, and more.

Follow Dave @davetotheross across socials.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

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

Get Your First Look at the PEN15 Animated Special

August 19, 2021

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Even though it’s deeply personal and honest and vulnerable in its examination of early teen years right at the turn of the millennium, there is also something magical about PEN15. Maybe that’s a credit to Anna and Maya playing their tween versions of themselves or just how special their friendship really is.

In any case, the prospect of seeing the duo drawn up for a very, very special episode of PEN15 makes us curious how much more magical (and hysterically resonant to all millennials) their bond can be. From the looks of this trailer for the PEN15 Animated Special, we’re all about to go deeper into Maya and Na’s world than ever.

See for yourself here, then look for the premiere of the PEN15 Animated Special on Hulu on Fri. Aug. 27th.

PEN15 Is Going to Have an Animated Special Next Month

July 22, 2021

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Animation has been a saving grace for many a show throughout the last year and a half including No Activity and One Day at a Time and it looks as though that will continue to be the case as PEN15 has just announced that it will have an animated special due out next month.

Other shows have opted to try doing a special via Zoom (Mythic Quest did a pretty smashing job with that), but that can’t really be an option for PEN15 as Zoom has several years before being invented and dial up not being the only option for an Internet connection.

This very special episode will be technically be part of season 2 and titled “Jacuzzi” and is due out on Hulu on Fri. Aug. 27th. So, you will actually have a much needed hit of PEN15 while you’re anxiously awaiting season 3.

This does have us imagining, if they did have a functioning, open teleconferencing platform, Anna and Maya would waste most of their time turning their cameras on and off depending on how “secret” whatever secrets they’re divulging really are.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 26: Fifi Dosch & Being Out/Getting Out

September 23, 2020

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

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Fifi Dosch has taken one hell of a road to get where she is now as a trans woman who, after achieving her goal of getting to the status of paid regular at one of the most legendary comedy clubs in the world, The Comedy Store, found that there was something still very much missing in her life. Dressing up as a woman on stage brought Fifi to the realization that of who she really was and prompted her transition to being an out trans woman. Additionally, that was followed up with, just a week or so before recording this very episode, a decision by Fifi to move on from stand-up entirely, despite being well on her way to her previous goals, to focus on writing and spending more time with the simple pleasures of her life. Fifi takes TCB’s Jake Kroeger through this whole journey as well as dishing out hot takes on this year’s Emmy winners in comedy, SF Sketchfest going virtual for 2021, the “rally to reopen”, and Jenny Slate’s newest hosting gig at Quibi.

Follow Fifi at @fifidosch on Twitter and IG and please listen/subscribe to Fifi Quest.

Shout outs: season 2 of PEN15, The Art of Self-Defense, Little Nicky starring Adam Sandler

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).
Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Yep, PEN15 Season 2 Is One of 2020’s Best Seasons of TV

September 21, 2020

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As far as we have seen (and we have binged so much TV together since we have to stay at home seemingly endless amounts of time), the best TV comedy series in 2020, thus far, clearly comes down to the second seasons of both What We Do In The Shadows and now, PEN15 (kudos to Hulu for exclusively streaming the pair). Honestly, with Schitt’s Creek sweeping at the Emmys last night, this showdown might extend to awards season as well.

This latest batch of PEN15 carried pretty high expectations as creators Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman enraptured us all with the first season of an incredibly honest coming-of-age dramedy, which is incredibly impressive having to follow in the wake of the likes of a crowded field of critically acclaimed, unrelentingly honest coming-of-age dramedies including Eighth Grade, Lady Bird, and Big Mouth. Konkle and Erskine’s bold choice to play their teenage selves next to real kids really paid off in a way that we’ve never seen before in any sort of coming-of-age series or movie.

In this brand new season, PEN15 really takes the magic of Konkle and Erskine being the most convincing adult children of all time and hysterically runs with it to new heights. The more fantastical moments of this new season not only happen more often this time around but are bolder, more truthful, and so damn funny.

We truly don’t want to give any very satisfying surprises away here. However, this second season really swung for the fences with the adult/kid duality of Anna and Maya, allowing for the sheer absurdity of how genuinely strange and painful those teenage years in the year 2000 to really shine. The episodes of “Three” and “Play” in particular really ratchet up the cringe-worthy tension, sit in it, and then break it in such unexpected, beautifully hilarious ways that would, again, only happen as adults convincingly playing the child versions of themselves.

The accuracy of the year 2000 being depicted in the show is painstakingly spot-on in such a damningly funny fashion. Yet, PEN15 does seem to stand apart in that it is more than its nostalgia for the turn of the millennium and truly capturing the awkwardness and heartbreak of being in middle school, even more so in this second season (especially when it comes to exploring the further separation of Anna’s parents).

Again, PEN15’s second season, though far too short to have us last us through more of the pandemic, currently stands, for our money, as a frontrunner for best comedy and best TV lists in 2020.

All episodes of season 2 of PEN15 are now streaming at Hulu and we highly suggest, for your own peace of mind and a break from the weight of the world seeming like it’s going to end bearing down on you, to go binge watch it right now.

Sneak a Look at the Making of Season 2 of PEN15 Before You Absolutely Get Into the Season 2 Today

September 18, 2020

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Since the brilliant coming-of-age series PEN15 finished its first season, we’ve been very eagerly awaiting the premiere of season two (and the pandemic sure hasn’t helped in making us less impatient). Fortunately, that day is here and PEN15‘s second season has kicked off on Hulu.

If you’re as obsessed with Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s spot-on capturing of what middle school was like in America in the year 2000, you might enjoy a behind the scenes look for what’s to come on PEN15 featured in this featurette here.

Then, go get to watching the whole of season 2 already as all episodes are streaming right now.

PEN15’s Season 2 Trailer Is Here and Promises More Pitch Perfect Teen Awkwardness

August 7, 2020

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PEN15‘s first season was such a marvel, especially with the already crowded field of prestige coming-of-age dramedy in TV/film. It really can’t be overstated how magnificent Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle playing the teenage versions of themselves amongst real teenagers and really making that work seamlessly.

So, with so much critical acclaim and a fervent fan base, the second season has been pretty hotly anticipated since the credits rolled for the first season’s finale (maybe even earlier?). Luckily for us all, the second season of PEN15 is not too far away with a release date set for Fri. Sept. 18th on Hulu and there’s a trailer to remind you how wonderfully weird and great this show is.

Please enjoy it here.

October 18, 2019

Uncategorized

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Vulture’s annual shindig, Vulture Festival is back for another round and plenty of stuff that you’ll really want to make the effort to get to the Hollywood Roosevelt for.

Their schedule already includes a Party Down reunion, a Community reunion, a Good Place panel, an AIM conversation with PEN15 creators, a MacGruber screening with live commentary from Will Forte, and a showcase of Vulture’s annual Comedians You Should and Will Know list*.

That very, very stacked schedule sounds pretty swell, right? Well, you best go get your tickets before they inevitably sell out here.

*Comedians You Should Will and Know showcase to happen at Dynasty Typewriter instead of Hollywood Roosevelt

Hulu Renews Both PEN15 and Ramy for Second Seasons

May 1, 2019

Uncategorized

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Hulu’s latest string of comedies seem to be working quite well for them. The critical praise that has been thrown at both PEN15 and Ramy shows that Hulu might be on to something with their original comedy productions.

So, with that in mind, both PEN15 and Ramy just got orders for a second season and we can only hope that Hulu keeps this new wave of their comedy that they’ve got going.

Please Watch PEN15, One of the Best TV Shows of 2019, If You Haven’t Already

March 23, 2019

Uncategorized

anna konkle, hulu, maya erskine, pen15

PEN15 has been out for over a month and a half on Hulu and we hope, at this point, that you’ve binged the series out of an immediate love for Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s ride-or-die friendship. We got so invested them being BFFs that we truly felt anxious whenever they inevitably end up fighting.

Its heightened (though only slightly) portrayal of middle school falls perfectly in line with this wave of great coming-of-age dramedy (that includes Eighth Grade, Big Mouth, and Ladybird) that’s been really hitting hard over the last few years and Maya, co-creator Sam Zvibleman, and Anna really nail it. The attention to detail of the unique time right before 9/11 has just the right touch without feeling nostalgically manipulative.

Also, it can’t be stressed enough how much they both convincingly pull off playing 7th graders amongst age appropriate actors. Seriously, their performances should put them in Emmy consideration immediately.

It’s truly a beautiful show and you ought to give it a watch (or watch it again) ASAP.

OK, Early 2000s (Pre-9/11) Nostalgia Is Coming Soon with This Trailer for “PEN15″

January 18, 2019

Uncategorized

anna konkle, hulu, maya erskine, pen15

The turn of the millennium and, subsequently, the year before 9/11 happened, saw a world that was pretty ridiculous. Looking back, perhaps the excesses of the time (remember what TRL was like in 2000?) were a result of Y2K not happening and people thinking everything was pretty alright.

Well, that time was almost twenty years ago and, perhaps, ripe for a nostalgic single camera series about it. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s PEN15 looks to be a pretty strong candidate (even if you’re nostalgic for the year 2000) for this role as evidenced by this trailer.

Both Erskine and Konkle created the series and play teen versions of themselves, which all seems promising.

If you’re into it, look for all of episodes of PEN15 to start streaming on Hulu starting Feb. 8th.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 88: Dave Ross & Rededicating Yourself to Comedy

Get Your First Look at the PEN15 Animated Special

PEN15 Is Going to Have an Animated Special Next Month

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 26: Fifi Dosch & Being Out/Getting Out

Yep, PEN15 Season 2 Is One of 2020’s Best Seasons of TV

Sneak a Look at the Making of Season 2 of PEN15 Before You Absolutely Get Into the Season 2 Today

PEN15’s Season 2 Trailer Is Here and Promises More Pitch Perfect Teen Awkwardness

Hulu Renews Both PEN15 and Ramy for Second Seasons

Please Watch PEN15, One of the Best TV Shows of 2019, If You Haven’t Already

OK, Early 2000s (Pre-9/11) Nostalgia Is Coming Soon with This Trailer for “PEN15″