reviews – The Comedy Bureau

Lauren Lapkus Reviews Apps With “Lauren Lapkus’ App Kisses” on “No, You Shut Up! with Paul F. Tompkins”

March 23, 2015

apps, fusion, lauren lapkus, no you shut up, parody, paul f tompkins, reviews

Of the ways to kick off Monday, seeing Lauren Lapkus review made up apps with a hot dog on Paul F. Tompkins’ puppet panel debate show No, You Shut Up! is definitely at the top of our list.

In fact, all apps reviews should involve an arbitrary rating system like kisses and have Lapkus or someone Lapkus-esque doing the review. In case you weren’t aware, there’s plenty more fun like this being had on No, You Shut Up! which you can watch in whole or in clips at their YouTube channel if you’re not watching it already on Fusion.

Conan O’Brien Reviews Stress Relieving Apps

May 3, 2014

Uncategorized

apps, conan o'brien, reviews, stress relief

On your mobile device, there are millions of apps you can download, some of which can be theoretically used to relieve stress.

Conan O’Brien took it upon himself to find out how effective these supposed stress relieving programs are and, whether or not you’re surprised by the results, we think you’ll enjoy Conan dealing with it all the same.

Watch it here.

Marc Maron’s “This Has To Be Funny” Doesn’t Need the Disclaimer

August 24, 2011

Uncategorized

comedy central records, conan, jfl, marc maron, montreal, reviews, stand up comedy

In prefacing the formal introduction, the album starts with Maron saying, “Let’s do an honest sound check.” Like everything that follows, it’s raw, but profound, and hysterical.

For all those who have marginally liked Marc Maron, listened to his WTF podcast more for the guests than him, can only take Maron going solo in doses, please take a listen to “This Has To Be Funny”. Almost a resolution mentally, emotionally, even therapeutically to his previous albums, Marc Maron somehow maintains his neuroses while making peace with them at the same time. This is the album that people, whether they know it or not, have been waiting for Maron to put out.

In the very first track, Maron does an honest sound check voicing the pervading disappointments in his life while checking levels for the mic. It’s not only an endearing way to start the journey down his “pit of self”, but it’s also a moment of honesty that is refreshing, even for fans of Maron. Despite having things finally swing in Marc’s favor with the popularity of his podcast, Maron still can’t handle it and it’s hilarious.

Maron has always pushed the limits of how close to personal tragedy in order to find the humor, but in “This Has To Be Funny”, he comes right to the very edge of where the line is. Though filled with crafted jokes, punchlines, clever metaphors, and even points where Marc reaches a point of notable lyrcism, Maron delves into his flurry of seemingly destined to fail relationships, fractured interactions with his family all without apology to those listening, though not really needing one. Getting to the visceral silences, especially in talking about his mom or current girlfriend, are really the gems of the album because that’s when Maron goes for and gets the biggest laughs.

Even at a point where he invokes the name of the album by reassuring an audience member that this indeed has to be funny, it’s undeniable that everyone is on for the ride narrated by Marc’s self-loathing inner monologue no matter where it goes because it indeed is going to be funny. If you’re just using his appearances on Conan as a preview, there’s more than just cats and significant others. He runs through an entire spectrum of topics all the way from his forever dysfunctional parents to an uproarious story about shit, dicks, and roto-rooters to an enlightening visit to the Creationist Museum. While making light out to the darkest corner of his subconscious, Marc has offered proof on the CD of the words in his keynote address at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival where he says that comedy has both ruined and saved his life.

The prospect of witnessing someone coming to terms with their issues may not sound the most appealing when it comes to a comedy CD, but that’s a testament to Marc Maron, his comedy, and the understanding of people that he’s reached in order to inspire laughter that’s not only hardy, but memorable. If it wasn’t, I imagine that This American Life’s Ira Glass wouldn’t have contributed to the liner notes in physical copies of the album.

Anything But a “Cartoon Dump”

Almost a decade ago, an underground trend of “made-bad-on-purpose” cartoons started to rise. From Space Ghost: Coast to Coast all the way to Robot Chicken, Cartoon Network has almost developed a whole entire new vein of their brand based on said trend, Adult Swim. Harkening back to very poorly produced cartoons of the sixties and seventies and even earlier then juxtapose clever and/or absurdist writing questioning the whole poorly defined cartoon universe has become popular to the point that it’s pretty much its own genre.

Yet, the original cartoons that are being referenced so frequently and tangentially are very close to being completely lost. THANKFULLY, there is CARTOON DUMP, a live monthly show at the always amazing Steve Allen Theater in Los Feliz that continues this tradition of actually bad cartoons through actual screenings and live comedy sketches, stand up, and music.

If you’re curious as to how bad one of these “gems” are, consider one called “Captain Fathom”, which utilizes animation technology so lo-fi that pretty much only the mouths are “animated” as a real human mouth is superimposed over the animation. This program might sound interesting in a kitschy/nostalgic/hip sort of a way, but the writing, voice talent, etc. are to a “paint-by-numbers” degree of complexity and they even managed to paint in the numbers in the wrong order. The story supposedly pits Captain Fathom, whoseremotely piloting, maybe (it’s not really clear), a deep sea vessel against a similar looking, but different colored deep sea vessel. Some lights flash across the screen and only through some faint grunts can the audience discern that there is a battle happening after which Captain Fathom apparently won. Again, its unclear what has been accomplished by this as no motion by the characters has really taken place. Another bad cartoon simply consisted of physical fitness tips, though, due to poor/lazy drawing and conceptual development, comes off as laughable when the butt of the fitness expert is highlighted by a halo while he’s bent over.

Written and created by Mystery Science Theater 3000’s very own Frank Conniff and co-produced by cartoon historian Jerry Beck since 2007, Cartoon Dump is a genius idea of show executed to perfection as the unintentionally terrible cartoons are legitimately painful to watch, then balanced out by the awesome mix of live sketches and stand up comedy from comedy heavy hitters such as Kyle Kinane whose been on featured on Comedy Central twice within the span of a month, and the legendary Emo Phillips (who by himself, telling only 5 jokes made the show completely worth the $10 price of admission).

As a straight stand up comedy show, that’s an already fantastic line-up that would sell out hundreds of seats. Yet, Conniff dresses up as Moodsy the Clinically Depressed Owl who banters back and forth with co-host Compost Brite, comedian Erica Doering in a red leotard and a comically forced smile, do their own live version of a “bad cartoon”, of course, with the ultra clever, hysterical quips on pop culture/current events (something that Conniff is quite good at, especially @frankconniff) and their own misguided cartoon universe complete with an actual prop dumpster that foul mouthed puppets come out of and a scantily clad woman (Kristin Arrigo) a la Jessica Rabbit and make Cartoon Dump one of those shows that already have a loyal following, but should have an even bigger one. Special guests Emo Phillips and Kyle Kinane did their own take on the Cartoon Dump by respectively playing theme songs to supposedly rejected bigoted cartoons and reading cartoon series pitches that are really a metaphor for Kyle’s misery.

In a city that’s full of stand up showcases that rival most festivals on a week night, Cartoon Dump is a refreshing, wildly original comedy variety show that will delight the high falutin’ “Tim and Eric” crowd as well as though who just want go out on the town and have a laugh. Check out their Youtube Channel and Facebook page and/or merch page.

Cartoon Dump takes place on the 4th Monday of the month at the Steve Allen Theater 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz).

Morning Debriefing 11/13/10

1) The Garfunkel and Oates Hour @ UCB Theatre took me by surprise, in the best way possible, even when I expected the “unexpected”. Having already seen the lovely and talented duo of Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome separately, I suspected farcical/risqué songs from the unassuming, almost incongruous pair (Lindhome is a foot taller and plays guitar next to the petit Micucci who plays a ukelele). Yet, their abundant charm coupled with their cleverly worded and obscure reference-filled (John Donne and Spiro Agnew, just to name a few) songs about douchebags ruining the party, sex with animals, and the learning curve of hand jobs, was far past anything I had in mind for the evening. AND THEN… Justin Long, who, according to Lindhome, has only been in Herbie: Fully Loaded, read published poems by Michael Madsen that could be described as transcendent… via a certain, horrible, undeserving self-importance. One of the poems is merely about watching out for “the shit” because it’s “everywhere”. It was another thing in the Garfunkel and Oates Hour that completely blindsided me as I usually don’t expect much out of big-shot actors performing live comedy. The Garfunkel and Oates Hour is every 2nd Friday of the month at the UCB Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave. 8PM/$10. They also perform at several other venues/dates around LA. Check back at the Comedy Bureau for details.

2) Yeah, I know it’s Saturday and Manny Pacquiao is going to beat whatever daylights that Antonio Margarito has left in him, which is EXACTLY the point. I KNOW THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. There’s no suspense left, which is why you should go see some great live comedy instead. Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL starts off with Jimmy Dore @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15/2 drink min., then B.O.R.E.D. Tour starring Mike Phirman @ Flappers Burbank-YooHoo Room 9:30PM $10/2 drink min., then Nick Kroll Does Comedy @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only), then The Twelve Shiny Nickels Show @ The Fake Gallery 11PM $5, then Showbizzle.com’s Last Call Comedy @ Hollywood Improv 11:30PM $14/2 item min., then Midnight Madness @ The Hollywood Laugh Factory 11:59PM $20/2 drink min., and then finish strong with a knockout at Ron Lynch’s Tomorrow! presents HOOK-UP! @ The Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: MARTY’S 5PM to 11PM/$5 cover/7351 W. Sunset Blvd. (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s), SUNSET GRILL 7PM/one item min./7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA, BURBANK MOOSE LODGE 7:30PM/1901 W. Burbank Blvd. Call (818)-843-0284 before going as I’ve never tried this mic before.

4) Today’s Comedy Bureau’s Twitter Tip of the Hat goes to JIM HAMILTON. “@Jim_Hamilton I don’t know what to wear this time of year, because the only clothes I own are Hypercolor shirts and Christmas sweaters.” Follow him and some of the best one-liners in LA here.

5) The Greater LA Open Mic Map has been updated, specifically put in order by day and time so it’s EVEN EASIER for any and all of you aspiring/working/making-it comics wanting to find an open mic. Any listings without details are as such because I have yet to actually go there and see how horrible/tolerable it is. More info on each individual room to be added soon. Check all of the above here.

6) That REVIEWS archive I promised, right here. Everything will be re-linked tomorrow, mostly so I have something else to write about.

7) Follow the Comedy Bureau on its not-all-that-secret mission to bring great comedy out to the deserving public on twitter as it live tweets every night. Do so right here.

8) I wonder what a Comedy Bureau jingle would sound like… support/donate and find out here.

9) I convinced someone to try stand-up last night and I can’t help but wonder if I did a bad thing… He might have been President, but now he’ll try to be one of us wondering what angle about the President hasn’t been explored at an open mic. Luckily, I don’t believe in karma.

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