satire – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Christian Science Theater 3000 (in NYC) 8/22

August 16, 2023

christian movies, nyc comedy, roast, satire

Christian conservatives have this idea that “traditional family values” are being attacked and, subsequently, have been hard at work at making movies that espouse this sort of projected victimhood. Largely, many of these movies are, in a manner of speaking, very bad, religion and politics aside. Overacted and filled with preposterous plots that might make one question how exactly are people interpreting the Bible, they are the sort of movies that are ripe for being sent up during a live screening.

That’s what Christian Science Theater 3000 (NOTE: not affiliated with any Christian Science Reading Room whatsoever) aims to do as the projected fear of God fearing boomers really keep making America take steps back to a simpler, yet clearly worst time. Many of NYC comedy’s best will be live-roasting Christian movies that you’ve probably seen or heard of on Reddit or caught passing glimpses of their movie posters, such as God’s Not Dead starring the former Hercules, Kevin Sorbo.

Join guests Sam Morrison and Sally Ann Hall and David Picolomini on Tues. Aug. 22nd at 8PM at Brooklyn’s Starr Bar to really ponder Sorbo’s pivot to “faith-based” movies and how sneaky Christian movies are now (indie box office hit Sound of Freedom counts, right?). Tickets are only $12.71. Go get ’em here.

Give Donald Glover an Award Right Now for Playing Mr. Chocolate on the Latest Episode of Atlanta

October 13, 2022

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atlanta, donald glover, mr chocolate, parody, satire, tyler perry

The first season of Atlanta saw acclaim and awards heaped on Donald Glover and company and rightfully so. The shape-shifting comedy series has broken so much new ground with form, narrative, tone, etc. on top of being one of the sharpest satires ever, when it comes to the black experience. It’s almost a modern day version of Ralph Ellison’s long celebrated Invisible Man, but done through the lens of a stealthily absurd comedy series.

Now, in its fourth and final season, Glover is still showing he has plenty more up his sleeve to surprise us all. This latest episode “Work Ethic!” might be one of the series’ very best moments as Donald dons a fat suit, a robe, and a coffee mug of grits to play Mr. Chocolate, a thinly veiled dig at the entertainment titan that is Tyler Perry.

Perry’s success has proven controversial as much of his work wheels and deals in broad stereotypes of both black and white people, but is often free from criticism due to his commitment to employing so many black creatives and laborers on all of his productions based in Atlanta. From top to bottom, every bit of the Tyler Perry subgenre (including the Madea franchise and every other property that begins its title with “Tyler Perry’s”) is searingly dissected and sent up in this episode in “Chocolateland” (a parody of real life Tyler Perry Studios). Glover shines a floodlight on the notion that the studio’s efforts are so much “for the culture” that provide enough cache to make up for its exploitative content and practices.

Leave it to Donald Glover to play a character that seems half Tyler Perry, half The Architect from The Matrix Trilogy in such damningly hysterical piercing of the mythos propping up Perry. Without question, it is and will be one of the funniest performances on a screen of any size this year. As said above, give it awards ASAP.

Enjoy a bit of that performance here, then watch the whole episode on Hulu now.

Please Enjoy Addie Weyrich’s Version of Ted Cruz Who Just Woke Up with Total Amnesia

July 12, 2022

News

addie weyrich, satire, ted cruz

Such a singular delight of a comedian Addie Weyrich unveiled this gem of a bit where she stumbles around as Ted Cruz with amnesia, asking the audience who he is and why everyone hates him so much in 2021. We loved it so deeply that we put it on our 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To in 2021 despite not really being able to show anyone what it was (no clip of the bit existed as of yet).

Fortunately, that’s all changed and has captured a brilliant performance of her as an amnesia riddled Ted Cruz that looks to truly be a better person with the help of several audience members. It’s so damn funny on top of being heartwarming and introspective and thought provoking.

Give it several watches here.

Since Bill Maher Got COVID-19, Lisa Curry Decided to Do Her Own Ep. of Real Time

May 21, 2021

News

bill maher, hbo, lisa curry, parody, real time, satire

You might have heard that, even though he has been fully vaccinated, Bill Maher contracted COVID-19 amidst shooting his award winning weekly series, Real Time with Bill Maher. Maher was asymptomatic and taping for last week and this week were postponed.

Since the voice of Real Time is so “crucial” to the national conversation on any hot button issue, comedian and writer Lisa Curry, on her own, stepped up to the plate to do her own virtual, completely safe episode of Real Time (that would be hosted by someone a little more with the times).

Curry even assembled a stacked panel of Subhah Agarwal, Maggie Maye, and Calise Hawkins to riff over the news (over Zoom) just so you could have the full Real Time experience. Go enjoy Real Time with Lisa Curry and get your Real Time fix here.

Trump Claims Early Victory (in Beating Pokemon) Thanks to James Austin Johnson

November 4, 2020

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james austin johnson, pokemon, satire, trump, trump impression

Once again, James Austin Johnson delivers an elegant, yet almost effortless (seemingly made during a road trip) offering of his Trump impression, made special for Trump post-Election Day as he whines about winning before all the votes are counted.

Here, James imbues his deep knowledge of the world of Pokemon through Trump-speak for DJT to claim a false early victory in the world of Pokemon (the early Blue and Red versions that is).

We can only hope that going forward from today that JAJ will make these videos with a decisive Trump loss and diving into further video game lore at the same time.

Without further adieu, please enjoy JAJ’s latest here.

OMG DON CLAIMS HE "BEAT" POKEMON, HAS NOT CAUGHT 'EM ALL… TRUMP: "GAME ENDS WHEN YOU BEAT ELITE FOUR" pic.twitter.com/xSHxHCtlkG

— thanks austin giving (@shrimpJAJ) November 4, 2020

Please Enjoy “A Gay Scene Written by a Straight Man”

October 19, 2020

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george aivaliotis, jenson titus, lgbtq, nicholas scheppard, satire

In the ongoing quest for representation mattering on a widespread basis, Hollywood is incrementally doing its best to tell the stories of all marginalized groups. Unfortunately, that does mean that they will fall short of the mark sometimes, despite some good intentions.

Nicholas Scheppard, Jenson Titus, and George Aivaliotis show just one way that this happens with how straight man, who thinks they are very well acquainted with LGBTQIA+ culture would write a “gay scene” in what is likely a very heartfelt drama.

Please enjoy it here (and maybe think about all the times that has happened in actual high profile TV and movies).

View this post on Instagram

So important for representation !!! @grassfedgeorge and @jensontitus for being my gay and straight boyfriends respectively!

A post shared by Nicholas Scheppard (@verygayclown) on Oct 15, 2020 at 6:57pm PDT

Enjoy James Austin Johnson’s Take on Trump’s Absurd Call to Fox Business About Dealing with COVID-19

October 9, 2020

News

fox business, james austin johnson, maria bartiromo, parody, satire, trump

James Austin Johnson‘s Trump impression has been one of the best around and is starting to get more and more notoriety as such, especially with JAJ’s understanding how Trump gets lost in doing non-sequiturs and tangents while attempting to speak extemporaneously. The experimental drugs that Trump is currently on due to testing positive for COVID-19 seem to having speak even more insane than he usually does, allowing for JAJ to really get off the rails with his impression.

Earlier this week, Trump called into Fox Business to speak with Maria Bartiromo and went off about he didn’t feel contagious. JAJ made a more enjoyable (potentially less terrifying?) take on it. Please enjoy it here.

View this post on Instagram

Don seems to be experiencing grandiose delusions under the influence of steroids and experimental drug cocktail

A post shared by James Austin Johnson (@shrimpjaj) on Oct 8, 2020 at 2:36pm PDT

Please Enjoy Hampton Yount’s Unaired Conspiracy Theory Comedy Pilot “Man of Truth”

October 8, 2020

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conspiracy theory, hampton yount, parody, satire, syfy, time travel

As film and TV production gets prolonged and paused and shut down, the quest for more content has led to unveiling and releasing of things that the general public would never get to see like unaired pilots, even if they were actually funny enough to warrant the public getting to see it and potentially pushing for more of it to be made.

Hampton Yount made one such pilot for SYFY called Man of Truth that put Yount position to investigate the most ridiculous conspiracy theories, but taking them as serious as any of the real ones like COINTELPRO or the Military Industrial Complex. The topic he deep dives into for the pilot if celebrity time travelers and his quest to get a hold of Matthew McConaughey is so worth a series green light by itself.

Go see the truth for yourself here.

Enjoy Trailer for Christian Movie Satire “Faith Based”

September 1, 2020

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Christoph Sanders, david koechner, faith based, gravitas ventures, jason alexander, lance reddick, Luke Barnett, margaret cho, satire, Tanner Thomason, trailer, vincent masciale

For several years now, the niche industry of faith based movies, which are very specifically films geared towards those of the Christian faith, have proven to be quite the moneymakers. More and more prominent talent that previously never take part in a “Christian movie” have found that it isn’t as risky of a move and started popping up here and there in such movies.

So, Faith Based,from director Vincent Masciale and writer and co-star Luke Barnett, take on and satirize the whole cottage industry of these “faith-based” films by showing a duo schemes to get rich quick through producing their own ludicrous Christian full length feature about the first prayer in space.

Take a gander of what they have up their sleeve (including an ensemble cast featuring Jason Alexander, Lance Reddick, and Margaret Cho) with the trailer here, then look for Faith Based to roll out next month Oct. 9th.

97.9 The Rat Race, Our Favorite Dark Comedy Morning Zoo Radio Satire Podcast, Is Coming Back on All Things Comedy

August 25, 2020

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979 the rat race, all things comedy, ben roy, beth hoyt, chris marrs, comedy podcast, morning zoo radio, satire

Of the send-ups of the so-called “morning zoo radio” that have existed in comedy over the last several years (and there are a fair amount as dealing with morning radio jocks is often the bane of comedians’ existence), 97.9 The Rat Race is absolutely one of our favorites. Ben Roy, Chris Marrs, and Beth Hoyt nail the voices and the problematic behaviors of such morning hosts between the trio of Donny D, Animal, and Tara and then take every episode to such a hysterically dark place that, for us at least, we kind of hoped a lot of “morning zoo radio” would stumble into.

The episodes would come out every now and again, but we’re so glad to hear that All Things Comedy is bringing 97.9 The Rat Race to their podcast network with whole brand new run of episodes starting Mon. Aug. 31st. So, go binge the original run of episodes of 97.9 The Rat Race on your favorite podcasting platform right before next Monday, so you can get ready to see how some dark secret gets uncovered after Turn The Beat Around gets played again.

RATS! The biggest story of 2020 has arrived! 97.9 is now under the corporate umbrella at i?audio, which means #DonnyD, Animal & Tara are moving to @allthingscomedy! New episodes begin 8/31… and never, ever stop! Details below! #RIPDinkums pic.twitter.com/9bgkNGp28g

— 97.9 The Rat Race (@979theratrace) August 24, 2020

Please Enjoy Ross Bryant’s Satirical Rap About Going to “Stores” During COVID-19

August 10, 2020

News

music video, musical comedy, pandemic shopping, reopening, ross bryant, satire

For some, the desire to live the life they had in February is so great that they are willing to ignore the reality of COVID-19, especially in America and dash to a store to shop in person whether it’s safe or not.

Ross Bryant, a brilliant a musical comedian and improviser from Improvised Shakespeare Company and Baby Wants Candy, dedicates this banger STORES to those folks via doing an entire rap song from their ridiculous perspective.

Please enjoy how they satirically get sent up in the song and video here.

Yassir Lester Fools Internet with Fake Jersey Mike’s BLM Post to Highlight Performative Corporate Gestures

July 1, 2020

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blm, jersey mike's, parody, satire, yassir lester

Plenty of corporations are trying to join in on the cultural uprising around the globe sparked off by the murder of George Floyd. Yet, as corporations often do when it comes to taking a stance, they fall short of the mark and often make tone deaf, performative gestures.

To point this out, Yassir Lester made a fake Jersey Mike’s post on Twitter that claimed that they would offensively rename a sandwich as a point of solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Though there was no connection to an official Jersey Mike’s social media account, plenty of people ran with it like it was a real statement from the real Jersey Mike’s.

With that being the case, Lester, 12 hours later, owned up to creating the hoax and then asked, “How bad off are we that we thought a corporation would rename a sandwich, offensively, as a statement of solidarity?” He also added, “Why is no one using Google?” as it would indeed having been easy to see that this wasn’t a real advertisement by Jersey Mike’s.

Lester went on to be more emphatic about his faux Jersey Mike’s tweet remarking that corporations of all kinds often say that they will offer support to communities in need, but, often, no one knows where that money is going. Marginalized groups are more in need of direct support through defunding police, access to health care and housing, etc. and corporations shouldn’t just seem like they’re doing enough by ill-advised performative gestures on social media. Again, this one was fake, but you have certainly received some sort of corporate/company newsletter in your inbox that actually falls short of supporting marginalized people getting what they need to live like so many of us with any modicum of privilege.

For our money, this is high level satire that is so effective that it might just open people’s eyes to yet another thing that they were unfortunately overlooking.

The tweet went viral and, despite his explanation, there is local news coverage that talks to people who still seem to miss the point.

Literally what is jersey Mike’s doing. pic.twitter.com/9XohWNOa4n

— Yassir Lester (@Yassir_Lester) July 1, 2020

It was me. pic.twitter.com/bWMsnQFlgU

— Yassir Lester (@Yassir_Lester) July 1, 2020

Here is the news covering the Jersey Mikes tweet and I can’t stop laughing. https://t.co/rIQ3uKrDeX

— Yassir Lester (@Yassir_Lester) July 1, 2020

Andy Daly’s Latest Album “Four More Sweaters: Monsters Take Your Questions” Out Now

April 24, 2020

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andy daly, character comedy, comedy album, dalton wilcox, dark comedy, don dimello, l ron hubbard, satire

The prospect of committing an entire comedy album to doing characters has always been a risky one, which is why only a few comedians attempt it and even fewer actually pull it off. One of those comedians is Andy Daly who released his groundbreaking album 9 Sweaters featuring Daly’s repertoire of characters that are so darkly funny about 12 years ago.

Now in 2020, a time when the monsters are more out in the open than they have been in recent memory, Andy Daly has just released his follow-up Four More Sweaters: Monsters Take Your Questions, which features four, a la the album title, monsters of different ilks displaying their horrific wares in the most ridiculous light possible. Thanks to Daly’s deft craftsmanship, showing the darker side of humanity via the Poet Laureate of the West, Dalton Wilcox, the seediest man on Broadway, Don DiMello, Honorary Hollywood Mayor Chad Gardner, and Scientology creator himself L. Ron Hubbard is so subversively hysterical. Daly takes great care in crafting their monologue, respective worlds, catchphrases as well as honing in on many of their worst, out-of-left-field details about them. Each of the four characters taking questions from the audience ratchets up the absurdity even further. Daly takes license to get even more mischievous when the questions are particularly innocent, but always makes sure to show how terrible such people really are and are worth ridicule via cackling by any and all listening to Four More Sweaters.

Andy Daly’s Four More Sweaters: Monsters Take Your Questions is out now, fresh from AST Records. Get it/listen to it on multiple platforms here.

The President Show Has a Special White House Coronavirus Task Force Debriefing

April 14, 2020

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adam pally, anthony atamanuik, covid-19, peter grosz, satire, trump

To date, Anthony Atamanuik and his portrayal of Trump, especially on Comedy Central’s The President Show, is one of the best takes on Trump that we think has ever been (especially since Atamanuik often riffs an insane thing in character and Trump ends up saying that insane thing).

Though the show came to an end awhile back in the “before times” (less than two years ago actually), Atamanuik donned his pitch perfect Trump and was joined by Peter Grosz and Adam Pally who played VP Mike Pence and Don Jr. on the aforementioned President Show to show what’s likely going on with Trump and his team after one of his daily briefings via Zoom.

Please enjoy it here.

View this post on Instagram

President Trump talks with his stupid son, Don Jr. and his suck up of a Vice President “stand up” Mike Pence about COVID-19 and how to best defeat it and move on, like, RIGHT NOW!

A post shared by Anthony Atamanuik (@therealactualtony) on Apr 11, 2020 at 5:22pm PDT

Please Enjoy The Puterbaugh Sisters’ Delightfully Demented Web Series “Kitchen Women”

March 23, 2020

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danielle puterbaugh, feminism, satire, tiffany puterbaugh, web series

The wondrous comedy duo, The Puterbaugh Sisters, have just released their latest work, a madcap feminist satirical web series Kitchen Women. Danielle and Tiffany Puterbaugh revisit life as a woman in the 50s, back when the notion of women belonging in the kitchen was unfortunately all too commonplace.

Fortunately, they revisit such times with a darkly comedic lens highlighting the cracks in the veneer of such a life fettered with broken glass and vodka. There is plenty of hysterical bedlam (as well as plenty of cameos by LA comedy favorites like Marcella Arguello, Ever Mainard, and more) through all six episodes.

So, without further adieu, please enjoy all episodes of The Puterbaugh Sisters‘ Kitchen Women here.

December 17, 2019

Uncategorized

anthony atamanuik, james adomian, parody, satire, trump vs bernie

Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian’s Trump vs. Bernie remains as one of the best works of political comedy in the past decade.

Whether or not Trump gets actually impeached and thrown out of office to the curb and making this more fictional, you should never miss a chance for some of comedy’s best iterations of Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders verbally spar to things that are both unbelievably hilarious, but incredibly prescient.

Trump vs. Bernie’s latest LA date will be Tues. Jan. 14th at 7:30PM at The Lodge Room in Highland Park. Tickets are $25-$30. Please go get them here.

Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans Get Ahead of Google and “Dream Up” What Their Streaming Service Might Be

November 16, 2019

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brad evans, nick ciarelli, parody, satire, sketch comedy, streaming service

Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans Get Ahead of Google and “Dream Up” What Their Streaming Service Might Be

With the proliferation of streaming services that never seem to end, Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans offer up what it might be like (and what might actually happen) with what Google’s streaming service would be like.

Nick and Brad show off what would be a great episode of Black Mirror as well as their mastery of making satirical lists. Enjoy Google Drive Deluxe here.

October 15, 2019

Uncategorized

comedy show, greta titelman, joker, liza treyger, los angeles, megan gailey, mitra jouhari, parody, sarah sherman, satire, silverlake, stand up comedy, the jokey show, whitmer thomas

Dubbed as “The Jokey Show”, Whitmer Thomas is indeed taking his monthly slot at The Satellite and having all the comics dress up as the fictional character from DC Comics, The Joker (which will even be more intriguing considering nearly all of the line-up is comprised of women). Apart from that, we’re guessing some of them will be doing a normal stand-up set, but, then again, maybe they’ll try doing stand-up as some iteration of The Joker, anywhere from Cesar Romero to Joaquin Phoenix.

In any case, we’re fully on board for this stunt and whatever it ends up being and definitely think you should be in attendance to see what happens. Also, the line-up is fantastic with-or-without a Joker costume. Get tickets here.

August 6, 2019

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bernie sanders, democratic primary, forever dog, james adomian, joe biden, marianne williamson, parody, primary debates, satire, the underculture

As we’re diving into the inevitable madness of the 2020 election cycle, the one and only James Adomian and his fantastic podcast, The Underculture will bring a much needed Election Clusterf*ck where James and his absolute favorite performers will do their much better version of the recent primary debates with James, of course, reprising his masterful impression of Senator Bernie Sanders.

Just the idea of trying to fit all of the candidates onto one stage as opposed to splitting them up to two nights should be worth the price of admission!

The Election Clusterf*ck with James Adomian & Friends is set to happen next week, Sat. Aug. 17th at 10PM at Dynasty Typewriter. Tickets are $15 now and $20 on the day of. Please go get tickets here.

Watch Brad Evans and Nick Ciarelli’s Dark Take on Corporations Trying to Tweet

June 27, 2019

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brad evans, corporations, dark comedy, nick ciarelli, parody, satire, sketch comedy

Watch Brad Evans and Nick Ciarelli’s Dark Take on Corporations Trying to Tweet

Though they may try, corporations/brands/etc. attempting to engage on a “real level” with the consumers they so desperately want often goes awry (especially when it comes to tragedy).

So, the great sketch duo of Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans have done their own super dark, satirical breakdown of what corporations might be thinking when pretending to have feelings on social media. Please enjoy their latest sketch here.

Please Enjoy’s Nick Ciarelli and Bradford Evans Take on Every Cameo Video Ever

June 24, 2019

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brad evans, cameo, nick ciarelli, parody, satire, sketch comedy

Please Enjoy’s Nick Ciarelli and Bradford Evans Take on Every Cameo Video Ever

In this age of apps, there is, of course, an app that allows you to pay for “celebrity” (heavy emphasis on the quotation marks there) shout outs and endorsements via a video shot on a phone.

It’s called Cameo and, as you can imagine, the videos have gotten a bit weird, and it is definitely ripe for the sort of send-up that the uber-clever Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans just did.

Please enjoy it here.

June 3, 2019

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comedy show, drew droege, lgbtq, parody, sam pancake, satire, silverlake

As you might have seen on Barry, acting classes and workshops can be, well, a bit much (especially when it comes to the egos crashing into each other around the room).

The wonderfully talented pairing of Drew Droege and Sam Pancake (The Golden Girlz) are taking that idea to the next level by putting on an “acting workshop” with Droege playing a taskmaster of head of said “acting workshop/mixer” and Pancake as a “intern/proctor/star student” that will show you “how to make it in the biz”.

In fact, they even go so far as to request, if in attendance, that you “Please bring a CURRENT headshot with resume CUT AND STAPLED on the back,” and, “Please wear audition-ready clothing and prepare to move.”

Also, this night is called We Are Special Bitches, which would hopefully seal the deal for you to head to the Cavern Club Celebrity Theatre at Casita Del Camo in Silverlake later this month.

Tickets are $20 and you best get them here before it sells out.

May 13, 2019

Uncategorized

anthony atamanuik, comedy show, debate, highland park, james adomian, los angeles, parody, satire, trump vs bernie

Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian, for our money, have the best Trump impression and Bernie Sanders impressions, respectively. The 2016 election cycle saw them bring their powers together to create the live show Trump vs. Bernie, which, went on a nationwide tour and got adapted for TV.

Leading up to the 2020 election, a real life match up between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders might happen yet again, which is a great excuse to revive Trump vs. Bernie for a tour, which is exactly what’s happening.

Join Ataamnuik and Adomian at the Lodge Room in Highland Park on July 17th at 7:30PM to see Trump vs. Bernie rise yet again. Tickets are $30 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

May 8, 2019

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comedy musical, comedy show, experimental comedy, hollywood, les miserables, les miz and friends, los angeles, parody, satire

Lez Miz and Friends is so damn ambitious as a meta musical that viciously deconstructs the beloved, eternally running musical Les Miserables as well as work in puppets versus humans paradigm into the whole thing. It’s a tall order, but writers Nathan Makaryk and Geneviève Flati and the marvelous cast pull it off with precise abandon.

It’s such a rollicking dashing of convention that we’d wager you’d enjoy even if puppets, musicals, and Les Miserables weren’t really your thing.

Les Miz and Friends has running at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood for the last several weeks and will be finishing their run this weekend (Fri. 8PM/Sat. 3PM & 8PM). Don’t miss your chance to catch before it leaves. Go get your tickets (they’re $32 a piece) here right now.

Please Enjoy Jamie Loftus’ Latest Work “my dog has been radicalized by the youtube algorithm”

April 8, 2019

Uncategorized

conspiracy theory, jamie loftus, parody, satire, youtube algorithm

Oh, the mind of comedian/writer/animator/podcaster Jamie Loftus is a weird and wonderful place and this latest short is further proof. Please binge all her videos here by the way.

By the way, we tried embedding this on Tumblr and it a video for a squash tournament came up. We guess that the powers that Jamie is speaking truth to don’t like what they’re hearing or can’t handle a satirical short about their algorithm featuring a very cute dog?

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