stand up comedy

Julio Torres Previews His Upcoming Special “My Favorite Shapes”

fallon, hbo special, julio torres, my favorite shapes, prop comedy, stand up comedy, tonight show

Julio Torres has been having quite the 2019 with Los Espookys, writing on SNL, and his own stand-up.

Perhaps, his own upcoming comedy special, My Favorite Shapes, set to premiere on HBO this Sat. Aug. 10th at 10:30PM will be the biggest splash for Julio this year as he is doing an entire special where he, as the title suggests, presents his most favorite shapes.

You’ve seen a bit of what he has in store in the My Favorite Shapes trailer, but Julio gave an extended preview of what to expect on last night’s Tonight Show and it was pretty glorious.

In fact, Julio might have just brought the avant garde to prop comedy.

Caitlin Gill’s Major. Needs to Be The Next Comedy Album You Listen To

blonde medicine, caitlin gill, comedy album, stand up comedy

If you’ve been following us here at TCB, you might know that we’re big fans of Caitlin Gill and thusly, it wasn’t a big surprise that we immensely enjoyed her latest hour on the new album Major.

What did take us by surprise is that Gill is completely clean for the entirety of Major. in a way that you likely won’t notice and certainly doesn’t sacrifice her rambunctious comedic spirit. In fact, there is a certain bottled-lighting feeling we get here as the stories and observations woven and told with gusto by Caitlin that feels pretty damn close to watching Caitlin be the force of nature that she is live in person. That’s pretty rare for comedy albums/specials even though that is all of what they’re going for (often due to the arduous prep and planning that goes into these sort of recordings).

Also, Gill probably has the definitive bit about the existential frustration of bank transactions for our generation on this album.

So, please, please, please go get Major. (it’ll be streaming on Sirius XM this weekend as well).

cj toledano, eagle rock, free comedy, los angeles, michael joyce, motherland, stand up comedy

Next week, the northern end of LA’s eastside will what looks to be another great weekly stand-up show, though on Thursdays (Rod Stewart Live at La Cuevita is on Wednesdays).

Brought to you by the new hosting duo of CJ Toledano and Michael Joyce, they’ll be kicking off Motherland @ Kusina Filipina next Thurs. Aug. 8th with a shinin’ line-up of:

Ian Karmel
Sasheer Zamata
Andrew Lopez
Brent Weinbach

If that’s up your alley (maybe literally?), you should probably follow them on Twitter @motherland_la or on IG @motherlandcomedy.

largo, los angeles, stand up comedy, todd barry

Todd Barry, a wry comedic master, only stops into LA only once in awhile and those are times that you should absolutely make plans for. Over many specials, whether it be fully scripted or completely improvised with crowd work, Todd never ceases to amaze with his wit and poise.

His latest LA date will be at Largo and next month are tickets are on sale for $37 ($30 + $7 service charge). Go snag ‘em here.

Please Enjoy Candice Thompson’s Set from Colbert

candice thompson, colbert, stand up comedy, the late show

Well, we’d like to say that we gave you fair warning that Candice Thompson was on the rise a few years ago with our compilation album Comedians of Interest Vol. 1 where she was one of six personally handpicked acts.

Now, she has two late night sets under her belt along with writing on the new David Spade late night show, Lights Out.

So, this is just another friendly reminder to hop on board the Candice-Thompson-train as it’s pretty great. See for yourself with this set from last Friday’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

ontario, sam jay, stand up comedy

Sam Jay got scooped up from LA to NYC by SNL a couple of years ago and has been making her as the fiercely funny voice known on that side of the country.

This weekend, she’ll be returning to SoCal by playing a whole weekend of shows at the Ontario Improv (five shows to be specific). They’re all $20 (plus 2 item min.) and you really ought to go get them here, so you can see Sam Jay do a headlining set.

comedy show, dynasty typewriter, jo firestone, los angeles, stand up comedy

Jo Firestone is something special. Her daring to try some of the most ridiculous experiments while maintaining an unwavering air of vulnerability and sense of play make her a true joy to watch no matter if she’s doing a pun tournament, a mind bending game podcast, or her own stand-up.

So, you shouldn’t miss a chance to see her headline, which will be happening next month at Dynasty Typewriter. Tickets are $20 if you snag ‘em now! Do so here.

Please Enjoy Dave Ross’ TV Stand-Up Debut on Corden

dave ross, late late show, stand up comedy

Dave Ross was one of the first comedians we ever met in LA and one that we’ve delighted in watching from the get go. This set, which just happens to be Dave’s first TV set, is particularly fun as Dave takes on PETA and does one of our favorite closing bits. Also, there’s an unmistakable command of the stage while Dave maintains a charming looseness that we really love.

Additionally, it seems as if Dave had James Corden intro him as “the only man who ever had sex”? Round of applause for that.

So, please enjoy Dave Ross’ first televised stand-up set on The Late Late Show with James Corden here.

comedy show, experimental comedy, hollywood improv, rory scovel, stand up comedy, todd glass

Todd Glass and Rory Scovel are diving into the deep end once more with their anything-goes, plan-free show, What’s The Story with Todd and Rory? at the Hollywood Improv Lab.

Glass and Scovel are two of the best at being-in-the-moment with the entire audience and taking them for a wild ride (even though they’re not entirely sure where they’re headed).

Tickets are $12 (plus 2 item min.). Please go get your tickets for this right now right here.

Please Enjoy Daniel Simonsen’s Set on Colbert

colbert, daniel simonsen, late show, stand up comedy

Though he kind of has the voice and cadence of some kid trying too hard to do an impression of the Terminator, Daniel Simonsen plays off it and uses it to his advantage in his offbeat, yet marvelous stand-up comedy.

This Colbert set from last night marks Simonsen making the rounds in late night as he already has a set from Seth Meyers under his belt.

Please enjoy Daniel’s latest performance here.

comedy show, johnny pemberton, lyric hyperion, stand up comedy

Johnny Pemberton, for as long as we’ve known him, has been one of the most dynamic, daring comedians around. We’re never quite sure what he’s going to do, but that’s kind of the thrill that Johnny brings with whatever he’s doing whether playing his vast array of characters, when he’s doing stand-up, etc.

So, suffice it to say that you should go to Johnny’s live taping next week at the Lyric Hyperion. It’s only $5 and there’s an early and late show. Get details and tickets here.

Please Enjoy Ahamed Weinberg’s Colbert Set

ahamed weinberg, anne frank, late show, stand up comedy, stephen colbert

Ahamed Weinberg’s making the rounds on late night with his considered poise and succinct observations. Already having done a set on Seth Meyers, Ahamed’s latest stop on this trek is at the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and he delivered once again.

Please enjoy it here.

comedy festival, comedy shows, improv comedy, pack theater, sketch comedy, stand up comedy

If you’re not familiar with or been to or, more importantly, come to really dig what’s going at The Pack Theater over the last 4 years, you really ought to fix that.

A great way to do so is by going to PackCon, the annual celebration of the best of the best at The Pack Theater. Their favorite improv, sketch, stand-up, experimental comedy, and more will be on display for one giant day/night of comedy. That line-up will include Adam McKay, Kevin Dorff, Christina Gausas, Sean Conroy, Ryan Ridley, Stephnie Weir, Bob Dassie, James Adomian, Jackie Zebrowski, Henry Zebrowski, Tommy Blacha, Rob Haze, Annie Mebane, Nick Turner, Andres du Bouchet, Murderfist, Chopping Block, BioDome, Miles Stroth Celebrity All-Star Improv Set, Speedface, and more!

PackCon 4 will be taking place on Sat. Jul. 27th at The Pack Theater from 12PM-12AM???

There’s a good part of this PackCon4 that’s the nice price of Pay What You can, but there are specific shows that are $10. Get all the details for everything PackCon4 here.

Nick Kroll Is Going on Tour Across North America

comedy tour, nick kroll, stand up comedy, tour

Whether you know Nick Kroll from Kroll Show, Big Mouth, and/or his own stand-up, you probably would like to know that he’s stopping by several cities across North America starting in September and going right up until the holidays start.

Dates are above and tickets go on sale this Friday at 10AM in time zones corresponding to each venue. Then, you’ll be able to snag your tickets at https://www.nickkroll.com/

characters, comedy show, frankie quinones, k town, los angeles, stand up comedy, wiltern

The rise of Frankie Quinones is something we’ve been really relishing for years now. Whether it be his characters like Creeper or Dress Up Gang or his own stand-up, Frankie’s comedy has always charmed us with equal parts heart and silliness.

This September, Frankie will be doing his own evening, presumably with his entire comedy arsenal, at the Wiltern. We’re pretty sure this will be the first big theater he’ll be playing in town and we’re damned sure you shouldn’t miss it.

Tickets start at $25 and you need to go them here.

Ian Edwards’ Latest Special to Be a TED Talk Parody “IanTalk”

comedy central, comedy special, ian edwards, parody, stand up comedy, ted talk

We’ve always enjoyed the sharp and clever stand-up of Ian Edwards over the years and we’re delighted to see that he’s throwing a bit of a curveball with his latest special, IanTalk.

Presented by Bill Burr, Ian will be doing his material in the style of a TED Talk presentation, but with “ideas not worth spreading”. See exactly what Ian has up his sleeve in this trailer.

Then, look for the premiere of IanTalk on Comedy Central, this Saturday at midnight.

Please Enjoy Beth Stelling’s Story on Kimmel About a Special Visit to Chippendale’s

beth stelling, chippendale's, jimmy kimmel live, stand up comedy

The charm of Beth Stelling knows no bounds. Even in telling a story about a sort of role-reversal at Chippendale’s, the famous male revue, in Vegas no less, Stelling comes off as so cool, calm, and collected in a subtly spellbinding way.

Also, this might be the first stand-up set shot and subsequently broadcast on Jimmy Kimmel Live from Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Vegas. So far, it definitely feels better than the stage back in Hollywood as it’s a traditional comedy club set up.

Anyways, please enjoy Beth’s wonderful set/story here.

comedy show, faded, los angeles, los feliz, stand up comedy

After breezy summer hiatus, Faded, one of LA’s premier backroom comedy shows, will be returning back to its weekly status this Friday with your lovely Faded crew of Mike Mulloy, Sean Jordan, David Gborie, Zak Toscani, Jamel Johnson, and Bri Pruett over at Blue Rooster Art Supplies.

As always, the line-up is secret (but it’s always good) and tickets are $10. Go get your tickets and get back into the groove of Faded here.

Please Get and Enjoy Chris Charpentier’s Debut Album “Brain Thoughts”

ast records, chris charpentier, comedy album, stand up comedy

When it comes to being unapologetically silly on stage, few do so it well as Chris Charpentier. You can hear Chris “put on a clinic” in this regard with this debut album Brain Thoughts.

Seeing him on stages all around the country, Chris, for us celebrates silliness in such a joyous way with his stand-up. There’s a giddiness that’s infectious as he is clearly still tickled by his own ridiculous observations and misdirects. It’s almost as if Charpentier’s goofiness comes from his soul as he goes through bits, characters, stories, etc. in this undeniably fun hour.

Brain Thoughts is available now from AST Records and you can (and should) go get it here or on Apple Music here.

los angeles, lyric hyperion, solo show, stand up comedy, tiff stevenson, uk comedy

The UK’s whipsmart Tiff Stevenson is back in town and bringing her latest hour show with her. Every time we’ve seen Tiff in LA, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed her cleverly crafted material that she makes work both in the UK and here in the States.

So, with that said, go see her work shop her latest show, Mother at Lyric Hyperion this coming Monday. Get tickets here.

The First Ever Southland Comedy Festival Is Taking Submissions for Stand-Up

comedy festival, los angeles, open call, southland comedy festival, stand up comedy, submissions

Finally, someone is giving another shot at throwing a legit comedy festival in LA.

The Southland Comedy Festival, set to debut Jan. 7th-11th, 2020, will feature the best stand-up they can find in and throughout the LA scene at comedy clubs, bars, underground venues, and more. For specific showcases, they’re really try to go out of their way for industry execs and reps to be see bright, shiny, new stand-up talent that ought to be elevated.

All you need is a 5-7 min. tape to send and $35 submission fee (until July 25th, then $45 until August 25th, $60 until October 25th) for consideration. If you’re interested in submitting, do so here.

Get more details in general about the first Southland Comedy Festival here.

comedy shows, lgbtq, los angeles, put your hands together, stand up comedy

Over 6.5 years, Put Your Hands Together has been a regularly sold out stand-up show, an award winning podcast, and one of the best inclusive spaces for stand-up in LA.

Hosts Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher along with the producing team of Ryan McMenamin and Hannah Settle continued to uphold the primetime Tues. night slot for stand-up at UCB Franklin. Before them, Comedy Bang! Bang! had their amazing run in that time slot, then faithfully passed the torch to PYHT.

Announced yesterday, Put Your Hands Together will be ending their wonderful run at the end of this July. Cameron will be hosting on July 9th & 16th (tickets on sale now) and Rhea will be hosting on the 23rd and 30th (follow @pyhtshow to see when they go on sale).

Do not miss your chance, truly, to see and end of an era.

all black female, black herstory, comedy show, dj zuri, felicia folkes, janelle james, jil chrissie, katrina davis, kristal adams, los angeles, stand up comedy

It may be redundant to say as this show is being presented by D.O.P.E., but if you want to see a dope all black female showcase, look no further than next week’s Black Herstory at the Virgil.

With a line-up that hails from across the country (with some of our personal favorites), this evening, hosted by Charla Lauriston, will be an unforgettable night of black girl magic comedy that should be the thing you’re doing next Saturday night.

Go get your tickets right here right now.

benefit show, comedy show, ladyhammer, reproductive rights, silverlake, stand up comedy, yellowhammer

These are precarious times, especially when it comes to reproductive rights and the unfortunate movement towards losing them. So, a number of comedy shows are now raising money for the Yellowhammer Fund, to support much need assistance in Alabama, a state that only has three abortion clinics.

This particular Ladyhammer benefit show will feature a very stacked line-up of stand-ups including Sabrina Jalees, Danielle Perez, Punkie Johnson, Irene Tu, Sara Schaefer, Jenny Zigrino, Janelle James, Zainab Johnson, and Madison Shepard!

It’s a great cause and a really stellar night of comedy. So, go get your tickets here already.

comedy show, having funlessness, hollywood, hollywood improv, jen kirkman, live podcast, stand up comedy, weho

For our money, getting to catch, one of our all-time favorites, Jen Kirkman share her beautiful, unapologetic, hysterical truth in her stories/experiences live for an hour is a must see.

In LA, you’ll have two chances to do so with a recording Having Funlessness with Jen Kirkman on June 25th and then Jen performing an hour of stand-up on July 26th all at the Hollywood Improv.

Go get your tickets/RSVP for all of this right now right here.