the comedy store – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 123: Alex Hanna & The Door at The Comedy Store

August 3, 2022

Even after almost 50 years of being around, one of the best ways to get in at The Comedy Store to get your name on the wall is working the door at the world famous comedy club. Alex Hanna is one such comedian on his way, starting from every indie crevice in the LA scene and then chancing upon one of the few open spots to both develop at The Comedy Store and work the door. From his vantage point, we chat about the state of The Comedy Store these days and how, if you can believe, live comedy is healthy (depending on who you are) in Summer 2022.

Also, “hot” takes on Everybody Hates Chris getting an animated series, whether SNL should end at 50, and more.

Follow Alex @alexhanna_good on Twitter and IG.

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
Photo by Van Corona

Pick of the Day: Doug Stanhope (in LA) 3/15 & 3/16

March 14, 2022

News

doug stanhope, los angeles comedy, stand up comedy, the comedy store

At this point, history will look back at Doug Stanhope as a foundational and influential comedian and what he has done for the art form and keeping its edge thoroughly sharp and actually speaking truth to power while being downright hysterical. It should almost go without saying that you should take up every single possible chance to see Doug live any time that you can.

In LA and NYC, that’s an incredibly rare happening, but it does happen every few years. Lucky for Angelenos, Doug is playing The Main Room at The Comedy Store this week, Tues 3/15 & Wed. 3/16 at 8PM PT. The Tuesday show is already sold out, but there are limited tickets available for Wed. for $45 (+ 2 drink min.).

Go get them here if they’re not sold out already (or wait at The Comedy Store for stand by because Stanhope, again, is truly worth it)

SXSW 2022 Announces SXSW Comedy Festival Line-Up for This Year (Yep, the First One Since 2020)

February 28, 2022

News

asssscat, byron bowers, comedy festival, creek and the cave, eddie pepitone, jim gaffigan, joe derosa, john cleese, jon daly, matt besser, mitra jouhari, rosebud baker, shane torres, sxsw, the comedy store, three busy debras

In Jan./Feb. 2020, we were so excited that we were getting to go to SXSW for their big comedy shindig for the first time. For years, SXSW’s comedy off-shoot was a pretty big, fantastic swell of comedy in Austin, an already very solid, thriving comedy scene as is.

2020 was 2020 and, of course, that didn’t happen. SXSW was actually one of the world’s first major festivals to postpone indefinitely due to COVID-19.

Now, here in Feb. 2022, SXSW is thankfully resuming their comedy festival and are doing things up bigger than we remember from last time. From Mar. 11th-19th, those in attendance will get to see the comedy stylings of:

Alyssa Stonoha • Andy Haynes • Anthony Atamanuik • Blair Socci • Bonnie McFarlane • Bruce McCulloch • Byron Bowers • Camilla Cleese • Danielle Schneider • Doug Benson • Dulcé Sloan • Eddie Pepitone • Eleanor Kerrigan • Emma Willman • Ian Lara • Jessica Michelle Singleton • Jim Gaffigan • Joe DeRosa • John Cleese • John Gemberling • Jon Daly • Kiry Shabazz • Liza Treyger • Logan Guntzelman • Marina Franklin • Mary Lynn Rajskub • Matt Besser • Matthew Broussard • Mike Lawrence • Mike Yard • Mitra Jouhari • Nick Thune • Punkie Johnson • Rich Vos • Ricky Velez • Rosebud Baker • Sandy Honig • Scott Thompson • Sean Patton • Shane Torres • Stuart Goldsmith • Vanessa Gonzalez • Yamaneika Saunders

as well as special presentations/events:

Adult Swim Presents Three Busy Debras Season 2 Sneak Peek • ASSSSCAT (the first in-person since 2020) • The Comedian’s Comedian • A Night at the Comedy Store • Comedy with the Cleeses • The Creek & The Cave • Doug Loves Movies • Find Your Beach • Gotham Comedy Club • improv4humans • Matt Besser’s 420 Show • Roast Battle • The Stand NYC • Wide World of Dougs • Would You Bang Him?

Since SF Sketchfest had to postpone again, this will be the first big comedy festival of 2022 and you wouldn’t want to miss that, now would you?

If you don’t already have a badge for SXSW, you best get on that right now, right here.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 78: The Comedy Co-Op & Sociocracy

September 22, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

comedy co op, emmys, joan rivers, kathryn hahn, the comedy store

Just a bit over a few weeks ago, a mysterious entity only known as The Comedy Co-op was announced as a group that sought to make comedy better on nearly early level for performers, fans, and people working in comedy.

That was about all when knew back then, but they’ve slowly pulled back the curtain over the weeks explaining exactly who they are (including their ever burgeoning Steering Committee) and what they’re about (as well as what sociocracy is). This week’s TCB Field Report has Jake Kroeger get even a deeper explanation how they’re trying to break some of the more debilitating cycles in the art of comedy with The Comedy Co-op’s very own Blake Wilding, Yaki Margulies, and Nikki Osborne (and a special guest appearance/explanation from Jessica Zepeda).

Also, “hot” takes on the Emmys, The Comedy Store Records, Kathryn Hahn as Joan Rivers, and NYC venues vs. New York City.

Follow The Comedy Co-op @thecomedycoopla on IG, visit thecomedycoopla.com for more info, and get tickets for The First Show on 10/3 @ Junior High here. Follow Blake Wilding @blakewilding, Yaki Margulies @yakimargulies, Nikki Osborne @nikki0h, and Jessica Zepeda @creditcardmommy.

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

The Comedy Store Is Starting Its Own Record Label

September 21, 2021

News

the comedy store, the comedy store records

(via THR)

The Comedy Store is joining the ranks of AST Records, Comedy Central Records, Blonde Medicine, 800 Pound Gorilla Records, Team Coco Records, and a handful more of comedy specific record labels with their very own banner. They’ll be sourcing releases from an extensive vault as one of the world’s pre-eminent and most revered comedy clubs in the world as well as the current talent that performs in and out of the OR on a nightly basis.

To our knowledge, this might be the only comedy venue that has its very own record label. While this is a bit of surprising news, it does make us wonder why The Comedy Store hasn’t arrived at this point sooner, especially in the last few years with a renewed, invigorated spirit at the hallowed black walls of The Comedy Store. Sure, Chappelle, Jerrod Carmichael, and Brody Stevens have all recorded and released things that were recorded at The Comedy Store, but there has always been more to mine from any of the three rooms at the Store that could be good for a comedy vinyl release.

There are no specific details as to what exactly they’ll be releasing or when as of yet, but we have a feeling that you’ll get a pretty good history tour of The Comedy Store off of whatever they’re going to release.

December 30, 2019

Uncategorized

brody stevens, comedy gives back, the comedy store

The verve of one Brody Stevens, who we unfortunately lost this year, will always live on in the millions of people that got to witness him, his spirit, his comedy, and all of his plethora of catchphrases.

Any opportunity to pay tribute and remember Brody should always be taken and thusly, you should find your way to this special event An Evening to Celebrate the Comedy of Steven Brody Stevens that honors Brody’s memory, premieres a YouTube channel for Brody (Yes! You got it!), and raise funds for the charitable organization Comedy Gives Back that seeks to aid comedians who are in dire straits with their mental or physical health and can’t afford help.

So, please go get your tickets for An Evening to Celebrate the Comedy of Steven Brody Stevens here.

R.I.P. Mitzi Shore, 1930-2018

April 11, 2018

Uncategorized

mitzi shore, the comedy store

The World Famous Comedy Store wouldn’t be “World Famous” without Mitzi Shore at the helm of the long standing LA institution. From the 70s onwards, Shore laid down a legacy at 8433 W. Sunset Blvd. on the Sunset Strip that spans several generations of comedy and will probably continue to do so for many more generations onwards.

Really, she even helped cement the notion of what a “comedy club” is before comedy clubs took hold nationwide in the 80s on top of personally passing comedy legends whose names are still up on the wall right now.

Today, Mitzi Shore passed away and, in her honor, The Comedy Store will go dark this evening.

Comedy Central Orders Another Round of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle

The tournament will be even bigger this time around as preliminary bouts around the country will be aired in the weeks leading up to a main event.

The four night event of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle worked out well enough for a March Madness of roasting to happen again in January on Comedy Central.

In Atlanta, LA, NYC, and Denver, there will be preliminary roast battles that will make their way to TV on Sunday nights at 11PM. This will lead to the final bouts of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle II in a four night event from Jan. 26th-Jan. 29th in LA where the show was originally born out of The Belly Room of The Comedy Store. return to preside over the tournament.

The brackets have already started and are as follows:

ATLANTA – November 5th at Laughing Skull Lounge 8PM
Erik Bergstrom vs. Jacob Williams
Sean White vs. Megan Gailey
Dulce Sloan vs. Joel Byars
Kim Congdon vs. Kath Barbadoro
Jasmin Leigh vs. Candice Thompson

Get tickets here.

NEW YORK – November 7 at Village Underground 8PM
Kerryn Feehan vs. Luis J. Gomez
Aaron Berg vs. Dina Hashem
Zac Amico vs. Evan Williams
Yamaneika Saunders vs. JP McDade
Patrick Schroeder vs. Sean Donnelly
Eli Sairs vs. Scott Chaplain
Pete Lee vs. Mike Recine

Get tickets here.

DENVER – November 9 @ Comedy Works 8PM
Jay Light vs. Karlous Miller
Noah Gardenswartz vs. Clayton English
CJ Sullivan vs. Nate Craig
Bri Pruett vs. Erin Ingle
Justine Marino vs. Sam Tallent
Nicole Aimee Schreiber vs. Andy Haynes

Get tickets here.

LOS ANGELES – November 16 @ Comedy Store Belly Room 9PM
Frank Castillo vs. Greg Roque
Jesus Trejo vs. George Perez
Jamar Neighbors vs. Guy Branum
Keith Carey vs. Anna Valenzuela
Omid Singh vs. Toby Muresianu
Leah Kayajanian vs. Connor McSpadden
Joe Dosch vs. Alex Hooper
Robin Tran vs. Pat Barker

Get tickets here.

June 26, 2016

Uncategorized

brian moses, earl skakel, eddie furth, historical roast, jamar neighbors, june 28th, keith carey, ryan pigg, sunset strip, the comedy store, west hollywood, what to do, willie hunter

The legends of The Comedy Store are about to get roasted.

Jamar Neighbors, Willie Hunter, Brian Moses, Kim Congdon, Jeremiah Watkins, Earl Skakel, Keith Carey, Pat Regan, Erik Marino, Connor McSpadden, Jay Light, and more will be doing a Historical Roast of the names that have graced the walls of The Comedy Store for decades. Also, Roast Battle will follow right after.

Get tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events as well as open mics and corresponding maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

May 9, 2016

Uncategorized

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Very quickly, Troy Conrad has amassed quite the series of photos of comedians in one of the famous hallways at The Comedy Store. You can get a bit of preview of his work here.

The way he has used a fish eye lens seems to capture a new era of The Comedy Store and, as such, he is getting his own exhibition tomorrow night of his “Hall Series”.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows/events and open mics along with corresponding maps are embedded at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Garry Shandling and Jerry Seinfield Relive Their Old Days on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

January 22, 2016

Uncategorized

comedians in cars getting coffee, garry shandling, jerry seinfeld, larry sanders show, robin williams, seinfeld, the comedy store

There are few guests on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee that go as far back with Jerry as Garry Shandling.

Pretty much every step of each their comedy careers was in sync from playing The Comedy Store to their own hit sitcoms. Thus, making a drive and a stroll down memory lane was pretty fantastic. This is actually one of the best episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

Watch it all here.

David Letterman Pays Tribute to Robin Williams on The Late Show

August 19, 2014

Uncategorized

cbs, david letterman, late show, rip, robin williams, the comedy store, tribute

Throughout the storied history of David Letterman’s comedy career, Robin Williams has been around for most of it, all the way from The Comedy Store to appearing dozens of times on The Late Show and Letterman appearing on Mork and Mindy.

With Williams passing, Letterman, like all the other late night talk shows, did his own personal, heartfelt tribute to Robin. Watch it here.

Morning Debriefing 3/8/11

1) Of course you’ve had that dream of seeing Patton Oswalt for free… Well, now it’s here. This Thursday on the Comedy Palace @ The Palace, Patton will be making on the line-up. So plan accordingly.

2) A few days ago, I said the closest Doug Stanhope would come to Los Angeles, is Santa Barbara, but, I am wrong. Doug Stanhope @ The Comedy Store May 26th-27th 8:30PM

3) The SCOOMIES, awards for and by open mic comedians in Southern California, are closing in fast (Mar. 29th) as the first round of voting is this week at Westwood Brewco. Keep tabs, like we are, to see who wins any number of bitterness filled awards covered in a thin veil of irony.

4) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
The Eddie Pepitone Bloodbath @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5
Comedy Death Ray @ UCB Theatre 8:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Tag Team @ Palms Bar 8:30PM
The Public School Show: Cringe @ M-Bar 9PM FREE/$10 min.
Blamblamblam! @ R-Bar 9PM FREE

5) OPEN MIC RUN
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO @ SEÑOR FISH 422 E. 1st, Los Angeles, CA (downtown)/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM
COFFEE GALLERY 2029 Lake Ave., Altadena, CA/Starts 8PM
WESTWOOD BREWCO 1097 Glendon Ave., Westwood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM

6) Stand Up Comedy on TV will never beat attending a live show. Never. Reasons why to follow above this post very soon.

Report 00137

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 12/30/10

1) Now for the start of “I Know What You’re Thinking… (No, You Don’t)”, an ongoing series into the psyche of a comedian (me/The Comedy Bureau Director/@blitzkroeger) after a night of comedy in LA—SURE, there were plenty of great shows as “confirmed” by the wondrous updates via my facebook feed that I could have attended last night, but instead, I chose to throw myself back into the pit/den of lions of trying out new material. Over the last week and a half, I’ve tightened my “holidays” material to the point of ad nauseam and decided to get back to work on deconstructing the norms and mores of dating in our times that mostly involves me getting “I’ll be right back” and “You’re too nice.” “You’re such a great guy” is another really popular one. In this spirit, I wrote out a brand new 7 minutes revolving around that topic. Actually, “grossly spat out whilst reading Twitter” would be a more accurate description of what was created. At the open mic, I nearly forgot half of it, remembering mostly just the punchlines and hardly any of the set-ups, transitions, intros, premises, etc. and it was met with the long bouts of silence and false sympathy from the “green” comic in the room who still doesn’t shut up during people’s sets that it deserved. In short, my set was mostly garbage and yet, I felt like it was needed. In being a comedian, as much as I strive to smash the place when I go up, I sincerely believe that a “humbling” set is needed every once in a while to let you know that you’re human and not comedy incarnate (For the record: I have NEVER thought I was comedy incarnate). Still, as honest you have to be with yourself when being an artist developing his or her art, you also have to lift yourself up and try to take something, anything from any performance, which, in this case, was about 5 or 6 lines that worked and actually got laughs the way I wanted despite me rambling them out of my mouth in an almost incoherent, depression-ridden fashion. Tune in next time at the Comedy Bureau to see where those 5 or 6 lines actually go…. or if I just lose it altogether.

2) I don’t have a New Year’s Resolution because it’s just another week on the calendar, just like tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL is another damn fine night of laughter. Start with The 2010 It Sucked Awards @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand-by only), then go to T’was the Night Before New Year’s Eve @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $14/2 item min., then go to This Comedy Show @ the Jon Lovitz Club 8PM $20/2 drink min./$3 valet parking special, and finish with The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/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) The Greater LA Open Mic Map will be very soon updated with whole new round of open mics for the new year for everyone to try their new year’s resolution material at. Check back at the Comedy Bureau very soon for updates.

5) Though this might sound traitorous, especially since the Comedy Bureau is LA based, if you have New Year’s Eve plans to see a comedy show, LEAVE LA!!! The best New Year’s Eve comedy event will actually be taking place in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts. The 15th Annual Comedy Countdown Dec. 31st 9:30PM will feature the likes of Laurie Kilmartin, Nick Thune, Charlyne Yi, Christina Pazitsky, the Sklar Brothers, and many more. Tickets range from $60 to $114, which is why I’m completely fine with going to a party and donating a few bucks for a keg back here in LA.

6) thecomedystore replied to your post: Morning Debriefing 12/29/10-Y U no Love? Two quick answers: 1) In doing the Comedy Bureau, I’m also a comic whose slowly, but surely growing incapable of the act of love. 2) I hate when people write like preschoolers attempting to draw and color. MORE TO COME SOON. VERY SOON.

7) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to WILL WELDON: “@oldmanweldon To raise awareness about violence against women I tell every guy in Ed Hardy that they probably hit women.” Hailing from Canada, Will has brought has sharpened observations to LA where have they been welcomed certainly by the Comedy Bureau and many others in LA comedy circles. Hopefully, we can make those circles aware of Will’s hilarity increase in size and/or number. All of you good folks reading this can actually see Will at What’s Up Tiger Lily @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill Mon. Jan 3rd, 8PM FREE and Fifty First Jokes @ The Zephyr Theater Thurs. Jan. 6th 9PM $7. Also, don’t miss his website, Twitter, or blog.

8) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Bill Hicks Banned Set on Letterman

9) Donate to the Comedy Bureau… Tron made enough money, OK? Spread the wealth.

10) The rain has stoppped…. The skies are clear…. You can even see the mountains in the distance that you never knew existed… AND I STILL CAN’T GET THAT NEW 7 MINUTES ON HOMEWRECKING TO WORK!!!

Report 00069

THE COMEDY BUREAU

Morning Debriefing 12/30/10

1) Now for the start of “I Know What You’re Thinking… (No, You Don’t)”, an ongoing series into the psyche of a comedian (me/The Comedy Bureau Director/@blitzkroeger) after a night of comedy in LA—SURE, there were plenty of great shows as “confirmed” by the wondrous updates via my facebook feed that I could have attended last night, but instead, I chose to throw myself back into the pit/den of lions of trying out new material. Over the last week and a half, I’ve tightened my “holidays” material to the point of ad nauseam and decided to get back to work on deconstructing the norms and mores of dating in our times that mostly involves me getting “I’ll be right back” and “You’re too nice.” "You’re such a great guy" is another really popular one. In this spirit, I wrote out a brand new 7 minutes revolving around that topic. Actually, “grossly spat out whilst reading Twitter” would be a more accurate description of what was created. At the open mic, I nearly forgot half of it, remembering mostly just the punchlines and hardly any of the set-ups, transitions, intros, premises, etc. and it was met with the long bouts of silence and false sympathy from the “green” comic in the room who still doesn’t shut up during people’s sets that it deserved. In short, my set was mostly garbage and yet, I felt like it was needed. In being a comedian, as much as I strive to smash the place when I go up, I sincerely believe that a “humbling” set is needed every once in a while to let you know that you’re human and not comedy incarnate (For the record: I have NEVER thought I was comedy incarnate). Still, as honest you have to be with yourself when being an artist developing his or her art, you also have to lift yourself up and try to take something, anything from any performance, which, in this case, was about 5 or 6 lines that worked and actually got laughs the way I wanted despite me rambling them out of my mouth in an almost incoherent, depression-ridden fashion. Tune in next time at the Comedy Bureau to see where those 5 or 6 lines actually go…. or if I just lose it altogether.

6) thecomedystore replied to your post: Morning Debriefing 12/29/10-Y U no Love? Two quick answers: 1) In doing the Comedy Bureau, I’m also a comic whose slowly, but surely growing incapable of the act of love. 2) I hate when people write like preschooler’s attempt to draw and color. MORE TO COME SOON. VERY SOON.

8) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Bill Hicks Banned Set on Letterman

9) Donate to the Comedy Bureau… Tron made enough money, OK? Spread the wealth.

10) The rain has stoppped…. The skies are clear…. You can even see the mountains in the distance that you never knew existed… AND I STILL CAN’T THAT NEW 7 MINUTES

Report 00064

THE COMEDY BUREAU