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tip of the hat

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Jesse Case-Tip of the Hat 12/6

December 7, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy profiles, tip of the hat

Still in a mode of catching up on this Tip of the Hat feature that we’ve taken off for a few months, we’d next like to bestow the honor on the one and only Jesse Case. Those of you that have been lucky enough to catch Jesse on the road, frequenters of the LA comedy scene, and avid fans of the now defunct reality competition series Last Comic Standing might know who Case is, but many outside unfortunately don’t know of his comedic brilliance.

It’s one thing to say that we’ve seen Jesse Case absolutely have two audience members rolling in their seats that are surrounded by completely empty tables and booths, but’s it’s definitely a whole other thing to see it happen live. While there are plenty of talented stand-ups and performers in the Los Angeles area, few possess the ability to bring a show that’s a couple of audience members from being a showcase of the existential condition to something that’s undeniably hilarious. In short, Jesse Case has that “ringer” ability. 

Whether it be a dive bar, an AA recovery hall, a comedy club, a 500 seat theater, the 2nd floor of a Chinese restaurant, or something else, Case has an act that not only we’ve seen destroy, but one that we can almost quote word-for-word and yet, still laugh hard when he tells it. Largely by playing any and all such places, Jesse has honed his comedy to be that funny. Case, much like Dave Attell who barely told anybody in the weeks preceding the premiere of Dave’s Old Porn that it was happening, is more concerned with his comedy than anything else. That’s why you’ll be hard-pressed to find a clip of his stand-up online, which we would normally feature after this paragraph, but, due to Case focusing on going out every night and tweaking every bit of his jokes to perfection, we, alas, have nothing to show you.

Take our word for it or ask local comics that perform regularly and they’ll tell you the same as is written here.

One of the sharpest observers of what’s taken for granted in comedy, Case exhibits exactly how a hilarious 5 minute bit can derived by a mind shrewd enough to see it from the simplest observations such as Christian bands only singing about being Christian and nothing else or the diagrams on the wall in the hospital examination room. Jesse has, for our money, one of the best jokes of 2011 and it isn’t some unbelievable 10 minute story on how he inadvertently got caught in the mob or a brilliant, well-crafted rant on love. It actually only has one punchline and, for the sake of how great it is, we’re not going to tell you anymore. 

Just seek him out on whatever show that has him wisely on the line-up. Follow @jessecase on Twitter or check back at the Comedy Bureau to see him in the several shows that he’s performing at in the Greater LA area and beyond.

Kristine Levine-Tip of the Hat 11/29

November 30, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy profiles, tip of the hat

It’s been over 5 months since we’ve given our last Tip of the Hat, but, as has always been our problem, we’ve been vastly understaffed. Yet, we won’t get into what departments we had to cut in order to come under budget because this latest Tip of the Hat going to Portland based comedienne Kristine Levine is well overdue.

Also, she’s in town (in LA, that is, you know, where we’re based), which you should take advantage of catching her do a set.

I first caught her opening for Doug Stanhope a few months ago at the Main Room of the Comedy Store at which Stanhope let her perform over 30 min. and absolutely crushing the audience in laughter while doing it. Most headlining comics generally a) don’t let their openers do that much time and b) get openers that do well, but don’t “crush”. Of course, Stanhope, who fears almost nothing when taking the stage, especially at his own show, let Levine, who probably no one in LA knew and largely still doesn’t (we’re hoping to change that), go through what many LA-based comedy venues would consider headlining and going to Jeselnik’s famed “applause break city”.

As far as comedic prowess goes, that’s definitely counts as that proverbial “saying something”.

Combing through her bio, you’ll find a brief comparison to “a brutal cross between Lenny Bruce and Roseanne Barr” which you can only reconcile in your brain by watching her live. As she’ll tell you, she’s an overweight porn clerk (which is hilarious as that’s the first time we’ve ever heard that job title said that way) and a proud mother of three kids, which has made for an incredible well to draw from in her brand of comedy. It’s debatable whether honesty makes for the best comedy, but Levine certainly makes a damn good case for it being so by telling stories and observing motherhood, romance, and the oddities of life with the only filter being that it’s undeniably hilarious. If only all those journalists, essayists, and bloggers that continue the discourse on women being funny would see Levine, they’d probably switch their focus to how funny pornography, especially when discussed sincerely, can be.

Not to sound like a host introducing her at a live show, but she does tour the country, you’ve might have caught her in an episode of Portlandia, and she will be in what will undoubtedly be a highly anticipated comedy documentary, The Unbookables, very soon.

Like we mentioned earlier, Kristine is in town and can be seen opening for Stanhope in both Irvine (Wed.) and Brea (Thurs.) as well as tonight, in her element, at the famous (or infamous if you like) Pleasure Chest at Performance Anxiety tonight at 8PM along with several other shows throughout the city until Dec. 16th. Check back here at the Comedy Bureau for her upcoming dates or follow her on Twitter @KristineLevine.

Morning Debriefing 6/18/11

June 18, 2011
Uncategorized
30 minutes or less, andre hyland, bill hicks, cheap, colin hanks, comedy news, comedy shows, craig anton, criss angel, culver city, dave chappelle, free, good luck show, hollywood, jack follman, keith olberman, kyle kinane, los angeles, mad tv, parody, paul f tompkins, paul provenza, red band, richard linklater, ron lynch, sean patton, tip of the hat, tribute, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list

1) MAD MAGAZINE HAS A BLOG!!!

2) Curtiss Angel-Criss Angel’s Cousin Part 2 (Here’s Part 1 where he still believes in magic) NOTE: Follow anything Andre Hyland does. We’re not kidding.

3) My favorite picture of the week with Ron Lynch and Craig Anton…

4) Everyone is saying that the 30 Minutes or Less Red Band Trailer is giving away too much? Well, at least they’re giving away that it might be worth watching:

EMBED-30 Minutes or Less – Watch more free videos

5) This week’s “Tip of the Hat” goes to Sean Patton.  Look for the article/profile coming soon.

6) Favorite Season 1 Recap of Comedy Show of the Week: The Good Luck Show!

Good Luck Show, Season 1 RECAP! from Charlie watkins on Vimeo.

7) Bill Hicks Tribute by Paul Provenza, Colin Hanks, Richard Linklater, Keith Olberman, and more!!!

8) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 6/19-6/25. Thanks Wisepix.

9) Will Dave Chappelle Ever Really Make a Comeback? [via Punchline Magazine]

10) ON THE HORIZON
Comedy Revolver @ Hollywood Improv Lab Tues. Jun. 21st 10PM $5 
This Is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv Thurs. Jun. 23rd 8PM $5/2 item min.
Kyle Kinane @ Hollywood Improv Fri. July 1st  8PM $18/2 item min. 
Jack Follman: Recipe for Disaster Comedy @ Cafe Muse Sat. July 9th 9:30PM FREE 

11) COMEDY CRAWL
It’s A Long Way Down 8PM FREE 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Brian Posehn @ Hollywood Improv 8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Jimmy Dore @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
Pod F. Tompkast LIVE! @ Largo at the Coronet Theater 8:30PM $25
Little Dick Sports @ Hop Louie 9PM FREE 
Gelmania @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5 
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only) 
The Tomorrow Show @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min. 

13) Saw a “comic” point out noises instead of telling jokes or do ANYTHING because apparently we weren’t on board with his weirdness, which he didn’t approve of, and then cut and run right after his set.  If he was trying to make sure that people won’t come to his shows where his name is on the bill, he’s doing a damn good job.

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Morning Debriefing 6/12/11

June 12, 2011
Uncategorized
atom.com, cats, cheap, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy shows, conan, covina, echo park, eharmony, flaming c, follow, free, fringe festival, garfunkel and oates, hollywood, i am comic, jerrod carmichael, kid farm, los feliz, louis ck, remix, submissions, tip of the hat, tony sam, westwood, women comedy

1) WHAT WENT VIRAL: A girl crying about cats while making a dating profile video.  WHAT NEEDS TO GO VIRAL: a remix of a girl crying about cats while making a dating profile video by sketch group Women Comedy.

2) The Hollywood Fringe Festival is already under way with several comedy events that are on the “fringe”, but if you want to submit for next year, you can now, according to their guide for this year, go here and post about it.

3) Comedy Store paid regular Jerrod Carmichael has been on Twitter for awhile, but he’s only now starting to share his brilliant humor with the microblogging world, @NotoriousRod as he live tweets his niece’s dance recital.

4) Hilarious Atom.com webseries Kid Farm w/Pete Holmes finally has another episode!!! (that would be your cue to click the link or press the play button below)

Kid Farm Channel
Tags: Atom.com | Funny Videos | Tournament | Upload

5) The Flaming C/Conan is calling out for fan art!!!

6) Garfunkel & Oates have a new song! “My Apartment’s Very Clean Without You”. Great way to start off a nostalgic Sunday

7) Below is a clip of Louis CK doing a 3 minute set in 1987. He’s doing dolphin jokes. There’s hints of what he does now, but only hints. It’s now 2011 and some of his best material is about his two daughters.  To anyone thinking wondering about development as an artist as a comedian, well, here’s a perfect example of how drastic it can be.

8) Tip of the Hat Article/Profile-Tony Sam

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeff Garlin-No Sugar Added @ UCB Theatre 6PM $5
LA Indie Improv Tournament @ Impro Theatre
7PM FREE 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
8 Ball Stand Presents the Niche Players @ Westwood Brewco 7:30PM FREE 
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE 
Power Violence @ The Complex 9PM FREE 
Top Story Weekly w/Jim Bruce @ iO West 9PM $5
The Charlyne Yi Show @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
Respect the Danger of Knives Presents @ Chatterbox 9PM FREE 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/lottery
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM/$4 min./first come, first served
NERDIST THEATRE 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (back room of Meltdown Comics)/Sign-up 7:15PM/Starts 7:30PM/lottery/30 spots available/no purchase necessary
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/mixed mic
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/bottled water and coffee available 

11) Last night I did 20 minutes that I would best describe as mostly nonsense riffing with a strong start and finish that I would most likely want to delete off of my phone’s voice recorder.  Yet, a real person (not a comic) came up to me and thanked me for making him laugh.  Despite what I thought, I didn’t correct him because, really, he’s right.

12) Special thanks to Jordan Brady for the shout out on Twitter this morning.  Please follow him at @IAmComicMovie (oh yeah, did I mentioned he directed I Am Comic?)

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Tony Sam-Tip of the Hat 6/11/11

June 12, 2011
Uncategorized
chicago, hahajk.com, just for laughs, la comedy scene, los angeles, persona, profile, tip of the hat

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to TONY SAM.

Any person involved in comedy that has respect for comedy as an art form will tell you, if you so ask, that one of the most important things for a comedian, or any artist really, is a unique “voice”.  There needs to be something distinguishing in the way a person is funny for them to be a truly great comedian.

The Puppy Calendar @ Comedy Carhole from Anthony Sam on Vimeo.

Tony Sam has “voice” in spades. One of the funniest people in the intensively competitive and crowded LA Comedy scene, Tony has managed to become of favorite of both audiences and comics with a brand of comedy that’s quirky, yet captivating. Through his stand-up, plethora of hysterical characters, and his actual physical voice, Sam leaves an indelible impression on anyone who sees and hears him perform.  Tony’s actual voice is so unique, drastically wandering up and down in frequency, that he makes some of the most unique characters such as Electroface and Reverend Boone Turde that are exceptionally hilarious and absolutely unforgettable.

The Reverend Boone Turde from Anthony Sam on Vimeo.

Tony’s most recent character, a Fun Police Officer, has been simply amazing, even though I’ve seen on five separate occasions.  He starts off, dressed as a police officer, walking in from off stage, “Well, well, well…. well, well, well, well, well…. WELL, WELL, well, well… Anybody know why I pulled this show over?  I clocked ya doing boring!”

Truly, Tony Sam is part a new surge in comedy that presents the art form of comedy and where it can possibly can go.  Whether as one of his incredibly original characters (he even has one where he’s a country singer with a shark for an arm), just himself doing stand-up, or in a sketch or improv, Tony is deftly and skillfully pushing the bounds of comedy while managing to have crowds rolling in laughter.

As a result, Tony not only frequently performs around LA at some of the city’s best show, but has his own stellar show, Persona!, a character based comedy show, which has gotten stellar reviews from Punchline Magazine as well as here at the Comedy Bureau.  Taking place every month, Sam has himself and several of LA’s best comedians and they only perform as characters, which has made for quite a hit amongst a sea of fantastic comedy line-ups every night in Los Angeles.  

Sam is also the head editor and writer/contributor at HahaJK.com, which, in short, is news the way you would want to hear it.  Daily, Sam posts news stories that are based on real news, but are funny just the way you would really want.

As of this week, Tony will be performing at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago this Tuesday and later this month he’ll be having his fantastic Persona! on June 30th at the Hollywood Improv Lab.  If that’s not enough for Tony for you, you can follow him on Twitter @toekneesam and check his website tonysam.com.  Really, any chance you get to catch Tony Sam and his many “voices” on stage should not be missed.

Morning Debriefing 6/11/11

June 11, 2011
Uncategorized
art walk, cheap, claremont, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy shows, dorkforest, free, hail to the freaks, hollywood, jackie kashian, jamie kilstein, jeffrey tambor, jen kirkman, jim belushi, jimmy dore, jon benjamin has a van, los angeles improv comedy fest, los feliz, morning after podcasts, on the horizon, open mic run, paul scheer, silverlake, tip of the hat, tony sam, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list, wisepix

1) LISTEN TO THIS NOW: Paul Scheer reading excerpts from Jim Belushi’s book “Real Men”

Day 4 – How to Fight w/ your Girlfriend by PaulScheer

2) If you still haven’t gotten Jen Kirkman’s latest release Hail To the Freaks, check out some of reviews of at Punchline Magazine and Comedy Nerds United, not mention realize it’s a comedy album that made the Billboard charts.  Why don’t you just do yourself a favor and go ahead and pick it up.

3) The Morning After Podcast with Jake Weisman and Eli Olsberg outside of Digital Underground’s Top Guns XXX Release Party

4) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 6/12-6/18.  Thanks Wisepix.

5) 

Not to discourage anyone from doing open mics, but sometimes you to just power through it, no matter what’s happening. This picture above of hilarious comedienne Barbara Gray was taken during a live show at the Downtown LA Artwalk on Thurs.  Here’s a recap from last night from another open mic, iCandy, that takes place in Long Beach every Friday that had the type of heckler that starts another show while the first show is still happening.

5) If you haven’t checked out any clips for the upcoming Comedy Central series “Jon Benjamin Has A Van”, you can now thank the Comedy Bureau later.  

Jon Benjamin Has a VanSpring 2011Preview – You Can’t Shoot Herewww.comedycentral.comComedy CentralTV ShowsComedy Videos

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to Tony Sam! Look for profile/article later today.

8) ON THE HORIZON
Jackie Kashian’s Dork Forest @ Nerdist Theater Thurs. July 7th 8PM $10 
Jamie Kilstein @ Steve Allen Theater Mon. July 18th 8PM $10 

9) COMEDY CRAWL
Space Boners @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE 
Conan O’Brien Writers Live @ iO West 7PM $25
North Star Comedy Hour & Meat Raffle @ Michael Woolson Studio 8PM FREE 
Hand Schucked @ Moving Arts Theater 8PM FREE 
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
Del Close Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeffrey Tambor @ iO West 8PM $25
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 8PM $5
Pop & Politics w/Jimmy Dore @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Michael Rayner @ Flappers Claremont 8PM $15/2 item min.
Sappity Tappity: A Drunken Romp Through Liquor Forest @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 
Chris Farley Award: Adam Scott @ iO West 10PM $25
Truth or Dare @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5
LAICF Harold Competition Championship @ iO West 11PM $10
Tomorrow Show w/Lynch, Small, and Anton @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min.  

11) So I’m going up tonight in a place accessible only by alley in Garden Grove. I’m not worried so much about being mugged as what I’m supposed to relate to people that frequently walk to their homes via alley ways.

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Morning Debriefing 6/4/11

June 4, 2011
Uncategorized
andres du bouchet, cd taping, comedy crawl, comedy news, conan, culver city, echo park, hollywood, james adomian, jamie brunton, katie crown, kickstarter, la times, lopez tonight, los angeles, mc mr napkins, mitch hedberg, ogre mage, open mic run, santa monica, storytelling, tip of the hat, tj miller, trevor moore, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list, weird al yankovic, whitest kids u know, wisepix, zach sherwin

1) Fantasy Rock Band OGRE MAGE just launched their Kickstarter to get their first album recorded! Watch and donate.

2) “Get Your Number” by MC Mr. Napkins aka Zach Sherwin.

3) James Adomian will be on Lopez Tonight this Wednesday 6/8 performing stand-up.  In other words, this is what you’ll be watching or DVR’ing to watch later on Wednesday night.

4) “@alyankovic It’s official-there’s going to be a music video for EVERY SINGLE SONG on my new album. #overkill” More details on this story to come.

5) NOTE: Andrés Du Bouchet will be recording his CD on Wed. at Bar Lubitsch at 10PM (and not 8PM as we had posted yesterday).

6) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 6/5-6/11. Thanks Wisepix.

7) Mitch Hedberg’s Jimmy John Promos. Yes, that’s promos for a fast food establishment by Mitch Hedberg. [via Pauliophonic.com}

8) IWantHerJob.com Interview w/Jamie Brunton: I’ll second that.

9) A roast, a show at Largo, and now TJ Miller’s in the LA Times.

10) The “Tip of the Hat” this time goes to Katie Crown. Article as to why you need to see her perform as SOON as possible coming later today.

11) COMEDY CRAWL
Two Headed Beast: A Storytelling Show @ Stories Books & Cafe 8PM FREE 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Re-Animator @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Battleship Pretension @ Nerdist Theater (back room of Meltdown Comics) 8PM $10
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8:30PM $25
Trevor Moore’s Whatever Show @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
The Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre
MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

12) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min. 

13) GPOCWLCKS (Gratuitous Picture of Cat Watching Louis CK Saturday). Thanks to Nicole Christo and her cat.

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World’s Funniest Threesome!

May 1, 2011
Uncategorized
comedian, funniest, profile, tip of the hat

World’s Funniest Threesome!

Unlike a Tip of the Hat, you can actually suggest which comics are profiled on Crave Online.  Also, we don’t have sexual double entendres.

Morning Debriefing 4/10/11

April 10, 2011
Uncategorized
american, bill hicks, comedy awards, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, los angeles, morning debriefing, norm macdonald, open mic run, sports show, tip of the hat

1) As the Comedy Awards already happened and we already know who won, I’d say watch the premiere of Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show at 10:30PM April 12th first, but the Comedy Awards are chronologically on first at 9PM, so just watch both on Comedy Central.

2) You probably already suspected that American: The Bill Hicks Story was going to be reviewed like this, but it’s nice to actually read it in reality. [via PopcornBiz]

3) Weird Places to do Stand Up w/Chelsea Peretti, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer, and more! [via HuffPo Comedy]

4) Tip of the Hat for Jim Hamilton

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Without a Cause @ Boardners 7:30PM FREE
Feel Good Comedy @ Hollywood Improv 7:30PM $10/2 item min. 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Ian Federgreen Presents @ Flappers YooHoo Room 7:30PM $10/2 drink min.
#hashtag @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE 
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE 
Chatterbox Comedy Night @ Chatterbox 9PM FREE 
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Lettuce Entertain You! (W/Stand Up) @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. 
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM
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  

7) I apologize profusely for the tardiness of this post.  There’s no excuse other than I can write an update this complex via my smart phone.  Damn technology.

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Jim Hamilton-Tip of the Hat 4/9/11

April 10, 2011
Uncategorized
best, comedy central, jim hamilton, mitch hedberg, premium blend, punchline magazine, tip of the hat, twitter

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to JIM HAMILTON:

@Jim_Hamilton

“I should tell my neighbors that I’m a registered sex offender. I’m not, but at least the parents would tell their kids to avoid me.”

“No, I’m not stalking you. I made this marionette from memory.”

“Drop everything you’re doing and grab a broom. You just made a mess.”

As Twitter continues to rise in prominence in the comedy world, more and more comedians utilize the microblogging giant in developing material and few are so good as Jim Hamilton.  

Though he may not have the following of more famous comedians who tweet only sporadically and often don’t tweet jokes or funny non sequiturs, Jim Hamilton applies his comedic prowess deftly in under 140 characters everyday.  Through this process he’s one of the few that have refined a comedic voice online appreciated by many as he was nominated by Punchline Magazine as one of the Best Tweeters of 2010.

Jim mixes dark observations on himself, extremely clever puns, and minutia throughout his feed along with jokes I’ve heard him tell live that echo of Mitch Hedberg, but are completely and uniquely Jim.  I’m sure Hedberg would never write a joke about having bartenders announce, in place of last call, “Jim Hamilton’s here.”  

On stage, Jim takes these very precise one-liners and, unlike many one-liner comics that adopt an almost pretentious persona, is just himself.  His noticeable pauses in between jokes and fleeting glances to seemingly random portions of the room are genuine, only adding a rare nuance of vulnerability and, also, the hilarity.

Though having been on Comedy Central’s popular series Premium Blend, Jim has admitted that if it weren’t for Twitter, he might have quit comedy altogether.  Now, Jim has built up such a reputation that when I once told a comic about starting a tweeting competition between comics here in LA, they simply told me, without any hesitation, that Jim would win.

So, follow @Jim_Hamilton and then take the opportunity to catch him at French Toast @ Taix for free tomorrow Sun. Apr. 10th 8:30PM or at The 4 & 20 @ All Star Lanes Mon. Apr. 11th 8PM also for free.  You can also get some “extended” Jim Hamilton on Tumblr here.

Morning Debriefing 4/9/11

April 9, 2011
Uncategorized
american, american comedy fund, bill hicks, chateau marmont, cheap, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy store, culver city, downtown, free, hollywood, jim hamilton, los angeles, norm macdonald, on the horizon, open mic run, santa monica, silverlake, sports show, tina fey, tip of the hat, what to do

1) Want to be part of the audience of an episode of Norm Macdonald’s Sports Show (premiering tomorrow night on Comedy Central)?  Click that link.  Also, watch Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show tomorrow because, simply, it’s Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show and that should be reason enough.

2) Though it was posted yesterday, there may still be room for the Comedy Store screening of American: The Bill Hicks Story on Wed. Apr. 13th 8PM.  Try e-mailing at talent@thecomedystore.net.

3) Entertainment Fund Chiefs Pen Op-Ed urging need to raise money for American Comedy Fund via The Comic’s Comic.

4) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to Jim Hamilton.  Article/profile to follow later today. 

5) ON THE HORIZON
An Evening with Tina Fey in Conversation with Steve Martin @ Nokia Theatre Tues. April 19th 8PM $29
Humanist Comedy @ Bar Marmont Mon. Apr. 11th 8PM FREE

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
LA Comedy Shorts Festival @ Downtown Independent Theater
Ogre Mage @ Silverlake Lounge 6PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Lit Up! @ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Parish Hall 8PM $10
Christina Pazitsky @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $11/2 drink min.
The Anytime Show/Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theatre 8PM/10PM $5 
Dana Gould @ Hollywood Improv
8PM/10PM $20/2 item min.
Alonzo Bodden @ Ice House 8PM/10PM $17.50/2 drink min.
The Back Room @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
The Tomorrow Show & Midnight Show COMBINE @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed 

8) Said to someone last night, “I am the Comedy Bureau,” and felt more validated than ever for about 5 seconds before remembering I only have $5 in my wallet and my empty light is about to turn on.

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Morning Debriefing 4/8/11

April 8, 2011
Uncategorized
bbc, ben schwartz, burbank, cheap, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy shows, downtown, flappers, free, fullerton, glendale, hollywood, long beach, los angeles, morning debriefing, on the horizon, pasadena, picked up, series, showtime, silverlake, storytelling, tarzana, tip of the hat, ucb, west memphis 3, what to do

1) Series “House of Lies” that Ben Schwartz is in got picked up on Showtime!

3) The BBC recently visited NY and was marveled at their plethora of storytelling shows.  Though the Moth started in NY, we’ve got plenty here in LA including This is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv, Public School Stories at M Bar, Two Headed Beast at Stories Books & Cafe, and plenty more that keep popping up.  Check it BBC.

4) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 4/10-4/16. Thanks Wisepix.

5) If only I knew more about designing websites and HTML code, I could make an open mic map as pretty looking as this one on LA Comedy Insider.

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tip of the Hat” (meant to be written earlier this week) to the Walsh Brothers! (Next one will be on time)

7) ON THE HORIZON
Gelmania @ UCB Theatre Sat. Apr. 16th 10PM $10
West Memphis 3 Benefit @ Largo Tues. May 31st 8PM $30 

8) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Laugh-Your-Ass-Off-Palooza @ Columbia College Hollywood 6:30PM FREE 
Risk! True Stories Boldly Told @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Alonzo Bodden @ Ice House 8:30PM/10:30PM $17.50/2 drink min.
Christina Pazitsky @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $11/2 drink min.
Stood Up Friday Night: The Meaning of Life @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5 
The Also-Ran Comedy Hour @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/given set list to improv off of
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM 
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM   

10) Yes, that “Report 00167” means I’ve blogged for 167 days straight including Christmas, New Year’s, and Martin Luther King Day.  You’re welcome. 

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The Walsh Brothers-Tip of the Hat 4/7/11

April 8, 2011
Uncategorized
boston, comedy news, disco, pranks, profile, tip of the hat, walsh brothers, zombie

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to THE WALSH BROTHERS.

Even though I’ve been to their monthly show at the UCB Theatre a few times, both Chris and David Walsh never cease to amaze in what they come up with, which was, this time around, having 4 bass players vs. 1 bass player, an amateur karate demonstration, and enough audience plants to almost have an Inception-esque sketch fooling even the plants themselves.

While most comedic duos take the tried and true formula of having one “straight man” and one crazy, unrelenting, uncompromising character to play against each other, the Walsh Brothers take a drastically different approach.   They both, as real-life brothers, mix degrees of honesty with being completely absurd/out-of-left-field/zombies-on-a-weekday-afternoon (an actual thing that they did and taped) and, as a result, are just really their crazy selves with little compromise.

Even in while recounting stories in tandem, which comprises most of their hysterical stand-up, they will frequently interrupt each other, call each other out at certain points, go from an act out to off on a tangent where Chris will just try to sit in an “improvised air chair” and fall over, and then go back into the story.  Every act of the Walsh Brothers show is something that’s thoroughly hilarious as it’s always ripe with rich detailed absurdity, amazing depth in character, and, of course, pranks, some of which they gloriously act out.  

One of my favorites is called “Personal Disco” where they kill the lights and have themselves and extremely random assortment of characters dance around one person to heavy techno music.   Though pranking the audience walks a fine line of alienating audience members, the Walsh Brothers handle every interaction with the audience with care in such a way that no one really feels unsafe in the way that a performance art piece does that no one can quite understand.  

Throughout the course of all this seemingly unbridled fun chaos, unknown to the audience, Chris and David have an amazing, in-the-moment, sense of what’s working and what’s not and if it’s not, how to go about cutting to the next story/sketch/character.  I’ve seen David dance for several minutes at the top of a show as it was getting big room laughs and then softly segue into the next bit as he sensed his marching wildly around the stage had run its course. They basically know how to show a crowd a damn fine show time and again.  

Though once called the “Pride of Boston” (their hometown) at a show here in LA, the Comedy Bureau is extremely glad that they’re based here as they perform their fantastic and, as one audience member shouted to me about it later, “mind blowing” show at UCB once a month and frequently at stages throughout Los Angeles.  So please check their website or Facebook page or Twitter feed or even back here at the Comedy Bureau for details on their next show or perhaps when Chris Walsh is literally “brushing my shoulders” off since I looked concerned/depressed at a bar (this really happened to me last Tuesday).

Morning Debriefing 4/3/11

April 3, 2011
Uncategorized
antithesis comedy, bombing, charlie sheen, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy store, echo park, hollywood, jackie kashian, james gunn, los angeles, morning debriefing, nerdist, open mic, open mic run, paid, tip of the hat, ucb, walsh brothers

1) The iCandy Open Mic in Long Beach taking place every Friday in Long Beach has put itself in a rare class of open mics running for almost a decade.  Not only do they now pay their few booked performers, but they will very soon offer to match any other indepently produced and booked room that is willing to do so.  Thanks to Shayne Michael, Jeff Leon, Kerry Arnold Stephens, and these 97 other people, comics getting paid at an open mic has become possible.

2) Antithesis Comedy, another fine comedy site, is looking for comedian/musicians and comedian/filmmakers based in LA.  Message Jesse Castro Jr. for details.

3) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to THE WALSH BROTHERS! Article/profile to follow soon

4) Always hilarious comedienne Jackie Kashian is correct in that there is stigma attached to the “solo show”, but I’m pretty sure we would all watch Jackie’s solo show.  The Comedy Bureau would.

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
The Nerdist Podcast Live w/James Gunn @ The Nerdist Theatre 8PM $10
March Comedy Madness Finals @ The Comedy Store 8PM $14/2 drink min.
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5 
Gravid Water @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)

7) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. 
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM
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    

8) In case you decided to be a human and avoid social networking, Charlie Sheen bombed last night at his first show on his “Violent Torpedo of Truth Tour”. Big surprise.  I guess what counts as news these days is something happening that everyone expected. 

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Jerrod Carmichael-Tip of the Hat 3/27/11

March 29, 2011
Uncategorized
comedian, comedy, first five, jerrod carmichael, los angeles, regular, tip of the hat

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to JERROD CARMICHAEL.

During the first edition of First Five, a delightfully refreshing stand up comedy show where all the comedians do their very first five minutes they ever wrote, Jerrod performed off a crumpled piece a paper and performed a set that he did at a high school talent show in which he started with telling the principal to go fuck himself and then, still in the spirit of poking fun at his former self, ranted how about he doesn’t understand Siegfried and Roy and their white tiger like damn… damn.

With the likes of Greg Proops, Paul F. Tompkins, and Reggie Watts receiving Tips of the Hat, you might just be wondering exactly who is Jerrod Carmichael.  If credits are a concern, he’s a legitimate regular at the big clubs here in LA, but that’s not really why he’s being given this week’s “Tip of the Hat”.  Simply put, Jerrod Carmichael is hilarious all the time.

Whether at the Original Room at the Comedy Store (where he’s a paid regular) or at the back of Meltdown Comics for the indie-alt comedy show Meltdown or even at a sparse college bar full of the drunken frat/sorority crowd, Carmichael kills it.  As composed and mild-mannered as he may seem by merely staying in one place on stage, often keeping the mic in the mic stand, Carmichael keeps people hanging off every word he says, especially since he’ll linger on a couple of them in any given joke.  Though he can be described as a low-energy comic, he’s still incredibly engaging with his stage presence as he’s genuinely delighted to be telling jokes wherever he happens to be and a delivery comparable to a lovely, slowly kindling Christmas fireplace.

When it comes to writing jokes and their subsequent economy of words, Carmichael, hailing all the way from North Carolina, has definitely honed what he writes, or even what he riffs, into often perfectly phrased lines making the fact that he’s broke, an extremely common topic amongst comics, both original and hysterical, “I’m at a point in my life… where… … $30… can change… everything.”  No matter if he talks about his life or past wars of the United States, Carmichael’s observations on anything are, like I said earlier, hilarious all the time.

If you’re in LA, you’ll catch him popping up any sort of show from any size of club, so check back at the Comedy Bureau frequently to see when and where he’s going up.

Morning Debriefing 3/27/11

March 27, 2011
Uncategorized
albert brooks, comedy awards, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, comedy shows, jerrod carmichael, live blogging, live tweeting, los angeles, open mic run, tip of the hat, twitter, winners

1) Comedy Legend Albert Brooks is on Twitter! (mostly to promote a new book, but still…) FOLLOW NOW @albertbrooks

2) I don’t know why this is even completely available to the public as its not even in “leak” form, but here’s the The Comedy Awards Winners:

COMEDY SERIES-Modern Family
COMEDY ACTOR TV-Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
COMEDY ACTRESS TV-Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
COMEDY ACTOR FILM-Zach Galifianakis, Dinner for Schmucks
COMEDY ACTRESS FILM-Tina Fey, Date Night
LATE NIGHT COMEDY SERIES-The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
SKETCH COMEDY/ALTERNATIVE COMEDY SERIES-Childrens Hospital
STAND-UP SPECIAL-Louis C.K.: Hilarious
COMEDY FILM-The Other Guys
ANIMATED COMEDY FILM-Toy Story 3
ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES-South Park
COMEDY WRITING TV-30 Rock
COMEDY SCREENPLAY-Hot Tub Time Machine
COMEDY DIRECTING TV-Modern Family
COMEDY DIRECTOR FILM-Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
JOHNNY CARSON AWARD-David Letterman
COMEDY ICON AWARD-Eddie Murphy

3) Again, if you want to know what happened in even more detail (i.e. Jon Stewart having his acceptance speech hijacked) Check Punchline Magazine’s Blog, HahaJK.com’s blog, and Comedy Central’s very own CCinsider or just watch it April 10th 9PM EST.

4) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to JERROD CARMICHAEL. Article/profile to follow later today.

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Skinny Sundays @ Bar Lubitsch
8PM FREE
Neil Hamburger @ The Satellite LA 8PM $8
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
TheLateNightFix.com Presents @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5 
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 
Deskpiece Nation @ iO West 10PM $5 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/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  

7) Just another day at the Comedy Bureau: Drove to Hollywood to find open mic at laundry mic was cancelled (again), drove to downtown via sidestreets, walked around for three hours looking for a coffeeshop for wi-fi, cleared for radiation by a homeless person, wrote article and read 700 or tweets at Starbucks, walked to Downtown Independent Theater for the awesome Channel 101 screening (The Parent Project and Sex Teenagers were pretty damn funny), literally ran out to my car amidst rain while being cleared for more radiation by more homeless people, drove to UCB to watch/have my mind implode on itself from laughter at the Walsh Brothers Show that started at midnight, hit traffic at 2:30 in the morning, got home, checked twitter again, and eventually just had sleep deprivation knock me out.  Yeah, it’s just another day at the Bureau.

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Morning Debriefing 3/19/11

March 19, 2011
Uncategorized
bill burr, claremont, comedy central, comedy crawl, comedy news, culver city, hollywood, hollywood tour, late night with jimmy fallon, los angeles, los feliz, morgan murphy, nbc, open mic run, paul f tompkins, pilot, santa monica, set list, tip of the hat, tourists, west coast, west hollywood, what to see

1) Yesterday marks the last day of Morgan Murphy’s (@morgan_murphy) stint on at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and her gradual return to the West Coast.  Be on the look out, but I’m sure you won’t have to look too hard because she’ll probably going up everywhere and still have that hair. 

2) Take your star map, if you still have it, and go burn it.  THEN, watch Bill Burr’s tour of Los Angeles.  You still see most of the same stuff, but the jokes are actually done by a highly regarded, paid professional.

3) Check out the new trailer for the Comedy Central Pilot: Set List.  Basically, “Whose Line is it Anyway?” for stand up comedy featuring Carlos Alazraqui, Eddie Pepitone, Laurie Kilmartin, Sean Green, Chris Fairbanks, and more!!!

4) The Comedy Bureau hasn’t determined who the Tip of the Hat is going to today, but assuredly, it is going to someone.  I’m sure all of you are on the edge of you seats.

4) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
It’s a Long Way Down @ 11417 Culver Blvd. 7:30PM FREE 
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Smodcastle 8PM $8
Jimmy Dore @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15/2 drink min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Paul F. Tompkins 9th Anniversary Show @ Largo 8:30PM $25 sold out-though may be tickets at door
The Ed Galvez Punk House Weekend Edition @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10 
Seth & Ed’s Puppet Show @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Magic Bag @ Smodcastle 10PM $8
Tomorrow w/Ron Lynch Presents: WEIRD! @ The Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 
Tournament of Nerds @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only) 

5) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min.
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed    

6) To all those tweeting, posting, and making fun of Rebecca Black: Soundscan doesn’t differentiate whether you’re listening to her ironically or not. STOP TERRIBLE MUSIC.

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Morning Debriefing 3/13/11

March 13, 2011
Uncategorized
100 top comedies, behind the scenes, burbank, college humor, comedy, comedy crawl, comedy garage, documentary, echo park, everything, independent, indieflix, koreatown, los angeles, los feliz, megan amram, open mic map, open mic run, tip of the hat, ucb, west hollywood, westwood

1) My goodness, The Comedy Garage (@thecomedygarage) has a documentary about them! Watch out for it’s release on March 15th on Indieflix!

2) Proof that “college kids” are plenty dumb: College Humor’s Top 100 Comedy Movies of All Time (ranked by vote).  In the top 10 OF ALL TIME: The Hangover, Anchorman, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Happy Gilmore, Dodgeball.  I know we try to maintain an air of professionalism here at the Comedy Bureau, but WHAT THE FUCK!?!?  Sidenote: my college degree feels even worth less.

3) The Greater LA Open Mic Map-UPDATED!  You’re welcome very much…

4) Tip of the Hat: Megan Amram

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-eat your heart out South by Southwest
#hashtag @ Bar Lubitsch 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Comedy Barre @ Barre Vermont 8PM FREE/2 drink min.
Pajama Party! @ Gaylord Apartments 8PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix
8:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
Chatterbox Comedy @ Chatterbox 943 Citrus Ave., Covina, CA 9PM FREE
Set List @ Flappers 9PM $10/2 drink min.
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/$5 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   

7) That’s right, we’re not at SXSW.  We’re here for you fine folks both in, for, and with comedy in Los Angeles.  On a separate note, anyone have passes for Just for Laughs Montreal coming up?

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Ron Lynch-Tip of the Hat 3/6/11

March 7, 2011
Uncategorized
comedic genius, comedy, los angeles, los feliz, national treasure, ron lynch, steve allen theater, tip of the hat, tomorrow show, wonders of the world

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to RON LYNCH:

“Mmmm mmmm mmm MMMMMM MMMM MMMM!?!?” (Yes, you read that right, Ron unintelligibly mumbled during his entire set last Monday at a bar…. and killed)

If you hear about me talking about Ron Lynch in person, I might say something like, “I wish these were my words, but someone beat me to them: Ron Lynch is a National Treasure.”  I told that to Ron once and he told me that was enough of the flattery.  The sheer humility of one of the most original and jaw-droppingly funny comedic voices of our generation is, in itself, worthy of a “Tip of the Hat”.

“On paper”, Ron’s act might seem almost too simple and hard to figure how exactly he’ll pull it off, but, by the end, it becomes more brilliant than you can imagine.  Last Monday, he literally mumbled his entire set where you couldn’t understand a single thing that he was saying.  Still, his deft touch and uncanny awareness as a performer not only got a bar full of twenty-something drunkards laughing, but applauding him victoriously.  As is the case with Ron Lynch, there are only so many ways that I could describe what happened, but you really just have to witness him responding to audience suggestions of doing impressions while still mumbling and get uproarious laughs yourself.

Simply put, Ron shows us what comedy can be and the true artistry behind just entertaining a bunch of strangers in a darkened room, which is why he really is a more of a “wonder of the world of comedy” rather than a “national treasure”.

One of my favorite shows in Los Angeles, the Tomorrow Show, is produced and hosted by Ron Lynch every Saturday at the Steve Allen Theater starting appropriately at midnight and is something that really is “bucket list” worthy every time that you go.  If you can’t stay up for that, then check back here at the Comedy Bureau for any other dates he performs because, rest assured, they’ll be here.

Morning Debriefing 3/4/11

March 4, 2011
Uncategorized
acme comedy theatre, awards ceremony, burbank, comedy competitions, comedy crawl, comedy show, echo park, glendale, hollywood, improv, long beach, los angeles, morning debriefing, parody, ron lynch, santa monica, sarah silverman program, scoomies, silverlake, tig notaro, tip of the hat, ucb, ultimate free and cheap la comedy list, wisepix

1) Tig Notaro has friends.  She also has a pilot taping.  This taping is taking place at ACME Comedy Theatre Mon. Mar. 7th.  She would really like it if you would come. Here are some more details about the taping of Tig and her friends. [via AST News]

2) It’s the last day for Scoomie Awards suggestions.  That’s right, it’s the last chance to make a category for how much disdain you have for certain people at open mics in LA.  Don’t miss out.

3) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 3/6-3/12. Thanks Wisepix.

4) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to RON LYNCH!!! Article/Profile to follow soon.

5) I know it’s incredibly late, but my article about comedy competitions “Three Minutes to Nothing” IS on its way today, or at least I think so…

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Dead Authors @ UCB Theatre 6:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Two-Headed Beast @ Stories Books & Cafe
8PM FREE
Stood Up Friday Night: Wingman @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5
First Fridays Variety Show @ Theatre Asylum 10:30PM $10 
Red Velvet Comedy @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/given set list to improv off of
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM 
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM
TRINITY CHURCH 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Starts 8PM/Must work clean
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM  

8) Anyone how actually thinks this is written in an actual office by a group of contributors, please keep thinking that.  It makes me feel better about writing this on top of a mess of blankets on my couch.

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Eddie-Pepitone-Tip of the Hat 2/26

February 28, 2011
Uncategorized
comedian, comedy, conan, eddie pepitone, funny, hilarious, last comic standing, los angeles, puddin, sarah silverman program, tip of the hat, tomorrow show, twitter

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to EDDIE PEPITONE for

“Puddin”-Eddie Pepitone’s Daily Live Action Comic Strip that has Eddie walk into a break room and wreak havoc on a co-worker trying to eat pudding.  My personal favorite is this one where Eddie yells at a magazine that has Taylor Swift on the cover.

There are so many reasons I could have given Eddie Pepitone a “Tip of the Hat”.  There’s Eddie’s hilarious Twitter feed where he posts his “to do lists” and/or “signs things aren’t going well” or his performance nearly a month ago as Sven the Clown at the Tomorrow Show where he played a clown running laps around stage just so he could plug his interior painting services at the end, but “Puddin” that premiered just over a week ago puts Eddie and his uproarious character in the person in the perfectly unassuming situation leaving nothing but laughs the whole way through.

No matter how many times I see Eddie take the stage or watch an online clip over and over, he is one of those comedic voices that are so unique and so brilliant and just so damn funny, I keep laughing every time almost to the point of my vision going blurry.  As a character comic, Pepitone has perfected his onstage persona of an “unrelenting manic prophet of an apocalypse that he believes is coming in the next second” so well that he can tell jokes, do bits, riffs, engage with audience members, and it will seem flawless and you’ll have no idea whether this was prepared or not.  

Literally, it’s magic.  Well, it’s magic that yells at an empty stage in at attempt to heckle yourself.

As you’ve might extrapolated from everything written above, Eddie Pepitone is involved in quite a lot of projects AND is one of the funniest people on Twitter meaning you should follow him @eddiepepitone right now, then finish reading this article.  He performs frequently in and around Los Angeles, a member of the lovely Long Shot Podcast, and the Comedy Bureau will keep you updated as anything else he’s up to because you should drop whatever you’re doing to see him perform.

Morning Debriefing 2/26/11

February 26, 2011
Uncategorized
12 mile, bill maher, black dynamite, burbank, chris hardwick, comedian, comedy, comedy central, dave holmes, drink with dave, eddie pepitone, flappers, g4, greg proops, harland williams, hbo, hollywood improv, jackie kashian, largo, los angeles, marc maron, meltdown comics, nerdist, oscars, paul f tompkins, puddin, silverlake, tip of the hat, ucb theatre, wtf podcast

1) The “insider comedian interview” format has gone viral… big time.  Forget about shoddy camera work in green rooms and back alley studios that double as living spaces.  Bigger names are coming out of the woodwork.  First Marc Maron w/his “WTF Podcast”.  Recently, Dave Holmes and “A Drink with Dave”.  Most recently, Bill Maher and “12 Mile”.  Did I mention that everyone should be watching/listening to these?

2) Everyone will be live tweeting during the Oscars and I will be here in our cavernous office keeping everyone up to speed as to what’s the funniest things written during the show.  We hand pick our featured tweets here and I almost suggest that you don’t need to watch the Oscars because the Comedy Bureau Twitter feed will be almost more entertaining (only because you need to watch the telecast to put it into context).

3) In case you were wondering, the Tip of the Hat, this week, goes to Eddie Pepitone for the start of the Puddin’ Comic Strip.  Article to follow later today.

4) ON THE HORIZON
NERDIST INDUSTRIES and ARS NOVA present: Nerdist Podcast Live: BLACK DYNAMITE! @ Meltdown Comics Mon. Apr. 4th 8PM $15
The Man with F.E.E.E.T @ Downtown Independent Theater Wed. Mar. 16th 9:30PM $20
Nick Rutherford & Friends @ Hollywood Improv Lab Wed. Mar. 30th 10:30PM $5  

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 11:30AM $10/2 item min.
Space Boners: Extra Boners Edition @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE
The Swarm @ UCB Theatre 7PM $5 (stand by only)
Channel 101 Screening @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Harland Williams @ Hollywood Improv 7:30PM/9:30PM $20/2 item min. 
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes @ Smodcastle 8PM $8
Greg Proops @ Ice House 8PM/10PM $17.50/2 drink min.
Jackie Kashian @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 drink min.
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo 8:30PM $25 (sold out)
Comedy Garage @ The World Famous Comedy Garage 10PM FREE 
Magic Bag @ Smodcastle 10PM $8
The Twelve Shiny Nickels Show @ Fake Gallery 11PM $5
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/one item min.
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed 

7) This is the 127th Day of the Comedy Bureau and both my arms are still here.  Take that James Franco.

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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 2/5/11

February 5, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy, comedy crawl, la, morning debriefing, nick petrillo, open mic run, reggie watts, ryan stout, tip of the hat

1) The Tip of the Hat this week goes to Ryan Stout (@stoutryan) and a proper article will follow later today because I had no time yesterday trying to get up and watch a show because I’m STILL the only one really writing all of this.

2) Nick Petrillo did 95 sets in the month of January.  I did an interview with him last week and it will be posted soon, so you should watch out for it to see how this madness played out.

3) Let’s take a moment to recognize that Reggie Watts will be in LA in the week coming.  So far he’s doing Garfunkel & Oates @ Largo on Thurs. and Heart of Darkness @ Meltdown Comics on Fri.  The Comedy Bureau will keep you posted on any other shows he’s doing in his short stint here as you should not miss any of them, if not all of them.

4) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-Really, just do it.
Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 11:30AM $10/2 item min.
Two-Headed Beast @ Stories Cafe 8PM FREE
Baron Vaughn @ Flappers Claremont 8PM/10PM $15/2 drink min. 
The Roast of Oprah @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
Christina Pazitsky @ Flappers YooHoo Room 11PM $10/2 drink min.
Twelve Shiny Nickels @ Fake Gallery 11PM $5
Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only) 
Tomorrow Show Presents Happy Birthday @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

5) OPEN MIC RUN 2/5/11
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd. St. Promenade (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/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

6) Recently: I’d like to do a poll for how many people watch the Super Bowl for the commercial rather than the game around the world and similarly how many people even understand/care what’s going on.  My money’s on people talking about what the mystery Budweiser plot was rather than the end of the game for the weeks to come.

7) Many comics have a personal list of what it takes to be a comic.  I think I just added to my list: Hanging out at a shady Winchell’s tweeting until you’re requested by your friends to tell a story about a prostitute.

Report 00106

THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Morning Debriefing 1/29/11

January 29, 2011
Uncategorized
blaine capatch, charlie callas, chris elliot, comedy crawl, eagleheart, greg proops, hipster sitcoms, josh androsky, lizz winstead, matt braunger, morning debriefing, ny times, open mic run, tip of the hat

1) RT @thecomedybureau According to LA Comics Waiting to Go Up #hipstersitcoms.  Though it might seem goofy, Twitter exploded with all the funny tweets at this joke hashtag: M*E*H (@blainecapatch) Two Guys, a Girl, and a Vegan Pizza Place That’s Just Alright, But Like, What Else Is In This Shit City? (@ShutUpAndrosky) There’s Gotta Be More Than 10 Things That I Hate About You (@lizzwinstead)

2) The Results for Comedy Central’s Stand Up Showdown (via The Comic’s Comic) Details about what it means to finish in the Top 20 means when I get them.

3) NY Times profiles the return of Chris Elliott and EAGLEHEART (which should really be watched by everyone on Feb. 3rd on Adult Swim via Cartoon Network MIDNIGHT).

4) Tip of the Hat 1/28/11-Greg Proops

5) Oh, yeah. Thank You Very Cool is on Comedy Central with Nick Kroll and other people bearing a slight resemblance to Nick Kroll 10PM tonight.  Watch Nick and all of his peeps, will ya?

6) What would have been a day commemorating 100 Days of the Comedy Bureau is tentatively on hold.  Details to soon follow.

7) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL-because Patton Oswalt at Largo is sold out
Two Milk Minimum @ Flappers Burbank 11:30AM $10/2 item min.
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 7PM FREE
2011: A Space Boners Odyssey @ Silverlake Lounge 7PM FREE
Humorous Event @ Aida Theatre 8PM $10
Channel 101 Screening @ Downtown Independent Theater 9PM FREE
Australia is Down Under Benefit w/Jim Jeffries @ Hollywood Improv 9:30PM $20/2 item min.
Ed Galvez’s Punk House Weekend Edition @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Fake Gallery (4319 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA) 10PM $5
Tomorrow w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

8) OPEN MIC RUN 1/29/11

9) Recently: Comedian Charlie Callas just passed away at 83.  With his plethora of voices and facial expressions such as this, stand up comedy was able to evolve several years later into this with Matt Braunger.

10) This is happening tonight and the Comedy Bureau will be out on the street (meaning at a comedy club/show, not actually the physical street)

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THE COMEDY BUREAU/@thecomedybureau

Tip of the Hat 1/28: Greg Proops

January 29, 2011
Uncategorized
comedy, greg proops, la, late late show, tip of the hat

Greg Proops by Seth Olenick

The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to GREG PROOPS.

“@GregProops About this State of the Union.  I’m taking the under.”

The extreme silhouette style picture above can only be pulled off, in my opinion, by a select group of people without coming off as narcissistic.  Such an image suggests that the simple idea of the outline of this individual is enough to hint at their particular distinction.

With his exploits throughout the world of comedy in “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” to being a stand up comedian touring throughout the world and numerous festivals of the highest caliber, Greg Proops certainly can “pull off” such a picture. 

In all aspects of his comedy, Proops is so quick on his feet (or sitting down off of them as he frequently does on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) whether commenting on his “Dr. Seuss sock collection” or an election that audiences gladly stay riveted to the casual gait of Proops and his absolutely on-point assertions on society, politics, or Thanksgiving in England and laugh often and heartily.  Though his unwavering dapper appearance in a perfectly cut suit and orange tinted glasses might, at first, seem “gimmicky”, Proops does away with any such notion as he drifts cooly through his very cerebral, yet accessible jokes/riffs/etc.

Currently, Greg Proops lives in Hollywood and performs stand up and also improvises w/Drew Carey’s Improv All Stars.  His podcast, aptly titled, “The Smartest Man in the World” often goes live at Bar Lubitsch for free on Wednesdays at 8PM.  Or you can follow him on Twitter @GregProops or check his website out or buy his album “Proops Digs In” on AST Records or just come back to the Comedy Bureau frequently to hear about his comedic outings in LA (and there are plenty).

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