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w kamau bell

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Part 1 of “SXSW Comedy” Premiering in July on Showtime

May 29, 2015
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beth stelling, comedy special, matt braunger, showtime, sxsw, todd glass, w kamau bell

If you were at SXSW this year, you know this is going to be really good.

For most of us that didn’t get to go to Austin for any festivals this year, you’ll get to see the comedy showcase special from Showtime and hosted by W. Kamau Bell this summer which will include the great comedic stylings of Matt Braunger, Todd Glass, Beth Stelling, Nate Bargatze, Mark Normand, and Iliza Shlesinger.

The first of two parts of SXSW Comedy with W. Kamau Bell, directed by the trusted talents of Steve Feinartz (Matt Braunger’s Big Dumb Animal, Eddie Pepitone’s In Ruins), Fri. July 24th at 11:05PM on Showtime.

Mark this on your calendars even though we’ll definitely remind you about it again. 

CNN’s “United Shades of America” with W. Kamau Bell Tapes This Week at The Virgil

April 29, 2015
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cnn, taping, the virgil, united shades of america, w kamau bell

Do you have this Thursday and Friday off? If not, try to get those days off.

Part of W. Kamau Bell’s new CNN show United Shades of America will include stand-up in between segments where Kamau explores subcultures around America.

There are three tapings this week at the gorgeous Virgil where Hot Tub, The Super Serious Show, Big Money, Victory Lap, Warp Zone and more happen: Thurs 1:30PM, Fri. 10AM, and Fri. 2PM.

Get your free tickets here.

W. Kamau Bell To Host a New CNN Show “United Shades of America”

March 10, 2015
Uncategorized
cnn, totally biased, united shades of america, w kamau bell

(via Deadline)

W. Kamau Bell is finally returning to TV to do what he was doing before he was on TV: touring the country to talk to the people, wherever they may be, about the issues that are affecting them all under the umbrella of comedy.

CNN has announced their upcoming programming slate and on it is United Shades of America that will be hosted by W. Kamau Bell. Bell will go far and wide across the land and get into whatever subcultures he can. This is sort of what Kamau was doing on his Laughter Against the Machine tour before he got to host the far-too-short-lived Totally Biased at FX/FXx.

For once, it’ll be nice to see a show on CNN probably not end up on The Daily Show to be poked fun at.

Paul Scheer Launches His Own Podcast Network, Wolfpop

November 4, 2014
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comedy podcast, denzel washington, earwolf, kevin avery, matt gourley, nate corddry, paul scheer, podcast network, sarah thyre, sly stallone, w kamau bell, wolfpop

           

If you, for some reason, are still doubting the popularity, look no further than the launch of Paul Scheer’s very own podcast network Wolfpop today. Scheer himself has plenty of success with his own podcast How Did This Get Made? and several appearances on a multitude of other podcasts and is now moving on up with a network of his own, which, by the looks of it, is going to be pretty great.

Started with the help of Earwolf and Matt Gourley, Wolfpop will feature podcasts focused on comedy and pop culture such as DENZEL WASHINGTON IS THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIME PERIOD with W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery or Reading Outloud with Nate Corddry or Cry Babies with Sarah Thyre and Susan Orlean or The Stallone Podcast with Paul Scheer and Sly Stallone and so much more.

We know that you want get into all of this already, so we’ll let you get to that.

Comedy Line-up for 2014 Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX

October 20, 2014
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atx, austin, fred armisen, jon daly, jonah ray, kumail nanjiani, neil hamburger, thomas middleditch, tx, w kamau bell

From Nov. 7th-9th, Austin is hosting yet another festival with an amazing line-up of music and comedy, Fun Fun Fun Fest.

This year, Fred Armisen, Jonah Ray, Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, Neil Hamburger, Jon Daly, Rachel Bloom, Joe Mande, W. Kamau Bell, Doug Mellard, Jake Flores, Air Sex Championships, Cody Hustak, and way more are coming to Auditorium Shores. 

Find a reason to get to Austin if you’re not already there and get your passes ASAP. 

W. Kamau Bell Announces Giant Nationwide “Oh, Everything!” Comedy Tour

September 19, 2014
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comedy tour, oh everything, w kamau bell

                     

From Sept. 21st (that’s this Sun.) to Jan. 21st, 2015, W. Kamau Bell will be touring in over 30 cities including Kansas City, Los Angeles, Tempe, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City, Little Rock, Eugene, Knoxville, Spokane, and way more.

There’s probably a good chance he’ll be playing near you in that run and you should do yourself a favor and catch him when he does.

Tickets are available here.

Universal TV Brings on a New VP Comedy Development in Dan Shear

August 25, 2014
Uncategorized
billy eichner, dan shear, katie dippold, loren bouchard, universal, w kamau bell

(via Deadline)

The former agent of Billy Eichner, W. Kamau Bell, Loren Bouchard, Katie Dippold, Seth Grahame-Smith, Lesley Arfin, and more is now slotted at Universal TV as a VP of Comedy Development.

With such a former client list, we’re crossing our fingers that some interesting and very funny projects are set to come through Universal TV’s pipeline.

Bumbershoot Announces This Year’s Comedy Line-Up

June 19, 2014
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beth stelling, bumbershoot, cristela alonzo, festival, line-up, matt braunger, paul f tompkins, seattle, ted alexandro, w kamau bell

Bumbershoot Announces This Year’s Comedy Line-Up

Paul F. Tompkins’ Dead Author Podcast, W. Kamau Bell, Ted Alexandro, Matt Braunger, Cristela Alonzo, Beth Stelling, PDX Comedy Block Party, NW Comedy Fest’s Canadians of Comedy, and plenty more are coming to Bumbershoot are coming to Seattle at the end of August/beginning of September.

There’s plenty of great music too. So, get your tickets now.

Nathan Fielder, Emo Philips, Reggie Watts & More Added to Bridgetown Comedy Festival

May 1, 2014
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bridgetown, comedy festival, emo phillips, james adomian, nathan fielder, paul f tompkins, portland, reggie watts, totally biased, w kamau bell

In case you weren’t going to Portland, OR next weekend from May 8th-11th for Bridgetown Comedy Festival, here’s some brand new additions to their line-up/programming that will probably make you change your mind.

Now scheduled to perform at Bridgetown this year:
-Nathan Fielder
-James Adomian
-Emo Philips
-Two shows titled Baron Vaughn Presents: The New Negroes, in reference to the Harlem Renaissance movement by the same name, showcase the best young black comedians in the nation
-The Show That Dare Not Speak Its Name, curated by James Adomian, showcases the best young LGBT comedians in the nation. 
-Reggie Watts
-Paul F. Tompkins and Dead Authors Podcast
-W. Kamau Bell along with former Totally Biased writers Hari Kondabolu, Eliza Skinner, Aparna Nancherla, and Janine Brito 
-A special showcase, Voodoo Doughnut Recordings Presents Ian and Nathan and Friends, will celebrate the release of a 7-inch record featuring sets from Portland-bred favorites Ian Karmel and Nathan Brannon. 

Convinced? Of course, you are. Get your tickets here.

W. Kamau Bell To Host WGA East Awards

December 9, 2013
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awards, w kamau bell, wga east

W. Kamau Bell To Host WGA East Awards

W. Kamau Bell is getting set to host his 2nd time on TV with this upcoming WGA East Awards. Let’s keep Kamau going with a 3rd, 4th, and 5th time, and so on. 

Also, in remembering Jonathan Ames hosting last year’s WGA Awards, does the WGA like having hosts who just got their shows cancelled?

Colin Quinn Talks “Unconstitutional’ on Totally Biased

October 18, 2013
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colin quinn, fxx, totally biased, unconstitutional, w kamau bell

Colin Quinn stopped by Totally Biased to chat with host W. Kamau Bell and gave a little more specifics on what his thoughts on the constitution that he lays out in his traveling one man show Unconstitutional are as well as his thoughts on the SNL diversity controversy, and more.

Watch the whole interview (by the way you guys should watch the interviews on Totally Biased as they’re definitely figuring out their niche in late night) here. 

You’re Watching Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, Right?

September 20, 2013
Uncategorized
fall tv season, florida, fxx, totally biased, w kamau bell

Since its return along with the launch of FXx, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell has really found its rhythm and comedic voice/tone as a show in such a way that you should definitely be watching it more than you probably are right now.

Just check out these segments of giving the entire state of Florida an intervention and a TV exec played by Eliza Skinner previewing the all white male TV slate coming this fall. All the writers in these bits, Hari Kondabolu, Janine Brito, Dwayne Kennedy, Guy Branum, Aparna Nancherla, along with Skinner, who are also all on camera, kill it in these two bits.

Be sure to catch Totally Biased nightly during the week at 11PM on FXx.

W. Kamau Bell Addresses Some Past/Current Beefs With/Along With Sarah Silverman on Totally Biased

September 17, 2013
Uncategorized
guy branum, interview, roast of james franco, sarah silverman, totally biased, w kamau bell, women in comedy

Not only do W. Kamau Bell address his scathing blog post about Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic with Sarah Silverman on Totally Biased, but they also talk dealing with the personal stress of doing roasts as well as Silverman’s thoughts on a roast of her jokes at The Roast of James Franco by Totally Biased writer Guy Branum and fighting for freedom of speech no matter how much it may hurt.

It’s a really good interview on comedy, so watch it here now, please.

John Fugelsang and Jamie Kilstein Have the Politest Debate About Existence of God on Totally Biased

September 12, 2013
Uncategorized
atheism, debate, existence of god, fxx, jamie kilstein, john fugelsang, totally biased, w kamau bell

W. Kamau Bell has just gotten back with Totally Biased and already going for religion, well, sort of, as he faced off comedians John Fugelsang and Jamie Kilstein in a debate or more like trading jokes back and forth.

We’re not sure they came to any sort of conclusion and it definitely didn’t come to blows, but it was pretty great and shouldn’t (hopefully) offend any of you. Watch the “debate” here.

Chris Rock Stops by Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell

September 11, 2013
Uncategorized
chris rock, dave chappelle, fxx, jerry seinfeld, the butler, totally biased, w kamau bell

Chris Rock sat down with W. Kamau Bell at Totally Biased, the show he produces, and waxes comedic on The Butler, getting pulled over with Jerry Seinfeld on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and, oh yeah, still possibly going on tour with Dave Chappelle next year.

Watch the interview here.

Janine Brito vs. Tracy Morgan in a Tracy Morgan-Off on Totally Biased

September 8, 2013
Uncategorized
fxx, janine brito, totally biased, tracy morgan, w kamau bell

On the first week of its return, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell appropriately had some pretty amazing segments, a good sign for the new episodes in their new daily format to come. 

One of them was Totally Biased writer Janine Brito competing in a Tracy Morgan impression contest against none other than Tracy Morgan. It’s as amazing as it sounds, so go watch it right now here.

Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell Adds Eliza Skinner as Staff Writer

July 29, 2013
Uncategorized
eliza skinner, fx, totally biased, w kamau bell

First off, congratulations to the hilarious Eliza Skinner in getting a staff writing position at Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.

Secondly, congratulations to Totally Biased having one hell of a writing staff with Hari Kondabolu, Kevin Avery, Dwayne Kennedy, Guy Branum, Aparna Nancherla, Kevin Kataoka, Janine Brito, and now Eliza.

Basically, you should all be excited for Totally Biased expanding to several days a week soon.

Morning Debriefing 9/15/11

September 15, 2011
Uncategorized
alhambra, cheap, comedy news, comedy shows, conan, culver city, encino, free, hollywood, indoor kids, kumail nanjiani, live, los angeles, los feliz, nato green, open mic, paul f tompkins, santa monica, sklar brothers, tbs, w kamau bell, west hollywood, what to do, witstream

1) The Sklar Brothers on Conan. Please buy “Hendersons & Daughters” not because it’s #1 on iTunes, but because it’s damn hilarious.

2) Here’s an explanation on how to get listed on Witstream. It’s odd how close this is to getting passed a comedy club.

3) Kumail Nanjiani “teaches” a little girl how to play Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

4) Paul F. Tompkins’ Dead Authors is going to be a podcast!!! (and this twitpic is proof enough, right?)

Season 2 of the Tompkast is almost ready. But arriving this Tuesday:

5) The Laughter Against the Machine Tour starts off their tour by missing their plane while waiting at the actual departure gate. Oddly enough, we also kept forgetting to post this…

6) “If there were a late-night comedy show completely run by comedy writers, without any interference from a host, producer, or network, that show would probably be called The Darkest and Most Impossibly Horrible Things You Can Imagine, Presented as Comedy. Every sketch would end with a gunshot or an infant’s stroller engulfed in flames, and the show would be canceled halfway through its opening titles. That’s because most comedy writers are so inured by humor that only the most shockingly toxic ideas can achieve the proper velocity to penetrate their indifference.”

-Todd Levin, staff writer on Conan, in Good Magazine

Oh, if only the key dems that networks and studios go for just upped their sophistication in humor so such a scenario could happen.

7) Soon, there will be a term “Whitney apologist”…

8) Will Ferrell will be the next recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. One can’t help but ponder Twain’s thoughts on “the Landlord” and its reflection on the American renter.

9) COMEDY CRAWL
The Super Serious Show w/Paul F. Tompkins @ Smashbox Studios 7PM $15
Red Sandwich’s Saddest Show Ever @ UCB Theatre 8PM $5 (stand by only)
The Hot House Comedy Show @ Hot House 8PM FREE (invite only)
Sarah Silverman & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet Theatre 8:30PM $25 (sold out, tickets may be available)
The Josh & Josh Show @ Bar Lubistch 8:30PM FREE
3rd Thursday Comedy Series @ Ruskin Group Theatre 9PM FREE
Odd Thursdays @ The Palace Restaurant 9PM FREE
Mapping the Heavens @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only) 
Live at Carnegie Hall* @ Hollywood Hotel 10PM FREE 

10) OPEN MIC RUN
SAL’S COMEDY HOLE 7356 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 6PM/$4 minimum/first come, first served
ZAPATA VIVE 101 S. First Ave., Arcadia, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/20 spots available/5 min.
COFEE BEAN 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, Suite 180/Starts 7PM/mixed mic/no purchase necessary
SANDWICH SPOT 3101 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/first come, first served/10 min.
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
CAFE UNURBAN 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 9PM/No purchase necessary 
DANGERFIELD’S 2 2860 Glenview Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 9PM/Starts after booked portion/no purchase necessary
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 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available   

11) If you’re a comic and you’re JUST going up at open mics/shows and NOT watching comedy, I guarantee you that the majority of your material has probably been done.

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Morning Debriefing 7/2/11

July 2, 2011
Uncategorized
amoeba records, bankruptcy, ben schwartz, bud selig, chapter 11, cheap, comedy news, comedy shows, davey johnson, dodgers, echo park, free, garfunkel and oates, garry shandling, hollywood, hurley, irvine, jimmy pardo, jorge garcia, laugh factory, los angeles, los feliz, lost, riki lindhome, storytelling, ucb, w kamau bell, webseries, what to do

1) “@WKamauBell Comedians apologizing is the new black.”  We agree 100%.

2) Jorge Garcia from Lost apparently tried out stand-up at the Laugh Factory. [via BTNPR]

3) Davey Johnson is really one of the funniest people we know. Watch ‘What’s What?’

4) Ben Schwartz interviewing Garry Shandling over Twitter.

5) Riki Lindhome of Garfunkel and Oates lands role in “Fun Cast”.

6) MLB blocks Chapter 11 Dodger Jerseys from being sold.  Come on, Selig… that’s really funny.

 

7) ON THE HORIZON
Return to Babylon (babble on) @ Dark Horse Saloon Wed. July 6th 9PM 

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Jimmy Pardo Hosting Charity Auction @ Amoeba Records 4PM FREE
Everything is Festival: Schrab & Harmon’s Found Crap V @ Cinefamily 4PM $10
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
Two Headed Beast @ Stories Books & Cafe 8PM FREE
Re-Animator the Musical @ Steve Allen Theater 8PM $30
Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theater 10PM $5
The Sklar Brothers @ Irvine Improv 11PM $10/2 item min.
The Midnight Show w/James Van Der Beek @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow!!! Presents 5 Minutes or Die @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

9) 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.  

10) So according to their posted calendars, the Comedy Store and Sal’s Comedy Hole will still be having their open mics run on the 4th of July.  Anyone else running their mics/confirming they hate their families, don’t have friends? (Because no one hates fireworks and the taste of BBQ unless you’re a pinko commie)

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