workplace comedy – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 2: Joel Mandelkorn & Live-streaming Live Comedy

April 8, 2020

butterboy, gayme show, hot tub with kurt and kristen, joel mandelkorn, livestream comedy, workplace comedy

This second episode of The Comedy Bureau Field Report goes a bit behind-the-scenes as TCB founder Jake Kroeger sits (remotely) down with one of the best comedy producers around, Joel Mandelkorn (Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen, The Super Serious Show, Toasty, plenty of short films and TV projects). Having co-produced (with producer/life partner Mandee Johnson) Hot Tub with Kurt [Braunohler] and Kristen [Schaal], absolutely one of LA’s best weekly comedy shows, Joel had to hit the ground running into translating that show into a live-stream stand-up show because of, well… you know, the global pandemic. Also, we go to 40 minutes, but it’s worth it.

They talk the challenges and nuances of such an endeavor as well as a workplace comedy TV series set in the times of COVID-19 already being in the works, premium free series that are suddenly free at HBO and IFC, (as always) what you should be watching and listening to (GAYME SHOW and Butterboy), and what we think the future holds for the sort of comedic bits that’ll work months from now in seeing live comedy again.

Tune into Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen Home Edition on Mondays at 8PM PST/11PM EST at holdthephone.tv, Follow Joel @cleftclips and follow The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB’s GoFundMe.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Paul Lieberstein and Ben Silverman Already Working on a Workplace Comedy Set During COVID-19 Pandemic

April 3, 2020

News, Uncategorized

ben silverman, covid-19, paul lieberstein, workplace comedy

(via Deadline)

First off, it was only a matter of time before an idea like this would get put into development, especially since everyone has so much time to themselves while stuck at home and it’s timely and we’re all having to get used to watching video conferencing/livestreaming/etc. to stay connected and/or work remotely.

Secondly, it’s nice to know that Paul Lieberstein and Ben Silverman, two EPs of the American version of The Office (also Lieberstein famously played Toby Flenderson) are working on this idea of a workplace comedy dealing with what we’re going through. It’ll be curious to see if this gets fast tracked into production (even though it would have to be all done remotely right now) as it would get some production folks back to work and networks/streaming services must undoubtedly be looking for content to keep our elevated binge-watching appetites satiated.

Also, if we had to guess, this series might look something like the John Cho thriller vehicle Searching, but something that’s technically less and more scary (because of the pandemic) at the same time.