Pick of the Day: The Future of the Future of LA Comedy 6/23

Department of Cultural Affairs Offering Funding to Live Theaters in District 2 of LA for Online Experiences

Tim Dillon Shows That COVID-19 Is Feeling Lonely and Depressed Too

The President Show Has a Special White House Coronavirus Task Force Debriefing

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

June 22, 2020

barbara holliday, christian chavez, covid-19, jake kroeger, joel mandelkorn, lockdown, phase 4, reopening, youtube

At this unprecedented moment of three months of lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global uprising against systemic racism and oppression and police brutality, the idea of when live comedy will come back or where it will fit in these historic times we’re living through is a question that seems far from having an answer or an even an attempt at an answer. In LA specifically, live comedy falls under the category “Phase 4” of reopening, which seems to be far, far away at a date TBD.

Thus, we here at The Comedy Bureau are attempting to attempt to have some sort of conversation with The Future of the Future of LA Comedy.

Perhaps, this virtual roundtable discussion could lead to some start to some answers about live comedy in LA going forward in regards to reopening, safety, sustainability, diversity/inclusion, and supporting the plethora of important causes happening right now.

Joining TCB founder Jake Kroeger will be a panel of people that operate throughout all corners of the LA comedy scene including Joel Mandelkorn (producer of Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen, CleftClips), Barbara Holliday (owner/booker of Flappers Comedy Club), and Christian Chavez (owner of Echoes on Pico). Their discussion will hopefully be the start of getting on the same page as we believe that comedy and live performance in general will come back safely and maybe better than ever.

The Future of The Future of LA Comedy will be live-streamed this Tuesday, June 23rd at 3PM PT/6PM ET thanks to the fine folks at Hold The Phone Comedy. Please tune in at bit.ly/tcblayoutube.

May 28, 2020

News

artist relief, covid-19, district 2, grants, los angeles, theater relief

Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs, in normal times, has money earmarked to fund live events and performances. As that’s still not happening in full effect for awhile, they have transitioned a lot of those funds into multiple rounds of artist/theater relief.

This latest round of funding goes towards theaters and theater businesses in District 2, which mostly covers North Hollywood and Studio City. As both partial relief and funding, “stimulation contracts” of $8ooo will be offered to create and foster online experiences as the safer-at-home order is still in place in LA county. The deadline to apply is Jun. 12th.

More specifically:

-Funds may be used for rent, salaries, artist fees, videography, marketing, website administration, and related costs to be incurred between July 1 and August 31, 2020.

-Only one (1) application may be submitted by each theater business.

-Eligible theater businesses with fewer than 50 paid annual workers (including proprietors, salaried employees, and independent contractors) are encouraged to apply below.

Plenty of comedy and comedy adjacent venues definitely fit into these parameters and we can only hope more relief is coming all around the county and the Greater LA Area.

Get more details/apply here.

Restarting Community Business with Live Theaters Headquartered in Council District 2

May 25, 2020

News

covid-19, sketch comedy, tim dillon

The global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought an unprecedented level of isolation and depression. The far reaching mental health effects from all of us being quarantined away from each other is more tangible than ever before.

In fact, even the COVID-19 virus itself is suffering from being cut off from any sort of life (outside of being a incredibly deadly virus).

Tim Dillon “shows” how the virus is living and how it’s feeling the loneliness like the rest of us (in addition of being a terrifying, destructive force that is unlike anything the majority of us has ever gone through). Also, Dillon shows how “man on the street” bits might go while socially distanced, especially if you have the guts to dress up as COVID-19 and walk around right now.

Enjoy Dillon’s sketch here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tim Dillon (@timjdillon) on May 23, 2020 at 8:32am PDT

April 14, 2020

News

adam pally, anthony atamanuik, covid-19, peter grosz, satire, trump

To date, Anthony Atamanuik and his portrayal of Trump, especially on Comedy Central’s The President Show, is one of the best takes on Trump that we think has ever been (especially since Atamanuik often riffs an insane thing in character and Trump ends up saying that insane thing).

Though the show came to an end awhile back in the “before times” (less than two years ago actually), Atamanuik donned his pitch perfect Trump and was joined by Peter Grosz and Adam Pally who played VP Mike Pence and Don Jr. on the aforementioned President Show to show what’s likely going on with Trump and his team after one of his daily briefings via Zoom.

Please enjoy it here.

View this post on Instagram

President Trump talks with his stupid son, Don Jr. and his suck up of a Vice President “stand up” Mike Pence about COVID-19 and how to best defeat it and move on, like, RIGHT NOW!

A post shared by Anthony Atamanuik (@therealactualtony) on Apr 11, 2020 at 5:22pm PDT

« July 2020 »

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.