NBC/Second City and HBO Launching New Diversity Programs

Morning Debriefing 9/18/11

February 25, 2015

diversity, fellowship, hbo, hboaccess, nbc, second city, submissions

Continuing in the direction of making the landscape of television less male and white, both NBC and HBO have just announced programs designed to find diverse talent.

More specifically, NBC has partnered with the legendary Second City to find new sketch talent (via The Wrap) in the form of fellowships, scholarship awards, and a festival. Hopefully, this will help them avoid such things as having to hold a “secret” audition for a new black female cast member for SNL.

HBO has launched their own HBOAccess Writing Fellowship that will search for unrepresented writers from “diverse backgrounds” (via Deadline). If accepted, you’ll get a week long intensive, 8 months writing/development period with HBO top brass, and a live table read. With Girls, Silicon Valley, Veep, The Comeback, and Togetherness, we’re HBO would like to continue their hot comedy streak.

« January 2021 »

1) CBS Sketch Diversity Showcase is taking submissions until Thurs. Sept. 22nd. Must be SAG, “primarily focused on African-American, Asian-American, Middle Eastern, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, LGBT actors, senior performers and performers with disabilities”, and able to perform and rehearse in LA.

2) The Comedy Garage Documentary gets reviewed by Film Threat.

3) “Telescope” by Uncle Mom-is not a song on KCRW’s rotation, but a hilarious new sketch from Shawn Pearlman, Zach Paez, and Payman Benz.

Telescope – watch more funny videos

4) Reportedly, more open mics have opened up in the South Bay for comedy. The Comic Bug will start a comedy open mic on Thurs. Sept. 29th and Club 705 has expanded from Monday night to both Monday and Tuesday night. More details to come.

5) So you’ve got a couple of options for the Emmys tonight, following Witstream, @laughspincom, or just catching up on episodes of Louie.

6) The opposite of John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show coming to Comedy Central next month.

7) ON THE HORIZON
Neighbors @ The Warehouse Wed. Sept. 21st 8PM FREE
One-Two Punch @ Benton Manor Sat. Sept. 24th 8PM $3
Adult Contemporary Comedy @ Fake Gallery Fri. Sept. 23rd 9PM FREE
An Evening with Mike Birbiglia @ USC Bovard Auditorium Oct. 6th 7:30PM $25

8) COMEDY CRAWL
Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter @ UCB Theatre 6PM $2 (stand by only)
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Neal Brennan & Friends w/Bill Burr @ Westside Comedy Theater 9PM $5
RTDOK Presents @ Chatterbox 9PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 9PM FREE
Set List @ Flappers Burbank 9PM $12/2 item min.
Top Story Weekly! @ iO West 9PM $5
DC Pierson’s Bad at Girls @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
SXSW Showcase @ Comedy Store 10PM
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

9) 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
PARADISE PERKS 15475 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA/Sign-up 6:30PM/Starts 7PM/only 10 spots available
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

10) Ha! Gayweather trended in LA on Twitter last night.

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