The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 41: Luisa Diez & Reimagining Comedy (When COVID’s Over)

January 6, 2021

chris rock, la comedy, nyc comedy, richard pryor

It’s the first ep. 0f 2021 and the future of comedy is still very, very much up in the air. Not only is the pandemic set to probably keep live comedy a precarious endeavor through a good portion of 2021, but what will be left on the other side of the pandemic in regards to talent, venues, etc. is, as with all things at this time, uncertain.

To parse through all of that (and maybe even solve all of comedy’s problems) at the top of this year/just another week is venerable NYC indie comedy producer/arts & media consultant/co-host of Why You Mad? Luisa Díez. Luisa zooms with TCB’s Jake Kroeger to analyze how comedy changed in 2020, comedian migratory patterns, and even how comedians can dish it, but often can’t take it. Also, “hot” takes on re-releases of Chris Rock and Richard Pryor and tv/film production having to halt due to COVID-19.

Follow Luisa @luisadieznuts on Twitter and get into her podcast that she co-hosts with Jake Flores, Why You Mad?

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).
Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

“Super Serious” Offers an Oral History of LA Indie Stand-Up Scene in a Gorgeous Coffee Table Book

It’s unclear as to exactly what was going on in 2010 in LA comedy, but it was the starting point of almost everything that makes it special now (well, right before COVID-19 struck anyway). The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail started around then, WTF with Marc Maron was picking up steam and kickstarted LA’s comedy podcast explosion, and even we had our humble beginnings around then. Also, so many indie comedy shows popped in and around LA giving the LA comedy scene the sort of connective tissue that it was missing years prior.

One such show is The Super Serious Show and, as they’ve kept their high flying variety show going for a decade between a handful of unique, wondrous venues around LA, they’ve seen the ebbs and flows, the new, the old, the highs, the shifts, the rumblings, the lows, and everything in between that has been going in the venerable indie LA comedy scene, especially when it comes to stand-up. Thus, Super Serious Show co-creator and portrait photographer Mandee Johnson assembled a lovely and exhaustive oral history of the comedy scene here in LA, accented by her signature polaroid portraiture of the hundreds and hundreds of performers that have stepped on The Super Serious Show stage. Contributors to this special oral history entitled Super Serious: An Oral History of Los Angeles Independent Stand-Up Comedy include Hasan Minhaj, Rory Scovel, Anthony Jeselnik, Karen Kilgariff, Baron Vaughn, Dave Anthony, Andy Kindler, Natalie Palamides, Kristen Schaal, Ron Funches, Reggie Watts, Rachel Bloom, Dana Gould, Eddie Pepitone, Cameron Esposito and dozens more.

If you’re as obsessive about comedy as we are, it’s definitely a must have for your coffee table (or whatever table you have). Super Serious: An Oral History of Los Angeles Independent Stand-Up Comedy is available for pre-order now and will be released on Aug. 18th from Andrews McMeel Publishing. Given how there are plenty of shipping delays for non-essential items these days in the U.S., best to put your order in now. Get more details and get your copy here.

Fun news alert: We have a BOOK!

Super Serious: An Oral History of Los Angeles Independent Stand-Up Comedy is available for pre-sale NOW!

Learn more: https://t.co/XRUUsXZ7Xq @mandeephoto @AndrewsMcMeel @_triangle_house #SuperSeriousShow #SuperSeriousBOOK pic.twitter.com/F9GZunTsYZ

— Super Serious Show (@seriousshow) July 14, 2020

Here’s a List of Local Comedians That Really Need Financial Support Because of COVID-19 Pandemic

March 19, 2020

News

aid, la comedy, local aid, los angeles, relief, support, support artists

In addition to great comedy livestream benefits that are happening like Comedy Quarantine and King Lear From Home or a GoFundMe for venue staff at Lyric Hyperion, a Google Doc has been assembled for comedians and comedy folks in LA that are financially affected the most as nearly all live, in-person entertainment has effectively shuddered for the coming weeks.

Per the doc:

What is this: Comedians rely on live performances to make their living, and many comedians are losing or canceling paid work due to covid-19 and CDC recommendations. There are other ways to support your favorite comedians – many of them have merch, albums, or skills that can be booked that don’t require seeing them in person (notes on scripts, graphic design, etc!).

See, share, potentially join in on (NOTE: Please use your best judgment when including your needs on this document; if you have a full-time job with benefits and are not losing financial income, this might not be the document for you) the Alternate Income for Comedians! here: bit.ly/HelpComediansCOVID19

Win Tickets to A Cold Hour with Rory Scovel

August 30, 2017

Uncategorized

free tickets, la comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, residency, rory scovel, silverlake, stand up

This September, the fantastic Rory Scovel will be doing a two week run of dates at the Lyric Hyperion where he will be doing a “cold hour”.

If that sounds pretty nice to you, we’ve got a pair of tickets that you could win for Friday 9/15 and 9/22.

You can (and should) enter to win here.

FYI, we’re also giving tickets away for this Saturday’s Harmontown @ Starburns Castle too.

All of our listings for shows and open mics in the Greater LA Area are updated for next week and beyond!

August 7, 2017

Uncategorized

comedy, la comedy, los angeles

If you dig that, please pledge a few (or a lot of) bucks to our Patreon.

Hey LA and comedy, we think you’re worth it (i.e. all of our time).

July 8, 2017

Uncategorized

crowdfunding, la comedy, los angeles, patreon

Hey LA and comedy, we think you’re worth it (i.e. all of our time).

If you feel the same way about The Comedy Bureau, please pledge some $ to our Patreon.

To have The Comedy Bureau keep supporting LA and comedy at large, it needs your support on Patreon.

July 6, 2017

Uncategorized

comedy shows, crowdfunding, diy, la comedy, los angeles, patreon

To have The Comedy Bureau keep supporting LA and comedy at large, it needs your support on Patreon.

Please pledge $ if you can.

Showtime Orders Pilot About 1970s LA Comedy Scene From Jim Carrey and Dave Flebotte

August 12, 2015

Uncategorized

comedy scene, jim carrey, la comedy, showtime

(via Variety)

While comedy is certainly thriving in LA as you read this, there was another time in the 70s when LA was also really cooking when it came to comedy. So, now is probably as good a time as any to tell those stories.

Former comedian Dave Flebotte wrote the dark comedy pilot, “I’m Dying Up Here” (based on a book I’m Dying Up Here by William Knoedelseder) which focused on the hey day of comedy clubs in Los Angeles back in the 1970s. With Carrey on board as an EP, Showtime has just ordered a pilot.

With how many podcasts talk about the history of comedy or what comedy was like back in the day, we’d bet lots of folks will want to watch this.

Patton Oswalt Gearing Up For His Next Album/Special Almost Entirely in LA

April 5, 2013

Uncategorized

comedy album, comedy special, la comedy, patton oswalt

Patton Oswalt Gearing Up For His Next Album/Special Almost Entirely in LA

In this post on his blog entitled “Comedy Without Planes”, Patton Oswalt describes how gone are the days of jetting around the country to refine material for his upcoming special/album. Instead, feeling drawn to his family and his home here in LA, he’s keeping it local and sharpening his jokes and stories around town at places like the Fake Gallery, Largo at the Coronet Theatre, and The Irvine Improv.

Where he will ultimately record his album will be announced, soon, but you should grab tickets to all these shows as we’re sure they will sell very fast.

Hey Comedians in LA! Get Some Free Professional Photos/Headshots

April 5, 2013

Uncategorized

free, headshots, la comedy

Hey Comedians in LA! Get Some Free Professional Photos/Headshots

There is a photographer named Cowboy and a comedian named Dustin David who are literally stopping by live shows around LA and taking very nice B&W pictures of any comedians that wish to have their pictures taken (even ones not performing at the show they’re at). There’s no charge, no sign-up, and you get what might be the cover of something.

Click the link above for more details.