Pick of the Day: 99 Seats Later: A virtual conversation with the women who helped found The Groundlings Theatre 3/29

Pick of the Day: SF Sketchfest’s Festpocalypse 1/30

#Pick of the Day: SF Sketchfest Presents Plan 9 From Outerspace 10/29

Season 38 of Girls Might Just Star Laraine Newman

March 9, 2021

Allison Dunbar, groundlings, laraine newman, Phyllis Katz, Suzanne Kent, Terry Bolo, Tracy Newman, Victoria Carroll Bell, women's history month

One of Los Angeles’ most storied and longest running comedy venues is none other than The Groundlings. Part of the reason that they’ve been around for so long comes from their gathering of pioneers of sketch and improv under its roof decades ago and keeping its demanding program/main company alive and well throughout all these years. From there, it hasn’t been surprising to see Groundlings alum make up a great deal of the SNL cast.

So, as part of Women’s History Month, it would be great to hear the stories from the female trailblazers that helped the ascent of The Groundlings Theatre to its historic and revered status that it has today. On Mon. Mar. 29th, Current Groundlings Main Company members’ Allison Dunbar and Annie Sertich will moderate an exclusive discussion with such women including Laraine Newman, Terry Bolo, Victoria Carroll Bell, Phyllis Katz, Suzanne Kent, Tracy Newman, and Lynne Marie Stewart.

The live-stream panel discussion will be called 99 Seats Later and is set to stream at 4PM PT on Mon. 3/29. Tickets are $10 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

It’s the first day of 2021 even though it feels like 2020 is still going on and doing it’s terrible, terrible thing, you can, if you’re up for it, try to start the year anew.

In that regard, we’d like to remind you of the first real big comedy event of the year (it’s still virtual, FYI): SF Sketchfest’s Festpocalypse. Coming in at the end of January right around when SF Sketchfest, one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals would normally happen, Festpocalypse will be a virtual event at a proportion that SF Sketchfest hasn’t ever done. Just take a gander at that line-up on the flyer. Even though it’s taking place over one day only, it really is a bill that they’d have at their normally scheduled, three week comedy festival extravaganza that takes over San Francisco.

Also, you should note that Festpocalypse is a fundraiser for SF Sketchfest to keep going in the future when doing a big time festival will be allowed.

Festpocalypse is set for Jan. 30th and will begin streaming at 5PM PT/8PM ET. Tickets start at only $20, but go up if you want to snag some merch. Go get them here.

October 28, 2020

News

baron vaughn, bob odenkirk, bobcat goldthwait, dana gould, david koechner, janet varney, jean grae, jonah ray, kat aagesen, laraine newman, maria bamford, oscar nunez, paul f tompkins, plan 9 from outer space, sf sketchfest, tim meadows

In the search for a way to safely celebrate and somewhat adequately celebrate Halloween, might we suggest a special virtual adaptation of one of the most renowned cult films of all time, Plan 9 From Outer Space.

The amazing Dana Gould will be at the helm for this special live-stream event presented by, as they’re foregoing an in-person festival when they would normally have it in January, SF Sketchfest. Gould has led live-reads of Plan 9 From Outerspace over the years, but this edition will be special as there will be an original cast member, a real prop flying saucer which was used on set in Ed Wood’s shoot as well as a cast chock full of stars including Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jean Grae, David Koechner, Tim Meadows, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nunez, Bob Odenkirk, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney, Baron Vaughn, Kat Aagesen, plus musical accompaniment by Eban Schletter.

This very special edition of Plan 9 From Outer Space is set for Thurs. Oct. 29th at 6PM PT/9PM ET. Tickets are $10 and you can (and very much should) get them here.

October 17, 2019

Uncategorized

comedy show, groundlings, jennifer tilly, laraine newman, los angeles, rob reiner, will forte

The premise of an autobiography being acted out by someone else definitely has a spark for comedy. To have celebrities act each other’s autobiographies takes it to another level and that’s exactly what the internationally acclaimed live show Celebrity Autobiography from Eugene Pack (with Dayle Reyfel) aims to do. With this particular line-up that includes the likes of Will Forte, Jennifer Tilly, Rob Reiner, and Laraine Newman, this particular edition of Celebrity Autobiography ought to be a barnburner of a comedy show.

Tickets for this edition, set for The Groundlings next month, are going for $25 and you can (and should) get them here.

August 19, 2019

Uncategorized

bobcat goldthwait, dana gould, janet varney, laraine newman, largo, live reading, matt braunger, paul f tompkins, plan 9 from outer space, steven webber

Every once in awhile, Dana Gould assembles quite the cast to do a live reading of legendary best/worst movie Plan 9 From Outer Space.

This indeed is happening once more, this time on Oct. 29th at Largo with the talents of Janet Varney, Bobcat Goldthwait, Paul F. Tompkins, Matt Braunger, Steven Webber, and Laraine Newman, featuring live music by Eban Schletter.

When it comes to comedy around Halloween, this is always a pretty grand event. Get tickets ($35) here quick as they’ll probably sell out.

« April 2021 »

June 11, 2013

Uncategorized

girls, hbo, laraine newman, parody

There have been a lot of parodies of Lena Dunham’s Girls ever since the first trailer dropped. However, writer/director Gail Lerner did her take on Girls going 38 seasons, which is longer than The Simpsons, with the likes of Laraine Newman and Martin Starr and it’s both pretty spot on and pretty great.

Give a watch to the possible future.