Maria Bamford Delivers Another Fantastic Commencement Speech, Though This One Is a Bit More Meta

May 21, 2020

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Three years ago, Maria Bamford delivered one of the best commencement speeches of 2017 when she helped pay off some student debt with her speaking fee and made her whole speech for the University of Michigan Class of 2017 centered on the gesture.

This year’s graduation season happens to coincide with the historic COVID-19 pandemic, making commencement speeches vastly different and more challenging to nail in such weird times. Still, Maria managed to pull off the speech that all classes of 2020 need right now and even get more abstract and meta with it. Even though it’s for Adult Swim as opposed to an actual educational institution, Bamford’s candor and honesty is, as it always is, simultaneously so beautiful and hysterical.

Please enjoy Maria Bamford’s episode of Adult Swim’s Commencement Speaker Series here.

Please Enjoy This Chat Between Maria Bamford and Stephen Colbert, One of the Last Late Show Interviews at Ed Sullivan Theatre Before Lockdown

May 12, 2020

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As the world went into lockdown, the world of late night talk shows was thrown for a loop as to what to do. Everyday, something changed, more things closed, and crowds of people started to disappear where they would normally be. Specifically, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert attempted to do a show without a crowd still in the Ed Sullivan Theatre. Also, Colbert dressed sharply and there will professional level broadcast cameras and, at the very least, there were, probably, crew in the building that you can hear live laughs from.

On this particular taping, the splendid Maria Bamford sat down with Colbert in, of all places, the audience, as there was no one taking up any of those seats at the time, for as normal of a late night style chat as they can have. Of course, Bamford is her same magical self in chatting with Colbert, but this interview also serves an artifact of a time that is so starkly from our own even though it was a only couple of months ago.

Please enjoy this chat and look back at the not so distant past here.

Ian Abramson’s 7 Minutes in Purgatory Gave a Preview of What Comedy Would Be Like During COVID-19 Pandemic

April 9, 2020

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When it comes to comedians performing without a traditional audience like is the temporary norm for now, you might have heard references to comedy specials recorded years ago from Drew Michael or Harland Williams (Michael recorded it on a sound stage for HBO and Williams stood on a rock in the desert and did his hour).

We’d actually like to point you to something that is an even more apt comparison and a pretty spot on precursor to what how live comedy is performed and consumed right now. The ever innovative Ian Abramson put himself on the map a bit with ultra-innovative (at the time) live comedy show called 7 Minutes in Purgatory where comedians had to perform remotely, though near an actual venue without any chance to hear the laughs of the live audience that was in attendance for the show.

For the crowd, they were treated to watching a live feed of the comedian in the remote performance space and got to watch them try and perform. If you’ve seen a stand-up comedy show on Twitch, Instagram Live, Zoom, etc., you ought to know that 7 Minutes in Purgatory gave us a preview (even though it was unaware of doing so) of what was to come.

It was and is a great show and a daring comedic experiment that had comics recalibrate their act, try a daring bit that leans into the format, or automatically go into uber self-deprecation (exactly like they do now).

As an artifact of the before times, it’s even more fascinating to see what doing comedy in the way we have to do right now was like when we didn’t have to do that.

Get into the Comedy Central digital series version of 7 Minutes of Purgatory, that includes performances from Michelle Buteau, Jon Dore, Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait & Caitlin Gill, and more here.

Pick of the Day: Brighter Comedy (BIG SUNDAY Benefit)

April 9, 2020

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If you can believe it (and we hope that you can because of how much we’ve got listed at our site), there is still plenty of comedy going on and lots of shows are raising money for great causes that are so deserving of your support.

One such event is happening this weekend called Brighter! It’ll be an atypical talk show that features Mickey and Robin Bright (Dannah Phirman, Seth Morris) who are divorcing while in quarantine and getting in touch with the likes of Maria Bamford, Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, Kate Micucci, Phil LaMarr, Carl Tart, Betsy Sodaro and more playing their neighbors in their “artist commune apartment building” to check-in/get advice to cheer up, especially given their situation. For those missing the sort of fare you’d get to see at UCB in the before times, this might be what you’re looking for.

The show will be in support of BIG SUNDAY, a Los Angeles-based non-profit, organizing free meal delivery for doctors, nurses and staffers who work in the ER in LA. Anyone can watch the show, but they will be taking donations.

Brighter! will be streaming live this Saturday Apr. 11th at 6PM PT at www.brightercomedy.com.

Handy Dandy Guide to Weekly/Daily Comedy Livestreams (While We’re All Hunkered Down))

Though it was for a terrible reason, the world of comedy has pretty much pivoted on a dime (with growing pains to be sure) into a cornucopia of live-streaming through several online platforms. Two weeks into a good majority of the major comedy hubs of LA and NYC being sheltered in home, there have already been a whole row of weekly and even daily livestreams featuring your favorite comedians and comedy folks. Best of all, you don’t have to live in LA or NYC or really anywhere to see these. Many are free or for donations and can be seen so long as your WiFi is solid. Also, that means many of the best comedians around the country will be showing up on all sorts of shows as they just have to join in on Instagram Live, Twitch, Zoom, etc.

For the time being, these livestream shows have set up shop and will be here every week or most days of the week to keep you from going entirely insane while being stuck at home. Take note that there are plenty of one-off special events that are happening as well not mentioned here. Check our listings frequently for when and where those shows will be happening.

Obviously, we’ll update this post the more that we find.

Comedy Quarantine-daily stand-up show, Monday-Friday at 7pm PST/10PM on Instagram Live @comedyquarantine, hosted by Barbara Gray and Teresa Lee, donations accepted for comedians and COVID-19 relief.

Eddie Pepitone: Live From the Bunker-live rants and guest interviews from Eddie Pepitone, Monday-Friday, 4PM PST/7PM EST on Instagram Live @eddiepep, free.

Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen (Home Edition)-same great weekly stand-up show with Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal on Mondays at 8PM PST/11PM PST at http://holdthephone.tv/, donations accepted for comedians and COVID-19 relief.

New Material Show with Maria Bamford-Maria Bamford works out 1/2 hour of new material Monday-Friday 3PM PST/6PM EST on Zoom, donate $5 or more to food bank or Venmo $1 to @maroo-bamfoo.

February 10, 2020

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2020 Moontower Comedy Festival Adds Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak

At this point, it should come as no surprise that Austin’s annual Moontower Comedy Festival stacks and stacks and stacks their line-up and summons many of comedy’s best from around the country.

Already, they had a pretty stellar line-up, but they just announced a pretty grand set of headliners as you can see above including Maria Bamford, Last Podcast on the Left, Jacqueline Novak, Todd Barry, Chris Fleming, Marlon Wayans, and Ronny Chieng.

If you’re not already going and are really itching to go after seeing this new line-up, go get details, tickets, etc. here.

Maria Bamford’s Weakness Is The Brand Is the First Great Comedy Special of 2020

February 4, 2020

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If comedians ever reached a status from which they could be officially considered “national treasures”, such a designation should be bestowed on one Maria Bamford. Her latest hour special, Weakness Is The Brand, is by far her most conventional special (it’s in one location and it’s a traditional theater), but it shows that Bamford’s strangely beautiful comedy wares are something to truly revel in.

Bamford not only is a master of her stand-up comedy craft, but so in tune with her comedic voice that she can make her act work anywhere (as evidenced the previous Special Special Special where Maria performed in front of her parents at her house) or anyhow (whether she’s touching on mental illness or the idea that she’s a mental illness comedian or anything else). On Weakness Is The Brand, there’s an even more freewheeling Maria that, if you can imagine, that’s more delightful as she jumps back and forth around the fourth wall and joyfully leans into her act outs/voices. The self-awareness of her persona, her material, the audience, the viewer, etc. that she expresses throughout the special is remarkable and pretty damn funny as well.

On top of all of that, there’s a touching original song with her husband Scott Marvel Cassidy that leaves us feeling hopeful and elated like we do with every Maria Bamford special that we can remember.

Maria Bamford: Weakness Is The Brand is now available from Comedy Dynamics on almost platform that you stream comedy specials.

January 14, 2020

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That’s four, count ‘em, four chances you’ve got coming up to see the one and only Maria Bamford work out a new hour of stand-up at the intimate, DIY space of The Clubhouse in Los Feliz (located right next to the Jons in a gigantic strip mall).

This week and next week, you should really try and find a way to get to The Clubhouse at 2PM for one of these shows to see one of the funniest and best human beings do what they do best.

Maria Bamford “Weakness Is the Brand” Trailer Promises a Wonderful Bamford Special at the Top of 2020

December 10, 2019

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For us, Maria Bamford is not only one of the funniest, most honest, poignant comedians of our generation, but, probably, of all time. She also happens to be one of the best human beings around (her commitment to fostering community still astounds us to this day) and that undoubtedly gives the beautiful colors that run throughout her celebrated comedy.

Come Tues. Jan. 28th, we’ll be getting a brand spanking new hour from Maria called Weakness Is the Brand. From the looks of the trailer, it looks like it’ll be a straightforward special, but given the scope of her last two specials, The Special Special Special and Old Baby, we wouldn’t be surprised if she does something “special” yet again. If not, Maria’s material is more than enough to make a great hour for you to relish (again, see the trailer).

Maria Bamford’s Weakness Is The Brand will be available at several streaming services via Comedy Dynamics on Jan. 28th and you can pre-order it here.

Maria Bamford Will Have Her Own Mental Health Focused Talk Show “What’s Your Ailment?!”

December 5, 2019

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First off, you should be excited that Maria Bamford will be having a brand new show. Maria is unequivocally one of the all time funniest people and also one of the comedians that approaches and normalizes mental health in such a beautiful way.

Her new series, What’s Your Ailment?!, that will be coming to streaming platform Topic will feature Bamford talking to other performers about mental health and we’re willing to be it’ll be some of the best conversations about anxiety, depression, etc. etc. that will be enlightening and riveting and have some undeniable, out-of-left field laughs.

What’s Your Ailment?! with Maria Bamford will be perfect palate cleanser after Christmas as it premieres on Dec. 26th on Topic.

September 17, 2019

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Gary Gulman is stopping by once more at Largo (he comes by about once a year). However, this time is extra special as it will be an evening that triples as a heads up on his upcoming HBO special The Great Depresh, a wondrous, wondrous line-up of comedians as you can clearly see with Maria Bamford and Patton Oswalt, and a benefit for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services as well as a conversation about mental health.

It truly is going to be a special night, even by Largo’s high standards, and definitely worth the $58.50 ticket price. Go get your tickets for this evening of The Great Depresh here.

August 12, 2019

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Maria Bamford, who is sincerely one of the best comedians and human beings around, is doing another run of afternoons to work out her latest hour of stand-up comedy at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz (1607 N. Vermont Ave. *next to Jons*).

Really, you ought to try to get free one of these afternoons whether it be this Tues., Wed., or Thurs. to see her hone material, which we have no doubt is silly, truthful, vulnerable, life-affirming, and beautiful all at the same time.

There’s a $5 suggested donation for these shows, but no one will be turned away if they can’t afford it.

Please get more details here.

July 2, 2019

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Other than trying to watch Maria’s social media feeds to see if you can watch her workshop her new hour over coffee with her or during her runs at The Clubhouse, you can watch her along with a great line-up of stand-ups and support the Freedom for Immigrants charity on August. 27th at Highland Park’s Hi Hat (5043 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA).

As far as we can see, you need to go to this if you can. Tickets are $40 (21+ only) and you can (and very much should) get them here. Don’t be surprised if they sell out.

April 24, 2019

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One of the best comedians and humans other there, Maria Bamford, is doing another two afternoon shows this week at The Clubhouse in Los Feliz to hammer her new hour out.

Donations are suggested. This is your chance to see Maria probably in the most intimate space that you can (so long as you can swing going to a show on 2PM on a weekday).

June 9, 2018

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The Dynasty Typewriter at Hayworth Theater is moving on from their soft opening phase to “The Prototype”, an entire season of programming, which, as you can see above, is very, very, very stacked with some of the best and most original comedy LA has to offer.

If this all seems like your jam, you can even join to become a member of their exclusive QWERTY Club, which offers:

Free Entry to Members-Only Events (Including Season Opening Party)
Early Access to hear about sell out shows before they go on sale to the general public
10% Off All Shows Throughout The Season
Select Member Perks from our Concession Stand
Invitation to Pre-show Mingle Events
QWERTY Card (Membership Rewards Program)

We highly urge you to get tickets, membership to the QWERTY Club, and find out more about this theater run by a former typewriter company here.

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