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‘Del & Charna’ Biopic, Directed by Kay Cannon, Will Follow Founding of Long Form Improv in Chicago

November 5, 2019

charna halpern, del and charna, del close, kay cannon

‘Del & Charna’ Biopic, Directed by Kay Cannon, Will Follow Founding of Long Form Improv in Chicago

When it comes to the world of long form improvisational comedy, the names Del Close (whose name you might often heard coupled with the title of ‘the father of modern improv’) and Charna Halpern are crucial to telling that story. As that sort of improv has undeniably shaped modern comedy, their influences even felt at this moment in so many movies and TV shows that we all watch, they deserve to have their story told in how they broke new ground for comedy in Chicago, ImprovOlympic, and more (as well as created an entire new discipline within the art form of comedy).

So, it’s nice to hear that this biopic of said story Del & Charna will be handled by the very talented and capable hands of Kay Cannon with a script from Rich Talarico and Alex Fendrich. Cannon’s last feature was the very satisfying Blockers and we’re very intrigued to see what she’ll do here.

R.I.P. John Witherspoon, 1942-2019

October 30, 2019

john witherspoon

R.I.P. John Witherspoon, 1942-2019

John Witherspoon had a long, lively career in comedy, TV, and a movies that you could have seen throughout his stand-up comedy, The Boondocks, the Friday film franchise, and so much more.

In fact, Witherspoon’s role in Friday was a career defining one even though he was a supporting cast member that kids (that are now adults that grew up watching Friday) still quote.

Witherspoon passed away earlier today at the age of 77. So, take a moment to delve into Witherspoon’s filmography when you get a chance over the next few days.

Vulture’s The Comedians You Should and Will Know of 2019

October 29, 2019

comedians you should and will know, comedy, comics to watch, vulture lists, vulture picks

Vulture’s The Comedians You Should and Will Know of 2019

So, we got tapped once again to help put this wondrous list together.

Please note that we determine this list not unlike The Black List by asking those in the know (from indie comedy producers to network executives) who they think are going to break and thank goodness that they picked the likes of Anna Seregina, David Gborie, Hannah Einbinder, Martin Urbano, Jacqueline Novak, and more. It’s as accurate of a list of “who’s next” as we can make.

Anyways, get into Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know for 2019 here. So many of our favorites ended up on this list FYI.

Comedy Central Orders Bobby Moynihan Animated Digital Series “Loafy”

October 28, 2019

bobby moynihan, comedy central, loafy

Comedy Central Orders Bobby Moynihan Animated Digital Series “Loafy”

“Loafy, which hails from Propagate Content’s Big Breakfast, is an animated comedy about a weed-dealing manatee that runs a drug empire from his tang at the Center Park Zoo.”

Imagining Bobby Moynihan as a drug kingpin manatee is an image that is making Monday better (as we continue to be in the thick of LA’s fire season). This will be a digital series from Bobby as well as a pilot potentially set for actual television on Comedy Central’s cable network.

Anyone else visualizing what sweater (perhaps, only slightly different from Drunk Uncle) that Moynihan might wear?

Disney+ Will Have a Talk Show Hosted by a Blue Alien Puppet “Earth to Ned” from Jim Henson Co.

October 25, 2019

disney plus, earth to ned, eliza skinner, puppets, talk show

Disney+ Will Have a Talk Show Hosted by a Blue Alien Puppet “Earth to Ned” from Jim Henson Co.

We so enjoyed No, You Shut Up! with Paul F. Tompkins, we were curious when puppets mixing it up with real folks would pop up once again some sort of talk format.

Disney+ is taking up that niche by doing their version of a talk show with a blue alien puppet (that looks much much friendlier than another blue alien talk show host Gorburger). The alien is one that becomes obsessed with pop culture and, thus, interviews actual celebrity guests.

While all of that is well and good and the combo of puppets and real people is always fun, we’re truly excited to know that the one and only Eliza Skinner is the head writer and co-EP of this new Disney+ talk show, Earth to Ned. There is a lot of ways this show could go, but we feel pretty good about Earth to Ned being in the trusty hands of both Eliza and the Jim Henson Co.

Tig Notaro And Stephanie Allynne To Co-Direct Lauren Pomerantz Feature

October 25, 2019

stephanie allynne, tig notaro

Tig Notaro And Stephanie Allynne To Co-Direct Lauren Pomerantz Feature

Well, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne have upgraded from being together in an Amazon series to making their debut directing a feature film. It’ll explore the nuances of female friendships/relationships from a script by Lauren Pomerantz adapted from Pomerantz’s own life.

This should be all the sweeter coming from a directing duo that’s also a wonderful couple as well as the mix of Tig and Allynne’s varying shades of wry humor as well as a story from The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s head writer.

Billy on the Street Is Now Headed to Netflix

October 23, 2019

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Billy on the Street Is Now Headed to Netflix

From @billyeichner today, “BIG NEWS: MOVE OVER, GRACE AND FRANKIE! BILLY ON THE STREET IS COMING TO @NETFLIX FOR THE FIRST TIME NOV 1st!!!!! FOUR SEASONS OF CHAOS AND JOY!!! SAY IT WITH ME NOW: LET’S GO LESBIANS, LET’S GO!!!!!!!!”

This means that Billy on the Street will have gone, in the course of its life, over almost a decade, from Fuse to TruTV to Funny or Die to Lyft to Netflix. If that’s not a record for a show (that hasn’t hit syndication) moving to the most different places, then it might be close. Also, this snatching up of Billy on the Street by Netflix is just another sign of streaming services building their content army for the streaming wars.

Let’s hope this leads to more Billy on the Street.

Comedy Central and All Things Comedy to Make a Patrice O’Neal Documentary

October 23, 2019

all things comedy, comedy central, documentary, patrice o'neal

Comedy Central and All Things Comedy to Make a Patrice O’Neal Documentary

It’s curious to think of how Patrice O’Neal and his comedy would be handled in 2019 if he were still alive. One might jump to a conclusion that the revered comedian who passed away in 2011 might be crucified. However, O’Neal might have ended up like his contemporary Bill Burr whose last special Paper Tiger was received fairly positively for Burr’s extensive self-examination after a very contrarian opening. There’s no way to truly tell, but O’Neal will be held up as a comedy legend for years to come even with much of his controversial material.

The prospect of a Patrice O’Neal documentary examining his life and legacy is fascinating and we can’t wait to see it.

Mike Birbiglia’s The New One to Come Out as Netflix Special Right Before Thanksgiving

October 21, 2019

mike birbiglia, the new one

Mike Birbiglia’s The New One to Come Out as Netflix Special Right Before Thanksgiving

If you didn’t get a chance to catch Mike Birbiglia’s latest show The New One on Broadway on here in LA, you’ll have a chance to see it in the form of a comedy special over on Netflix starting Tues., Nov. 26th.

Apparently, Birbiglia shot the special in secret awhile ago and also, according to this announcement, wants you to cancel Thanksgiving. For Birbiglia, we’re down with that.

On a separate note, anyone notice that Netflix is going really lo-fi, albeit personal, with these announcements for their biggest comedy specials?

Gayme Show with Matt Rogers And Dave Mizzoni Is Coming to Quibi

October 17, 2019

dave mizzoni, gayme show, matt rogers, quibi

Gayme Show with Matt Rogers And Dave Mizzoni Is Coming to Quibi

Say what you will from this brand new, from the ground up, streaming service Quibi, they’re picking up some really intriguing comedy properties. Already they have projects in the works with Joel Kim Booster and Guy Branum.

Now, they have one of most entertaining comedy game shows that we’ve seen in quite some time, Gayme Show with Matt Rogers and Dave Mizzoni. The format has straight men tested on their knowledge and familiarity of LGBTQIA+ culture. Rogers and Mizzoni have really perfected the segments, games, bits, and more and we can’t wait to see this be made into a full-fledged series.

Stephen Colbert to Host “The Late Show” Through Summer 2023

October 17, 2019

cbs, late show, stephen colbert

Stephen Colbert to Host “The Late Show” Through Summer 2023

As Colbert’s nightly taking-POTUS-to-task has seen him rise to the top of late night, CBS is making sure to secure their late night star right up until the next presidential election cycle (after this current one for 2020) in 2023.

The news, no matter if you read it or watch it or do both, makes it so hard to have any sort of sense with what’s going to happen in the next year and who will get elected (or reelected). With that in mind, CBS must be hedging their bets.

We do now wonder what The Late Show with Stephen Colbert might become if, let’s say, Elizabeth Warren were to become the 46th President of the United States. Less politics? More bits and remotes? Let’s hope we can get to ponder that idea more realistically.

Will Ferrell and iHeartMedia Team to Launch New Podcast Network “Big Money Players Network”

October 16, 2019

big money players network, comedy podcast, iheartmedia, podcast network, will ferrell

Will Ferrell and iHeartMedia Team to Launch New Podcast Network “Big Money Players Network”

Big Money Players Network certainly sets a tone much different from names such as Earwolf, Headgum, Starburns Audio, Forever Dog, Audible, Midroll or even Exactly Right, but we guess that would be the point of a podcast network launched by living/breathing comedy institution Will Ferrell and media giant iHeartMedia.

“The Big Money Players Network will tap top comedic talent and feature both scripted and unscripted podcasts.”

So, it’s very easy for us to imagine A-list talent that frequently worked with Funny or Die and Gary Sanchez might just pop up here, which will make for an interesting inclusion into the podcast eco-system. Team Coco and Conan O’Brien has shown that quality podcasts from big names seem to be sure bet, but we’ll just have to wait and see exactly what Big Money Players Network, Ferrell, and iHeartMedia actually come up with.

Mossack Fonseca & Co, The Law Firm at the Center of The Panama Papers Leak, Is Suing Netflix for Libel and Defamation and to Stop Release of Panama Papers Satirical Comedy “The Laundromat”

October 16, 2019

netflix, panama papers, steven soderbergh, the laundromat

Mossack Fonseca & Co, The Law Firm at the Center of The Panama Papers Leak, Is Suing Netflix for Libel and Defamation and to Stop Release of Panama Papers Satirical Comedy “The Laundromat”

We’d bet that if Mossack Fonseca did indeed score an injunction to stop the release of The Laundromat (which we’d bet won’t happen given the state of the firm’s reputation after the release of The Panama Papers-the real life international scandal that came after a leak of a multitude of documents that pointed to rampant tax evasion of some of the wealthiest people on the planet) that the film would have to be leaked on principle, right?

Realistically, this is probably some of the best promo that the movie could have gotten.

Sarah Silverman Scores Both a Late Night Pilot Order and a Stand-Up Comedy Special At HBO

October 14, 2019

hbo, sarah silverman

Sarah Silverman Scores Both a Late Night Pilot Order and a Stand-Up Comedy Special At HBO

We really dug I Love You, America and we’re glad that Silverman’s getting another shot at hosting her own talk show to finish what she started, which seemed to be connecting with people. In that regard, it’s interesting to note that she’ll be taking video calls in this pilot, presumably with all kinds of folks like she did with her last show.

Also, Silverman, as we’ve seen her around LA doing stand-up, is at a wonderful creative point in her career where she’s more reflective, introspective than ever, making for some of her best material ever.

So, overall, we’re really hyped to see what Silverman has got brewing for HBO (and hope that her late night show goes to series).

HBO Put Gary Gulman’s The Great Depresh on YouTube for To Stream for Free (Up Until Saturday)

October 10, 2019

gary gulman, great depresh, world mental health day

HBO Put Gary Gulman’s The Great Depresh on YouTube for To Stream for Free (Up Until Saturday)

As it is World Mental Health Day today and Gary Gulman’s wonderful special The Great Depresh just came out this week on HBO, HBO was nice enough to put this special that focuses specifically on Gary’s clinical depression up on YouTube so you can stream it for free for a few days.

The Great Depresh spans being so very funny and a crucial, important work from Gulman, so go watch it however you can ASAP.

China Purges the Existence of South Park in China Because South Park Made Fun of Them

October 8, 2019

china, south park

China Purges the Existence of South Park in China Because South Park Made Fun of Them

It’s kind of unsurprising at this point that the Chinese government instantly retaliated like a petulant child against of one of America’s longest running satirical animated series, South Park, after they dedicated an episode specifically making fun of how Hollywood often attempts to curry favor with Chinese audiences/government because, of course, there’s potential to make more money. If President Xi Jinping can’t take being compared to Winnie the Pooh, they definitely aren’t going to like South Park’s take on how they run things.

As China has the mechanisms in place to scrub their Internet clean of something, all South Park content and mentions of South Park are reportedly gone.

For a country that has over a billion people, we wonder how long they can keep stupid charade going (this reeks of an Emperor’s New Clothes situation). It seems pretty unsustainable to have censorship operate at this level of that many people, especially as tech gets more and more clever to get around censors to get to a free Internet and the world is watching.

Anyways, we guess China still hasn’t figured out that their actions are only going to bolster many people to want to roast them more.

Randall Park Forms Production Company, Imminent Collision, and Signs First-Look Deal With 20th Century Fox TV

October 3, 2019

20th century fox television, imminent collision, randall park

Randall Park Forms Production Company, Imminent Collision, and Signs First-Look Deal With 20th Century Fox TV

This is good news on a couple of counts.

1) Randall Park, along with company partners Michael Golamco and Hieu Ho, are out to “comedy-forward stories from Asian American perspectives for all audiences”. This very well may be the shot in the arm that Asian representation in mainstream media needs.

2) We first came across Randall Park at a little thing called Channel 101, a home for fiercely indie, short form TV for several years now, started by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab eons ago (it would seem). It’s wonderful to see him rise up to having his own production banner and we’ll be intrigued to see if any of that weird goodness from Channel 101 will find its way to Imminent Collision.

With all of that in mind, we can’t wait to see what Imminent Collision is cooking up for us all.

‘Kevin Can F— Himself’ from Rashida Jones Ordered to Series at AMC

October 2, 2019

amc, kevin can f himself, rashida jones

‘Kevin Can F— Himself’ from Rashida Jones Ordered to Series at AMC

Even when hearing rumblings of Kevin Can F— Himself being in development, we were so excited at what this could be, especially given how formulaic and stiff multi-cam sitcoms still are in 2019.

With Kevin Can F— Himself, Rashida Jones is getting meta by switching between multi-cam and single cam from the perspective of the stereotypical sitcom wife and the breaking away from such a traditionally reductive role. AMC has ordered 10 hour long episodes, which makes us curious of what tone this will strike. Sure, it’ll be satiric, but there’s a lot of range on the dramedy spectrum where this could fall, especially since it’s at AMC.

This is one of the most exciting, daring shows that we’ve heard about coming to TV in the not so distant future as it has so much potential (perhaps to start a paradigm shift in how women are portrayed in sitcoms and TV in general).

Vidiots Set to Return, This Time in Eagle Rock with an Indie Theater

October 1, 2019

eagle rock, vidiots

Vidiots Set to Return, This Time in Eagle Rock with an Indie Theater

The jaunty local favorite Santa Monica based video store, Vidiots, sadly closed its doors a few years ago, only to become a non-profit organization.

Now, they’re planning a comeback to be bigger and better than ever (and relocating to the entire other side of LA county) later in 2020. They’ll be in Eagle Rock taking other Eagle Theatre, which will house an indie movie theater and their classic video store.

It’ll be a great place to watch some indie comedies and, perhaps, some exclusive screenings/previews (and maybe even some live shows?).

Might this be the new incarnation of Cinefamily we’ve all been waiting for? Sure looks like it with this post from @vidiots on IG:

Heather Anne Campbell Sells Warehouse Comedy to Fox

September 28, 2019

fox, friends, heather anne campbell

Heather Anne Campbell Sells Warehouse Comedy to Fox

Heather Anne Campbell is one of the most imaginative, fearless, and hysterical minds and voices that we know in comedy.

So, we hope that Fox will not only pick up this project where Heather seems to satirize life in an Amazon-esque warehouse to series, but let her do this show on her terms.

If that happens, we bet that we’ll see something really special.

The Greg Daniels Space Military Workplace Comedy “Space Force” Sets John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, and Tawny Newsome as Series Regulars Opposite Steve Carell

September 27, 2019

ben schwartz, diana silvers, greg daniels, john malkovich, space force, steve carell, tawny newsome

The Greg Daniels Space Military Workplace Comedy “Space Force” Sets John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, and Tawny Newsome as Series Regulars Opposite Steve Carell

It’s hard to not imagine Space Force as some sort of version of the American version of The Office.

Sure, there’s much more tension inherent in creating another branch of the Armed Forces set in space (not to mention how incompetent that all might be Greg Daniels really wants to satirize Trump’s actual shiny distraction of the same name) versus selling paper to local business to a small section of the Northeastern United States.

The presence of Michael Scott AKA Steve Carell and Ben Schwartz from The Office’s successor, Parks and Recreation along with the likes of Diana Silvers who stood out in Booksmart this year and Bajillion Dollar Propertie$’s Tawny Newsome all under the creative umbrella of Greg Daniels and Carell would suggest that fans of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine all have something new potentially in the same vein very soon.

Adding John Malkovich to the cast is definitely a very intriguing wrinkle that might end up being quite the role for Malkovich.

You bet we’re excited for whenever Netflix’s drops the full trailer for Space Force.

Joel Kim Booster Developing ‘Trip’, Inspired by Pride & Prejudce, Set in Modern Day, at Quibi

September 25, 2019

joel kim booster, pride and prejudice, quibi, trip

Joel Kim Booster Developing ‘Trip’, Inspired by Pride & Prejudce, Set in Modern Day, at Quibi

Jeffrey Katzenberg’s upcoming streaming service Quibi continues to have a more and more intriguing slate that it really has us chomping at the bit as to what all of this will look like.

This latest addition of a potential series, Trip, from the hysterical Joel Kim Booster (along with Jax Media producing) with his modern day take on Jane Austen’s landmark novel Pride & Prejudice only bolsters their Quibi’s profile from where we’re standing. Already, we’re enjoying imagining Joel’s razor sharp writing within a Pride & Prejudice framework.

Hopefully, we’ll get a glimpse of Trip, pending a series order or not, and everything else that’s peaked our interest at Quibi relatively soon.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge Signs Big Overall Deal with Amazon

September 24, 2019

amazon, overall deal, phoebe waller bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge Signs Big Overall Deal with Amazon

“Under the deal, Waller-Bridge will create and produce new television content for Amazon Studios that will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Sources say the deal is worth around $20 million a year.”

For all that you can say about Amazon these days, at least they did the right thing here by paying Phoebe Waller-Bridge a bunch of money to keep making TV and content.

Even though Waller-Bridge says that Fleabag is done as a series, we’re sure that she has something else cooking that will take all of our collective breaths away between taking us through the entire spectrum of human emotions.

All Hail Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag with Their Emmy Wins

September 23, 2019

2019 emmys, comedy winners, emmys, emmys winners, fleabag, phoebe waller bridge

All Hail Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag with Their Emmy Wins

The outstanding second season of Fleabag got its proper due as it nabbed the Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Directing for a Comedy Series, and Writing for a Comedy Series (three of which went to the very deserving series creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

This should make up for the lack of awards for Fleabag’s also brilliant first season and really make Waller-Bridge shine in real life as much as her character does in the saintly key art for season 2.

Also, what’s interesting to note from last night’s Emmys is that The Marvelous Ms. Maisel’s Alex Borstein and Tony Shaloub won Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor. That’s quite a sweep for Amazon in the comedy field (made all the more impressive by the fact that we did wonder a couple years ago what was going to happen with their comedy branding after Transparent had to reconfigure after the #MeToo exit of Jeffrey Tambor).

Here are the rest of the comedy winners from 2019 Emmys:

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Fleabag

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES

Saturday Night Live • Host: Adam Sandler
Don Roy King, Directed by

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

Saturday Night Live

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Dan Gurewitch, Senior Writer
Jeff Maurer, Senior Writer
Jill Twiss, Senior Writer
Juli Weiner, Senior Writer
Tim Carvell, Written by
Raquel D’Apice, Written by
Josh Gondelman, Written by
Daniel O’Brien, Written by
John Oliver, Written by
Owen Parsons, Written by
Charlie Redd, Written by
Joanna Rothkopf, Written by
Ben Silva, Written by
Seena Vali, Written by

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Barry
Bill Hader as Barry

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Fleabag • Episode 1
Harry Bradbeer, Directed by

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Fleabag • Episode 1
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Written by

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tony Shalhoub as Abe Weissman

Here’s a complete list of the 2019 Primetime Emmys winners.

Wes Anderson’s Latest Film “The French Dispatch” to Come Out via Fox Searchlight

September 21, 2019

movies, the french dispatch, the plot thickens, wes anderson

Wes Anderson’s Latest Film “The French Dispatch” to Come Out via Fox Searchlight

Three interwoven stories that come from a fictional French magazine, that’s set up by American journalists, and another stacked ensemble cast (to be expected at this point) that includes Timothée Chalemet, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux are the perfect elements that’ll allow Wes Anderson to bake another perfectly twee, yet bittersweet comedy where every frame could be made into a postcard.

In fact, we’d bet that, will we know thus far, The French Dispatch might be a frontrunner for Best Production Design for whatever awards season it would be in consideration for.

As far as Fox Searchlight is concerned, we’re digging that it has both JoJo Rabbit and The French Dispatch on it.