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Taika Waititi Making a Spin-Off of What We Do in the Shadows Called “Paranormal Event Response Unit”

September 30, 2016

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Taika Waititi Making a Spin-Off of What We Do in the Shadows Called “Paranormal Event Response Unit”

Along with Dana Gould’s Stan Against Evil, now might be the time for the horror comedy procedural.

One of the best comedies in recent memory is Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows. The mockumentary of the everyday life of vampires in New Zealand was fantastic and thankfully started making Waititi’s name one to remember here in America.

New Zealand’s own NZ On Air has put up money for a first season of a TV spin-off that follows cops, from the What We Do in the Shadows universe, who are trying to keep the living alive.

Called Paranormal Event Response Unit, we think it’d be a real smart move on the part of any network or streaming service to strike a North American distribution deal now.

Adventure Time Coming to a Close After Season 9

September 29, 2016

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Adventure Time Coming to a Close After Season 9

As far as animation that was initially created for kids that also really connects with adults, Adventure Time really gave Pixar a run for its money.

Pendelton Ward’s much beloved animated series will have gone 9 seasons on Cartoon Network as well as have a Simpsons couch gag to their name by the time their run ends.

Before you get too sad, Adventure Time is set to run through 2018.

Amy Schumer Is First Woman to Make Forbes’ Top 10 Highest Earning Comedians List, Kevin Hart Scores Top Spot

September 29, 2016

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Amy Schumer Is First Woman to Make Forbes’ Top 10 Highest Earning Comedians List, Kevin Hart Scores Top Spot

Score two for diversity.

Kevin Hart was far and away the top earning comedian by pulling in $87.5 million and Schumer cracks into what is pretty much exclusively a boys club (no mention of Joan Rivers through the years seems odd) with $17 million.

Also, it’s nice to see Dave Chappelle and Jim Gaffigan on the list as that would suggest that this top 10 list isn’t getting more balanced with comedians that are oft-appreciated for their craft.

You’re The Worst Gets Picked Up for 4th Season at FXx

September 29, 2016

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You’re The Worst Gets Picked Up for 4th Season at FXx

Stephen Falk might be well on his way to one of the best distillations of love, sex, relationships, mental illness, veterans, real life in LA, and more with his show You’re The Worst.

He’s already been lauded as such over the past three seasons and has scored a quick renewal for a 4th season from FXx with only a few episodes of season 3 having aired.

Don’t be surprised if You’re The Worst is inching in on ‘prestige comedy’ territory.

All Three Amazon Comedy Pilots, The Tick, I Love Dick, and Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Ordered to Full Series

September 28, 2016

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All Three Amazon Comedy Pilots, The Tick, I Love Dick, and Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Ordered to Full Series

Looks like Amazon might be getting the hang of this streaming service thing or, at the very least, have a better grasp of what they want their programming to be.

Just a few weeks ago, Amazon streamed all their comedy pilots, the aforementioned The Tick, I Love Dick, and Jean-Claude Van Johnson, per their original programming development model that supposedly works in audience votes into the greenlighting decision process.

We’re not sure exactly what made Amazon brass greenlight all three series which cover a wide range of types of comedy (a live action version of The Tick and a new, sexuality subverting series from Jill Soloway almost seem on the opposite ends of the comedy spectrum), but they have indeed ordered full seasons of all three series.

This also includes the meta, detective comedy Jean-Claude Van Johnson starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself going undercover.

Just hope it won’t be too long before we can start see the rollout of each of these series.

Funny Women Fest LA Is Taking Submissions Until October 14th

September 28, 2016

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Funny Women Fest LA Is Taking Submissions Until October 14th

The festival is set to take place in Highland Park on Thursday, November 30th through Saturday, December 3rd and will help benefit the Downtown Women’s Center.

They’re looking for female performers in stand-up, sketch, improv, storytelling, musical comedy, sketch, short film, and pilot scripts. Fees range from $20-$50 depending on whether you’re submitting as an individual or a group.

That’s not a pretty good deal especially considering you’re helping an LA foundation that deals with women overcoming homelessness.

Again, the submission deadline is Friday, October 14th, 2016 at midnight.

CNN Renews United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell for Season 2

September 28, 2016

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CNN Renews United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell for Season 2

Not quite sure what will top talking to a KKK member on camera as W. Kamau Bell for season 1 of his exploratory comedy docu-series, but we have no doubt that Kamau will figure it out.

Look for season 2 of United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell in 2017.

HBO Renews High Maintenance for Season 2

September 28, 2016

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HBO Renews High Maintenance for Season 2

While you’re probably getting Game of Thrones withdrawals, know that HBO’s comedy line-up has more than enough to offer with multiple seasons of Veep and Silicon Valley and Vice Principals, and now, a second season of High Maintenance.

Best get on getting HBO GO if you don’t already have it.

HBO Signs an Overall Deal with Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green and Brandon James AKA Rough House Pictures

September 27, 2016

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HBO Signs an Overall Deal with Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green and Brandon James AKA Rough House Pictures

Based off Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals, we’d say that’s a pretty smart move.

Rough House Pictures, the production company that Danny McBride, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, and Brandon James run in order to make the two much lauded comedy series, is now getting a bigger playground to play with at HBO than they ever have before.

This two year deal will have the Rough House team develop series exclusively for HBO. With that in mind, we have a good feeling about HBO comedy through the rest of this decade.

Zach Galifianakis Says a Donald Trump Episode of Between Two Ferns Doesn’t Interest Him

September 26, 2016

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Zach Galifianakis Says a Donald Trump Episode of Between Two Ferns Doesn’t Interest Him

Where other news organizations are supposed to be fair and balanced during election years (though the amount of press Trump has gotten has really violated that notion), Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis has never been about being fair and balanced. In fact, being unfair in the most ironic way possible is much more what they go for.

Zach Galifianakis’ remarks on Trump having psychosis and being mentally challenged in a LA Times interview about the recent Clinton episode of Between Two Ferns give us a pretty good indication that Hillary Clinton will probably be the only presidential candidate to get be a guest on Between Two Ferns this year.

Specifically, Zach ending the discussion on the matter by saying, “I wouldn’t have somebody on that’s so mentally challenged. I feel like I’d be taking advantage of him. And you can print that.”

Thank goodness that won’t happen as we already have passed the point of Trump humor saturation.

Jorma Taccone Tweets Some Proof “MacGruber 2” Is in the Works

September 26, 2016

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Jorma Taccone Tweets Some Proof “MacGruber 2” Is in the Works

In the six years since MacGruber was released, it really has become a cult comedy hit.

With this being the case, making a sequel seems like a foregone conclusion, but given Will Forte’s schedule with Last Man on Earth amongst other things, you never know when the time would be right for MacGruber 2.

Today, at least you know the project has moved forward with Jorma Taccone tweeting a pic of the script, albeit a “Super Duper Rough” version.

‘Transparent’ Creator Jill Soloway to Receive Outfest Legacy Visionary Award

September 26, 2016

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‘Transparent’ Creator Jill Soloway to Receive Outfest Legacy Visionary Award

There’s no denying that Jill Soloway and her series Transparent has increased normalized visibility of LGBTQ people. For that, the critical acclaim and praise have rolled in, seemingly, right from when Amazon first started streaming the series. That’s in addition to all of her past and present filmography that has always pushed for the LBGTQ community.

It’s a one-of-a-kind of feat that earns Soloway such an honorary award. Then again, Transparent is really good.

Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week 9/26/16

September 25, 2016

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Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week 9/26/16

From Santa Monica to the OC and from Deep in the Valley all the way to the LBC, find out where the nearest open mic, improv jam, etc. is to you.

Comedy Crawl Updated for Next Week 9/25/16

September 24, 2016

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Comedy Crawl Updated for Next Week 9/25/16

Australian sketch groups, roast battles, house party shows, storytelling shows focused on the horrors of dating, stand-up, sketch, improv, and way more.

Freeform Developing Late Night Series with Iliza Shlesinger

September 23, 2016

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Freeform Developing Late Night Series with Iliza Shlesinger

Well, if everything goes according to Freeform’s plan, there will be three female hosts in late night.

Details are sparse at this point, probably because cable network Freeform sees that there is plenty of shows that follow the traditional late night talk show format and they want to work with Iliza Shlesinger to develop something that caters to her comedy.

So, thankfully, the boys club is becoming a boys club less and less everyday.

FXx Is Doing Part 2 of Their Every. Simpsons. Ever. Marathon

September 23, 2016

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FXx Is Doing Part 2 of Their Every. Simpsons. Ever. Marathon

They’re going to break their own TV marathon record simply by adding all of the new episodes of The Simpsons that have aired since the last Every. Simpsons. Ever.

This Thanksgiving, specifically Thursday, November 24th at 9AM PDT, FXx will revive one of the most successful ventures to date by airing every single episode of The Simpsons in existence back-to-back-to-back. That will take this marathon to Tuesday, December 6th at 9PM PDT.

Even though this is two months away, make plans accordingly.

A Web Series from John Early and Kate Berlant and a Special from South Africa’s Loyiso Gola in Production at Vimeo

September 22, 2016

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A Web Series from John Early and Kate Berlant and a Special from South Africa’s Loyiso Gola in Production at Vimeo

Vimeo continues to be on brand with their high-minded picks in comedy.

John Early and Kate Berlant are working on their own short form series that will be released exclusively on Vimeo, which doesn’t need any more details to get you intrigued. You’ve probably seen them do work solo on Netflix’s Characters and together in such works as Dinner Party.

While Trevor Noah is making waves as the host of The Daily Show, South Africa has another comedy export coming our way in the form of a stand up special from another one of their biggest comedians, Loyiso Gola. Set to tape next week on Wednesday, September 28th at House of Yes in Brooklyn. Tickets available here.

We’re going to keep our fingers crossed that Vimeo’s only going to keep goind down this road of making their own comedy.

IDIOCRACY’s 10 Year Anniversary To Be Celebrated with Alamo Drafthouse Screenings and Q&A with Mike Judge & Cast

September 21, 2016

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IDIOCRACY’s 10 Year Anniversary To Be Celebrated with Alamo Drafthouse Screenings and Q&A with Mike Judge & Cast

It’s the 10 year anniversary of the film, but there also has never been a better time for American citizens to see this movie than now.

On October 4th, Alamo Drafthouse will be doing a special one-night only engagement screening of Mike Judge’s Idiocracy complete with a Q&A with Judge and the cast to be live streamed from the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

The drafthouse has theaters across the country and you can find where they are and get your tickets at the link above.

CBS Greenlights ‘Superior Donuts’ for Midseason Debut

September 21, 2016

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CBS Greenlights ‘Superior Donuts’ for Midseason Debut

As it had to go through being a pilot twice, we were worried for a second that Jermaine Fowler’s sitcom wasn’t going to see the light of a TV screen.

That’s right, Superior Donuts, starring Fowler and Judd Hirsch will go to series midseason for 13 episodes. Knowing how much truth finds itself in Jermaine’s comedy, we hope that this will be another multicam that just break the mold of all the multicams of yesteryear, especially given how much the rest of CBS’ new comedies represent those types of sitcoms.

Oh, the supporting cast also boasts the likes of David Koechner, Katey Sagal, Maz Jobrani, Anna Baryshnikov, Darien Sills-Evans, and Rell Battle.

We can’t wait to see what this becomes when it premieres.

Flowers Renewed by Both Seeso and Channel 4

September 20, 2016

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Flowers Renewed by Both Seeso and Channel 4

The less time it takes to watch comedy series from the UK here in the States, the better.

The cinematic dark family comedy Flowers has got another season ordered by its distributors in the U.S. and the UK, which are Seeso and Channel 4 respectively.

Along with Fleabag and Catastrophe, the sharing of comedy between both sides of the Atlantic is going better than it has been in quite some time.

FX Renews Atlanta and Better Things for Their Second Seasons

September 20, 2016

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FX Renews Atlanta and Better Things for Their Second Seasons

FX heard how much you like Donald Glover’s Atlanta and Pamela Adlon’s Better Things.

Just a couple of weeks in and FX has seen ratings and the great critical reception and has just ordered up another season of both Atlanta and Better Things. With a strong showing at this year’s Emmys, FX is only looking to be a stronger network to contend with than it already is.

Screen Junkies Is Having an Open Casting Call for Their New News Channel

September 20, 2016

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Screen Junkies Is Having an Open Casting Call for Their New News Channel

Any of you have an unfiltered take on film and television and feel pretty confident about it on camera?

Well, the film and TV culture giant known as Screen Junkies, the folks responsibly for the Emmy nominated, satirical Honest Trailers series, are launching a whole brand new channel that’s dedicated to entertainment news and are looking for members of this Screen Junkies news team.

They’re holding an open casting call and all you need to do is make a video on how you would cover a breaking entertainment news story. Get submission details at the link above.

We’re guessing a lot of our readers might fit the bill for this.

In Honor of C. Martin Croker, Adult Swim Puts Almost Every Episode of Space Ghost Coast To Coast Online for Free

September 20, 2016

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In Honor of C. Martin Croker, Adult Swim Puts Almost Every Episode of Space Ghost Coast To Coast Online for Free

RIP the voice of Zorak and Moltar.

One of the many precursors to the Adult Swim that so many of us know and love now was Cartoon Network’s Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The off-beat animated talk show with cartoon super heroes and villains set in space helped spark the weird fire that grew into the Adult Swim corner of Cartoon Network.

Unfortunately, animator and voice actor C. Martin Croker recently passed and Adult Swim wanted to honor his legacy by putting nearly the entire series of Space Ghost Coast to Coast online here.

If you somehow needed a reason to binge watch Space Ghost, you certainly have one now.

Seeso Is Going to Have 12 Week Long “Stand-Up Streaming Fest” with Janeane Garofalo, Jena Friedman, Jon Dore, Schtick or Treat, and Much Much More

September 20, 2016

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Seeso Is Going to Have 12 Week Long “Stand-Up Streaming Fest” with Janeane Garofalo, Jena Friedman, Jon Dore, Schtick or Treat, and Much Much More

For an entire three month stretch, Seeso has got a really solid line-up of comedy specials and showcases set to stream. It’s packed so tightly over consecutive weeks that they’ve decided to call it their Stand-up Streaming Fest.

This line-up lincludes:
-Jena Friedman’s American C*nt-Oct. 20th
-The Guest List (Seeso’s stacked comedy showcase series)-Oct. 20th, Nov. 3rd, Dec. 8th
-Janeane Garofalo’s If I May-Oct. 27th
-Schtick or Treat: Halloween Stand-Up Special-Oct. 27th
-Mo Mandel’s Negative Reinforcement-Nov. 3rd
-Dan Levy’s Lion-Nov. 17th
-Turnt Up with Eliza Skinner-Nov. 17th
-McSweeney’s Internet Tendency-Nov. 24th
-Joe Matarese’s Medicated-Dec. 1st
-Lachlan Patterson’s Live at Venice Beach-Dec. 1st
-Funny as Hell with Jon Dore-Dec. 15th
-Nick Thune stand-up special-Dec. 22nd
-Ian Harvie stand-up special-Dec. 29th
-Laurie Kilmartin’s 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad-Dec. 29th
-Brian Posehn stand-up special-Jan. 2nd.

So, it’s pretty clear to us that you should get Seeso if you haven’t already.

Anthony Atamanuik’s Donald Trump is Taking Over @midnight This Week

September 19, 2016

anthony atamanuik, chris hardwick, donald trump, midnight

Anthony Atamanuik’s Donald Trump is Taking Over @midnight This Week

11:30PM on Comedy Central, Monday through Thursday.

The best impression of Donald Trump by Anthony Atamanuik is going to be on TV tonight through Thursday, which will be a nice way to cap off watching all the evenings spent watching the series and season premieres of dozens of shows this week.