The Comedy Bureau

Kyle Kinane & Neil Hamburger on What It Means To Be A Grown-Up

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:54:15 -0700

Kyle Kinane, Neil Hamburger, Nathan Rabin & Greg Rutter of The Onion, and more of your favorite comedians and writers offer up essays in this book on the ever-changing answers to the age-old question: What It Means To Be Grown A Grown-Up.

How could you not want to read about being a grown up possibly meaning going on adventures in taxi cabs and garnering death threats from fans of A-list celebrities?

MIB 3 vs. Moonrise Kingdom

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:42:07 -0700

MIB 3
Domestic Gross: $55,000,000 (est.)
# of Theaters (Domestic): 4,248
Gross/Theaters Average: $12,947
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 68%
International Gross: $132,000,000 (est.)

Moonrise Kingdom
Domestic Gross: $509,000
# of Theaters (Domestic): 4
Gross/Theaters Average: $127,250
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
International Gross: $1,418,388

You can interpret those statistics however you want, but wouldn’t it be great if Moonrise Kingdom was released in more theaters than 4 because distributors don’t believe that anyone outside of a major city would go see a Wes Anderson movie.

*box office figures from boxofficemojo.com

Damsels in Distress Has Week Run at Cinefamily

Sun, 27 May 2012 11:41:08 -0700

Whit Stillman’s (Last Days of Disco) return to the big screen with the whimsically subversive looking Damsels in Distress is coupled by the summer of Greta Gerwig (starring in both Damsels and Lola Versus) making for a great alternative to whatever big film is taking up three screens at your theater. Cinefamily in LA is having a week run of the film starting Fri. Jun. 1st and, if you’re in the area and on a Moonrise Kingdom high, you should catch Damsels in Distress complete with Aubrey Plaza saying something sarcastic.

Channel 101 May Results

Sun, 27 May 2012 11:28:37 -0700

The March Madness style short form TV series tournament Channel 101 just went through its May round for 2012. Genre and style defying Gumbel took top honors, making it a Channel 101 favorite. If you were wondering what Dan Harmon was doing last night, it was this because he and Rob Schrab started it.

LA Comedy Rundown 5/27/12

Sun, 27 May 2012 09:00:17 -0700

ON THE HORIZON
The Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian @ Nerdist Theater Tues. May 29th 8PM $10
Really F*cking Great @ Fanatic Salon Fri. Jun 1st 9PM $10

COMEDY CRAWL
TJ Miller’s Hangover Matinee @ Cinefamily 11AM $12
Comedy @ Silverlake Jubilee 7PM $20-$35 for festival passes
Dave Attell @ Irvine Improv 7PM $25/2 item min.
The Anytime Show @ Little Modern 7PM FREE
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Un Cabaret @ Bar Fedora 8PM $20-$55
Powerviolence @ The Complex 9PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Lennon Parham & Jason Mantzoukas @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)
Death of the Weekend @ iO West 10:30PM FREE
Shitty Jobs @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5 (stand by only)

OPEN MIC RUN
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2425 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 4:30PM/3-5 min./lottery/$2 cover
STARLIGHT THEATRE 1125 Victoria St., Costa Mesa, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/mixed mic/No purchase necessary
FLAPPERS CLAREMONT 532 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 7PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary
NERDIST THEATER 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (back room of Meltdown Comics)/Sign-up 7:15PM/Starts 7:30PM/lottery/30 spots available/no purchase necessary
SUNDAY SKETCH SHOW @ WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd St. Promenade and 4th St.)/Open mic for sketches/Starts 8PM/Ends before booked show at 9PM/No purchase necessary
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM/first come, first served/mixed mic
THE BARREL 4547 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA/Sign-up 8:30PM/Starts 9PM/First come, first served/7 min./One item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed/bottled water and coffee available

Tony Clifton to Have Residency at the Comedy Store

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:47:27 -0700

Starting Jun. 31st, the raucous creation of Andy Kaufman, Tony Clifton complete with his girls, band, and penchant for not having very many social boundaries will take residence at The Comedy Store. Every Thurs. & Fri. in June at the stroke of 9PM, the Main Room at The Comedy Store will be taken over by Clifton and, perhaps, The Sunset Strip may never be the same when he leaves.

We’re pretty sure this will sell out, so get tickets now.

Required Online Comedy Reading List 5/26

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:21:22 -0700

Read about Carlin’s words still being profound today as well as finding out whether you’re a sociopath or not and more articles, interviews, in, around, and about comedy.

The ‘7 Words’ Turn 40, but They’re Still Dirty by Timothy Bella for The Atlantic
Conan O’Brien on the ‘symbiotic relationship’ of his audience and new media by Nathan Ingraham for The Verge
An Open Letter to Jay Leno About Stealing My Video From YouTube and Then Getting It Removed by Brian Kamerer for Splitsider
Are You a Sociopath? by Rose Surnow & Alison Leiby for Vice Magazine
A Sitcom for 2013 by Jake Kroeger for The Nerdist
Goofing off, pranks and more: The Brendon Walsh interview by Sean L. McCarthy for The Comic’s Comic

Set Pics from Comedy Central's Mash-Up Promise Awesomeness

Sat, 26 May 2012 11:40:17 -0700

If you’re not following Jordan Vogt Roberts on Twitter @VogtRoberts (the co-creator and director of what should be one of Comedy Central’s most anticipated series, Mash-Up), maybe set pics of them shooting the visualizations of jokes from Kyle Kinane, Pete Holmes, Hannibal Buress, and more should do the trick. There’s anything from Chris Hardwick in front of a bed monster to a Nazi penguin to a live flamethrower.

LA Comedy Rundown 5/26/12

Sat, 26 May 2012 09:05:00 -0700

ON THE HORIZON
TJ Miller’s Hangover Matinee @ Cinefamily Sun. May 27th 11AM $12
The Eric Andre Show LIVE @ Satellite LA Thurs. May 31st 8PM $12
Imaginary Radio Program @ Hollywood Improv Lab Wed. May 30th 8:30PM $5

COMEDY CRAWL
LA Indie Improv Festival @ The Complex & Elephant Studio 12PM FREE
Ogre Mage Live @ Silverlake Lounge 6:30PM FREE
Comedy at Silverlake Jubilee @ El Cid 7PM $20-$35 for festival passes
Dave Attell @ Irvine Improv 7PM/9PM $25/2 item min.
Bill Burr @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $25/2 item min.
Channel 101 Screening @ Downtown Independent Theater 8PM/10PM FREE
Hooker Money: A Benefit for Rick Shapiro @ Vlad the Retailer’s 8PM $5-$10
Set List @ Nerdist Theater 8PM $10
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Great Depression Happy Hour @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Jon Huck @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $10
Stampede @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10PM $5
Anthony Jeselnik @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10 (stand by only)
Guy Branum Presents Talk Show: The Game Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5
The Walsh Brothers Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5
The Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8

OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/feedback given at end
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/coffee & water provided
DAILY GRIND 109 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA/Starts 5PM/First come, first served/No purchase necessary/5 min.
DANGERFIELD’S 3 2524 1/2 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/lottery/3 min./$2 cover
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/One drink min./First come, first served
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATER 1323-A 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/no purchase necessary/4 min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery

Brendon Walsh and Nick Vatterott's Half Hour Premiere Tonight

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:50:38 -0700

At 11PM and 11:30PM, Brendon Walsh and Nick Vatterott, respectively, have their half-hours airing on Comedy Central. Don’t miss out on an Unbookable and the latest Andy Kaufman Award Winner do approximately 22 minutes of, what we hope is, prank-laced stand-up.

Reggie Watts Got Standing Ovation at a TED Talk

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:40:43 -0700

Reggie Watts is one of the few comedians that can say he’s played the Funny or Die offices, MOMA PS1, and now, the TED Talks where he nabbed a standing o.

Jon Daly Raps "Jon Daly"

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:04:12 -0700

Jon Daly, the man behind Bill Cosby-Bukowski, makes his mark in the rap game with his new single, Jon Daly, that you can download for free at jondalyjondaly.com. Perfect name for a song, wouldn’t you say?

The San Francisco Comedy and Burrito Festival Deadline Is Soon

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:46:52 -0700

We really don’t need to explain why the combination of comedy and burritos was meant to be. All we need to say that is comics should submit before the regular deadline of Jun. 1st.

Comedy Abroad-ish 5/25

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:23:22 -0700

Doug Stanhope at the Underground Cinema, Toronto. Photo by Sharilyn Johnson

Doug Stanhope in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia in August
Kyle Kinane & Tom Segura @ American Comedy Co. (San Diego, CA) Tonight thru Sun. May 27th $22
Comedy @ Sasquatch 2012 (George, Washington) Tonight thru Mon. May 28th
The Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre @ Bonnaroo 2012 (Manchester, TN) Thurs. Jun. 7th-Sun. 10th
UCB’s Freakdance screening in limited engagements in Boston, Philadelphia, and NYC
Dave Hill’s Tasteful Nudes Book Release Show @ Punch Line Comedy Club Mon. Jun. 4th 8PM $25.40
Humor Code with the Grawlix @ Denver Art Museum (Denver, CO) Tonight 6PM

College Humor's Mexican Stand-Off-Palooza

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:49:41 -0700

The offices of College Humor pulled an all-nighter last night and made some fun videos, one of which, they lived out their fantasy of having a Mexican stand-off (*complete with dying).

LA Comedy Rundown 5/25/12

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:39 -0700

ON THE HORIZON
Channel 101 @ Downtown Independent Sat. May 26th 7PM/9PM FREE
The Dork Forest LIVE w/Jackie Kashian @ Nerdist Theater Tues. May 29th 8PM $10
Reggie Watts @ Fonda Theatre Wed. May 30th 8PM $40
Dana Gould Starts a Riot @ Fake Gallery Wed. May 30th 8PM $5

COMEDY CRAWL
Love Good @ Little Modern 8PM FREE
Bill Burr @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $25/2 item min.
Dave Attell @ Irvine Improv 8PM/10PM $25/2 item min.
Eric Andre @ Hollywood Improv 8PM $18/2 item min.
Sugar Pill @ Dangerfield’s 3 8PM $5
The Nearlywed Game @ iO West 8PM $10
The 12 Shiny Nickels Show @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $10
Jon Huck @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $10
Late Night w/Howie Kremer @ Second City Hollywood 11PM $5
Bachelorette Party @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5

OPEN MIC RUN
UCB THEATRE 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/lottery/10 spots available only/5 min./No purchase necessary
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/Starts 5:30PM/given “set list” of topics to do jokes off of/first come, first served/no purchase necessary
ROCKPAPER COFFEE CO 7509 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA/Starts 6PM/First come, first served/5 min./One item min.
LITTLE MODERN 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 6:15PM/Starts 6:30PM/lottery/10 spots only/5 min./No purchase necessary
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/4 min./no purchase necessary
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM/booked show after/no purchase necessary
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
SABOR Y CULTURA 5625 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 8PM/Sign-up is a lottery/5 min. with 3 min. work-in’s/No purchase necessary
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel, past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5 min./multiple sets allowed/first come, first served/coffee and bottled water available
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up 11PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/5 min./first come, first served/one drink min.
FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia Ave., Burbank, CA/Sign-up 10PM/Starts MIDNIGHT/lottery

The Eric Andre Show McDonald's Saga

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:03:37 -0700

Can we call something with two clips a saga? Eric Andre makes a great case with two clips for The Eric Andre Show invading a McDonald’s and quasi-impersonating Ronald McDonald.

Vince Vaughn Strolled by Conan to Debut Trailer for The Watch

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:57:06 -0700

Apparently, Conan is the hip, cool place to debut your big comedy projects as Vince Vaughn popped in to show a trailer for his upcoming film, The Watch, featuring hilarious, but possibly unnecessary violence to aliens.

Christopher Guest on TV?

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:49:18 -0700

Christopher Guest is looking to do a TV show in exclusive from Vulture. NBC Universal International TV is shopping the project around rather than redeeming themselves by having it on NBC.

and in other comedy ‘trades’ news:

Megan Ganz confirmed she’s returning to write Community. It is one step closer to an Internet ceasefire, but it would seem there’s about a thousands more steps before that happens.
Vultre exclusive reports Zach Galifianakis attached to star in adaptation of ‘Confederacy of Dunces’. Whenever there’s a trailer or promo, they’re sure to go viral without showing any cats.
TV Land orders comedy pilots produced by Ben Silverman and Scott Stuber. Soon, no cable channel will have a theme like they used to, but rather original scripted or reality series.
RickRoll’d meme destroyed by copyright takedown. Cue Darth Vader at the end of Revenge of the Sith, we guess?

Jim Gaffigan Might Have Found The Best Catchphrase Ever on Fallon

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:06:36 -0700

Squeaky clean comedian Jim Gaffigan went on Fallon last night and talked his experience at Subway, then took a two minute break from being squeaky clean to find a great comedy catchphrase.

Tonight on late night: Alison Brie on Conan (TBS 11PM)