There are a plethora of “comedian on comedian” shows/podcasts and even a handful that are good.  Marc Maron would almost seem to be at the top of the comedy insider mountain with the WTF Podcast, especially just having been featured in the NY Times, but I would suggest that perhaps you take a listen to an insider perspective from the ground floor on the Drinking Buddies Podcast with comedians Chris Adams and Jerry Brandt.

Both hard working comics trying to come up through the ultra-competitive Los Angeles comedy scene, Chris and Jerry take advantage of the podcast format, though its broadcast live on KBeach Radio at CSULB, with a very laid back, conversational approach, apropos to the name of the show, through floating between what happened to them in the past week, which may include how hilariously trashed Jerry got at Coachella or Chris’ continuing travails of working at a coffee shop, to having in-depth discussions about the art form and industry that is stand up comedy.  

Not only do they get nationally touring comedians such as Dana Gould or even the aforementioned Marc Maron, but they also have comedians/other drinking buddies on the show that gives a wonderful contrast between people that can do as they please with comedy and people who go night in and night out performing at whatever stage that will give them 5 minutes.  From this, one gets a wonderfully visceral sense of what the process of being a comedian entails as well as the sort of constitution it takes to pursue this creative path.  On a recent episode, they interviewed nationally touring comedian Todd Glass and Los Angeles darling comedienne Abbey Londer, which combined the tales of frustrations of performing stand up comedy on the road with the dissection of the various comedy clicks that exist within the massive Los Angeles comedy scene into a great portrait of what stand up comedy is right now in a way that other “comedy insider” podcasts fall short of.

With all of that being said, it’s just as much a fun listen as it is insightful through the playful banter between Chris and Jerry who are each other’s roommate, go back and forth with each other in the vastly entertaining way that only roommates can.  So, comedians and comedians fans alike, I highly recommend tuning into the Drinking Buddies every Wednesday at 10PM PST or download episodes here when they’re available or get it off iTunes.

1) Forget Black Friday-Jimmy Pardo’s “Pardcast-a-Thon” kicks off 6PM TONIGHT for 12 hours straight having all proceeds go to Smile Train benefiting extremely underprivileged children who need cleft palate surgery regain their smile as well as the ability to speak properly, eat, and lead a normal life (not that comedians really know what that’s like).  There will be tons of big guests as well as Jimmy Pardo himself, so tune in for some laughs/charity here.

2) Seriously, forget Black Friday and all those relatives that you’re trying to buy cheap gifts to keep up appearances.  Instead go on a COMEDY CRAWL that’s not even that long with Lettuce Entertain You (w/Stand Up) @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10, Hot Toddy @ iO West 9:30PM (Del Close)/11:30PM (Main Stage) $5.

3) OPEN MIC RUN: UCB THEATRE 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6PM/Starts 6:30PM/10 spots available, iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min., SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM MARTY’S 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA (walk up Martel past Big Mama’s and Papa’s)/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed

4) The Ultimate Free and Cheap LA Comedy List 11/28-12/4.  Yeah, it’s real.  Thanks Wisepix.

5) Brendon Walsh was on Conan last night.  I missed it because I have lost all concept of time and don’t have a DVR.  Fortunately TeamCoco.com are good people and have his set right here.

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” today to JERRY BRANDT-@HateJerryBrandt- Awkward Thanksgiving phone conversation with my Dad is done…we can now go back to ignoring each other until Christmas.  Over the last year, Jerry Brandt has made his indelible/bitter/funny mark on the “Long Beach Comedy Scene” as well as the rest of LA with his monthly show, “The Happy Tiki Comedy Show @ The Puka Bar” and his weekly podcast “Drinking Buddies” with awesome co-host Chris Adams recorded at CSULB.  Though his twitter handle is @HateJerryBrandt, he certainly only wants to hate himself in the most self-deprecating, hilarious way possible.  Upcoming Shows include: Big Trouble in Little Tokyo @ Señor Fish 11/30 8PM FREE and Ultimate Laff Down @ Khoury’s 11/2 8:30PM/$7/$10 food-drink min.  Be sure to check out his Website and Twitter.

7) From the “You Should Have Been There” Lagoon: Lenny Bruce-All Alone.

8) The Comedy Bureau is a single man (in every sense of the term) and LIVE TWEETS as an entire agency HERE.

9) You’re saving SOOOOO much money today so you can donate to the Comedy Bureau, right?  Please prove this statement true here.

10) Literally, driving home last night, the freeway was already clogged with traffic for Black Friday. I will, for the first time, feel like I’m having a better time than “real people” at an open mic.

Report 00035

THE COMEDY BUREAU

1) Despite showing up late, Beer in the Shower @ White Horse Inn Cocktail Lounge, catching Nick Vatterott and Jerry Rocha w/host Paul Danke was THE WAY to close out a Wednesday night especially if someone said about everything you’ve written a few hours earlier, “I don’t understand any of your fuckin’ shit, man.  What the hell is going on your head? I can tell you don’t sleep.  You should sleep and stop writing.”  If only I skipped my screenwriter’s group, I would have caught the hilarity of Shawn Pearlman, Eddie Pepitone, and Fortune Feimster.  Catch Beer in the Shower every Wednesday, 10PM @ White Horse.

2) Just because its miles outside of LA proper, doesn’t mean that there’s nothing funny about Long Beach.  Comedians Chris Adams and Jerry Brandt prove that in spades and THEN SOME with their weekly podcast Drinking Buddies.  This week, longtime LA comedy vet Don Barris and the hilarious Tim Babb talk everything from comedy to Disneyland to rape and, of course, drinking.  See how everything connects here. 

3) “Jesse Miller.  Straight up.” -Andre Hyland.  Every few weeks at the AMAZING Anna Lee Lawson Comedy Hour @ The Next Stage Theatre, Andre Hyland transforms into Jesse Miller and takes over with the Jesse Miller Talk Show (next one’s in November).  Check out Jesse on a Trikke.  Again, it’s straight up.

4) From the World Famous Comedy Garage, quintessential hipster LA comedian Paul Danke gives you some advice on Halloween costumes so you don’t look totally lame, unless you’re being ironic, well, then, you know what I mean….  Check it on Funny or Die here.

5) There will be a brand new open mic in town at Señor Fish in Little Tokyo starting Nov. 9th. Happy hour w/$3 beers & $2 fish tacos and more details coming soon.

00006

THE COMEDY BUREAU