Due to additional responsibilities that we’ve overtaken at the Comedy Bureau, we are experimenting with dissolving the Morning Debriefing in separate posts throughout a given day.

There will still be frequent updates and posts everyday informing any and all about latest and best in comedy in the Greater Los Angeles Area and (sometimes) beyond.  They’ll just be separate posts separate from two static calendars listing all the best upcoming shows and open mics.

Also, there will be more time to write more original articles like the Tip of the Hat and show recaps as well as get into interviews and other brand new things via The Comedy Bureau including covering the upcoming Bridgetown Comedy Festival.

Thanks for to all for your support and readership and we’re only going to get better from here.

-Bureau Director Jake Kroeger

1) Comedian Barry Rothbart on national TV… again.  After appearing frequently on national commercials for Taco Bell, web series “Do Whatever”, in which he stars, is set to air on IFC soon.

2) There’s still win a chance to win a spot on the Long Shot Podcast!!!

3) With an endorsement from Kate Micucci and this review, Re-Animator the Musical, might be something to catch at the Steve Allen Theater soon.  It may not be the Human Centipede musical, but why the f*$# would you want to see that?

4) “All awards shows are bullshit made up clubs where people decide to give each other prizes. So, I want to thank Comedy Central for saying, ‘we could do that, we could give each other prizes.”-Tina Fey about the Comedy Awards/Reason the Comedy Bureau thinks that such awards shows really shouldn’t be broadcasted ever

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
The 4 & 20 @ All Star Lanes 8PM FREE
Baron Vaughn opening for Adam Warrock @ Nerdist Theatre 8PM $10
Just for Laughs Showcase @ Hollywood Improv Lab 7:30PM/9:30PM $5
Stand Up Saloon @ Old Towne Pub 10PM FREE
Keep It Clean Comedy @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/multiple sets allowed/$5 min.
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/call (213) 483-4458
GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA/USC Campus/Nestled between 3 dormitories approximately a block away from the intersection of Figueroa and Exposition/USC student sign-up 9PM/non-USC-student sign-up 9:15/Starts 9:30PM  

7) So Comedy Central is 20 years old.  Subtracting the 170 days we’ve been live, the Comedy Bureau has just over 7000 days to reach the same prominence.

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1) As the Comedy Awards already happened and we already know who won, I’d say watch the premiere of Norm MacDonald’s Sports Show at 10:30PM April 12th first, but the Comedy Awards are chronologically on first at 9PM, so just watch both on Comedy Central.

2) You probably already suspected that American: The Bill Hicks Story was going to be reviewed like this, but it’s nice to actually read it in reality. [via PopcornBiz]

3) Weird Places to do Stand Up w/Chelsea Peretti, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer, and more! [via HuffPo Comedy]

4) Tip of the Hat for Jim Hamilton

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Comedy Without a Cause @ Boardners 7:30PM FREE
Feel Good Comedy @ Hollywood Improv 7:30PM $10/2 item min. 
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
Ian Federgreen Presents @ Flappers YooHoo Room 7:30PM $10/2 drink min.
#hashtag @ Bar Lubitsch 8:30PM FREE 
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE 
Chatterbox Comedy Night @ Chatterbox 9PM FREE 
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5
Lettuce Entertain You! (W/Stand Up) @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5
The Sunday Sunday Sunday Show @ The Improv Space 9:30PM FREE 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. 
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM
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  

7) I apologize profusely for the tardiness of this post.  There’s no excuse other than I can write an update this complex via my smart phone.  Damn technology.

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1) Series “House of Lies” that Ben Schwartz is in got picked up on Showtime!

3) The BBC recently visited NY and was marveled at their plethora of storytelling shows.  Though the Moth started in NY, we’ve got plenty here in LA including This is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv, Public School Stories at M Bar, Two Headed Beast at Stories Books & Cafe, and plenty more that keep popping up.  Check it BBC.

4) The Ultimate Free & Cheap LA Comedy List 4/10-4/16. Thanks Wisepix.

5) If only I knew more about designing websites and HTML code, I could make an open mic map as pretty looking as this one on LA Comedy Insider.

6) The Comedy Bureau “Tip of the Hat” (meant to be written earlier this week) to the Walsh Brothers! (Next one will be on time)

7) ON THE HORIZON
Gelmania @ UCB Theatre Sat. Apr. 16th 10PM $10
West Memphis 3 Benefit @ Largo Tues. May 31st 8PM $30 

8) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Laugh-Your-Ass-Off-Palooza @ Columbia College Hollywood 6:30PM FREE 
Risk! True Stories Boldly Told @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10
Alonzo Bodden @ Ice House 8:30PM/10:30PM $17.50/2 drink min.
Christina Pazitsky @ Downtown Comedy Club 9PM $11/2 drink min.
Stood Up Friday Night: The Meaning of Life @ Moving Arts Theatre 10PM $5 
The Also-Ran Comedy Hour @ Hollywood Improv Lab 10:30PM $5 

9) OPEN MIC RUN
SET LIST @ FLAPPERS BAR 102 E. Magnolia, Burbank, CA/Sign-up 5PM/given set list to improv off of
iCANDY 1708 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 6PM/Starts 7PM/$3 min.
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE 2906 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/Sign-up (lottery) 6:30PM/Starts 7PM 
MAX BLOOM’S 200 N. Malden Ave., Fullerton, CA/Starts 7PM
GLENDALE DAYS INN 450 N. Pioneer Dr., Glendale, CA/Starts 8PM   

10) Yes, that “Report 00167” means I’ve blogged for 167 days straight including Christmas, New Year’s, and Martin Luther King Day.  You’re welcome. 

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1) Jim Gaffigan tickets are on pre-sale for a show in November at Club Nokia.  Yeah, he’s that good everyone. (pre-sale password is BACON)

2) Charlyne Yi on Conan.

3) Paul F. Tompkins on an Australian Podcast, The Little Dum Dum Club.

4) ON THE HORIZON:
This Is Not Happening @ Hollywood Improv Wed., Apr. 13th 8PM $5/2 item min.

5) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
If This Doesn’t Work Out, I’m Moving Home @ Harlem Place Cafe 8PM FREE
TJ Miller and Friends @ Comedy & Magic Club 8PM $15/2 drink min.
You’ve Seen These Guys @ Brea Improv 8PM $15/2 item min.
Meltdown @ Meltdown Comics 8:30PM $8
Frolic! @ Far Bar 9PM FREE
The Ed Galvez Punk House @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $8
Beer in the Shower @ Whitehorse Cocktail Lounge Inn 9:30PM FREE
The Jesse Miller Talk Show @ Next Stage Theatre 11PM $5 

6) OPEN MIC RUN
THE SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7PM 
CAFE ON 2ND 7 S. 2nd St., Alhambra, CA/Sign-up 7PM/Starts 7:30PM/$3 cover/10 min. guarantee
CAFE MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM 
LIBRARY A COFFEE HOUSE 3418 Broadway, Long Beach, CA/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 8:30PM 

7) Anybody want to make a Comedy Bureau ticker so I don’t have to reach end of our Twitter feed?

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1) American-the Bill Hicks Story hits U.S. theatres this week on April 8th, but the earliest you can see it is April 13th at the Comedy Store then April 15th at the Laemmle Sunset 5.  Something is wrong with this picture.  If it changes, the Comedy Bureau will let you know.

2) LA via Australia-Hear clips of Garfunkel and Oates & Maria Bamford live in Melbourne

3) Brand New Open Mic coming next week: 
Smiles Nightclub
13615 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Every other Wednesday
5 minutes of stage time with 1 item purchase
$3 Domestic Beer, $3 Soda, Half off apps
Contact Chris Dunham or TK Matteson
www.facebook.com/chrisdunhamlive-www.facebook.com/tkocomedy 

4) The Comedy Bureau’s own calendars have been updated with a few new venues!

5) Once again, Conan on WTF w/Marc Maron.

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
What’s Up Tiger Lily @ Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill 8PM FREE
Keep It Clean @ 1739 Public House 10PM FREE
Crash Test @ UCB Theatre 11PM $5

7) OPEN MIC RUN
RED ROCK 8782 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/multiple sets allowed/$5 min.
CLUB 705 705 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA/Starts 7PM-ish
JAKE’S 38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 7:30PM/Starts 8PM
TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Starts 8PM/call (213) 483-4458
D’AMORE’S 8369 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA/Sign-up (lottery) 8PM/Purchase required 
GROUND ZERO USC 615 Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA/USC Campus/Nestled between 3 dormitories approximately a block away from the intersection of Figueroa and Exposition/USC student sign-up 9PM/non-USC-student sign-up 9:15/Starts 9:30PM  

8) Yesterday, the Comedy Bureau posted the article, “Why are THEY on the Show?” about the unfortunate trading of spots on shows that happens in LA and some readers were wondering a few things.  Specifically, The Comic’s Comic wondered about comics who struggle to get stage time starting their own room.  I have no problem with other comics starting their own room to get their own stage time if they can’t get it elsewhere.  Again, I reiterate stay away from trading spots.  Whether they are good or bad as comics is a matter of subjectivity to me really, but, as I point out in the article, if they can find an audience of their own, my opinion doesn’t really matter.  Another reader wondered that if a person works the Haha, Ice House, Comedy Store, Improv that they should get a shot at performing at another room.  First off, there are plenty of comics that are (and I’m putting this very politely) raw that get to perform at all of those clubs.  Once more, as I pointed in the article, plenty of comics can get laughs, but if they’re not funny to the booker, why should the booker put them up?  Last week, I saw someone do nothing but offensive material jumbling up the most controversial topics to date (i.e. Libya, Tsunami, and Liz Taylor’s Death) into one dick joke ridden mess and kill.  Did I laugh? I didn’t even smile.  Just because this comic happened to do good on a certain night because they had a good spot on the show, I don’t feel obligated or guilted to promote their comedy as, plain and simple, I don’t find them funny.  If you have any further questions regarding this article or anything else, please send them to thecomedybureau@gmail.com.

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1) The iCandy Open Mic in Long Beach taking place every Friday in Long Beach has put itself in a rare class of open mics running for almost a decade.  Not only do they now pay their few booked performers, but they will very soon offer to match any other indepently produced and booked room that is willing to do so.  Thanks to Shayne Michael, Jeff Leon, Kerry Arnold Stephens, and these 97 other people, comics getting paid at an open mic has become possible.

2) Antithesis Comedy, another fine comedy site, is looking for comedian/musicians and comedian/filmmakers based in LA.  Message Jesse Castro Jr. for details.

3) The Comedy Bureau “Tips Its Hat” this week to THE WALSH BROTHERS! Article/profile to follow soon

4) Always hilarious comedienne Jackie Kashian is correct in that there is stigma attached to the “solo show”, but I’m pretty sure we would all watch Jackie’s solo show.  The Comedy Bureau would.

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 7:30PM FREE
The Nerdist Podcast Live w/James Gunn @ The Nerdist Theatre 8PM $10
March Comedy Madness Finals @ The Comedy Store 8PM $14/2 drink min.
French Toast @ Taix 8:30PM FREE
Powerviolence @ The Complex 8:30PM FREE
Top Story Weekly @ iO West 9PM $5 
Gravid Water @ UCB Theatre 9:30PM $5 (stand by only)

7) OPEN MIC RUN
PALMS 8572 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA/Starts 6PM 
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min. 
TSUNAMEDY @ TRIBAL CAFE 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Sign-up 8PM/Starts 9PM
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    

8) In case you decided to be a human and avoid social networking, Charlie Sheen bombed last night at his first show on his “Violent Torpedo of Truth Tour”. Big surprise.  I guess what counts as news these days is something happening that everyone expected. 

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1) It’s official: The Nerdist Theatre has arrived (@nerdmelt) and the back room of Meltdown Comics is no more (well, sort of).  Kicking off their inaugural weekend off with Jimmy Dore’s Pop and Politics tonight and a live Nerdist Podcast w/James Gunn tomorrow night, the Nerdist Theatre is sure to be one of the “places to be” in LA.

2) LA via Texas and Texas via LA: Hampton Yount’s experiences at SXSW and Matt Ingebretson and the Hell Yes Fest in the Austinist.

3) The Comic’s Comic is now on Tumblr.  I think you should follow.

4) Comedy Central now has a smart phone app for free.  Perhaps you can find out when Mash-Up is on at 3:30AM again even more accesibly than visiting the Comedy Bureau.

5) ON THE HORIZON
TJ Miller Makes Mayhem @ Largo Sun. Jun. 5th 8PM $20

6) Tonight’s COMEDY CRAWL
Two Headed Beast: A Story Telling Show @ Stories Books & Cafe 8PM FREE 
Mike Phirman @ Flappers Burbank 8PM/10PM $17/2 item min.
ASSSSCAT @ UCB Theatre 8PM $10 (stand by only)
The Anytime Show w/Dominic Dierkes & Magic Bag @ Underground Annex Theatre 8PM/10PM $5 will get you into both shows
Truth or Dare @ Hollywood Improv Lab 8:30PM $5 
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo 8:30PM $25 (sold out, tickets may be available at door)
Comediaplex @ Westside Comedy Theatre 9PM $10 
The Roast of Justin Bieber @ UCB Theatre 10PM $10
Ryan Stout @ Hollywood Improv 10PM $18 
The Midnight Show @ UCB Theatre MIDNIGHT $5 (stand by only)
Tomorrow Show w/Ron Lynch @ Steve Allen Theater MIDNIGHT $8 

7) OPEN MIC RUN
SPOT CAFE 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA/Starts 2PM/people usually give feedback at end of set
WESTSIDE COMEDY THEATRE 1323-A 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA (in alley between 3rd and 4th St.)/Sign-Up 6PM/Starts 6:30PM
SUNSET GRILL 7439 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/Starts 7PM/one item min.
MARTY’S/THE OPEN MIC 7351 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA/5PM to 11PM/$5/multiple sets allowed      

8) May I stress that I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with people telling jokes that might be considered controversial or “too soon” as long as they’re inherently funny and not depending on mere hyperbole/graphic detail.  Perfect example from comedian Brooks Wheelan posted only a few days after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan: @brookswheelan This whole Japan thing is the biggest win dolphins have had since the ‘72 undefeated season. #LARRYCSONKA.  Nicely done, Brooks.  Nicely done.

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1) The closest you’ll see Doug Stanhope to Los Angeles for a while is tonight at the San Jose Improv 8PM $25/2 item min. and this Saturday Mar. 5th at Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara 7PM $20.  That is as close as he’s going to get.

2) The Scoomie Awards-an award show recognizing distinction in open mic comedians in LA is coming up soon and is taking suggestions for categories.  Here are some of the best suggested categories so far—take note Comedy Awards. (Listed in alphabetical order by first name)

-The “I’m an F-18, Bro” Award for Overconfidence
Andrew N. Solmssen

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