Conan O’Brien
Margaret Cho
Aziz Ansari
Jeffrey Ross Roasts Bonnaroo
Greg Giraldo
Bo Burnham
Doug Benson
Nick Kroll
Paul Scheer
Rob Huebel
John Roberts
Baron Vaughn
Chelsea Peretti

Conan will be performing and hosting two of the nights.  Bonnaroo is June 10th-13 in Manchester, TN.  You can order tickets here.  Feel free to get tickets for me as well.

Oh wait, there totally is.  A comedian/software engineer from San Francisco named Toby Muresianu felt our pain and made an app for the iPhone called “The Light”.  Let’s be honest, it’s rare that a comedian has any other useful skill to offer society so we all really lucked on this one.

The App lets you set a a countdown timer and then reminds you at fixed times when the comedian’s time is almost up, then it lets you give them a bright light with the time left.  It’s a super convenient app for any show producers and best of all it’s free!  So click here and download it to your iphone.  And tell’em Dustin sent ya.  They won’t know who the hell that is so it will be a little awkward but fun.

When asked by PEOPLE, “Are you doing Saturday Night Live,” she answered, “Yes,” even if she remains perplexed by the groundswell of support.  “I don’t know why or how,” she says, “but it’s been wonderful.”

Why were we all supporting you Betty White?  Because you are fun cool lady who still gets it. And lets be honest Betty, you’ve always been at your best when you are a bit naughty (don’t read anything sexual into that you pervs.  Okay maybe a little) and SNL knows that and will have you doing awesome things (I vote for making out with Jenny Slate or doing Really? with Seth and Betty).  Plus you’ve made us laugh since…well, pretty much as long as anyone who is reading this has been alive.  I can’t wait!

How do you avoid becoming spoiled by this? Can you tell the difference when they applaud for you, and when they applaud just because the “Applause” sign lit up? Oh it is a conundrum, I’ll tell you that.

Plus! I’m not out of order! You’re out of order! It’s my football now! A break in our Cold Case! And once a upon a time, someone got kicked by a pony.

photo from flickr by Your Secret Admiral

Last night he made up for everything by reuniting the cast of California Dreams.  Some people might have forgotten about them entirely.  Others may never have known who they were in the first place.  But for the vast vast majority of us who still have a poster of The Dreams on their wall or who relentlessly try to convince people to call them Sly so they can be cool 90’s style this was moment that will be remembered FOREVER!

Thank you Mr. Fallon.  Thank you cast of California Dreams.  Thank you Peter Engel for making all those wonderful shows about teenagers getting into hilarious situations (What up City Guys and Hang Time!). Most of all, thank you nostalgia for making these shows way more entertaining in my memory then they really were.  Check out the video below of them rocking the world with the California Dreams theme song.  On an unrelated note, has anyone seen my AARP card.  I though I left in next to my pills.  Who are you again?

Plus! Why did celebrities take second jobs on Scooby Doo? The rules that govern 80s movie house parties. And we decide to Cold Case that shit. Let’s do this!

I can’t tell you how much I hate that this is how the story ends. My heart goes out to his friends and family.

Then they came for G.I. Joe and I did not speak out because Marlon Wayans needs the work.

Then they came for Speedy Gonzales and I told them to go F*&K themselves because that’s a stupid f*&king idea.

Reuters in reporting that George Lopez has signed on tobe the voice of Speedy Gonzales in a new movie by New Line Cinema.  Correction the new lest racisty Speedy Gonzales.

“We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s — the racist Speedy,” said the comedian’s wife Ann Lopez, who will serve alongside him as a producer. “Speedy’s going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he’s a little too fast for what they do. He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he’s good at.”

That path becomes clearer once Speedy befriends a gun-shy race-car driver.

Now before you go thinking, wasn’t the original Speedy Gonzales cartoons (which apparently won a flippin Academy Award) kind of boring as it is?  Won’t it be difficult to make such a repetitive and simplistic character into a full length movie?  Don’t worry because “Garfield scribes Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen will write the script”.   So as you can see it’s in good hands.

Also, didn’t Family guy already do this…(warning, clip is super low quality)

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
Patience. Patience. Wait for it… patience.  See what I did there?

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
When I started it was the first time I ever felt like I fit in anywhere. (Violins playing) It just felt right. Like that whole running in a field of flowers with a microphone kind of right.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
Every time I’m part of a great show and hanging out with everyone on it afterwards. That’s the best.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Having to push through a bad set — in the middle, it can be dark. And in that moment, you feel like it’s the darkest. But as long as you keep going and keep your shit together, it’s always better by the end.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
My friends doing well. That’s the best.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
I would say I’ve seen some shitty behavior in scenes I used to be a part of. That makes my funny heart sad.

Who do you think is today’s most under-appreciated comedian/comedy actor?
There are so many. Can I say me? Then put “she laughs” in here so people don’t think I’m a dick. But honestly, there are a lot. (me) I think the point is that eventually, if you’re funny (me), you’ll get somewhere (me one more time).

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
To be patient. (See above, it’s important)

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Lots of bad comics have tried to give me advice, and they’re all still in the same place there were when they gave it to me. So don’t listen to jerks.

What is your craziest show experience?
I can’t tell if this should be crappy crazy or good crazy. I think standing on a bar stool in Brooklyn and screaming to everyone in it that there was actually a show going on in the back would be the crappiest crazy one. But that’s not something I’d do now. But I’m glad I did it. Yous gots to do the bads.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
My life and what I like. (Say “she laughs” here again.)

How would you describe your comedy?
You sound like my uncle’s friends at his retirement party. I don’t know. I just try to be myself. So I’d say “Joselyn-esque.” How you like me now!? (EDITOR’S NOTE:  Are you saying I’m old with high pants and a lot of gross long nose hairs?  Because I trim my nose hairs thank you very much!)

Have you had to change anything since moving to LA?
Getting used to not getting up as much. Learning about a TV show. Experiencing this “happiness” that everyone’s been talking about. Oh, and getting all this nasty sunshine. Gross, it’s warm on my skin! Ah!

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for… Being funny.

Shoot me if I ever… Turn into an asshole.

I think most comedians are… Great and really fun to be around.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… Solve a difficult math problem. (I wouldn’t really love to see that, but this is a weird “quick hit” question to start with, let’s be honest.) (EDITOR’S NOTE: Maybe.  Or maybe a weird “quick hit” question would be “Define truth using only the Socratic method then compare that to the plight of migrating Maine Lobster and the effects of global warming”.  I guess both can be considered a little odd.)

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… God, I love what my friends do. This is hard to pick, but let’s not be weird about it. Guys! Let’s not be weird. Am I being weird? I might be. This is too hard to pick. I’m exhausted thinking about it. Can we move on?

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… The Foreign Accent Syndrome video I made with Jon Friedman… anything I made with Front Page Films or Brooke Van Poppelen (MACHO).

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… Absolutely true, unless you’re a funny girl and then it gets complicated. Let’s not go there! (I snap once.)

I would like to plug… Me. Follow me on twitter, NOW. @joselynhughes. Oh, and joselynhughes.com. And Tosh.0. Watch it because Daniel Tosh is the funniest person I’ve ever met. Word is bond.

Friend of The Comedy Nerds, Michael Hartney is co-hosting a show at the UCB Theater NY along with the wonderful John Flynn. It will be this Saturday at midnight. You should go, unless you want to miss out on something awesome. It’s going to be a gay old time! The Same Sex-tacular!

You can hear Michael discuss the show on the UCB Theater podcast, which is fantastic and is hosted by the equally fantastic Will Hines and John Frusciante. You can find that here: Competing Podcast!

Fierce!

If you haven’t checked it out (or are like me and are silently protesting FX for no other reason than that it feels weird to consider them a real channel even though they have plenty of good and popular shows) you can watch the first 3 episodes on Hulu (maybe skip to “Diversity Hire” if you are quick to judge).  I’m sure you will think Archer is a hit!  That was too much wasn’t it?  I was forcing that one and you can totally tell.  I’m sorry.  You deserve better.

In this week’s podcast we determine if  comedians can avoid being cynical, explain why random eggs on the street make Dustin a better comedian and reveal who Dan’s not so secret man crush is.  Also, how cute is that puppy?  You can’t be cynical looking at the face.  Problem solved!

“Andrew Koenig (AK-47, the video guy on “Never Not Funny,” and “Boner” from “Growing Pains”) has been missing for a week, last seen 2/14 in Vancouver. Didn’t make his flight back to the US on 2/16. The Vancouver Police are involved, and lots of people are looking. Could you reblog this and help get the word out? And say some prayers or think some positive thoughts?”

Please don’t think this is a joke because of the names.  If you hear or see anything please get the word out.

UPDATE:  From the Comic’s Comic
Jenny Magenta, whom Koenig had been staying with in Vancouver before his disappearance, posted a message last night on Facebook, that read in part:

“If you have seen him, emailed him or had any contact after the 14th/15th or spent time with him during his stay in Vancouver and the police HAVE NOT contacted you yet, please call Detective Raymond Payette and his phone is 604-717-2534 and provide the information you have. Please do not call 911.”

I’m sorry, what was that?  Screw you.  You can’t talk to me like that even if you are a person I made up in my head.  Yes, I did make you up in my head.  No that doesn’t make me crazy.  No it doesn’t.  What?  Yeah.  So what?  Some things do need to get set on fire and yes I find the flames both beautiful and strangely erotic.  That’s normal.  Can we get back to Sinbad’s special this weekend.  Fine.  Well, I am going to watch.  And I am not crazy!  To prove it I am going to write “I’m not crazy” on my wall 3,000 times in my own blood and then we’ll see who needs to go back on him medication you stupid in my brain person.  Or are you real…  I better go.

And listen, I’m not saying that Stephen is a witch, but at the end of the interview he climbs in the fire in the back of the studio and comes out completely fine.  Proof of lack of authenticity at the NBC studios or proof that Stephen can’t be killed?  You decide.

I personally prefer to think that Stephen sacrifices a goat to a three horned God of War every night before he goes to sleep in his footy pajamas and has been granted immortality and the ability to read women’s minds Mel Gibson style.  But that’s just me.

*because of his amazing assistant sports psychology not his money.

Tom teaches up the art of proper comedy rap, we discuss life on the mean streets of NYC and he drops a little freestyle on us.  Kick it!

Shot/Directed/Edited by Anya Garrett. f/ Beatboxing by Andrew Gutterson. Recorded/Mixed by Soce the Elemental Wizard.

Plus! Ramen noodles! Merv Griffin! Dick Cavett! And everyone on this show was just nominated for the highly prestigous ECNY awards! Some of us in more than one catergory, but who’s counting? (I am. Very closely.) There’s a lot going on in this episode, you better get to it!

Best Female Stand-Up
Claudia Cogan
Katina Corrao
Morgan Murphy
Giulia Rozzi
Brooke Van Poppelen

Best Male Stand-Up
Hannibal Buress
Pete Holmes
Sean Patton
Rory Scovel
Baron Vaughn

Best Sketch Comedy Group
BoF (Best of Friends)
Elephant Larry
Murderfist
New Exc!tement
Team Submarine

Best Improv Group
Big Black Car
Death By Roo Roo
I Eat Pandas
Improvised Shakespeare Company
Stepfathers

Best Host
Chris Gethard
Seth Herzog
Pete Holmes and Jessi Klein
Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate and Max Silvestri
Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel

Best Musical Comedy Act (Solo or Group)
Adira Amram
Shayna Ferm
Leibya Rogers (Mindy Raf)
Snakes
Stuckey & Murray

Best One Person Show
Big in Japan – Dave Hill
Dead Millionaire – Jenny Slate
Fag Life: A Conversation with Fred Phelps – Brent James Sullivan
Supernormal – Tom Shillue
Use It – Ann Carr

Best Short Comedic Film
DAMN (You Wish) – Carolyn Castiglia, Tom McCaffrey, Mara Herron, and Anya Garrett
Eagles are Turning People into Horses – BriTANick
Everyone Poops Trailer – Landline TV
Hey That’s Awesome!: 2012 – Rob Lathan w/Bobby Moynihan
What Do You Want on Your Tombstone? – Elephant Larry

Best Technician
Jon Gutierrez
Geoff Grimwood
Carol Hartsell
Frank Hejl
Rich Jones

Best Variety Show
Fifty First Jokes
Moonwork: An Evening of Original Works
Rejection Show
Risk! True Tales Boldly Told
Whiplash

Outstanding Achievement in Flyer or Postcard Design
Agorafabulous: Mike Wang and Lauren Goldberg
Brown Ambition: Anya Garrett
Fag Life: A Conversation with Fred Phelps: Mindy Tucker
Heart of Darkness – Dimitri Drjuchin
Swords Improv: Bradford Jordan and Eric Michael Pearson

Best Website
FRONTPAGEFILMS.COM
THEAPIARY.ORG
THECOMEDYNERDS.COM
THECOMICSCOMIC.COM
URDB.COM
VIDEOGUM.COM

Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Tweeting
@FRIEDMANJON
@JULIEKLAUSNER
@LIZZWINSTEAD
@MRDAVEHILL
@RANDAZZOJ

Best Book
All Local Bands Suck (Except Ours) – Porter Mason
And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on their Craft – Mike Sacks
Get Rich Cheating: The Crooked Path to Easy Street – Jeff Kreisler
Rejected: Tales of the Failed, Dumped and Cancelled – Jon Friedman
The Terrible, Horrible Temp-to-Perm Debacle: Book Two in the Just Make a Choice! Series – Bob Powers
The Will to Whatevs: A Guide to Modern Life – Eugene Mirman

Emerging Comic Award
Myq Kaplan
Mike Lawrence
Kate McKinnon
Thomas Middleditch
Dan St. Germain
Brent Sullivan

This week’s comedy foot solider, Katherine Bryant,  is one of my closest friends and one of the funniest women I know.  She is one hard core bad ass comedian!  She’s unafraid (but small), unapologetic (but nice), and original (without being annoying).  Plus she let me give her her nickname in college (it was and as far as I am concerned is Chuck.  Please everyone start calling her Chuck again).  That’s a bond that can never be broken.

Also, I will never forget the time we spend together in Your Mom (a sketch group we were in together a few years back).  She was great in Your Mom.  For sure she was the prettiest person ever in Your Mom.  She loved Your Mom and Your Mom loved her right back.  Is that enough Your Mom jokes?  Okay, one more.  She was with me in  Your Mom for over three years and we often talk about getting Your Mom back together to do it one more time.  Point is, she is incredibly funny and one of the most recognizable and respected forces in the NYC sketch community.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
Be active. Go see shows. Get inspired. It’s so important to see what everyone’s up to*. It’s the best way to find your own style and be part of the comedy community. In comedy, as in life, it’s about relationships and collaborations.

*Brought to you by the Joke Stealers Association.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
I used to get in trouble a lot as a kid for commenting out loud on everything and everyone. When you’re “making fun” of things as a kid, you’re a smartass. But when you do it as an adult, you’re a comedian. It’s just in me.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
Some of the best moments happen off stage when you’re not even thinking about comedy. It’s the moment everyone is sitting around and one person says something that sparks an idea. Then it’s a laser storm of wit and one upmanship as everyone builds on and adds their panache and style. The idea goes through a virtual puberty becoming a fully-fledged sketch/bit. It’s magic to be part of.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
We’ve all done shows where you’re so pumped to perform the shit out of your jokes/sketches/bits only to realize that the audience consists of your boyfriend and the theatre intern. It sucks. It’s enough to make you want to drink bleach and take a forever nap.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
Conan.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
Conan being fired over Leno. How can that happen?

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
Conan. But just by NBC. Seriously though, that guy is so smart and amazing. The goodbye speech on his last show was so touching and down to earth. Down with cynicism!

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
“Be honest.” It’s clear when you see a comedian who is “trying” too hard or has hung their performance on a gimmick. I love when performers give you a piece of themselves and not some cooked up bullshit they thought would be funny.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
“Wing it.” As a sketch comedian, that’s the last thing I want to do. Fearsome is often revered for being tight and that comes from a lot of forethought and rehearsing. We take pride in preparation. I hate sloppy, lazy performances. It’s disrespectful to the people who spent energy and money coming to see your show.

What is your craziest show experience?
Fearsome once performed at a burlesque night out in Greenpoint. We followed Dizzy Swank, one of NYCs only male lumberjack-themed dancers.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
Wigs. And sometime mustaches. But mostly my inspiration comes from the energy and imagination of the amazing comedians I get to play with.

How would you describe your comedy?
Really dry and a bit dirty. So, like dog food you find under the couch, I guess.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for…being someone people want to have a beer with.

Shoot me if I ever…break into your house. I’ve clearly taken up with the wrong crowd and it’s doubtful I’ll make it back to the honest life.

I think most comedians are…attention getters.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…Hey, if I knew a really great idea that no one has seen before, I wouldn’t tell you here. I would just go do it myself. Wait…are you a member of the Joke Stealers Association?

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… Eddie Izzard’s Heimlich Maneuver; Do You Have a Flag; and Cake or Death bits.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… Fearsome performed Shayna Ferm’s first song, “But Hold Me” which is funny because it sounds like we’re saying “Butthole Me.” Once at the end of the song we put fudge on our fingers and made a circular, butthole-like shape that Shay’s head popped out of. The fudge smeared all over her face. So ridiculous and classy.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…true but those people need to think more outside the box when it comes to their e-harmony profiles.

I would like to plug…
“The Worst Guy Ever” – More Info Here
Two short films created by my Film Racing team, Fast Moon Films:100 Hour Film Race: Noir & Peace – Watch Here
24 Hour Film Race: What Little Remains: – Watch Here
Sketchfest NYC, June 2010
And coming this summer…a show written by myself and the one and only Shayna Ferm.

While a giant, smiling Jay Leno seemed to rule the land as a benevolent god.

Now, not only is Conan banished, but Jay seems to have returned to human form, perhaps as a messiah, come to forgive NBC for its sins.

Meanwhile, the NBC store window that once hawked “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” merchandise…

…now advertises a 40% clearance sale. Perhaps an apt metaphor for NBC’s prospects in the near future? Or is it just the end of tourist season? All right, fine, it’s probably the second option.

The future! No one knows what will happen in the future, but this week Dan, Dustin and guest Nick Turner give it a shot, as we try to guess what the future of comedy will be, and read some predictions from our listening audience. Are we right? Are we way off? If you are reading this in the year 2037 leave us a comment and let us know how we did. FROM THE FUTURE!!! (currently your present).

Photo from flickr by merrick_monroe

This sketch first appeared as part of the third series of the BBC Radio show “That Mitchell and Webb sound” in 2007 and then came out as a video sketch on “That Michell and Webb Look” in 2008.

It’s a great sketch that you could really imagine being done as a part of a stand-up routine. But why bother going to all the effort of imagining it when you can see it in the following clip:

To be clear, I am in no way suggesting that Whitney Cummings stole this bit, and for all I know she could have been performing it long before the Mitchell and Webb series wrote it. Sir Issac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz invented/discovered the principles of differential Calculus at around the same time in the 1600s, so I wouldn’t get too riled up about it, though I’m sure that some people back then were all like “Leibniz did it first, Newton just had a bigger microphone, whatever the hell that is! Newton is a theory thief! Blacklist him from this æfen’s Middeneaht Show with Conan O’Brien, that dirty Irish cur!” (Because A. people were even more racist then, and B. The name Conan comes from “An old name from con “a hound” or “swift-footed warrior” and in the form conan means “little hound” or “little warrior.” Get it? “Little hound” the cur? Cur means mongrel dog? oh man, I crack etymologists UP!)

Anyway, I just think it’s a testament to the power of the observation (the way people talk about sports teams is funny). But mostly I think people should check out that Mitchell and Webb Sound and Look, because them is some damn good sketches. Very tightly constructed and a great display of game-based sketch writing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Mitchell_and_Webb_Sound
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Mitchell_and_Webb_Look

Also in addition to those shows, Peep Show, and Magicians they did the I’m a Mac I’m a PC ads in the UK. Check them out Here

Join us and guest Michael Hartney as we say good-bye to the red haired wonder that is CoCo.  Conan, you will be missed…until you return in September most likely.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
This is going to take a long time, and a lot of work.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
When I was in kindergarten, my sister and I were in my parents’ room, and she told them a joke she’d heard, which went: “Knock knock. Who’s there? Madame. Madame who? Madame foot’s stuck in the door!” It crushed. Annihilated my parents. And I remember seeing that and getting so pissed off, because that’s what I wanted to do.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
My first show in New York, three days in, I got the coveted “Eleventh Comic” bucket spot at the late, great Kingdom of Heaven mic. I was too shell-shocked to be nervous, so I did my jokes and crushed in front of a packed house. I’ve since thrown out all that material, and have had much funnier and better sets, but that one introduced me to all the friends and awesome comics I know now, and made it so that I never really had to go to Maui Taco.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
I kinda snuck into the lineup of the New Orleans Comedy Festival, which was a hell of a fest, by telling the very generous Sean Patton (who produced it) that it was my birthday that week. I flew down at my own expense, stayed at a hostel, had a great time getting drunk with comics, and planned a fun birthday set. Everyone was killing, so I thought it would be no big deal. I got out there for my set, and opened by telling the crowd it was my birthday. Nothing. Then my first joke bombed, second joke ate it, riffing died, third joke, fourth, until finally I gave up and closed terribly. I sat in the bar room outside of the stage area and stared into nowhere for like an hour. Not only had I bombed hard, but I did so on a show I had lobbied to get on. And I’d spent hundreds of dollars to make the trip. I felt like the kid alone at Chuck E. Cheese with his sad party hat on, waiting for his friends who won’t show up.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
The slow burn. The joke that builds up gradually and methodically, then hits you hard all at once. Also, the audiences that are patient enough to wait for it.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
It’s a tie between people who say “too soon?” after their crappy joke bombs, and the ironic “impressions” that alt-comics do where the explanation is ten times longer and more complicated than the actual impression.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
I wish the guys I started stand-up with in Kansas City knew who Jesse Popp was.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
You’ve gotta be able to make changes. Your joke isn’t done unless it’s perfect, and it’s probably not.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Any advice I received from a shittier comedian.

What is your craziest show experience?
At an open mic at Eastville Comedy Club I was heckled by a fellow comic, a truly shitty man who happened to be 82 years old. I responded to the heckle by unleashing a torrent of insults on him, which was extremely easy to do because he was so old. He got angry to the point that he actually came up onstage and tried to rip the microphone out of my hands using his bony, liver-spotted fingers. I was worried he might hit me, not because it would’ve hurt, but because it would have created a no-win situation that no comic could ever recover from. He didn’t, though he did pound the stool next to me to try and intimidate me. The host of the mic finally pulled him away and escorted him out, and the bit I did after he left didn’t go very well.  

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
People who are living sad, depressing lives, but still somehow act like dicks.

How would you describe your comedy?
I’m a gifted-class bully.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for… My humanitarian work.

Shoot me if I ever… Use the specially-made speech device attached to my motorized wheelchair to beg you to.

I think most comedians are… Badly dressed.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… Find happiness.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… The first one I really loved, Dave Attell, “Fireworks.”

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… It’s always the one the audience doesn’t really like. In my case, it’s a story I tell about the worst sleepover I ever went to.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… Half-true. The other half is you growing some balls and asking the girl out.

I would like to plug… The MacGyver Show, every other Saturday at 8pm at Legion Bar in Brooklyn. Next one is January 30th. Also, I have some videos up at rooftopcomedy.com/dannysolomon

A look inside the store, however, showed there is only generic Conan merchandise for sale. And there were conspicuous blank spots on the shelves were presumably “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” mugs, t-shirts and the like have been removed. Also, going in the store confirmed that Seinfeld Clue exists.

So that’s a thing.

This week we will be predicting what we think will be happening in the new year. We wanted to let you get in on the action too. So hear are the questions we will be answering. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and we will talk about them on the show.

1)Come January 2011, what will the late night comedy landscape look like?

Where will Conan be?
Where will Leno be?
Will there be any other changes coming?

2) Last year saw the ascent of Zach Galifianakis? Which on the verge comic will achieve superstardom this year?

3) Also, who will be the next big sitcom super-star like Ray Romano or Jerry Seinfeld?

And here are a few names for you:

Paul F Thompkins?
Greg Fitzsimmons?
John Oliver?
Maria Bamford?
Doug Benson?
Rob Huebel?
Nick Kroll?

4) Will there be an Arrested Development movie? If so, will it be a good idea, or should that have left it alone?

5) What is the next SNL recurring character that will be turned into a feature film?

Please say Gilly!

6) What will Colbert’s next big publicity stunt be?

7) Which of these proposed projects will be great and which will not?
Louie C.K.’s Louie?
The Kids in the Hall’s Death Comes To Town?
Ghostbusters 3?

8 ) What other big events do you see coming down the comedy pipeline for 2010?

Plus! News From The Past reveals another upsetting fact about a beloved old comedian. And…well that’s about it, we talked about the Leno/Conan thing the whole time. And it got a little bit nuts.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
To trust myself. You can have the greatest idea in the world but if you sit back and don’t use it, there’s no point.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
I love to laugh and I love to make people laugh. I don’t really know that I’m meant to be a comedian, but it’s something I’ve worked at more and more for the last eight or so years and I see the progress I’ve made in terms of my work and I feel proud of it. Doing comedy has made me feel more true to myself than anything else I’ve ever done.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
I don’t know that there is a singular moment, but I think coming to the realization that I can get onstage with people I respect and admire and hold my own is really the brightest moment for me. Being able to believe in myself and put myself out there. (You should probably play something from the Remember the Titans soundtrack while reading this one).

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Getting caught up in comparing myself and my trajectory of success (or lack thereof) with other people. That really takes me to a bad place.

Ashley behind Michelle Obama's desk

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
I love that there is a lot of two person improv going on. That is so fun to do and watch. I also love all the musical stuff! I think it’s great that there are so many groups incorporating music in their shows.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
I’m scared of that new show with the ventriloquist guy. I haven’t seen it, but I don’t like those dummies. They are scary to me. They freak me out.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
Nate Starkey (full disclosure, my husband), Kevin Cragg, Matt Oberg (though he’s getting there), Brigid Boyle. There are way too many to name. I can’t believe these folks aren’t getting paid giant sums of cash to be funny.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
To follow my gut and speak up. I was filming an episode of BOF (Mamrie Hart and Steve Soroka’s HILARIOUS web series) with Ali Farahakian and we were improvising a section and I kept sort of saying stuff under my breath. And he then repeated one of my lines and gave me credit and told me to speak up and let people hear what I have to say because it’s funny. That has really stuck with me over the last year and it’s advice I really took to heart.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Hmm. If it was bad I probably don’t remember it. I think there was a time when people were warning me about going blue or something. I think that is valid advice to an extent, but for me it isn’t all that helpful to improvise with a bunch of restrictions on content in my head, so I don’t worry about that too much. I think it’s more applicable in writing, but again, I work better without thinking about a bunch of what I should and shouldn’t say in my head.

What is your craziest show experience?
There have been many. One was doing a sketch show for a group of RV dealership owners. We had to go up after the leader of their organization, who gave an insane, rambling 45 minute speech, that culminated with him announcing his candidacy for president of the United States (he had buttons and everything, but I think it was a joke). We were asked to write a show of office based sketches and were never told who our audience was until we got there. Apparently RV dealership owners don’t enjoy office humor. It was an epic disaster with drunken RV dealership owners and their handsome wives pouring out of the place.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
I think my southern upbringing is a big part of it. My family, particularly my mama. Some of the names alone are comedy gold.

How would you describe your comedy?
Character driven, fact laden, bawdy (this is the 1800s, right?).

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for… Being funny and bold and sweet at the same time.

Shoot me if I ever… Act like a cocky jerkface. Or a jerky cockface.

I think most comedians are… Looking for approval. I realize I probably just blew your mind with that statement, as there is no way anyone ever thought of that before.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… Hmm. I just thought of something the other day. For someone to recreate the big ballet scene at the end of An American in Paris and play the Gene Kelly part. I want that person to not be a trained dancer, but someone who is good at dancing (like Chris Farley, though the person doesn’t have to be overweight) and have all the other dancers be really great and professional. I really want someone to do that!

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… Man, there are so many. Welcome to my Study (Dyna Moe and Mitch Magee’s hilarious web series) is something I so admire. I would love to have been involved with that.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… Was a scene at the end of an old High Fife show (my now defunct sketch group) where we connected several sketches together at the end by all wearing white unitards with blood on the fanny while blaring Levon from a boom box (if you saw the show you would understand why this made sense). Man I loved that show.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… awesome!

I would like to plug… Big Black Car, the group I do weekly shows with at the PIT, 8 pm on Wednesdays.  My drop in improv class, Fridays 7-10 at Simple Studios.

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

Yeah, we am totally biased and support Conan in this whole thing as you may have noticed, but I have to say that I think it is a well thought out and classy response to the whole situation.

Sadly, the show that we’ve all come to know and love, Best Week Ever, has been officially canceled. We just got word of the news about an hour ago, and have been in a mournful state since. The show that turned itself into a household phrase brought a lot of laughter into people’s lives, not to mention paved the way for many of today’s most well known comedians.

The good news is that the blog will remain to give us our daily dose of pop culture snark, but I can not for the life of me understand how VH1 could walk away from such an amazing show.  I would love to give some eloquent eulogy but instead I will just whimper, stick out my lower clip and run off into my room and cry.  Why God!  Why have your forsaken me and this show?

http://www.sirmikeofmitchell.com/imwithcoco/

Plus…Diamond smuggling! Hitler’s ghost! And China finally has its long-awaited revenge on The Comedy Nerds.

Click Here to check more from Dan Wilbur or Click Here to check out more on Comix.

Feature photo from flickr by Khaz.  Dan Wilbur photo by Anya Garrett.

Picture From Sean's Twitter

Spotted man passed out in the tracks on 6 line southbound at 23rd st. Alerted MTA but still had to wave down train. Phew! Too close.

Train arrived before the medics did. Thank God the conductor saw me!

Listen buddy, it’s awesome comedy blog or super hero.  You HAVE to pick one.  (and maybe I pushed that guy onto the tracks for a reason. Did you ever think of that Mr. Life Saver?  Maybe he said my jokes are good but not great and therefor deserved to die.  Feel a little silly now, huh?)

Oh, and since it happened to Sean that makes him the news and me the person reporting the news.  That means I broke the story.  Suck on that Sean.  Suck on that!!!!!!!!!!

Click Here to listen to the episode when Sean came on the podcast to talk comedy blogging.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
There’s no prescribed path and the only person you should be in competition with is yourself. I think that’s what the motivational posters at my day jobs said.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
Maybe it’s when I found myself practicing Bea Arthur’s double takes and death stares as a kid. Maybe it was when I found myself laughing through scenes from ‘Night Mother in college. Maybe it’s when I realized the tragedy and crap life throws at you is a little more palatable with laughter. And when I do make someone laugh, self-conscious neuroses are briefly disabled.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
The moment when the audience and I are having fun together. I’m not thinking about how I’m doing, what my next joke is, why did I wear this shirt or why the host can’t say my last name name correctly, but really enjoying watching the audience laugh. I once did an open mic with an actual recovering crack whore. Yeah..she could use some work on her writing and timing but if she has the courage to be open and truthful in front of strangers, we all need to nut up.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Performing my solo show to an audience that took my performance as an opportunity to text while waiting for their friend’s sketch group. It’s passive aggressive heckling. Oh, and I once did an open mic with a crack whore.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
Women are slowly and steadily gaining equal footing in this industry and audiences, producers and bookers are listening and know women can speak a universal and relateable truth to both men and women. We’re no longer being perceived as a novelty or specialty act that’s limited to tampon and fat jokes. It’s so inspiring to see the gay comedy community and its audience exploding! It’s a matter of time when networks, cable, studios and their advertisers catch up to live audiences that are paying attention to women and gay performers.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
With the above said, I have a little advice for the dude hosts out there. You don’t need introduce those comedians who happen to be women with “Well, we got ourselves a lady coming up.” No shit. We’re not a novelty or an exhibit at the zoo, we’re 52% of the population. You’re not introducing a black male comic as the “black guy.” It’s not the scariest thing, but it happens to annoy me. Maybe an audience chock full of bachelorette parties could be the scariest thing in comedy.

Who do you think is today’s most under-appreciated comedian/comedy actor?
I think “under-appreciated” is part of the job description for a majority of comedy jobbers out there.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
If someone else can do your set, it’s not your set. Be the star of your own jokes.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
You’ll be so relaxed if you have a drink or five before your set.

What is your craziest show experience?
I once watched a show that featured a video of a guy pulling a balloon out of his asshole. The audience included two old men yelled at each other through their trach mics at the pool table and a sad sack hipster girl sat in the corner selling free range organic oatmeal cookies. I’m glad I checked the show out before trying to get booked. Oh, the balloon was deflated, so I guess it’s not the “craziest”….Oh wait! I traveled to the middle of Connecticut to do a show in a Holiday Inn ball room for a Mason’s group, The Royal Order of the Jesters. Fortunately, I was wearing jeans and not perceived as “attractive” so I was basically left alone.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
Change.

How would you describe your comedy?
The anti-social social butterfly.

Why did you move to LA?
I moved to LA because I need a change…and a dishwasher. And I think LA really needed another out of work actor using up it’s finite water and energy.

What under do the radar comedians do you think we should know about?
So many. I’m having “I just accepted an award and need to thank everyone” anxiety. Shawn Hollenbach has been comedy buddy since day one. We’ve produced, performed and written together. Shawn really inspired me to discover and develop my voice and brand as a performer.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for… Spending three full hours answering interview questions.

Shoot me if I ever… Spend another three hours again answering interview questions.

I think most comedians are… are highly sensitive.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… Pull an inflated balloon out an asshole.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… Louis CK’s meltdown on Conan about how our generation doesn’t deserve or appreciate technology.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… Will hopefully be my film I’m shooting.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… True. Particularly if the person they’re attracted to is unemployed.

I would like to plug…My short film that I wrote and will be shot this month. My blog about my life in LA, www.IStomachLA.blogspot.com and my faux advice blog for actors, www.AffirmationsForActors.blogspot.com.

Plus! Learn what terrified Dan over the holidays. Find out about Dustin’s Book of Knives. And news….FROM THE PAST!!!

Chris Gethard is awesome. He is crazy funny, plus he is very nice and cool. Those are all facts. Let me lay a few more facts on you. Recently Chris asked via YouTube for Al Roker to be on his show. Very quickly Al responded to Chris  via Twitter that he could not make it.

Chris is not one to give up however. Roker out, Chris moved on to landing a bigger fish. None other than Diddy. And just a short while ago, Sean “Diddy” Combs announced he will be coming on Chris Gethard’s show. You can follow it all here: http://twitter.com/chrisgethard

Now you may ask why we have not mentioned this before? Why weren’t we in our small way helping this to happen? I will be perfectly honest with you. It’s because I didn’t believe it could. I didn’t believe we lived in a world where magical things could happen, where stories could have happy endings. I am so happy to be proved wrong.

Congrats Chris. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

Plus, find out the year we made contact (hint: It’s coming up real soon). Find out why Dustin can’t keep track of which facts he learned from unicorns. And have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Also, check out this music video for the song and tell me there isn’t something really upsetting about that little boy.  He’s kind of got that future member of the klan feeling to him.  What?  You’re not suppose to say that about children, especially around the holidays.  Too bad.

Oh, and also check out this music video from UK comedian Tim Minchin.  It’s an actual good Christmas song that I think anyone would like, even people who don’t accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. (via Jason Saenz)

Plus, Dan discovers he is a bigger Jack Black fan than he realized. We take you back to a time when we were all really excited about Lindsey Lohan’s career. And jetpacks, jetpacks, jetpacks. Also? Jetpacks.

Weightloss – The average kidney ways over 14 pounds (I think, admittedly it could be a little less) so that’s like instant diet right there.  Why go to the gym when you can just give Grizz a kidney?  You’ll get that sexy beach body over night.

Super Organs – Without that stupid second kidney or “stupidny” your other organs will have more room and will flourish.  Some people think the appendix doesn’t do anything.  But I say it does.  I say it can help you fly if only it had a kidney size more room in the body.

Dot Com Gets Lonely Easy – He’s so sensitive.  And sometimes he needs the kind of comfort that only a hug from Grizz can offer.  It’s true.  Go ahead.  Ask him.

I will be expecting kidneys to start showing up at the Comedy Nerds offices very soon for me to take over to him.  Remember people, pack them in ice.  If the kidney goes bad it is no use for me or Grizz other than to add to my collection.

Plus, how did the writers of “Undressed” keep coming up with new ways to keep their characters in their underwear? Learn about possibly the best note ever written. And don’t miss Dan’s mind-blowing assertion that perhaps the internet was an important element to this decade.

And a quick programming note: Dan mentioned that there was a Japanese version of the “The Office”. There isn’t. He was wrong about that. (Yes, he knows there was an SNL sketch, but he thought that was based on a real thing.) There is a number of different versions, including a French and German version, so his point still stands.

Happy Decade of Comedy everyone!

Plus, we do the news. How would you feel if Derek Jeter murdered your parents? After he’s done with this being President gig, does Obama have a promising future making promos for TBS? And learn about Dan’s inability to tell if a man is handsome and how that makes Dustin so mad.

You can check out Kristen’s fun and funny food blog at cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/

DAMN (You Wish) -- NSFW

But it’s not all rainbows and judging Two & A Half Men.  Is there a cost to comedy snobbery?  How does it effect comedy watchers?  How does it effect comedians?  Is it better to just go along with least common denominator comedy?  Who doesn’t want to watch a sketch called Farty McGee Goes to College?

How do 16 people write one story?  How do you go from PA to writer in just one short season.  What’s Kelly Ripa like?  More importantly what was a young Megan Fox like?  (yeah, we had no idea she was on Hope & Faith either)  Why is the Starbucks in Burbank the center of the entertainment universe?

There’s a lot in here so you better start listening now.

Twitter finally became worthwhile today.  Neil Patrick Harris has officially joined twitter!  There have been many a poser before but this is the real deal. Everything NPH does is awesome.  You can follow him at http://twitter.com/ActuallyNPH.

His first official tweet:

My first tweet, peeps. I apologize in advance for my slow learning curve. Nice to (sort of) meet you. It’s amazing how quickly 140 charac

This is gonna be good people!

(don’t forget to follow the comedy nerds at http://twitter.com/ComedyNerds too)

This week we look at why there are so many romantic comedies and why they are so awful (most of the time).  Do they really have to be that awful?  Are too many movies considered romantic comedies?  Can you make one without Hugh Grant (or person of equal or greater British accent)?  Don’t worry, we will make you laugh but we won’t make you cry…much.

No matter what you decide to do (specifically you should nominate www.thecomedynerds.com for best website if I didn’t make that clear or you will make my mother cry and wonder why she had me in the first place) it’s important to support live comedy and up and coming comedians.  They do it for the love people.  The love! (of money/fame/women/men and sometimes comedy)  The video below explains more:

REQUIRED READING -

To help us figure it all out is host of the storytelling show Risk! and member of the historic sketch comedy group The State, Kevin Allison.  He shares his expertise as well as a bunch of hilarious behind the scenes stories of The State.  You should be sure to check out his podcast for Risk! on iTunes here and see the show when it returns in January to Joe’s Pub, until then check out the website here for details.

Jeff just instinctively knew the key to success.  People want more wine with the racist picture of the skeleton of a dead terrorist on the label for the very very very very reasonable price of $45 a bottle or $540 a case.  And I can not tell you how many times I have sat down to drink a bottle of wine and thought to myself, you know what this wine could really use…more tobacco.  I mean, then I don’t need to smoke my cigarette through this two foot long holder like a fancy gentleman.  I can just drink the cigarettes along with my wine.  Plus, you know it’s good for you because the slogan is “I KEEL You”.

Don’t worry if that’s not the wine for you, Jeff also makes Peanut Riesling and Walter Trutina for the more conservative palate.

Actually at first glance it’s funny, but then I can’t help but be a little concerned that:

A. The student only has the emotion of Sad, Angry and Bleeding.  Somebody get this kid a pony stat.

B. The teacher was not shaken by that at all.  No call home.  No guidance councilor interaction.  Just “hey, lets hang this on the wall”

C. That all this time Bleeding was an emotion and not a state of having blood come out of your body.  So should I be taking Prozac when I get shot instead of putting on bandages and going to the hospital?  (I get shot a lot.  Comedy is a tough business.  Warning: Tom McCaffrey is always packing heat.)

In this week’s episode we look at the effect of corporations on today’s comedy culture.  Has main stream success brought too many sponsors to shows like SNL and hurt the quality?  Can a show get more powerful than their corporations?  What the hell was Microsoft thinking when they considered sponsoring Seth MacFarlane’s live show?

Plus, we argue about the relevance of Monty Python as the celebrate their 40th anniversary.  (Wow, they are old!)

A. Always good to have other sketch show on the air.
B. Nick Swardson!
C. Nick Swardson weekly!

You may know Nick from his multiple Comedy Central Special, as a gay rollerskating prostitute on Reno 911 or if you an uber comedy nerd from Grandma’s Boy to name just some of the stuff that he’s done.  Here’s how the Comedy Central Insider explains his new series:

[the] fast paced live-action sketch show is a weekly series that centers around Swardon’s twisted comedic viewpoint. The series will include irreverent digital shorts, man-on-the-street segments and animation inspired by the internet sensation “Gay Robot,” which follows the life of a gay robot and his frat boy friends.

I could watch Nick do anything so I for one am excited.  Plus, any guy who drops 300 bucks on high fives from a monkeys is the bee’s knees in my book.

Richard Jeni (Kumail Nanjiani)
Kumail Nanjiani (Pete Holmes)
Paul F. Tompkins (Sean Patton)
Jim Gaffigan (Luke Cunningham)
Sam Kinison (Mike Drucker)
Johnny Carson (Mark Normand)
Neil Hamburger (Matt Ruby)
Steven Gold (Matt McCarthy)
Dana Carvey (Adam Newman)
Brian Regan (Jason Saenz)
Cedric the Entertainer (Nick Turner)

Here’s all the important detail:
Wed, Oct 28  – 7pm SHARP showtime (6pm doors)
The Bowery Poetry Club – Tickets: $7 at the door/$5 online
308 Bowery (Between Houston and Bleecker)

“(Jack) and Liz make a trip down to Stone Mountain, Ga., Kenneth’s hometown, to find a new comic voice, and they run afoul of a Southern ventriloquist played by Jeff Dunham,  Jack thinks he’s the funniest thing he’s ever seen and accuses Liz of Yankee snobbery.”

Remind anyone else of a certain John Goodman episodes of Studio 60?  When will television shows like that stop talking down to Middle America?  (Spoiler Alert:  Never!  They are shot  on the East/West Coast so that’s where the writers live and people who spend $2,200 a month for a 450 square foot apartment above a falafel joint need to feel they are superior to people who live where it’s clean, doesn’t smell bad and they don’t get robbed every three months in order to accept that life style.  Sorry Middle America.  Have fun with your land and non cancer causing air quality.)

This week we look at what makes unintentional funny things funny.  Can sitcoms do a very special episode without it being accidentally hilarious?  What’s the difference between unintentional humor and campy?  Who would actually sit down and write a movie about a house that eats unmarried women?  What are those crazy snakes doing on that plane anyway?

We welcome comedian Nate Kushner, co-host of the movie series Movies vs. Humans, (where they watch the worst movies of all time and comment on them) to help us figure it all out. 

If I had to sum up my feelings and reactions to The Jeff Dunham Show in a single sentence it would be FUCK THIS SHOW IN THE FACE UNTIL IT DIES.

Admittedly I feel like that my be a tad bit harsh, but yeah, it was kind of homophobic, a tad bit racist and not very funny. But hey, it was just the pilot so…

In what would have turned into one heck of a viral story if the Internet had been around in 1965, a disgruntled Sales ended his New Year’s Day broadcast of The Soupy Sales Show by instructing his young audience to creep into their parents’ bedrooms, take their parents’ “funny green pieces of paper with pictures of U.S. Presidents,” and mail the paper to him.

When money started arriving at the studio, Sales explained he was only joking and either returned the dough or donated the unreturnables to charity.

I think it would only be a fitting tribute to Soupy to send your funny green pieces of paper to the Comedy Nerds.  Don’t do it for us, do it for Soupy.

Plus, last week Dustin went to see SNL live in studio 8H and he spills the beans of what it’s like seeing the famous sketch show live.  Find out what had him freaking out during the show and who the scariest lady on the crew is.

This week we talk to UCB regular and all around great guy Mike Still about what it’s like performing at the world famous theater. What does it take to get on a Harold team?  Does being selected for one mean you get to live in Lorne Micheal’s basement?  Why do some people think of it as the Evil Empire?

Plus, find out how a level one UCB improv class changed Dustin’s life forever.  If you’ve ever been curious what’s it like to perform for a major theater or are interested in getting involved with one take a listen.  Mike gives a lot of great inside information.   Click Here to see when you can catch Mike performing with one of his many groups.

SARAH SILVERMAN -- SELL THE VATICAN

We welcome back Comedy Nerds favorite Michael Hartney to join in on the conversation.  Also, this episode is not related to anything that may or may not have happened on Saturday Night Live.  (okay it totally is, but be cool.)

Plus, stick around for a few comments on the Emmy Awards and some of the new fall shows.  Also, help us figure out why one listener thinks we should “go somewhere and die.”

There are going to be some people all “my children will never be the same because they heard that word.  Yeah, I let my kids stay up until after midnight on a Saturday because sometimes I get drunk and pass out with the TV on”.   Those people ruin everything,  I mean, let’s face it, it’s a late night sketch comedy show.  They should be able to say fuck when ever they feel like it.  If you hear anyone complaining about it tell them to SHUT UP.  Be cool and have Jenny’s back on this one.  Or next time they may come for you…

Also, I thought the episode was really funny and Megan Fox actually did a good job on SNL.  She’s no Justin Timberlake, but she wasn’t half bad.

Outstanding Comedy Series:  30 ROCK – I like the show a lot, but even they must be feeling a little awkward about winning all these awards.  I mean how excited can you get 40 awards in?

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock – (See above)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Toni Collette – United States of Tara - Dude, I wanted to like that show so much but I couldn’t.  I prefer one good solid character than 4 half-assed bad ones.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Jon Cryer – Two and a Half Men – I wanted to throw my remote at the TV (but I didn’t because I would never hurt my 57″ HD beauty.  She brings me so much joy).  How can you not give it to NPH you sons of bitches?

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies – Kristin is fun and her show was canceled so I was okay with this one.  How cute was Amy though? Very.  Didn’t you just want to hug her?  Okay, maybe just me.  I am a huger.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart – I just wish they could have given it to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report together.  There are no losers here, except the other people nominated.

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: “Reunion” – 30 Rock – 80% of the nominees where 30 Rock so it would have actually seemed like a dick move not to give it to them but Matt Hubbard is going to be talking some shit tomorrow.

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart – (see above, but different above then the last see above and not directly above, two above)

Seen any of the shows?  Let us know what you think.

So should you watch it or find other 10 pm fun?  We’ll try to help you decide.

BAWLS

It was only last week that I first discovered Bawls.  I was interested in Bawls right from the beginning but was reluctant.  Everyone in my office just kept pestering  me, “go get some Bawls”, “I think you will really like Bawls”, “you know what would go really good with that chicken salad?  Bawls.”  So I finally agreed and went out and tried some Bawls.

While Bawls come in a variety of sizes and flavors in this particular case I went with the large Blue Bawls.  I have very particular tastes so I was a little nervous I wouldn’t like the taste of Bawls, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised.  I don’t know what I really expected Bawls to taste like but my Bawls tasted like vanilla.   I can honestly say I like the taste of Bawls.

Plus, Bawls is filled with energy.  Bawls contains high levels of caffeine.  So when you are feeling a little run down, maybe next time you should go out and gets Bawls.

Overall I have to give Bawls a B+.  It’s low in calories, gives you energy and most importantly Bawls tastes great.  The only down side is that it’s hard to find Bawls.  Bawls isn’t available in a lot of locations.  But if you can find Bawls then it is worth the effort.

photo from flickr by Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar)

This week we talk two man comedy with the always hilarious Nate Fernald and Steve O’Brien of Team Submarine.  In case you don’t know Team Submarine is one of the best two man groups working today.

In this episode we look at:  Why don’t we see as many two man groups as we used to?  Why can it be harder to perform as a two man group in a stand-up show?  Why should more comedians consider pairing off?  Why is Dan always thinking about dry humping? I mean always thinking about it.  Seriously.  That’s what he’s doing right now.

And don’t miss a clip from the Team Submarine album Correctamundo!.  (which is available for purchase on their website.)

On a related note I am super happy for Jenny Slate getting cast.  She will do an awesome job.

Don’t worry about sucking.  September is about quantity not quality.  So get off your butt, then get back on your butt in front of your computer and write some sketches.  Do it…for America!

If you haven’t seen the most recent Rambo quit your job and go see it right now.  (You’ve been wanting to quit anyway and go back to school.  If not now, when?  You know I’m right.)  It is honestly one of the funniest movies of all time (if you like very very dark humor where bad people get cut in half with bullets in a borderline cartoon kind of way).  Thank you Mr. Rambo.  Thank you so much.

But are commercial parodies comedy cheating?  After all, isn’t it mostly take an item, make something weird about it, and then you’re done.  Or are commercial parodies one of the most sure fire and entertaining forms of sketch comedy?  Take a listen, then tell us what do you think.

Required Reading -- Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?

We’re joined by guest Jason Saenz, to discuss the process of using improv to generate ideas for sketch and stand up. How much adaption is needed to go from one medium to another? And does just doing improv improve your writing in general?

We’ll also discuss whether improv can be considered an art form. Dustin argues against it, because he likes getting irate emails from improv fans.

Then we look at the oft forgotten Asian comedy minority.  Why are there so few Asian people in comedy?  How does the culture effect the need to perform?  Why is Dustin always so mean to the guests?

Check out Chris Grace’s website and podcast here.

You know who I’ve been hearing some really great things about? Aparna Nancherla. Too bad she’s not in this show. Wait, she is! Holy Cow! That’s awesome! That’s enough of a show right there.

But you know who would really made this a show you can’t miss. Claudia Cogan. OMG, is she ever funny. Get out of town! She’s going to be there too. Well now you just got to go.

And you know who is just blowing up right now? Team Submarine. Everywhere you look these days, you see them pop up. Now, there is some name recognition. What??? They will also be on stage? This show is out of control! I don’t know if one show can contain such high comedy wattage.

There only one person I can think of who could possibly round out a cast so good—SHUT UP!!! SERIOUSLY?!? Sean Crespo. THE Sean Crespo is going to be there? This show is off the hook!

Oh yeah? Did I happen to mention this little show is FREE. What’s the matter? Did I just BLOW YOUR MIND?

You’re welcome.

NERDIN’ OUT

COCO 66

66 Greenpoint Ave

Friday August 14th @ 8pm

Price: Free

Take the G to Greenpoint Ave Stop

Photo from flickr by thewmatt

This week we reach into the mail bag to help out an enterprising young comedian looking to do sketch comedy at his new college.  We look at what goes into forming your own sketch team and how to avoid many of the common pitfalls.

What do you do if you are a stranger in a strange land looking for a sketch team?  How do you find new people?  What should you look for when casting?  And why it’s actually a good thing if you lose 80% of the people you cast after one year. Plus, don’t miss the story of how it was actually forming a sketch comedy team that brought the Comedy Nerds together.

You will wan to stick around to the end to hear details about our upcoming show August 14th at COCO66 in Greenpoint.  We’ve got a bunch of our favorite guests and if it’s anything like the last one (and it will be) a great time will be had by all.

I made the rookie mistake of saying “All right.  I’ll leave you with this” before my last joke  Here’s the thing.  If the you tell them that you are telling your last joke and then it bombs, there is no getting out of it.  They know you thought the joke was funny, but they did not.  Now it’s really awkward and everyone feels a little gross about themselves.  I know I did.  And that’s what you are leaving them with, a nice gross feeling.  The truth is that it can happen at any time with any joke.  That particular joke always does well.  Well, it had always done well.  But last night…nothin’.  Not a damn chuckle.  Sometimes that just happens.  So now I know, never tell them you are telling your last jokes.  Just keep telling jokes until they laugh…or you cry…whichever comes first.

(See if I really learned by lesson by coming out to see NERDIN’ OUT II at COCO66 on August 14th @ 8pm.  More details to come soon.)

SCTV -- HI-Q

Don’t let this one go the way of Stella people.  The Michaels need to be on television regularly.  And it’s has an awesome and so far under appreciated supporting cast.  I’ll be watching.  What did ou guys think of the show?

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS -- IF YOU’RE INTO IT

And listen to the end for your chance to get a special Comedy Nerds discount to see The Daily Show’s John Oliver at Comix in NYC for this weekend (July 24-26th).

JON BENJAMIN – ARCHER

photo from flickr by Andrew St. Clair

Michael and Michael Have Issues debuted this week and we couldn’t have been more excited.  On this week’s podcast we talk about our impressions after the first episode.  Was it funny?  How meta was it?  How does an intern write a story, get it to his college newspaper’s editor, get it printed and pick it up all in less than 12 hours?

Plus, we look at the 2009 Emmy Nominations in all the comedy categories.  Does Family Guy deserve to be in the best comedy category?  Just how many nominations did 30 Rock get?  How did How I Met Your Mother not get a nomination for their awesome microsites?

Also, check out an great song by our friend Meaghan Farrell.

I totally support the Emmy people nominating Jemaine, but they could totally have bumped Charlie Sheen off the list to make way for Bret.  Even Charlie Sheen would tell you that.  You’re an Emmy nominee in my heart Bret McKenzie (But I still gotta give the award to Steve Carrell.  He’s a really funny dude with a more complex character then most people give him credit for).

Anyway, here is a nice little discussion on the making of “Porcupine Racetrack“. Guys, when David Wain falls down at the end of his dance, that was a mistake and they kept it in. IT WAS A MISTAKE! I’M SO FULL OF TRIVIA TIDBITS! AND IT LOVE IT!!!

I totally love the idea behind it too.  There are so many movies about a super awesome hero character that fights to get back the woman that he loves and stops her at the alter before she’s about to marry some loser whom she promptly dumps and runs off with the hero.  The Baxter is about the loser who gets dumped (several times actually).  The clip doesn’t do it justice, but I promise you will enjoy the movie or your money back (the money you pay to read The Comedy Nerds, which is zero money, not the money you spend on the movie.)

THE BAXTER -- GROMWELL

Photos by Anya Garrett

In comedy, creating a good character is hard.  This week’s guest, Livia Scott, is creating 365 good characters in 365 days.  That’s 1 a day.  See, we told you we could do math.  (We’re learning about imaginary numbers next week.  Dustin doesn’t believe they exist.  Dan thinks he might be right)

We discuss:  How can you come up with a solid character?  What comedy group does the most impressive characters? How to create characters that are a different sex, race, ethnicity or hair color than you? (spoiler: redhead is the hardest to do)  Afterward check out Livia’s characters so far on her YouTube page and become her fan/friend on facebook.

And don’t miss another hilarious clip from our buddy Lou Fernandez over at LouReads.com.

Photos done by Anya Garrett

First up we got Mr. Nick Turner, hilarious stand up comic and host of “Too Cool for School“.

Next up, satellite radio super-star Ken Zimlinghaus will make you laugh and use his access to state-of-the-art satellite technology to kill an audience member from space.

Then stand-up comedy powerhouse Matt McCarthy will grab the mic and lay down some comedy science on all y’all. You may recognize him from certain commercials, but we’re far too downtown alternative to say which ones.

Need to take a break to process all that comedy greatness? Well too bad because Shayna Ferm is here to dazzle you with her fantastic and funny songs. And she can write a darn good theme song as well.

Last, but certainly far from least, sketch comedy favorites Secret Hospital, fresh off their appearance at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, will welcome you into their world of strange sex talk, stranger music classifications, and all male JO parties (no gay stuff).

All this, plus your Comedy Nerds hosts Dan and Dustin, hosting faster and harder than anyone has ever hosted before.

We sit him down to discuss: The importance of a proper comedy blog.  How to interview a suspected joke thief.  How Sean is just like Perez Hilton and much much more.

Plus,  don’t miss a hilarious sketch by the guys in Team Submarine.

Photo from flickr by CHARLES VAN DEN BROEK

There is just something about the number three.  This week we watched the rule of threes play out in it’s saddest variation with the death of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.  While there is nothing at all funny about that when things happen in threes in comedy it’s usually a good thing.  For some reason three is the perfect number for laughs.

This week we look at the rule of threes and a bunch of other comedy rules and why they exist. Is more of a good thing always good in comedy?  Are things always funnier when you repeat them?  Are things always funnier when you repeat them?  Are things always funnier when you repeat them?  Are things always funnier when you repeat them? Are things always funnier when you repeat them?  How long before it gets annoying?

Now in true improv nerd fashion she’s performing in Gnap! Theater Production’s Guilds of Steel, an improv format based on World of Warcraft.  She’s rocked the stages of every city she’s been to and now she’s taking over Austin.  If you are in the area you need to check her out.  (On a personal note she registered online to marry people and was the officiant at my wedding.  Be nice to her and she will marry you too.  Or if you are mean to her she might marry you to someone against your will.  She’s bad ass like that.)

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
That getting on stage, putting words to paper, showing up for auditions, writing a song, having a product, whether good or bad is 75% of the battle. Waiting until something is perfect will get you nowhere fast.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
I always thought I would be the dramatic, blood on my hands screaming at the gods, sort of actress, but I kept getting cast in comedic roles or drawn to comedic projects. Eventually I just accepted, with a little kicking and screaming, that I’m a comedian (and yes, the kicking and screaming was awkward and odd and funny to watch).

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
Going to Buenos Aires to perform my one-person improv show in front of an audience that couldn’t understand anything I said and the show still managed to be entertaining.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Chicago . One-person shows festival. 13 audience members, none of whom were there to see my show. 40 minute performance. No laughs. Basically, death warmed over on a stick. It was so painful I didn’t even want to drink afterwards.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
I love all the online comedy sketches and mini-films available on the web. It really levels the playing field for comedians and writers who might otherwise not have had a venue to be seen or heard. Yes, there is also a lot of crappy video content out there, but with opportunity and exposure also comes the dark knell of crap.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
The personality cults are killing new comedians. The general public is extremely resistant to going out and seeing new sketch shows, or stand-up comedians, because they are unknowns. They are not celebrities or known entities so they assume the shows will be bad. I have seen many sketch and stand-up shows, in small venues, in hard to find places, that are amazingly entertaining, clever, with polished performances, and they were full of unknowns.

Who do you think is today’s most under appreciated comedian/comedy actor?
Alas, I am bad with names, so I’m going to have to say it’s that guy, oh, wait, that chick over there is also hilarious. Dang it, I can’t just pick one!

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
Stop moving! It seems it was hard for people to listen to what I was saying on stage because I constantly fidgeted like a crack-head who desperately needed to pee.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Smile more. (Ugh. Bite me!)

What is your craziest show experience?
A weekend of shows I did in San Francisco with The Kihckercast Project was overall the craziest experience. Everything was going wrong which turned out to be beautifully right. The shows were unforgettable and insane and our extracurricular activities encompassed dealing with ever disappearing food sources, dogs sleeping on pillows, missing hosts, lots of knitting, fires being started in fireplaces in 92 degree weather, acid, and a small spray bottle. It was one of those you-had-to-be-there moments in time, but if you were there you would still be painfully laughing about it.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
Work place inter-personal dynamics and BBC news online.

How would you describe your comedy?
Dark and slightly twisted with adorable bunnies.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for…actually making a living using my comedic skills and having just enough memorable ‘aw naw she di-n’t’ moments in my performance career that I will still be a sought after commodity when I’m 85 years old.

Shoot me if I ever…put a gun to my head.

I think most comedians are…sensory impaired. They do not see the world in the ‘right or correct’ way they see it in a clear and more truthful way (which equals hilarious). Well, the good ones do.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…to have said comedian (who, for my purposes is powerful and trend setting) put me and several of my comedic friends in a large RV and send us off to do sketch shows in all 50 States (Hawaii will require a tramp steamer). Each town we will perform an all new show, i.e., new sketches being written in the RV as we travel from town to town and all of this amazingness and hilarity to be documented, of course, for television. And you, oh great comedian in the sky, will be given all the credit for the idea.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is…’I squish your head’. The classic Kids in the Hall sketch. I squish your head – pure, simple, ridiculous, and memorable.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is…Mandy with Scrap Metal Theater. Mandy was hot yet frumpy, sad but strong, well meaning with poor timing, and an owner of her own version of an elvin bag of holding. The kind of character that ripped your heart out and made you wince, and you could not help but laugh at her pain and misery (good stuff!).

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…true. A sense of humor gets a woman a lot of respect and a man a lot of women.

I would like to plug…myself www.toppinghaggerty.com

The Grey Lady Loves Jesse Popp

Here’s a bit from Jesse’s stand up that I really liked:

“That’s it.” Indeed.

Gelotology s the study of humor and laughter, its effects on the human body, and of medical abnormalities of laughing. It is also the psychological and physiological study of laughter. The word is from the Greek gelos, geloto meaning laugh, laughter, laughing . Do not confuse this with the Latin element gel-, gelat-, gelati-,meaning “freeze, congeal” and “gelatin”, from which we get Jello. The two roots are entirely unrelated, NO MATTER WHAT BILL COSBY TELLS YOU.

English Essayist William Hazlitt once said “Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.”

It’s a lovely quote. It’s also bullshit. Laughter has been found in other primates, dogs, and even rats. Distinctly human laughter, however, is believed to have originated approximately 4 million years ago, long before language evolved as a method of communication — You know what else evolved before language? Sex. There’s a lesson here from our caveman ancestors: It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it (and how big of a club you’ve got).

Fact: You are 30 times more likely to laugh when you are with others than when you are alone. (Provine and Fischer, 1989) — So get your ass to a live comedy show.

THE KIDS IN THE HALL -- DADDY DRANK

It’s been an amazing 3 days. We’ve spoke to a bunch of hilarious groups. Check out our final day at Sketchfest NYC. It all culminates with an interview of Kevin McDonald from The Kids In The Hall. Yeah, you read that right. Kevin McDonald. Thanks to everyone involved in Sketchfest and everyone who spoke to us. We had a blast. Hopefully you had a blast listening to it.

It was another day of great groups and great guests. This time we even have international guests. Okay, so by international we mean Canada, but they are sort of another country I think. Check out day 2 of our Sketchfest NYC adventure.

Day 1 of sketchfest was awesome. We got to speak to almost everyone who performed and now we can pass the savings on to you (by savings we mean podcast). Take a listen. You’ll never hear so many sketch groups all in one place again. Until tomorrow when we release day 2 of sketchfest. And head on over to the Sketchfest website for a full recap of the day and preview of day 2.

Our beloved Nick Turner and Michael Harntey will be joining us for all the sketchy fun.  If you have a chance to come down and see some shows live I really recommend that you do and please say hi.  Click Here to check out the sketchfest website and read about all the awesome groups, then check back Friday morning for our first episode from the theater. 

10. Galaxy Quest

It stars Tim “Grunt Noise” Allen and Sigourney “My Mom Really Like Her” Weaver in what looked like an awful Star Trek rip off.  It should be terrible.  In reality it’s pretty funny and dare I say it touching in certain parts.   IMDB fun fact:  It was the film debut of Justin Long and Rainn Wilson.

9. BASEketball

Lost in the history of the South Park guys is BASEketball (probably because they didn’t write it, just starred in, which is kind of weird.)  As movies about made up sports go, this one was the best.  IMDB fun fact: The word “dude” is spoken a total of 98 times throughout the movie (including the scene after the credits). 21 of these are during Coop and Remer’s “dude” argument.

8. Baby Mama

It’s called Baby Mama.  That should be enough for you to think it’s horrible.  The trailer has Amy Poehler peeing in the sink.  That should also be enough to make you turn away.  It turns out the movie is actually pretty funny and Amy Poehler becomes kind of adorable by the end.  Fun Fact: Tina Fey liked the movie so much she did a spoof of it on 30 Rock.  Hey, wait a minute…

7. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

This is by far the stupidest, crudest and most pointless movie on the list.  It’s also probably the funniest.  No matter how much you might want to hate this movie it will get you.  No human can withstand the nude wrestling scene. IMDB Fun Fact:  Seth Rogan and Patton Oswalt made uncredited writing contributions.

6. Can’t Hardly Wait

It’s just a stupid teen coming of age movie.  There have been tons of those.  But for some reason, this one works like no other.  The characters are crazy but relate able.  The life lessons they learn actually make sense.  And you know, Preston.  You gotta love him.  IMDB Fun Fact: Amanda’s original name was going to be Wendy but the producers weren’t able to find a song for Preston’s 3rd sign. There is a song called “Wendy” but it’s about a drug dealer.

5. Kung Pow: Enter The Fist

It’s a movie that’s almost entirely overdubbed.  The main character fights a CG cow.  It should have been horrible.  What resulted was a hilarious unpredictable and unique movie that almost no one has ever seen.  Don’t be that person.  Netflix this thing now.  You will be happy you did.  IMDB Fun Fact: With exception of the character Whoa, Steve Oedekerk did all of the other character’s dubbed voices.

4. Not Another Teen Movie

Parody movie are usually bad and predictable.  This movie breaks through that to be a smart look at the teen movie genre and actually is a pretty decent movie all by itself.  IMDB Fun Fact: In Russia, the film is entitled “Not a Children’s Movie”. (insert Yakkov Smirnoff joke here)

3. Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle

It’s about stoners going to White Castle.  White Castle.  Let me repeat that again, White Castle.  From the director of “Dude, Where’s My Car”.  But the movie is hilarious.  You have no idea what you are in for when you sit down to watch this movie. Most importantly Neil Patrick Harris shows up and when Neil Patrick Harris shows up you know things are about to get good.  IMDB Fun Fact: Kal Penn, who plays Kumar, is a vegetarian, so technicians made veggie Castles for him.  Also, Penn is now an associate director in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs.

2. Josie & The Pussycats

Yeah, that’s right.  I said it.  Josie & The Pussycats.  You’ve never seen it so don’t judge me.  It was a seriously funny movie.  It made Tara Reid funny.  It’s one of the smartest comedy movies based loosely on a cartoon that wasn’t all that popular to begin with that I’ve ever seen.  It’s done by the same folks who did Can’t Hardly Wait.  Feel a little stupid for judging me now.  I thought so.  IMDB Fun Fact: To stay with the ‘consumer economy’ tone of the film, from beginning to end there are approximately 73 companies who have product placements shown; from logos to actual items ranging in entertainment, electronics, fashion, food, hygiene, and cars. No money was received from all the product placements in the film.

1. The Emperor’s New Groove

Previews for The Emperor’s New Groove made it look like a formula for suck — the emperor of an ancient Incan Empire gets turned into a llama, voiced by David Spade, whom we were just starting to get really sick of at that point? Bleah. It turns out that the Hans Christian Anderson-meets-Terry McMillan title is the only thing that actually sucks about this movie. The script is hip and imaginative, the character design would give any animation fan a boner, it’s chock full of action and slapstick, and the vocal performances of Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton are inspired. It may be the last great hand-animated feature Disney will ever make.  IMDB Fun Fact:  None of the facts were that fun.  But here it goes.  Patrick Warburton improvised when Kronk hummed his own theme song when he was carrying Kuzco in the bag to the waterfall. Disney legal department had Patrick to sign all rights to the humming composition over to them.

Comedy Nerds regular Michael Hartney joins us for our late night discussion.  Let us know what you thought and we’ll talk about it on our next podcast.  Email us at info(at)thecomedynerds(dot)com.

LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN – IN THE YEAR 2000

photo from flickr by niclindh

Listen.  Hey Listen.  You over there!  You should be reading this faster.  I just gave you feedback on how you should be reading.  How did I know you were reading slow?  I’m a f’n magician of websiteitry that’s how.  But some feedback isn’t as useful as mine is (sorry rest of the universe).

On this week’s podcast we look at comedy feedback.  When should you listen to feedback?  When should you tell people to shove it up their butt holes?  How can you be more constructive with your feedback?

Musical goddess Shayna Ferm stops by to help us sort it out and celebrate our 52nd episode.  That makes us one years old.  Stick around to the end of the podcast to check out a special surprise by Shayna and stick around to the middle to hear her song ‘Walk of Shame” and after check out the video (starring the always hilarious Katherine “Chuck” Bryant Flaherty).

So many thanks to Shayna Ferm and also to Andres Subercaseaux for reasons that will make sense after you listen to the episode.  Also, because Shayna asked me to, this is Emo Philips’ site.  Also many thanks to you listeners for listening to the podcast.  And since we did a whole episode on feedback we would love to hear from you guys about what you’ve liked over the first year.  What would you like to see more of?  Which one of us do you think is cuter?  (spoiler alert: It’s Dustin)

LOUIS C.K. -- HAVING KIDS

photo from flickr by xtrarant

Most hardcore comedians and comedy lovers talk about the importance of truth in comedy.  Heck, they even wrote a book about it (called Truth In Comedy.  It’s pretty famous.  You should read it).

In this week’s podcast we look at: What does truth in comedy really mean?   Why is it important?  Does everything really need to be true to be considered…true?

We welcome stand-up comedian Jesse Popp to join in on the discussion and share with us his own brand of truth.

To this day, Mitch Hedberg is one of the most imitated comedians around. If you’ve been to more than one open mic you’ve provably seen a comic copying his style of accented, percussive speaking; sometimes good, usually terrible. I know that for my part I’ve heard a lot of comics telling bizarre one-liners they must have thought sounded Hedbergian.

But what is usually missing is the strong underlying logic that Mitch employed when constructing his jokes. And while he certainly made it seem natural and off the cuff, almost all of Mitch’s jokes were founded on a solid logical foundation.

Click here to see the rest of the article.

Was it everything it was promised it would be?  Did he do anything to silence the haters?  Why did the bleep out the words “dot com”?  We welcome stand-up and sketch comedian Nick Turner to join in on all the debates.

Check out this awesome line-up:

THURSDAY, JUNE 11
7pm: Blitzkrieg + Sidecar, Featuring College Humor TV
8pm: Team Submarine + Kurt & Kristen, Featuring Front Page Films
9pm: The Apple Sisters
10pm: Rue Brutalia
11pm: A Week of Kindness + Murderfist, Featuring The Imponderables
Midnight: Olde English presents Very Fresh

FRIDAY, JUNE 12
7pm: BriTANick
8pm: The Money Kids + Pangea 3000, Featuring Scott Gairdner
9pm: Harvard Sailing Team + The Riot Act, Featuring Escape Pod Films
10pm: The 3rd Floor
11pm: Kevin McDonald’s Hammy and the Kids
Midnight: The Rejection Show

SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Noon: Striking Viking Story Pirates
2pm: The College Humor Show
4pm: Inside Joke: An Evening of Lies
6pm: Free Love Forum + BOF, Featuring BriTANick
7pm: The Story Pirates present Found Magazine + The New Exc!tement, Featuring Scott Gairdner
8pm: Steve & Jordan
9pm: Summer of Tears
10pm: Elephant Larry
11pm: Fearsome
Midnight: SketchFest NYC’s Closing Night Craptacular

photo from flickr by Mark McLaughlin

Everyone loves a comedian, but does a comedian need to be lovable?  This week we debate if comedy characters need to be good people in order to make us laugh. likable

Can a comedy character ever be truly evil?  Are shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development changing the the rules of comedy or just following in the footsteps of shows from the past?  Why does Dan find Hitler so darn funny?  (don’t worry, he still hates him for all the awful things he did.  But he is kind of silly.  You have to admit.)  We welcome always lovable stand up comedian and film maker Barry Rothbart as our guest.  You can check him out at therealbarry.com.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
It’s a very slow process and you’re never done learning. Also it’s not nearly as easy as it looks.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
I was very funny as a kid but I resisted doing stand up for a long time but people kept telling me I should do it. So I finally did it and after about a year people were very encouraging. Also nothing else was panning out for me in my life.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
Well I recorded a full length CD last year and released it under an indy label on Oct. 18 2008 and it got chosen by Punchline Magazine as one of the 10 Best Comedy Albums of 2008 alongside Todd Barry, Mitch Hedberg and Louis CK. That was definitely a highlight. Also one time Dave Attell told me I was funny.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
So many to choose from. One time a drunk guy in a bar flicked a lit cigarette at me onstage. The worst part is that that is like the 7th worst comedy experience I’ve had. One time I did a show in Huntington Beach, CA and I had been doing comedy like maybe a year and a half. It was in a nightclub during happy hour and no one there was expecting a show. I literally got heckled after my first sentence. I then got everyone in the club to hate me and want to fight me in less than 6 minutes. I left the place and everyone was staring at me. It was a strange experience to have an entire club full of people hate you. I almost quit comedy that night. I remember sitting in my car listening to angry rap music feeling like I had experienced something most people in the world will never experience.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
I think there are so many things. I don’t have one favorite. Great stand-ups, great films, great online vids.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
Scariest? The ‘Scary Movie’ franchise I guess.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
I think Todd Barry is underrated. I know he’s successful but I feel like people take his comedy skill for granted. I also think Will Arnett is hilarious. I don’t know if he’s underrated but he’s unbelievably funny.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
I haven’t been given a lot of advice to be honest. I feel like most people aren’t going out of their way to help other comics. One time a guy told me to be more personal. I guess that was good advice but I feel like it’s hard to give advice in comedy. You sort of have to find your own way.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Someone told me I had to develop a better character onstage. That was pretty fucking insane.

What is your craziest show experience?
I described it in the earlier question when I talked about Huntington Beach, CA. That show still haunts me. A close second is when I was doing a college and a woman in the audience yelled at me that she was a comedian and that I was too dirty and that she was funnier. I then asked someone to get another mic and give it to her so that we could battle. Someone handed her a mic and she of course had nothing to say.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
Stupid people in the world. Luckily there are many out there.

How would you describe your comedy?
Hilariously brilliant and modest.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for…my originality and integrity.

Shoot me if I ever…try to shoot you.

I think most comedians are…egomaniacs.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…Nothing. I have seen it all.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is…Paul F. Tompkins’ Peanut Brittle snakes in a can bit. Just brilliant.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is…my joke about the movie ‘Mask’. It always makes me laugh. Just brilliant. Also the rap vid I made with Carolyn Castiglia called ‘How to Rob Comics’. I got to pull a gun on Janeane Garofalo.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…True, yet not as true as people think it is.

I would like to plug…MY CD ‘Lou Diamond Phillips?‘ And the indy movie I star in called ‘Happy Life’.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – IMMIGRANT TALE

Comedy fans may remember it as a crucible in which many future stars were forged. But for the people who created the show, it was a stark lesson that when idiosyncratic talents are given the freedom to follow their personal muses, a mass audience does not always follow.

“It was probably the most bizarre variety show in the history of American television,” Mr. Carvey said in a recent interview. “I’m not even saying good or bad, just bizarre.”

Check out the full article here.

Between this and the State release, it’s a good time for obscure, cult sketch comedy. Although, other than SNL and maybe Mad TV, is there any other kind of sketch comedy other than obscure and cult?

I tried to write a review but I can’t without signing up for the itunes store, so here it is.

“I love those guys Dan and Dustin on the Comedy Nerds Podcast. I don’t really like the show itself and wouldn’t call myself a fan per say, but I find Dan’s voice strangely erotic. Sometimes I listen to parts of the podcast where he talks over and over until I finish. Also that guy Dustin is alright too I guess, he’s such a crazy character, getting mad at everyone and everything that succeeds, ‘Damn you [insert slightly successful person/appliance here]!’ Keep it up guys.

Love, Connor Shine and Alexa Rando

Could this really be the actually Connor? If it is I think we can all agree that this was…actually…kind of…funny.

Oh. My. God. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Could I have been wrong all this time? Could it be Connor really did win fair and square? My head is swimming and ground is moving under my feet. This changes everything!

And if this isn’t Connor, and just one of our listeners took the time to register a Connor Shine email address just to send us a funny email, thanks! You guys are the best!

The State’s lost album “Comedy for Gracious Living” is available for download here: http://unheard78.blogspot.com/2009/05/state-comedy-for-gracious-living.html

But I don’t know how long it will last, so get on it!

photo from flickr by xiaming

No, we’re not talking about Michael Scott and his team.  We’re talking about that jack-ass at the office who is still…still doing a Borat impression or the person who still kills in the conference room repeating lines from last night’s Family Guy. This week we ask:

What is the difference between jokes that work in the office and at the comedy club?  Will comedians always lose to people getting hit in the nuts on YouTube?  Will Dan ever get over not being selected Class Clown in college?  (Spoiler Alert: No!)

We welccome back awesome stand-up comedian Claudia Cogan and Comedy Nerds regular Michael Hartney to join in on the discussion.

I just got back from L.A. and this video is true. That city is all about taking lunches and pull off tuxdeos. Now I’ll go twitter this post because that’s what us kids do today.

1. Fail as many classes as you can as often as you can.  If you can stretch it into 7 years and get all Van Wilder on that shit do it.  He looked happy, didn’t he? (Don’t act like you didn’t watch it at least 1 of the 700 times it was on Comedy Central).

2. Apply for this internship.  Paid internships are rare.  Paid internships in comedy are only this one.

Hope you enjoy that big Cannonball Run in the sky Dom.  Or if it turns out the other way, hope you enjoy The Best Little Whore House In Texas Hell.  I believe Phyllis Driver is there.  (Wait, what?  She’s still alive?  Well that’s just not fair.)

THE EMPEROR GETS A CALL ABOUT THE DEATH STAR

Do old people only do scenes about the war?  What type of teen actually chooses to do improv?  Will Dustin be as big of a jerk to this improv teacher as we was to the last one?  (Note from Dustin:  I wasn’t being a jerk.  I was just trying to play devil’s advocate.  Sometimes that comes across a little harsh, but there is nothing but love there.)  Plus, another excerpt from Lou Fernandez at Loureads.com.  And if you are in L.A. this weekend check out Dan at the L.A. Comedy Festival.

10. Lynn Koplitz

Most hot female comedians avoid talking about their looks,Lynn embraces it.  And look at her.  Why wouldn’t she want to talk about it.  I do.  I am.  She’s hot.

9. Ken Marino

Even his own sketch group (The State) admitted he was the sexy one.  Almost too good looking for sketch comedy.  Almost…

8. The Benny Hill Girls

These girls invented the sexy party.  Also, they were willing to have said sexy parties with Benny Hill, so that means they probably would have had a sexy party with a shlub like you which makes them even sexier.

7. Rob Riggle

He’s funny, he’s good looking and the government trained him to how to kill people with his thumb.  That’s hot in a very disturbing kind of way.

6. Paul Rudd

The dude makes himself sexy.  I don’t know how he does it.  He’s just like, “I’m hot” and then you’re just like, “yeah you are”.  It’s like a Jedi Mind Trick. I will learn your secret Paul Rudd!  Mark my words.  I will learn your secret.

5. Abby Elliott

SNL doesn’t use her nearly enough, but when they do it’s usually to be hot (see her Angelina Jolie for examples).  Please SNL, use her more, but if all her roles must be that of the hot chick, totally fine.  Totally.

4. Neil Patrick Harris

Doogie grew into his body.  Also he’s just as hot when he’s all sleeveless on a motorcycles as he is when he suits up.

3. Ryan Reynolds

I’m just sayin’, look at those abs.  Look at ‘em.  You want to touch them, don’t you?  How can he be funny and have those abs?  I am going to guess he’s a witch.  A sexy witch.

2. Jenna Fischer

Sure, she looks all innocent.  But you know she’s got a dirty side.  Want proof?  Here’s the picture I wanted to use before the censors got involved.  Seriously.  Click he link.  It’s awesome.  I’m not even kidding.  Click the link.

1. April Macie

She’s dressed like the devil.  That’s naughty.  The good kind of naughty.  The very good kind.  (insert some pun about last phallic thing standing)  But seriously, God Damn.  Sorry, kids are reading.  Gosh Darn that chick is hot.

So who did we leave off?  Who do you think should have made the list?  We want to know.

They Are Comedy Snobs: They like comedy, but only if it is really good.  To me comedy is like sex/pizza.  Even if it’s bad you still ejaculate when you are done. (most of the time.  sometimes you’ve got a lot of things on your mind and you can’t enjoy the sex/pizza as much as you want.  It’s no bodies fault really.)  But for some, they have seen so much bad comedy that they assume at the start the jokes are going to be bad or stupid and they would rather avoid it all together.  Those people would rather just watch The Comedy Home Run Derby than a regular comedy baseball game.

They Are Really Stupid: Some people are stupid.  They are.  It’s not their fault.  It is God’s fault.  The Baby Jesus saw fit to make some people full on “forget to take off their pants when they poo” stupid.  Those people don’t enjoy comedy because they don’t get it.  Comedy requires an instant reaction.  You’re brain has to analyze what is happening and react to it.  If you can’t comprehend it fast enough you won’t laugh at it.  That’s why people getting hit in the nuts comedy does so well.  You have to do very little analysis when you see it, so everyone can find it funny.

They Want People To Think They Are Too Cool For School: Everyone cares about how people look at them.  Everyone.  People who say they don’t are only saying that because they want you to think they are cool.  So some jackasses think it makes them look hipper if they say they don’t enjoy watching comedy.  Like those jerks who claim that they don’t watch TV, that they would prefer to read.  (You lie lair person.  Yeah, people like to read.  But TV is where it’s at and you know it.  The reason everyone has a TV is because they are better than books.  Otherwise everyone would have a huge book in their living room rather than a TV.  But they don’t, do they?  I win. You lose reader/lair person.)  Well, those same people who are all “I like books and going to museums” usually say they prefer a good holocaust movie to a comedy.  Maybe you think acting like you are so above things that make everyone happy makes you look cool, but the truth is that nobody likes you because of that.  Stop trying to be so cool.  Because you’re not.  You…are…not.

Those are just some possibilites.  Why do you guys think people claim to not like comedy?

MR. T -- GET SOME NUTS

photo from flickr by Roman Barelko

This week we welcome comedians Claudia Cogan and Michael Hartney to talk about the world of gay comedy.  What unique struggles do gay comedians face?  How does being a gay comedian effect the material they create?   How afraid can Dan and Dustin be about sounding ignorant or homophobic?  Come find out with us.

You can check out more from Claudia at UnderTheGaydarComedy.com or at her blog. You can find Michael Hartney at SecretHospital.com as always.

HOME MOVIES -- CURSING

HOME MOVIES -- OF COURSE YOU’RE STUPID

HOME MOVIES -- NEVER TALK IN THE LIBRARY

Photo from flickr by mDaily

This week we look at the necessary evil many comedians have to face, doing commercials.  For many aspiring comedians commercials provide the best way to earn money while honing their very poorly paying craft.  We welcome comedian and actress Rachel Korowitz to discuss comedians in commercials.

We look at: How do you get into commericials?  How do you rock an audition and actually get cast?  Is there a dark side to doing commericials? (yes)  What made Rachel actually like being locked in a glass room in 103 degree weather with wild dogs roaming around her?  Come find out with us…

10. Harris K. Telemacher (Steve Martin) – L.A. Story

Okay, he was occasionally upstaged by a street sign, but when he wasn’t…weatherman gold. Plus, Telemacher also taught us that pretentious allusions to Homer’s Epic Poem “The Odyssey” can be cinematic gold (but they still won’t make you as good as Woody Allen).

9. Tom Brandston (Chevy Chase) – Snow Day

Anything can happen on a show day, even Chevy Chase being kind of funny in the past decade.

8. David Spritz (Nicolas Cage) – The Weather Man

Its funny because his name is also a name for a kind of light rain! Also he is a sad weatherman who hates his life. Everyone loves a sad weatherman.

7. Bill Ayers – The Weatherman

He was a funky terrorist who helped blow up buildings, and now he a a distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  That’s kind of funny.  Also, he’s Obama’s best closest blood brother friend.

6. Jo Harding (Helen Hunt) – Twister

Jo – “You’ve never seen it miss this house, and miss that house, and come after you!”  She thinks twisters are alive. Crazy lady.  Hey, is that someone knocking on door? Hold on, I’ll be right back.  Who is it?  What?  I can’t understand you.  Let me open the door.  Oh my God — it’s a twister and a land shark.  Why are you always coming after me!

5. The Weather Girls – Of It’s Raining Men Fame

Their prediction for a meteorological event as horrific as it is unlikely. The rivers would run red with the gore of countless thousands of men falling from the sky and splattering on the ground below.  Lyrics by Paul Shaffer.

4. George Carlin – The Hippy Dippy Weatherman

Hell, he just as stoned as any other weatherman.  (I’m looking at your Al Roker)

3. Phil Connors (Bill Murray) – Groundhog Day

According to Dan, this performance deserved the Oscar!

2. Ollie Williams – Family Guy

He’s Funny!

1. Brick Tamland – (Steve Carell) Anchorman

Sure, it was later determined he’s mentally retarded, but who doesn’t love a weatherman who’s not afraid to kill a guy with a trident?  I love lamp and I love Brick…I love Brick.

UPDATE:  With all of our comedic knowledge, it somehow slipped by us that David Letterman started out his career as a weatherman.  So he makes the list too.  Hmm…we left Letterman off our Top Ten List.  There’s gotta be a joke in there somewhere…I got it!  Nope.  Just lost it.  Thanks to Chad Riden for the heads up.  You get a canned ham!

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?

That persistence is more important than talent, and talent might not exist at all.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?

I went to a thing called Boys State in Texas, it was like a mock government. I ran for “Governor” and put a bunch of jokes in my campaign speech. I killed at the convention but lost the election.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?

Performing improv with my former team Fancy Dragon, with special guest Fred Willard.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?

The year and a half when I quit standup and any performing to work a day job.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?

The fact that the next big thing that makes you laugh uncontrollably could come from anywhere, from anyone.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?

That people like Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are allowed to be in movies that are supposed to be funny. And sometimes at the same time.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?

AD Miles. I think he’s a strong actor and hilarious. He’s the head writer on Jimmy Fallon and that’s the main reason I’ve kept up with that show.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?

If you want to work on great stuff, surround yourself with people that also want to work on great stuff.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?

You have to be suspicious and assume the worst of everyone you meet in comedy.

What is your craziest show experience?

Performing standup at a lesbian bar for Brooklyn Gay Pride. My first professional gig (I got paid twenty bucks). I bombed as the audience responded to my punchlines first with silence, and then questions (“What does that mean? Why would he say that?”). The whole back of the bar was talking and not paying attention. Then after me a performance artist/poet got up and the emcee of the show got the entire bar to be quiet while the poet performed her prayerpoem. The emcee even shushed me as she shoved the twenty in my hand and glared. After this gig I quit for almost two years (see “darkest moment”).

What is the biggest source of your comedy?

My restless brain and the fears it holds inside.

How would you describe your comedy?

Smart, goofy, and racially and sexually charged. I make rooms thick with erotic tension (primarily my own).

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for… being funny and honest, and honestly funny.

Shoot me if I ever… get plastic surgery.

I think most comedians are… more professional, hardworking, and supportive than other kinds of performers, despite all the drinking.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… break down a long standup set and discuss the writing process behind each joke.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… “The Audition” from Mr Show. The perfectest sketch ever written.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… Leaving aside probably hundreds of great longform improv moments, none of which would make any sense, I loved playing Ernest Yen in Yang Miller’s “Video Shmideo“.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… so true it hurts me in the gut. It’s deflating and awkward to check out your latest crush’s comedy show and walk away disappointed.

I would like to plug… my website, chris-grace.com, featuring my Twitter, vlog, email newsletter, and yes, podcast. My podcast has half as many regular hosts as The Comedy Nerds, and accordingly is, at most, half as entertaining.

CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN – CHANDRA AND THE BIRDS AND THE BEES

photo from flickr by icopythat

This week we welcome Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld to discuss our new TV show that they are co-executive producing with us.  Gotcha!  It was a prank.  Did I trick you?  You know I did.  It was so believable.  I am a pro!  (Although in retrospect naming this post and podcast Pranks Shows might have given it away.  Stupid titles.)

We’ll take a look at Prank Shows throughout history.  We look at the importance of groups like Improv Everywhere vs movies like Borat or shows like Punk’d.  Why are they funny?  Why do some people hate them soooo much?  What would we do if attacked by a werewolf?  Enjoy!

As if that wasn’t enough her solo show, BROWN AMBITION, about growing up in Oswego, NY and moving to Harlem USA, premiered at Ars Nova theatre in February.  And oh yeah I forgot to mention that she’s also a single mom.  Wow.  Just wow.  I’ve seen her perform for years and the energy she brings to the stage is amazing.  You can’t help be drawn in.  She’s fearless and funny and she makes sure everyone at the show has a good time.  Also, this chick can freestyle y’all.  For serious.  Just last week she won a freestlye rap battle at the UCB theater in NYC.  And everyone knows that the UCB is New York’s 8 Mile, so much respect to my lady Carolyn.  Here’s what she had to say when we sat her down to answer our Comedy Foot Soldier questions:

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
That in the time it takes to update one’s gig calendar on MySpace, a one year old baby can suck the heads off an entire pack of matches.  Turns out, according to Poison Control, eating matches is perfectly harmless, and may help in quitting smoking.

photo by anya garrett

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?

Oh, thanks!  Well, you know, I’ve heard that before and I can only say I’m glad that’s how it appears.  I’m of the “be afraid but do it anyway” school.  It’s not that I’m fearless, it’s that I’m brave.  I think that’s what Lucille Ball meant when she said, “I’m not funny.  I’m brave.”  Of course she was funny.  But what made her funny was her bravery.  Her willingness to be a fool.  I decided long ago I may as well be willing to be a fool, because I am one whether I like it or not.  It’s more fun to be in on the joke.

Photo by Anya Garrett

QUICK HITTERS

I would like to be known for… my quick wit and big ass heart.

Shoot me if I ever… stop being in on the joke.

I think most comedians are… funny.  I love watching other comics.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… my marriage.

JOHN MULANEY – SUBWAY STATION CHASE

I think all comedians fall somewhere on a spectrum between art (comedy purely for the sake of comedy) and commerce (comedy purely for the sake of making money)…I think the best analogy for conceptualizing the scale is as follows: at the far end of the commerce side of the spectrum is a fast food cheeseburger.  It’s cheap, it’s easy, it sells well, and is extremely popular on a large scale.  However, it’s not good for you nor is it really satisfying on any level below the topmost surface.  As we move along the scale, the cheeseburger starts to get less and less manufactured and its composition is less and less dictated by what will appeal to a large, generalized population…At a certain point, however, these cheeseburgers go from pushing the limits of what a cheeseburger is to being so un-cheeseburger-like that anyone who orders it will send it back because, at this point, it’s just not a cheeseburger anymore.

Click Here to check the rest of Greenbaum’s long but very cool article.  And check out his interview on The Apiary.

NBC:  Hey WHDH station manager, we’re putting Leno at 10pm.

WHDH: Oh yeah, why don’t you go F’ yourself!

NBC:  Excuse me?

WHDH:  You heard me, ya Jeter lover.  Go F’ yourself. We ain’t airin’ no Leno at 10 pm.  You gotta a problem with that, then you can hop on the T and do somethin’ about it!

NBC:  You don’t understand.  You will do it or we will take your NBC affiliation away.  You don’t want to end up as a CW affiliate do you?

WHDH:  Havaad yaad

NBC:  What was that?

WHDH:  Havaad yaad?

NBC:  Who’s idea was this anyway?

WHDH: One of viewers.  A Mr. Jonan BO’brien.

NBC:  I see….

Photo from flickr by pfau

Comedy makes me happy.  But anger is what gives me comedy.  So much of the humor we see on a daily basis is angry.  It’s aggressive.  It’s so often about getting a laugh at the expense of some one, some thing or yourself.  (cough) Richard Lewis (cough).

Some might say it’s about tearing down others so you feel better about yourself.  Screw those people.  They are just mad because someone said something funny about them.  Yeah, I said it Poindexter.  Man up!  Actually, in some ways I agree with that, but it was much more fun to say I was angry about it and thus prove my point.  Yep, that’s called a call back.  Jealous?  I thought so.

So this week we look at why anger is so closely tied to comedy.  Can they be seperated?  Is it possible to take that anger too far?  Does John Tesh have the best radio show of all time?  We welcome comedian and writer for drinkatwork.com Sean Crespo to discuss with us.  Plus, we also welcome back sketch comedian Michael Hartney to join in on the discussion.  His group Secret Hospital just got into LA’s Sketchfest, so if you are in the area in May check them out.

Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy

On a related note, as a comedy nerd it is upsetting when you see a movie you haven’t seen in a while and discover you’ve been quoting it wrong. For years, I’ve walked around quoting Cancer Boy as “Did you see? Did you see the doctor and me? Did you see? Everyday’s a gift.” If you watch the clip over A.V. Club, you’ll see that’s not quite right. Pretty close, I’m usually even more off, but still. Oh fallible human memory! You have deceived me once again!

P.S. I think I like my version better but shhhhh… Wouldn’t want to upset any of the Kids. If they found out I said that, I’d never hear the end of it. 

This week’s Comedy Foot Soldier is a comedy machine.  Honestly, I believe he must be at least a cyborg to write and do as much as he does.  Or maybe he has an infinite number of monkeys typing on typewriters where his organs should be.  Tiny tiny monkeys with even tinier typewriters.  Point is Alex Goldberg is working non stop bringing comedy to the masses.  He’s written three full length plays, including I’m In Love With Your Wife which won a whole butt load of awards.  He co-wrote the Feature Film Fade to White which is in post production.  He’s a member of the amazing sketch group Fearsome.  And if all that is not enough he’s one of the producers of ECNY awards here in the city and on the SketchFestNYC production team.  The dude gets around.  Here’s what he had to say when we sat him down to answer our Comedy Foot Soldier questions:

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
Comedy evolves quickly, so keep evolving. There are exceptions, of course, but generally what was funny yesterday will not be funny tomorrow. I read a play written by a guy who never watched any new comedy after “The Simpsons,” and it really showed in his writing.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
I was the last guy to hit puberty in high school. It was either comedy or the towel boy for the j.v. basketball team.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
At the time it was a strange and frustrating experience, but in retrospect, when Lewis Black opened for my sketch group FEARSOME. Either that or performing live in front of 10,000 people.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Being sternly lectured for going blue in an improv show at Six Flags Great Adventure. By a ten-year-old.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
The blending of comedy. Improv, standup, video, sketch, monologists, etc. can all come together in one show and all art forms are accepted with relative equality. Sketch and standup are becoming like plays, musical acts are turning themselves into opera. Video is seamlessly screened during live shows. It’s a happy mash up.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
That live sketch comedy is fading as short videos are far more cost effective and reach a greater audience. Short videos are great, of course, but I hope both video and live can coexist.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
Just recently discovered the sketch group Murderfist. I’ve seen them twice and couldn’t stop laughing. To me they are like a smart version of NASCAR, extremely quick and seemingly out of control, with potential for imminent massive pileups, and I mean that as a compliment.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
”Keep doing it. You’re good at it.”

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
”Do what you do well, don’t worry about the business end, and people will discover your greatness and your fan base will grow organically until you are famous.”

photo by Keith Huang

What is your craziest show experience?
Doing an improv show at a bar near the Hudson River during Fleet Week. Every suggestion from the audience was “take it off.” I think that was directed at the female group members, but I can’t be positive about that. Our two 45-minute sets quickly became one 20-minute set. Then we got drunk with the sailors.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
Current events, definitely. Almost all of my plays stem from something in the news, very much like taking a word as a suggestion in improv and using it as a launching point toward something else, instead of just writing a parody of something. Current events push me off the diving board; how I choose to make a splash evolves on my way down. That’s deep.

How would you describe your comedy?
Quick. Surprising. Dark. Often verbose.

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for…
writing dark, funny and smart plays, movies, sketch and television.

Shoot me if I ever…

quit.

I think most comedians are…
simultaneously overextended and underutilized.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…
hire me as a writer…once they get a project where they need a bunch of writers. I’m great in a room…or so I’m told.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is…
the majority of the Mr. Show and The State catalog. And let me take this time to say that “The Ten” is an amazingly hilarious movie.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is…
any musical number performed by FEARSOME. But don’t ask me to make a Sophie’s Choice between Abby Go Dabby, Gun Grease, or Polyamory.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…
absolutely true. After all, I’m very funny and I have an extremely hot girlfriend. Conversely, my girlfriend is very funny and I am also ridiculously hot.

I would like to plug…

My playwriting: www.alexgoldberg.net

My sketch comedy: www.fearsomecomedy.com

My producing projects: www.ecnyawards.com and www.sketchfestnyc.com

MARIA BAMFORD – NEMISIS

MARIA BAMFORD – CULTS

ShamWow Guy Beats Up Cannibal Hooker

I could describe the story further, but I think the title says every single thing you need to know.

photo from flickr by shutupyourface

A few weeks back comedian Matt Ruby had a great post on his blog Sandpaper Suit about all the things necessary to put on a quality comedy show.  We loved it and invited him on to talk about the do’s and don’t of producing a comedy show.  We discuss the importance of sound, lights, hosting and much much more.  If you are thinking of producing your own show or have ever wondered what goes into it you’ll want to take a listen.

Stand-up comedian and producer of the indy comedy show “Too Cool For School” Nick Turner joins us as well.  And if you are free tonight, check out the show Matt produces “We’re All Friends Here” at The Creek in Long Island City at 10pm and Nick’s show at COCO66 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn starting at 8pm.

Jim Carrey as Curly – Sean Penn as Larry – Benicio del Toro as Moe

Okay.  Jim Carrey as Curly.  It would be hard for anyone to fit that roll satisfactorily, but if anyone can do it he can.  Sean Penn as Larry is…um…yeah…um…well…it’s ah… Wow.  I’ve got nothing.  He’s going from Milk to Larry?  I admit that he is one of the greatest actors I have ever seen.  I admit in recent years he has made a lot of great choices in roles.  I have to admit that I am really curious to see how he takes getting comedically hit in the head with a pipe.  But del Toro is the one that still has me going wha?  wha?  wha?  It’s not that he can’t be funny.  He can.  He just can’t speak clearly.  Is every joke going to be Curly and Larry saying “what was that?”.

But all that said, I really want to see that movie.

The CCI is reporting that the two will be starring in a new comedy:

The show centers around a group of friends who all get fired the same day after a corporate shakeup.  Amanda will play a “naive Midwestern girl who often spent nights at the office to get her work done.” The 22-year-old will star alongside Tim Peper, Stephanie Lemelin and Baron Vaughn.

I love me some Amanda Bynes.  Seriously, The Amanda Show was a sketch show way ahead of it’s time and I will fight you to the death if you think differently.  But I more so love me some Baron Vaughn (in a entirely 95% heterosexual way).  He’s the real deal when it comes to comedy (and just an all around cool dude)  and it is awesome that the networks are finally beginning to see it.  If ABC has any idea what is going on they will pick up this show.  Even if the writing is awful, those two will make it work.  They can make anything work.  The could have made communism work (but thank god they didn’t try or this website would be called the Comedy Comrades.  Actually I kind of like that…I miss communism).

Please make this show happen ABC.  Please make this show happen America.  Please everyone send me a dollor so I can get a down payment for an apartment since Dan just purchased a house and I am feeling bad about where I am in my life.  (that last part is unrelated, but still very important.)

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
If you hear nothing but glass tinkling and coughing? You are sucking. I also learned that you can take just about any backroom and make it into an improvisational theater/standup club. Serious. Walk into any place (supermarket, parking garage) and imagine it with a stage in there. I also learned simple things: Show up on time the gig. Show up sober. Be ready. If it is standup, be nice and try to memorize your stuff and leave you tattered comedy notebook behind. If it is improv? Be prepared to do anything.

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
The moment I realized I could get out of Whoppings by making my mother laugh.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
There have been many, but I’m always proud of anything I have ever done with Oui Be Negroes. (both improv and Sketch)

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Showing up to a gig with another standup comedian (That they booked) at a university and NO ONE KNEW we were even supposed to be there (as the gig was booked by the seniors the year before). Seeing kids scurrying along to dorm rooms to try to raise kids was pretty pathetic. Hey. They paid us. and that alone was sort of fucking sad.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
Social and political satirist and comedians trying to figure out how the hell to make fun of Obama without being called out by Al Sharpton

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
Social and political satirist and comedians trying to figure out how the hell to make fun of Obama without being called out by Al Sharpton

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
I would easily say Scott Adsit (30 Rock) is a quiet comedic Genius

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
Stir the shit and raise the stakes.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
That you can expand your mind with hallucinogenics before a show.

What is your craziest show experience?
Austin Texas. Full house. Great show. standing Ovation. People asking for autographs. I was all “What the hell is *happening here*

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
The News.

How would you describe your comedy?
Spontaneous what the fuck

Quick Hitters

I would like to be known for…doing really good work and being smoking fucking hot for black chick.

Shoot me if I ever…become the size of Aretha Franklin now.

I think most comedians are…romantics completely fucking burned by the concept.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…tell an audience on an HBO comedy special: Do you know how many people’s jokes I have stolen to get here? OH did I say that out LOUD?

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is…Elaine May and Mike Nichols Teenage Car Date Scene

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is…Mangling Second City Touring’s Scene Pictionary as much as I humanly could.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…how the hell I have gotten laid all of my life. And, married too for almost twenty years. Suck on that unfunny bitches!

I would like to plug…my website (www.shaunlandry.com) my improv companies (www.ouibenegroes.com and www.irishmutts.com) and when in San Francisco check out other funny improvisers at www.sfimprovfestival.com.

Positive Repetition: We are, after all, two wild and crazy guys.

Scale: Wait a second…all those clowns can’t fit into that car!

Qualification: This apparently has to do with a familiar word being said in an unfamiliar way.  Or, as I like to call it, Seinfeld.

Qualitative Recontextualization: When something we know has changed.  Like Garth’s hair after settling down with Kim Basinger in Wayne’s World 2.  When in doubt, look to the classics.

Application: A double meaning.  Like “working girl”.  Or “pearl necklace”.  Or “anal intercourse”.

Completion: Where the audience is called upon to finish the joke.  Knock knock.

Division: A priest, a rabbi, and a polysexual water nymph walk into a speakeasy.  For the thrilling conclusion to this joke, look under the lobby doormat at 1540 Broadway (at 45th Street).  There will be a Post-It.

Opposition: Irony and sarcasm.  Like ray-hee-ain.  On your wedding day.

So there you have it.  Mr. Clarke sounds hilarious.  I just used opposition!  Oh, snap!  Oh, wait…is “oh, snap” positive repetition?  Hmm…I’m not sure.  Science, after all, is hard.

It’s awesome seeing the power of good comedy when it is used for positive influences and not evil (I’m looking at you “get ‘er done”. 

Adam McKay has said that in the first draft of the script, the story was about a planeload of news anchors who crash in the mountains and discover that the plane which they collided was carrying monkeys and martial arts equipment, leading to a battle between cannibalistic newsmen and star-throwing monkeys. (it’s not too late Adam.  I’ll put up some money to see that produced.)

The first draft of the screenplay included suggested actors for various roles: -- Champ Kind: John C. Reilly -- Brick Tamland: Chris Parnell -- Brian Fantana: Ben Stiller -- Ed Harken: Ed Harris -- Garth Holiday: Dan Aykroyd -- Frank Vitchard: Alec Baldwin -- The script also specified another member of the news team, Marshall Connors, with William H. Macy suggested for the part.  (Again, it’s not too late.  I would also love to see that movie made)

Ron Burgundy’s license plate is “IM #1.” (New York doesn’t allow the #, but IMNBR1 is available as of press time)

THE FIGHT SCENE -- ANCHORMAN

THAT TIME OF THE MONTH -- FROM WAKE UP RON BURGUNDY

COMEDY CENTRAL viewers can expect to hear a lot more from Jeff Dunham and his infamous characters, Walter, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Peanut, Bubba J and José Jalapeño on a Stick, over the next few years. The all-comedy network has signed Dunham to a wide-ranging, fully-integrated, multi-platform initiative which includes a series order, stand-up special, major-market stand-up tour, DVDs and a consumer products partnership.

The people have spoken and they love Jeff Dunham.  Those crazy crazy people.  Admittedly I still giggle at someone saying something is on a stick.

photo from flickr by gtmcknight

Penis.  Fart.  Vagina.  Did you giggle?  Yes you did because those words are funny.  They are crass and silly and they hit you in your inner 13 year old every time.  No one is immune to it.  There is just something about crass comedy that we gets us all.  But can someone just say “poop” and be guaranteed a laugh?  Are there rules to when crass comedy works?  Can it really be overused?  Who does it well?  What should you do if you like to dress up as an adult baby and you want to tell the person you are dating about it?

We welcome NYC’s king of crass comedy Lou Fernandez to the show to help us answer these questions.  You can check out his blog and his podcast at these sites:  kinglou.com or http://tindeck.com/users/King+Lou and he is guest blogging here http://geekpadshow.com.

By the by, this episode is very very very very NSFW.

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
I have learned that even if you can’t laugh at yourself, you should be still be allowed to laugh at other people.  I have also learned (from my parents) that I should really start thinking about going to graduate school any day now…

photo by Quincy Ledbetter

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
My foot fell asleep and I thought it was a sign. Turns out I’m bad at reading signs, but hey, here I am. The real story is actually even less exciting.

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
Sometimes when you have a good set, and not even necessarily at a big show but just at an open mic, and your friends are there and you’ve found a groove, those are my favorite nights. I also love organic moments more than I love organic vegetables. You heard it here first.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
There is quite a selection. But once after I got off stage, the headliner after me said, “How about that last comic? She was small and brown…(wait for it)…just like my penis!”  Oh wait, maybe that was my brightest moment. It was both.  I also hate when you do a new joke and it goes great, but then you can never recreate it quite the right way ever again, and it’s more or less lost forever…

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
I like this storytelling movement where people can just get onstage and talk and be real and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a show-show like a tap shoes and white gloves deal. But there are real moments of connection and hilarity on all kinds of Donkey Kong levels.  I also love people who do a lot with a little, which is to say that they take mundane topics and they turn them on their heads and then wear them as masks maybe, and the whole time this is happening the audience is just going “o wao.”

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
Probably the fact that everyone has a web site. That’s kind of terrifying. And Twitter is also an extreme exercise in self-love. It’s like, get a (chat)room already! Of course, as I’m typing this with one hand, I’m Twittering that I’m typing it with the other so that’s where I’m at right now.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
I am excited to see more of the brilliance that is Jackie Clarke and Julie Klausner! But I’m also hoping they don’t feel underappreciated. I’m hoping they gets mad love from their fans besides this paltry shout out.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
Silence is the most cerebral form of laughter. Also, keep going.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
Tell more Indian jokes. But it’s always said with my best interests in mind. It comes straight from the racist heart.

What is your craziest show experience?
Once, this venue (that I happened to personally dislike quite a bit) was closing and so it was the last show there, and something snapped in me and I completely raged out onstage and knocked down the stool and dropped the mic at the end. Basically the opposite of what is actually my act.  It was like I was outside of my body watching myself the whole time going, I want my money back! Just who does she think she is! Good thing this is a free show! Show me your boobs!

photo by Kevin Thom

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
My brain.

How would you describe your comedy?
Dry. Wry. Sly. Can I use a non-three-letter word? No? Ok.

Quick Hitters
I would like to be known for…my personality’s looks.

Shoot me if I ever…become a loud person.

I think most comedians are…painfully self-aware. I know I am as I’m writing this even!

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is…fly (organically).

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is…apparently a victim of the limits of my long-term memory. But trust that there have been many!

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is…my life.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is…a huge relief.

I would like to plug…in my Glade terrycloth-towel-scented room-freshening wick. To clear up the musty scent of baggage I brought into this interview.

Check her out her blog, follow her on twitter, watch her on youtube, friend her facebook or myspace and check her on out on rooftopcomedy.com

You spent years struggling, playing to half-empty houses, hostile audiences, scraping by, subject to all matter of indignities, until you finally get a chance to make your own movie, on your own terms. Then years later, some movie exec decides the movie you poured all that blood, sweat and tears into is best teamed up with something called “Traci Lord’s Frostbite”. Yikes. I stared at that box and contemplated the chance we live in a cold, indifferent universe. But not for too long, I had to decide between getting the Stallone Double Feature of “Cobra” and “Over The Top” or the Burt Reynolds Double Feature of “Stroker’s Ace” and “Starky’s Machine”. I won’t pretend you don’t all ready know how this story ends. I bought them both.

THE KIDS IN THE HALL -- UNEXPERIENCED CANNIBAL

So this week we look at comedy character. Why is it essential for a comedian to have a character?  What restrictions does it put on them?  Can a comedian overcome a bad character.  We welcome back comedian Mike Blejer to discuss.

Photo from flickr by blazefyter

Kicking it off is NYC born and raised comedian Barry Rothbart. He  began his comedy career performing in the Boston comedy scene in 2002 while attending UMass.  He’s  a regular at most comedy clubs in the city as well as hitting “the road” at colleges and clubs all over the East Coast and Mid-West of America.  He’s a founding member of the sketch group “The Straightmen” and an improv troupe called “Bread House”.

He’s performed at the New York Comedy Festival, DC Comedy Festival and Boston Comedy Festival.  He’s written and directed shorts for Comedy Central’s “The Motherload”, Turner’s “SuperDeluxe.com” and Discovery Channel’s “You Spoof Discovery”.   Point is the dude gets around and is hilarious.  Here’s what he had to say to our Comedy Foot Solider questions:

What’s the most important thing you learned since you started doing comedy?
I think it’s the process of getting to the point. Comedy is such an exercise in brevity that you become a master at it in everything. You really have to learn how to whittle down verbiage until you find the pearl. Just like this answer!

How did you know you were meant to be a comedian?
Wait! I’m meant to be a comedian?

What’s been your brightest moment as a comedian?
I think it would sound really romantic and noble if I said something like making my dad laugh during a show. Or playing at some charity event, but I think the sad truth is that it was probably one night when I played a college sorority show and I had groups of girls fawning over me. I think that felt the brightest.

What’s been your darkest moment as a comedian?
Four words… New York Comedy Club. It’s the elephant graveyard of comedy.

What is your favorite thing going on in comedy right now?
The movement toward a more storytelling style. I think that comedy is moving more toward what I think it should be, which is actual truth in life, conveyed through story. I am so sick of punchlines that come from clever word play and no “real” moments of experience. I think comics like Louis CK, Paul F. and Mike Birbiglia are showing everyone that it’s possible. Plus I’m happy that comedy videos are becoming so mainstream.

What is the scariest thing going on in comedy right now?
The lack of mainstream venues on television for comedians. And besides that I think the movement toward making comedy a competitive art totally bastardizes the art-form. With shows like Last Comic Standing and comedy competitions all over the country, I think comedy can easily become something that is on par with juggling. Where it’s just this “talent” you have and not a performance art. Comedy cannot be competitive in nature, because it lies so much in the mind of the audience, not a judge.

Who do you think is today’s most underappreciated comedian/comedy actor?
President Obama. He’s actually hilarious.

What’s the best advice you ever received as a comedian?
Always assume the audience is much smarter than you. That was from Michael Delaney, SNL writer.

What’s the worst advice you ever received as a comedian?
The goal of every comedian should be to get on Letterman.

What is your craziest show experience?
I once did a show in Jersey at a bar during game 7 of the World Series when the Yankees we playing Florida. They literally shut off the TVs to have the show and there was nearly a riot. Everyone in the bar looked like the cast of a Bruce Springsteen video.

What is the biggest source of your comedy?
I think just walking around NY, it’s such a funny city. And David Cross; I steal all his jokes.

How would you describe your comedy?
Fantastical wonderment fermented with a keen desire to undermine the thoughtfulness of our everyday monotony.

Quickhitters
I would like to be known for… Working right up until the day I die.

Shoot me if I ever… Have a bomb strapped to me.

I think most comedians are… Really misguided jugglers.

The one thing I have never seen a comedian do, but would love to is… Win an Academy Award for Directing.

My favorite comedy bit that I was not involved in is… Anything Mr. Show ever did. I follow most ideas with “Damn, Mr. Show did it”.

My favorite comedy bit that I was involved in is… A sketch called “Jerry Jones and the BeeBopp Boogaloo” that I do with my sketch group “The Straightmen”.

People often say they are attracted to a sense of humor. I think that is… Untrue if you’re Bobcat Godthwait..

I would like to plug… My website… www.TheRealBarry.com (watch my movies) and my Saturday show at Karma called “If You Build It”.

EDDIE IZZARD -- STAR WARS CANTEEN

EDDIE IZZARD -WORLD WAR II

Awesome.  Now we are just one David Spade baby away from being able to produce the all baby version of Tommy Boy that i’ve been trying to make for years.  In the baby version they are trying to sell parts for Big Wheels.  Oh, it’s precious.

I just realized how much sadder it is if it’s a baby living in a van down by the river.  Don’t worry baby Chris Farley that lives in a van down by the river, President Obama will save you.  He’ll save everyone of us.  He’s just like Flash Gorden. (that’s for the one person who will get that reference.)(what the hell happened with this post?  It’s all ove the place.  Farley, Obama, the Baby Jesus, Flash Gorden.  It’s been a crazy ride though, hasn’t it?)

We ask: Can you teach anyone to be good at improv?  How do you teach someone to be funny by teaching them to not try to be funny?  When is the right time for a new improviser to take to the stage for the first time?  Is Sarah ever going to talk to Dustin again after this episode is over?

Come find out with us…

You can check out Sarah performing with her group The Baldwins every Wednesday at 9pm  at The P.I.T.

(NOTE FROM DUSTIN: I’m told by our focus group of my wife that I may have come across as kind of a douche in this episode.  If so, I am sorry.  I will try to restrict my douche like behaviour to times when I am not recording)

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

from flickr by Steve Rhodes

Punchline Magazine is reporting that Robin Williams is in intensive care for heart issues.  Heart issues ain’t no joke folks.  Hopefully all he needs is rest and some pills.  I have personally lost a family member to heart disease so the minute I hear about heart issues it makes me sad in…well, my heart.

I may have disagreed with some of his choices lately, but the man in a legend and has done so much for comedy.  From Comic Relief to an endless string of genuinely complex, heartwarming and hilarious movies and characters.    Who wants to go in on some flowers for his hospital room?

Metro bus driver Shawn Brim, 38, climbed off a bus, adjusted his side view mirrors and then punched officer Tyrone Hardy, who was handing fliers to children on a Washington street while dressed as the crime dog, police said. After the punch, Brim got back on the bus and drove away, but was quickly pulled over Saturday.  Brim later told a supervisor he was trying to be funny when he punched McGruff, who urges kids to “take a bite out of crime.”

Listen Shawn.  I get it.  Who hasn’t wanted to punch that sanctimonious crime pooch? (yeah, two big words.  Suck it)  It’s funny to think about.  It’s funny to picture in your mind.  But it is not funny to actually do it.  If you want to go ahead and tell a knock knock joke, fine (but please don’t).  If you want to tell everyone a long pointless story that for some reason you think is funny (but let’s face it, no else does) have at it.  But leave the comedy violence to the professionals because unless it’s happening on a stage or in a movie, its not comedy violence.  It’s just violence.  And violence isn’t funny…except this one time (thinks better of it and ends the post right here)

photo from flickr by jimw