The ‘09 Comedy Season opened a little earlier than expected. On my way to see Morgan Murphy and Jen Kirkman at UCB last night, I discovered two comedic performers that I will most certainly go see again. Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo in character as Ronna Glickman and Beverly Kahn, co-authors of You’ll Do a Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Re-marriage for Jewish Singles. If you’re Jewish, if you know someone Jewish, if you’ve heard of a Jew…you’ll love them. They are very convincing in their roles as two older Jewish women (it’s odd because they’re both kinda hot younger girls). They have tons of clips on UCBComedy.com, including the one below.
Their next show is on Thursday, January 15th. It’s called Ronna and Beverly’s All Jew Review. Make a reservation here. It’s only $5.
The Upright Citizens Brigade is a great place to go laugh in L.A. They offer great stand-up, improv, and sketch and the most expensive show they have is $8. Perfect for that newly created ‘09 entertainment budget (try to stick to it at least till February folks. Then blow it all on Valentines Day on that guy or girl you just met…that’s always smart).
Check out UCBComedy.com for a glimpse at videos of the shows and the talent going through there on a nightly basis. It’s a terrific site. I would hope to see some of this content on Hulu sometime soon. The complete show schedule can be found at UCBTheater.com.
It’s day one of ‘09 and I suspect many folks are looking forward to a better year than ‘08. There is no certainty whether things will be better anytime soon as far as our economy goes since much of the problems we face stem from perception (God knows what other people are thinking, right?). Uncertainty creates stress. Stress creates unhappiness. And the downward spiral continues.
Fortunately, we have a cure all - laughter.
The economy may suck. Your job situation may not be ideal. Your family may be going through some tough times. Things may seem bleak. Luckily, there is a comedian out there who can make jokes about all of this and much more that will make you forget everything for at least an hour.
Do yourself a favor, make it a point to go laugh more in ‘09. Put it up there with getting in shape or eating better on your New Year’s Resolution list. Because in times like these all we can do is laugh (and pray).
I’ll do my best to let you know who the best comedic performers are, where they are performing, and when you can see them.
I’m kicking off the ‘09 comedy season with old faithful…Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock. Kevin Shea, Bob Bledsoe, and Laura Hayden are guaranteed laughs. Plus it’s free, so I can stick to the new budget I created on Mint. Hope to see you around town laughing all year long.
Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge
Red Rock Bar and Eatery - Upstairs Lounge
Sunset Blvd.
Tuesday, January 6th
8:30pm
FREE
One of the best guys in comedy, Ritchie Angeles, is part of a DVD taping Wednesday, November 12th at the Improv Lab. It’s a free show and the line-up is solid. Raj Desai is killer. If you have not been to the Improv Lab…it’s directly next door to the Hollywood Improv where Second City used to perform. Doesn’t feel like they have figured out what to do with this room yet…but in the mean time, they are running one off shows. I’d love to see it become a plush, intimate show room for high end performers. Line-out the door. Guaranteed.
Nitrous Comedy 8pm Hollywood Improv Lab
Ritchie Angeles
Pat Mellon
Roy Cruz
Jenny Mckenna
Raj Desai
Matt Champagne
Robert Yasamura
Quinn Dahle is an L.A.-area comedian with similar credits to every other comedian in our city. He appears at the Improv, the Laugh Factory, and M Bar among others. He has a “Blue Collar”, hillbilly sense about is humor. One of the good ole’ boys.
Last Tuesday evening, November the 4th, a history making evening, Dahle was scheduled to perform at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. The Laugh Lounge is often featured in this space for the quality of its programming, the professional manner in which it is run, and the terrificly loyal crowd that supports the room twice monthly. On this day, the crowd for the show was uncharacteristically light. In fact, the crowd was light in establishments across the city given the significance of the evening. If you don’t recall, the citizens of our country were at home glued to their televisions, eagerly anticipating the results of the presidential election.
Dahle took this opportunity to demonstrate unprofessionalism that is entirely unacceptable to this fan and supporter of stand-up comedy. After arriving at Red Rock for his set, Dahle saw the small crowd and expressed his “nervousness” about performing to show runner Matt Balaker. After assuring Balaker he would still perform, Dahle decided to bail entirely on the set mid-intro. Escaped out the back door.
In my opinion (and it is not humble at this moment), Dahle committed an act of unprofessionalism that is unforgivable.
If you expect to one day become more than just a no name comedian, it is important to conduct yourself professionally in all circumstances. Whether you are in front of 800 people or 8.
In a city like Los Angeles, you never know who might be in the audience. The great ones have that in the back of their mind each and every night. Not sure Quinn Dahle is one of the great ones with a move like this.
Turns out an executive from E! Entertainment was in the audience.
Update:
Marty Ross filled in for Dahle on the spot. He was there just to support the show. Slammed down a nacho and hit the mic like a professional. The show must go on!
The Howard Stern Show is running another contest called the “Hottest Funniest Chick”. No info is on the Stern website yet but they seem to have a few entries already. But only a few. Here are my recommendations for girls that should enter:
Kris Lezetc - Bottom line…she’s smokin’. Nice work Matt Iseman.
Christina Pazsitzky - So cute. Really pretty. Funniest female comedian out there.
Dana Min Goodman - She has big boobs and she has dirty material. No brainer really.
L.A. comedian Sam Tripoli is a finalist in the “I Want to be Howard Stern” contest. “The Crimefighter” gets to show off his skills by getting a one hour special on Howard 100/101 on Sirius. I don’t know when he will get his shot yet, but definitely stay tuned if you are subscriber. If there is a fan vote, call in and vote for him. You have to hand it to Tripoli, he’s making stuff happen right now. He showcased a new show at the Comedy Central Stage back in August and now this. I’m pretty sure something will break for the guy soon. I think radio is good for Tripoli. He is at his best in a free-form atmosphere. Don’t restrict him.
Why yes it is! “Aspiring comedian” Rebekah Kochan gives us a peak at her nip-nips in her head shots on her Myspace Comedy page. This may actually get her work. It may be in porn, but it’s work.
In any case, I’d put her nips up against Bert Kreischer’s nipples any day of the week. You be the judge.
I caught Los Angeles comedian Matt Iseman hosting Sports Soup tonight right after watching the Pens beat the Flyers in OT on Versus.
“What the hell is Versus,” you ask? It’s a cable station that the NHL signed it’s TV deal with a few years ago after the strike (please Baby Jesus…sign with ESPN after this season). Anyway, I get the channel now because I’m with AT&T U-Verse. If you have DirecTV…you probably get it also. Other cable operators are a crap shoot.
Back to Iseman…looks like he landed a good gig. He’s doing a Talk Soup meets sports show…hence Sports Soup. I know…creative. It was pretty funny and he does a good job. For some reason…he’s pulling a Greg Giraldo and making his voice higher than it normally is…but other than that…solid. Remember when Giraldo hosted that Comedy Central Show on Friday nights…he turned the pitch of his voice up half an octave. I wonder if the TV execs tell these guys to do this. I’d back it down to a nice manly tone if I were them. But that’s me.
Last month at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge, Playboy Cyber Girl Natasha Budhi a.k.a The Chocolate Bunny crashed the show when Bert Kreischer was on stage. Matty “Ballgame” Balaker and his bro Ted cut this video that includes some clips of “Her Chocolateness”.
The ‘09 Comedy Season opened a little earlier than expected. On my way to see Morgan Murphy and Jen Kirkman at UCB last night, I discovered two comedic performers that I will most certainly go see again. Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo in character as Ronna Glickman and Beverly Kahn, co-authors of You’ll Do a Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Re-marriage for Jewish Singles. If you’re Jewish, if you know someone Jewish, if you’ve heard of a Jew…you’ll love them. They are very convincing in their roles as two older Jewish women (it’s odd because they’re both kinda hot younger girls). They have tons of clips on UCBComedy.com, including the one below.
