Comedy just might be what people need in the bad economy…at least in L.A. They just may have listened to my advice. The Hollywood Improv was packed last night to see Iliza Shlesinger headline a stellar line-up. Sold out, folks. And apparently she just about sold out the show earlier in the night.
The surprise of the night was the pop in from Jim Gaffigan. He did about 10 minutes on bowling and bacon. Gaffigan rarely does announced club appearances so it’s awesome to be there when he does show up.
Doug Benson, one of my favorites, did a set also. Ton of new material, all great, but “McGriddles” just kills. Hopefully Benson comes out with a new weed inspired project soon. He talked about doing a movie where he plays a superhero that fights crime by just sitting at home on his couch. Awesome.
Iliza closed the show with a 20-30 minute set. She bookended some of her classic material (Waterslide, Call from a Crush, etc.) with a ton of new stuff. Which was really good. I hadn’t seen her live since prior to Last Comic Standing and she’s clearly still writing good material.
Iliza has a very clear confidence on the stage and a clear understanding of where the audience is during her set. It’s tough to follow Jim Gaffigan and Doug Benson. They are great comedians. The audience has laughed a lot by the time she comes up and sometimes there is a lull. She’s not afraid to call the audience out on their behavior and refocus them. It’s artful really. She doesn’t complain like most comedians do when an audience isn’t giving them the reactions they are looking for…she refocuses them. I dig it.
I noticed something strange when I was outside the Improv prior to the show. Iliza seems to have male groupies. No joke. Dudes who just wanted to meet her. They may have been “industry” folks…I don’t know. But it was a lot of dudes.
Also, wanted to mention really great sets from Jay Motepare and Daniel Kinno. Definitely get out to see them.
Thanks to Kara Baker at Avalon Entertainment for the invite.
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I didn’t get the chance to see Iliza in LA last week, but I have seen her recently in NYC. She is rockin’. She’s fresh, she’s smart and clever (and I love looking at her)! I hear she’s headed back to the east coast end of March to Comix in the trendy meat packing district. I’m so there!