Live Comedy L.A.

FYI: Trying some things with Snap.com functionality…just mouse over the links and see what happens. Should be able to see web pages and Youtube videos right here without leave. Cool stuff!

Line-Up:
Matty “Ballgame” Balaker
Dave Lease
Adam Richmond
Bernadette Balagtas
Michael Batts
Brody Stevens
Alonzo Bodden

Red Rock was jammed again for another Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. Pretty great for Thanksgiving week. I love how management is really embracing this show. They have rearranged seating…added tables…adjusted lighting…hell…we might even get a waitress up there if this keeps up.

Matty “Ballgame” Balaker -
Matty did some great call back material to the last show when a crazy woman essentially attacked him on stage. It’s great that Matt recognizes the regulars and makes them feel welcome. I want to mention Matt’s customer service skills quickly while I have a chance. We talk about this a lot here but it is rarely implemented at the clubs and especially at the rooms. Before and after every show, Matt is introducing himself to each person in the crowd and thanking them for coming. I’ve never been thanked for attending a show at the Improv or at the Laugh Factory…and I pay money to go there. Take note folks.

Dave Lease -
It was my first time seeing Dave and his first appearance at Red Rock. He was really good. Loved the joke about hell at the end.

Adam Richmond -
Adam is nuts…and it’s awesome! Tons of energy…and really fun. He ended his set with a brilliant line. The one thing a dude doesn’t want to say to a woman in a very intimate moment…”I want you inside me.” HILARIOUS!

Bernadette Balagtas -
I love Bernadette. She’s hilarious, clean, and really cool. She’s the type of comedian that everyone can appreciate.

Michael Batts -
Michael is Bernadette’s husband. They do a great back and forth when he comes up on stage and she sits down. I’d like to see some new material from Michael…but that is only because I like him so much. The Jaime Fox stuff gets me everytime.

Brody Stevens -
Everyone knows how much I love Brody. Some people just don’t get him…he is definitely an acquired taste. But I think he’s brilliant. For some reason, people take his stage persona as being serious, because his style is so unique. I’ll make it very clear…he’s joking!!! I think it’s amazing when he says stuff like “I’m brilliant. I know math. I got my degree online.” He provides this contrast of himself that is just amazing. 818 till I die!!! BTW…joke of the night. “I’m not one of those West Side Jews…a Montana Ave. Jew. I’m a Valley Jew. A blue collar Jew. My dad ran the Swap Meet.” I’m almost fell over laughing at that.

Alonzo Bodden -
I can pretty much guarantee Alonzo Bodden gives his best performances at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. You can tell he is so relaxed…and he’s just kickin’ jokes. No pressure. Just he and the audience. It’s so much fun. And some how…when he performs…there is always great interaction with the crowd. This time he reminded a “heckler” that he can rely on the heckler to always be there to help him. It was absolutely hilarious…especially if you see a lot comedy or if you are a comedian. Terrific.

A lot of people don’t like swearing and dirty humor…fair enough. Here are some really great clean comedians in L.A. that I recommend.

Bone Hampton
Kerri Pomarolli
Ron McGehee
Bernadette Balagtas
Michael Batts

Visit their pages…they are really funny and cool people. Being a clean comedian is the most difficult thing to do in stand-up comedy. I have a huge amount of respect for these people. It’s easy to get a laugh by simply saying “fuck”. But to get people to laugh without swearing…those are what I call “mic skills”. You’ll be listening to these comedians…and about 5 minutes in…you’ll realize…they have not said a curse word once…but you are still laughing like crazy. It’s amazing.

On a side note…the best clean comedian in the country is Jim Gaffigan. HE’S UNREAL! I’ve seen him do 7 minutes on bacon at Largo.

Line-Up:
Matty Ballgame
Patrick Ney
Lana Turner
Bernadette Balagtas
Nick Thune
Jeff Short
Michael Batts
Chris Porter
Josh Wolf

Biggest line-up in Ballgame Laugh Lounge history tonight…but it wasn’t awful. You know why…because all of the comedians were good…they stuck to their time…no one went up too long…and that kept you wanting more. The other thing was important…at no point was Matty saying stuff like, “OK folks…only few more comedian…hang in there.” I hate that shit. If you have to say that…the comedians aren’t good…and you are putting on a bad show…and not helping the cause…which is getting people out to see live comedy. Get with the program folks…this should always be fun…not torture.

Just a highlight review this time (sorry to the comedians in this line-up…I’ll get you back in more detail on another blog) because I’m writing this two weeks after the fact…my bad…I’ll catch up today.

Matty Ballgame is still slinging new jokes every time and the confidence is still rising…I love it. Pat Ney was very good…looking forward to seeing him again. I still can’t get into Lana Turner’s style…it’s not that she has bad jokes…I’m just not into the style…to each his own. I LOVE Bernadette Balagtas…she is just very friendly…clean…funny as hell. Thune did his IM Bit…Salmonerd/Insynchottie…very well done bit…I’ve seen it 3 times now…and he has it dialed…looking for new material from Thune. Jeff Short was the surprise of the night…he crushed it…tons of talent…great jokes…a big time up and comer with Kinno. Michael Batts had a solid set…Porter was stellar…and Josh Wolf was solid. More later on everyone.