From what I can gather…it looks like Artie is bringing the great Greg Fitzsimmons and the Rev. Bob Levy with him to do some time at his show on April 5th at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk. It’s going to be a great show.

I asked a few of my favorite L.A.-based comedians a simple question – if you have the night off and feel like going to laugh, who are you going to see? One stipulation…it must be another L.A.-based comedian so that our readers can go see them. Here are the answers I got:

Greg Fitzsimmons – Greg Proops Chat Show at Largo
Tom Segura – Bert Kreischer
Brian Scolaro – Ben Gleib, Bobby Lee, Elon Gold, Ian Edwards
Matty “Ballgame” Balaker – Bert Kreischer
Dana Min Goodman – Sarah Silverman, Tig Notaro, Greg Fitzsimmons
Jason Gillearn – Ian Edwards
Ryan Sickler – Zach Galifiniakis
Chris Franjola – Jason Gillearn, Brody Stevens, Tom Segura
Duncan Trussell – Brian Holtzman
Andrew Norelli – Brent Weinbach
Bob Bledsoe – Zach Galifiniakis

Comedy is very subjective…so you are going to have to get out there and see these guys and gals yourself. But make no mistake about it, comedians are a tough crowd folks. I watch comedians in the back of the room during shows…when the audience is cracking up…they are not laughing. So when they say a comedian is funny, chances are, he/she is bringin’ the goods. Hope you find some new comedians to see from this list – I know I have. A quick search on Myspace or Google will help you find these comedians…or subscribe to our page…we’ll let you know where they are performing in L.A.

Hope some folks got to see HECKLER last night at AFI FEST.  It was really good.  So cool to see comedians in a movie talking about hecklers and critics.  Great insight.  The crowd was great too…Greg Fitzsimmons, Andrew Dice Clay, one of the Sklar Bros., Matty Ballgame…were all in the house.  Very cool living in L.A. and getting to see stuff like this.  I hope people take advantage of our great city and the great comedy we have going on.  By the way…don’t heckle…really…just be keep your yapper shut.

This movie looks incredible! God knows why people think it’s ok to heckle during a stand-up comedy show. A ton of our favorite L.A. comedians are in this one…including Greg Fitzsimmons. Check it out on Sunday at AFI Fest at the ArcLight. Here’s the blurb:

HECKLER is a comedic feature documentary exploring the increasingly critical world we live in. After starring in a film that was critically bashed, Jamie Kennedy takes on hecklers and critics and ask some interesting questions of people such as George Lucas, Bill Maher, Mike Ditka, Rob Zombie and many more. This fast moving, hilarious documentary pulls no punches as you see an uncensored look at just how nasty and mean the fight is between those in the spotlight and those in the dark.
Produced by Jamie Kennedy and Michael Addis
Directed by Michael Addis

Looks like the Fitz-Dog is in the house tonight…for FREE! His joke about sucking dick in the woods is an all timer. Greg Fitzsimmons is one of my favorite comedians ever. He’s an incredible writer. In case you don’t know…4 time Emmy winner, you hear him on Howard Stern all the time, and his son can throw a baseball better than he can…he kills it.

TONIGHT – 8PM
Jennifer’s Coffee Connection
Studio City
4397 Tujunga Ave.
818-769-3622
NO COVER
Parking in the lot or on the street

Line-up:
Taylor Williamson
Taylor Morgan
Kyle Smith
Jason Gillearn
Matt Fulchiron
Greg Fitzsimmons

Matt Ballgame billed this show as the one year anniversary…reality is…this show has been going on for over a year and just keeps building momentum. The audience keeps getting bigger and the comedians keep getting better. Ballgame’s show is a step above everyone else’s. From a audience perspective…you get to see the top headliner’s in the country and the best up and comers in the city. This isn’t a workout room…and Ballgame doesn’t throw up 12 comedians so that the audience just gets bored as shit. Even I don’t like that. For the comedians…you get a highly organized highly professional show. Great environment…great mixed crowd…and a line-up with other great comedians. You go in…you laugh hard for an hour and a half…and you our out. Best comedy show in the city!

This show was packed with frat guys…which threw a few of the comedians…very interesting to watch their reactions.

Taylor Williamson…solid.

Taylor Morgan…first time seeing her. She was good…dirty…I always like dirty and it worked well with this crowd. We talked before the show and she told me she was going to break out that material…so it worked.

Kyle Smith…I like Kyle a lot. His nickname joke is hilarious…Kyle “The Hookerstabber”. Awesome.

Gillearn…always solid. He never gets old to me. He’s not big nationwide…but in L.A. he’s the man.

Matt “The Fullcharge” Fulchiron…not gonna lie…he was off his game. The crowd may have thrown him.

Greg Fitzsimmons…what can you say…he’s a genius. I would love to spend an hour talking comedy with Greg. He’s awesome.

Line-Up:
Beth Lapides
Lauren Weedman
The Sklar Bros.
Greg Fitzsimmons

This was my first time attending Un-Cabaret…although I’ve heard of it and have been meaning to go. And since M Bar is such a great venue and Fitz was in the line-up…we decided to check it out. The format was interesting…although the participation of the host from off stage didn’t work all the time. The show is a part stand-up…part story telling…part performance.

Beth Lapides -
Beth does not appear to be a stand-up comedian by trade. She’s a “performer” from my observation. So from an expectations stand point…I wasn’t really getting her act. Also, as the host of the show…she went on entirely too long and made it about her. Again…I have all the respect in the world for someone who takes the mic…I’ve done it…it’s impossible…but I also know there are roles to play.

Lauren Weedman -
Lauren was fantastic. Lauren just went up and told great stories…and was a riot. Not really in the set-up…punchline format…or even the “new” Dane Cook-style…but more like the Cosby-style. Just a little more spastic. Her tale of her husbands meditations was stellar. The fact that he kept coming out of the meditation to tell her things is priceless (I meditate…so it hit home). I’d love to see a club give her a shot and see how it goes over with the crowd…I think the right audience would dig her.

The Sklar Bros. -
This was my first time seeing the famous Sklar Bros. Tons of hype around these guys and they were fresh off their appearance on Entourage. I dug their style…the back and forth chemistry was really cool. I mean…I think Jimmy and Joey are funny…but their act is clearly written. The Sklars seem to just flow…they may have material…they may not…but it’s all good.

Greg Fitzsimmons -
I’ve written about Fitz a million times here…he is one of my favorites. He is a comedian’s comedian. A great joke writer. The great thing about Fitz’s last few shows is that he’s doing all new material. I love watching the process. Although…I have to say…he doesn’t seem to be fully committing to the new jokes at times. He’ll cut them off in the middle. But you know what…he’s the professional…I’m the blogger…what the fuck do I know.