Live Comedy L.A.

Variety Magazine came out with a list of “Top 10 Comics to Watch”. No disrespect to Variety or the 10 comedians they chose, but I have a different definition of “watch”. Their definition is “to keep an eye on in the media and movies”. My definition is “to go see in a club and laugh your ass off”. To each his own. I happen to think my list can and will accomplish both feats. But what do I know.

So here is the “10 Really Good Comedians that You Should Go Watch in a Club to Laugh Your Ass Off” list.

1. Ryan Sickler
2. Dana Min Goodman
3. Tom Segura
4. Christina Pazsitzky
5. Jason Gillearn
6. Chris Franjola
7. Steve Flye
8. Andrew Norelli
9. Sam Tripoli
10.The Unknown Comedian

Starting on Monday, we will spotlight each of these comedians. I guarantee…if you go see any of these comedians live…it’ll be a good night.

Quick recap on Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock from Tuesday night.

First, it was great to see Brad Stewart from No Name Comics do his first at Ballgame’s. He said the room lived up to the pub I give it on the site, which is good to hear. Brad was very smooth. I plan on hitting up his show at Room 5 this Sunday.

I have to say that the sets of the night go to Jason Gillearn and Patrick Ney. They were both hilarious. Gillearn is so relaxed on stage. The audience just hangs on each word. He’s a top 5 comedian in the city.  Very underrated in the public.  Comedians know how good he is.  I think Ney has honed his act very well. These are definitely two comedians I recommend going to see.

Next Laugh Lounge on July 15 has a killer line-up that includes Shang and Ari Shaffir.

Also, thanks to Matty “Ballgame” for the website mentions at the 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.

Really big crowd last night for a solid line-up at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge. First time Red Rock performers Ari Shaffir (you may know him from Joe Rogan’s crew) and Todd Womack (Video) crushed it. Ari is mostly associated with Joe Rogan so it was cool seeing him away from that crew because he absolutely has the talent to stand alone. Don’t get me wrong…it kicks ass for him to have a partner like Rogan…along with Joey Diaz…they have a killer show that everyone should see. Ari’s stage presence and writing are awesome. Todd Womack was a great suprise because I had not see him perform previously. I love seeing new, awesome comedians. I think Todd performs at UCB a lot…so I’m definitely going to check him out there. Hit up his videos when you have a chance.

The rest of the line-up was solid:
Matt Balaker: ProfileShot
Sari Karplus: ProfileShot
Dave Hanson: ProfileShot
Jason Gillearn: ProfileShot
Nick Thune: ProfileShot - VideoShot

A word on Thune. I thought he mailed in this performance and is capable of much better. I really haven’t seen new material from Thune in about 2+ years and didn’t really appreciate the fact that he wasn’t giving a full effort. You bring 100% every time…or stay home. Bone Hampton brings 100% every time…Jason Gillearn brings 100% every time…Joe Rogan brings 100% every time. Thune brought about 50% and his attitude showed. Having a bad set is one thing…mailing in a performance is another.

Go see these comedians this weekend. Trust me. Juuuust trust me. Good deals to see some of the best…

Ryan Sickler - Ontario Improv: 10/19 (8pm, 10pm), 10/20 (7pm, 9pm, 11pm), 10/21 (7pm). Pretty sure you can still give them the myspace promo-code LAUGH and get into the Friday and Sunday shows free. He’s the guy. He had instant classics with Dash of Downs and CAIDS. I request these jokes…that’s how good they are. I repeat…I request these jokes.

Suli McCullough - Laugh Factory: 10/19 (8pm). Suli’s slow, deliberate, friendly style is great. It’s “Crazy Legs” people!

Sebastian Maniscalco - Hermosa Beach Comedy and Magic Club: 10/19&20 (8pm). Sebastian has definitely launched his career to the next level. His material on cell phones, coffee, and basically how Americans have become a bunch of pussies is terrific.

Jason Gillearn - O’Brien’s (Main St. in Santa Monica): 10/20 (9pm). Pretty sure it’s free. Gillearn is a dirty bastard and is one of the most consistently funny comedians in Los Angeles. He’s not known nationally (although has appearances on Kimmel and the like)…he’s truly one of the best in the biz. The guy teaches juvenile offender kids…that’s endless material.

Andrew Norelli - Room 5 (143 N. La Brea): 10/21 (7pm). Maybe a small cover ($5-$10). Norelli is worth the price of admission…whatever the cost. He’s a big timer…no joke…see him while it’s cheap. His jokes are untouchable…he’s as good as Tosh.

Iliza Shlesinger - Hollywood Improv: 10/20 (8pm). Iliza is one of the top up and coming comedians out there in my opinion. She is very polished. I’ve said it before…she has the “I don’t give a fuck attitude” that you have to have. Watch her when a joke doesn’t work…she just powers through…one of the best in the biz at it. And it happens to EVERYONE!

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.