My podcasting career is up to a whopping 7 interviews now. I have really enjoyed each one of them and appreciate the time the comedians have given me. On Tuesday, 5 of the 7 people who I have interviewed were at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge…either performing or playing DJ (Matty Ballgame…yeah…he’s a hedge fund manager, a comedian, and a DJ). And I think the lesson for the night was pretty clear…I have talked with some damn funny people.

Ritchie Angeles was a special guest host for the evening. He just has a special way of bringing the excitement of a sports announcer to the comedy show. Gives you those little goosebumps you get at a ballgame.

Rebecca Michael did all new material for the crowd…and I thought she was great. I felt it was time for Rebecca to push herself past her old material and take the next step…and she shined. As a newer comedian, this is a difficult but necessary step. Can’t wait to see her continue the development of her new jokes.

Chris Franjola from Chelsea Lately closed the show with a stellar set of crowd work. Essentially, he went up on stage not really wanting to do material – this is actually when Franjola is at his best. He’s relaxed and off the cuff. Luckily he hit comedy gold…a group of 4 girls in their early 20′s sitting in row two…and a dude with a puffy vest jacket in row one. It doesn’t get much better than that people. He went back and forth with these folks…and it killed.

I normally don’t like to categorize comedians…male, female, black, Asian…because funny is funny. Who cares? But people do it all the time. So I want to make this very easy to read for everyone. Christina Pazsitzky cemented herself as the best female comedian in the city. The mark of a great comedian is continual development of great material. It’s about writing. I’ve seen CP (or Pezz if you’re nasty) perform almost 10 times. She continues to make me laugh over and over again with great, new material. She’s dirty, she’s cute, and I’m pretty sure she’s smarter than most of us. She told a joke about her husband’s obsessive grabbing of his crotch that had me screaming. Get off your ass and go see her…she’s in town for the summer.

Finally a big shout out to Patrick Keane. He’s hilarious. He tells a joke about Kane and Abel that is one of the best jokes I’ve heard. Definitely check him out when you get a chance.

“Sorry…I like to party…” – if you were at the show…you know what that means. Actually…I was there and still don’t know what it means…but Franjola had a field day with it. Thanks to the ladies in row 2.

I talked with Rebecca Michael tonight about her upcoming internet show on thestream.tv called “Commercial Break” as well as her take on making the switch from improv/sketch to stand-up.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY (RIGHT CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

The Live Comedy L.A. podcast is actually shaping into something.  People are listening to this thing…and have actually downloaded it.  That’s ridiculous.  And now there’s a schedule of upcoming podcasts.  I know…crazy.

Sunday – 4/12
Rebecca Michael (maybe Chris Franjola if he would respond to my text)
Rebecca is hosting an upcoming showing on thestream.tv called “Commercial Break”. She’s a hot chick. She does comedy. There’s a lot to talk about with her.

Sunday – 4/19
Ryan Sickler
Ryan is one of the top comedians in the city. He’s a man’s man. Grew up on the tough streets of Baltimore. And his girlfriend Dana Min Goodman is the dirtiest comedian I know. Should be fun.

Sunday – 4/26
Kerri Pomarolli
Kerri is a nationally recognized, touring comedian. She’s hilarious and 100% clean. We’ll talk about what it’s like to be married to another comedian, how her belief in God affects her comedy, and her upcoming trip to Africa.

Sunday – 5/3
Scot Richardson
Scot is the super-producer of the Comedy Juice shows around town. He’ll be fresh off a trip from Japan…so we’ll talk geisha girls, his future plans for comedy, and how he is able to do this stuff full time.

Obviously, this is all subject to change…but I’m excited about it. I have some asks out to some other people I think you will enjoy hearing from also. As always, we’ll keep it low key and no bull shit.

If you have any questions for anyone, e-mail me at info@livecomedyla.com or get me on Twitter.

Lauri Roggankamp is quickly becoming one of my favorite comedians to see in Los Angeles and she simply crushed Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock on Tuesday night. She has two qualities that I think are going to take her a long way in comedy – she has developed her own unique voice and she knows no boundaries (not too mention a little thing called great material). I love her…I really do.

There were four, totally obnoxious drunk chicks in the front row that most of the comedians were having a difficult time handling…Lauri was such a pro in how she dealt with them…she called them out like the whores that they were. STELLAR!!! If you read this blog…trust me…go see Lauri. Her jokes about Mexicans on the room, her body, and eating will put you the floor.

Lachlan Patterson is also fantastic. He’s quick and his rhythm is spot on. I’d love to see long set from him. I’ve seen three short sets…I feel like I could watch him do his thing for a while and not get bored at all.

Brand Vestal, Jonny Loquasto, Jamie Kaler, and host Rebecca Michael (filling in admirably for Matty Ballgame Balaker) all did a nice job. And I’d like to give special notice to Adam Hammer. Adam did a bunch of dirty material that I think he was just trying out…and that takes a lot of guts. It was a little forced…but you have to do it. Nice work.

Former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2-time NBA Champion Houston Rockets, and University of Michigan alum Rudy Tomjanovich was in the house last night for a stellar line-up for Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock. Other notables in the crowd included Brad Stewart from No Name Comics and my girlfriend ; ).

Alonzo Bodden is always incredible to watch at the Laugh Lounge because of how informal and intimate the setting is. He seems very comfortable with the audience. It’s the ultimate in live comedy. I’d love to see an All-Star Show at the Laugh Lounge…maybe for my birthday show (hint…hint). The rest of the line-up was great. I loved watching Keith Healy. He has improved so much…terrific to watch. Jen Murphy was dirtier than ever…and I loved it. Rebecca Michael nailed it. Patrick Keane…as Alonzo Bodden said…is an incredible joke writer. And Laura Hayden was awesome in her white jeans on the 28th day.

The crowd continues to grow…and I hope L.A. keeps supporting live comedy. See you around town…go laugh.

Buy Alonzo Bodden’s new CD – “The Bootleg”

Matty “Ballgame” Balaker has solidified himself as one of the premier promoters of stand-up comedy in our city. Tonight’s show at Red Rock was off the charts. Ballgame consistently brings in the best newcomers like Rebecca Michael…the top featuring comedians like Iliza Sheslinger and Jeff Short…and top headliners like Tom Segura and Brian Scolaro. If you have not been to this show yet…you really are missing out on a great Tuesday night of laughs in the middle of the week. I have a regular job…I need to laugh…this show helps me de-stress…it’s awesome. Did I mention it’s free. Imagine that…you get to laugh for free. Oh…and there was a black midget in the house. Yep…heaven.

Quick Line-Up Run: Matty “Ballgame” Balaker, Joe Braza, Rebecca Michael, Tony Moser, Eliza Shlesinger, Jeff Short, Tom Segura, Brian Scolaro

I loved Joe Braza’s first person references…hilarious. Great to see Rebecca Michael do her thing. I went to her show at IO West on Sunday (which is great btw)…and to be doing stand-up for only a year…she is great. This isn’t easy folks…I’ve done it. There is nothing more difficult. Eliza Shlesinger did her 6 minute set for the Montreal Showcase. It was so polished. I watched Iliza for about a year now…and this 6 minute set was so dialed. I love when she does the joke about coming out of the water looking like a rat…awesome. Jeff Short brought some great new material…”gay guys never lose a staring contest”…LOL! And what can you say about Tom Segura and Brian Scolaro…I have written about them countless times…and they are two of the best comedians we have. I just saw Scolaro on Sunday…and I laughed just as hard at the “Sneezing” joke today as I did Sunday.

More updates this week on some good weekend shows coming up…

Stand-up comedy maven, Rebecca Michael, launches her Masters of Comedy Show this Sunday – March 2nd at Improv Olympic. Rebecca has only been doing comedy for a year but her dedication to the craft is paying dividends as she also makes an appearance at the Punchline in S.F. this weekend (Watch out Matty Ballgame!). I will definitely be the house tomorrow for her first comedy promotion. Rebecca was able to pull Live Comedy L.A. favorite Brian Scolaro as the headliner. Scolaro has the funniest joke I’ve ever seen. He does a sneezing routine that is off the charts and never…EVER…gets old. I scream like a little girl when I hear it. $5 at the door…gotta love that.