Live Comedy L.A.

Comedy Death Ray is the most well-known show of the L.A. alternative comedy scene (by the way…I don’t have any idea what the hell that means…alternative comedy). Comedy is comedy if you ask me…as long as it makes you and I laugh…I don’t really give a fat fanny what they call it. Good news is…this is a killer line-up.

Greg Behrendt
Todd Glass
Sklar Brothers
Tig Notaro
Jimmy Dore
hosted by Paul Rust

8:30pm
January 22nd (TONIGHT!)
Upright Citizens Brigade

Not to be out done…Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge is sporting a stellar line-up as well…for FREE! I’ll be there.

8:30pm
January 22nd (TONIGHT)
Red Rock Bar and Eatery on Sunset

Highlights (and a couple of lowlights) from the last couple of shows I’ve seen at the Improv:

I saw Dave Attell a few weeks ago. Just an amazing comedian…like we all know. He successfully pulled of a Virginia Tech joke like only Dave can. Big shout out to Dee for setting me up at this show. Also want to note that Gillearn had a great set. But Dov Davidoff clearly came on stage RIPPED. Dov has an odd style…but it really screwed up his set. In general, I have been seeing a lot comedians coming to the stage high or drunk. It needs to stop. These guys are unable to perform this way. They may think it makes them better…but it screws them up…from Sarah Silverman to Dov Davidov…it just doesn’t work.

Saw the Sklar Bros. last week headline at the Improv…so impressive. The chemistry they have on stage is amazing. The Jew stuff is hilarious! Also, Orny Adams was excellent. However, an abrassive comedian from Pittsburgh needed some help (can’t recall his name…if the Improv did a line-up card…maybe I would…hint…hint!). His material was decent…but he didn’t know how to handle the crowd…and he kept walking away from the mic.

I need to call out Sadihki Fuller again…he’s a terrible and inconsiderate host. He continues to mess up other comedians names…which is shit! It’s SHIT! If you’re going to be the host…get it right…or go home. I don’t think he deserves to host there anymore. That’s the first time I’ve ever spoken those words about a comedian…but it’s a joke (no pun intended).

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.