Per usual, I’ll be at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge at Red Rock. The line-up is particularly good though. Chris Franjola, Tom Segura, and Dana Min Goodman…three of my favorites and three of the best in Los Angeles…will be in the house. I’ll be in the back having a Coke. Say hi.

Red Rock Bar and Eater
Sunset Blvd.
8:30PM
Upstairs Lounge
FREE

Anyone want to be in the new Judd Apatow stand-up comedy film starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan? Apparently, they are looking for paid extras according to this e-mail that I got from the Improv earlier today (they were able to get the HTML right for this one).

PAID EXTRAS NEEDED FOR MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

FUNNY PEOPLE

Directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin), starring Adam Sandler,
Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman, to name a few.
This major motion picture by Universal is taken place in the world of standup comedy.
We are looking for real Improv/comedy club Go-ers who like to laugh,
to come join us by working as Extras on our film in Los Angeles, CA.

***PAID EXTRAS ages 21 and older are needed to work on the film “FUNNY PEOPLE”.
This film is being made from October 2008 through January 2009.
If you are interested in possibly working as a paid Extra in our film,
please mail your submission as soon as possible.

MAKE SURE TO SEND THE FOLLOWING: a current photo (snapshot or Polaroid is fine)
of yourself dressed and made up (hair and make up done for the ladies) in clothing you think appropriate to wear when you go to the Improv for a night out.
Make sure the photo shows your clothing as well as your face.
Also make sure your submission includes your Name, Email, Phone, HT., WT., Sizes, Car Info.
(if you have one and are willing to use your car in the movie)
– Make, Model, Color & Year. And, if you are in SAG (Screen Actors Guild), please let us know.

EMAIL:
WENDY WASHBROOK – wendy.central@gmail.com
RE: “FUNNY PEOPLE”

OR

MAIL TO:
WENDY WASHBROOK / CENTRAL CASTING
“FUNNY PEOPLE”
c/o Central Casting
220 South Flower Street
Burbank, CA 91502
____________________________________________________________________________

NOTE: NO PHONE CALLS. PHOTOS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
PLEASE BE PATIENT. WE WILL BE CONTACTING YOU VERY SOON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST IN “FUNNY PEOPLE”.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
Wendy Washbrook, Extras Casting

We’re celebrating live comedy, Live Comedy L.A., and yes…my 30th birthday this Saturday at Red Rock with a show that will blow you away.  The line-up is awesome. If you want to laugh, please come down and enjoy the celebration with me.  The show is FREE.  Yeah…FREE COMEDY.  I swear to you…this line-up rivals any of the line-ups you will see at a major club this weekend.  Hope to see you there.

Sebastian Maniscalco has been performing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles for years. He’s the classic story of a waiter in Los Angeles trying to make it big by coming up through the ranks of stand-up. Even leaving in the middle of shifts to go do sets and then heading back to work.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him perform live at the Comedy Store, where he is a regular, on one occasion. He’s absolutely hilarious. His big break recently came with the theatrical release of Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show, where he starred along side fellow Los Angeles comedians Bret Ernst, John Caparulo, and Ahmed Ahmed. Sebastian is doing stand-up full time now and touring the country. His schedule looks pretty packed on his Myspace page but you can definitely catch him at the Hermosa Comedy and Magic Club in September. I also think you can probably catch him at the Comedy Store between road gigs…just call ahead.

In the mean time, Sebastian’s “Comedy Central Presents” special re-airs on the 4th of July at 6:30pm, so set your DVR’s. In the meantime, here is something to wet your appetite:

Go watch a live taping of the BET stand-up comedy show for free. This should be fun.

Shang is coming to Los Angeles this week for a four day stretch of stand-up comedy shows that I highly recommend seeing.  If you have not seen Shang live – his comedy is a great time.  I saw him for the first time at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge in March and he killed.

I’m most impressed with Shang’s ability to build his own personal brand – much like Dane Cook, Joe Rogan, and Jim Gaffigan have done. He’s a promoter. He could just wait around and hope that TV deals and movie deals hit him…but instead he’s out hustling. The video below is just one example:

I highly recommend checking out Shang at one of these shows this week:

Thursday, June 26, 2008
9:30
THE M BAR

Friday, June 27, 2008
9:00P
THE DOWNTOWN COMEDY CLUB

Saturday, June 28, 2008
7:30P
HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO-W/JON B

Sunday, June 29, 2008
8:00P
SPOKEN FUNK AT THE M BAR

A packed house at Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge last night saw one of the best line-ups in the show’s history. Chris Franjola, Christina Pazsitzky, Tom Segura, and Sarah Colona are 4 of the best stand-up comedians in the city and probably the country – and we got to see all of them in one show. It’s a really a tribute to the great job that Matty “Ballgame” Balaker has done. I would also like to give a shout out to the management at Red Rock for giving the show such great support. Prior management was not as supportive, but the new guys have really worked hard to help Matt. They understand what a great asset comedy can be to the establishment.

A few highlights:
- Christina Pazsitzky’s performance last night proves that the judges on Last Comic Standing do not choose the funniest people. I find it impossible…and I mean impossible…to believe that there are even 10 people in any city funnier than her. America got to see maybe :30-seconds of her act. Not fair. She’s unreal. She has reached a point in her comedy career that being on stage is second nature. She doesn’t have to think. Choosing to pursue stand-up comedy full time was a great decision. Please…for the love of holy hell…go see her live.

- Tom Segura did 20 minutes of new material that I have never heard before and it was incredible. I have seen Tom about 7 or 8 times. To do that much material…and for me to never have seen it…means he’s a great writer.

- When Sarah Colona performs…I feel like I’m getting a raw look into her life…and it’s so amazing. She is why stand-up comedy is so cool. When she jokes about her age and the number of men she slept with and her “roofy girlfriend”…it’s real…and it’s hilarious.

- Chris Franjola did the impossible last night…he dealt with a ridiculous heckler…and still pulled off a terrific set. I love Franjola. He’s a pro. Plus…he mentions my website on stage. He said, “Live Comedy L.A…what the fuck is that”? Genius…if you ask me.

- Chris Millhouse and Jessica Glassberg also performed. I think both had great stage presence. Especially Chris…he was very cool up on stage. With some material development…he’ll be solid.

Great time again at the Laugh Lounge.

HEY…make sure to check out Sarah Colona on Chelsea Lately on E! on Thursday night. Tivo that action so you know who I’m talking about.

Chris Franjola will make another appearance on the E! Channel’s Chelsea Lately starring Chelsea Handler. Franjola performs stand-up comedy in L.A. regularly. He’s hilarious – we’ve written about him almost as much as we’ve written about Ryan Sickler (stop your man crush jokes ASAP).

If I had to name a “Top 5 to 7 Stand-Up Comedians Who Have the Potential To Make It on a Sitcom”…Franjola is right there. So if for some reason that burger from your Memorial Day BBQ isn’t sitting right…or you just don’t feel like watching Leno or Letterman and want to check out some L.A. Comedians on T.V….and you’re up…check out Franjola.

Day: Monday, May 26, 2008
Show Time: 11:30pm on E!

John Caparulo just hit big screens nationwide in Vince’s Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show…and now is a great chance to see him perform LIVE stand-up comedy in Los Angeles…for FREE. Jump on the Improv Website and use the PROMO CODE: FUN to get 4 FREE tickets to a show this weekend that he is headlining. Here are your options:

Friday, February 29 @ 8pm
Saturday, March 1 @ 8 or 10pm

He is terrific in the movie…but you will truly appreciate is rapid fire humor in person without the editing. John has a great story btw…

John grew up in the Ohio Valley, but it wasn’t long before his dreams would take him out west. After he graduated from Kent State University he headed to Hollywood. Upon his arrival in the big city, John got a job as a doorman at the world-famous Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. It was there that he honed his skills amongst some of the most prolific comics in the business, such as Eddie Griffin, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Dice Clay. All the hard work started to pay off as the Hollywood industry began to take notice. John was signed by top-level representation. He then made his national television debut on “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” and gave a memorable performance. Appearances soon followed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and The Game Show Network’s “Funny Money.” In 2003 John performed at the “Just For Laughs” comedy festival in Montreal and received an overwhelming response from industry attendees.

If you were thinking about heading to a movie Friday or Saturday night, skip it…do you really need to spend $15/ticket at the ArcLight or the Grove on “Jumper” when you have those loans to payoff.

There are several great stand-up comedy concerts coming to Los Angeles in the next few months. These are comedians you will rarely see in the clubs so it might be worth going to see the show if you are a fan. I already have my tickets for Chris Rock and Artie Lange in April.

MARCH

Larry the Cable Guy
NOKIA Theatre LA LIVE , Los Angeles, CA
Sat, Mar 1, 2008 08:15 PM
Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster

April

Artie Lange
Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk , Universal City, CA
Sat, Apr 5, 2008 08:15 PM
Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster

Chris Rock: No Apologies
Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk , Universal City, CA
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 08:15 PM – Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster
Thur, Apr 24, 2008 08:15 PM – Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster
Fri, April 25, 2008 08:15 PM – Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster

May

Lisa Lampanelli
Grove of Anaheim , Anaheim, CA
Fri, May 9, 2008 08:00 PM
Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster

June

Steve Harvey
Kodak Theatre , Hollywood, CA
Fri, Jun 6, 2008 08:00 PM – Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster
Sat, Jun 7, 2008 08:00 PM – Tickets Available Here at Ticketmaster