Neil Campbell is the Artistic Director at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. I spoke with him a few weeks ago about what his duties are all about and how he decides which shows get to go up and which shows don’t. After visiting UCB last night for another stellar Ronna and Beverly show, I thought I would put up Neil’s interview instead of doing the same old review of the show. Because what can you say about Ronna and Beverly except that they are unreal. Hope you enjoy.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY (RIGHT CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

P.S. I am having some issues with the iTunes feed. Feel free to download the episode directly from the link above in the mean time to listen on your iPod or other MP3 player.

My experience tells me laughing leads to doing the dirty, dirty (what…I’m just sayin’)…and since it’s Valentine’s Day Weekend, everyone should be happy that there is some really good comedy going on in L.A. Here’s the quick and…..dirty.

Friday – 2/13
Lachlan Patterson/Hollywood Improv/8pm/Free (promo code: JOKE).
He’s hilarious. And Canadian…so that’s cool.

The Stag Show/Hollywood Improv/12am/Free (promo code: HAHA)
DAVE ATTELL in the HOUSE!!!!

Saturday – 2/14
Comedy is for Lovers/UCB Theater/10pm/$8
Sketches, songs, stories from some comedy duos and couples. Natasha Leggero and Duncan Trussell will be there. If your chick isn’t hot, you can check out Natasha. She’s pretty hot. She may cut your balls off though (and by “She” I mean your girlfriend and Natasha).

Sunday – 2/15
Alonzo Bodden/Ice House – Pasadena/7pm and 9pm/$15
He’s hilarious. And black…so that’s cool.

Los Angeles has a ton of live comedy going on every night of the week. Some good, some not so good. To the best of my ability, I will make recommendations at the beginning of the week, so you can go laugh.

Monday – 1/19
What’s Up Tiger Lily / Cuba Libre Bar / 8pm / Free
I haven’t been to this show, but I can say with confidence that any time you get Maria Bamford, Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe on 24), Tom Papa, Chris Hardwick, and some other good comedians into one show…you should go.

Tuesday – 1/20
Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge / Red Rock Bar and Eatery / 8:30pm / Free
It’s my favorite room in the city. This week Matty Ballgame puts up Ari Shaffir, Paul Ogata, Duncan Trussell, and Raj Desai among others.

Wednesday – 1/21
Comedy Juice/Melrose Improv/10pm/$7 (email guestlist@comedyjuice.com)
Always a killer line-up. This week features Bobby Lee from MADtv, Shang, and Last Comic Standing winner Iliza Sheslinger. Big timers pop into this show all the time.

Thursday – 1/22
Word Girl Live Reading / UCB LA / 8pm / $5
A live reading of this animated series that appears on PBS. WordGirl features the voices of Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, Jeffrey Tambor, and other comedic actors. Should be very cool.

Friday – 1/23
Comedy Meltdown / Meltdown Comics / 8pm / $8 (Free Asahi Beer and TeaZazz)
Linda Pine puts on a great show in the back of Meltdown Comics. This line-up includes the always sassy and pretty smokin’ Natasha Leggero. Comedy Meltdown used to be free…but now it’s $8. Blame the economy. A well run show regardless.

I’ll give you weekend recommendations later in the week.

Reading Live Comedy L.A. will give a good idea of who the top up and coming stand-up comedians are in Los Angeles.  Improv and sketch are a different story though because I have not gone to as many shows.  I’m trying to change that in ’09.  Hoping that all forms of comedy and all comedic performers get equal time here at LCLA.

For the second time this year, I saw improv/sketch duo Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin perform as Ronna and Beverly at UCB LA this past Thursday night.  It’s clear that I am behind on this train of success because Jenji Kohan (who was in the audience), creator of Weeds, is already writing a series for them for Showtime.

Clearly Hollywood knows about these two and so do many others (the show was absolutely packed…and at $5 why shouldn’t it be)…but if you don’t, you need to see them.  Their characters are so developed and so convincing…that you think they are actually two middle-aged Jewish women from Boston.  They have blurred the line between acting and reality right infront of you.  It looks effortless.

Thursday’s show featured guests Ed Helms and Mindy Kaling from The Office.  Both were great sports as Ronna and Beverly poked at them about dating and relationships.

Writing about how good they are does not do these two justice.  So keep an eye out for their shows at UCB and definitely check out their videos at UCBComedy.com.

Show Count: 4.  Total Ticket Cost: $13.  Total Min. Drink Cost: $12

The ’09 Comedy Season opened a little earlier than expected. On my way to see Morgan Murphy and Jen Kirkman at UCB last night, I discovered two comedic performers that I will most certainly go see again. Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo in character as Ronna Glickman and Beverly Kahn, co-authors of You’ll Do a Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Re-marriage for Jewish Singles. If you’re Jewish, if you know someone Jewish, if you’ve heard of a Jew…you’ll love them. They are very convincing in their roles as two older Jewish women (it’s odd because they’re both kinda hot younger girls). They have tons of clips on UCBComedy.com, including the one below.

Their next show is on Thursday, January 15th. It’s called Ronna and Beverly’s All Jew Review. Make a reservation here. It’s only $5.

The Upright Citizens Brigade is a great place to go laugh in L.A. They offer great stand-up, improv, and sketch and the most expensive show they have is $8. Perfect for that newly created ’09 entertainment budget (try to stick to it at least till February folks. Then blow it all on Valentines Day on that guy or girl you just met…that’s always smart).

Check out UCBComedy.com for a glimpse at videos of the shows and the talent going through there on a nightly basis. It’s a terrific site. I would hope to see some of this content on Hulu sometime soon. The complete show schedule can be found at UCBTheater.com.

I like this set from Natasha Leggero.

Tuesday is always a big night for live comedy in Los Angeles. Tonight is no different – Dane Cook, Judd Apatow, Sarah Silver, and many more on the card.

Laugh Factory – Jay Davis Comedy:
Jay is friends with all the best comedians in the city and they all do his Tuesday night show at the Laugh Factory…including Dane Cook (who will probably be there tonight).

Info:
10pm @ Laugh Factory
E-mail Jay @ his Myspace for half of the tickets (which means $10). Get there early!!!

Upright Citizens Brigade:
UCB has two unbelievable shows tonight – Comedy Death Ray with Sarah Silverman and Marc Maron and See You Next Tuesday with Judd Apatow (yeah…that Judd Apatow).

Info:
Comedy Death Ray @ 8:30pm
$5

See You Next Tuesday @10:30
FREE

Red Rock – Ballgame’s Laugh Lounge:
I venture to say that tonight’s line-up just might be the best in Laugh Lounge history. Colona, Franjola, Pazsitzky, Segura all in one line-up? Really? For Free? Really?

Info:

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

The Upright Citizens Brigade gets it. They get web 2.0…they get that you have to embrace and engage the very talent that makes your establishment function…they get that quality must be maintained at all times…they just get it. All of this is no more evident than with the launch of their recent website UCB Comedy. The website contains a well organized collection of exclusive video content featuring performances from the UCB Theater and shorts/series produced by UCB members and contributors. It’s fantastic! You can’t find these videos anywhere else on the web…and it actually makes you want to go to the UCB Theater and see them do their shows live. Of course I’d like to see a few more stand-up comedy videos…but one step at a time. Definitely check it out when you get a chance. Also check out a show at the UCB Theater. It’s just over in Los Feliz. The stand-up is excellent. PERFECT for a date…restaurants are right there…and the shows are very reasonable. Trust me fellas…do this…comedy is the way to go when whooing the ladies.