The Definitive Guide to Comedy
Whether you call it the "alternative" comedy scene or the "downtown" comedy scene, and either of those labels doesn’t quite fit when describing the particular crop of New York performers who tend to eschew the traditional comedy clubs — and even that tag doesn’t apply to those stand-ups who perform …
As a journalist, reaching the final page of the notebook always prompts mixed emotions. First, excitement at the prospect of starting anew with a clean, fresh pad of paper. Then, a touch of sadness, because you’ve held this pad literally close to the vest for months, and inside it are …
Before we move on to other issues in comedy, let’s reflect one more time on Monday night’s ECNY Awards celebrating the New York comedy scene. If you think the cinematography in Cloverfield was shaky, check out this short video I shot moments before the ceremony began at a front-row table …
Have you seen the new New York Lottery ads for Take 5, featuring the talking head of who appears to be Brett Gelman on a teeny tiny body? Now that’s cracked out! The 30-second TV spot is one thing, but here is a link to the lottery campaign, A Little …
Over the years, I’ve witnessed some of the uglier facets of comedy contests as both a participant and as a judge. Last night, however, I saw the sunnier side at the ECNY Awards (please don’t call them the Emerging Comics of New York anymore) ceremony at Comix in New York …
Get ready, because Tuesday marks the official start of season six of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and Bill Bellamy returns to host. Here are the audition cities and dates: Tuesday, Jan. 29: Los Angeles, Hollywood Improv, with "talent scouts" Angela Kinsey and Oscar Nunez from The Office Feb. 7: New …
More than a few people today have arrived here looking for information on Robby Roadsteamer. Perhaps that’s because he has a Monday night acoustic residency at the All Asia in Cambridge, Mass., which I learned from reading my friend Nick Zaino’s recent interview with the musician/comedian in the Boston Globe. …
Nick DiPaolo went on the Opie & Anthony show this morning to promote his new Internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio. I caught the last 10 minutes or so. An interesting return to the airwaves for DiPaolo, who had a so-called "terrestrial" radio program based in NYC on 92.3 FM in …
Here is Eugene Mirman’s new Scientology video for 23/6, just in case you thought the Tom Cruise video that circulated everywhere last week didn’t go far enough to explain his cult of personality religion. Mirman’s half-hour Comedy Central Presents, by the way, debuts this Friday, Feb. 1. And here is …
If you haven’t already forgotten, the WGA strike continues without a resolution. So count this as a reminder that the late-night chat shows are all on the air. David Letterman and Craig Ferguson remain the only WGA-approved shows. Comedians on the lineup for Letterman this week? Bill Cosby on Tuesday, …