The Definitive Guide to Comedy
Showtime offers something new in an old-fashioned way tonight with the premiere of a six-episode summer stand-up showcase called Live Nude Comedy. Shannon Elizabeth hosts, and before you start thinking you'll see her perform stand-up in the nude, well, not quite. Elizabeth (who became famous going nude in American Pie, …
Early this morning, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award nominees, and E Pluribus Unum, everyone, am I right? Out of many, one. There certainly are many nominees in several of the categories, but only one shall win come awards-handing-out-time (clearly, my grammatical skills …
Here's a look at some headlines this early morning, before the Emmy nominations make all of this comedy news seem like old news. Yesterday saw the final episode of the online talker "Break Room Live," as Air America once again shut down Marc Maron and Sam Seder. They'll resurface somewhere, …
Mike Birbiglia's brother, Joe, has been an integral part of his comedy career, both behind-the-scenes as a co-writer and also in the stand-up material as "Joe Bags," the comedian's brother who inevitably adds to the mischief. It's nice to see Joe join Mike in this new video to promote the …
For all of the credit/blame that can go to new media social networking of Twitter and Facebook for mobilizing thousands of Dave Chappelle fans within hours to overwhelm the comedian at a free post-midnight show in downtown Portland, Ore., I find it impressive and informative to note that the best …
I know of at least two planned comedy fundraising shows this weekend for the family of the late comedian Cain Lopez, who died last week from cancer at the age of 30. Funeral arrangements for Lopez will be next Monday-Tuesday in Vacaville, Calif. Richard Villa will host a tribute show …
I had the rare opportunity to spend a few minutes with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross right after their first new sketch show together at the Just For Laughs Chicago comedy festival. It wasn't quite Mr. Show, but it had that same fun, loose vibe, as Bob & David, with …
While comedians Louis CK and Norm MacDonald continue to wait for word on whether their primetime reality/sitcom hybrids get the greenlight from FX, the cable network has gone ahead and ordered six half-hours this fall for Archer, an animated sitcom with Jon Benjamin in the lead role of spy Sterling …
In Matt Braunger's world, his family would more easily believe he were a ninja, a werewolf, even a unicorn hunter "for their candy-like meat" than think he (or anyone really) could earn a living in comedy. Even after his yearlong stint on MADtv. Hopefully, Braunger's new CD, "Soak Up the …
All of the to-do over Sacha Baron Cohen's new Bruno movie left me wondering what the big to-do was supposed to be about. Oh, that's right. Homophobia! Hands were wrung in the mainstream media over whether Bruno's uber-gay character would pose more harm to real gay people than to the …