The Definitive Guide to Comedy
A year ago, I had the privilege of visiting the set of the upcoming movie, Due Date, starring Zach Galifianakis and Robert Downey Jr. I watched as director Todd Phillips shot the "meet-cute" scene early in the film — with the airport in Ontario, Calif., subbing for the airport in …
It's the 70th anniversary of OXI Day, the day when the Greeks rejected an ultimatum from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on Oct. 28, 1940. I know this thanks, in part, to Mr. Panos. Who is Mr. Panos? Roll the clip! Mr. Panos, in fact, is the brainchild of New …
On the hottest day Los Angeles had ever known, Dane Cook would not be bothered with a restaurant menu. Sitting down for dinner last month in an Italian cafe on the Sunset Strip, Cook told the waiter he'd like to have a "chicken situation," which, not to be confused with …
Nick Swardson debuts the first of his seven-episode sketch series, Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, tonight on Comedy Central. Well, actually, Swardson also showed off the premiere episode over the weekend to a few hundred eager fans at New York Comic-Con. On his birthday. Among the other things learned about Swardson, …
Judah Friedlander is more than just the World Champion and a writer as seen on NBC's 30 Rock. He's also an accomplished author. Friedlander was at New York Comic-Con last weekend to promote his new book, "How to Beat Up Anybody." Here's what he had to tell me from the …
New York City audiences have not seen much of Tom McCaffrey's stand-up in the past year, but they have seen quite a bit of him rapping, either in live shows or online in music videos. That's because McCaffrey decided to produce his own rap album. "Get Rich or Move Back …
How many comedy clubs can you count that were open for business on Sept. 23, 1960, and remain in business putting stand-up comedians onstage today? Not many. But in Pasadena, Calif., in the shadow of the Rose Bowl, the Ice House celebrates its 50th anniversary tonight. Actually, the anniversary bash …
I first saw Mike Bridenstine before I met him officially — we were both in Las Vegas for the HBO/TBS comedy festival in 2008, waiting to interview Kids in the Hall; me for this here online operation; him as a special correspondent for Comedy.com. I met him last year when …
Bill Burr's latest stand-up comedy special, Bill Burr: Let It Go, debuts tonight on Comedy Central. Burr lives in Los Angeles these days, but for the past few days, he was back in New York City and took a few minutes to chat with me on the sidewalk outside of …
If Comedy Central passes on the pilot of Tonight's Funniest, it won't be for a lack of jokes. I attended a taping of it last week in Harlem (in the same studios where CC taped the first season of Important Things with Demetri Martin, btw). It's a faux game show. …