The Definitive Guide to Comedy
In this era of Peak TV/Too Much TV, how will the Emmys appropriately recognize the most deserving shows? We’re starting to find out today with the release of the 68th Emmy Awards nominees. I’m personally excited the Emmys finally got wise to FX’s The Americans, even if it is a …
Many thoughts about the forthcoming Comedy Central miniseries at the end of this month, but for now, just a few initial musings about plans for Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle, filming and airing over four straight nights at Just For Laughs in Montreal, culminating with a live finale. Billed last …
What a master class of a TV stand-up set here, by my friend, Mr. Gary Gulman, on Wednesday’s Conan. Gulman takes the ridiculous notion of a Netflix documentary on the official U.S. Postal Service decision to create two-letter state abbreviations — which isn’t a thing, although it couldn’t dare compare …
Julia Scotti joked about how she’s still in stand-up comedy at 63 because she needs the burial money, but America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel made sure to ask her if she also jokes about “the thing.” That she’s transgendered. The audience loved her, and Scotti’s going through to the …
Adam Grabowski received four yes votes from the America’s Got Talent judges during his 2016 audition as just shown last week, but during tonight’s Judges Cut round, Grabowski claimed they didn’t even air his full bit that he does performing at college campuses. Roll the clips. This was from Grabowski’s …
Lori Mae Hernandez’s feel-good story and her plucky stage presence may have won over the judges even more than her stand-up material, as America’s Got Talent 2016 moved the 13-year-old through to the live shows later this summer. But then, everyone loves a feel good story, right? Roll the clip. …
The annual Del Close Marathon brings the founders of the Upright Citizens Brigade together along with thousands of performers from around the world, celebrating their late improv guru Del Close by improvising comedy shows around the clock for a three-day-and-night weekend. In its 18th year, the UCB4 – Amy Poehler, …
Aparna Nancherla returned to Conan the other night, and she has a problem with pills. Well, not so much the pills, but how it looks if you happen to drop them on the floor or street. That’s very problematic. Perhaps she’d be helped by trying a different dating website. Or …
Here’s what I know about Yannis Pappas. He’s a native New Yorker. He’s gotten shot. He’s a sneakerhead. He’s Greek. In fact, so Greek he has performed in character as Mr. Panos, which is not to be confused with when he performs as a Puerto Rican transsexual named Maurica (More-eeesa). …
Rhea Butcher has twice as much fun explaining the irony of her last name to audiences, not only because she has been a vegetarian since before she was born, but also because she is a lesbian. Wordplay. You get it. Prophecy fulfilled?! Butcher, in her debut on Thursday’s Conan, also …
