DC Comedy: 4 Now

3 Chord Comedy

2010-01-07T14:22:00.003-05:00

The next 3 Chord Comedy at The Velvet Lounge will feature Ryan Conner, who regularly contributes jokes to "SNL" and has appeared on BBC.

The line-up:

Ryan Conner (Contributing writer for "SNL," BBC)
Jason Weems (Last Comic Standing)
Jimmy Meritt (37 State College Tour)
Will Hessler (Opened for Doug Benson)
Eli Sairs (Bentzen Ball)

January 15th
7 p.m.
$4

These have been a treat. Come be a part of it. The price is bad-economy friendly. You need laughter in these tough times. Come drink and laugh away the (great?) depression.

Rob Cantrell at this friday's "3 Chord Comedy"

2009-12-02T14:50:00.004-05:00

Rob Cantrell (NBC, CBS, HBO, writer for "High Times Magazine") will be headlining this months edition of 3 Chord Comedy at The Velvet Lounge.

Also, DC super-studs Mike Eltringham, Ahmed Huidobro and Eli Sairs will be performing.

This here's the info:

December 4th / 7 pm / $4 / The Velvet Lounge (915 U St.)

3 Chord Comedy Show at The Velvet Lounge this Friday

2009-10-29T00:15:00.004-04:00

From Eli:

It's early enough, you'll still have time for other parties later.

A rare one-- we're bringin' down some comics from New York- with an "Onion News Network" contributer and UCB regular in their ranks.

October 30th
$2

7 pm
Velvet Lounge (915 U St.)

Zach Broussard (The Onion News Network, Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre)
Alex Grubard ( ComedyCentral.com)
Zachary Sims (DC Comedy Fest)
Aparna Nancherla (NBC's Stand-Up for Diversity)

Eli Sairs (Bentzen Ball)

HAPPY HOUR -- $2 Natty, $4 rail

Hope to see you.

-Eli

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Benzten Ball, this weekend

2009-10-22T14:46:00.004-04:00

For an overload of LA comics and some local favorites, check out The Bentzen Ball, which kicks off tonight, and runs through Sunday's finale at the 9:30 club with Sarah Silverman.

For a list of shows and comics, check out the website.

The hootinany kicks off this evening with Patton Oswalt and former DC comic Rory Scovel at the Lincoln Theater.

Doug Stanhope is in Adam's Morgan this Thursday

2009-10-13T12:33:00.006-04:00

Come check out Doug Stanhope at Tom Tom in Adam's Morgan this thursday.

You can get tickets here.

My first comedy show ever was Doug Stanhope at Ohio University. A third of the crowd didn't know they could be so profoundly offended, and started throwing verbal assaults and storming out of the theater, shell-shocked. The rest of the crowd cheered on the chaos or tried to hide in their seats. I sat giggling in middle of the war-zone, my idea of what's edgy forever redefined.

He elevates shock comedy to an insightful and intelligent level. His shows are an experience. I highly recommend partaking.

He's also real, real funny.

Endorsed by DC's Own (kind of) Rory Scovel: Arlington Drafthouse Presents Brent Weinbach

2009-09-28T00:56:00.005-04:00

Brent Weinbach will be headlining two nights in Arlington (Washington, DC area) as part of his Night Shift Tour, promoting the release the of his brand new album, "The Night Shift," out on Talent Moat Records. Here's all the show info:

SHOWDATE: Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3, 2009

SHOWTIME: 9:45pm (doors at 9:15pm)

SHOWPLACE: Arlington Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

ADMISSION: $18 More Info Here

It's Back! 72 Film Fest in Frederick, MD

2009-09-25T16:59:00.004-04:00

Didn't get in the 48 Hour Film Contest in DC or Baltimore? Or didn't get enough? Maybe you needed an extra day? Well, the 72 Hour Film Fest in Frederick, Maryland is perfect for you. Great place to start if you are just getting started with film and video and an excellent way to meet people that can help you produce future projects.

http://www.72fest.com/

This friday ---

2009-09-22T11:53:00.004-04:00

Third show! The first two were better than a hundred Christmases! This one will be better than a hundred Christmases plus a million birthdays MINUS the holocaust. September 25th-- DC's top comics in a top rock venue.

On the bill:

Doug Powell

Tim Miller

Michael Foody

Eli Sairs

Musical guest: Mike Manco-Johnson

Happy hour + hilarity = best friday ever

$2 Natty, $4 rail

The Velvet Lounge (915 U St.)

Friday 9/25

7 pm

2 bucks

DISCOUNT EXTENDED ON WIT CLASSES

2009-09-17T00:35:00.003-04:00

Sharing the creative fun of improv on stage is only half of WIT's mission. Just as important as our shows are our classes, where we've shared the craft of improv with over a thousand students over the last decade. WIT's managing director, Topher Bellavia, leads the training program. Below he tackles the frequently asked question: "Why should I take an improv class?"

"It's not a simple question to answer because everyone gets something different out it. If you're considering it, take a look at the student quotes to the left here.

Half of why it's so great is the awesome group of people who are brave, fun, and creative enough to take a chance on having the experience of a lifetime.

The other half is transformation you'll see in yourself. Better communication skills, lower stress levels, a heightened understanding of the world around you, increased confidence and renewed creativity at home, work and play.

The early registration discount has been extended to Monday; now is the time.

If you know someone else that could use a little improv in their life, click on the 'forward' button below."

Topher Bellavia
Managing Director
topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com

(w) 202-204-7772

FAQ, Browse Classes, Teacher Bios, Registration, Schedule

The Details

Washington Improv Theater is a creative atmosphere to learn the art of improv. And it’s just plain fun. WIT classes are for everyone from the acting student to the business professional.

· Classes meet for 2 ½ hours once a week for 8 weeks.

· Training focuses on communications and teamwork.

· Small classes mean more personal attention.

· Enthusiastic instructors create a fun and trusting atmosphere.

Former students said:

“F-ing Awesome”

“I loved this class”

“Great opportunity for expression, meet cool people and build confidence.”

WIT’s Spring Classes begin September 21

Classes are located at the Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW.* Tuition is $240, with a $20 discount for early registration.

Foundations of Improv Classes:

Monday September 21 7:00 9:30pm
Tuesday September 22 7:00-9:30pm
Wednesday September 23 7:00 – 9:30pm
Thursday September 24 7:00 – 9:30pm
Sunday September 27 5:00 – 8:00pm

Level I Music Improv:
Sunday September 27 12:00 – 3:00pm

* School is located at the corner of 13^th and V Sts, NW - one block north of U Street-Cardozo Metro Station (13^th Street exit).

Washington Improv Theater Auditions 9/19 10:30 am

2009-09-15T17:38:00.005-04:00

JINX, Caveat, and Season Six are looking for new players and will be holding open call auditions on Saturday 9.19 between 11AM and 5PM.*Click here to reserve your audition slot now!

Sign-up deadline is midnight on Thursday 9.17. Auditions and callbacks will be held at the Children's Studio School at 1301 V St NW (on the corner of 13th and V Street NW). JINX and Season Six callbacks will take place Monday 9.21 from 7-10PM. Caveat hold their callbacks on Wednesday 9.23 from 7-10PM.

If 9.19 is a conflict for you, especially for religious reasons, contact Mark at mark@washingtonimprovtheater.com to explore alternate scheduling.

How often does WIT conduct auditions?

As often as necessary: whenever an existing ensemble requires new players, or a new project or troupe seeks new talent.

How many people are you looking for?

There is no pre-set number. Each ensemble has room for more people if we find the right folks.

There’s no sex, race, or gender quota. We’re looking for the best improvisers in Washington. People who enjoy playing, support their scene partners, commit to authentic and interesting characters. Players in all of our ensembles strive to listen to and support one another, to be positive and to make one another look good. We value strong relationships and engaging storytelling. Players strive for spontaneity without self-censorship and work to maintain a playful atmosphere of artistic collaboration. If you have fun and play to the top of your intelligence you’ll show yourself in the best light.

What show is this for?

These auditions are seeking permanent ensemble members, not for a single show run. We’re looking for players to join us for the long-term and become members of our family.

First you audition at the open call. Players and directors from auditioning groups will be there to see your work and cheer you on. At open call you'll do mostly 2-person scenes. A bunch of them, all improvised. No need to have anything prepared (no monolog, no singing, no dancing). If selected for call-backs, you’ll receive a phone call by 2pm Sunday to notify you of your callback time. Callbacks will also involve a healthy amount of two-person scenework, and may also include some group games and truthful monologs, to name a few possibilities. In any case, there's nothing to prepare and the goals of the callbacks will be explained to you at the time. If a troupe selects you after call-backs, that means they want you and will invite you for a trial rehearsal period, to give you a chance to try the group on and to see how you fit in. After the trial period, the ensemble and artistic director determine whether to invite you to become a member.

Why such a drawn out process?

WIT troupes are on-going collaborative ensembles, with no set “end-date” for a production. So once you join you’re part of the family. We want to be as sure as we can that we’ve made the right match, to avoid heartache on both sides.

What’s the schedule, and the time/energy commitment?

Rehearsals are weekly, typically on a weeknight between 7pm and 10pm. JINX and Season Six rehearse on Monday evenings. Caveat rehearses Wednesday evenings. Special rehearsals and additional playing opportunities come up occasionally, including some mandatory rehearsals. Each ensemble usually conducts a weekend retreat once a year, and there is occasional travel to other cities for improv festivals. Performance runs are usually for 4-7 weeks, with between one and three shows per week. You don’t have to be available for every single event, but the greater majority.

Playing in an ensemble is currently a labor of love. Opportunities to earn money arise in private performances, corporate training, and teaching in WIT's classes program.

If I get accepted into a troupe should I continue taking classes?

If at all possible, yes. We believe progressing through the WIT curriculum will make you the strongest improviser you can be. But as a troupe-member you’ll receive a steep discount.

Do I just rehearse and play?

No. Ensemble members also help out behind the scenes in activity areas such as marketing, operations, classes, corporate training.

What if I don’t get in?

Maybe you would benefit from further training before joining a performance troupe. Or maybe you just had a bad audition. In any case, you'll have had the experience of auditioning and can approach it with that much more knowledge next time.

Where can I ask more questions?

If you don’t find the answer here feel free to ask us at auditions@washingtonimprovtheater.com.

See you at auditions!

2009-08-11T17:35:00.003-04:00

August 14th -- the second happy hour comedy show at
indie rock club "The Velvet Lounge" on U st. The first one
was orgasmic.

Top comics at a top rock club.

Just $2!

This time we've got:

Keith Irvine
Marcus Brown
Hampton Yount (Again?!! He has alota material...)
Eli Sairs
Crucial Element

(Crucial Element: Ryan Conner and Quincy Ledbetter)

Come have happy hour and comedy at the same time! Kick off your friday night hilariously.

$2 Natty, $4 rail

Planet Washington

2009-07-17T17:50:00.001-04:00

In DC Saturday Night? We got Laughter, Music, A/C, Sotomayor!
To members of Planet Washington

We Are Not Sold Out - (tho we'd like to be)

Come by the Westin, 1400 M Street NW,
Saturday, 8:00-9:30 PM.

Planet Washington
with Ken Rynne

Presents
MR OBAMA GOES TO WASHINGTON

With Special "Guests"

Sarah Palin, The Love Gov R- Mark Sanford,
The Love Gov D - Eliot Spitzer, Starbucks Baristas,
WalMart Shoppers, Bo Obama, and a wise Latina,
All this and more - great music, guaranteed laughs
or twice your misery back!

"Great show. Potent. Pithy. Funny!!!" - Mark Russell

Planet Washington.com
when news breaks, we fix it
202 360 5056

Palace of Wonders Show This Sunday

2009-07-09T15:54:00.004-04:00

3 Chord Comedy at The Velvet Lounge

2009-07-08T15:55:00.005-04:00

This Friday, come check out Justin Schlegel, Seaton Smith, Aparna Nancherla, Eli Sairs, Jake Young, and Hampton Yount at the Velvet Lounge. The musical guest is Matt Hemmerlein. It may be one of the best moments of your life (at the Velvet Lounge).

July 10
7 pm
$2
($2 Natty Bohs, $4 rail)

Planet Washington Show 6/27

2009-06-26T23:26:00.003-04:00

WHEN: SATURDAY JUNE 27
Entertainment from 8 PM-9:30 PM
Two 35-minute sets with Intermission. Cash Bar.

WHERE: Fireplace Room in the
The Westin DC City Center
1400 M Street, NW 20005

TICKETS: Show Tickets $20
Click This Box
PayPal
Or buy them at the door, if available,
recent shows have been Sold Out!
Ticket Information: 202 360 5056

DINNER OPTION: Come Early! Good Eats!
Three Course Pre-Show Dinner
Seatings from 6pm - 7 pm
The 1400 North Restaurant
In The Westin - Just Steps from the Show
Dinner: $35
Please RSVP for dinner directly to the
Restaurant. Call 202 429 9156 or 429 1700

Show and Dinner Sold Separately

Laugh. Chill. Repeat.

Wicked funny song parodies and yuks including:
What Happens In Vegas (Sen. Ensign)
Barack Obama Superstar! The Drama of Bo Obama
My Nominee Has A Last Name It's S-O-T-O-M-A Y-O-R
Nancy Pelosi Sings to CIA "Your Lyin Eyes"
Starbucks (I'm a Barista) Still Cheney After All These Years
Yes Sir, That's My Baby (Sen Edwards) Breaking News Means "Be Afraid"
Deficit Tomorrow! Stimulus Tonight! Warren & Jimmy Buffett in Margaritaville
Someone to Watch Over Me (Madoff & The SEC ) The United States of Walmart
T. Boone Pickin n Grinin Aide Misbehavin' (Scooter's Lament)
California OctoMom New Reality TV: Ask Mr. President
Love Client No. 9 (D-NY) The Toe Tappin' Senator in Terminal B (R-ID)
We are Family (Adamses, Clintons, Bushes) The Decider
Limbaugh Rock Charlie on the Metrorail
I'm a Lobbyist DC Think Tanks
and
whatever is in the day's news.

Spoof Everyone. Burn No One. 90 minutes of post-partisan fun!

Now Every Saturday...If It's Saturday, It's Planet Washington!!!
But No Show 7/4. AFTER JUNE 27, NEXT SHOW ISN'T Until JULY 11!

Get to Palace of Wonders TODAY (6/21)

2009-06-21T00:37:00.002-04:00

SHOW 9pm

There will be talent scouts there...and by talent scouts I mean people who scout talent and then decide whether they should seek out this sort of entertainment in the future, synonymous with: customers, audience members, dudes and chics.

Artomatic!

2009-06-18T10:40:00.003-04:00

Every weekend, there's comedy to be had at Artomatic. 55 M St. SE, on the 9th floor, in the poetry lounge.

This weekend we've got Mike Way, Mikael Johnson, Adrian Rodney and several more to be announced. These have been fun.

Its British Week Here In DC

2009-06-17T15:46:00.001-04:00

Loving Comedy? TOM TOM TODAY 6/17

2009-06-17T00:44:00.000-04:00

Venue: Tom Tom
2333 18th St NW
(Neighborhood: Adams Morgan, between N Belmont Rd & N Kalorama Sq)
Washington, DC 20009

3,000+ comics scheduled to perform:

yeah, we're bigger than bonaroo...

show starts at 9'ish. everyone gets ten minutes, don't go over. thanks.

Planet Russell

2009-06-16T19:21:00.006-04:00

COME TO OUR NEXT DC SHOW! (Special Guest Mark Russell!)
**************************

*********************

JUNE 20 (Saturday) in DC at The Westin

JUNE 27 (Saturday) in DC at The Westin

Westin DC City Center
1400 M Street NW in The Fireplace Lounge.
GROUP RATES AVAILABLE
$20 Tix Call 202 333 3599 to guarantee your seat
(Last 4 shows SOLD OUT! Thank You DC!)

"Great Show! Potent, Pithy, & Funny. And you have a better piano player than I do." - Mark Russell

"Political Comedy's New Kid on the Block." - Rachel Ray

Comedy Central's The Daily Show - with music!

A musical political satirical view of news from your nation's capital hosted by Ken Rynne of Planet Washington, a former Capitol Step and Hill staffer and piano accompanist and co-conspirator Sean Collins.

An open site for friends, fans, and contributors to comment, send pics, or ideas for parodies to help us remain up-to-the-tweet bipartisan and equal opportunity roasters. We'll gladly take your ideas and make them our own.

Planet Washington, When News Breaks We Fix It.

Contact Info

Email:
Website:	http://www.PlanetWashington.com
Location:	3241 N Street, NW #5 Washington, DC

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bL.A.h, bL.A.h, bL.A.h, Trip

2009-06-12T16:29:00.010-04:00

Bronchitis + New Job + Travel = No blogging. However, I was able to go out to Los Angeles for a couple of auditions plus to have a look around to see if its the kind of place that I could move to for a few years. Verdict= Maybe. Not dying to be out there and in fact, it made Chicago more attractive.

Highlights of Trip:

1.) Flew Delta out to Salt Lake City and then connected on a flight to Los Angeles. I don't know what it is, because I can't remember the last airline I flew out to Salt Lake City, but each time on the back of the seat in front of me was a small Television, where I had my choice of Cable and Network TV Channels along with a good assortment of Movies at $2 a pop. Last time I was this excited about an amenity was when I was 8 and flew for the first time out to Chicago. Tha'ts when I discovered salted almonds. If they would had this TV layout when I was 8, I'd be a pilot right now. Other than that, I hate flying and it seems as if my fear is chronic. Turbulence scares the shit out of me and all I can think of is the 7:49 minute mark into the movie, "Alive". John Madden has the right idea.

2.) My car rental...E-Z Rent-A-Car in LA was pretty solid. I decided to "Go Green" and rent a Prius but when they said they were all out, I decided to go with the Isuzu Axiom SUV. Good choice. A Prius is foo-fooey anway. The only thing that sucks about this E-Z--is trying to find it. You fly in, you'll have to take another shuttle to a place nearby, ask someone when you stop where it is and then, they'll drop you off...maybe close to it. Other than that...strong reccommend. And yes, the previous description is how I found the place.

3.) First celebrity sighting, Reddman , at LAX. It didn't hit me who he was until about 2 or 3 minutes later standing next to him...we were both waiting for cabs or shuttles or a ride or something, but nothing was like coming you know, for real, it took like bowf of us like, you know 10 minutes before we could even sniff a ride, you know what I'm say'n?! I finally just said, "Fuck it", and hopped on a Hertz Shuttle.

4.) Stayed with my friend Joe who works for Current TV ...heard a couple of good stories from him. He helps produce a lot of interviews with actors, musicians and comedians. 1.) After they finished interviewing Jared Leto, the entire crew surmised that his actual age must be really around 13 or 14, 2.) Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant, were some of nicest, most professional and not mention funniest guys he's ever met. 3.) If you are backstage at a Tool concert or anywhere close to Tool, within an earshot, do not look at them. I repeat. Do not look at them. HEY! DID YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?! DO NOT FUCKING LOOK AT TOOL.

5.) First morning that I had some time to myself, I checked Wilford Brimley's blood pressure. 120/80, remarkable.

6.) Auditioned for "The Groundlings" class conservatory. If you are in LA, it might be something fun to do if its going on that day. Go to their website and where they post a schedule. If you move to LA and plan to take classes with them you have to audition. If you pass, its good for a year before you have to re-audition. If you don't pass, you have to wait 6 months. The audition consists of about 45-50 minutes doing a quick warm-up and then two person scenes round-robin style so everyone goes twice. Basically, you have to show up and formulate audible and coherent sentences in order to pass. The one person who did not pass basically failed because when he was called upon to come up, his response was, "No, I don't think so".

7.) Learned that Troy Duffy, writer and director of "Boondock Saints" and star of "Overnight" has not been really humbled by his rise and fantastic fall.

8.) L.A. has the same layout as Ocean City, Maryland. For example, in O.C., every block is Salt Water Taffy, Jolly Roger, Surf Shop, Tattoo Parlor and Big Pecker T-Shirts...in L.A., its Nail Salon, Dry Cleaning, Movie Ad, Tattoo Parlor, and Thai-Restaurant.

9.) Auditioned for "Boom Chicago" (out of Amsterdam, Holland), main reason I went out there. Auditions were at Improv Oylmpic West on Hollywood Boulevard. Walked in, very early, waited with 6 other people for our time-slot to be announced. Everyone was very nice and very chatty. And pierced. It was a lot of nervous, empty talk about nothing. Like two hours of the Today Show, jammed into 20 minutes.

I consider myself friendly but not really talk-for-the-sake-of-talking-because-its-an-audition-and-by-God-we-are-all-in-this-together-and-pulling-for-each-other-and-its-no-big-deal-anyway!

Long-story short, audition went great. I heard back from nobody.

10.) Saw Dasariski at IO West on my last night. I thought the show was improvised, it was not. Which is good because the "improvisation" was so good that I became depressed half-way through the show. Somewhere in the beginning, as the show was being introduced, I missed the part where they explained at the end of each month they take the best of their improvised shows from the previous month, script and present it.

I left early for the airport and since it was a rental and I had a GPS, I drove to LAX via "Florence and Normandy", through Crenshaw and Compton , and stopped for some Brass Monkey next to Randy's Donuts. I dropped the keys back off at E-Z and exclaimed to the guy behind the counter that, "Today was a good day".

FROM DC Craigslist

2009-05-22T04:49:00.002-04:00

Recently I responded to an ad for an MC gig at an unspecified conference which I would later find out would be for prospective Au pairs. I applied with my headshot and resume and I received the following immediate response below (I would like to give the scam artist credit for originality on this one):

Dear applicant,

Thank you for replying back to the posting on craigslist. I'm Mr. Nicholas Morgan the director of Global Au Pair Agency 22 The Ridings Norwich United Kingdom. We are specialized in Bringing good and friendly Au pair / Nanny / Care Giver / Tutor and Families together. Au pairs from Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland. Families from Central Europe, North / South America and also from Asia and other parts of the Au pair world. View our website for more details http//www.globalaupairagency.com

We are relocating to the state to hold an exhibitions / lecture for both adult and youth in the states with World Christian Ministries Association (W C M A). This is based on bringing Au pair and Families and also lectures on how to donate for the orphans.

So We are seeking a MC / A very good speaker to help us coordinate this upcoming Exhibitions which is dated on 23rd of May 2009, Time : 10am till 2pm, Theme: Blue and Purple.

This Job is now offered to you and i hope you should know your duties.

Kindly get back to us with your charges for this hours, so that we can finalize and get the payment to you. Get back to us with the below details:

Are you available on that date ?

FULL NAME:

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

CELL PHONE:

HOME PHONE:

BEST TIME TO CALL:

Kindly get back to us in time as to know if this offer is okay with you?

We will look forward to your e mail with the required information. Call me anytime on my phone number +44 703.190.3983 please dial as presented for international calls.

I will be waiting to hear from you

Thank you.

Nicholas Morgan

Rory's Bane

2009-05-20T00:37:00.000-04:00

New York City Crime Stories and Stories of Crimes from Rory Scovel on Vimeo.

DCC4N's Interview with Guy Torry of the "1st Amendment Stand-Up" Series

2009-05-15T16:10:00.015-04:00

DCComedy4Now was invited by Starz to attend the taping of the 4th Series for Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment Stand-Up at the Lincoln Theater inside the U Street corridor next to Ben's Chile Bowl last Friday. On the line-up was Guy Torry, a comic who's career I have followed since his role (very underrated) in American History X. I asked if I could grab an interview with Mr. Torry. Starz was kind enough to oblige and I was granted a few minutes of time back stage to ask the performer a little more about his experience with American History X, his background in stand-up and his future plans.

The taping at the Lincoln Theater was a first of its kind for me. The theater has a lot of volume to it and where I was sitting in the front row of the balcony it must have gone back at least 15-20 rows. The sound was the only hinderence to enjoying the show sometimes as the comedians, who were all high-energy, often had a hard time being understood off the acoustics of the theater. I had never been to a taping of a live performance and I found the experience different but not distracting. The entire stage design was for the look on camera not for the live audience. If you were sitting in the audience you could make out "1st Amendment Stand-Up" out of the backdrop that resembled somewhat of a large Lite-Brite. And the big screen TV's image down stage right looked pixilated but would translate crisply to the home-audience. There were aspects of the process, from a performer's perspective, that I found could be an interesting challenge.

The event had 3 MC's.

There was the MC/warm-up who made announcements, got the energy going, did some material then there was the MC for the series, Doug Williams who took over to get the energy rolling for what people were going to see on cable. However, the man controlling the entire flow of the show was the stage-manager. The entire show's flow was start and stop. Both of the hosts had to deal with this "3rd host" who was walking back and forth and even standing right next to them at times while they were doing material. The stage-manager even cut off the MC/Warm-up right at a punch line to give him a message. The comedians were all professional but it had to have been difficult on the timing and in the end, any comic wants to do well in front of what is still a live audience.

Then there was Guy Torry's intro, who came back out immediately after his set when they said they had to redo his introduction. So after he finished his set, they welcomed him back on stage, to which he handled quite professionally with an impromptu "Knock-Knock" joke that ended with "Michael Jackson". It worked well in a pinch.

"Professionalism" was a reoccurring theme that kept popping into my head after seeing Torry's set and speaking with him. He's a pro. He takes his craft seriously, he has had some success but he was incredibly open and gracious.

I caught up with Torry backstage who was still talking to a couple of other guys about his last joke in regards to Fantasia from American Idol. Torry was not gentle with her lack of literary skills and apparently, or at least in the bit, she chased him through an airport to which Torry "tripped" her up with a Scrabble board. Torry seemed to have missed a segue that he wanted to use. He wasn't upset but more like a batter coming off of an at-bat that had just missed the perfect pitch. It was the first thing I asked him about:

"I just used an old segue. I'm all about smooth segues and transitions. I wanna make it flow. In regards to the Fantasia joke, I used an old-set up that flows directly from the Obama material that I have been doing".

Alot of that seemed improvised, were there some improvised moments?

"Some. I've got a skeleton. But you have at least that if you are going to change lanes. And you have to keep it loose so it doesn't sound scripted. I'm all about the moment, being in the moment. You have to know where you are and know where you are going, sort of like what they do in Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Is that a show you would like to do?

"Oh yeah, sure! You know people know me from American History X, I got cred from the dramatic side of things after that role, but as a comedian and as an actor I'm always about being in the moment and that's what that [improvisation] is all about."

Your role in American History X, I don't think you got enough credit. Your character was pivotal in the transformation of Edward Norton's character. You had to walk the fine line of being someone that was going to be real with him but also bring in that comedic element. You really did a lot of work.

"Thank-you, I appreciate that. You know at the time I was a very green actor. Tony K the director gave me and Edward Norton a lot freedom. And this was after some scenes were not hitting right. And Norton cared a lot about the story and talked to Tony and he eventually let us go and said 'You have the green light'.

You mean those scenes were improvised between you and Norton?

"Yeah! The majority of the work. Ed Norton is very passionate about what he does, about the scene, the project. He cares about the story. And there were some things that were not working. So they [Norton and Tony K] talked about it and he was like, 'Ok, go to it. And again it was about the moment and playing across from Edward Norton, I mean man, he's incredible to play off of".

So the part with the bedsheet...

"Yeah, that was--"

And the other scene as well, where you guys were talking about Lakers vs. Celtics? That was one moment that I really thought was scripted because it seemed so "white (Celtics) vs. black (Lakers)", in fact I even thought it was a little bit, "Do the Right Thing".

"Yeah, I know but really it just turned out that way. But also, what can two men make-up the best? Sex and sports. The Lakers were my team and the Celtics were Norton's team so it just flowed. We just went at it. And then the scene about not letting your girl leave you when shes angry, that is just true for anybody. The arguing, the make-up sex, that is stuff that anyone can relate to".

How did you get the role?

"Well, whenever I talk about 'American History X' and that experience, I just always use the word, 'Karma'. It was total karma man. I used to run this show in L.A. called 'Phat Tuesdays' and it was a chance to do my thing and other guys would come and perform. Well there was this comic that was funny as all get out. And these producers for this movie were coming to check me out for this role. Well this other comic was hot. He took the stage and man he brought the whole place down. And the producers were there that night and chose him, the movie was '5th Element' and the comic was Chris Tucker.

Wow. That must of been tough.

"You know though that role was his [Tucker], I would have hurt it. And I was cool, I was happy that the producers were just coming to check out my show. But again, karma, it came back for me. Because a little while later they were looking to Tommy Davidson to play the part that I played in American History X. And they saw me at my show and I ended up getting the role".

I wish I had the time to talk to you more about this. Alot of the material you did tonight was current?

"Yeah, well, we have a black president, so you have to talk about it. But doing it here tonight for television, once I put a bit on TV, I put it to bed".

I liked your joke about DC, being a city where as you're driving, it goes from "Good-to-Ghetto-to-Gay".

"(Laughs) Yeah, but that joke can work pretty much for any cit you are in, that joke isn't just for DC, you can use that all over the place. But its true, go to any major city and it has all of those parts in it and you can be driving and before you know it, you're in the 'good' then the 'ghetto' and then 'gay' ".

So you were in college in Missouri, was college just something that you felt like you had to do and then you were going to get into comedy full-time?

"You know, I never had any interest in doing stand-up comedy. I used to joke around at the jobs I had but I just liked cheering people up. I worked at department and grocery stores and I would crack on people and co-workers. But I went to LA to finish my marketing degree".

What changed?

Well there was my brother (stand-up comedian Joe Torry) and there was the Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam generation. I was influenced by all those guys. I also was Production Assitant on the set for Martin Lawrence's show, "Martin", and I was influenced by that. I would be doing little things around the set, getting things for people, all the while saying to Martin when I saw him, 'Hey man check this out, I'm funny too'. I wrote an episode too".

But eventually you were doing it full-time or as much as you could...

"Yeah, I just started studying the great ones, Pryor, Bruce, Berle, Cosby, you name it, Whoopie Goldberg, Dicky Gregory, Redd Foxx, and just tried to asorb as much as I could. And then I got booked for Def Jam by Bob Sumner who was a scout for Russell Simmons."

You do sets regularly while you are out on tour?

"I do sets all the time. All the time. Open-mics, regular shows, coffee houses, I'm always working on new material. And especially now, I'm trying to change or explore where I am at right now in my life. Its whole new period for me".

What are some of the new angles?

"Well, I'm married now, and where I'm at in my life, I'm a little older, so I'm looking a lot now at relationships".

What advice would you have for a young comic?

"Study your craft. Be in it for the show, be it for the love and not anything else."

I have sent Guy Torry's PR rep some follow-up questions, so I hope to have them posted soon.

DCC4N's Rick Overton Interview

2009-05-12T01:32:00.007-04:00

Every time I pass by the movie "Groundhog Day" on cable, if I can, I wait for this part: (9:15 minute mark) Bill Murry well into the monotony of his curse and about to move out of denial and into anger, has been boozing down with two Puxtawney bowling-alley regulars and laments, "What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same and nothing that you did mattered?" To which Rick Overton's character gives the lone reply of, "That about sums it up for me". Overton's reply resonates, especially for comedians, who have ventured out onto the stage in search of validation and the approbation that their voice is relevant and what they do matters.

I have needed to inject this blog with some life and recently the idea of getting back to the interveiws with people who make comedy their living has seemed like one of the most interesting ways. Overton came to mind because his first HBO Special came on around the time I was growing up and starting to follow comedy. It was the late 80's and early 90's, back when Rosie O'Donnell was actually kind of cool for hosting one of the few stand-up shows on television, "A&E's Evening at the Improv". Guys like the late Dennis Wolfburg, Richard Lewis, Bill Hicks, Eddie Griffinm, Norm McDonald, and Overton were just starting to get recognized and getting their own HBO One-Night Stand. Before any of his existential ranting, I rememeber Bill Hicks first because of his joke about "New Kids on the Block", it was one of the clips HBO would always play when they advertised the One-Night Stand series. It was the only material I could comprehend from Hicks at the time.

So I reached out to Overton, who graciously obliged, because he has been a favorite of mine from early on and I always enjoyed seeing him on his multiple roles on TV and Film. His credits include: Willow (alongside Kevin Pollack, they are the "smallest" characters actually in the film), Groundhog Day and an Emmy for writing on the Dennis Miller Show. I would have liked to have talked to him more about his film credits and experiences on the Dennis Miller Show and hope to follow-up with him sometime down the road.

You grew up in Queens, New York and both of your parents were involved with music it looks like, is music something that you were involved in as well? Did you grow up around performers? If so, what kind of influence do remember that having on you?

I Grew up in Forest Hills until 1966, at which point we moved to Englewood NJ because Dizzy Gillespie found us a house near him! Music has always played a role in my creativity, whether it's an actual song, or a joke or a script. Everything should have a pulse, like a heartbeat. Music breathes life into anything it is applied to. I did grow up around jazz musicians. My Dad was a closet comic and would play Bob Newhart and Jonathan Winters albums for me all the time. Got me hooked on Peter Sellers. Characters. I began comedy in high school, in a team with Tonn Pastore - OVERTON AND PASTORE. He went into a day job scene and stayed. We talk every other day. I'm his son's Godfather.

Your friend, Pastore took to the day-job scene, what kept you from doing the same? The thing that kept me going was just passion. Passion makes the hard parts more like the way you re tired after playing a sport that you love, or the kind of tired you get from doing something you hate to do. There's a good and a bad tired. Following your dream is the good tired at the end of the day.

Then, in 1973 I teamed up with Roger Sullivan - OVERTON AND SULLIVAN. (Roger is the guy who told ME the ARISTOCRATS joke that I told to Paul Provenza and Penn Gillette. The best Aristo-Joke told to me is the one told to me by Roger Sullivan, the same version I tell in the movie, but my acknowledgement of Roger in the beginning was trimmed for time. I fought to keep it in but lost out to editing decisions. He [Sullivan] started that whole ball rolling, in truth) Budd Friedman chose us for the NY Improv and Rick Newman chose us for Catch A Rising Star. Roger and I worked together for 5 years and I broke out on my own and started doing the solo act in early 1978. Scary to leave the nest, but here I am.

Could you describe a little about your act with Roger Sullivan? Overton and Sullivan was a team that did abstract sketches and characters. Little scenes like: A car with buzzers that go off until the driver zips up his fly (1973). Two cops trying to talk a jumper off of a ledge with impressions, and get caught up in their own schtick, forgetting the jumper (1975). Strange bits with lots of high speed timing and characters - sound effects too.

So then you were off to LA...I moved to LA in late 1980. Chris Albrecht was my ICM agent and he got me all my initial work. I work today in films because of a small handful of people, Chris Albercht, Gary Marshall, and Ron Howard were the ones who initially believed in me. I am in their debt, along with Harold Ramis and a host of others.

You started to comedy in the 70's and 80's? What are the major differences between doing comedy now and then? Comedy is different now. Today, there are less clubs and only the biggest names can fill a room in the era of cable TV and both parents working all day to pay the bills. What happened to comedy is what happened to rock. Started out as being a bold protest to conditions. Originality being tantamount. Nowadays, rock songs are just about - "We're gonna have a party tonight!". Comedy has gone that marketing route now too. There are still brilliant artists in the form, but the days of Andy Kaufman taking the media by storm may be behind us, for the time being. I LOVE Andy Kindler, Patton Oswalt and Dana Gould. John Fuglesang and Troy Conrad are doing great, brave comedy too.

What always seems to stay the same or what can you yourself always depend on doing live comedy? Do you still get the same feeling that you did when you were just starting out?I don't get the same feeling on stage as when I started out, but it's close enough for me to come back rain or shine. I'm more of an actor these days, but my act is seeing a new resurgence of appreciation in this era of tightened belts. Suddenly, what I've been saying all along is getting heard.

How did you learn about the business side of comedy? What advice would you give folks starting out about the business side? I learned about the business side by simply observing and asking. Pride can wipe you off the entertainment map altogether. I have a business manager to help and boy do I need it on the number-crunch side of this.

My advice to those starting out now is to take improv classes. Nothing has been as overall instrumental in my career than that. Then take cold reading classes. Nobody will remain a standup comic alone forever. No longer possible. Be good at at least 5 other related things - acting, writing, improv, directing, producing etc... Even teaching.

From Cleveland.Com

2009-05-08T16:58:00.001-04:00

Comedian Dane Cook talks about the haters

Posted by Mike McIntyre/Plain Dealer Reporter May 07, 2009 11:39AM

COMEDY PREVIEW
Dane Cook

When: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14.

Where: The Q, East Sixth Street and Huron Road, Cleveland.

Tickets: $33-$103, call 216-241-5555 or 330-945-9400.

Dane Cook hears the insults, the accusations that he's not funny, that his jokes lack one little item called a punch line, that he steals material.

Don't think his lofty status high above most stand-ups makes the air too thin for him to hear. Don't think he just covers his ears with his double-platinum records, or stuffs them full of the cash he pulls in for all manner of entertainment, from arena acts to TV specials to starring movie roles.

He hears it.

"I stay very close to the word on the street, so it does hurt. It definitely affects your veneer from time to time," he says, musing aloud about how jealousy and frustration play a role, but some people just aren't ever going to like you, two gazillion MySpace friends be damned.

It hurts more when it hurts those around you, said Cook: "The stuff on the bathroom wall that needs a good scrub down, that's the tricky part. When you see it hurting your fans and your family, that's when it hurts me. . . . There's more good than bad at the end of the day, sometimes the bad is really bad."

Cook, the gel-haired frat boy who stalks the stage, has been feeling very introspective lately. His parents died. His half-brother faces charges of embezzling loads of cash from him. He's not the college kid anymore. He's taken the pain and the maturity and boiled it down to a new, more personal act. He performed it in front of a handful of people -- fewer than are usually in the bathroom at any given time during one of his arena shows -- and taped it for a Comedy Central special, "Isolated Incident," premiering Sunday, May 17. He's bringing the material to his usual humongous audiences now, including a gig at The Q on Thursday, May 14.

"It was cathartic for me to share some of this material of what I've lived through over the last few years, the good and the bad. And now that I've brought that smaller, more intimate show to an even larger venue, it's an incredible feeling," he said. The response, said the most fan-connected comic in history, has been "overwhelmingly positive."

He even spends a good chunk of time talking about all the haters.

"I get goose bumps sometimes performing this material about dealing with those tough moments, and the reason I get so emotional about it when that wave of laughter finally comes is because now I own it, now I am giving that to other people and not in an egotistical, narcissistic way, but in a very . . . healing way," said Cook. "I speak about it. People laugh. It makes me feel not so bad, and it doesn't have the same pain and impact as the person who tried to deliver that blow."

Cook says he was shy and insecure when he was young and "had nowhere to share these strange and fantastical ideas." The comedy club stage was safe for that and feels safe again.

"To come full circle and to lose both of my parents and deal with the white-hot spotlight and the negativity that goes with that . . . I found myself feeling like I did in 1990 again where [the stage was] the one place I could share everything, kind of hang it out to dry. By the end of the day it was just a healing for me," he said.

Heavy as it all sounds, Cook assures his singular goal is to make people laugh, to "bring a little bit of lightness" to someone else's bad day.

And maybe even his own.

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receSs Presents: SLATE: The World College Comedy Festival

2009-05-06T16:18:00.003-04:00

3 NIGHTS. 5 SHOWS. DERRICK COMEDY. UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE TOURCO. WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER. AND THE LAST RECESS SHOW OF THE YEAR!!!!

Host:	ReceSs
Type:	Music/Arts - Performance
Network:	Global

Start Time:	Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 4:00am
Location:	Betts Theater, Marvin Center
City/Town:	Washington, DC

Email:

recess@gwu.edu

Buy Tickets Here!

The "Real Joke" in the District: DC Parking Meters

2009-05-02T13:25:00.004-04:00

The biggest joke in Washington DC is anything driving related. If its not the traffic or asshole diplomats, when you get out of the car you have to deal with the parking meters. They either:

Don't work, "FAIL"--which you still get ticketed for
Are over-priced, 7 1/2 minutes now for a quarter, 1 1/2 minute for a nickel
Suck your change from you, as only every other or every two other pieces of change will actually register. I spent over 3 dollars yesterday in nickes, dimes and quarters to pay for 35 minutes.

The Council of DC approved the parking meter hike, which is another story, to increase revenue. Great. Fine. That's what we do when we need to increase revenue in government, raise prices or taxes. Not always the right option, not always thought through entirely, but a fact of life.

Then all I ask, is if you are going pinch every freaking penny out of my pocket, are for the meters to at least f-ing work. That's the least the City can do while we all try and deal with the economy that is about as stable as Glenn Beck watching the end of Old Yeller on the Fourth of July. Also we have to deal with this asshole.

Government only responds in a knee-jerk fashion. Get acquainted with your DC City Council, especially Jim Grahm who proposed the price hike and the Council member in your Ward. And if you see them do one or two things:

If you can do that really hard coin flip with your middle finger and thumb, I had a roommate that could hit me on the forehead on the other side of the room with a penny, keep some change in your pocket for when you might come across a Councilman and just start flipp'n. If you're with a group of people and you have the time, flank-out and create crossfire.
If you work behind a counter and have to give one of them change, just drop it on the floor. Let them pick it up. At least it can simulate the activity of what I have to do, when the meter eats most of my change and I have to go back and start digging through my car's seat cushions in the desperate hope that I might find another quarter.
Or, this is what I would prefer. Because every time, that meter takes my money and I try to explain it to the meter maid who in his or her own way gives me their existential middle-finger or the Council by raising the meter hike on defunct parking meters essentially smiles and tells me to "deal with it". I would like us all to just simply greet them on a daily basis with a nice, "Fuck you". If you are a mute, just give them the "Finger". Or if you would like to dial it down a bit, I would just going with the Finger. And this can all be done with a smile.

It can seem harsh but we live in an age where a letter, an email, even a petition can get just get lost in the shuffle. No one responds to the process and if they do, it can take forever. But a nice "Fuck You" can get someone's attention. And trust me, a narcissitic self-important douche-bag politician has a hard time dealing with adversity when its directly in their face. Especially, what could equate to a thousand FU's a day. A nice "Fuck-You" for every nickel, dime and quarter taken by the over 15,000 parking meters that are in the District.

(Cue Sally Struthers), "Just one 'Fuck-You' a day, could get a government official or City Councilman to take action and do something as small as fix a parking meter."

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Friday's Question: Should a Comic Be Rolling Deep?

2009-05-01T17:04:00.003-04:00

Eddie Murphy was really starting to explode around "Delirious", I could see rolling deep with some peeps.

Ego is fascinating. By taking the stage to do comedy, you have said to the room, "I'm funny". I used to think I was special for taking the stage to do any sort of comedy or acting but it takes the same nerve to start and excel at any endeavor. Egos exist in all walks of life. Doctor's are known to be egotistical. It has to take an extreme amount of ego and confidence to be a neurosurgeon.

You are cutting into someone's head.

However, have you ever seen a neurosurgeon rolling deep? Swinging his stethoscope around, an arm wrapped around a Candy-Striper, 3 of his best friends from his neighborhood who aren't even doctors all on their cell-phones, a couple of nurses, and some orderlies hauling his golf bag?

Chris Rock talked about always being asked if Lorne Michaels had a big ego or was Michael's arrogant and he responded maybe he was; but arrogance was all around him. Rock said he could find an arrogant cab driver on daily basis. So when does ego warrant a posse? It doesn't. The posse' is just symptomatic of an ego that has gone awry.

Its silly for a comedian to have an entourage. Eddie Murphy or Jerry Seinfeld, I can understand. These guys have surpassed comedian and performer and have become media moguls. But for comics?

I was standing outside the DC Improv a little over a month ago and while a few of us were waiting to do our showcase in the Lounge, the headliner came through with her entourage dragging her stuff ala the desert scene with John Candy and Bill Pullman in Spaceballs (5:30 mark). The small space outside the Improv doors was already small with the 5 of us hanging outside of it, it became smaller when we were joined by a train of "handlers" and luggage. It inspired a couple of awkward moments. The first one was when one of us lowly local comics tried to make light of the dense silence that came over the small outside by saying, "Hey man, that looks heavy for one person, she should help you out" the guy replied, (out of breath) "Nah, man, this is nothing". I respect that. Why would you say anything else in front of your boss. But the second part that I found the most humorous was after that as the fog of silence grew thicker and the mood more awkward, the headliner stood nose to the face of the back door waiting for it to open like it was the front entrance of Safeway. And it did not open. She did not move. And they waited. No one said a word. It was weird too. I felt like she felt she had to get in before one of us asked her for an autograph or picture. I started to feel bad for her. Like maybe I should just do something nice and validate her for the moment. Its probably the same awkwardness that James Belushi brings to any social moment. Finally, her second guy said something like, "Man, they said the back door was going to be opened!" which his boss replied, "They did" without moving any part of her body as if she was still trying to open the door with telekinesis. Second guy started angrily banging on the door. Until finally it was opened and all the awkwardness escaped into the main show room.

Comedy Lounge, DC Improv Tonight!

2009-05-01T09:43:00.002-04:00

Click here for tickets and info!

Andy Kline Interview Continued...(Part 3)

2009-04-28T09:04:00.002-04:00

You mentioned that you would like to be a staff writer for a show, if you had to pick a program that was on right now, what would it be and why?

Well, South Park, but they don't use writers. I think The Boondocks would be a great show to write for. It seems like you can get away with anything on that show, and crossing the line is encouraged. That gives you a lot of freedom as a writer. But beggars can't be choosers. I'd write for Blue Collar Comedy at this point.

What comedy set on audio tape or DVD can you sit down and watch over and over again? Any tape while growing up or any other time in your life that you just "wore out"? What about it resonated with you?

Chris Rock: Bring the Pain That was an instant classic. When it first aired, I taped it and practically watched it daily. I still watch it every now and then.

George Carlin: Jammin' in New York. It changed the way I think about comedy. Just a great mix of Carlin's observational stuff and his angry stuff. This was before I discovered Bill Hicks, who I also listen to constantly. I've always been drawn to guys who were both angry and smart.

I also watch Mr. Show regularly. It's the best sketch show of all time.

The one that really stood out when I was a kid was Eddie Murphy: Comedian (and later Raw). I don't think I related to it in any meaningful way. I just couldn't believe how talented he was.

Any jokes or moments you remember on stage in particular where you think back and say to yourself, "What was I thinking?"

Well, the stuff I was doing back in '94 is pretty embarrassing in retrospect. I mean, I felt way more mature than other people my age, yet there I was doing jokes about shitting. But being a comedian, I specialize in delusion. So I just rationalize that as a necessary part of my development. Other than that, nothing else stands out. I never went through a prop phase or anything.

If I'm saying "what was i thinking," it's moreso about a situation where I got my hopes up about an audition or contest despite knowing better.

Anything you would like to see more of or less of in the Baltimore/DC/NoVa comedy scene?

More paid gigs would be nice. That's obviously self serving, but I think it would help people's development. A lot of comics in the area lack experience hosting or stringing together tight feature sets. If the area had a couple more quality B rooms that embraced local comics, some of the newer guys could pick up valuable lessons without having to drive to Kentucky for $75. Right now as a new comic, you can do open-mic's and showcases, but there's a long line for the club work.

Beyond that, I wish the industry would pay more attention to DC. There's an occasional industry showcase at the DC Improv, but you can't get every funny person onto one of those shows. Our proximity to NYC winds up obscuring us a little bit. Places like Austin and Seattle are scouted, but DC gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.

I'd like to thank Andy Kline for taking the time to answer the questions I fielded for him. If you have a chance, check out his blog and website on the link to lefthand side of the page to read more of his thoughts and check out dates for upcoming shows.

Andy Kline Interview (Part Two)...

2009-04-27T17:15:00.004-04:00

I went back through your blog and find it way more interesting than the one I slap together. The stories and observations are pitch-perfect, however the last one you wrote was back in '08, am I missing where the "real" blog is somewhere else or do you just write when the inspiration hits? Have you ever been offered, other than 98 Rock's "Wrath of Kline", commentary slots for anything else?

I tend to blog only when I'm inspired. I used to blog more and I keep promising myself I'll pick up the pace again. That usually comes down to laziness. I have several blogs that are 75 percent done, then I lost interest. I keep threatening to randomly post five new blogs simultaneously, but I haven't done it yet. For a while, the Wrath of Kline sort of replaced my blog. But that's been over since last summer, so I have no excuse.

I got a lot of good feedback from the Wrath of Kline, and I've looked a little bit into recording and syndicating it myself, but I haven't received any clear answers on how to make that happen. I don't want to make it just another YouTube rant or podcast, but it might end up resurfacing in that form. I did talk to Mickey from 98 Rock's morning show about bringing it back there, but we haven't nailed anything down.

How did you like doing radio?

Radio was a lot of fun, but I'm definitely a second-fiddle kind of guy. I don't talk much and prefer only to open my mouth when I have something funny to say. So on the air, I'm quiet for several minutes, then I blurt out a punchline. That's not good when you're the guy who's supposed to carry the show, but with two other hosts in the room, it worked for me. Had I been asked to fill in and be the main host, I would have failed miserably. I can't even carry a conversation at the McDonald's drive-thru. If you can't order a sundae without dead air, you have no business hosting a radio show.

I did Irresponsible Radio every week for about eight months, and I felt like I was just beginning to come out of my shell when the show was canceled.

I think you more than live up to what you say in your bio, about not using stand-up as platform to move elsewhere, but do have other creative interests? Have people offered you roles for TV, film, webseries, etc..any of that interest you?

I'm actually sick of that bio. Not that I disagree with what it says, it just feels old to me. I need to rewrite it. But, the sentiment is still valid. What the bio is really saying is that I'm not doing stand up so I can host a game show or interview Nickelback on MTV. I just want to do stand up. That seems like a simple idea, but comedy is flooded with actors and opportunists just looking for another bit of exposure. They're not interested in the craft, and they're pretty ignorant to how it all works. Not that comedians shouldn't take commercials or TV roles; I'm just saying if you have no real interest in comedy, get out of the way. You're just taking up space and valuable stage time. I guess I'm a purist.

Beyond that, there's a real freak show aspect in stand up these days that I hate. I've said this before, but if Lobster Boy or The Bearded Lady were around today, their handlers wouldn't tell them to join the circus, they'd send them to open-mic night. Lobster Boy would have no interest in comedy, but he would get on TV in two years and eventually land a development deal so he could be an inspiration to us all.

Seriously, if Chang & Eng were around now, you can't tell me they wouldn't be juggling scalpels at some Funny Trap somewhere. After the show, they could sign your hat and t-shirt simultaneously. The shirt would say "Joined at the Hope."

I've never been offered any roles in film or TV, but that's okay because I'm a horrible actor. If I was to take a job like that, it would have to be a part I wrote for myself knowing my limitations. Of greater interest would be writing for a show or web series. I, along with a couple friends, have written a bunch of sketches, and I've written other things for people here and there, but nothing steady yet. But being a staff writer on a show would be a great job for me. I would love that.

Did hecklers throw you when you were first starting? Has handling them become just as routine as handling any other evriomental obstruction/obstacle, i.e. mic, set decoration, stage size...Did you write "comebacks" while lying in bed or was it a skill that just developed, or maybe it didn't have to...

They definitely threw me at first, but not so much anymore. I don't invite heckling or crowd work at all for that matter, but I'm pretty confident in my ability to handle it. It's just as routine as commenting on the mic or stage size, except you have to be funnier with hecklers than you do with bad set decoration. Also, most hecklers aren't yelling "you suck" or anything like that. They usually mean well, but just don't understand boundaries. They're drunk, and who doesn't love making fun of a loud drunk guy?

I think the initial instinct is to come up with the perfect funny line to shut the heckler down. At first, it's incredibly frustrating. You don't think of that line until about 3 in the morning after the show. Then, it becomes midnight. Then, you think of it just after you step off stage. Eventually, something funny will pop into your head in the moment. I've tried to sit and write lines for those moments, but they rarely work the way I want them to. To me, they wind up sounding detached, and the best heckler comebacks are completely in the moment. But, over the years, I have occasionally improvised things in the moment that wound up becoming stock comebacks. I don't like going to the stock stuff immediately, but It's good to have in a pinch.

Really, the "perfect line" thing isn't even how I do it anymore. These days, I wind up letting the heckler talk a little bit. Eventually, he'll say something that I can pounce on. I basically give him enough rope to hang himself. That takes another level of confidence. You have to really believe that, even though you don't have something funny right now, if you keep this conversation going, something funny will come out. Sometimes I can't think of anything and it gets awkward, but it's just as easy to make fun of the awkwardness as it is to make fun of the actual heckler. With a heckler, you have options. Comment on the heckler himself or comment on the environment created by the heckling.

Do you have a heckler moment that stands out for you?

If you ask me tomorrow, I'll probably have a different answer. But I had a good exchange with a woman at the DC Improv once. It's memorable because she got a big laugh (i.e. she won), and I came right back with a better line. It started after I mentioned something about Jews.

Her: I caught one. I got a jew.

Me: You caught one? Are you going to keep him or throw him back?

Her: ...

Me: You don't have a Jew. He's your friend. You don't own him.

Her: He's my husband, I do own him.

Me: Wow, he got a bitch.

Trust me, the timing was perfect.

You mentioned that stand-up has become an opportunity for actors and people looking to be seen and the comedy/craft take a backseat or are just thrown out the window, while your disdain is understandable, I've heard as much or even more disgust reserved (by other comics) for the long-time open-miker that just has never had it and never will get it, do you have more sympathy for the comic with good intentions?

In New York, you'll go to an open-mic and see the worst comic you've ever seen, then find out he's been doing comedy 12 years. The long-time open-micer is usually a sad story. It takes guts to quit comedy. As a comic, every time you talk to your family/friends, or every time you run into an old acquaintance, they ask you how the comedy thing is going. They talk you up to their friends. They say things like, "If you make it big, don't forget me." They ask if you have any jokes about them. Comedy is basically a means to get attention and quitting means you won't get that attention anymore (not to mention the immediate on stage attention). Your whole identity has become comedy, so getting out takes away your identity. Most comics are insecure, so they would rather bomb for a decade just to keep that charade going. They get used to the bombing. It stops affecting them. They get their high just from saying they're comedians. Taking the plunge out of comedy is more terrifying to them than taking the plunge into comedy.

I guess I have more sympathy for those guys. They're flawed to begin with, and the only thing comedy has done is deepen their flaws. But, they're probably never going to graduate beyond the open-mic's. If you're any good, you'll surpass them soon enough. The actors often have managers and agents who have enough pull to book them at clubs and festivals, taking up real spots on real shows. That's worse to me. But if I was still competing for open-mic spots, I'd probably say the opposite.

Patric O'Neil reminded me of the "Cringe Humor"/Tough Crowd group that has come out of New York. Some comics like O'Neil and Jim Norton seem to be able to do that sort of humor because it doesn't feel forced, it inexplicably comes from an honest place. But I'm sure they can't always get away with it. What goes through your mind when you see an open-mic comic using "shock" material? I'm not one for censorship but what advice might you have for someone just starting out that tells you that they have a "really good date-rape joke".

When I see a new comic going the shock route, I think he's looking for an identity before he has found his voice. It's something we all do, but while one guy does it with rape jokes, the next guy might do it by emulating Dave Attell or Demetri Martin. I did it by being over-the-top dirty. Most people outgrow that at some point, but you'll never be able to talk them out of it. It has to happen naturally. I would never tell a new comic he has to be clean or safe. But I would tell him to question his own motives and draw honest conclusions.

There's not a whole lot of rebellion in comedy these days, so if you have that rebellious streak, you don't have too many current role models. You might be flying blind a little bit. Before you have an act, the most rebellious thing you can do is to make a crowd feel uncomfortable, and that's where the cringe element comes in. It's a defense mechanism. It's "I'm such a badass, but I'm not funny yet. So I'll make it the crowd's fault. They're too conservative to laugh at the real shit. And by real shit, I mean ten minutes on pussy farts." You have a built in excuse for bombing. The same thing happens in alternative comedy, except replace pussy farts with unicorns.

Meanwhile, with Patrice especially, there's a ton of insight beyond the shock stuff. In fact, I don't find him very shocking at all. But for a new comic who's into Patrice, it's a lot harder to emulate insight than it is to emulate shock value. So they take what they can.

Your set destroyed at Jay Hastings' Roast. It seemed to come right into your wheel-house, is that when its almost too easy for you? What is your process for writing jokes in general?

I actually forgot to do what I felt was my best joke at Jay's roast, so like the whore comic I am, I've been trying to slip it into conversations ever since. Of course, slipping jokes into conversations is the type of thing people bashed Jay for during his roast. So, at the risk of being like Jay, here's the joke (only DC comics will get it):

I asked Jay why he wanted to move to Seattle. He said, "Well, it's always been my dream to get into the DC Comedy Fest."

Okay, maybe not the best joke, but my favorite. That joke wasn't even about Jay, but that's what I like about roasts. You get to bash everybody. That's definitely in my wheelhouse. Partly because my brother and I grew up insulting each other endlessly, but also, during my open-mic days at Wiseacres, the comics would bash each other relentlessly. If we followed one of our friends on the show, we would usually open our sets by hammering the previous guy. It became part of the routine...what am I going to say about the last guy. Every week was like a miniature roast.

It took a couple days for me to write anything for Jay's roast, but once I got over that hump, the jokes came pretty easily. In general, I have two basic processes for writing jokes. Usually, when I come up with a premise, I just bounce the idea around in my head for a few days or even weeks. I may or may not try working it out on stage. After a few weeks, the final bit just sort of emerges and it's done. Not a word written down. In fact, I don't have the final versions of most of my bits written down. If I ever fall down, hit my head and lose my memory, I'll be fucked.

The second process is pretty much the opposite. Overwriting. I'll take a premise and basically write a five paragraph essay on it. I'll explore a few different angles and try to draw some kind of conclusion. After a few days on the shelf, I'll read it back. Usually as I read it, I'll notice openings for tangents and punchlines. I'll probably wind up using about a paragraph total for the bit, but the extra writing will open up a lot of doors. That process usually yields better bits, and yet I use it less frequently.

Part 3 coming tomorrow...

Interview with Comedian Andy Kline (Part One)

2009-04-26T21:58:00.010-04:00

The first time I saw Andy Kline perform was while I was taking the stage for the second time ever at Wise-Acres back in 2002. To give you a sense of where I was in the development of my craft, I wore a Hawaiian shirt because I thought it felt more like, "Hey I'm a comedian!". I had no idea what I was doing. Kline on the other hand, knows exactly what he's doing. My first impression of Kline was that I immediately envied his voice and attitude, everything was said with authority and most of it, if not all of it was honest. He is one of those comics that I really want to listen to when he takes the stage, a rare talent in the area, someone that writes jokes as well as he packages and delivers them.

You have been doing stand-up over ten years? When and where did you first start? What was the experience like?

I grew up in Leesburg, VA back when it was still considered a small town, and have lived in Northern Virginia most of my life. I moved to NYC for four years (2004 to 2008), but wound up getting sick of living there. Hence, my return to VA.

I really have two "start dates" with comedy. The first was March 1994. I did the Wednesday open-mic at the now-defunct Comedy Cafe on K street in DC (It became a Fast Eddie's...there was no public outcry). I had always been somewhat interested in comedy, and I felt like I was funny, but I was also incredibly shy. I was so shy, the mere act of calling the club to ask about the sign up process was painful. Despite the nerves, my first time on stage actually went okay. Not great, but I got a few laughs. My second time, I destroyed. Third time, I bombed horribly, but some of the comics laughed. From that point on, I became sort of a darling on the local open-mic scene. My act was incredibly dirty (this was before "Def Jam" was an insult), but crossed with a shy, deadpan delivery. Picture Steven Wright talking about bodily functions. Plus, I was 19 and looked 15. I stood out. Most of the comics who ran their own shows liked me and gave me spots. But, I quickly found out I was what I call "open-mic funny." I wasn't really "weekend funny," and had no idea how to get to that point. I treated comedy like a hobby for a couple years until all the local rooms started closing. Then, I drifted away from it for a while.

My second start date was spring 1998. I went to a new open-mic at Wiseacres on a Wednesday, did a set (the old bits), and met a few first-time comics. Over the next couple weeks, I met a few more comics who were just starting out. We all became close friends immediately. Probably nine of us. We hung out and talked comedy constantly - literally every available moment. And every person in that group had a ton of talent and potential. I was the only one with comedy experience, so I knew how rare it was for that much talent to just show up and start comedy at the same time. We would actually say things like, "This is like the Seattle music scene in the early 90's, but for comedy." Self importance is only silly in retrospect.

That whole summer was an awakening for me. It's when I really became a comedian. Thanks to my new clique, I quickly found my voice and learned how to articulate my opinions in a funny way. To this day, when I write a bit, I'm trying to impress those guys. I still feel like if you put us all in a room together right now, I'd be at my funniest. No group of comics I've hung out with since has had that kind of chemistry or affect on me.

I have a feeling I sort of know what you are getting at, could you elaborate on "open-mic funny" vs. "weekend funny"?

At an open-mic, you have a very short set and the crowd has probably seen a bunch of comics already. Since the crowd is already somewhat jaded, the context of your set is different. You can make fun of the previous comics. You can say something extremely shocking or dirty and get laughs because of how ridiculous it is. You can get away with rape and abortion jokes. You can also throw out a half-written premise that only has one punchline. It might get a huge laugh, but instead of finishing the bit, you can say, "Come back next week. I'll actually write that one," and get a laugh from that. You can take a prolonged look at your notes, then blurt out an absurd observation. The odd timing alone will bring laughs.

On weekend shows ("real" shows), the crowd probably isn't going to follow you into edgier/dirtier stuff unless you've earned their trust first (or you're famous). They also won't tolerate too many half-written bits before losing interest. They get restless if you thumb through your notes on stage. On the weekend, you need a polished act that flows together. Within that, you can take some liberties and go off on tangents, but the crowd has paid money to laugh, so they need to believe you can bring it. I've spoken to lots of people after paid shows who've said, "I can't believe that guy was looking at notes on stage," or "That guy seemed drunk. That's unprofessional." Obviously, a lot of those people are full of shit, but that's where they're coming from.

At a real show, the crowd has expectations that you need to fulfill. At an open-mic, their lack of expectations are enough to get you a few big laughs. It's just a different set of buttons that you need to push.

That's really cool to hear you talk about a group of comics that supported each other, so often I think people assume and can make, stand-up a strictly solo endeavor. Sounds like a group that spawned confidence but with the necessary feedback?

The feedback was the key. We were brutally honest with each other. It wasn't the stereotypical support group mentality. You could go on stage and absolutely destroy, then have three people in the back telling you what you did wrong. We were rarely satisfied with just doing well. Of course, part of that was due to the lack of open-mic's. For a long time, Wiseacres was the only place to get a spot, and that was only once a week. Between sets, we had a week to micromanage every little aspect of our bits before returning to the stage. When Wednesday came around, the stage time was extremely valuable. We didn't have the luxury of saying, "I'm just going to phone it in tonight. I'm getting on three more times this week anyway." The people who did that; the ones who, a minute into a set, shrugged their shoulders and said, "I don't care...I'm just fucking around" - they remained mediocre.

Your experience in New York, beneficial? What did you get sick of?

I'm a better comic now than I was before I moved, but I don't think New York had much to do with it. I think it's just the natural growth that comes with time. You can get on stage a lot in NYC, but much of that stage time is in front of empty chairs or jaded comics. Unless you're passed at a few rooms that actually give you quality spots, you're not going to develop much. Either that or you'll develop a really narrow, specific persona that isn't broad enough to command a crowd for more than fifteen minutes. You have to get out of the city and stretch out a bit.

The real goal of moving to New York is to get noticed by the industry. I've always done well with crowds, and other comics generally like me a lot. But, the industry barely knows I exist. I've never drawn the attention of any noteworthy managers or agents. In that sense, New York was a total failure for me. Part of that was my fault. NYC is a city for hustlers and I'm no Rick Ross. I'm terrible at networking.

There's also a randomness in NYC that makes you want to claw your eyes out. Have you ever been in line at the bank for a half hour, then when you get to the front, the teller says, "actually, you need to be in that line," and points to a longer line? That's what it's like. You can work your ass off for months to make something happen only to have it completely fall apart in a day. There are tons of comics in NYC who have the same story. "I spent eight months trying to get in with that club...the guy really liked me...then one day, he stopped returning my calls. That was two years ago." You can get lucky and make good connections, but it's rarely a meritocracy. There's always someone higher than you who has half the talent. And nobody knows how it happened. Also, when a booker says, "You're funny, but we've already got funny white guys," you can't help but to feel like cattle. Things like that killed my motivation in New York.

As far as living there, I liked a couple things about the city, but I much prefer Virginia. I miss the pizza. I don't miss the piss.

Do you still feel like you're growing/evolving in your own comedy?

The growth is a lot more subtle now. In the early days, I could look at a tape of myself from a year ago and see obvious changes. Now, last years tape looks pretty much like this years. I used to be more self aware about my growth, especially as a performer. I would go onstage and intentionally try to sound angrier. The next week, I would say it more with a smile. Then, maybe slow it down or speed it up. From each one of those lessons, I could piece together elements of performance that worked better for me; things I would have never thought to try unless I forced them.

At this point, I don't think I've grown too much as a performer in a long time. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are and I play to them. I'm probably looser now, and more willing to improvise, but not in any obvious way. Any notable growth that takes place now is in my writing. I go through stretches where I try to get more ambitious and make larger points in my bits. Sometimes it works, often it fails. But that's where I push myself now.

As a writer, it's easy to test yourself. When you write a new bit, ask yourself if you could have written that bit a year ago. Be honest. When you're first starting out, the answer is probably no. As you gain experience, it's harder to draw the same conclusion. You have peaks and valleys, and you often plateau. Right now, I feel like I've plateaued a little bit. I haven't written anything in a while that makes me fell like I've taken a big step forward. But, I've been thinking a lot bigger lately, so it's only a matter of time before that seeps into my act. Early on, the stagnation can freak you out. After a while though, you realize it's just part of the growing pains and it'll pass. I don't think about it consciously anymore. Every now and then, I just realize I've grown a little.

As far as growth, do you still feel like you learn watching other "A" room comics? Or has the veil been revealed far too often and for too long? Anybody that comes through that you say to yourself, "I can't miss his/her set".

First off, it's just as important to know what you hate as it is to know what you like. Watching bad comedy can be as enlightening as watching your favorites. I still watch A room headliners with a critical eye. I mostly look at how they initially take the stage and how they introduce new topics. Segue's are often forgettable. Once you're into a bit, the crowd doesn't even remember how you got there. When a segue stands out, it's usually because it was clumsy. With the best comics, transitions are generally seamless, so you have to make a real effort to spot them. I look at little things like that.

I also check out the way comics use their voices and bodies. For example, a comic who moves around a lot will usually stop moving on the punchline. They'll lean forward slightly, too. Also, if you watch a show at an A club, you'll often notice that the feature talks louder than the host, and the headliner talks louder than the feature. The more polished you are, the more authority you have over the crowd. Not that headliners are shouting or anything, they just have a more commanding presence. I also love watching the top comedians handle hecklers. I'm particularly fascinated by that.

You should never take another comics jokes, but you can sometimes take a piece of their mannerisms or vocal rhythms. Just not in an obvious way. Right now, the must-see comics for me are Bill Burr, Marc Maron, and Louis CK (though it's hard to see him in a club these days). I wish I could see more of Dave Attell and Patrice O'Neal, but I never seem to catch them. Also, I never miss anything from Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle.

(Part 2 coming soon...)

2009-04-26T00:11:00.001-04:00

Bea Arthur- 1922-2009

She took being the punchline as well as she could deliver the deadpan

Special Edition Show, May 1 - The First 100 DAZE

2009-04-25T19:19:00.003-04:00

Join Planet Washington at The Westin City Center, 1400 M Street NW 20036 The Monticello Ballroom, 8 PM - 9:30 PM Friday!
$20. Group Rates Available. (Show scheduled for WNDC for this date cancelled)

Ted Alexandro at DC Improv 4/24-4/26

2009-04-24T15:53:00.001-04:00

Click here to buy tickets

Interview with: Hip-Hop Basement's Mr. Mark

2009-04-20T12:04:00.010-04:00

We caught up with Mr. Mark from Hip-Hop's basement for a short interview. You can catch Mr. Mark's contributor, Mark Pagan, with Washington Improv Theater's group, "Caveat".

You have been in the DC area for how long, past and present? Like, I grew up around here and all. But I was away for about 9 years. That's sounds all mysterious and shit. I didn't get locked up or nothing. I almost got caught for putting a C&C Music Factory single in my jansport back in the day at Sam Goody. But, there is a real problem with incarceration in this country. We tend to think of our society as holistic, but it's all a facade and shit. I'm jonesin' to meet Howard Zinn one of these days to talk about Eldridge Cleaver's Primeval Mitosis theory. Could you like hook a brother up with like a way to do some sort of roundtable discussion?

Other than all that, I been back in DC for three years, son.

Word. You know, I'm sort out of the Howard Zinn-Noam Chomsky loop, but I think I could possibly get you a talk with Ward Churchill, he's dying for someone to listen to him these days. If you could hold another sort of round-table right now? What might be the topic and who would you have at the table? Right now, my mom. I need some intervention. She like found condoms in my room and she doesn't believe that i was holding them for my friend Charlie. Now, I can't use the car and she won't let me hang out with Charlie. She thinks he's a bad influence. The same thing argument happened at my 30th birthday party. She left Buca de Beppo in a huff, man. Besides her, I'd like to talk with Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian to see what he's up to. Oh, and Robert McNamara over the state of military occupation in foreign territories. And shit.

Man, you are heavy into the world scene and bring the knowledge--for someone that is living with their mother? Which is all good, hey we all have to make sacrifices right now, especially artists, but your mom is giving you the business for finding condoms in your room? Your 30 years old, why you letting her play you like that? I don't know. Maybe, I just feel bad because her cooking gives a lot of people indigestion. We go out a lot to eat and all. It's tough on her psyche. Moms have a hard time with that stuff....cooking being good and all. I tell her how good her food is, but she doesn't believe it. She can hook up some mac and cheese.

Word, word, word, that clears up some things. So whats this current project all about? What was the impetus? Is this just a solo operation? What would you like to see possibly come from it?

Well, to be honest, it was a garage sale that set all this off. Like, I was having to get rid of mad stuff after years of being all around. I laid up at mom's crip and found all this old stuff that I forgot about. So, yeah, it's a one person operation. I decided to make a diary of sorts about my life, Mark's life (Mark Pagan), you know, like our life (everyone)...mxing it up with hip hop and other elements of nostalgia. Just tryin' to figure out who we is...I mean, "are." No let's stick with "is." I hope that doesn't sound too elitist or nothing. You tell me, ok? 'Cause I'm just like you. You know, I feel really bad about mentioning that theft earlier. I'm not tryin' to validate petty crime in our youth. I'd just like people to be entertained and spread the word. Hopefully people like it enough to share it and share with each other. I like peoples.

Mr. Mark, I have had the privilege of having some solid conversations with you in the past, could you tell the people about some of the wild buys and steals that you have brought back from your travels? Any other stories you would like to share? I don't want to incriminate myself, dog. Look, I'm not trying to condone criminality in any form. But, I can't lie...I've walked the line. See, I been going down to South America quite often to bring back merchandise. Know what I'm sayin'? Tired of hidin' it. Whenever I'm in Lima I hit up some "markets" in Miraflores. Fresh stuff, man. Really hot. I hooked up 2 seasons of Charles in Charge, the best of El Chavo del 8, the complete Father Dowling Mysteries, and all ten parts of Krzysztof Kieslowski's religious parable, The Decalogue, for $15! All on DVD. Well, one disc accidentally has a few episodes of Nightline on it for some reason. But that's when you hit up your distributor. I have a number and all but my mom won't let me make long distance phone calls here. But I don't mind the Nightline too much. It's pretty informative and balanced.

If Mr. Mark could collaborate on any sort of artistic project, who would you collaborate with past or present? What would it be? And what would be the title of the collaboration? That's really tough to say. I wouldn't want to bring anybody back from the dead because they might be all comfortable up there. I can't really afford the kind of amenities that the afterlife provides. What if you can have all you can eat grapes there? I mean, that's a huge catering expense, dog. Especially if they were already celebrities down here. Yo, they gonna come back to earth super spoiled.
If I had to do it, I'd get John Ritter, he seemed pretty nice and he did die a little too early. Um, some old Memphis horn players, like one's who were studio musicians for Stax Records 'cause they were probably underpaid and need some credit. MC Trouble because she died too early too and she had a nice smile. Uhh, Franz Kafka 'cause he probably has a lot to say. John Cassavetes because we need a visual alcoholic. And Julia Child to hook up catering. Wait, Bob Ross too...album cover or art for the performance. Oh yeah, Cesar Chavez and Angela Davis as promotion. I guess it would be a soulful musical about the industrial revolution. Something called "Aren't We There Yet?" Wait, can I come up with a few more ideas? This has got me thinking. Would Gene Wilder be ok as security?

Answered beautifully...well, this about closes things up for us, as always a pleasure Mr. Mark. Anything you would like to leave our readers with? Any plugs or upcoming events? Just thanks and all. Take a look at the site, hiphopmomsbasement.com and keep it close 'cause there's gonna be lots of stuff going on real soon. Oh yeah, artomatic. I'll be there this year. Again, sorry about talking about stealing. I don't want that promoted.

Planet Washington (Set You Free)

2009-04-17T13:51:00.007-04:00

Come into your planet soul:

PLANET WASHINGTON with Ken Rynne

wicked funny parodies, improv, sing along
The Westin
1400 M St NW
Saturday 4/18, 8 pm
$20 Tix: Neil 202 333 3599

...and Ken's mentor Mark Russell is coming this Saturday ... so laugh it up!!!

Next Public Show, May 1,
Women's National Democratic Club
www.PlanetWashington.com

From Ken:

Nothing much for a satirist to laugh at or sing about tomorrow night. Taxes. Tea. Tea Bags. Tea Bagging (heard it once or twice). Pirates on the high seas. NY Governor (D- Emperor's Club) Love Client No 9's Big Come Back. Double Entendres. Single Entendres. Alaska Governor Tells All (you mean there's MORE?). TX Governor talks Secession. OIl man sells wind mills. POTUS runs with foreign dog - Bo Obama - The Drama. Is Castro Convertible? Talent show contestant winning hearts with heart-winning solo from Les Mis entitled "Win Their Hearts." Outcry over Release of Torture Memos - but not over Memos or Torture. And wat else.....oh, Tea Bagging.

For the latest up to the twitter
musical political satire,

Yours in jest,
Planet Washington

We Just Sold-Out...

2009-04-16T14:46:00.003-04:00

Now where's the gold. Where's the gold Mikey!? Yeah, Mikey where's the gold!?

We are going to be receiving some clips here and there from the guys at Salient Media (clip in upper-left-hand corner and below), please feel free to weigh-in with your vote or leave a comment here or send it to me via email and I'll post it. I'm curious on thoughts from both comics and non-comics on the somewhat-mission statement/caption for the series "Comics Without Boarders":

"Comics Without Borders brings you the best comics from around the world who aren't afraid to push the boundaries. A showcase of multi-cultural stand-up comedians hosted by Russell Peters."

They are looking for feedback...

Check It

2009-04-13T12:51:00.002-04:00

Sent from WIT's Mark Pagan: I'm promoting a blog by a friend, "Mr. Mark." He has put together a bit of a fun side project during this recessional time. Here are his reasons why you should look at it:

1. It's a blog with pictahs and videos. It's supposed to be like a diary and shit. 30 years of skeletal history, all closeted and coming out. But like straight. I'm sorry if I offended you with that remark.
2. There will only be 10 episodes of this videodiaryblog thing. It's like limited time only and all that.
3. I'm giving the whole thing like six months 'cause that's the way I roll.
4. I'm like exposing my soul, my thoughts to all of you.
5. If you like it, could you like show other people? It would be very validating to have that happen.

Here is the link for the first two episodes- http://hiphopmomsbasement.blogspot.com/search/label/Episodes

and the blog itself- hiphopmomsbasement.com

Type rest of the post here

Auditions!

2009-04-12T19:45:00.004-04:00

From Comedy Sportz Website in Ballston:

ComedySportz & the Blue Show are the in-house improv troupes of the Comedy Spot. Both are shortform, audience focused comedy improv shows. (Yes, similar to TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?")

COMEDYSPORTZ = clean comedy (PG) with regular weekly performances Fridays 8pm, Saturdays 7:30pm, frequent Saturday matinees for kids, and private shows upon request.

THE BLUE SHOW = "adult" comedy (R) with regular weekly performances Fridays & Saturdays at 10:00pm.

TO SIGN UP. . .
Email us at info@comedyindc.com.
Please be sure to send us your name, email & best phone number to reach you.

PLEASE BRING . . .
Any sort of headshot and resume you may have. Even a casual photograph is fine; we just want a face to put to your name.
(We don't need a professional quality photo: you can even just bring in a digital printout of a picture of you. You will be given paper on which to write down your previous stage and training experience if you don't have a resume.)
Please dress comfortably so that your clothing won't restrict your movement.

THE AUDITION . . .
Doors to the Comedy Spot will open at 7:30pm.
The audition will begin at 8:00pm.
This will be an open audition where we will run you through a variety of games we perform in our shows.

For the audition: keep your material clean so that we know you can perform a ComedySportz show. (Our improvisers perform in both shows, not just The Blue Show.)

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR . . .

Confident performers who can listen and react.

We will be looking to see how well your words and actions onstage show that you are building upon the offers made by your scene partners.

We are looking for strong character and scenework - not forced jokes at the expense of the story. And remember, we are also looking to see that you can be entertaining, and clean.

New to improv? Not a problem. If you can play well with others onstage - we can teach you the games. Just portray confidence onstage and listen and react to the people onstage with you.

Already performing with a troupe? No worries, you are only expected to perform as often as your schedule allows. We highly encourage our improvisers to perform with as many local groups as possible.

AFTER THE AUDITION . . .
We will email everyone who auditions by 12pm Wednesday.

People who are asked back will then be put on an up to 8-week training/probation period during which new members are encouraged to come to as many practices and shows as possible.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: are every Tuesday 7:30pm @ the Comedy Spot.

What's Been Going On...?

2009-04-12T12:50:00.010-04:00

Ben busy of late, its been hard keeping up with updates and just generally getting a feel for what has been going on...so if you would like to send in an update with anything that you have been doing, shoot it on over to me: mikaelljohnson@gmail.com

So...what I have been aware of:

Washington Improv Theater crown's "Not Mad, Disappointed" as the champion of their 40-team F.I.S.T tournament that lasted just over a month. The team featured, Karin Hammerberg, Colin Murchie, and Michelle Guardino Swaney--who was a part of the '08 winning team as well. No one likes Michelle anymore.
Seaton Smith (Pictured)releases the premiere of "Annoy Charlie Smith", 10-episode web-series, that was launced at Solly's Tavern.
Aparna Nancherla produces "Desert Island Comedy" a two-show set featuring: JoyseyGirls4Ya, Superbest, Mythical Newsroom, Jsem Rad Je Jsem Tady (Mikael Johnson), and Mike Duffy
D.M.V Comedy Competition ($$$$$), a lot of shows and a lot of dough at stake to the winner, check in with Chris Hayes for more information: doogizzle@hotmail.com
New Open-Mics, check posts below this one!
ARTOMATIC's Registration has begun!

Tom-Tom's Wednesdays Open-Mic

2009-04-06T23:54:00.004-04:00

From Dr. Love:

The new open mic at Tom Tom's is great, I love it. The cheap booze has nothing to do with it, though it don't hurt.

Comics: You're !&#$#@ing up if you don't try this show. Running two doors down is another open mic at Heaven and Hell---you can park once and knock down two open mics. This may be a first in the history of standup. I checked out the other room and it's fun, well worth doing.

Details: Tom Tom's, 2333 18th St NW
(in Adam's Morgan, between N Belmont Rd & N Kalorama Sq)
Washington, DC 20009

Shows will be EVERY WEDNESDAY @ 9 O'CLOCK (yeah, nine...that's when the crowd showed up last week).

Show up a few minutes earlyish to sign up; also, parking's a bitch, and you might want to allow for that.

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO MC WRITE ME BACK. This goes for the Palace of Wonders show as well; next Palace show is a week from today, April 12. Time change there, too; new time for Palace of Wonders shows is 9 p.m. every other Sunday night.

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72 Film Fest and 48 Hour Film Project

2009-04-02T11:34:00.005-04:00

While 48 Hour Film Fest has closed its team registration, the 72 Film Fest held up in Frederick, Maryland each year is just getting started, check here for details. If you missed the team registration for the 48 Hour Film Fest that is going to be held May 1st here in Washington then shoot us an email and we possibly can get you hooked up on someone's roster. These film festivals are a great way to meet folks if you are looking to produce any kind of promotional or creative shorts for yourself down the road. You meet a good camera guy, someone who can edit and few good actors it can do a lot to raise your own bar.

Loving a New Open Mic (TONIGHT)

2009-04-01T00:46:00.003-04:00

From Mr. Loving:
Hi kids,

I'm just back from traveling--a lot of people here couldn't reach me since my laptop broke and my phone is not smart. Sorry for the delay and I hope this answers the new people's questions.

First---no more Thursday night Peyote Cafe. The guy loved it too much and wanted it at a different bar. So as of this morning THE NEW OPEN MIC IS WEDNESDAYS, 8 O'CLOCK, AT TOM TOM'S IN ADAMS MORGAN (2333 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009). It's a better venue for what we do and will be a lot of fun, so I hope you can make it.

Second---no more Peyote Cafe (for now, see above).

Third---New people: Some of you asked about details. They're few. Mainly "don't go over ten" and "be funny." Added points if you drink--I love alcoholics. If you have any other questions email me.

A'ight, see you there,

robb 703-399-5398

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Classes Start for Washington Improv Theater

2009-03-27T14:54:00.002-04:00

From WIT website:

The reviews are in and the word is out: WIT is the area's premier improv troupe. But WIT players do more than perform improv with great expertise; our players bring the same passion and strengths to teaching improv.

Discover a new sense of freedom and play. Meet other fun and interesting people. Get away from the grind of the scripted city. Our comprehensive curriculum brings a wealth of skills and experience to everyone.

People from all fields take our classes to gain experience thinking on their feet and to unleash their own creativity.

Register now! Find out what one of WIT's improv classes can do for you by clicking on a listing above for more information or checking out our frequently asked questions page.

To be notified when the next round of registrations starts, email topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com

Nerds!

2009-03-20T01:33:00.002-04:00

The Comedy Nerds are hard at work as only nerds know how to be: another episode of the podcast with Mike Blejer today!

And an interview with Aparna Nancherla

New Open Mic in Winchester, Virginia

2009-03-15T22:13:00.008-04:00

Starting 3/23/09 and will be every first and third Monday. Great concert venue. The Virginia Brewing Company is located in the renovated ZeroPak cultural and arts complex at 580 N. Cameron Street in the historic apple district of Winchester, Virginia. Sign up 7-8 show starts at 8:30 venue opens at 4:00 for dinner and drinks. contact me jkincaidcomedy@gmail.com
www.virginiabrewingcompany.com

The 5th Estate

2009-03-13T10:32:00.003-04:00

There are arguments for both sides and in this format, on this stage, Stewart is going to win every time (I would love to see inside the research process of the Daily Show staff). However, what can not be denied is that Stewart has become the voice of the 5th Estate, the branch that is keeping an eye on the press/media who are supposed to be keeping the checks on the legislative, judicial and executive tiers of what makes up our governing body.

Another example from a while back which is just fun to watch:

No Money Down!

2009-03-10T13:24:00.004-04:00

Free Intro to Improv Workshops

From Washington Improv Theater

Register: washingtonimprovtheater.com

Info: topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com or 202-204-7772

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to speak and act with spontaneity, confidence and humor without a second thought? Improv gives you the tools to get yourself out of bad situations and into awesome ones. These free, low-stress workshops focus on creativity, communications and teamwork and are taught by our enthusiastic and professional instructors who establish a fun and trusting atmosphere.

Former students said:

“I loved this class”

“Great opportunity for expression, meet cool people and build confidence.”

Free Intro to Improv Workshops:

Monday March 16 7:00 – 9:00pm

Tuesday March 17 7:00 – 9:00pm

Wednesday March 18 7:00 – 9:00pm

Thursday March 19 7:00 – 9:00pm

Sunday March 22 7:00 – 9:00pm

Location: The Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW is located at the corner of 13^th and V Sts, NW - one block north of U Street-Cardozo Metro Station (13^th Street exit).

DC Comedy Spotlight: Sonny Fuller

2009-03-10T09:25:00.009-04:00

Today's DC Spotlight comic is actually from Baltimore. Sonny's comedy can be endearingly crass (but has great clean stuff, too) and blunt, always with sharp, unique, and silly insights. I love me some Sonny.

And you will too, if you check him out this friday (3/13) at the DC Improv's Homegrown Comedy Showcase at 8 pm.

Where did you first perform?

The first show i did was about 3 and a half yrs ago when the comedy factory was still doing the Funniest Person in Baltimore contest. I actually did pretty good and actually got to the next round with some of the most horrendous material of all time, so after that I automatically assumed I was about to take over the Maryland comedy game. I remember driving to the comedy factory for the second round confident as hell like "Im gonna destroy these other comics, fuck'em" of course at the show I pretty much ate my own shit for five straight minutes, just blank stares, nothing. That was a nice reality check for me.

When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?

I always liked telling jokes when I was a little fella the "3 men walk into blah blah blah" type of shit and as I got older in middle and high school I was pretty good at making fun of people to make myself feel better. I was a bit of an asshole, one time I made a fat boy with tits, big juicy fatboy tits cry in the middle of class. I really do regret doing that to people I'm pretty sure I did it for attention which is probably why I'm doing comedy now, so basically I always wanted to make people laugh now I have a mic.

(click to read more Sonny)

Who were some of your earliest influences?

George Carlin, Dennis Miller, Chris Rock and now guys like louis C.K. , Bill Burr, and Jim Norton.

What about them captivated you?

Dennis Miller because of the way his jokes are written or put together, I always thought he was a jerkoff and never really paid him any attention until I saw his last special "All In" and I laughed my ass off, he's a good guy to watch if your new and need an idea of how to write a "joke".

George Carlin because he really said whatever was on his mind no matter how crazy it was, that is something I really want to do more of. He would also be able to talk about the most brutal and serious shit and even if it was something I didn't agree with he found a way to make me laugh. When those beheading videos where on the net I watched one and it really fucked my head up, I couldnt get the shit out my head. Then I was watching Carlin do a bit on it where he said " Who cares about some mercenary civilian contractor from Oklahoma who gets his head cut off? Fuck 'em. Hey Jack, you don't want to get your head cut off? Stay the fuck in Oklahoma. They aint cuttin' of heads in Oklahoma, far as I know." I was smiling like "oh ok" their was a real "who gives a fuck" way he delivered that joke and it was hilarious to me even though I was disgusted by the actual event. Carlin is easily my favorite comic, now let me stop sucking his dick.

What was your first paid gig?

I'm not 100% sure what my first paid show was but I believe I owe it all to everyones favorite negro Seaton Smith. Seaton had vouched for me with this dude in Hagerstown, so I get the spot and drive all the way from East Baltimore to Hagerstown, a 3 hr round trip, for I believe 40 bucks!! Thanks alot Seaton, get a haircut!

Do you prefer to write on or off stage?

I do a bit of both, off stage I'll write down ideas or just punchlines I really dont write word for word I just take the main idea and figure out the setup on stage, and if I get a completely new idea while I'm up their I'll try it out depending on the situation.

Do you enjoy the process of writing?

I dont really sit down and write very often but when I do I hate it, at my real job I do deliveries so I'm by myself all day and I have alot of time to think up the genius material that most of you have been blessed to hear.

What about performing live do you enjoy?

I really like when I get a chance to do a new line or bit because you never know what kind of reaction your gonna get, could be a big laugh, could be a blank stare, it's exciting to see what the result is of something you wrote or stole. And as a quick side note I really find enjoyment in watching other comics, especially people I'm friends with BOMB, the best part is the akward transition into the next joke, have you ever heard comics sigh "ughh" after dropping a turd, the funniest shit ever, so if you catch me eating it feel free to laugh.

Do you ever want to convey a message?

Yeah I would like to, but it's such a thin line between conveying a message in a funny smart way and being a preachy, too cool for the room douche bag. Most of my stuff now is my actual opinion or feeling on a subject and some of it might have a little message to it but I think I need a little more experience to really go that route. What I'm doing now is stuff I like, I had a few jokes that I hated performing but I would use them just for the laugh and I just felt like an ass afterwards so I pretty much trashed them. I know sometimes I might have to compromise a little for the crowd but I try not to sell my soul for a laugh.

What's hacky to you?

For the most part anybody with the phrase "of comedy" in their stage name, whatever "_________ of comedy" you think you are, your probably wrong. As far as material most of the subjects that people relate to have been done, you just have to try and be original as possible with your premise and don't be a thief. Or you can try and find a way to make Stop Signs and Paper plates funny, "Hey do you know what's funny about stop signs", nothing, nothing is really funny about stop signs I dont care how quirky your delivery is. I cant call it, if your a hack you probably already know it unless your one of the delusional ones.

Were your parents supportive of you doing comedy?

When I started I was pretty much on my own already, I was 26 with a baby on the way so support from mommy and daddy wasn't really as important to me as some of you young punks. If I did start earlier though my mother would support anything I wanted to do even if it was gay porn and my pops is a lifelong smackhead who can barely support his self, he's really a good dude though.

Where do you plan on moving next?

I don't really have any plans to move anytime soon, I need to be alot funnier and have alot more material before I do any drastic shit. If I do end up going anywhere I guess the only choices are LA or NY and I think I would fit in better up New York.

How do you feel about the comedy scene in DC/Baltimore? What are some differences you've noticed between DC and Baltimore?

Maryland seems to be a good place to start out in comedy, theirs a nice amount of comics and a nice amount of rooms its a good place to get your feet wet but your gonna be hard pressed to live off comedy out here. I prefer Baltimore crowds for the most part, in alot (not all) of DC rooms I feel like I have to tip toe around the crowd and I rarely get that feeling in Baltimore, I can pretty much be myself. I can do a ghetto room in Baltimore where I'm the only white face in the joint and be perfectly comfortable but put me in a Liberal slightly homosexual Adams Morgan crowd and I get nervous for some reason. To be honest though I don't come to DC enough to make any real judgements but I'm gonna come down their alot more in the future.

What would you change (about either scene)?

I wouldn't change anything really, it's good that their are some differences in the types of crowds, if it was too much of one thing that's not gonna make anybody a better comedian. We all have our crowd preferences but at the end of the day a comedian is somebody who can go into any room and make it work, myself I dont like to tip toe for a crowd but I do have that option, sometimes I say 'fuck it" and I choose not to use it. God bless you if you read this long winded drivel.

New Open Mic, Loving It

2009-03-10T09:13:00.008-04:00

New open mic, starts THIS THURSDAY (MARCH 12TH) at 8 o'clock.

Location: Peyote Cafe, 2319 18th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009 (Adams Morgan). Link: http://www.thepeyotecafe.com/peyote.htm

Email robbloving@gmail for sign up.

*Your set may last up to three days and is under no circumstance, even for religious ceremony or practice, protected under Federal law.

New awesome web-series!

2009-03-05T11:09:00.004-05:00

Created by Seaton Smith, starring himself and several local comics!

Alternative Comedy Festival, May 2009

2009-03-05T10:22:00.005-05:00

Check this out: http://www.altcomfestival.com/schedule.php

If this schedule's line-up were in DC, I'm sure it would do just as well as, "The Washington DC Comedy Festival"...With acts like Jeneane Garofalo, Rob Riggle, Michael Ian Black, and UCB Tour Company that sounds like comedy that is not underground but pretty alive and well. For the most part that line-up and its supporting acts (Eugene Mirman, Patton Oswalt in the past) are all current and at the forefront of the voice that is American comedy today.

Hastings was Toasted and Roasted

2009-02-28T13:28:00.008-05:00

To all that came out to the DC Improv Lounge last night:"thank-you". And to all the comics: you guys really delivered. Hopefully we will have more time to recap and if anyone wants to submit a summary of the experience and/or photos please feel free to send them to us. Thank-you Kyle Martin for organizing the event and thanks to all the comics who really brought down the hammer on Mr. Hastings, fellow comics and well...just know, Aparna and Hampton, that you are loved.

Joke of the night goes to Andy Kline's
"Less Than suit" regarding Travis Irvine's work with Matthew Lesko, with Justin Schlegal's "Breast Milk" finisher right next to it. Please feel free to submit other favorites.

FISTful of PAIN!

2009-02-26T12:24:00.003-05:00

It's finally here! Washington Improv Theater's Annual Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament! I KNOW!

For the next 5 weeks starting today, yes, TODAY, 40 overqualified teams will battle it out for champion status and bragging rights as well as Facebook photo tagging rights.

Check out the teams with many familiar names and faces, the bracket, and buy tickets here!

It's going to be a world of crushing defeat and good, ol'-fashioned fun! Both at the same time.

Did Wednesdays Really Need to Get Hotter People?

2009-02-25T16:14:00.003-05:00

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS JUST GOT EVEN HOTTER
THE ALL NEW COMEDY & LADIES NIGHT EACH & EVERY WEDNESDAY!

WoW C AFÉ &

WINGERY

800 E. Shoppers Way

Largo, MD. 20774

301-324-4969

(@ THE BLVD NEXT TO THE MAGIC JOHNSON THEATRE)

FEATURING

ALYCIA COOPER AND FRIENDS such as Queen Aishah, Stacey Carver, Eddie Bryant, Mike Brooks, Lawrence Owens, to name a few!

Featured Comic on "BET's Comic View," NBC's "Last Comic Standing", Comedy Central's "Wanda Does It," Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed, several E! Entertainment, and VH-1 clips shows, as well as BET's "Oh Drama." Jamie Foxx's Sirius Satellite Radio Channel, The Foxxhole. She has written for The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Russell Simmons One World Music Beat, and UPN's hit sitcom, "The Parker's," She holds the title of the "first female audience "warm-up" person for several sitcoms; including "The Parker's," "Girlfriends," "Wanda at Large," and "The Tyra Banks Show."

In May of 2004, Alycia was featured in "Essence Magazine" as one to watch!

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The Forever Burning Bush

2009-02-25T16:02:00.002-05:00

Hexagon 2009: What So Proudly We Bailed

We are musical, we are satirical, we are theatrical. We are Hexagon.

Event Info
Host:	Hexagon
Type:	Music/Arts - Performance
Network:	Global

Time and Place
Start Time:	Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 10:30pm
Location:	The Burke Theatre inside the Naval Heritage Center at The Navy Memorial
Street:	701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
City/Town:	Washington, DC

Description

Hexagon presents their 2009 show, Hexagon 2009: What So Proudly We Bailed, March 6 - April 4.

All proceeds from this year's show go to Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit group that makes free home repairs for low-income homeowners in Washington, DC.

For more information and to order tickets, visit http://www.hexagon. org.

Monday Open Mic

2009-02-24T10:01:00.005-05:00

On mondays at 9, Tony Woods runs an open mic at the jazzy Takoma Station Tavern. Checked it out last night. There were people there, comics and non. That plus Tony Woods is real funny n' all.

Sign up was around 8:45.

Takoma Station Tavern
6914 4th St NW
Washington, DC 20012

Jay. Hastings. Roast.

2009-02-23T10:20:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Kyle Martin, this friday Jay Hastings (soon to be swapping DC for Seattle) will recieve a comedic scorching from the following artists:

Mikael Johnson
Michael Foody
Jason Weems
Jon Mumma
Jake Young
Larry Poon
Ryan Conner
Doug Powell
John McBride
Tim Miller
Mike Way

...just to name eleven. He will be set ablaze by a brutal figurative roasting...so bring some metaphorical marshmallows...

?

D.C. Improv Lounge.
Friday February 27th.
Free, and starts at 8.

Palace of Wonders tonight

2009-02-15T12:11:00.004-05:00

Tonight at 8, Robb Loving's open mic at the Palace of Wonders is re-kickin' off. It will be roughly every other week, if you'd like to sign-up or get on the mailing list to know exactly when shows are, email Robb at robbloving@gmail.com.

These have been fun. There's more of a crowd than you'd think for a Sunday, and Robb's "no light, everyone gets 10 minutes" system works way better than it should. Also Robb is always in a warm and cordial mood, but hides it under a veneer of gruffness and endearing alcoholism. Just come hug him, guys. It's a good open mic.

1210 H St. NE Washington, DC 20002

p.s. i love you robb

Mike Blejer Has Been Committed

2009-02-13T21:51:00.005-05:00

Check it out here on the podcast from the Comedy Nerds

"MAN, YOU ARE METAMUCIL!"

2009-02-12T09:20:00.006-05:00

By Tyler Sonnichsen

If someone told me that the Wayans family was their biggest comedic influence, I'd either immediately suspect their comedic prowess, or, if I were having a more compassionate day, ask if they'd been in a coma since 1994. I know that Keenan, Damon, Marlon, and to a much lesser degree Shawn and Kim have enjoyed some success since then (critical or otherwise), but nothing they've done since then has been nearly as influential as their sketch comedy work on "In Living Color."

(click for more)

I practically grew up watching reruns of the show on FX every night at 10 and 10:30 during high school. "Oh, so THIS was the show that Jim Carrey used to be on!" I thought as I got home in time from the 7:15 screening of 'Liar Liar' to catch scenes of him chopping off his fingers and blowing up family homes as Fire Marshall Bill.

As popular and enduring as Carrey's characters were (female bodybuilder Vera DeMilo is timeless), my favorite character on the show, if I had to pick one, was Oswald Bates. You could tell how much fun Damon Wayans had playing a self-educated prisoner who spoke in cryptic obscenities. You could also tell how much ad-lib freedom Wayans had, compared to his other characters like Homie D Clown and Anton Jackson the legendary bum*.

What I really liked about the recurring characters that made up the foundation of ILC was that most (if not all) of them had some legitimate statement they were making. Prison work-release (Homie D Clown) and rehabilitation (Oswald) programs were ridiculous. Gossiping is bad but we all do it (Bonita Butrell) Making serious points about the struggles people faced in the ghetto while having the guts to laugh about it (Lil Magic, Lassie '90). This is a serious contrast to pretty much any of the meaningless characters in about 75% of TV sketch comedy, particularly MAD TV, which had a collection of characters so annoying and unfunny it made you want to throw your TV out the window.

So, yeah, it's easy to bash the Wayans family, but given the contributions of Keenen and Damon during the 1990's (Marlon's performance in "Requiem for a Dream" doesn't hurt, either), there's no need to flatulate your liquids or coagulate the crux of the venereal infection, ya dig?

*As a credit to Damon Wayans' Anton character, I do think the exchange at the 2 minute mark of this sketch is probably one of the funniest moments in the entire series.

Unintentional Comedy: The Room

2009-02-10T00:44:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine informed me about this cult phenomenon that has been happening in L.A. for the past couple years, the once-a-month midnight showing of "The Room". The more I read about the history of this film, the more fascinating it is to me. Find out more about the film here.

The person behind the film is Tommy Wisseau. He is the film's: writer, director, producer, starring character and the face on the film's press materials, most notably it's poster.

Wisseau first marketed the movie as a serious drama, "with the passion of Tennessee Williams" but after it's release changed it to a black comedy. Now the trailer says its, "a black comedy with the passion of Tennessee Williams". He's the Ed Wood of movie trailers.

From On Tap Magazine:

2009-02-06T13:41:00.001-05:00

Just For Laughs-Get Some from the Arlington Drafthouse

A monthly round-up of comedy in D.C. and storytelling time for adults

Photo by: Kristina Hernandez

Comedian Bryson Turner performs on a recent Thursday night at the Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse.

written by Kristina Hernandez

The Washington, D.C. metro area needs some laughs. According to Men’s Health magazine, the district ranks near the bottom of the list of the happiest cities in the country.

Sex scandals on Capitol Hill are only funny for so long.

To get some good laughs, head over to the Arlington Cinema ‘n Drafthouse for their weekly Thursday night comedy shows. For just $5, you can relax and enjoy some of the best stand-up comedians in the area. By the time the hour is up, work will be the last thing on your mind. Plus, experts say that laughter is good for your health.

The Drafthouse is easily accessible by car and there is lots of free parking. It’s a short cab ride from the Ballston or Clarendon stops and buses also run nearby.

Each 60-minute show usually feature three or four new comics who rotate every couple of months so there is new talent every week. The comics featured have a range of experience from a year or two of doing stand up comedy to more than five years.

If by some chance you think you are funny, prepare some jokes and try out at the Open Mic nights on Saturdays at the Drafthouse. If you are good enough, you could get on the rotation for the Thursday night shows.

The Drafthouse is an intimate establishment, reminiscent of a New Jersey coffeehouse, with the addition of excellent beer and tasty food. Holding about 40 people, it’s a perfect place for entertaining a small crowd and engaging them in the performance.
Will Hessler, the coordinator of the Thursday night shows and a comic himself, said D.C. is quite a tough crowd to please, compared to cities like Los Angeles, New York or Austin.

Martha Van Camp, a D.C. professional who had never been to a comedy show before, was pleasantly surprised by the comics. She said it was funny to watch the comedians get incredibly uncomfortable when no one laughed at their jokes.

“Washingtonians are probably so hard to please because it takes more than slapstick or gross comedy to make us laugh,” she said. “People are intellectual in D.C. and they want intellectual and smart jokes.”

But these comics at the Drafthouse are all funny. They won over the crowd with jokes about everything from sex and relationships to office politics to parking lot spaces at the mall. Hessler summed it up well after funnyman Bryson Turner left the stage: “Hey, let’s give it up for Bryson, who successfully spun premature ejaculation.”

So why should people come out here on a cold Thursday night? “They are definitely going to see the best comedians in the area,” said Hessler. “They are going to get their money’s worth and at least 60 minutes, sometimes more, of very funny comedians.”

Give stand up comedy a shot – you may be pleasantly surprised that five bucks in an evening are well-spent for a lot of great laughs.

Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA. 703-486-2345. www.arlingtondrafthouse.com

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New Tuesday Open Mic is Swell

2009-02-04T16:09:00.002-05:00

"Open-Mic Mouth" on Tuesdays at Solly's was a good time. Will Simpson runs it, and puts up both musicians and comics, pretty much operating it the same as the late "Live Humans" shows, but without the random set order. Only a handful of musicians were there, and a handful (in a smaller hand) of comics, but they were into it. The atmosphere's right for comedy, and it's gonna be cool to see where it goes once more people find out about it.

Also comedian Jackson Nortyst and his guitar sang some catchy jangles. What can't he do?!

Come on out around 8 on Tuesdays.

Watch or Perform Comedy Tonight at...

2009-02-03T14:17:00.005-05:00

JoJo's on U St. between 15th and 16th.

Show starts at 9.

Also, a music/comedy hybrid show is goin' down at Solly's on 11th and U, starting around 8:30.

Mary Hicks and Dave Letterman

2009-02-02T12:55:00.006-05:00

Thanks Jake for the link to the Letterman show this past Friday night.
Hicks' mother was pitch perfect with her appearance. She was gracious, forgiving, honest and even a bit funny at times.

Bill Hicks Tribute on Letterman

2009-01-30T09:09:00.003-05:00

This was passed along to me from Andy Kline about a Bill Hicks' tribute that will be on Letterman tonight. So if you're out at a bar somewhere at around 11:30 or midnight, have the bartender turn the TV to Late Night and tell everyone to shut-up for second. Or Tivo.

From tvsquad.com:

Bill Hicks was only 32 years old when he died of cancer in 1994. If you've never heard of him, or heard of him but didn't get a chance to see any of his work, tune into The Late Show with David Letterman this Friday night.

One of Letterman's guests will be Hicks' mom (the show was taped earlier this week). She'll be there to mark the 15th anniversary of Hicks' death. Now, this may seem like an odd thing for a talk show to do, have the mom of a deceased comic on, but there's special meaning behind this appearance. Just five months before his death, Hicks appeared on The Late Show and did a scathing stand-up routine (the kind he usually did) which attacked everything from religion to politics. Unfortunately, it was too hot for the show and the performance was never shown, and this really hurt Hicks. On Friday, Letterman is finally going to show the performance.

Hicks wasn't for everyone, but you have to admire how much he threw himself into his role as a stand-up comic. A lot of people say that Denis Leary borrowed a lot of his act from Hicks, and I don't know if that's true or fair, but I think it is fair to say that a lot of comics were heavily influenced by him. Russell Crowe might play Hicks in a movie.

Anne Frank Comedians

2009-01-28T17:18:00.004-05:00

There are certain comics you are not allowed to like (I’m sure you know who). However, I think most people enjoy at least one of them or so, and listen to/watch them in secret.

Once a DC comedian friend told me he liked Jeff Foxworthy. I am a good friend, so I will not reveal who, but his name rhymes with Tyler Sonnichson.

There, now Tyler has to get the comments ball rolling.

Here are my guilty pleasures in the world of comedy. Before doing this - here are some of my favorite comedians, to make it clear I have good and esoteric tastes: Bill Burr, Eugene Mirman, Daniel Tosh, Bill Hicks, The Pixies, Taxi Driver.

1. Gilbert Gottfried kinda makes me chuckle.

2. Ron White – Because of his “Blue Collar” association, some write him off. Don’t though, how bout.

3. Andrew Dice Clay – Only when he does the silly caricature cartoony mannerisms, like lightin’ the cig and bein’ ridiculous, etc….not so much when he tries to structure jokes…

4. I love Jerry Lewis. Martin and Lewis had some great live improved shiz. He is like Daffy Duck as a human.

5. The movie “Good Burger”

6. Early Gallagher – His young, abstract and alternative years (smashing Pro-Choice buttons and Foreign Aid Packages, with “Capitalism” written on the hammer)

There, I did it, so list a couple you secretly listen to in an attic when no one else is listening. We’ll call them “Anne Frank Comedians.” (on account of the attic/secretness connection- refrain from holocaust jokes.....we don't wanna be too holocaustic...)

If you do not comment, then you are a hack comedian, and if nobody comments I will have to make up Google accounts and fake comments so it looks like people care about this site. Don’t make me demean myself.

Thank-you Aparna and Hampton

2009-01-26T09:57:00.005-05:00

Again, Aparna Nancherla and Hampton Yount thanks for putting on "Sideshow" this past Friday and Saturday night at the Playbill Cafe on 14th street. The Playbill Cafe is a cool little venue that I would really like to utilize more for future shows. The show I was apart of, featured: Eli Sairs, Evan Valentine, Jake Young while being bookend and peppered by Aparna and Hampton. I was not there for the following night that featured the improv performances of a few of my Washington Improv Theater Colleagues: Patrick Gantz, Greg Pokusa, Dan Hodapp (currently in NYC), Justin Purvis, Mark Pagan, Karin Hammerberg, Jenny Huftalen, and Honora Talbott (NYC). However, my best conjecture would be that Saturday's performance, while competent, was forced, overwraught, and practically turned itself into a factory for dick and fart jokes.

But Friday night! Oh, what a glorious night! Eli Sairs cured a couple different kinds of cancer with his opening joke. Evan Valentine brought the roof of the house literally down, continued to make everyone laugh as he patched the roof and audience heads. Then Jake Young's set invented a new kind of human response that meets most of the definition of a laugh but is saved for when someone laughs and also experiences a spirtual transformation. And in between Aparna's and Hampton's sets as well as their MC duties, they orphaned 16 children (that's not necessarily good, but still, amazing).

Ok, ok, ok, Michael Jackson didn't come over to my house...he's about to.

And what I am really trying to say, is that over the course of both shows, it was really good for the DC Comedy community. It was a great supportive atmosphere. I feel lucky to have my feet dipped in both the improv and stand-up community. Right now, both are filled with talented artists who help each other. And it was a reminder that you can do none of this (Comedy) alone.

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Silly Sundays at the Fact.

2009-01-25T12:24:00.006-05:00

The Comedy Factory in B-more has an open mic every Sunday, sign up is at 7:00. I think there's a limited amount of spots, also it costs money for non-comics to get in. Generally, the crowds are not large, but are pretty responsive. And you get paid!* We bout to get silly, y'all.

*In laugh dollars**

**Roughly the equivalent of 0 American dollars, or 2,38R99 yen.

WIT Still Has Room In Foundations Class

2009-01-23T15:09:00.001-05:00

$50 Discount on Saturday Foundations of Improv Class From Washington Improv theater

Full Price: $240

Price for You: $190

Call Managing Director Topher Bellavia directly for discount

Topher Bellavia

topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com

202-204-7772

L1A Foundations 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Faculty: Jon Lee
Class Meets: Saturdays (Jan 24, 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 28, Mar 7)
Description: Ever wonder what improv is all about, or whether it's as much fun as it looks? Here is your answer. This class introduces and explores the fundamentals of improv in an environment of teamwork, trust, and fun. It establishes a solid framework for good improv, and its life lessons are universal. Go ahead. Experience the joy of improv. We're waiting for you.
Prerequisite: No prior experience necessary.

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TO-friggin-NIGHT

2009-01-23T12:04:00.006-05:00

Tonight. Is gonna be the best show to ever grace the nation's crapitol.

There are only like 10 seats left, so get the hell on it.

Playbill Cafe, 1409 14th St.

8 pm.

It's gonna be wicked silly.

A Young Comic Asks for Guidance

2009-01-22T10:06:00.005-05:00

By Jackson Nortyst. Be a sensei, leave some comments for him.

Below are some questions I struggle with as a relatively inexperienced comic and would appreciate perspective of more seasoned and/or funnier performers:

1. How many times do you bomb on a bit, especially one you're proud of or has worked well in the past, before you ditch it?

2. How much of the joke's merit is determined by the crowd and how much is derived from personal pride and amusement in the bit? Is it possible to even separate the two?

3. Does satisfaction with the level of laughter for a bit depend on the venue? Does this fluidity of threshold affect the merit of the joke?

4. When, if ever, do you retire a successful bit?

5. Am I completely over-thinking this?

Thanks.

Jackson Nortyst
http://www.myspace.com/jacksonnortystcomedy

DC Comedy Spotlight: Jimmy Meritt

2009-01-18T21:04:00.012-05:00

A really supportive (and successful) comic in the DC comedy scene, Jimmy will be embarking on a thirty state college tour this year, on top of plenty of local club work. If you get a chance, check out his comedy (cause he's funny) or just have a chat with him (cause he's a swell guy).

Where did you first perform?

I had a lot of small steps growing up before I had the big step, that lead me into DC Comedy proper. I was always a stand-up comedy enthusiast, so in high school I’d written around three or four minutes of jokes, and every few months I’d find a random place to perform it. My first onstage performance ever was at my best friends “Eagle Scout” ceremony. Since he was the man of the hour, he got to decide what sort of entertainment went on, and he brought me in. I also performed a few times at Church Banquets, and school functions throughout high school.

(click away for the rest of the 'view)

Once I got to college, I was able to grab a few more performance opportunities. I did a bit of acting in an improve troupe, but the most stand-up heavy stuff were these coffee-house open mics the school would put on. It was primarily folk singers and some acting monologues, and I would do the four minutes of stand-up I had. After a while, I was the permanent host of these, but a lot of what I did there leaned more towards sketch comedy then stand-up.

Two years into college, I dropped out to attempt to make a full, earnest run at it. My first DC Open mic was Soho Tea and Coffee, run by Paul Schorsh. The week before I went up, my roommate and I went to watch the show and check it out. The actual night of my performance, I came with three people- a girl I had a crush on, and her parents. What could go wrong? Since those three meant I had brought the most people, I went up last. It gave me plenty of time to get nervous, and by the time I was next up my heart rate was going pretty fast. I’m eternally grateful for the intro Paul gave me- “This is his first time up, but I’ve got a good feeling about him”. That gave me a nice surge of confidence, and I was happy with how the show went. I’m almost glad I didn’t tape it- I’m sure if I watched it now I’d be horrified, but at the time it felt like a rousing success.

When did you realize that you wanted to do comedy?

It’s hard to say, I’ve been excited about comedy for as long as I can remember. During one summer break, probably fourth or fifth grade, I would stay up late watching David Letterman. Once school started again, I was devastated that I would have to go to sleep and miss him. My mom worked out a deal with me where I went to bed at 9:30, then she’d wake me up at 11:30 to watch David Letterman, then send me back to bed. This went on for years, and was probably a chief contributor. It was either awesome or terrible parenting, depending on which book you read.

Neither of my parents are at all performance oriented, and neither are really that enthusiastic about comedy, so to this day we’re not quite sure where I got the bug. Whatever it was, Letterman was the trigger.

Who were some of your earliest influences? What about them captivated you?

Well, obviously David Letterman is the top of the list. He still captivates me to this day. The main thing I find funny about him, and all the comedians I enjoy, is his ability to be both silly and clever. A lot of the comics that I would consider the “smart” comedians come across as snobbish, and a bit stuck up. So, even though I really enjoy the jokes, I still kind of chuckle instead of a full guffaw. And, a lot of the really silly, weird comedians don’t have enough structure for me to really enjoy the jokes, or they’re too random to really relate too. So, I really enjoy the comics who are able to do both, and Letterman is top of the list. Other then his humor, I also just find his personality in general to be compelling. Even when he’s not funny, he’s intresting. A lot of his callbacks and running gags go over the course of several weeks, so it rewards long time viewers. And, he’s very guarded in terms of his personal life and real opinions, so it’s intresting to me to try to study his body language and figure out what he really means- often it’s hard to tell if he’s being sarcastic or not, and he sneaks in some very pointed statements.

Steve Martin is another comedian that was a huge influence on me- in High School I listened to “Lets Get Small” at least once a week. Like Letterman, I enjoyed his ability to be both silly and clever- I really don’t think there’s anyone better at the set-up/punchline/tag joke formula. He’s got a few jokes in particular that I think are absolutely perfect writing. And, past that, he’s one of the comedians that you can really tell is having genuine fun onstage. He’s not pretending, he’s not trying to work up enthusiasm, he’s just getting onstage and having a genuine BLAST. Every time. Or, if he is pretending, he’s excellent at it and deserves the accolades for that.

In terms of early influnences from local comics, Jared Stern and Adam Ruben both pulled me aside and gave me some very good advice starting out. To them it was a minor thing they probably don’t remember, but the attention meant a lot to me in those early months.

What was your first paid gig?

It’d be hard to place the actual first gig in which money changed hands. Starting out, there’s always local comedians setting up these showcases in bars. Four comics go up, and get ten or fifteen dollars each, something along those lines. I started getting invited to those fairly early, but I’ve always suspected that was more due to be being a nice, respectful guy that was fun to be around then any sort of inherent skill in comedy.

A few of the early paid shows do stand out. Back in the day, every week there was a group of four or five of us that did an open mic at Fraizers Bar in Baltimore. Matt Morrison was in our little club, and he brought all of us along one week to do a paid show at UMBC. I enjoyed the feeling of our open mic crowd becoming more “legit”. Also, the 955 Club in Richmond felt like a big deal, because it was a healthy drive away, which meant it was on the road. It was also a bit of early validation that my material could work outside of the bubble I had created, but a lot of the crowd there were supportive Richmond comics, so it still felt like a safety net.

The one that really made an iconic difference to me was my first weekend hosting at the DC Improv. I had performed there once before, at a monthly contest they used to do. I had come in third place, and although I wouldn’t admit it at the time, not coming in first or second was a bitter disappointment. I did manage to get a booking out of it, though, and I spent months prepping for it.

To me, the DC Improv felt like a step from the open mic trenches into being a real comedian. I built it up in my mind as being the beginning of my comedy career- I would get a tape from it, I’d have a real club on my resume, it would give me a bit of credibility. But, even past that, I also looked at it as the first real chance to perform outside of a safety net. At an open mic, especially DC open mics where the crowd tends to be nice, there was never a real element of risk to me- the crowd had gotten in for free, they knew we were all just starting out. I think my enthusiasm also rubbed off too, which made them inherently root for me in a way I felt that a paying crowd wouldn’t.

For my first night up, I told none of my friends to come, since I just wanted a pure dose of what performing in a comedy club would be like. I put enormous pressure on myself- I felt like if I did well there, it proved I could make a good run as a comedian, but if the weekend had been a bust, I would start to reconsider some of the choices I’d made. Thankfully, the breathless anticipation had paid off, and the show went well. I remember after my very first MC set there, I walked back into the green room and literally jumped up and down with excitement for a solid minute. I felt possibilities that seemed abstract were suddenly more concrete, and that moment is still pretty high up on my list of all time favorite moments.

Do you ever want to convey a message?

“Message” is probably too strong a word for what I’m doing, but there’s a definite approach to my material I decided to take early on. There wasn’t going to be anything edgy about it-My political beliefs are generic, I’m sort of suspiscous of a lot of the alternative comedy movement, and I’m not a particularly dark person. I knew that my comedy wasn’t going to be breaking new barriers- I’m pretty mainstream, so there wasn’t going to be any element of danger to seeing my show. But, I didn’t want to blend into a crowd either. There’s a lot of goofy looking, skinny white male comics in their mid-twenties- so I made it a goal to put as much of my personality in as possible. I feel like at the end of a thirty minute set, everyone in the crowd should know EXACTLY who I am. My sense of humor, my interests, my insecurities. I wanted to completely put the essence of myself out there.

In terms of joke structures, there was another particular pet peeve of mine I’ve worked hard to address. I’m a massive geek. I grew up on comic books. I camped out eleven days for Star Wars. I watch Battlestar Galactica, and every week me and my crew get together for Dungeons and Dragons. But, there’s never been a geek comedian I’ve enjoyed. I feel like every geek comic takes the same structure, of being insecure and talking about how no one will have sex with them. To me, it’s a lot funnier, honest, and unique to talk about being a geek who is successful in relationships. A lot of the bits I’m most proud of hit on that subject. A geek having sex is funnier then a geek who isn’t having sex. Being confident and proud of the fact you camped out for Star Wars is a stronger choice. (An example of this method working that validated me a bit was Napoleon Dynamite- what made that character funny is the ratio between how dorky he was vs his confidence level. If he was a sad sack, the movie wouldn’t have worked.)

And, it’s a more honest choice in general, since I’ve never met a girl who cared. Girls don’t like Star Wars, but they don’t like football either, and sports fans do fine. Girls just don’t date geeks who have poor hygiene and don’t present themselves well, it has nothing to do with interests, and I think it’s fun to find ways to explore that.

What's hacky to you?

Right now, my main pet peeve is a lot of the alternative comedy being done at open mics. The idea of “It’s funny because it’s not funny!” is lazy, dishonest, and misinformed.

The conundrum is that Patton Oswalt, who is basically the figurehead of the alternative comedy movement, is my favorite comedian. But, other people really into him have completely taken the wrong idea from him. Patton Oswalt is one of the most accessible comics there is, material wise. If you listen to his CDs, the first two or three minutes of every bit is him painstakingly giving you every piece of information you need to enjoy the joke. He’s brilliant at introducing ideas and concepts, so that by the time he gets to the punchline, you’re completely on the same page. Yet, for some reason, alternative comedy guys have watched him and decided “We don’t need to be accessible at all!”.

There’s an inherent dishonesty to it that bothers me as well. We get someone whose only been doing comedy maybe six months, and their entire persona is “I hate mainstream comedy! Fuck the comedy clubs, man!”. But, if you talk to them, they have absolutely no experience in mainstream comedy clubs at all. They’ve never done a weekend show, they’ve never been asked by management to tone down their acts, they’ve never had any sort of experience that would sour them. They have no honest disdain for comedy clubs at all, they are just parroting things they’ve read and heard. I’ve heard people repeat things I’ve heard in a Patton Oswalt interview verbatim, sans any opinion of their own. Their entire art is based on a marketing pitch by another comedian.

And not to harp on it, but I dislike people who have never done comedy before stepping in with the attitude that they are better then mainstream comedy. There’s an arrogance to it that throws me off. Just focus on being funny.

(I do think weird, alternative stuff can work, though, I just wish people would put more thought into it. There’s nothing inherently funny about sitting onstage eating graham crackers. A set-up punchline joke works because you set up tension, then break it. Funny alternative comedy sets up tension, then never breaks it, so you laugh at your own pace. Set up expectations past “It’s funny because it’s not ordinarily done onstage”.)

How do you feel about the comedy scene in DC?

I like the variety available in comedy flavors here in DC, and I think it’s a benefit to both comedians and audience members. If you go to the DC Improv, Wiseacres, and the Baltimore Comedy Factory, each show will be very different, in terms of performance styles and audience expectations. This is great for audience, because after a weekend at each club they’ll be able to know what style they enjoy the most.

This is also great for the comics that choose to take advantage of it, because you can both find what room style you’re most suited too, and train on how to adapt your presentation for different rooms. I knew early on that if I was able to have a successful set with the same material in all three venues, there wasn’t going to be a lot of places I’d have a hard time. Just having DC, Baltimore, and Virginia so close is really advantageous for training yourself for the road.

I also think we’ve got a good mix of community and competitiveness, which I think is an important balance.

What would you change?

In terms of the scene itself I think we’re in good shape, my only disappointment with the scene is the lack of audience enthusiasm. Most open mics I attend are really solid shows. New comics show potential, and skilled professionals are committed enough to swing by and do sets. If you go to an open mic in DC, you’re going to laugh. But, no matter how much promotion we do, there’s no way to force the audience to get excited about it.

You’ve been on the road pretty consistently this last year, and have been doing comedy as your primary job. Was there a specific break or choice that allowed you to make that coveted jump?

I was lucky enough to be invited on a thirty state College tour, which has kept me busy. It’s nice being full time now, but once summer rolls around it’ll be back to clocking in every day.

I had read about the college tour on an internet posting early last year, and it seemed right up my alley. They were looking for someone who could do a twenty minute set, had some improvisational experience, and wasn’t into drugs or partying. Reading that, it seemed like exactly the sort of thing I should be involved with, so I dropped them an e-mail and my promo tape. Sadly, by the time they had gotten to my tape, they’d already found someone. So, I stayed aggressive with it, dropping them an e-mail every few weeks just asking how the tour was going, and trying to strike up a rapport. So, I stayed fresh in their minds, and once this year rolled around they had an opening for a feature, and brought me along.

You can check out our website at www. thecomedyproject. com.

What advice would you give comics still working towards “full-time comedian?”

I’ve got conflicting advice, so just take the part that seems to make most sense to you.

One thing I always try to advise is patience. The first focus should always be on becoming as skilled, funny, and loose as possible. The better you are, the more well prepared you’ll be once an opportunity comes along. Also, I’ve noticed that whatever your first impression is with a booker tends to be the permanent impression. I was a little too ambitious starting out, and I got myself a few gigs I wasn’t ready for. At the time, I was excited to be there, but now there’s a handful of clubs where I wasn’t at my best, and it’s even harder to get back in then it was to get there in the first place.

Also, one thing I would encourage is to seek out any opportunity you can, and avoid being discouraged when things don’t work out. One of the things I’ve found really odd about my journey is that the things I expected to be really big breaks panned out to nothing, and the things that turned out to just sort of be little side things turned out to be major.

For instance, a few years back I did a college show opening for the cast of “Whose Line Is It Anyway”. There were 2,000 people in a huge auditorium crowd, and at the time I had convinced myself that it was going to be my big break. It screamed credibility, and I built it up for months. But, once the show was over, I just woke up the next morning and things continued as they had been.

But, just for fun, I auditioned for Comedysports in Arlington. I just did it as a lark, and I figured some improv would help me keep loose onstage. I did it for a few months, then gradually fell away. The woman who runs it ended up being the person that forwarded me the information about the college tour, though, so that ended up being the thing that was a major step.

Do you prefer the road or performing at your home base? Feel free and drop any crazy road stories.

I much prefer the road, if only for the opportunity to perform larger sets. I love performing comedy in thirty minute chunks- with an eight or ten minute set, I feel like I got offstage as soon as I was done saying hello. That’s also the reason I’ll likely never move to New York to pursue comedy there- the impression I get is that it’s a showcase town, and I want to be a feature guy. For what it’s worth, I do plan on keeping DC as my home base for the foreseeable future.

As far as crazy road stories, I’d rather just plug my blog. I’m at www. myspace. com/jimmymeritt, and I update on facebook as well. On January 27th, I’m heading on my next run, and that’s when the ruckus will start again. Or, if you haven’t been reading it before, I’ve got twenty road blogs or so up through the archives, we’ve had some good times.

Any comic who’s taking it seriously knows that at some point there will be sacrifices in the personal life. As a traveling comic, how as it been for you, maintaining that balance of career and personal life?

Relationship wise, it’s been easier now then when I was an open mic’er starting off. In the first two years, I was onstage five nights a week, every week. For a new girlfriend, at first going to comedy shows was kind of a fun novelty, but after a while that wears off, and they wanted to do something else. So, I had many a break-up starting off.

I’m sure if I was just dating now, the road trips would take a toll, but luckily I’m happily married to someone who is in the comedy field, and is fiercly independent enough that it’s not crippling to the marriage. Honestly, I think a lot of the road relationship problems are due more to road vices then due to separation. A lot of the issues I’ve heard cropping up are drug and adultery issues, but I don’t plan on getting involved in any of those things on the road, so I don’t expect any problems. Interviewing her might get you a different answer, though, so you never know…

Congrats on your success. Do you feel like it’s all happening ahead of schedule, behind schedule, or just at the right time?

I’m trying not to think ahead or behind too much, and just enjoy everything as it comes. I was incredibly enthused and pumped that first open mic at Soho, and I’m just trying to keep that excitement for every show that I do.

Jimmy Meritt at the D.C. Improv

Interesting short film by Seattle comic Hari Kondabolu

2009-01-17T13:51:00.001-05:00

Free jokes tonight at...

2009-01-17T13:35:00.004-05:00

Old Arlington Grill
2903 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA

Swing by, show starts at 10:30. It'll be way funnier than the inaugeration.

Homegrown comedy tonight!

2009-01-16T16:23:00.003-05:00

Come out to the DC Improv at 8 pm tonight to see these friggin' swell performers:

Andy Haynes

Marcus Brown

Mike Blejer

Kat Wilderotter

Jimmy Meritt

Kyle Martin

Nick Mullen

Hosted by Jay Hastings.

They are all the best comedian in DC.

I like when this happens

2009-01-16T15:00:00.006-05:00

Me: Alright I’m gonna get outta here, you guys are cool, thanks bye.

Applause

My Mind: Hey well that wasn’t too bad.

Host gets on stage.

Host: Give it up one more time. This takes guts. It’ not easy.

My Mind: Wait what?

Host: It’s hard to get up here and have no one laugh at your jokes.

My Mind: Wait, didn’t people enjoy…I thought…

Host: And let me tell you, I’ve been doin’ this for awhile, and that was some good stuff for only having done it a couple times.

My Mind: A year and a half…

Host: Man, a year and a half from now, this young comic’s gonna take the stage and blow you guys away. It takes time. Give it up one more time for Jaimie!

My (sad and delusional) Mind: That’s not my name. Or gender.

Just thought I’d share. I love surprise humility. That’s as bad as the:
“Well I thought you were funny,”

or

“You had this one joke that was good, I don’t remember which,”

or

“Dude that was great. Like really, you’ve got potential. I think though, can I just, like, I’m not telling you how to do it, I’m just sayin, you might wanna, like, when you’re doin your punch lines, have it be delivered uh, um…”
“Better?”
“Yeah that’s it! And the way it’s written, like your way is cool, but you might wanna, make it uh, I dunno uh…”
“Funnier?”
“Yeah that’s it!”

New room on U St.

2009-01-16T10:25:00.002-05:00

Oh hey you. There's a new thursday room run by the Hossman.

Info:

The Islander

1201 U St. NW (next to Ben's Chili Bowl)

Sign up on premises, at 8:30, show starts at 9 pm. Thursdays.

I swung by last night for the first show. The crowd was part comics (Hossman's usual crew) and part Hossman's family and part random walk-ins. There's potential for this room to take off, sorta how JoJo's has. Tellin' ya, U St. is a great place to open up a room.

How did my set go? Well, are you an older black woman who enjoys to fake smile with a look of pity/wonder as a young comic sloppily strings together incoherent premises? If you are you would have felt right at home watching my set.

Other than my comedic fail, the room's cool, crowd's cool (enough of them were into it and attentive), check it out. Yay Hossman.

Check out comedy tonight at...

2009-01-15T16:39:00.005-05:00

Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club (in Club Elite)

3285 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748

9 pm. Good size crowd who are generally very into it. Free.

or:

Check out a handful of DC's best comics for $5

2903 Columbia Pike

Old Arlington Grill

Arlington, VA 22204

(In the Arlington Cinema n' Drafthouse)

7 pm.

Hey comic, write a guest blog

2009-01-15T11:19:00.005-05:00

Guest blogs were fun. If you have something to say that's related to stand-up or this scene or another scene, write one and send it over. It will give us all a sense of community and will make it so I don't have to think of stuff to write.

(you can send them to dccomedy4now@gmail.com)

Tonight you can see or do free comedy at...

2009-01-14T15:23:00.008-05:00

Since Wiseacres is gone, you can check out:

The Mad Hatter
1831 M St. NW

9 p.m. It's near the Improv, on M St. between 18th and 19th.

Generally there's a crowd, you just have to work to get them to listen. Lotsa chatty yuppies, chatting about their incomes or whatever yuppies chat about. Can be a fun challenge.

Heaven and Hell
2327 18th St. NW

9 p.m. (ish) In Adam's Morgan, just down the street from Spy Lounge.

Best Western Capitol Skyline
10 I St. SW, Washington

8 pm.

Come throw down, or watch people throw down.

I'ma post here sometimes, too

2009-01-14T11:56:00.013-05:00

Hi, this is Eli. I'ma do some posts here now! Me n' Mikkchkkael Johnson are gonna save comedy.

All 8 comics reading this, I’m sure you are just gushing with questions! Click to have questions answered.

To cover any questions:

Frequently Asked Questions:

(FAQs):

Here they are:

Hows come?

I like the DC Comedy scene and the DC comedians therein.

No, hows come the blog exists?

Cause it gives us something to read related to stuff we do. If I knitted (still) I would love to have a site to read and feel involved with knitting but without actually knitting. Why any different for comedy? And it gives some vague sense of community and support and blah blah blah.

What's your contribution gonna be?

I will sometimes post blogs that are stand up related and silly, but maybe only funny to myself. But since I have another blog I gotta do, it won't be TOO prolific. Interviews and info about shows n stuff, too.

Can I send a guest blog?

YES. Get crackin'.

Can my name be a link on the side?

there are lotsa talented folks not linked here, all of which would make the list too long, and all of which should not feel a link on this blog is a crucial career step.

This is not really even an issue, I just need questions, since I in fact am not frequently asked any.

Can I post anonomously?

My smugness is too high off the charts to be torn down by your comments. But no, grow some nuts.

I ain't readin this junk. I don't like that it exists.

I don't like that Hugh Grant exists. So I don't watch his movies. Or read his DC comedy blog.

What's your problem? What's your problem? Whats your problem?

Now that's a frequently asked question!

I hate you. Do you really find that kinda thing funny?

Yes. See Hugh Grant analogy.

But for real, I chose to help Mikael because I have a love for this scene, this scene specifically, a unique and one-of-a-kind scene I have a deep care for. Let's do this, Boston!

Free "Intro to Improv" Workshops Thru This Week!

2009-01-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

From Washington Improv Theater:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to speak and act with spontaneity, confidence and humor without a second thought? Improv gives you the tools to get yourself out of bad situations and into awesome ones. These free, low-stress workshops focus on creativity, communications and teamwork and are taught by our enthusiastic and professional instructors who establish a fun and trusting atmosphere.

Former students said:
“I loved this class”
“Great opportunity for expression, meet cool people and build confidence.”

Free Intro to Improv Workshops:
Wednesday Jan 7 7:00 – 9:00pm
Thursday Jan 8 7:00 – 9:00pm
Sunday Jan 11 7:00 – 9:00pm

Location: The Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW is located at the corner of 13th and V Sts, NW - one block north of U Street-Cardozo Metro Station (13th Street exit).

Info/registration: topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com or 202-204-7772

Also:

WIT’s Winter Class Session begin January 12th
Introductory class sections on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday at 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Location: The Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW is located at the Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW

Cost: $240, with a $20 discount for early registration.
Go to washingtonimprovtheater.com to browse courses or register.

Mugged! AKA Jake Young's First Movie

2009-01-07T14:39:00.005-05:00

Jake made an animated movie! And you can too! Find out how here, plus watch Jake's superb short...

Here is Jake's movie, also viewable on his recently debuted bloooargh:

Go here to make your own movie. I know!!!

Last Call: Hexagon Auditions

2009-01-05T09:39:00.001-05:00

Monday, January 5 (7-10PM). Please prepare 16 bars of music and a short monologue and come dressed to dance. We are looking to cast 20-25 adults of all ages.

Rehearsals start on Wednesday, January 7 and continue through Thursday, March 5. The schedule is Monday-Thursday nights, and Saturday/Sunday as needed. All rehearsals will be held in Kensington until we move into our venue on February 22. Shows begin Friday, March 6 and run Wednesday-Saturday nights and Sunday matinees until Saturday, April 4.

DIRECTIONS:

Planning to use metro to get to auditions/rehearsals? Once rehearsals are in full swing, we will match people up for carpooling, but for auditions, we will be running a special "Hexa-shuttle" to and from the Wheaton metro station. Look for the car with the HEXAGON sign every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour!

RIDE-ON BUS FROM THE WHITE FLINT METRO STATION: Take Bus #5 going SOUTH (towards Silver Spring). Get off at Howard Avenue, just after the bus goes through the park and passes Beach Drive. Bus trip takes 9 minutes. Go half a block up Howard Avenue and you will see it straight ahead of you as Howard Avenue turns right 90 degrees. Bear around the right side of the building to the back.

RIDE-ON BUS FROM THE SILVER SPRING METRO STATION: Take Bus #5. The bus will cross Connecticut Avenue. Get off at Howard Avenue (right past the library on your right). Bus trip takes 20 minutes. Go half a block up Howard Avenue and you will see it straight ahead of you as Howard Avenue turns right 90 degrees. Bear around the right side of the building to the back.

CONNECTICUT AVENUE METRO BUSES: This is a longer walk. Get off at Knowles Avenue and walk about a half mile west, to Howard Avenue. Go half a block up Howard Avenue and you will see it straight ahead of you as Howard Avenue turns right 90 degrees. Bear around the right side of the building to the back.

DRIVING: From the Beltway, take the Connecticut Avenue exit towards Kensingon, heading north. Turn left at the light on Knowles Avenue, just after Connecticut Avenue swerves to the left. Go about a half mile and turn right on Howard Avenue (this is easy to miss; if you hit Beach Drive, you've gone too far). Rehearsal space is straight ahead of you at what looks like the end of the street.

The Holiday Season's Three Wise Men

2008-12-31T11:40:00.006-05:00

December 9th: Illinois Governor, Rob Blagojevich (pictured middle), was arrested by the FBI on conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery. Blagojevich was caught on tape (with the same inflection Alec Baldwin uses to talk to his own daughter) talking about what he wanted in exchange for President-Elect Obama's Illinois Senatorial seat. In the best interest for himself and himself, he has decided to not resign.

Blagojevich Gets Warm and Fuzzy this Time of Year: During a wiretapped phone call, a frustrated and financially strapped Blagojevich referred to Obama as a "motherfucker" and said that he would not appoint an ally of the President-elect to the Senate vacancy if "I don't get anything." Referring to Obama, Blagojevich exclaimed, "Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him." *thesmoking gun.com

December 11th: Bernard Madoff (top) arrested for securities fraud, in the simplest terms, he was running a 50 billion dollar Ponzi Scheme. Give me a $100 bucks in 30 days I'll give you a $150--tell your friends and eventually I'll use the money that your friends are giving me to give to you, etc....this from the Mike Damone, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", School of Finances.

Holiday Cheer from Madoff (regarding his now defunct business): "It was all one big lie". New York Magazine

December 30th: Former Tennessee GOP Chairman, Chip Saltsman (pictured bottom), was in a competitive race for the national party chairmanship until he sent GOP committee members a Christmas CD that contained the parody song "Barack the Magic Negro."

Holiday Good Tidings from Saltsman: "Is anyone interested in David Alan Coe tickets"?

Free “Intro to Improv” Workshops

2008-12-30T11:19:00.002-05:00

Free Intro to Improv Workshops:

Monday Jan 5 7:00 – 9:00pm

Tuesday Jan 6 7:00 – 9:00pm

Wednesday Jan 7 7:00 – 9:00pm

Thursday Jan 8 7:00 – 9:00pm

Sunday Jan 11 7:00 – 9:00pm

Location: The Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW is located at the corner of 13^th and V Sts, NW - one block north of U Street-Cardozo Metro Station (13^th Street exit).

Info/registration: topher@washingtonimprovtheater.com or 202-204-7772

Also:

WIT’s Winter Class Session begin January 12^th

Introductory class sections on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday at 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Location: The Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW is located at the Children’s Studio School at 1301 V St NW

Cost: $240, with a $20 discount for early registration.

Go to washingtonimprovtheater.com to browse courses or register.

WASHINGTONIMPROVTHEATER

Topher Bellavia | Managing Director

Topher@WashingtonImprovTheater.com

TEL 202.204.7772

www.washingtonimprovtheater.com

1835 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009

Auditions for Hexagon 2009: What So Proudly We Bailed

2008-12-23T15:19:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone, In case any of you are interested... I was in the Hexagon (Satirical political revue) show here in DC last year, and now I'm writing coordinator this year. I can say without reservation that the show this year, as far as the material goes, is several heads above any other Hexagon variety show. and given a quality cast, will be an incredible show that I can't wait to work on. Please see below for an email from my friend Mel talking about auditions!

Tyler

Details are: Hexagon is seeking singers, dancers, actors and impersonators for Washington's only original, political, satirical, musical comedy review. Auditions will be held at 4233A West Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895 on Saturday and Sunday, January 3 and 4 (noon-5PM), and Monday, January 5 (7-10PM). Please prepare 16 bars of music and a short monologue and come dressed to dance. We are looking to cast 20-25 adults of all ages.

Top 10 Christmas Movies of All-Time

2008-12-11T18:11:00.005-05:00

Its a Wonderful Life--George Bailey drinks himself into a parallel dimension in order to avoid being arrested for embezzlement from his bank. While transversing through altered dimensions, he is reminded that if your going to commit white collar crime learn how to live a life where no one notices a single thing you do, to the point where they doubt you even exist. Bailey thinks he returns to third dimension but actually returned to the 133rd where people wish each other Merry Christmas by storming into each other's house plopping down what little money they have in hopes that you will give it right back to them.

Miracle 34th Street--The real Santa Clause, acting on account of jealous rage, exposes the drinking problem of the Macy's imitation Santa. Things are going as planned until it was revealed that while he may act and look like the real Santa, he may have gone through private personnel files of Macy employees to expose the other Santa. No matter whether the fake-Santa was "naughty or nice", Claus's actions were illegal and he arrested and put on trial. Eventually, it is discovered he is the real Santa Claus where he is promptly arrested, detained, and charged with 324 billion counts of "Breaking and Entering".

Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thorton experiences a change of heart for the world through robbing department stores and sodomizing women in dressing rooms.

A Christmas Story: Two maniacally passive-aggressive parents keep their children in line by conducting their child rearing through various acts of bizarre behavior, including: 1.) The father threatening to leave their mother for lamp in the shape of woman's leg, 2.) Having their oldest child suck on a bar of soap for saying, "fudge", 3.) Trying to slowly suffocate their youngest one with his own winter clothing 4.) Planting the seeds of a self-fulfilling prophecy ("you'll shoot your eye out") in their oldest son's, Ralph, psyche with his most precious desire, a BB gun, until he is able to do so, 5.) Taking them to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day and forcing them to watch the beheading of a duck.

The Grinch that Stole Christmas: A green baby turd runs off with a town's presents and toys the night before Christmas while befriending a small child. This classic was actually the mega-company “Johnson and Johnson's” first attempt at using a visual media to help parents potty-train their small children.

Christmas Vacation: Chevy Chase, in his most complex role ever, stars as a deeply troubled man who becomes intoxicated with materialism and falls victim to an obsession for a swimming pool. When he realizes he will fall short, he starts to act out by electrocuting his mother-in-law’s cat, attempting suicide on a sled in front of his children, and finally ordering the kidnapping and execution of his boss. He was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award.

Home Alone: A husband and wife realize they have left their son Kevin, “Home Alone” while traveling to Paris. They face multiple charges of child abuse and neglect, so the mother, Kathleen O'Hara, hires two men to go inside their house and kill their son to rid themselves of any evidence of ever having a son, “Kevin”. However, O'hara, who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, has to leave Paris, to go home and make sure the job is done correctly and also to flush the toilet 49 times all the while comedic holiday-hilarity ensues.

White Christmas: An instructional video in the genre of a dramatization, Bing Crosby details his plan of world domination through the commercialization of Christmas and his plans for the future of the "Master Race".

Scrooged: Bill Murray wakes up every day to the same recycled Christmas story, "A Christmas Carol", over and over again until he finds the true meaning of his career by having a "miracle" running-into with film director Wes Anderson.

Loose Change or Zeitgeist: Biggest Christmas present any of us will ever recieve: the truth. You’re welcome. Now wake-up you sleeping sheep, the manger is not controlled by the "Inn Keeper".

Locations, Locations, Locations

2008-12-10T09:41:00.006-05:00

Anyone else shooting any sort of short or anything for the web? The well is running dry with my current project as far as locales that are in my immediate social circle. Well, I'll ask the 7 of you, if you know of anybody that has the following, I'm looking to shoot some footage (In fact if you know of or have access to a place that is quirky and unique that would be cool too):

Office, preferably one with a front desk/waiting area

Restaurant, the more upscale the better

Auditorium

Inside of any airplane

Apartment or any place with a roof-top view of Washington, D.C.

That's about it for now...oh, yeah and I have no money. But I'm willing to bargain for some sort of exchange be it advertising the establishment or whatever you might have in mind--even if its dirty.

*Is this picture misleading? I think, but its cool and edgy. That's what happens when you surf Google Images wearing a beret.

Type rest of the post here

Oldie But A Goodie

2008-12-10T09:39:00.001-05:00

Yes, Revernend, I'll Get You the Money

2008-12-09T12:58:00.004-05:00

Every time I fall for this scam, well read the ad with hope, I hear Eddie Murphy's character from "Coming to America". The same guy that is doing this scam is also sending you emails about your new and plentiful savings account in Mozambique. I was suspicious this time right off the bat. However, I am still a fool and inquired anyway but got pretty much the same response last time. The add this time was for 2 bedrooms, in Cathedral Apartments for $1000, and then in the ad it went to $1300...here it is:

ADDRESS :1001 L Street NW, Washington, DC Region: Northwest Bedrooms: 2 Bedrooms Bathrooms:1 Bathrooms Price: $1300.00/MonthLease Term: as Long as you which Deposit: $1300.00.refundable.Application Fee: $0.00

Highlights from the Ad:
The letter from the man:

"It is a great pleasure that you are interested in my house...Thanks for your email and it is my gladness hearing from you.I am Rev.Matthew Zablub,the owner of the family home you are making enquiry of.I and my wife and our 15 years son are presently in West Africa working in an AIDS orphanage with missionaries from our chruch.as the lord says in his word(matt 24:14 and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations,and then the end will come)so i hope you will solicit to take very good care of the house and maintain it,so we can be rest assured that we finally found a caring one to take good care of our house do it like just your own.So get back to me on how you could take care of our house. perhaps, to examine the experience you have in renting homes. Hope you are okay with the price of $1300(per month) with hydro,heat laundry facilities,washer,heat air condition,Dryer and so on"
Also it asks:
IF YOU HAVE A PET,NAME OF PET: _____________
HABITS DO YOU SMOKE? ______________ DO YOU DRINK? ______________ DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ___

What people can do to prevent themselves from getting scammed by this little operation:

1.) Keep your head free from the inside of your ass while looking for apartments

2.) Know, that you will only get a studio apartment for under $1000 in Washington DC; and a 1 bedroom, with the square footage of a matchbox is going to start out at $1500 (cheapest).

3.) Know the signature voice of these ads: (I love this guy's attempt to deliberately sound like someone who speaks and writes broken English) "It is a great pleasure that you are interested in my house...Thanks for your email and it is my gladness hearing from you.I am Rev.Matthew Zablub,the owner of the family home you are making enquiry of."

Do people outside of America not use spaces between periods and the start of a new sentence?

Notes to Scam Artist:

1.) You're going to need to change-up the game plan here, start asking for more money. Refundable deposit? Who does that? Go non-refundable deposit. The prices you are listing are too good to be true. Let’s just shoot for a cool $2000, maybe even $3000. Shit, DC is full of jaggoffs that will pay this kind of money for an unreasonably small apartment, not only will the price seem more realistic but you're going to make more money in the end. You may even want to test the waters of the $4,000-$5000 range.

2.) Quit the "Coming to America" act, its tired an insulting to Africans. If you want to be insulting and successful, make it a Reverend from West Virginia who is going to go to "The Africa" to work with "The AIDS".

3.) The quote from the Bible too is a bit of a turn off. Nothing to do with the religion itself but the type of person who would put something like that in the ad, is more than likely a real Ned Flanders, a "sticklier-stickler do" to the rules, no leeway on a party that went too late, a friend that needed to crash a week or two, or won't even split the half-a-million dollars that we could have earned by subletting the apartment for this ridiculous inauguration. I see [that] in an add and I get the same dull thud in the gut of my soul, similar to when someone announces that "we're all going to this Christmas Craft's store first, before we head home".

4.) There are too many amenities for the price, its too perfect. Again jack-up the rent, and tell them that there is a lovely laundry mat via the Red-Line to the Orange/Blue Line at the GW Foggy Bottom stop where you can share laundry facilities with the most expensive university in the country.

5.) Really, you need the "Name of Pet"...I guess you're a reverend and all, don't want to see everything be peachy with the application, then only to find out that the cocker-spaniel's name, is "Tiny Hole".

6.) Smoking fine, understand...drinking, ok, I get it, you're playing the religious end. But do you work "late at night", you went too far, you passed naive and innocent went straight to moronically creepy/"what the fuck is it any of your business, I'll get you the rent"/over-doing it.

7.) Finally, learn from you "Banking" and "Lotto" cousins, you all are just being too ingratiating. You need to be more curt, mysterious, or maybe even trying being pricks. Like:

"Apt. Massachusetts Ave., $800 a Month"

"Hi, I saw the posting regarding the apartment; I would like to set up an appointment to come see the place"

(5 weeks later)

"Sure, what time?"

You can't seem so desperate, like me when I saw the ad.

LIVE HUMANS at PALACE OF WONDERS

2008-12-08T22:59:00.003-05:00

TYLER SONNICHSEN tomorrow, and TIM AND RACHEL BURNS next tuesday, all at the Palace of Wonders.

I Can't Stop Watching This Clip

2008-12-05T07:57:00.001-05:00

Washington Improv Theater Holiday Show Run Starts Tonight!

2008-12-04T16:29:00.004-05:00

Whether you love or loathe the holiday season, there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Traditions abound; the lights, the decorations, the shopping and WIT's seventh run of its smash hit show, "Seasonal Disorder". But that's not all that's waiting under the tree this year... all of WIT's troupes are ready to reveal the good, the bad and the ugly behind your favorite holiday celebrations with brand new slate of seasonal shows.
If you're tired of the "Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol" and need a good laugh just to get through December alive, WIT has just the right present for you.

Seasonal Disorder
Fri/Sat 8:00 12.6 - 12.27 $15 Buy tickets
Your extended family, distant friends, your teenage nephew who likes "emo" - they're all invited, and you can't turn them away because it's the holidays.... [ more ]

An iMusical Christmas
Sat 9:30 12.6 - 12.27 $15 Buy tickets
Every Friday night in December, WIT will be tickling your funny bone with "An iMusical Christmas," in which some of your favorite members members from iMusical... [ more ]

Caveat's Rockin' Eve!
Saturdays 9:30 12.6 - 12.27 $15 Buy tickets
2008 is on its way out the door, and this year Cavet is just the troupe to say the goodbyes! Bring your potential New Year's resolutions with you and watch... [ more ]

How the JINX Saved Christmas
Saturdays 9:30 12.6 - 12.27 $15 Buy tickets
Your little brother, Jimmy's only Holiday Wish is to have a new frisbee. Sounds like a piece of cake for you and a buddy to accomplish, right? [ more ]

Jackie Presents: The Miracle
Saturdays 9:30 12.6 - 12.27 $15 Buy tickets
Great moments are born from great opportunity. It's that time of year again. That's right - Hockey season! Hockey season invariably drums up memories of the triumphant 1980... [ more ]

An iMusical Christmas Matinee
Sat 2:00 12.21 - 12.27 $10 Buy tickets
For the last two Saturdays in December, WIT will be tickling your funny bone with special matinee shows of "An iMusical Christmas,"... [ more ]

DMG: HOLIDAY TRANSITION TEAM
Thursdays 8:00 12.4 - 12.18 $10 Buy tickets
DMG kicks out the cobwebs of holidays past and builds the holiday of the future... [ more ]

Vic Speedboat: Worst. Holiday. Ever.
Thursdays 8:00 12.4 - 12.18 $10 Buy tickets
A new bicycle. Meeting Santa for the first time. Having the whole family together at Pop-Pop's log cabin. These are your favorite holiday memories... OR ARE THEY? [ more ]

Season Sixmas
Thursdays 8:00 12.4 - 12.18 $10 Buy tickets
Close your eyes and think back to the best Christmas you ever had. Look a little closer and you'll see in the background the gang from Season Six, arm in arm with Santa... [ more ]

Improv Jam
Thursdays 8:00 12.4 - 12.18 $10 Buy tickets
Why keep all the fun to yourself? WIT is proud to present its ongoing series of Improv Jams - by the people, for the people. If you've been dying to get... [ more ]

The Lodge
Saturday 11:00 12.6, 12.13, 12.27 $5 Buy tickets
Founded on an audience suggestion, a secret society is born and the performers create a show exposing the secret rituals of this new society, its double dealings... [ more ]

Rich Spain
Saturday 11:00 12.6, 12.27 $5 Buy tickets
Let's be honest, you're life needs some direction. Rich Spain wants to help. The best selling author of the self-help book, "A New You for You and Me Too!"... [ more ]

Deuce
Saturday 11:00 12.6 $5 Buy tickets
Long time roommates and improvisers, Greg Pokusa and Patrick Gantz return for one night only to drop another load of their signature two man show... [ more ]

Mythical Newsroom
Saturday 11:00 12.13 $5 Buy tickets
Mythical Newsroom gets the hard facts when Bigfoot, or any of his relatives, comes to town for the holidays.
Mythical Newsroom: Fairy and balanced... [ more ]

Bullsh*t Holidays
Saturday 11:00 12.13 $5 Buy tickets
Bullsh*t has seeped out of its nine-to-five constraints and crept into the holidays. For one doomed-to-be special night, Mikael Johnson and Patrick Gantz focus... [ more ]

Reindeer Games
Saturday 11:00 12.20 $5 Buy tickets
WIT players of the past and present unite to perform in this new holiday show staple. Performing as elves and reindeer, the cast goes behind Santa's back to show the nuanced lives... [ more ]

SPAM FOLDER
Saturday 11:00 12.27 $5 Buy tickets
Alone again this holiday season? We understand. Hi. We're your spam and we're here to make you feel attractive, desired and unique this holiday season. Us, lonely? [ more ]

Addendum

2008-12-03T13:01:00.005-05:00

I really didn't want to get into a back and forth over in the comment section. Mike, Jake, I appreciate your comments; it made me think a bit more. Justin, there are no arguments to make. There is nothing to discuss. Though, I’m about to make an argument and discuss it at length.

I'll be the first one to admit, that when it comes to provoking posts on this blog, I lack more balls than ice hockey; and maybe it’s because my analogies are terrible that I retract from doing so. But here we go.

Before I became this blog's lone contributor, I made a modicum of additions to it but mainly was a reader. I was really pleased when I moved back to DC to see Jason Saenz and Nick Turner really pounding the pavement along with the keyboards to get things going for themselves and others in the DC comedy scene. However, my one beef with the blog was the negativity and the bickering back and forth. My great dear friend and fellow performer, Jason, I could have slapped upside the head for his blog regarding Mike Metz (see: Sorry Bill Burr) in which he detailed how he couldn't stomach the opening-act and left before Burr took the stage. It sounded out of character for Jason but was becoming the typical tone of the blogging. Then there was all the venom spilled out over: is DC a place for open-mics, or what people are not doing, this guy is an ass, Nick Turner sucks, shut-up Blejer, etc.. There is place for negative stances/vents but it was just becoming repetitive, there was no discourse just idiocy. It was a blog that was doing nothing for the community but hurt it, in fact embarrass itself. The blog had just become one big typical Youtube comment section. Add the all the spite regarding the DC Comedy Festival and we just continued to sound like an unproductive whiney community. So as I gradually was passed over the duties of the blog, I deliberately took it in another direction. Everything, for the most part, has been soft and fluffy. However, I did invite people to contribute to the blog via posts, email and in public. And what I got back was just above nil. And honestly though, I didn't care, I do a bit more now--but not much. If anything, it reaffirms the reasons people move out of the town to pursue comedy elsewhere.

The point remains the same, you want to know what is wrong with the DC Comedy scene? Get up right now and go look in the mirror. Until we are under direct threat from the likes of the Stasi, it will always be the case. There is never a lack of demand for comedy. People never want to go out for the evening and not laugh and not be entertained. For fuck sake, that is what America is turning into, a country whose prime contribution to the world economy is LIESURE.

Not getting enough time for an open-mic, that's your problem. The guy that hasn’t gotten a laugh for 3 years but continues to pursue comedy annoys the fucking shit out of you? Your problem. Riding the improv class system with the most annoying person on the planet? Your problem. Not enough open-mics? Your problem. Audience didn't laugh, that's your problem. You crush every time. Your problem. Got a spot on the "Tonight Show", that’s your problem. Rolling in money, it’s on you. Can't think of an idea to write about, it’s on you. Got too many ideas? It’s on you. Whether the DC scene sinks through the sewer or blasts through the crotch of Richard Pryor in heaven, the responsibility is yours to take care of it. The responsibility to do, write, watch, see, read, listen to comedy is always your problem.

That’s really end of story.

If you need help along the way, get it. Make some good friends and be a decent individual that people want to work with on a regular basis. If things really start to get hard, take somebody aside that you trust and ask them,

“What are my delusions?”

The paragraph in yesterday's post about challenging the audience was a subject that I really wanted to write more about. Topics like: Rape, Homelessness, AIDS, Cancer, and Abortion better be fucking funny. There is also a ton of elitism going on right now, the homeless, poverty stricken, people born into any unfortunate circumstance, get the living shit kicked out of them at some local shows that I have been to over the years. No subject is taboo but are you really being edgy or just an asshole? The comics that you’ve heard get away with it, through fame and fortune, have earned their audience. You start taking on topics that are sensitive, have a stance, have a perspective about the injustices. You want to be George Carlin, listen to George Carlin's old interviews, what did he want when he took on a sensitive topic? Justice. You are not challenging the audience when you rip into those who do not have a voice.

At Chief Ike’s one night with the usual 4 audience members , I watched a comic pick on a guy with one-good eye in the audience, the audience member was wearing an eye-patch, and after he got off stage, the next comic came up and congratulated him for the funny observations. Maybe I don't get it. Was the guy wearing the eye-patch heckling or saying anything? No, he was watching the show, in fact he was a comic that stuck around to watch the other sets. Wonderful, great vibe we created there. Unless it is a show lets say at the Apollo or the stage has chicken wire in front of it, leave the audience alone. If something happens, you have to call the moment, or you're enduring heckling, by all means, go for it.

Maybe I don't get it. Fine. The "Cringe Stuff", the outrageous stuff, can be funny; but you have to earn the audience's approval. It may work in New York, but remember this is Washington D.C. where your PC audience member just got off their job at the Non-profit International Institute for Peace, squeezed in their yoga class before an organic dinner from Whole Foods with their best gay friend so they would still have time to buy some gum at CVS, with a 20, so they would have change to give to the 3 or 4 homeless people they would pass on the way to your show. Over-generalization? Yeah. But something to keep in mind. And yes, I know--thats my problem.

Type rest of the post here

DC Comedy: 4 Now

3 Chord Comedy

Rob Cantrell at this friday's "3 Chord Comedy"

3 Chord Comedy Show at The Velvet Lounge this Friday

Benzten Ball, this weekend

Doug Stanhope is in Adam's Morgan this Thursday

Endorsed by DC's Own (kind of) Rory Scovel: Arlington Drafthouse Presents Brent Weinbach

It's Back! 72 Film Fest in Frederick, MD

This friday ---

DISCOUNT EXTENDED ON WIT CLASSES

Washington Improv Theater Auditions 9/19 10:30 am

Planet Washington

In DC Saturday Night? We got Laughter, Music, A/C, Sotomayor! To members of Planet Washington

Palace of Wonders Show This Sunday

3 Chord Comedy at The Velvet Lounge

Planet Washington Show 6/27

Get to Palace of Wonders TODAY (6/21)

Artomatic!

Its British Week Here In DC

Loving Comedy? TOM TOM TODAY 6/17

Planet Russell

Contact Info

bL.A.h, bL.A.h, bL.A.h, Trip

FROM DC Craigslist

Rory's Bane

DCC4N's Interview with Guy Torry of the "1st Amendment Stand-Up" Series

DCC4N's Rick Overton Interview

From Cleveland.Com

Comedian Dane Cook talks about the haters

Posted by Mike McIntyre/Plain Dealer Reporter May 07, 2009 11:39AM

receSs Presents: SLATE: The World College Comedy Festival

The "Real Joke" in the District: DC Parking Meters

Friday's Question: Should a Comic Be Rolling Deep?

Comedy Lounge, DC Improv Tonight!

Andy Kline Interview Continued...(Part 3)

Andy Kline Interview (Part Two)...

Interview with Comedian Andy Kline (Part One)

Special Edition Show, May 1 - The First 100 DAZE

Ted Alexandro at DC Improv 4/24-4/26

Interview with: Hip-Hop Basement's Mr. Mark

Planet Washington (Set You Free)

We Just Sold-Out...

Check It

Auditions!

What's Been Going On...?

Tom-Tom's Wednesdays Open-Mic

72 Film Fest and 48 Hour Film Project

Loving a New Open Mic (TONIGHT)

Classes Start for Washington Improv Theater

Nerds!

New Open Mic in Winchester, Virginia

The 5th Estate

No Money Down!

DC Comedy Spotlight: Sonny Fuller

New Open Mic, Loving It

New awesome web-series!

Alternative Comedy Festival, May 2009

Hastings was Toasted and Roasted

FISTful of PAIN!

Did Wednesdays Really Need to Get Hotter People?

The Forever Burning Bush

Hexagon 2009: What So Proudly We Bailed

Description

Monday Open Mic

Jay. Hastings. Roast.

Palace of Wonders tonight

Mike Blejer Has Been Committed

"MAN, YOU ARE METAMUCIL!"

Unintentional Comedy: The Room

From On Tap Magazine:

New Tuesday Open Mic is Swell

Watch or Perform Comedy Tonight at...

Mary Hicks and Dave Letterman

Bill Hicks Tribute on Letterman

Anne Frank Comedians

Thank-you Aparna and Hampton

Silly Sundays at the Fact.

WIT Still Has Room In Foundations Class

TO-friggin-NIGHT

A Young Comic Asks for Guidance

In DC Saturday Night? We got Laughter, Music, A/C, Sotomayor!
To members of Planet Washington