Thursday, August 31, 2006

Michael Ian Black signs children's book

From Publishers Marketplace:

Actor and director Michael Ian Black's DUCK BUTT, a humorous homage to animal derrieres, to Justin Chanda at Atheneum, for publication in 2008, by Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary (world).

A month of shows

Some September shows - of course, there are tons of weekly ones, like Chicks and Giggles and Oh Hello and many more I have no clue about. If you have a special show or details about yours, send them to me (ideally this weekend) and I'll try to add them here. Also, please note that these were cobbled together via emails, show sites, MySpace pages, etc., so check official venues for details though they should be accurate, as far as I know.

September 1

CANCER BLOWS
A Comedy Show to Benefit Breast Cancer Research
Friday September 1 @ 9:30 p.m.
There will be an auction too!

Tickets are $10
Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
34 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd St.)
Call or visit the Mo Pitkin's box office at (212) 777-5660
F or V to Second Ave.

Featuring:
Michael Showalter
Baron Vaughn
Stickerbook
Amanda Melson
Jacqueline Novak
Mike Barry
Adira Amram
Matt McCarthy
Jon Friedman
Justin Purnell

The proceeds from the show will be going to the Avon Foundation.

September 4

Can You Imagine?
Rififi
332 E. 11th Street
(between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
New York, NY
8:00 pm, FREE

Hosted by Matt Goldich and Chris Jurek

Featuring:
Dan Allen
Mike Dobbins
Lang Fisher
John F. O'Donnell

September 5

Obsessed at Mo Pitkins (scroll down a few posts or see www.julieklausner.com for details

September 7

VARIETY SHAC

Our guests this month are:
Brighter Side
Laura Krafft
Amy Miles

Doors: 8:00pm
Showtime: 8:30 pm (sharp)

5 dollars suggested donation.

At Galapagos Art Space, 70 North 6th Street, Williamsburg (L train toBedford stop).

The Variety Shac is a live program from Shonali Bhowmik, Chelsea Peretti, Heather Lawless and Andrea Rosen with MUSIC, COMEDY, AND FILM .

Shonali will sadly be missing the Shac and be in Atlanta next week celebrating the release of Ultrababyfat's CD, No Ringo No.

September 8

Comedy Is For Humans
Sean O'Connor, Giulia Rozzi, Pat O'Shea
At the PIT

September 9

The Kissing Booth: How We Spent Our Summer Vacation
At D-Lounge, hosted by Sara Jo Allocco and Brandy Barber
See http://thekissingboothnyc.blogspot.com for details

September 11

I know, I know, everyone can’t wait to see what comedy shows are happening on the 5 year anniversary, but there are 2 that I think will actually make you laugh and forget about 9/11 for a moment.

The Drink at Work Show
Every Monday
8:00pm
Ace of Clubs
9 Great Jones St.
$5

Becky Donohue
Joe Devito
Keith Farnan
Schaffer the Darklord
Charles Star

And Drink at Work regulars: Craig Baldo, Sean Crespo and Francesco
Marciuliano


Tell Your Friends!
The Lolita Bar
226 Broome St. (@ Allen St.)
8:00pm - FREE!

Lineup not 100% set yet, but past performers include:
Jim Gaffigan (Comedy Central one-hour special), Tom Shillue (Comedy Central 1/2 hour special), the Hazzards (of Internet uber-celebrity), Victor Varnado (movie director!). Todd Barry (TWO half-hour specials), Claudia Cogan (Sirius), Christian Finnegan (CC 1/2-hour special), Amanda Melson (writer for Stand-up Nation), Jason Trachtenberg (of the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players fame), Todd Hanson (head writer, The Onion), Judah Friedlander (movies, Live From 30 Rock), Kristin Schaal (TV! Commecials! Aspen Comedy Festival!), Leo Allen (writer for SNL), Todd Levin (Comedy Central! Aspen!), BobPowers (Aspen!), Eugene Mirman (three albums under his belt and opens for bands like Modest Mouse), Nick Kroll (VH1! commercials!), Wendy the Ho (she's a rapper!), Eddie Pepitone (Eddie!), Jessi Klein (Showbiz Show w/ David Spade), Baron Vaughn (Aspen! Commercials!). Liam McEneaney (me!), and our house band, A Brief View of the Hudson (excellence!).

AT NIGHT WITH GABE AND JENNY!!! SEPT 11TH!!
Featuring
Chelsea Peretti
Brett Gelman
Jon Daly
Dan Newbower
and your favorite people with bad personalities:
Gabe and Jenny

FREE with a drink at the bar!!!! 8pm @ Rififi (11st btw 1st and 2nd aves)!

September 12

LES is MORE (new show)

Feautring Amanda Melson, Eric Kirchberger, Elon James White, Susan Prekel, Jess Wood and musical guest Joshua Grosvent.
FREE
Hosted by Eric Andre
at Essex Ale House, 179 Essex Street, NYC
9 pm

September 15

Comedy is for Humans
The PIT
Abby Scott, Joe Mande, Andres Du Bouchet

September 16

The Rejection Show at Spiegeltent

Created and produced by writer and comedian, Jon Friedman, The RejectionShow is a comedic based event that embraces the rejected and “turned down” material of writers, comedians, cartoonists, artists, and human beings whom display their creative “failures” live on stage.

HOSTED BY
JON FRIEDMAN

SEPTEMBER 16TH 6PM
Featuring the rejected material of:

MIKE O’CONNELL
(Jimmy Kimmel Live)

LEO ALLEN
(SNL, Stella)

CRAIG BALDO
(VH1)

JOE SCHIAPPA & CAST OF KIDS
(Rejected by Nickelodeon)

MICHELLE COLLINS & LANG FISHER
(Rejected by American Idol)

LOSERS LOUNGE with JOE McGINTY & NICK DANGER
(Performing a Failed Broadway Musical Medley)

KATINA CORRAO
(Break up letter)

And as always, more fun rejection surprises!

The Rejection Show
The Spiegeltent
September 16 @ 6PM
Pier 17 at The Fulton Fish Market
Take 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, or M to Fulton Street; A and C to Broadway-Nassau.
Walk east on Fulton Street to the East River.
Located at the Northern Side of Pier 17 (facing the Brooklyn Bridge) behind the Fulton Fish Market.
$10

The Spiegeltent is nestled behind the iconic Fulton Fish Market site at South Street Pier and overlooked by the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, this exceptional venue will draw people to it and seduce them into staying as it has all around the world.

For a strictly limited run of only nine weeks it will be jam-packed with sultry, funky, cutting edge events.

September 17

What: "I Love Jack" -- Comedy Variety Show Presented as 1940s Radio Live
Date: September 17th (and every Sunday thereafter)
Where: M. Shanghai's Den (129 Havermeyer Street -Williamsburg Brooklyn)
Time: 8pm
Cost: $2 (that's American Dollars not Canadian you cheapos)

This week's guests:
Dan Allen (Comedy Central and very very tall Perhaps Taller than Tim Doyle)
Carla Rhodes (She's a Rock n Roll Ventrilliquist no lie she is)
Regie Cabico (Def Poetry Jam comedic poet and more much more)
Adira Amram (Ars Nova -- this week's musical guest she's hysterical)
Will McKinley (Sirius Radio -- he hosted my taping show , he's shaved bald though i think he might be bald anyway)
PJ Zeller -- (Featured in the movie end of the Spear he's doing a sketch with me)

Rachael Parena will host.

And DJ your friend Jesse will be spinning tunes all night

September 18

The Drink at Work Show
Every Monday
8:00pm
Ace of Clubs
9 Great Jones St.
$5

Rob Paravonian
DJ Hazard
Andrew Wright
Jack Kukoda
Rebecca Ciletti

And Drink at Work regulars: Sean Crespo and Francesco Marciuliano

September 19

FRESH MEAT:
9 pm, Tuesday, September 19th, Catie Lazarus (Daily Show, ECNY best comedy writer) hosts the comedy variety show Fresh Meat at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (btw. 8th and 9th ave) www.comixny.com, $15, NO TWO DRINK MIN, food and drink available. Check out Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents, Conan), Patrick Borrelli (Conan, ESPN), Dave Hill (NY Times, Smoking Gun on Court TV, Vh1) Livia Scott (Conan, UCB), and a short film by Tony Zaret (Channel 101) showing off their stand up, sketch, character and short film. In the second half of the show, each act shares their worst experience in the biz and first joke and holds a "press conference," a Q and A with the acts and you! www.lazarusrising.com

September 20

2 year anniversary of Mortified

Mortified NYC, the
show that stars everyday adults sharing aloud their
most embarrassing, pathetic and private teenage diary
entries, poems, love letters, lyrics and locker
notes... in front of total strangers at The Tank @
Collective: Unconscious,279 Church Street
Pre-ordering tix is highly recomended at
www.smarttix.com


KEITH PRICE'S NEW WEEKLY SHOW
FAB FIVE WEDNESDAYS
only at the Laugh Lounge
151 Essex Street
WEDNESDAYS @10:30 PM (seating at 10pm)
$5 cover with $5 drink specials
2 drink minimum

with Susan Preckel, Shawn Hollenbach, Todd Levin, Greg Walloch, Geno Bisconte

September 22

Sexytime
Co-hosted by Heather Fink and Brandy Crawford
Our guests include Andy Borowitz and Leo Allen, and there will be more
surprise fun in store. It's a Friday at midnight at Mo Pitkins.

Comedy is for Humans
At the PIT
Max Silvestri, Matt McCarthy, Laurie Kilmartin

September 26

8 pm, Tuesday, September 26th, pm, Tuesday, September 19th, Catie Lazarus (Daily Show, ECNY Best Comedy Writer) hosts the comedy variety show Fresh Meat at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (btw. 8th and 9th ave) www.comixny.com, $15, NO TWO DRINK MIN, food and drink available. Check out Check out Ted Alexandro (2 Comedy Central Presents, Leno, Letterman), Pete Holmes (Vh1 Best Week Ever, Premium Blend), Anne Carr (Comedy Central), Daniel Wright (www.patentlysilly.com ) and a film by Becky Donohue (Comedy Central) and Besty Wise (Vh1, Groundlings) . In the second half of the show, each act shares their worst experience in the biz and first joke and holds a "press conference," a Q and A with the acts and you! www.lazarusrising.com (The film stars Betsy Wise, Becky Donohue, Andres DuBouchet, Rachel Feinstein, and Michelle Buteau).

September 27

How To Kick People at Mo Pitkin’s
"Conspicuous Consumption," with playwright Michael Bernard, comedian and musician Dave Hill, and music from Philadelphia's own VELOURIA
$8

KEITH PRICE'S NEW WEEKLY SHOW
FAB FIVE WEDNESDAYS
only at the Laugh Lounge
151 Essex Street
WEDNESDAYS @10:30 PM (seating at 10pm)
$5 cover with $5 drink specials
2 drink minimum

September 25

The Drink at Work Show
Every Monday
8:00pm
Ace of Clubs
9 Great Jones St.
$5
Victor Varnado
Sean Lynch
Max Silvestri
John F. O'Donnell
Maggie Lauren

And Drink at Work regulars: Craig Baldo, Sean Crespo and Francesco
Marciuliano

September 28

How To Kick People at Spiegeltent
FULTON FISH MARKET - Pier 17, South Street Seaport, New York, NY 10007
Cost: $10.00

H2KP Presents "Bob & Todd's Pen Pals," featuring comedians, writers, and other performers presenting truly or bizarrely funny correspondences. With Steve Burns ("Steve" from Blue's Clues), Chris Regan (former writer for The Daily Show, co-author of America: The Book), comedian Eugene Mirman and more...[this is not an ordinary How to Kick People show, and is part of the month-long SPIEGELWORLD entertainment festival. see www.spiegelworld.com for more information.]

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Lianne Stokes is ready for her cupcake closeup

Comedian Lianne Stokes about to eat her mini cupcake (from Whole Foods). Snapped last week backstage at D-Lounge by Anya Garrett.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

My Steve Hofstetter interview in Penthouse

I interviewed Steve Hofstetter for the "Stand Up Guys" section (comedian Q&A) of Penthouse in the October 2006 issue. Sorry, print only.

Michael Ian Black interview at Mediabistro

Mediabistro interviews Michael Ian Black about Cracked and Stella

mediabistro:What does an "editor-at-large" do?

Black: I'm a lot like the Queen of England. It's basically a figurehead position. I get to go to all the
Cracked polo matches and balls, but I have no actual power. I'm also like the Queen of England insofar as I wear a tiara and carry a scepter.

mediabistro: What happened with
Stella? Did Comedy Central give it enough time?

Black: I think Comedy Central gave it a fair shot. The fact is we were just too weird for a mainstream audience to embrace. I'm incredibly proud of the work we did on
Stella. I think the show is terrific. Unfortunately, America did not agree with me. Yet another reason why I hate America.

Check Your Cool tonight

Tonight, CHECK YOUR COOL, the standup comedy show that's slowly learning to hate again, presents:

+ quiet storm Todd Levin (premium blend, hbo aspen comedy fest)
+ laser-eyed avenger Debbie shea (premium blend)
+ man with a mission Paul Hughes (from LA, 'nuff said)

And the brains behind the whole operation: John F. O'Donnell, Jiwon Li and Claudia Cogan

CHECKA YOUR COOL, MEESTER??
Tonight
9:00 doors, 9:30
at The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston, corner of Attorney Street (1 block east of Clinton)
FREE, except for an unenforced two drink minimum

New show! OBSESSED with Julie & Jackie


OBSESSED with Julie & Jackie
Originally uploaded by rkb1.
OBSESSED with Julie and Jackie
Hosted by Julie Klausner & Jackie Clarke

"Life is nothing if you're not obsessed." --John Waters

What eats you?
Join comic geniuses Jackie Clarke (Showgirls: The Best Movie Ever Made, Ever!, FREE-FM) and Julie Klausner (Free To Be Friends, VH1, TV Funhouse) as they host an evening of collectors, super-fans, aficionados and devotees of television actresses, novelty food, fan fiction, pop-topping, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and more.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5th
@ Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
34 Avenue A @ 3rd Street
$6 bucks

Julie & Jackie welcome

MICHAEL MUSTO (Addressing his fixation with Suzanne Somers)
JESSE FALCON (Showing clips from his video collection, including Mentally Challenged Star Wars fans)
JOHN FLYNN (Showing clips from his video collection, including Nell Carter's historic, blooper-ridden performance of "Walkin' on Sunshine")
IRIS ROSE (Sharing pages from her collection of 70s home-making and craft books)
NICK KROLL (Confronting his unhealthy obsession with Raven Simone, star of "That's so Raven," finally!)

Julie will be reading some fan fiction from online fans of CATS the Musical, and Jackie will be showing off some doozies from her graffiti blog.

Plus, Surprises! Dance! And Learning! And Laughter!

http://julieklausner.com
http://jackieclarke.net

The Sand Witch and Jon on official DSS business


sand witch and jon
Originally uploaded by rkb1.
At the Delicious Sandwich Social, Allison served as the Sand Witch, complete with killer t-shirt (prompting one person to ask if they were for sale!) and Jon Friedman was all official, checking off numbers as he checked off who got which sandwich, encouraged sandwich eaters and makers to become friends, and made us look for the golden ticket. Who won? Find out later, with photos by me TK soon. Many bloggers, comedians, and hungry people attended.


There are also some photos by Brian Van here.

Cancer Blows benefity comedy this on Friday

From the fabulous Sara Schaefer comes news about a benefit show on Friday. It's only $10 and has a fabulous lineup, and it's for a good cause!

CANCER BLOWS
A Comedy Show to Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Friday September 1 @ 9:30 p.m.
There will be an auction too!

Tickets are $10
Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
34 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd St.)
Call or visit the Mo Pitkin's box office at (212) 777-5660
F or V to Second Ave.

Featuring:
Michael Showalter
Baron Vaughn
Stickerbook
Amanda Melson
Jacqueline Novak
Mike Barry
Adira Amram
Matt McCarthy
Jon Friedman
Justin Purnell

The proceeds from the show will be going to the Avon Foundation. I am sponsoring a walker in the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer taking place in NYC on Oct 7-8. The walk is 36 miles! (I cannot attend the event this year but can tell you from my past experience as a walker that it is amazing and the Avon Foundation does great things for breast cancer research and also for charities that help low-income individuals suffering from breast cancer!)

As many of you know, my mom has been fighting and conquering breast cancer for the past 2 years. She has gone through three surgeries, two rounds of chemo, and one round of radiation. She's had a very difficult fight but I am so happy to say she's pretty much beat the crap out of that cancer. But if you're reading this email, chances are you know someone who has had, or is currently having, their own fight with breast cancer. So it's not only a personal cause because I know that without the advances made in research my mom would have had it much worse, but also a larger one because I know that every three seconds another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.

There are lots of cancers out there and lots of causes but I say any little bit helps! If you'd like to donate, please go here, to my friend Melissa's donation page.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Drink at Work/Yankee Potroast show tonight

Yankee Pot Roast! Drink at Work! Bea Arthur! It All Happens Tonight, August 28th!

Tonight, August 28th, Drink at Work is helping "Literary Malefactor" website Yankee Pot Roast with their first official public comedic reading/comedic performance/comedic drinking show!

Join us as Drink at Work's own Carol Hartsell and Yankee Pot Roast's own Geoff Wolinetz host an evening of urbane, cultivated literary hilarity not seen since an inebriated Robert Benchley told an inebriated George S. Kaufman to go blow an inebriated Robert Sherwood, all to the delight of an inebriated Dorothy Parker (face it, people were just far more sophisticated in the Roaring Twenties).

Scheduled to read/perform:
* Dennis DiClaudio, author of The Hypochondriac’s Pocket Guide to Horrible Diseases You Probably Already Have
* Todd Zuniga of Opium Magazine
* Dale Dobson of Yankee Pot Roast and Cracked
* Wayne Gladstone of Yankee Pot Roast and McSweeney's
* Sean Crespo of National Lampoon, Cracked and Drink at Work
* Francesco Marciuliano of Drink at Work, Medium Large and Sally Forth
* Nick Jezarian of Yankee Pot Roast and Cracked
* And the brilliant and deservedly acclaimed sketch comedy of Elephant Larry!

Plus, Yankee Pot Roast will be selling their brand new, Che Guevara-inspired "Bea Arthur T-shirts"! That's right! The revolution is starting all over again, and this time it will be mildly acerbic, steeped in musical theater and play well with the over-60 demographic.

So come on down and celebrate if not the very fine art of the comedic essay then that uproarious episode of Maude in which Bea Arthur experienced menopause. her husband Walter had a nervous breakdown after coming to grips with alcoholism and their maid Florida lost her husband James for the first time.

The Yankee Pot Roast/Drink at Work Reading
TONIGHT! Monday, August 28th
7:00 P.M.
Ace of Clubs
(Below ACME)
9 Great Jones Street
(Between Broadway and Lafayette)
$5

Todd Levin on facial hair

"What Your Facial Hair Is Really Saying' by Em & Lo, New York

But the majority of women we polled agree with 31-year-old photographer Lisa Whiteman: “While I think some men can pull off a mustache, most of the time it just looks like they’re trying too hard.” Meaning they probably sported a hipster mullet a few years back and own a Williamsburg 5 CENT MUSTACHE RIDES T-shirt. Her bearded boyfriend, Todd Levin, a New York comic, would agree. He recently hosted the beard category of the New York City Beard & Moustache Championships. “The impression I got was that the mustaches, at least on the younger guys, were the punch line to some joke only they knew—and they got a kick out of it,” he says.

So why do beards get a free pass? “There was something almost stoic about the guys with beards,” Levin says. In other words, if the mustache is an ironic statement, the beard is the earnest backlash.

Levin started growing his own short but somewhat scruffy beard four years ago during a temporary bout of existential depression. “I just stopped shaving. And then suddenly I was getting all this good feedback, especially from women.” He theorizes that the positive reinforcement might have been compounded by the fact that he looks “100 percent more Jewish” with the beard. “I think there’s a segment of women who really respond to that in this town,” he says. And now it’s a part of his identity, for both him and his girlfriend, whom he met with the full facial growth. “When she looks at old pictures of me without it, she’ll say, ‘That’s not you.’ So she won’t let me shave it. And even if she did, I don’t think I would.”

Baron Vaughn named one of New York Post's 25 Sexiest New Yorkers

Congratulations to Baron Vaughn (who is also doing my Comic Sex Night at In The Flesh on November 15th!) for being named one of "The 25 Sexiest New Yorkers" by The New York Post.


photo by Semyon

Baron Vaughn

Age: 25

Resides: Astoria

Occupation: comedian

Vaughn, whom you may recognize from a current Coke Zero commercial, has gigs all over town. But when it comes to meeting girls, he takes nothing for granted. "I'm kind of bad at reading signs. I just assume, 'Oh, she's just being nice.' And then I'll find out later on that I had a chance."

Friday, August 25, 2006

Comedian weddings!

Big congratulations to my happily in love comedian friends:

EDP and Lori, whose photo you MUST check out in the Post - it truly captures the spirit of them and their wedding

Kambri and Christian, who had the funnest wedding I've ever been to. They just looked so happy, even joking aruond onstage. Plus they had cupcakes! Truly though, not only have I never seen so many comedians all packed into one place, but I've never seen such a stress and drama-free and simply enjoyable, fun, happy wedding. It rocked. (Check out Kambri's Flickr photos here)

Back in the comedy loop courtesy of Sara Jo Allocco

This blog has languished because, frankly, I haven’t had much time for comedy lately. I kindof realized that while it’s fun to go out every night and laugh, that still leaves me with piles of deadlines and not getting ahead in any way with that little thing called a writing career. BUT, I have made some decent progress with my writing and want to try to get back in the swing of things. So this week I not only went to two comedy shows, I performed at one of them! I will have to write about the fabulous Rejection Show another time (though for now you really MUST check out Carolita "Ape-Face" Johnson's post and Flickr set about her performance; she calls rejection "Vitamin R"), it was one of the best ones I’ve been to, but for now I will say that Sara Jo Allocco’s party-formance Take This Job and Shove It, at D-Lounge, last night, was super, super fun. Sara and Brandy just know how to put on a show. They also managed to book me, and if it were anyone slightly less adorable, I’d have said no, because I vastly prefer the comfort of my computer screen versus being live on stage in front of actual people.

But I said yes, and of course left what I wanted to say until the very last minute so had typed out maybe half a page, like the two sentence setup to what I wanted to talk about, then hauled ass over to D Lounge. I discovered that the way to get me to your event on time is to make me think it starts an hour earlier than it does. I couldn’t be bothered looking up Brandy’s original email, so I just went by the flyer, which said the party started at 7. I got there, and found out the party was at 7, show at 8. So I went to Whole Foods to get some food, and while there also got salt and vinegar potato chips for Brandy, a chocolate Rice Krispie Treat for Sara, and mini cupcakes for the crowd. See, since I’m not a performer, I get crazy ass nervous. Last night I wasn’t so much, but still, I figured that even if I sucked onstage, I could feed people and also have mega cleavage on display to help mitigate my not-funnyness.

So I had time to be all girly in the back room and catch up with Miss Lianne Stokes, whose eyeliner (MAC, of course) I coveted, and wound up booking her for my awesome November 15th lineup for Comic Sex Night at In The Flesh (how awesome is my fucking lineup? Sara Jo Allocco, Claudia Cogan, Jessica Delfino, Julie Klausner, Todd Levin, Mindy Raf, Lianne Stokes, Baron Vaughn and music by Adira Amram - total shameless plug but it's my blog and (will be) my birthday, so please mark your calendars!) I got to meet the lovely Anya Garrett, who takes all those HOT photos of Sara and Brandy for The Kissing Booth. Sara had all these printouts of job performance reviews which cracked me up.

I got to see Sean Crespo, who I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen before, though I’d heard his name. He talked about a few really bad jobs, culminating in a sleep deprivation study, a thermometer up his ass, and getting in trouble for jerking off, but I think the best part of his set was this hilarious impression of this gay kid on a cruise singing “Fame.” You kindof had to be there, sorry (this is another reason I’ve slacked on the comedy blogging; you pretty much have to be there for all of it). After the show we talked about managers, free shows, and The Comedian Who Shall Not Be Named.

Jon Friedman, who today was conducting business via BlackBerry from a freight elevator (We are having a sandwich/cupcake picnic tomorrow! Food! Fun! Come to Prospect Park!), talked about working as an office manager at an Internet startup and the infamous “mirror hat” letter, but even more entertaining was his tale of folding clothes at Ann Taylor Loft.

Michael Cyril Crighton made us all jealous of his upcoming trip to Ireland, and grossed us out with tales of homeless antics across the street from his job. He also shared how he gets hit on by phone at work, and also is often mistaken for a woman on the phone.

The show ended with an awesome musical medley with Sara and Brandy, who kept announcing how drunk they were on stage each and every time.

Anyway, I had an awesome time, and got to trash my heinous old job where I thought I would die during the blackout. I also found out about all sorts of cool comedy stuff going on that I’ve been too out of the loop to know about. I caught up with John O’Donnell, who I’d last seen drunkenly dancing with Becky Donohue at Kambri and Christian’s wedding. I mentioned Claudia’s name and he’s like “oh, I’m doing a show with her.” Hello? MUST I be the last to know? Well, I will tell you: they are doing a new show called Check Your Cool every Tuesday at Parkside. John passionately defended the coolness of Parkside Lounge, and I will admit, the Ms. Pacman and free entertainment are great. I’m lazy, though, and it’s just far enough from the train that I’m sometimes not so up for going, but I do want to check it out.

Carol and Sean told me all about the upcoming Drink at Work shows, including a very special September 11th show. I try to not really make plans for that day, because it somehow seems wrong to go off and have a good time, yet I find memorial stuff a bit too morbid. As I said to them, anyone who can make me laugh about 9/11 I will totally give props to. It was a lot of fun and was cool to see and meet some new (to me) comedians, plus D-Lounge is super convenient. In fact, tonight D-Lounge is home to Sweet Paprika at 10:30, with Michael Brill, Sean Crespo, Susan Prekel and Roger Hailes is there, and next week, September 1st, they’ve got Jess Wood, Rena Zager, Josh Grosvent and Adam Lehman).

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Chicks Love Rejection TONIGHT!

From Jon Friedman and see below for Saturday's FABULOUS sandwich/cupcake picnic - please join us!

This week, Special Edition! Chicks & Giggles and The Rejection Show team up with and presents 'CHICKS LOVE REJECTION!' Tuesday is a lineup of all females and me (a man.)

CHICKS LOVE REJECTION

AUGUST 22, 2006
FEATURING REJECTIONS FROM:

JON FRIEDMAN
(I'll be telling the complete story of why Michael Winslow is mad at
me.)

CAROLYN CASTIGLIA
(Rejected from The White Rapper Show)

WENDY SPERO
(Sharing a bad review and reading a chapter rejected from her new book
Microthrills)

CAROLITA JOHNSON
(Cartoonist from The New Yorker)

DESIREE BURCH
(Comedian, Host of SMUT)

NEGIN FARSAD
(Comedian, MTV, Sirius Radio)

And as always more fun rejection surprises!!

HOSTED BY JON FRIEDMAN & CAROLYN CASTIGLIA

The Rejection Show
Chicks Love Rejection
Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
August 22 @ 7:30PM
34 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd St.)
Call or visit the Mo Pitkin's box office at (212) 777-5660
F or V to Second Ave.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

Join us after the show in the lounge at Mo Pitkin's for drinks and more
fun.

Don't forget to get your sandwiches ready for the 2nd Annual Delicious Sandwich Social this Saturday!

Friday, August 18, 2006

Rejection Show at Spiegeltent!

I will finally get my ass to Spiegeltent, yay!

The Rejection Show
“Failure is fun!”

After a successful weekly “Summerfest of Rejection” run, The Rejection Show returns to its monthly format, kicking off at The Famous Spiegeltent on Saturday September 16th.

Created and produced by writer and comedian, Jon Friedman, The Rejection Show is a comedic based event that embraces the rejected and “turned down” material of writers, comedians, cartoonists, artists, and human beings whom display their creative “failures” live on stage.

HOSTED BY
JON FRIEDMAN

SEPTEMBER 16TH 6PM
Featuring the rejected material of:

MIKE O’CONNELL
(Jimmy Kimmel Live)

LEO ALLEN
(SNL, Stella)

CRAIG BALDO
(VH1)

JOE SCHIAPPA & CAST OF KIDS
(Rejected by Nickelodeon)

MICHELLE COLLINS & LANG FISHER
(Rejected by American Idol)

LOSERS LOUNGE with JOE McGINTY & NICK DANGER
(Performing a Failed Broadway Musical Medley)

KATINA CORRAO
(Break up letter)

And as always, more fun rejection surprises!

The Rejection Show
The Spiegeltent
September 16 @ 6PM
Pier 17 at The Fulton Fish Market
Take 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, or M to Fulton Street; A and C to Broadway-Nassau.
Walk east on Fulton Street to the East River.
Located at the Northern Side of Pier 17 (facing the Brooklyn Bridge) behind the Fulton Fish Market.
$10

The Spiegeltent is nestled behind the iconic Fulton Fish Market site at South Street Pier and overlooked by the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, this exceptional venue will draw people to it and seduce them into staying as it has all around the world.

For a strictly limited run of only nine weeks it will be jam-packed with sultry, funky, cutting edge events.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Take This Job And . . .


Take This Job And . . .
Originally uploaded by rkb1.
I will be dishing about a job I had in 2003 that made me cry and thinking I was gonna die there during the blackout. (But it'll be funny, promise!)

Take This Job and SHOVE IT!
A party-formacne for Sara Jo Allocco

WHERE: The D Lounge
101 east 15th street at union square east- basement level of the DR2 theaters
WHEN: Thursday, August 24th, 2006
party begins at 7 pm
$3 beers! $4 shot special!
Show begins at 8 PM
FREE!!!

RSVP to thekissingboothnyc@yahoo.com

Featuring Mike Burns, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Michael Cyril Crighton, Sean Crespo, Jon Friedman, Jerry Miller, Lianne Stokes and more!

See www.myspace.com/thekissingboothnyc for more info

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

I'll be away this weekend so can't make it, but this promises to be an awesome show!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Caroline Does Caroline's and I do D Lounge

I ran into my friend Caroline Waxler at Kambri and Christian's wedding and she told me she's now doing standup at . . . Caroline's! Super fun - so come check her out on September 19th:

From Caroline Waxler:

sept 19th at carolines:
New class clowns show
At 9:30
1626 Broadway & 50th
Res: 212 757 4100
For the carolines stuff pls make a res 2 to 3 weeks in advance
If you say you’re there to see me I think the cover is only $5

I'm very excited because I stopped going to comedy shows for a while because I was seeing the same comics do the same routines over and over and over and just got bored (no offense, just telling it like it is). Now I'm not going cause I'm bogged down in writing, but I am hoping to emerge from the writing black hole in September and check out stuff like this. That's all I really have to say at the moment. Brain overrun with words.

Oh! One more thing - I am actually doing a show on the 24th at D Lounge organized by the lovely Sara Jo Allocco and Brandy Barber called Take This Job And Shove It. I'll be talking about the last job I had before my current one, where they made me cry and I got in trouble for wearing sneakers and talking too loudly. And they took away my internet access. I thought I was going to die with them during the blackout. I know that doesn't sound funny, but I'll try to funny it up by the 24th, promise.

Dances With Wolfshirts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sketch Group A Week of Kindness Presents: Dances With Wolfshirts
New York, NY-August 15th

Only two chances remain to see A Week of Kindness, New York’s most merciless sketch comedy group, in their fifth all-new show. Dances with Wolfshirts, at the Peoples Improv Theatre. Running the next two Tuesdays at 9:30pm, time is quickly running out to see the show nytheatre.com calls “a spirited, scabrous, and totally beside-the-point exploration of the post-capitalist trend cycle.”

“Like the Seinfeld cast, Hopper, Kushner, and Still know how to carry off a scene, turning nothing into something…. Each of the three performers has an amazing presence...”
-Doug Strassler, offoffonline.com

Dances with Wolfshirts explores, through AWOK’s usual blend of high-energy, high-wit live performance and often-demented short films, the lifecycle of trends, immersing the audience in a world of soup addicts, frivolous surgery, and, of course, lots of awesome t-shirts with huge wolves on them. Dances with Wolfshirts is written and performed by Dan Hopper, Nate Kushner, and Mike Still, with guest appearances by a parade of New York City’s alternative comedians, including Chris O’Connor of Fearsome and Becky Yamamoto of Stickerbook.

“[made] me laugh until I veered into the seating aisle.”

-Kyle Ancowitz, nytheatre.com

Since 2005, A Week of Kindness has performed at New York’s hottest comedy venues, including RiFiFi, the Peoples Improv Theatre, and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Their website, www.aweekofkindness.com, receives nearly 1,700 hits daily. Their short films have been viewed nearly 200,000 times on the Internet and have been featured on CollegeHumor.com, BestWeekEver.tv, SketchFestTV.com, and most recently, on VmaNyc2006.com, the official site of MTV’s Video Music Awards.

A Week of Kindness Presents:

Dances With Wolfshirts

Tuesdays at 9:30

August 22nd, and 29th

At the Peoples Improv Theatre:

154 W. 29th St, between 6th and 7th Avenues. $5.

Sponsored in part by Brooklyn Brewery—All audience members over 21 have a chance to win ten beers from Brooklyn Brewery; a drawing every performance!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Two upcoming Sara Schaefer shows: Video Gaga and Cancer Blows

Just in from the hilarious Sara Schaefer

VIDEO GAGA
Monday August 21 @ 9:30 p.m.

It's our rap-themed show!
Musical Guest: DUJEOUS.
Also appearing: Trudy Dako, Jodi Skeris, and John Kingman
Produced by John Kingman and me.

Tickets $5 (reserve at www.ucbtheatre.com)
Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre
307 W. 26th Street, btw 8th & 9th

CANCER BLOWS
A Comedy Show to Benefit Breast Cancer Research
Friday September 1 @ 9:30 p.m.
There will be an auction too!

Tickets are $10
Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction
34 Avenue A (2nd and 3rd St.)
Call or visit the Mo Pitkin's box office at (212) 777-5660
F or V to Second Ave.

Featuring:
Michael Showalter
Baron Vaughn
Stickerbook
Amanda Melson
Jacqueline Novak
Mike Barry
Adira Amram
Matt McCarthy
Jon Friedman
Justin Purnell

Friday, August 11, 2006

New In The Flesh flyer


Latest In The Flesh flyer
Originally uploaded by rkb1.
Pretty much like the old one, but with new dates (into January 2007!)

In The Flesh Erotic Reading Series
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month
Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome Street, NYC
FREE
Hosted by erotica editor and Village Voice sex columnist Rachel Kramer Bussel
With sexy readers, free books, candy and mini cupcakes
See http://inthefleshreadingseries.blogspot.com for full lineups, directions and details

Upcoming dates:

August 16 - Lily Burana, Shari Goldhagen, etc.
September 20 - Revenge of the Sex Columnists with Julia Allison, Erin Bradley, Ellen Friedrichs, Laura Leu, Jamye Waxman
October 18 - Literary Lust with Jami Attenberg, Mo Beasley and UrbanErotika, Christen Clifford, Marcy Dermansky, etc.
November 15 - Comic Sex Night (and my birthday!)
With Sara Jo Allocco, Claudia Cogan, Jessica Delfino, Julie Klausner, Todd Levin, Mindy Raf, Baron Vaughn and musical guest Adira Amram
December 15 - Holiday Erotica, plus Abiola Abrams, L. Elise Bland, Karen Moulding
January 17, 2007 - Erotic Memoir Night with Grant Stoddard (Working Stiff), Lauren Wissot (Under My Master's Wings)

Desiree Burch's "52 Man PICKUP!"

You may have seen Desiree Burch hosting SMUT at Galapagos, or recently at In The Flesh, doing bits from her show "52 Man PICKUP!" - well, now you can catch her do the whole show, this Tuesday. It's hilarious and relatable and sexy and fabulous.

52 Man PICKUP!
"You gotta know when to hold 'em..."
a work-in-progress by
Desiree Burch

the premature ej*culator, the digital ass-man, the submissive
c*cksucker, the drunken whimperer, the would-be rock star, the massuer
and the male cheerleader (among others) all get more than their 15
minutes of shame in this card trick that literally comes barrelling
out of a hat, like the white rabbit that is my sex life.

All that, and I'm not even one of the "quiet ones."

It's my newest solo foray, and it's personal, touching, fast-paced and
hilarious.

CHECK IT OUT:
52 Man Pickup
by Desiree Burch
at The Peoples.Improv.Theater. (154 West 29th Street btw. 6th & 7th)
Tuesday, August 15th at 7 p.m.
$8
The PIT

Jewish porn star, comedian and gossip trivia!

I'm so there...

The Big Jewish Quiz Thing
Wednesday, September 13 at 8PM
The Big Quiz Thing, NYC's live-trivia spectacular, presents a special-edition game-show smackdown, pitting New York's savviest Jewish bigwigs against each other in a trivia contest of all things Hebraic. Joanna Angel (Burningangel.com), Adam Feldman (Time Out New York, New York Drama Critics' Circle), Jesse Oxfeld (Still coasting on Gawker), Bex Schwartz (VH1), Michael Showalter (Stella, Comedy Central) and Tammy Faye Starlight (Evangelical Country Singer) test their Talmudic talent for a chance to win prizes and glory. Hosted by Ashkenazic quizmaster Noah Tarnow, Sephardic sidekick EDP, and gentile DJ GB.
$10/ticket
14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street

See also: www.bigquizthing.com

"The King Davids of Comedy"

From The Jewish Journal of LA

What place does Jewish comedy have in a "Git-r-done" world? Steve Hofstetter hopes it will once again be comedy's saving grace.

"There's got to be a backlash against the whole blue-collar thing," Hofstetter said. "We're on our way to an intellectual renaissance in comedy, because we need it."

Hofstetter said the growing popularity of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" is the pendulum swinging the other way after the Larry the Cable Guy phenomenon, much the same way "The Man Show" sprouted up following the launch of the Oxygen and We networks. And he believes Jews will be at the center of the revolution.

The 26-year-old in-your-face comedian and sports columnist is leading the charge on Aug. 17, as he hosts "The King Davids of Comedy" at the Hollywood Improv, with a portion of the proceeds going to Magen David Adom. The show will feature the stand-up of Marc Maron, Dan Rosenberg, Wayne Federman, Jordan Rubin and Jeffrey Ross.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Funny book recommendation: Wendy Spero's Microthrills

Microthrills

Microthrills



I reviewed Wendy Spero's Microthrills for BUST and absolutely fell in love with it. Go read it now! And also come see Wendy when she's in town. I'll be interviewing her soon for Small Spiral Notebook too. What I really loved is that her humor is so honest and comes from her life and isn't trying to be anything. It's not over-the-top or wannabe hipster; sometimes it's dorky, sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's a little conniving, but at its core it's about finding her way in the world and appreciating the little moments, as bizarre as they may be. There are even photos to illustrate everything from her bat mitzvah to her stuffed animal collection, and whether she's writing about shopping for a winter coat, her deceased father, or her knife-selling stint, she lets the reader inside into a glimpse of her addled but always-on mind.

Wendy will be performing and I highly recommend catching her live (but do read the book too, I think you'll like it a lot):

LOS ANGELES
Friday, August 04, 2006, 07:00 PM
Dutton's Beverly Hills - book reading
447 N. Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: (310) 281-0997

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 07:30 PM
Barnes & Noble - book reading
The Grove at Farmers Market
189 Grove Drive Suite K 30
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 525 0270

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 08:00 PM
Comedy Central Stage - book party, live music, food, strange home videos
The Hudson Theater
6539 Santa Monica Boulevard
Hollywood, California 90038
Book party and reading.
With music by Candypants. www.myspace.com/candypants
Call for reservations
(323) 960 5519
FREE!

NEW YORK
Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 07:00 PM
Barnes & Noble - book reading
674 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 727 1227

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 07:30 PM
Mo Pitkins - book reading, live music, food
Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction. www.mopitkins.com
34 Ave A
(212) 777 5661
music by The Hazzards. www.ukesofhazzard.com/
FREE!

Monday, August 28, 2006, 10:00 PM
Eating It - Live Comedy Show - GREAT comedian line-up
EATING IT - www.eatingit.com
Outdoors on the Hudson River. Doors open at 6:45pm
Rain or shine. Fully covered stage area with plenty of seating.
Cheap drinks and delicious food at the Tiki Hut bar/restaurant.
Pier 63 is at West 23rd St and The West Side Highway
Enter just to the right of Basketball City.
Look for the giant frying pan with our sign out front.
Admission $8 cash only at door. No drink minimum.
For venue info call 212-989-6363 or visit www.pier63maritime.com
Ages 18 and over


SEATTLE
Wednesday, September 06, 2006, 07:30 PM
The Warren Report - live interview
The Carnegie Library
2026 NW Market St, 2nd FL
Seattle, WA 98107
Thursday, September 07, 2006, 07:00 PM
Pretty Parlor - Swivel reading, Egyptian singers, and clogging!
Pretty Parlor - www.prettyparlor.com
119 Summit Ave
Seattle, WA
206 405 cute

PORTLAND
Friday, September 08, 2006, 07:30 PM
Powells - book reading
1005 W Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 228 4651

Saturday, September 09, 2006, 07:00 PM
Reading Frenzy - book reading
921 SW Oak Street
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 274 1449

SAN FRANCISCO
Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 07:30 PM
Books Inc - book reading
2275 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 931 3633