• Producing live comedy is the hardest part of comedy (at least for me- some may see my act and say, "Dude, work on your writing."). When you start doing comedy, all you want to do is try out the jokes you’ve been so excited to say for years. Then, you want a show. As we all know it’s tough to get audience to come to the show and you are constantly thinking of new ways to cook up promotion. Some people make it look extremely easy though. One of those people is Emily Winter. Last Thursday, I was one of 64 comics selected to participate in her One-Liner Madness competition at the Bell House (it was my fourth one-liner madness; they are always good and is a brilliant concept). The show was miraculous. It felt like a major step up. It was the first time I’ve been at a show in New York where I didn’t feel grateful that there was an audience and felt more like an important person for even being on the show. Audience showed up in droves. It was standing room only. We had a green room and all got very cool photos from Jenni Walkowiak. As for the show, jokes got BIG laughs. Everything about the night encapsulated what you dream New York comedy will be like when you move here. I lost in my first round to a banana hoodie-wearing Martin Urbano (Kelsey Caine wearing a shirt that just said BALLSY over and over was a tie for best outfit) and got to see two masters of the short form duke it out in the Finals- Isabel Hagen and Stu Melton. I wish everything was this good.
• To be fair, I was equally impressed by a major level up last night by Tom Delgado and Courtney Maginnis. I filmed their “Let’s See What Else” three-year anniversary show at Bowery Ballroom and they completely packed the place to standing room only. I was in awe. Both of these shows felt so professional. Clearly, people are figuring out this producing game. The comedy was on point too, of course. Both Tom and Courtney were fantastic hosting throughout the show and Tony Zaret rocked it so hard playing guitar whenever necessary. Gave the show a special edge. Finally, the coolest part of all was getting my first Mindy (that's code for a pic of yourself from the legendary Mindy Tucker). She’s the best and it made my week.
• Watched so MANY comedy things this week. It’s amazing how many weird things are just hiding on streaming services. For example, you can see the Eddie Murphy-directed “Harlem Nights” (it has Richard Pryor AND Redd Foxx in it too) and “Major Payne” on Amazon Prime. Got to check those movies I’d always wondered about off my movie-watching bucket list this week. If you dig even deeper past legitimate features, you’ll see the very unusual “Heckler” documentary made by Jamie Kennedy in the mid-2000s. The movie hammers the point home that hecklers are bad over and over but toward the end it becomes obsessed with the bad reviews for “Malibu’s Most Wanted.” Poor guy took it very personally. Not quite AS sad, but definitely sad is the recent Pauly Shore documentary of him on the road. It’s weird. He really paints himself as a hero who helps people in need out but the whole time you’re wondering if he only does this for the movie. Lastly, I’m sure everyone knows this but you can watch “The Comedian” episode of the rebooted “Twilight Zone” on YouTube. It’s a great concept but man, did it rub me the wrong way. Kumail is great in it as is Tracy Morgan as the Dave Chappelle surrogate but the dialogue and acting from everyone else is some of the most painful I’ve seen. I’d recommend only for the curiosity factor. On a side note, Peele does kill it as the Rod Serling replacement.
• Finally, I went to so many very good shows this week and they all deserve shouts. First, I got to go up at the very good Jeff McBride and Teresa Sheffield’s Late Night Romp last Friday and had a very fun time. The two of them really know how to put on a bomb show. There were great Friday night vibes and I’ll be honest, I struggled following Alex Carabaño. He is a force; electric. Maybe New York’s most underrated comic. My new goal is to be able to follow the dude. Other shows I swung by included Max Fine’s very fun Wednesday Niagara show and then had a two-fer on Monday where I went to see Patrick Hastie crush Night One his Week at the Creek (you should really go if you get a chance these next few days; really great to see him work) and then went to Jordan Scott Huggins’ show with Anna E. Paone at Pianos. This is another one that everyone should go out to. Not only does Jordan book really great comics (every set I saw a standout) but there is a projection of the Earth from a NASA satellite behind the performers when they’re onstage. Makes for an eerie, surreal look. Go for the show and get a picture afterwards.
• Only have one show this coming week (my own) with Tristan Smith tomorrow at V-Spot. Kinda hard to say I’m “booked” but I’ll take it. Also, I’ll be taping my pal Madison Allen at Cobra Club Friday as well as my dude Mike Guild Monday at Caroline’s.
Peace and LMAOs.
