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For Whom The Belz Told

Want more comedy news from Feb. 13-19, 2023? Go Munch Yourself

First things first, as the saying goes when not talking about my podcast: Welcome to all of my new subscribers! Whether you found me thanks to a shout-out from Anthony Jeselnik on The Jeselnik & Rosenthal Vanity Project podcast, thanks to a shout-out from New York Times critic-at-large Jason Zinoman in his latest review roundup, or came here indirectly via the Substack app, recommendations engine, or even just stumbled on over and liked what you saw…thanks for signing up for more! And if you’ve just arrived here some other way just now, welcome to you, too!

This week’s top story…

R.I.P. Richard Belzer

I wrote an obituary for the Belz over on Decider this morning. The comedian and actor died Sunday at his home in the south of France. He was 78. Belzer’s wonderfully on-brand last words — “Fuck you, motherfucker” — were reported out to the word thanks to the great Bill Scheft, longtime former writer for David Letterman who even more thankfully had the great idea to begin work on a documentary about Belz while he was still alive. Which means we have more to see and hear from Belz even after he has left us. I enjoyed the chance to sit with Belzer for an interview once back in 2008, when he was promoting his novel, “I Am Not A Cop!,” in which he included a character named Richard Belzer who was an actor in the book who also happen to portray a TV cop named Munch. Meta, indeed.

Zinoman’s take focuses more on how Belz may have been the pioneer of crowd work in being the boldest of the comedy boomers.

Notes From LA-LA-Land

Wrapping up a quick trip to Los Angeles as I write this, and really enjoyed seeing a wide variety of comedy this past week. From the monthly Kvetch Comedy showcase at Genghis Cohen, where I saw Lizzy Cooperman and River Butcher in person for the first time in a long time; to a quick mini-reunion with my college classmate Matt Iseman after he hosted on of the re-opening night shows at The Ice House in Pasadena (where I also got to apologize to Shang for not replying to his email from ages ago); to the chaotic madcap zany wild fun of Stamptown in a packed Bourbon Room; to Christina Catherine Martinez cosplaying as a museum tour guide at The Geffen to a large group (some of whom, I imagine, had no idea what they were in for!);

to getting my kick-tharsis and seeing the Flam Gams of Jamie Flam and Vanessa Ragland — they’re celebrating five years of Dynasty Typewriter in March — and the Dy-Nasties as they welcomed Jena Friedman back to the stage for her first set as a new mom (as well as great sets from Aparna Nancherla, Megan Gailey and Chris Fleming); to seeing both Leslie Jones and Eddie Pepitone wow the crowds in the Main Room at The Comedy Store; to last but not least, having a blast and learning a thing or two about dance from The Raggle Taggle Dance Hour, hosted by Kat M. Burns (and where I found Piffany supporter Rachel Bloom sitting next to me for part of the show!).

Remembering Brody Stevens

Steven James Brody, aka Brody Stevens, left us four years ago on Feb. 22, 2019, at the age of 48. Today SiriusXM premiers a new four-part documentary series, Positive Connections: A Brody Stevens Oral History, produced and hosted by Julie Seabaugh. Each episode airs at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Raw Dog Comedy channel 99, with all four episodes will be available to stream on the SXM App. This Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern, SiriusXM Raw Dog Comedy will air all four parts back-to-back followed by audio from Stevens’ stand-up special Brody Stevens: Live from the Main Room.

I first met Brody at the open mics at the Comedy Underground in Seattle back in 1997, and in 2010, remain grateful that I got Zach Galifianakis to interview his BFF from his movie trailer on the set of Due Date. One more time: ENJOY IT

OK, what is this, another name-dropping column! Let’s get back to the news.

Industry News and Notes

Judd Apatow hosted the Directors Guild Awards over the weekend (what, no video?!). Still to come in comedians hosting big ceremonies: Hasan Minhaj will preside over the Film Independent Spirit Awards, while Roy Wood Jr. keynotes this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner, and Janelle James gets to host the Writers Guild Awards. Fun times all around!

  • NBC has ordered a pilot for Amber Ruffin’s multi-cam Non-Evil Twin (which sounds a bit as if Janelle Monae’s character from Glass Onion had to keep it up — spoiler?). Logline: A woman is forced to step in to her sister’s role as the leader of a Fortune 500 company despite knowing little about business and even less about the way her sister has been running the corporation.

  • CBS has ordered a pilot from Wayne Conley for a live multi-cam take on the “JumpStart” comic strip.

  • CBS also is developing A Lot, a multi-camera improv project starring June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer, through Marta Kauffman’s Okay Goodnight and Lionsgate Television. Logline: A couple in their late 30s pour their life savings into building a housing development on a defunct studio lot, but these house flippers get more than they bargained for when their new project becomes a nightmare.

  • Tara Reid is shopping a TV adaptation of Laura Vorreyer’s book The Pet Sitter’s Tale, retitled Walking In LA.

  • Adult Swim announced an April 2 premiere for Royal Crackers, an animated comedy by and starring Jason Ruiz about a snack-food family company, with other voices by Andrew Santino, Jessica St. Clair, and David Gborie.

  • FOX announced two separate deals: One for Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted and upcoming adaptation of True Lies); the other for Justin Adler (Life in Pieces, Maggie).

Festival Submissions

Did you know you can submit to Just For Laughs New Faces??? Well, sort of.

The OG “New Faces” showcases remain invite-only, but for the 2023 JFL Montreal, happening July 26-29, 2023, you can submit yourself for consideration for New Faces Unrepped, as well as the International and Creators divisions. Click here for more info.

The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, happening Oct. 5-8, 2023, in Atlanta, also is accepting submissions for the 50 slots in its annual stand-up contest and confab. Click here for more info.

Last Week’s Specials

New on Netflix

New on FOX Nation

New on Peacock

New on Moment

New on YouTube (self-released unless otherwise noted; excluding old specials released on the platform, and anything under a half-hour)

New on Amazon (for rent/sale)

THIS WEEK: 15 (Previous subtotal: 55) Running total for 2023: 70 stand-up specials!

Late-Night Roundup

Fun Things To Do In NYC

This week’s show(s) I plugged in The New York Times: Leo Reich’s one-person show, “Literally Who Cares?!” received a Best Newcomer nomination at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, and comes to the SoHo Playhouse through March 11, ready to rip the Band-Aid off of Gen Z. Better get tickets before the entire run sells out!

Would you like to promote your comedy show or album or special or whatnot on this newsletter???

You can plug your projects in the comments if you’re a PAID SUBSCRIBER of Piffany! Or, if you’d rather have me include your project in the body of the weekly From The Comic’s Comic roundup, please let me know and we can work out the details.

Hell Yeah! Friend of Piffany Liam McEneaney is hosting this show Wednesday night at the Hollywood Improv in The Lab. Added to the lineup: Mark Brazill. Get tickets here.

Thanks for reading!

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