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A Week In The Life Of Comedy Journalism

The comedy industry is so big in 2023 that this year’s New York Comedy Festival could include more than 200 comedians in more than 100 shows across the city’s five boroughs and still not even include at least FIVE stand-up comedy specials that filmed in Manhattan and Brooklyn this past week and change.

Tig Notaro filmed her newest special on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Kings Theatre. A week ago, Dave Chappelle presented Tony Woods in his Netflix taping at the Village Underground. Then Chappelle presided over Donnell Rawlings‘s Netflix taping at the Hard Rock in Times Square which was in the NYCF lineup but not as a taping (thereby fulfilling Chappelle’s four-special Home Team deal; Rawlings previously had attempted filming his hour months eariler). Jo Koy filmed his fifth Netflix special over the course of two nights last Friday-Saturday at Kings Theatre. Marlon Wayans, meanwhile, filmed two shows Saturday at the Apollo in Harlem for his next special.

For this dispatch, perhaps you might like seeing or at least knowing exactly what it’s like covering comedy in the city and the world these days, by looking back on seven recent days.

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

The Improv: 60 and Still Standing debuted on Netflix. This clip from the Improv chain isn’t in that special, but clearly cements the club’s legacy in the evolution and revolution of stand-up comedy.

The Improv marked its 40th anniversary with a primetime special on NBC. For 50, The Improv’s retrospective premiered on EPIX (which now is MGM+) and can be seen currently on Amazon Prime Video’s Freevee as well as other FAST networks. As for Netflix’s Improv at 60? Some comedians took this as an opportunity to do their regular stand-up and perhaps reach an audience that might not have previously sought out their solo specials. Of course, I appreciated and enjoyed more the sets from those comedians who understood the assignment and shared stories about auditioning for the late Budd Friedman, what the Improv means to them, or otherwise let viewers behind the scenes of comedy (so kudos to Deon Cole, Bert Kreischer, and Jo Koy on that note). Between sets filmed at the Hollywood Improv, we also got glimpses flashing back nostalgically to the A&E’s An Evening at The Improv days and nights from the late 1980s and early 1990s, featuring early breakthroughs from Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano, David Spade, Dave Attell, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, Norm Macdonald, and Jerry Seinfeld. It’s the first major milestone for the club since Budd died a year ago this month, bittersweet not seeing him all over this anniversary.

New specials out:

Seen & Heard: Please Don’t Destroy explained themselves to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Ms. Pat talked up her new TV judge role to Seth Meyers. And Judd Apatow told Seth about the anemic press showing at the Please Don’t Destroy movie premiere in NYC, which is extra funny because the guy he singled out was Matt Kleinschmidt (formerly of The Laugh Button, still promoting comedy and music with The Syndicate).

Also new this day: Jesse David Fox’s first book, “Comedy Book.” He celebrated the launch with comedians this night at The Bell House, and the following week in L.A. at Dynasty Typewriter.

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

SiriusXM held a big press/industry event in Hudson Yards in the morning as an “Upfront” style presentation to relaunch their app and pivot their marketing into their star-laden talent network. The execs lured not only their first and still biggest satellite radio get in Howard Stern to show up and say a few words, but also Conan O’Brien (in town already for the NYCF), Andy Cohen, Maren Morris, Shaggy, Armani White, a video message from James Corden about his new channel, and a panel chat with Kevin Hart, Ashley Flowers and Kelly Clarkson (seen above, photo mine).

Also announced: Gary Gulman‘s newest special, Born On Third Base, directed by James Webb and produced by Team Coco, coming to HBO/Max in December.

Making the rounds at The Stand and the Comedy Cellar, caught a little bit of Ron Bennington‘s SiriusXM “Unmasked” interview with Shane Gillis, talked hot comedy topics with Noam Dworman at the Olive Tree Cafe while waiting to see if their buffalo wings are how I remembered them (not exactly?), congratulated Jim Norton on his new nuptials and otherwise made small talk with a number of comedians while walking the beat. Didn’t get to see Dave Chappelle present Tony Woods for his Netflix taping that night (nor did I make it to The Stand the following midnight where Chappelle held court with Hart, Jimmy Carr, Jeff Ross, Cipha Sounds and more, but here’s some photos of that).

Seen & Heard: Seth Meyers joined Dana Carvey and David Spade for their Fly On The Wall podcast. John Oliver explained his Kiwi election stunt to Jimmy Fallon, while Matt Rife told Fallon how vital TikTok has been to his stand-up career. And Leslie Jones went on Seth Meyers.

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

My weekly live comedy listing for The New York Times runs online on Thursdays and in print in the Weekend Arts section. (you can bookmark that link as it automatically updates each week with the NYT’s current listings) Last weekend, I highlighted Bill Burr at Madison Square Garden, Nicole Byer at the Apollo, and Ed Byrne at SoHo Playhouse. Did I do it all so I could turn the phrase: “Burr. Byer. Byrne. No matter whom you pick, you won’t get burned.”? Sometimes the comedy gods simply shine upon us.

Trevor Noah debuted his new Spotify podcast, What Now?, and I was somehow not impressed even though he scored Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as his premiere guest?!? As I wrote in The Daily Beast, Noah is so much more insightful when he was responding to audience questions on The Daily Show (where he has earned his first and so far only Emmy, for his Between The Scenes videos). When celebrities interview celebrities, you might get something juicy out of it, but all too often, they don’t ask the hard questions or follow-ups because they want to remain buddy-buddy in their sphere of fame. That’s another reason why we need journalists.

David Letterman announced a raffle contest through Prizeo to commemorate 30 years since the launch of Late Show with David Letterman. For a $10 donation through Prizeo to Habitat for Humanity, you could be eligible to win the original Broadway marquee, plus a chance to meet Letterman and appear on his longtime producer Barbara Gaines’s YouTube show. The contest ends Dec. 31.

Did see Tony Woods at the Comedy Gives Back benefit at Gotham Comedy Club, and the influence he had on Chappelle is rather unmistakable when you take notice of Woods’s mannerisms, stage presence and delivery. The Sklar Brothers hosted. Randy and Jason still got it! The bill also included Erin Jackson, Jessica Kirson, and Dave Attell and Jeff Ross bumpin’ mics. Want to help comedians? Please donate to Comedy Gives Back.

Also in comedy news:

  • Speaking of benefits…The 2023 “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine” fundraiser for the Scleroderma Research Foundation, held the previous night at NYC’s Edison Ballroom, reported raising $1.2 million! The late Bob Saget had started this annual event, and his widow, daughters and nephew were in attendance to watch special performances from Michael Che, Ronny Chieng, Nikki Glaser, Adam Duritz from Counting Crows, and the first-ever Bob Saget Legacy Award presented to Caroline Hirsch of Carolines fame who has worked with Saget on producing these events.
  • The big shocker in comedy came from Warner Bros. Discovery announcing they’d rather shelve the finished Coyote vs. Acme movie for a $30 million tax writeoff than find out who wants to see the live action animated hybrid featuring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor. The uproar over this news has forced WBD to reconsider and possibly sell the film to another studio for distribution?
  • Hulu has acquired Prom Dates, a film from Hartbeat Productions and American High directed by Kim O. Nguyen and written by D.J. Mausner
  • Canada’s Crave is backing a six-episode series, My Dead Mom, starring Lauren Collins and Megan Follows.
  • Sarah Silverman wrapped up her second week as a substitute guest host of The Daily Show, and it felt like a missed opportunity, really. Nary a mention of what’s going on in Gaza, despite all of her social media on it. A field trip segment about legal weed in NYC didn’t feel all that fresh, especially since the funnier news on this is all of the unauthorized weed stores and clubs popping up all over the city like Starbucks in the 1990s.

Out today:

Seen & Heard: Howie Mandel on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Please Don’t Destroy explained their SNL writing process to Seth Meyers.

Friday, Nov. 10, 2023

Grammy nominations are out! For Comedy Album of The Year, the nominees are: Dave Chappelle: What’s In A Name?; Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would; Chris Rock: Selective Outrage; Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love; and Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer. Once again, the Recording Academy shows its cards by only nominating video specials for an audio award…not sure how we’re going to convince them to listen to actual comedy albums. But if you’re going to focus on big names who made specials during the eligibility year, how are they overlooking so many others even then? Previous nominees Jim Gaffigan and Nate Bargatze had great specials (that you can actually listen to on Apple/Spotify), and Marc Maron’s From Bleak To Dark was a masterpiece. Also snubbed? Mo’Nique, Jena Friedman, Atsuko Okatsuka, John Mulaney, John Early, Chris Fleming, Marlon Wayans. And I still haven’t gotten to the album-only releases! Or mentioned that Chappelle’s nomination isn’t even comedy, but rather his lecturing of high school students! I suppose I’m rooting for Wanda Sykes out of this bunch.

Also in comedy news: FOX announced that Anthony Anderson and his mom will replace Jamie Foxx and daughter as the hosts of the new musical game show guessing which famous person’s family member is the mystery singer in We Are Family, which debuts Jan. 3, 2024.

Ventured out to Brooklyn Comedy Collective to check out sketch group Time To Kill (made up of TV writers/producers who had time to kill during this year’s strikes, and formerly known as Kids These Days who made it to TV on NBC’s Bring The Funny). I recognized one of their sketches from their NBC appearances, and also delighted in seeing guest sets from Irene Tu and Matt Koff.

Seeing Tim Dillon at Carnegie Hall was a trip. Mike Feeney and Rosebud Baker opened for Dillon (plus an opera singer and piano player before them), and to get a sense of what kind of crowd had gathered, they not only roared when Baker noted she had grown up in a Republican family in Texas, but at least one also shouted out the name of her late grandfather, too (that’d be former Sec. of State James Baker). Dillon came onstage and immediately rationalized his presence on the Carnegie Hall stage by calling Andrew Carnegie “a fat racist” who funded this performing arts cathedral specifically for performers like Dillon. And in a full circle moment after his stand-up, staffers brought out two chairs so he could sit for a few minutes and reconnect with Ray Kump, with whom he used to podcast on his pre-fame podcast, Tim Dillon Is Going To Hell.

Well, is he, though? Dillon’s set was electric and topical and slightly unhinged in a delightful way that Netflix could never quite capture for his special. He’s certainly ranted and raved and earned his way to Carnegie Hall, as well as apparently to the Romanian castle of a decidedly different decadent Andrew in Andrew Tate, and Dillon is perhaps our preeminent comedy nihilist. Of course, that’s a lot more fun to listen to and laugh at before his nihilism becomes truly contagious.

Out today:

  • Prime Video releases Dina Hashem‘s debut, Dark Little Whispers.

Seen & Heard: Eric Idle announced Steve Martin as the voice of God in the Spamalot revival on Fallon.

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023

There are nepo babies, and then there are nepo baby comedic geniuses. Did you know that Rob Reiner and Albert Brooks not only went to high school together, but were best buds even back then to the point where young Albert could make a lasting impression on Rob’s dad, the already legendary Carl Reiner?

The new HBO/Max documentary, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, centers itself within a nostalgic conversation set in a restaurant very much like if not exactly like the setting for conversations in Brooks’s film, Modern Romance. They go over his filmography, of course, and I could’ve done without some of the less relevant talking heads offering their admiration, because it takes time away from appreciating Brooks as a comedian and as a filmmaker, and even as a dramatic actor. It’s wild not only to think how eerily Brooks had the jump on reality TV with his film, Real Life — how he completely influenced the trajectory of Saturday Night Live by turning down an NBC show, suggesting whatever they picked have a roating guest host and then contributing short films that first season — but also how he might’ve been completely ahead of his time as an “alternative” comedian. We also find out that when Brooks (born Albert Einstein) was 11, he had a hand in writing his father Harry’s final routine as Parkyakarkus in 1958 when he delivered his remarks at the Friars Club Roast of Lucille Ball and promptly died on the dais. Brooks notes the rich irony of Milton Berle egging on Tony Martin to sing to the crowd to cover during the immediate chaos of Parky’s passing, except Martin’s hit at the time was “There’s No Tomorrow.”

Comedy fans of my generation certainly already knew and loved Brooks’s Oscar-nominated performance in Broadcast News and his landmark movie, Defending Your Life, but it’s his stand-up comedy performances that need to see the light of day again. I’ve seen his dummy ventriloquist bit on Flip Wilson before, but some of his other meta-gags on Steve Allen or Johnny Carson come as revelations! To find out he came up with all of these ideas and debuted them on TV is baffling in the best way.

In other comedy news this day…

Congrats to Matt Koff on winning the 2023 New York’s Funniest competition. He joins an illustrious list of past champs: Julian McCullough (2008), Myq Kaplan (2009), Nate Bargatze (2010), Dan Soder (2011), Michael Che (2012), Joe Machi (2013), Ricky Velez (2014), Matt Pavich (2015), Tim Dillon (2016), David Angelo (2017), Josh Johnson (2018), Tyler Fischer (2019), Jordan Jensen (2021), and Daniel Simonsen (2022).

Anna Seregina is enigmatic and her developing one-hander, A Tour Of Anna, places her in the role of tour guide trying to explain this comedian to the audiences coming to see her. She brought the show to Union Hall for one night only on Saturday. Mitra Jouhari directs, and I cannot wait to see how Seregina keeps building upon this concept before next summer’s Edinburgh Fringe.

On SNL, Timothee Chalamet hosted with musical guest boygenius. My recap is here. Also of note, though: Indian-Americans were none-too-pleased to celebrate their Diwali by seeing their two Indian-American Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy portrayed by Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, respectively. If either Haley and/or Ramaswamy remain relevant in the 2024 campaign, it’ll be fascinating to see how SNL reacts.

Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver finally weighed in on the ongoing humanitarian crisis within Israel and Palestine, which shows no signs of abating, ceasing firing, or coming to any sort of peaceful resolution since the surprising Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7. I wrote about it for The Daily Beast.

Out today:

  • Matteo Lane drops his second advice special on YouTube. The Advice Special: Part 2 already has 323,000 views in its first four days.

Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Butterboy celebrated its sixth anniversary hosting stand-up comedy shows on Mondays at Littlefield, and it was quite the party as a bunch of comedians turned out to watch the show and munch on pizza and cookies afterward to toast producer Marianne Ways, hosts Jo Firestone and Maeve Higgins and the show’s DJ, Donwill. Also a fun treat to see Wyatt Cenac turn up, as he’d hosted Night Train at Littlefield for the previous five years of Mondays before Butterboy. Cenac thought Kurt Braunohler might show up, too (Kurt and Kristen Schaal brought Hot Tub to Littlefield before Night Train), since Kurt was doing a live podcast of Bananas nearby at The Bell House, but ’twas not to be. Not sure how much longer Butterboy will go, to be honest, as Firestone is heading to Hollywood soon as the new head writer for After Midnight, coming to CBS in early 2024 with host Taylor Tomlinson.

Daniel Tosh announced a new podcast, Tosh Show, through iHeart Radio, which premiered on Tuesday. In it, Tosh promises he won’t interview any other comedians or celebrities, but rather people from his life, such as his wife’s gynecologist in the premiere episode.

Out today:

  • Nimesh Patel drops a club edition of his Thank You China special on YouTube. Australian Dave Thornton releases Don’t Ask, filmed in Melbourne.

Seen & Heard: Awkwafina on Seth Meyers.

OK. I’m sure I missed something (especially since there were so many shows happening across the city during the festival and only one of me to go around), so I’ll have to catch up and then catch you up next time!

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