Just a Saturday Night

Last night was a good night at The Comedy Store.  It's funny because the crowd was much larger on Friday and this one was a little apathetic, but they came around.  I have to admit, I snuck into the Main Room to catch Stephen Rannazzisi's set before the show started in the Original Room and I was pretty happy I did.

Chris Millhouse is my Hungarian Parlament of Comedy

Despite having lived there for two years and made about half a dozen visits besides, it took an entire decade for me to actually visit the Hungarian Parlament building.  And it wasn't for lack of trying, I was just foiled at every turn.  Kind of like trying to see Chris Millhouse do a set.  I first saw Chris on LiveAndOutLoud and thought he was pretty amusing, started following him on Twitter and saw him tweet about being up at the Comedy Store for Potluck.  I completely missed him that night and I keep missing him every other time I try, so now this has become a quest.  A quest which was foiled again this Sunday when I actually made it to Potluck early.

What makes a good comedy club?

As you all know, I love the Comedy Store. I'm starting to think I like it more like a drug than a boyfriend, but regardless, I love it and I hate when anyone speaks ill of the place. Of course, comedians love to bitch about venues and what they do wrong - often onstage - and the Comedy Store is no exception. So being a rational, analytical kind of gal, I try to see both where they are coming from and objectively how much weight the complaints really carry. For comparison, I keep my eyes open when I'm at other shows - whether it's the Laugh Factory or the Improv or a smaller room like the Great & Secret Show or Silent Taco.

Laughter is Power

I go to the Original Room at the Comedy Store a lot. If the Comedy Store were a dude, he would be my boyfriend. Well, no, probably my regular booty call, because the Store doesn't seem like the type to settle down. Anyway, I love that place. But, as they say, show me the hottest woman on earth and I'll show you a guy who's sick of sleeping with her. Sometimes you have to switch things up. So this week, I saw the Great & Secret Show, Storyteller Series Fisticuffs, and the Laughter is Power benefit for the Jenesse Center. Okay, the last one was at the Comedy Store, but it was in the Main Room with a very different group of comedians that I see on a daily basis. And it was amazing.

My Day in (Small Claims) Court

I got to spend this afternoon in small claims court.  I'll cut to the chase and say my case was dismissed, but the plaintiff has the option to re-file so I'm not stupid enough to blog about details with such a litigious fellow at large.  Most of you already know the story anyway.

But, here's the thing, the reason the case was dismissed is that the plaintiff didn't show up, so I was supposed to go at the front of the line for a cursory appearance.  But something got screwed up, so I ended up sitting through every single other case for the afternoon.

The Great & Secret Comedy Show

I try to go catch the Great & Secret Show at the Unknown Theater about once a month, sometimes twice.  Admittedly, the last couple of times I went was motivated mostly by my stalking of Zach Sherwin, but I have loved the Walsh Brothers since Ms E Christi introduced them to me back in Boston.  It's a great show and a nice balance to my mild (ha ha) obsession with the Comedy Store.  As hosts, the Walsh Bros (and friends) are more of a sketch show underpinning, holding the whole show together and often providing the most laughs, rather than emcees who just keep the show moving and the crowd clapping.  The acts are always interesting and a little off the beaten path.  I mean, the sets of Zach Sherwin, Ron Lynch and Erin Judge have very little in common besides being awesome.

Comedy at the House of Blues

Last night was a hard night to choose where to go see some comedy - there were three shows I wanted to see but I ultimately went with the one that was walking distance from my house to support Shawn Halpin.  And, I have to say, Shawn was the pimp of the show, since he brought 200% more women (me and Jen) to the audience than the one other guy who brought a female.  One of the comics even fittingly did a bit about how comics don't know women so there's never any girls at the godforsaken parties they throw.

Why Are You Google Stalking Dan Madonia?

I'm so curious, I get more hits on my site from people Googling Dan Madonia than any other search term - why are you Google stalking him?  For real, post a comment, I'm dying to know.

They Hate Us For Our Freedom

I would like to sincerely thank all Veterans and service members who gave their lives so that I could live in a society that includes Food Trucks and The Sunset Strip... together!

What Happens at the Comedy Store Stays at the Comedy Store

Backstage at the Comedy Store is a weird and wonderful place.  And when I say "backstage" you should know there is not actually a backstage (Ok, there is the Green Room, but that's a tiny trippy mirror-plated room straight out of the Kinnison days).  Backstage is sort of wherever the comics are hanging out - waiting for their set, waiting to watch someone else's set or just having a drink and a smoke.  Could be the hallway, the kitchen, the front bar, the back stairs or the Main Room after it empties out.  In fact, sometimes "backstage" even moves itself into the Original Room as the crowd dwindles down to just the other comics and maybe 2 guys from New Zealand.  That's when you might be treated to an extra special David Taylor set where he goes beyond the fine acerbic/dickhead line he normally treads and lays into everyone in the room, the building or who has ever once crossed his path.  Those are some great times.  Even when you're the one on the business end of his attack.