sundance

A comedian that will melt your liberal bleeding heart

We both enjoy playing Texas Hold ‘Em, but of the two of us, I (Lo) enjoy it a little too much. So much so that when I just need a night away from it all, I go to Foxwoods to play the low limit table with a bunch of 65 year old men, half of whom have a drinking problem, the other half of whom have a gambling problem. It’s not as sinful or sexy as Vegas, naturally, but it does the trick.

Vintage clips of Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. shared on his blog some vintage clips of him doing stand-up during the late 1980s and ’90s. In the clip above he’s performing at Caroline’s in New York. He’s like the opposite of Samson: he became funnier the more hair he lost! [Via]

Ahhhhhh, BRIDESMAIDS! Thank you.

Thank God for you. Or Goddess. Or maybe just Thank Goodness, goddammit. It’s about time for a breakthrough female-penned and starred bona fide hit, one that inspires more of the same ridiculous editorial content like “Hey, are women funny?” Trampling its way over MEAN GIRLS and HOUSE BUNNY (sorry – but both of those scripts were funny but slightly overwritten), it’s not only laugh out loud hi-larious, but also truly crosses over to the boys without hiding that it’s solely about the girls. Moreover — what Manohla said – the film has some serious content exploring the nature of female friendship and the female sense of self.

Tap Into It

TAP INTO IT from Vancouver Craft Beer Week on Vimeo.

Gay men like beer a lot more than many a stereotype suggest. But even those gay men who turn their noses up at beer in favor of the more obvious choices like vodka may reconsider after watching this movie. In teal unitard and rocking a regular guy’s body, the actor gives his best Jennifer Beals a la FLASHDANCE. He’s good. Connecting with the camera to comedic effect and giving it all.

Joan Rivers still relevant

Last night I had an otherworldly experience seeing Joan Rivers do stand up. I sat a few feet from Joan, nothing between the iconic comic and myself. It’s pretty awesome being in the presence of such greatness. At 77 she’s still going strong.

Joan’s never been more relevant. She became a household name to an entirely new generation after winning The Celebrity Apprentice a few seasons ago. And the documentary on her, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, won an award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. And will likely win many more. She’s selling her costume jewelry on QVC. So really, she has no need to play a room of 100 people in Manhattan. Yet she continues to.

Coming Out With SNL

I could get all serious and talk about the recent gay suicides or NY Governor candidate Carl Paladino’s rant about gays. I could lament our loss earlier this year regarding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (or celebrate yesterday’s victory). But instead, in honor of this past Monday, National Coming Out Day, I will just let you [...]

“Every Little Step” remake with Mike Tyson and Wayne Brady

Every Little Step with Mike Tyson & Wayne Brady from Mike Tyson Apropos of nothing aside from laughter is this shot-for-shake remake starring Wayne Brady and Mike Tyson of Bobby Brown’s “Every Little Step.” One learning from this music video: for someone so quick and fleet in the ring, Mike Tyson is one terrible dancer.

Last Night’s Party with Conan O’Brien

I felt lucky last night to attend Conan O’Brien’s “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour” at Radio City Music Hall last night. It really lived up to the hype, especially with all the surprises. Highlights included (Spoiler alert): Reggie Watts warming up the crowd with a killer set. CoCo defeating Steven Colbert [...]

Steve Martin’s (funny) business card

Steve Martin can also add that he owns one of the coolest, if not very useful business cards ever to his illustrious resume which includes legendary stand-up performances, classic comedy films, best selling author and accomplished banjo player.

Susie Essman Works all the Right Nerves

Long before Chelsea Handler was cutting down celebrities and Lisa Lampanelli was cutting down audience members, Susie Essman was at the front lines of female standup, being catty, neurotic, and totally funny.
She’s earned her reward with the plum role of Susie Greene on the HBO kvetchfest Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she gets to use her instinctive comedy skills and her talent at loud-mouthed improv. And she’s now got a best-selling book out called What Would Susie Say? which leaves the delightful impression that there’s nothing she wouldn’t say. (Check out the part about the boyfriend who’d make her applaud every time he went to the bathroom. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry.)

Having seen Susie around at various benefits and promotional events, I know exactly what’s on her percolating New York Jewish mind these days. After doing her trademark line from the show (“You fat f—”), which has become a sort of nouveau version of Carol Burnett’s Tarzan yell, Susie will tell you all about the male New York Jewish standup-turned-TV-star in her life–Larry David. Is he like his character? “Larry thinks those things,” she swears, “but he would never actually do them.” That’s reassuring somehow. Would Larry ever submit to a Friars roast? “Never!” says Susie. “He’s thin skinned!” Well, how about a Seinfeld reunion? “No way,” she screeches, even louder. “What are they, The Brady Bunch?” No, The Brady Bunch was about something.

The Apatow boys bro it out again in FUNNY PEOPLE

How many ways can men bond? They can bond over the effort of getting their friend laid (40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN), or they can alternatively support and ridicule their friend as he struggles to do the right thing (KNOCKED UP), or they can fetch them diet cokes, cup their balls, and sit at their bedside while they fall asleep as in FUNNY PEOPLE. It’s been out for awhile now and I wasn’t compelled to see it until it was 90 degrees out yesterday and I sought the respite only an air-conditioned movie theater can provide, but I’m kind of glad I did. It stars Adam Sandler as George Simmons, an Adam Sandler-like comedian: middle-aged, ex-stand up comic earning an ample income making pandering comedies, and Seth Rogen as Ira, a struggling comic hired to be Simmons’ assistant. The pair develop that love/hate bro-relationship Apatow does so well, at one moment patting each other on the back and the next making fun of each other’s penis size.

Mike Birbiglia’s “Porno for Parents”

We mentioned comedian Mike Birbiglia in passing the other day, but failed to convey just how awesome he is. Someone who can appeal to both the audiences of Comedy Central and This American Life possesses a rare gift. He  covers crass topics without ever crossing the line. He’s the boyfriend you love so much, but [...]

Ferris Bueller = Fight Club

The Internet recently was abuzz about a theory advanced by one member in the loquacious salon over at Metafilter regarding FERRIS BUELLER. Coined “The Fight Club Theory,” it explores the possibility of Ferris being a mere pigment of someone’s imagination…

Baby mama drama in AWAY WE GO

It’s an interesting enough starting point: What do two people with only vague ambitions and low funds (low enough to have a cardboard window in their dilapidated trailer but not low enough, oddly, to fly all around the US and Canada) do when they discover they’re having a baby in a town where they no longer know anyone? Road trip! Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) go from Phoenix to Madison to Montreal to Miami to visit one wacky friend after another, from comically slutty Allison Janney to comically new age-y Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Cruel and Unusual: the art of American slapstick

Starting tomorrow, for ten days only, the MoMA will screen a collection of uproarious, irreverent, silent, American slapstick comedies, all accompanied by live piano. First up are five short films united by a general cross-dressing theme with silent favorites Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, and Wallace Beery.

The un-zeitgeist interviewer

Like a Rip Van Winkle from the late ’90s, comic Gil Ozeri conducts interviews with random strangers in the streets of New York City asking untopical questions about Friendster, Enron, and the “Rachael” haircut, among others. [Via]

Sony Grabs Rights to ‘Black Dynamite’

Scott Sanders’ blaxploitation comedy “Black Dynamite” has sold North American righs to Sony Pictures Worldwide for $2 million, a few hours after its Sundance Midnight preem.

Cassidy Loves Moby Premieres on Sundancechannel.com

They’re finally here, episodes 1 and 2 of Sundancechannel.com’s newest series of digital shorts, CASSIDY LOVES MOBY. In these first two episodes, we are introduced to Cassidy, an intense little doll, that has been haunted by recurring dreams of musician and recording artist, Moby. Compelled to understand the meaning of these visions from her unconscious, she embarks on a quest to meet Moby at Sundance in Park City, Utah where he reports he will be in attendance in his blog. Will Cassidy find her answers? Will meeting the man of her dreams bring her peace of mind? Will she and Moby hook up?!? Find out by watching the first two episodes in this hilarious 4 part series.