30 Rock Returns Tonight!

After a Fall season of Whitney filling in for Tina Fey as she rightly tended to maternity-hood, 30 Rock returns to the NBC schedule tonight in its new time - 8pm ET/PT.  Okay, perhaps the show, now heading into its sixth season, is starting to get a little tired. Yet, seeing the TGS team and Alec Baldwin post-American Airlines brawl back in the lineup should be fun, and remains a good reason to tune in. Also, Parks and Recreation returns with a new episode. And if you're still into The Office as it gasps on its last fumes, that's new too.

However, we must bow our heads and hope for the return of Community, now off the NBC schedule and awaiting word on its fate.

Kenny Powers is Coming Back...

The poster says it all....

'Robot Chicken' Hits 100

 

Robot Chicken is stop action animation at its finest and most hilarious. Seth Green and his team at Stoopid Monkey productions have taken GI Joe, Barbie dolls and claymation figures to create Frankenstein-like actors posed in hilarious sketches to a whole funny, insane level. Plus, they invite the coolest celebrities to lend their voices, such as Diablo Cody, Lea Thompson, John Hamm and Bryan Cranston (to name a few - they're many more).

After five seasons on Adult Swim, Robot Chicken will be airing its 100th episode on January 15th 11:30pm ET/PT.

'Work It' Could Be a Sign of the Apocalypse

I'm not of the Doomsday sect; however, when shows like Work It get green lit and placed on a television schedule when so many other pilots more worthy are ditched, well...it makes me wonder.

This cross dress comedy, where the premise revolves around two men who are unable to get work and find they're more likely to be hired dressed as women, has insulted everyone from GLAAD to the LBGT community to straight women to the entire universe. I'm not sure if this is ABC's twisted experiment in how much an audience can take. Can it be a cynical look into how females are elbowing men out of opportunities, thus emasculating them? Okay, but that could be done with a better concept and good writing.

Or is it a jadded commentary by television showmen who are tired of how suddenly the pretty ladies, i.e. Zoey Deschannel, Whitney Cummings, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler or Chelsea Handler are dominating in prime time. (Oh, damn those broads with their successful sitcoms and their pesky periods!) Perhaps it's just an ironic look at goofy, hacky comedy seen through the snarky vision of a television executive who's got...nothing?

With reality shows that bring out the worst in people in order to get ratings, this bizarre 30 minutes of canned laughs may be a sitcom that we, a passive, celebrity worshiping society, deserve. 

Work It could be gone before February Sweeps, or might continue and end up being a cultural phenomenon like Seinfeld or American Idol. In that case, we can prepare for a post apocalyptic world - where non-transgender inclined men might have to go against their nature and dress as women, and women, who are being out-ladied by men, will have to dress like girls for survival.

So, if End of Days are near, word to the guys: enjoy wearing Spanks, and make sure you get fitted for the right bra.


Update: Work It has been canceled.

'Mad Men' Season 5

Well hello, there Jon Hamm. There you were, being all funny on the Doug Loves Movies podcast and announcing season five of Mad Men will be premiere on AMC on March 25th.

Comedy in Photos

Photo by Liezl Estipona

There's something I've learned in the comedy world. Comedians are nervous of photographers taking snapshots of their shows.  If you have a camera, and want to capture stills of a live performance or have the okay to photograph backstage antics of funny people about to perform, you have to earn their trust. So when photographer Liezl Estipona was given the green light to be the official photographer of the monthly Paul F. Tompkins Show at Largo in Los Angeles, plus have full access to highly popular, star studded shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade, you know she's seen as someone special.

From Zach Galifianakis to Louis CK, from Patton Oswalt to Maria Bamford, from Nick Kroll, to Jon Hamm, and from Adam Scott to Amy Poehler, Liezl brings her talent, sense of humor and love of comedy into every frame she shoots. For comedians, she's almost one of them, a tough chick who can take a joke and dish it right back at you, with a coupon for an Arby's sandwich as a bonus prize.  For fans, she's the peep hole through the walls of the L.A. comedy scene, allowing those who live in other cities to join in on the excitement onstage and off via photo uploads on www.aspecialthing.com - a website for comedy nerds.

Liezl has published a book that showcases the highlights of her work around the L.A. alternative comedy world.  Liezl Was Here (Vol. 1) beautifully lays out some of the most hilarious moments she's captured digitally. Each turn of the page provides insight into the famous and funny as they create magic on stage.

Go to www.blurb.com to purchase your own copy. It's a gorgeous addition to your coffee table book collection - and more hilarious & purposeful than that useless giant anthology on Shakespeare you're using as a door stop.

To view more of Liezl's photography, you can visit her Tumblr site, www. liezlwashere.com. Please do not post photos without permission.

And a side note - totally unrelated to Liezl: Don't video comedy shows, please. (See Patton Oswalt).

'Portlandia' Returns on IFC Tonight!

Speaking of IFC (see below post), Portlandia is back! Check out the premiere of season 2 tonight on same channel at 10pm PT/9pm CT.

Show site:  http://www.ifc.com/shows/portlandia

Comedy Bang Bang on IFC

If you're familiar with the weekly podcast, or if you live in Los Angeles and are lucky to snatch a ticket to the weekly Tuesday stage show at UCB, this news will blow your socks off. It's being reported (although not officially announced yet) that Comedy Bang Bang (formerly known as Comedy Death Ray) is moving into television territory, and has been picked up on IFC.  Lead by host and Producer Scott Aukerman, the show will be, as per an IFC insider (via ADweek)... "...a highly unrealistic version of a variety show - a mixture of Pee-Wee Herman and Dick Cavett that will feature celebrity guest, comedy sketches, animation and music."  That's a pretty close description of the hilarity fans have enjoyed on CBB via Aukerman's Earwolf empire - the podcast platform where you can find comedy to delight your ears.

The house bandleader will Reggie Watts, the creator of the current CBB theme tune, and a frequent guest on the current show.


For more info on Comedy Bang Bang, a comedy nerd created a Wiki page where you can go to town on all things CBB.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_Bang_Bang

Source: ADWeek

Sweetie Dahling...The Bitches Are Back!

Absolutely Fabulous started out as a sketch on BBC's The French and Saunders Show. One spin off in 1992 and twenty years later, the world is celebrating one of Britain's most legendary and hilarious comedies of all time. The show is so influential, American television tried to emmulate the dynamics of the fashion crazed, hard partying, pop culture whores that are Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon in sitcoms about women, or in a format optioned U.S. version of the series. All have failed. You cannot copy the terrific chemistry of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. Nor can you find anyone quite like Jane Horrocks who portrays Bubble, the pixie, air-headed wonderous yet useless assistant.

Saunders put the show to bed ten years ago when the last season of 'Ab Fab' aired on BBC America in 2001. But the beauty of putting something to bed is that it will eventually wake up. Beginning this Sunday, January 7th, the twentieth anniversary of Absolutely Fabulous will kick off with a new three part series, bringing back this brood of pill and booze soaked baby boomers, along with their mums and their spawn. The New York Times mentions that the comedy continues at the same pitch, but with menopause, weight issues and other ailments of the day thrown into the miasma of nuttiness that are Patsy and Eddie lives.

Absolutely Fabulous airs on BBC America, Sunday January 7th. Check your local listings.

I'm A Sucker For Dog Commercials

Travelers Insurance has wooed me with their series of commercial spots featuring that lovely, floppy Briard pooch. Now that the holiday season has passed, I'm a little late in posting this. Yet, I think the spirit of this gang of pups should live on throughout the year.

Woke Up This Morning....

...and this happened in my head:

'Delocated' Back For Season 3

Our favorite member of the Witness Protection Program is back. Delocated returns on Adult Swim February 2nd at midnight. Seasons one and two comes out on DVD January 17th.

The Chris Gethard Show

Maybe you watched Jimmy Fallon the other night. Perhaps you witnessed an appearance by the funny Chris Gethard who spoke enthusiastically about his public cable access show The Chris Gethard Show. Maybe you're interested in knowing what the hell that is. Well, here it is - a nine minute taste of the mayhem, insanity and disgusting behavior of young, funny comedians who somehow got loose from the UCB Theatre in New York. Check who's looking over your shoulder and mind your volume. This is NSFW.



For more on Chris on his show - check out his web page: http://thechrisgethardshow.com/

Then check out his book A Bad Idea I'm About to Do: True Tales of Seriously Poor Judgement and Stunningly Awkward Adventures.

'Big Ange'

Get More: TV Shows, Full Episode Video, Reality TV Shows

Mob Wives premiered on VH1 last week. So much agita! Renee almost died when her stitches popped after getting a drastic body lift and Drita almost killed the vicious Karen at a party. But I've found my favorite housewife of all.

Meet 'Big Ange' Raiola. I already adore her. She's like every New Jersey housewife and Good Fellas lady cast rolled into one big mega wife. She's the Island queen - the Island of Staten, that is. She's like fellow Mob wife Renee Graziano with more boobs and botox. Ange seems to be the wise woman of the mob femme fetales, the soothsayer to the enraged gangster wife with foaming rabid dogs on the brain and vendetta in her heart. I don't know what she's seen, done, heard or where she buried the bodies. I don't want to. She's here and she likes to par-tay!

VH1? More 'Big Ange' please. Because this is reality show love.

Funny or Die Presents: A Drunk Christmas Poem

Drunk History Christmas with Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey and Eva Mendes from Ryan Gosling

Merry Christmas!

Here's a little history of the SNL Christmas song:
http://holidayfilmreviews.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-of-my-favorite-modern-christmas.html

Jimmy's show was stellar, but this particular sketch killed me.

'30 Rock' Is Coming...

Christmas Comedy for Laughs and Charity: In L.A.

The Christmas season begins as soon as you scrape off the leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner plate; however, it's never 'Tis the Season in Los Angeles until the holiday comedy Christmas shows hit the theaters of Hollywood. My dance card will be full this week attending some of these events. If you're in the Los Angeles area, and love live comedy and the humans who create it, check these out. They are all hilariously fun, and they are all for charity:

Paul Scheer's (Human Giant, The League) 3rd Annual Sexy Christmas Spectacular is happening this Saturday, December 11th, 8:30pm at Largo in West Hollywood. In the tradition of the old boozy Hollywood television variety show, Paul transforms into J. Montgomery Scott, a Hollywood television legend whose mugful of Christmas cheer and total lack of self awareness makes this mock television holiday show feel like the outtakes of an old Andy Williams Christmas special, if those outtakes were dysfunctional and inappropriate. Come for Ed Helms, Melissa Rauch and Casey Wilson as they make their way up J. Montgomery's snowy driveway. Stay for the tales of J. Montgomery's dead wife. Leave with Rob Huebel's bottle of baby oil and tales of his drunken regrets.

All proceeds to go the USO.Tickets are available here: http://largo.laughstub.com/show.cfm?id=120685

If you're a listener of the Comedy Bang Bang podcast over at Earwolf.com, or attend the weekly Tuesday show at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, you've most likely waited all year for the Comedy Bang Bang Nativity Pageant to come down your chimney. Formerly known as Comedy Death Ray, this event usually sold out within minutes in past years, mostly due to it being held at UCB, a venue that seats about 100 people. This year it will be held at the more roomy Montelban Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, December 13th at 7pm, and boasts a dream line up of comedians like Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon, Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt and Paul F. Tompkins to name a few. And I mean it. This jam packed marathon of sketch and stand up blissfully goes on all night. You will be wringing the sweat of a dozen or two comedians from your clothes for weeks. (Reminder: Change your clothes.)

All proceeds to to the L.A. Food Bank. Tickets are available here! http://www.ticketfly.com/event/80839

Paul F. Tompkins' monthly show at Largo is legendary. An intimate evening of comedy and music, Paul's followers always make sure they grab a ticket for a fun Saturday night of hilarity as the calendar page turns. But with the holidays come The Paul F. Tompkins' Christmas Show. It's Paul's monthly stage performance jacked up on Christmas steroids. Filled with a line up of surprise guests, the songs are Christmassy, the sketches are twinkly and the egg nog flows at the lobby snack stand. Get a rum buzz and join on Saturday, December 17th at 8:30pm. All proceeds to to Habitat for Humanity.

Tickets are actually sold out, but if you check on the link, some tickets could open up. Also, you can come to the window before the show in case there are cancellations: Go to - http://largo.laughstub.com/show.cfm?id=95668&cart

Cross Country via Google

Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.