This Week Around the Industry in Comedy News From Jimmy Pardo, Judah Friedlander, Kayvan Khalatbari, MTV2, Sarah Silverman and More

INDUSTRY MARCH 16

The stories people inside comedy are talking about around the country… 

. . . . .  If you’re in LA at the end of March you’ll want to try to find a ticket to Jimmy Pardo’s  live recording of the 500th episode of Never Not Funny.  Pardo will be hosting the live taping on Sunday, March 22nd at the UCB on Franklin. Rumor has it that tickets for the show are already be sold out, but here’s where you go to try to score some, and there is always a way.  This event is really special as its the celebration of nine years of podcasting.  Pardo was once a podcasting pioneer, back in the day when only tech people and Ricky Gervais were using the medium.  We spoke to Pardo about the 500th episode celebration and will be sharing more on that later this week, but plans for the podcast include going back to their early days and bringing back some old friends like Mike Schmidt and Pat Francis.

. . . . . We checked in with Sexpot Comedy this week and learned that one of our favorite producers of all things cannabis and comedy, Kayvan Khalatbari is running for Denver City Council at large, with a campaign that is completely original and very cool.  In the last column, T.J. Miller had mentioned something about Khalatbari running for office but now we have confirmation.  How many candidates make videos telling you how to vote and letting you know that you don’t even have to put on pants?  This isn’t a gimmick or even some dude running for council on a whim.  Kayvan is very serious about the future of Denver and cool things are a foot.  Just pack up your bags and point yourself in the general direction of Denver if you’re looking for a change of lifestyle.

. . . . . MTV2 has been making some very cool moves in comedy.  Whoever is grabbing up young talent for the network knows what they’re doing because MTV2’s comedy programming has become one of the best sources for discovered who is the hot young talent in the country.  Guy Code, Girl Code and Wild n’ Out are just a few of the shows that are bringing great comedians on board.  Their newest comedy show is a game show.  Joking Off premiers April 1st and stars a long list of comedians who will also be the contestants.  The show is hosted by DeRay Davis and features an incredibly talented group of young comedians competing in challenges to out-funny each other.  The show claims to roast the Internet itself, tapping comedians  Liza Treyger, Matteo Lane, Dave Ebert, Desus & Mero, James Davis, Matt Pavich, James Manziello, Kristen Acimovich, and Mike Camerlengo  as series regulars.  We talked with Liza Treyger and Matteo Lane about the experience, and we’ll share some of their thoughts as the air date gets closer– one thing you’ll find out which cast member always had a group of incredibly beautiful women following him around.  You’ll also find out who calls themself the best prank caller, who is looking for a date, and why there was a lot of running involved.   The series in just under a week, leaving the regulars exhausted, but happy with the results.  More to come.

. . . . . . Judah Friedlander told us that he’s got a guest role in an upcoming episode of Fresh Off The Boat.  He plays a sensitive hippie guidance counselor and loved wearing an ponytail wig that’s even longer tan his natural hair.  We’ve missed Judah having a regular presence in sitcom television, and can’t wait to see this.

. . . . . Nore Davis did his first set at The Cellar this weekend in New York! He called the experience “surreal”.  Congratulations Nore, you will get used to sitting at that table.

. . . . . The third annual Eugene Mirman Festival has been announced for April 17-19 with H. Jon Benjamin, Wyatt Cenac, Rachel Dratch, Jon Glaser, and plenty of science with Star Talk and Bill Nye on hand..

. . . . . This month Mike Bocchetti started a new column with us.  Mike will be doing interviews with comedians in his own signature style, straight from The Bocchetti Files.  His first interview, with comedian Dave Hill premiered this week.  Mike will be doing many more interviews with his friends and favorite comics in the coming months. His next interview will be with long time friend Alec Sulkin, writer and producer of the animated hit tv series, Family Guy.

. . . . .  The very first Picture This! in New York City was a huge success. Matteo Lane and Jim Tozzi from Wonder Shozen were the stand out artists on the show and Mike Lawrence was again the king of the Picture This! art form from the comedy side of things, and last minute edition Kenny DeForest (one of the new hosts of Hannibal’s Knitting Factory show) was amazing at it as well!

. . . . . Joy Behar may be starting a new series at the 92nd Street Y.  It’s all a little bit up in the air whether her March 25th planned performance at New York City’s most renowed lecture hall will be a one-off or the first of a series, but we do know for sure that the upcoming show will be a live discussion and interview program moderated by the former host of The View.  On the panel with her will be comedian Dean Obeidallah, commentator Nancy Giles from CBS Sunday morning and famed lawyer Murray Richman.   The show titled “They Said What? with Joy Behar” will take place Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30pm in Buttenwieser Hall at the 92nd Street Y. Tickets are available at 92Y.org.

. . . . . Recently on the Red Carpet for Night of Too Many Stars Sarah Silverman told columnist Jeffrey Gurian all about her new pilot she’s shooting for HBO.  It was written by British playwright Lucy Prebble.  In the pilot, a woman in Seattle who works in the video game industry meets a British man, falls in love, and they enter into a relationship together.  It’s all very romantic initially, but the focus of the show is on the post-romantic-love time period, which Sarah calls the “unflattering flourescent lights” of every day life.  Did Sarah also label Jeffrey the heir apparent to the Joe Franklin throne?  Listen and decide for yourself.

. . . . . Brian Regan is going to peform at Radio City Music Hall this fall on September 26! It will be his first time taking the stage at the prestigious theater, and it’s only one of many iconic theaters Regan will be playing over the next six months.  It’s all a part of his 10 year Non Stop Theater Tour, with amazing shows at iconic theaters.  He’ll also return to the legendary, 8,600-seat Red Rocks Amphitheater on September 5.  In 2013, Regan sold out Red Rocks and we have no doubt he’ll do it again this time around.  Visit Brian’s website for a full list of dates.

. . . . . Pamela Adlon will be a guest on the first Episode of Stone Quackers airing on March 19th on FXX.  Watch Axe Cop, also a part of FXX’s Animation Domination to hear guest voices James Adomian, Patton Oswalt (is there a voice role out there that Patton can’t do?) and Megan Mullally.

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