Movie Reviews summer sizzle
Late Night Avenger
the John Kerwin show
SITCOM REVIEWS pg. 11
SPECIA
FemalLe
P h o t o g r a p h b y C o r e y M e t l o n
ISSUE
Rachel Feinstein
UNCOVERED
Top 6
FUNNY FEMALES
of 2015
UPRISER Zaina B. Johnson
COMIC
Showcase
BEHIND the MIC BOBBIE OLIVER
NEWS & NOTES
pg. 26
Funny
Girls
CONTENTS
ON THE COVER
The Stand Up Magazine / Volume 5
4 11
SPE
FemaCIAleL ISSUE
P h o t o g r a p h b y C o r e y M e t l o n
We give you the inside scoop on Rachel Feinstein and her plans on making you laugh more than ever.
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FEATURES NEW FUNNY WOMEN Top 6
6
STAFF
AT THE MOVIES
Our Reviews
SITCOM REVIEWS
20 22
Julian Vazquez, LtCol USMC (ret), julian@thestandup.net
COMIC SHOWCASE
Coming to a club near you
NEWS & NOTES
Scarlett Giries scarlett@thestandup.net www.scarlettstudio7.com
Jovan Robertson vonroburts@thestandup.net
TELEVISION
Journalist / Intern Julianne Simitz
The John Kerwin Show
COMIC CLOSE-UP Cameron Esposito
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Photographer/Marketing
Marketing/Social Media
Comedy 411
21
John Giries thestandupmag@gmail.com
Editor in Chief Co-Founder
What’s on the Tube
16
Creative Direction Co-Founder
SNEEK PEEK Funny Girls
HEADQUARTERS The Standup • 12035 Burke Street, Ste. 11, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR email: julian@thestandup.net Letters may be shortened or edited for clarity and space. Include name, city of residence and daytime phone number. QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES Contact 562-945-1444 • All rights reserved. Copyright 2015.
www.thestandup.net www.twitter.com/thestandup1 www.facebook.com/ standupcomedymagazine
1 Carmen Esposito
2 Issa Rae
3 Kate Micucci
It might be hard for this Chicago native to top 2013. Not only did she get engaged to fellow comedian Rhea Butcher this year, but during her late-night debut on Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, the petite side-mulleted standup was praised as “the future” by a guy named Jay Leno. Beloved for her friendly yet offbeat storytelling style, Esposito has big plans for ‘14: She will be releasing a comedy album with aspecialthing records in March, and she will be touring her standup show and podcast Put Your Hands Together.
Proving that web series may be the future of comedy, writer and performer Issa Rae has received accolades — and millions of hits — for her popular show “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” which had plenty of girls, awkward, black, and otherwise, screaming “That’s me!” at their computer screens. Rae has since leveraged “Awkward” and her other web shows into further projects. In 2014 she’ll be releasing a book of personal essays, and she is working on a half-hour comedy for HBO with The Daily Show’s Larry Wilmore.
Kate is known for her funny songs with Riki Lindhome that explore the ups and downs of adulthood with catchy lyrics and melodies, sounding sweet while they bitch about smug pregnant women, getting older, the mysteries of hand jobs and the relationship fade-away. They have done some acting work separately, but in 2014 they’re getting their own show on IFC, which, over the years, has been steadily building a stable of offbeat shows like Portlandia, The Birthday Boys and Comedy Bang! Bang!
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5
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TOP FUNNY 6 WOMEN Riki Lindhome
Riki is known for her funny songs with Kate Macucci that explore the ups and downs of adulthood with catchy lyrics and melodies, sounding sweet while they bitch about smug pregnant women, getting older, the mysteries of hand jobs and the relationship fade-away. They have done some acting work separately, but in 2014 they’re getting their own show on IFC, which, over the years, has been steadily building a stable of offbeat shows like Portlandia, The Birthday Boys and Comedy Bang! Bang!
Emily Heller
Heller, a standup comic and podcaster, had a good 2013 and is gearing up for an even better 2014. The aspiring “stay at home not-mom” made her late-night comedy debut on Conan, served as the warm-up comic for the dearly departed Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell and was touted as one of 10 comics to watch by Variety. This spring, you’ll be able to see her work as a writer on Surviving Jack, a single-camera comedy series based on Justin Halpern’s book I Suck at Girls.
Sasheer Zamata
Upright Citizen Brigader Sasheer Zamata got a publicity boost last year when her name was floated as one of the top contenders to join SNL as the show looked to add more African-American women to its cast, but with or without SNL, her star is on the rise. She’s attracted attention thanks in part to her hilarious web shorts like “Pursuit of Sexiness” with Nicole Byer and “How to Process a Penis” (endorsed by Lena Dunham), in which she takes honest looks at the street interactions between men and women.
James
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In Memorium
The Stand Up staff would like to thank Taylor Negron and Anne Meara for their legendary contributions in making us laugh. You will both be missed. All services are by appointment only.
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movies
SIZZLERS oR
FIZZLERS
TED 2
Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law.
Sequels are rarely better than the first, but it’s a raunchy talking teddy bear, what’s not to love. This movie is not as good as the first but still worth the price of admission.
MOVIE OF THE MOMENT
Mission Impossible Rogue Nation Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.
Another impossible mission. Get the audience engaged and entertained, and they did it. Raising the bar of impossible is not impossible with Tom Cruise. Nice adrenaline rush.
Pixels
A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.
Look....I like fun and fantastic movies but this movie is a real stretch. Adam sandler needs to make better movies, anyone remember Zohan. If you are home sick and your internet is down, this is the movie to watch. A waste of CGI in my book.
Trainwreck
Having thought that monogamy was never possible, a commitment-phobic career woman may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy. Fresh and funny movie. This cast makes the movie appealing, real natural funny people and an original stab at romance. Thumbs up.
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Terminator - Genysis
After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor’s mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, “Judgement Day”. Well, just when I thought it was over. If you believe this new time-line of events then it should be a fun watch. Casting was so-so, but overall Arnold as a terminator never gets old.
Fabulous By Lindsey M. Hitt
FEMALES
From broken hearts to broken homes these fab females grace the stage all around the country with one goal in mind, “heal the world through laughter.” It may be ironic. It may be synchronic or possibly just the spirit of the feminine revealing empowering ways women are offering a smile, a laugh and a glisten in the heart. These comedians do not always make money performing but that’s not the real priority. The goal is to bring others a sense of saneness and relation by conveying life’s tragic moments through a comedic looking glass. Laughter truly is contagious and the comedians highlighted here are striving each day, through a mess of traffic and swarms of other comics to not just m “ ake it” but make a difference. Take a look at some of our fab females faces of this summer’s edition of The Stand-Up Comedy Magazine.
Melanie Baldonado
Family woman, UK Alumni and all around American sweetheart, Melanie Baldonado withholds the intent that comedy heals. As a “point 5” comic, Melanie has been at it for over five years, crushing stages all over the west coast and further into the depths of the countryside. It all started with a stroke of fate when she held down an audience at her college waitressing job after a paid comic was running late. The Kentucky crowd was captivated by her California “accent” and ingrained desire to overuse the word “like” in a colloquial manner. Melanie also admits to using “dude” most frequently in her stand up mix. Dude, like, ya know man? Like most other entertainment dreamers she found consolation in a boring retail job by writing sketches and funny infomercials to keep her creative mind enlightened. One tragic event suddenly put life in perspective, and this beauty decided that her ultimate goal in life was to make as many people laugh as she possibly can. One phone call later, Melanie was aligned with a three minute set at The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. Melanie Baldonado has a presence of a goddess onstage, bringing to light the hysteria of irony and lack of common sense we all fall victim to from time to time. Her generous provocation of emotions and radiant energy are enough to rouse a crowd into long-term feel-good fanatics of standup comedy. This Fab Female can be found at numerous locations including The Hong Kong Inn in Ventura County, The Hollywood Improv and of course The Comedy Store where she made her debut five years ago. Connect with Melanie on social media: Twitter: @melaniebcomedy Instagram: melaniebaldonado and visit her website at www.melaniebaldonado.com.
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Bri Giger
Born in Kingston, Jamaica Bri Giger is a product of global blending and all more a character for it. She storms the stages of the Los Angeles stand-up comedy scene with unmatched charisma. Comedic spoken word often flows from her puckered lips keeping the crowd thoroughly entertained. Bri has been performing improv and stand-up for 6 years. Hosting a show for the unrequited holiday on 420, Bri is a thorough advocate of the legalization of medical marijuana. Fearless in her pursuits of entertainment, she is also an actress and model. As the continual positivity flows, the laughter follows. “Brioncee,” as she is sometimes called for her diva vibe and beauty, started comedy in 2010 with improvisation as a gateway. “I was on an amazing Improv troupe that sold out shows every week. Three hundred people in the audience and we killed it. We really did.” She recalls a fan approaching her after the show confessing to her that he had been through a family loss and hadn’t laughed that hard since. Bri then confessed to StandUp that she was struggling with a similar family situation at home. “The comedy was unreal and fast paced and the whole experience was like something I’ve never felt before.” From then on it’s been nothing but momentum for the Fab Female, performing all over the U.S including shows in Los Angeles County. Some of her choice spots for her funnies-fix are; The Comedy Store,The Hollywood Improv and Haha Comedy Club. She also has her very own monthly stand up show called “The Turn up for Bri.” Bri Giger finds inspiration from her father who she claims is the worst comedian ever, “But hey, don’t all our dads’ jokes suck? My dad is my role model and my soul.” Another female comedian killing it all over LA and the nation this woman has a heart of gold, and you can feel it watching her shows. She really brings the crowd into the performance which is a sign of talent and takes the level of fun through the roof. Bri recently performed her world premiere of Bri Giger Presents “Voicemails, Through my Red Eyes,” a one woman show. It is one hour long with ten different characters based on voicemails she has received in the past five years. “Maybe they were stoned. Maybe they were crying, probably both.” Find this lovely lady at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/2450? June 21 at 8:15pm and June 28 at 2:15pm. For $5 off the Fringe Fest visit Bri’s website www.brigiger.com and be sure to follow Bri on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @brigiger.
Becky Robinson
Do not underestimate the nerd in this fab female! Ever since her youth she has been performing for others, stating, “I would put on little performances anywhere I could. All that mattered was getting the people around me to smile or laugh.” Born in Portland, Oregon her stand-up adventures began at the La Jolla Comedy Store. Encouraged by friends and family Becky became an instant addict of the world of standup comedy within that three minute span of time. Becky Robinson has an ebullient spark during performances, often impersonating a variety of accents and animations. This Fab Female also gets down on the web, always posting her most recent offerings of joy, all for the sake of spreading some love. She will keep you rolling with her YouTube series “Deb Tours” where she ventures out into Los Angeles County events interviewing street-goers as a tattered, oblong, stuttering version of herself. Typical interviewees do not fully realize that she is a comedian in an unattractive disguise. Becky is often found touring to San Diego and beyond to give those outside LA County a taste of her friendly wit. Much like traditional families there are ups and downs in the LA comedy scene. “Sometimes it’s the greatest time ever and sometimes there are tears” she tells us. Ultimately, Becky Robinson is not just a sight for sore eyes. She can melt and meld hearts with a fumigating radiance of magic that only true comics can master. “Regardless, there is laughter. There is booze. There is food, everyone is getting through it together.” Find Becky performing throughout Los Angeles and beyond by following her on social media: Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @beckyrrobinson YouTube: TheBeckyChannel.
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Jill Maragos
With Buffalo, New York as a birth place it’s no wonder this brunette beauty offers her personality to strangers on the center stage. Just three years into the game Jill explains her first experience as life-changing. “I couldn’t shake the adrenaline rush from making people laugh. The laughter from the crowd felt like pure, unconditional love. It still does. It’s a crazy drug that I’m happy to be addicted to.” Now conquering pod casts, open mics and a variety of stand-up shows, Jill is still much in love with the emotionally jolting experience offered in the performance of stand-up comedy. When asked about her style she responds, “Outrage over minutia!” She claims it’s the small things in life that really get her going. Jill Maragos is a great sport onstage, always offering new material of what she believes is funny and hoping the audience will come alive with joy, even if it means laughing at her. A huge fan of wordplay, this Fab Female writes to both evoke and calm the mind. “To help someone forget about a crappy day they had or something not-so-good going on in their life… There are no words for that. It’s magic and gratitude combined. Magi-tude? See i told you I like word-play!” ACES Comedy Club in Murrieta, CA is one of Jill’s favorite places to perform. Among her laundry list of shows coming up are Comedy Oakland June 11 and Comedy Antics in San Rafael June 17. In August she is out of state with shows at Sun Ray in Farmington, NM August 7, Canyon Creek in Montrose, CO August 8 and Jill will be back in Pechanga Casino down here in SoCal August 14 and 15. This exciting summer for Jill will round out at the Ventura Harbor Comedy Competition and Festival in September. Connect with Jill on social media: Facebook: Jill Maragos, Twitter: @jillmaragos and Instagram: @jmaragos.
Pebbles Brunelle
Pebbles Brunelle has been performing stand-up comedy for almost 30 years. Beginning in 1986, she graced stages with big names like Paul Mooney, Sam Kennison, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Fox. After raising two grown boys and surviving a rocket ride of events that life often throws our way this beauty is back on-board full time performing multiple shows in Los Angeles County. Her re-birth into comedy occurred in downtown LA after a terrifying experience of love’s loss. A young women leaped to her death from a skid-row skyrise, landing right at Pebbles’ feet. “I had no idea what to do. There was blood everywhere. I stepped over the body and slipped in the deep, red puddle. I was in such shock, and the Last Bookstore was where I was headed. They had a stage and a mic, and it was instinct for me to get up there and cope with the pain I had just witnessed.” Often times we hear similar stories from comics using tragic events as fuel to churn goodness from life. That is the current theme for Pebbles, helping people heal through comedy. Most notably is Pebbles’ unwavering love for United States Veterans. She hosts a show for injured Vets at the West Los Angeles Campus. “This is the contact that our vets need, a happy and joyful time with comics sharing smiles and laughter.” This Fab Female is so inspired she is intensively pursuing a project for injured heroes through a non-profit organization called “Healing Through Comedy.” Registered last year as an official NPO, “Healing Through Comedy” aims to cater to community members most in need. Many of those individuals are U.S. Armed Forces Veterans suffering from a psychological dysfunction like PTSD. “I’m an addict. I think about suicide all the time. I’m just bad at commitments.” she jokes. Pebbles’ pursuit to heal the Vets began in 1992 when she observed a heightened population of homeless vets in downtown Los Angeles. This wonderful woman lives her life to serve others and help them improve their own lives in any way she can. Born in Isreal and raised in the U.S. you may hear hints of a shameless Chicago accent during her performances. Catch Pebbles in all her glory at the Veteran’s Association Campus every other even-numbered Wednesday of the month at 11301 Wilshire Blvd. Building 217, Los Angeles. She can also be seen gifting giggles every first Monday of the month in downtown Los Angeles at The Lexington Bar 129 E. Thirds Street. Both shows are held from 7-9pm. More comedy is in the works for this Fab Female with a greater show in downtown LA, as well as a nation-wide tour to bring laughter to America’s injured heroes. Please channel your support by donating to this very special campaign: gofundme.com/htc2015. If you are a comedian interested in getting involved healing the Vets through comedy Pebbles can be reached by email at yodadogs1949@yahoo.com and by phone at 818-310-2085.
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DidKNOW! you Nikki Glaser gets sex show on Comedy Central By Billy Procida
Arrested Development returns to Netflix in 2016 By Billy Procida
It’s been a couple of years since the Bluths reemerged on Netflix. Now Arrested Development co-creator Brian Grazer says that a fifth season will be happening! On Adam Carolla’s podcast, Grazer told him that the new season will begin production in early 2016 and releasing later that year. “Netflix is determined to do more episodes so we’re going to do more episodes,” he said. “It’s a lot of juggling of all these stars’ lives.” Arrested Development was Netflix’s first game changing push into producing original comedy content. The streaming service revived the show six years after being cancelled by Fox in 2006. The show’s cult following eagerly flocked to the budding website to see their favorite dysfunctional family again. Since then, Netflix has become a worthy competitor in the comedy field, earning Emmy nominations. It has bought countless one-hour stand-up specials from some of comedy’s biggest names including Louis C.K., Bill Burr, Chelsea Handler and Aziz Ansari. Netflix has saved other shows shunned by the television industry. It continued shows like Trailer Park Boys (previously on Showcase channel) and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (developed for NBC). It also has its own slate of original hit comedies like Orange is the New Black, Grace and Frankie and the highly-anticipated Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. The series that launched Netflix as an online TV channel returns to the empire it helped create.
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After “discovering” that sex sells, Comedy Central made a deal with recurring Inside Amy Schumer comedian Nikki Glaser. Glaser will host a weekly series Not Safe With Nikki Glaser and tape a one-hour stand-up special for the network. Not Safe With Nikki Glaser will mix sketches, social experiments and chats with comedians about sex, relationships and other taboo topics. The ten-episode first season will debut in 2016. The series could potentially launch Glaser to a new level of comedy stardom in a similar way that Amy Schumer blew up after her sketch show Inside Amy Schumer became an Emmy-nominated hit. Glaser is certainly no “unknown” talent. Before she could legally go to a bar, she was a semi-finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing (and would return to the show for another season). She’s performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Conan, is a hilarious frequent guest on @midnight and was prominently featured in the road comedy doc I Am Comic. Nikki Glaser had a stint of hosting her own late night show on MTV, Nikki & Sara Live. She hosted the show with comedian Sara Schaefer for two seasons before MTV decided not to renew. Not Safe With Nikki Glaser is described as “providing a frank, funny, and honest perspective on all things sex.” Until then, you can see her in Amy Schumer’s upcoming feature film Trainwreck later this month.
sitcom
REVIEWS
Our reviews of what’s on the tube and whether you should turn on your DVR or watch re-runs of seinfeld (again).
“Broad City” can’t even be compared to “Workaholics,” a show about loser male friends that precedes it on Comedy Central: The new series is not nearly as sweet.
Max and Caroline our “protagonists” quickly went from being funny and likable with witty, snarky lines to cruel, bitter and mean-spirited, completely arrogant with an intense dislike of anyone who has a better lot in life for no good reason and toxic to their “friends” and loved ones. This show needs more caffeine or better writers. Anyone remember Mel’s Diner.
Garfunkel and Oates are Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, a pair of comedians, actresses and songwriters who bear a glancing physical likeness to Art Garfunkel (Ms. Lindhome is tall and blond) and John Oates (Ms. Micucci is short and dark haired). The show’s theme song is a peppy girl-power number with a very 21st-century message: Instead of “You’re going to make it after all,” it ends with “Don’t stop being cool.” It’s Laverne & Shirley meets the musical Odd Couple. If you want to watch this show, you might have to stream it, since the show has been cancelled. Talented girls like these will bounce back.
It looks as if it could almost be a rough early draft for “2 Broke Girls,” on CBS: sort of a crude, transgressive and poorly typed treatment that one producer kind of likes and that the network rejects out of hand. A quick fix for late night humor.
To me this is a sitcom. It’s funny to watch no-talent women try to out-do each other with useless antics. Shame on anyone who watches this show. It made our list only so I can ridicule it further. The fact that it is being renewed for $80 million is a farce and please stop watching so this show so it can go away. No wonder Bruce turned into a woman, they sucked out all his testosterone the first 2 seasons. Poor guy, oh I mean girl.
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BACK STAGE PASS
Look’n
FEIN by John Giries
R
achel Feinstein leads the way for the rebellion against lack luster comedy as she tries to rescue you from your remote control. She’s currently gearing up to start production on a recurring role in “Red Oaks” produced by Steven Soderbergh with Amazon Studios. She will also be in the Amy Schumer/Judd Apatow film “Trainwreck”coming out this July. We sat down with Rachel to find out about her journey to center stage and give you a back stage pass to everything Rachel. 12
You deserve a better brand of comedy, and she is going to give it to you.
Photograph by Natalie Brasington
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W
Stand Up Magazine: Who inspired you to get into comedy? Rachel Feinstein: I don’t think I had that much of a choice. I wish I had some other noble career path and I could say that I left it all for the arts but I never went to college. I moved to New York at 17 with a guy and his band called Dick Sister.
We get up-close and personal with Rachel Feinstein. So, order a latte and pull up a chair.
Rachel Feinstein is not only a funny comedian, but she also finds ways of pushing the envelope all for a good laugh. Forget staying safe and wholesome. She cracks society wide open with her ability to morph into any ethnicity and skewers issues of race and pop culture without breaking a sweat. The Huffington Post called her, “The only comedian we’ve seen who can go from embodying her grandmother in one breath and a predatory guy on the street in the next and be equally convincing at both.”
Rachel was a finalist on season 7 of Last Comic Standing. She also co-hosted Tru TV’s “Upload with Shaquille Oneal” and has been featured on Showtime’s “Women Who Kill” comedy special. Other guest spots include Chelsea Lately, Hip Hop Squares, Inside Amy Schumer, and Russell Simmons Presents. Her voice characters have been featured in Adult Swim’s “Venture Brothers” and the phenomenally successful Grand Theft Auto V video game. 14
SUM: How was your experience on Season 7 of Last Comic Standing? RF: I had fun hanging out with the comics like Nikki Glazer, Carmen Lynch and Tommy Johnagin. I made a mistake though. I read everything online, Never read the message boards! This one guy named Mr. Twat Waffles was so furious every time I moved ahead. I talked to Marina Franklin and Keith Robinson on the phone a lot and they were really helpful. They are both so funny and have been through reality show insanity so that helped and the judges were all good comics that I knew and loved so they were cool and I lucked out on getting on it that year. I think there was a year were people were docked on a ship so at least I wasn’t on the boat year. But it’s still a reality show, On the night I was eliminated, they called us forward and said, “Comics, step forward” and there were some special elimination tunes on. I decided to do a shimmy when I was walking forward because I thought it would be funny. I just thought a shimmy is about the dumbest thing you can do with your body, and I was getting cocky at that point. I didn’t think I was going to be eliminated that night. Of course, as soon as I shimmied, I got the boot. Post shimmy, I was out. No one really got that it was a joke. I just looked like I was shimmying without any irony at all, and then, got kicked off . I went to my friend Kelly Pryce’s apartment. (She is a hilarious comic and the kindest person.) We stayed up late, and I wept... and ate an aggressive amount of chips. But, I got about a years worth of work out of it so I’m lucky for that. SUM: Any words of wisdom for aspiring female comics? RF: Help each other out. Everything important I’ve gotten is through my friends. I was talking to Jessica Kirson about that the other day. We went to a club and got on stage together. She was making me laugh so hard. I feel lucky that I get to hang around with the funniest people in the world. They’ll call me on my bullshit and push me to do things that scare me. The thing with comics is that we’re all dysfunctional and mangled in our own way but it’s a real community. Keith Robinson was trashing my outfit the other day. He said I dress like I shop at Suburban Outfitters, and yet he’d be the first person to pick me up if I was stranded somewhere. Comics talk a lot of sh*t, but if someone’s hurt or there’s a problem, we will always help each other. No one raises money faster than comics for each other.
SUM: What would you do if you weren’t a comedian? RF: Maybe criminal profiling? I mean, I’d never finish the schooling because I break down when I fill out a form, but I’m fascinated by it. SUM: What projects are you currently working on? RF: I’m working on an upcoming show that will premier later this year called “Red Oaks” executive produced by Steven Soderbergh. It’s a comedy set in a country club in new Jersey in 1985. I am working on a new hour special and a CD for Comedy Central right now. I have also co-hosted “The View” multiple time and was on an episode of the Bachelorette as a comic consultant. SUM: Do you come from a big family? RF: I have two brothers. Justin works in advertising, but he’s an amazing and a hilarious writer too. Aaron is a social worker at a DC school and an incredible artist. He uses art with the kids in all these cool ways. He just did this great mural project in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. They are both the most supportive, the funniest and the kindest people you’ll ever meet. I see Justin and my niece and nephew a lot because he lives in Brooklyn. Aaron is coming on the road with me soon for a little vacation. I can’t wait!
SUM: Who is your favorite sports team, and why? RF: I don’t know too much but I sometimes watch the Knicks and the Orioles. I used to go to the Orioles games with my dad, and he would put me on his shoulders. Their is something really fun about the Knicks, but I’m not too knowledgable. They’re just fun even when they’re a mess. My father is also an insane San Francisco Giants fan, so I grew up with that. He recently composed a massive scrap book about the San Francisco Giants. He actually takes trips to the library to scan documents like he’s researching an important case, but he’s just working on this unstable scrapbook. My boyfriend took me to a New York Yankee game, recently and they did this tribute to Paul O’Neal.
Photograph by Natalie Brasington
He had one man-tear fall down his face. I can get into it, but I’ve never wept or anything. I guess Paul O’neal was pretty great. So maybe he’s worth weeping over. SUM: What’s your favorite TV shows? RF: I love murder shows. Murder, murder, crime, it’s sick. “Happy Valley” was this amazing show on Netflix. It’s about this police officer and a series of crimes that surround her family. It’s amazing. I just watched “The Shield”, ten years too late but Glenn Close is so good!! “Inside Amy Schumer”!! “Better Call Saul” and an unhealthy amount of “Forensic Files”
Photograph by Corey Metlon
SUM: What challenges do you experience on the road? RF: Boredom, drunks, an aching loneliness and weird stalker types. There is sometimes one moron in the show that ruins everything. I had a show where a guy was loudly snoring in the front row. When I woke him up, he got very angry. I honestly don’t think he had any idea where he was or who I was. It was a casino, so he probably just ducked in the show to take a nice drunk nap or to stop himself from gambling. And when he woke up, he saw me and got really annoyed. He did not care for some woman standing over him dispersing her sassy opinions about life. He loudly shushed me!!! He wanted me out. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t call and text with other comics. Amy Schumer, Nikki Glazer and I are always sending out help calls/texts. Just having these friends that know exactly what you’re going through makes it ok, like being able to vent to each other about some dumb comment we had to field on morning radio, a picture of a dirty green room. Just to know that someone else has been right there. There are also so many clubs that I love where the people are lovely. In Madison, a club called “Comedy Club on State” is great and they treat the comics well. In Chicago, Zanies is a fun room. In Austin Cap City, Hilarities in Cleveland and Harveys in Lake Tahoe.
SUM: Who was your favorite comedian growing up? RF: I loved Tracy Ullman. I loved her show, and I watched it. I thought, maybe I could do something like hat. Maybe there was some other route for me that would work out instead of all this wild failing I was doing in every class. And I loved Kathy Griffin. Seeing women talking like they did or being goofy and ridiculous, it was like this little sign that there was some other road I could take and that was so exciting to think about. SUM: If you had one wish, what would it be? RF: To be able to take care of my parents financially, to not live like a traveling peasant. To make this dream project that I’m working on with my Amy Schumer. That was a couple. SUM: Have you had to deal with hecklers while on stage? RF: I had a soft taco thrown at me in Vegas. I’ve had other people yell various insults. One guy actually crumpled up a small note that told me to go back to the kitchen. It’s funny because if he had seen me in the kitchen, he wouldn’t want me to return there. Hecklers are annoying mostly because the heckling is more disruptive and tiring than it is hurtful. The people who go to a comedy show and heckle are often so stupid that they think that it is an interactive sport, like they actually assisted you somehow with their comment. It’s not like they say this incredible witty, cutting things that hurt. They are almost always fools. The problem is, in a live show, one rogue comment from a drunken moron can ruin a joke or a moment.
SUM: We heard you have a new album coming out, what’ the title? RF: “Covered in Sin,” and it’s being released later this year on Comedy Central Studios. SUM: What do you talk about? RF: I cover a lot of important things, like the difference between a douche and a tool. My nanny taught me that only whores wear purple. She had weirdly specific rules about whores so we go over those. She also said that only whores carry suitcases. I sent a dirty picture of myself to the wrong person, and it was a pretty slovenly one, too. I talk about that. There was a usb cord and a receipt by my foot that I noticed after I sent it. And a small piece of a muffin. There’s a lot of embarrassing and weirdly vulnerable stuff in there. I hope people like it. SUM: Where does the title “Covered in Sin,” come from? RF: It’s from a joke about throwing change on a man after sex, about being able to joke immediately after sex by the way, I don’t think there needs to be any mandatory gentle gazing period afterwards.
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- Schedules and times are subject to change without notice -
Brian Regan 06/26 06/27 07/09 07/10 07/11 08/06
Kevin Hart 06/05 06/06 06/07 06/12 06/14 06/19 06/20 06/21
Thunder Valley Casino • Lincoln, CA Ctr. of Perf. Arts • San Jose, CA Elsinore Theatre • Salem, OR Pantages Theatre • Tacoma, WA Royal Theatre • Victoria, BC Cape Cod Melody Tent • Hyannis, MA
Chris Tucker
Ralphie May
06/13 Foxwoods Casino • Mashantucket, CT 07/03 Trump Taj Mahal • Atlantic City, NJ 07/11 Ovens Auditorium • Charlotte, NC
06/18-21 Improv • Ft. Lauderdale, FL 06/26-28 Improv • Homestead, PA 08/13-16 Improv • Irvine, CA
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TD Garden • Boston, MA Royal Farms Arena • Baltimore, MD TD Garden • Boston, MA Philips Arena • Atlanta, GA James Brown Arena • Augusta, GA Bankers Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, IN U.S. Bank Arena • Cincinnati, OH Quicken Loans Arena • Cleveland, OH
Sebastian Maniscalco 06/04-06 06/08-14 07/09-12 07/20-26 08/07
Cap City Comedy Club • Austin, TX Gotham Comedy Club • NY, NY Stress Factory Comedy • New Brunswick, NJ Just 4 Laughs Festival • Montreal, Quebec Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy • Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ
Jo Koy 06/19-27 Improv • Ontario, CA 08/22 Humphrey’s •San Diego, CA 08/29 Magic City Casino • Miami, FL
Jeff Dunham 06/10-14 06/24-28 07/01-05 07/08-12
D.L. Hughley 06/19 Bridgestone Arena • Nashville, TN 06/26-27 Orleans Casino • Las Vegas, NV 07/16-18 Caroline’s • New York, NY
Planet Hollywood • Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood • Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood • Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood • Las Vegas, NV
Jerry Seinfeld 06/05 06/06 06/10 06/11 06/26 07/18
Gabriel Iglesias 06/03 06/05 06/07 06/12 07/17
Lotto Arena • Antwerp, Belgium Stavanger • Stavanger, Norway Brattora • Trondheim, Norway Tunica Casino • Robinsonville, MS Pacific Amphitheater • Costa Mesa, CA
Meridian Centre • St. Catharines, ON K-Rock Center • Kingston, ON Orpheum Theater • Sioux City, IA Morris Perf. Arts • South Bend, IN Crouse Hall • Lima, OH Foxwoods Casino • Ledyard, CT
Frank Caliendo 06/21 06/26 08/21 08/22
Mountain Gods Casino • Mescalero, NM Mann Arts Center • Fort Myers, FL Ridgefield Playhouse • Ridgefield, CT Casino Ballroom • Hampton Beach, NH
Kathy Griffin
06/05 06/06 06/17 06/20 07/03 10/08 10/09
Wanda Sykes Turning Stone Resort • Verona, NY Soaring Eagle Casino • Mt. Pleasant, MI 06/12-13 Borgata Casino • Atlantic City, NJ Tennessee Theater • Knoxville, TN 06/27-28 Tulalip Casino • Marysville, WA Kennedy Center • Washinton, D.C. 10/18 Keswick Theater • Glenside, PA Mirage Hotel • Las Vegas, NV 10/23 Masonic Auditorium • San Francisco, CA N. Quest Casino • Airway Heights, WA 10/24 The Wiltern • Los Angeles, CA Peppermill Casino • W. Wendover, NV
Maz Jobrani 06/05-07 06/12-13 06/27-28 10/01-03
Improv • San Jose, CA The Ice House • Pasadena, CA Improv • Brea, CA Improv • Atlanta, GA
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Carlos Mencia
Pablo Francisco 06/18-21 Improv • Pittsburgh, PA 06/26-27 The Ice House • Pasadena, CA 07/23 Improv • Brea, CA
06/05-06 06/12-13 06/14 06/18-20 06/27 07/03-04 07/31-08/01
The Comedy Club • New York, NY Governors of Levittown • Levittown, NY Governors McGuire’s • Bohemia, NY Stress Factory • New Brunswick, NJ Magic City Casino • Miami, FL Orleans Casino • Las Vegas, NV The Ice House • Pasadena, CA
Lisa Lampinelli 06/05 06/06 06/13 06/20 07/11 07/18 08/28
Seminole Casino • Ft. Lauderdale, FL Hard Rock Live • Orlando, FL Sands Showroom • Las Vegas, NV Paramount Theater • Denver, CO Silver Legacy Casino • Reno, NV Club Nokia • Los Angeles, CA Borgata Casino • Atlantic City, NV
Sommore 06/12-14 Levity Live • W. Nyack, NY 08/14-16 Stand Up Live • Phoenix, AZ 08/28-30 Improv • Homestead, PA
Kathleen Madigan 06/04 06/05 06/06 06/12 09/17
The Newton Theater • Newton, NJ Grand Opera House • Wilimington, DE Strand-Capital PAC • York, PA Mirage Casino • Las Vegas, NV Tarrytown Music Hall • Tarrytown, NY
Rosanne Barr 06/06 The Venetian • Las Vegas, NV 06/11 Count Basie Theater • Red Bank, NJ
Jim Gaffigan 07/16-17 07/18 07/20 07/21 07/22 07/23 07/24 07/25 07/26 07/29
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McCaw Hall • Seattle, WA Arlene Con. Hall • Portland, OR Silva Conc. Hall • Eugene, OR Redding Aud. • Redding, CA Wells Fargo Ctr. • Santa Rosa, CA Mountain Winery • Saratoga, CA Santa Barabara Bowl • Santa Barbara, CA Greek Theater • Los Angeles, CA Humphrey’s • San Diego, CA 1st Bank Center • Broomfield, CO
Brad Williams Chris Hardwick 06/05 06/06 08/07 08/14 08/15 09/17
Trocadero Theater • Philadelphia, PA 9:30 Club • Washington, DC Hard Rock Live • Orlando, FL Crest Theater • Sacramento, CA The California Theater • San Jose, CA Cullen Perf. Hall • Houston, TX
06/11-14 06/18-21 06/27 07/09-11 07/16-19 07/23-24 07/31
Funny Bone • Richmond, VA Funny Bone • Syracuse, NY Narcotics Conv • Rancho Mirage, CA Comedy Club on State • Madison, WI Funny Bone • Toledo, OH Ace Comedy Club • Murrieta, CA Ventura Harbor Club • Ventura, CA
Charlie Murphy
Eddie Griffin 06/05 06/12 06/19 06/20
Greensboro Coliseum • Greensboro, NC Oracle Arena • Oakland, CA Bridgestone Arena • Nashville, TN Verizon Arena • Little Rock • AR
06/12 06/19 06/20 07/03 07/24-26
Chautauqua Aud. • Boulder, CO Just for Laughs • Montreal, CAN Borgata Casino • Atlantic City, NJ Olympia • Montreal, CN
06/06 06/07 06/13 06/14 06/20 07/10 07/11 07/17 07/18 07/24
UPAC • Kingston, NY Sands Event Center • Bethlehem, PA Kravis Center • W. Palm Beach, FL Barbara Mann PAC • Fort Myers, FL Fox Riverside, Riverside, CA Carpenter Theater • Richmond, VA Model Arts Center • Baltimore, MD Pikes Peak Center • Colorado Springs, CO Macky Aud. Boulder, CO Mortesen Hall • Hartford, CT
Don Rickles
Margaret Cho 06/26 07/04 07/18 07/24
Oracle Arena • Oakland, CA Bridgestone Arena • Nashville, TN Verizon Arena • N. Little Rock, AK Golden Nugget • Las Vegas, NV Improv • Palm Beach, FL
Bill Maher
Bass Concert Hall • Austin, TX IP Casino Resort • Biloxi, MS Potawatomi Casino • Milwaukee, WI Bergen Perf. Center • Englewood, NJ
06/24 06/27 07/21-22 08/06
Carrot Top 06/01-06/30 Luxor Casino • Las Vegas, NV 07/01-07/31 Luxor Casino • Las Vegas, NV 08/01-08/30 Luxor Casino • Las Vegas, NV
Pauly Shore 06/06 07/10-11 07/16-19 07/25 08/21 08/22
Comic Strip • El Paso, TX Improv • Brea, CA Improv • Tempe, AZ Ice House, Pasadena, CA Bo’s Bar & Grill, Red Deer, CAN Deerfoot Casino • Calgary, CAN
Christopher Titus 06/04-06 06/12-14 06/19-21 07/31-08/01
Comedy Works • Greenwood Village, CO Improv • Brea, CA Levity Live • Palisades, NY South Point Casino • Las Vegas, NV
Joe Rogan 06/05-07 Improv • Irvine, CA 07/24 The Chicago Theater • Chicago, IL
news
GHOSTBUSTERS
Reboot Sets All-Female Cast, Release Date
Universal officially announced today via Twitter that Back to the Future IV is a go! The flick will start shooting in Los Angeles late 2015 with a planned release for Summer 2016.
Just three months after it was announced that Bridesmaid director Paul Feig would reboot the Ghostbusters series with an all-female cast, the four actresses who will don the proton packs have been revealed: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and current Saturday Night Live stars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Feig tweeted his Ghostbusters casting news Tuesday night along with the film’s scheduled release date: July 22nd, 2016.
Amy Schumer's Trainwreck trailer is hilarious Judd Apatow‘s Amy Schumer movie Trainwreck finally has a trailer— and it is awesome. The film was written by the Inside Amy Schumer comedian and directed by Apatow last year. Trainwreck takes place in New York City and follows journalist Amy (Schumer). After her father, played by Colin Quinn, drills into her head at a young age that monogamy is not realistic, she sets off on a long string of “no strings attached” sexual encounters.
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Tina Fey's Fortune Feimster sitcom pilot, Uncle Buck reboot advance at ABC Tina Fey is getting closer to finally putting comedian Fortune Feimster on network television. ABC ordered a pilot for Family Fortune starring Feimster. ABC was previously developing the comedy project from Tina Fey who attempted to get the Feimster-led Cabbot College on Fox last year. Family Fortune is based on the former Chelsea Lately panelist’s family life in North Carolina. She plays a popular gym teacher who comes out of the closet to her close-knit group of friends and family. Tina Fey, along with Matt Hubbard and Robert Carlock, serve as executive producer.
CAMERON
Esposito
COMIC Close-Up
By Julianne Simitz
Cameron Esposito - standup comic, actor and writer - is a fast-rising talent in the Los Angeles-based comedy scene. In addition to her work as a nationally touring headliner, Cameron has appeared on Late Late with Craig Ferguson (CBS), @midnight (Comedy Central), CONAN (TBS), Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC), Adventure Time (Cartoon Network), Funny as Hell (HBO Canada), and was a regular on Chelsea Lately (E!). She has also appeared at premier comedy festivals such as Just for Laughs (Montreal, Toronto and Chicago), and at SXSW and Moontower, Bridgetown and SF Sketchfest.
Q&A STAND UP MAG (SUM): What do you prefer - working on camera, in a writer’s room, or on stage? Why? CAMERON ESPOSITO (CE): The stage will always be my first and best love, but I also really enjoy making television. I’ve gotten to do more acting lately and I’m so happy to be moving in that direction SUM: How long have you been performing? CE: Landed my first regular paid gig as a cast member at an improv theatre a decade ago. SUM: Tell me about your first time performing. What got you started? CE: Started doing improv in college. A friend encouraged me to audition for the on-campus improv group. I played on the rugby team at the time and went to auditions straight from practice - covered in mud and wearing cleats. SUM: Any advice for women in comedy, or who are interested in trying stand up? CE: There is nothing to wait for. Go out and signup for an open mic. Fail. Try again. Fail again. Succeed. Beginning a career in standup never more complicated than getting onstage. (read the rest of the interview on www.thestandup.net)
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TELEVISION
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22
us s or met o no writers al dete , telep how on TV rompt ctors. ers, cu . e card s...
Photo Credits: Lucie Aleks Guest: Jessica Childress (The Voice)
TSU: What keeps you motivated? JK: I love doing the show, seeing the progress. I like when an audience leaves really happy. They’ve enjoyed a show. I like the feedback and so on. The staff is really happy that I’m giving a chance for people to learn about television production. That’s helped a lot of careers. There are so many things that keep me motivated. Ultimately it’s just in my bones to do this. TSU: How did you get into this business? JK: I was a standup. I worked at Catch a Rising Star in New York City. I moved to Los Angeles and was the house MC at the Hollywood Improv, working for Budd Friedman and Mark Lonow. Being an MC is the best preparation for a late night talk show host. If you look into the history of talk shows, you will see that David Letterman was an MC. Jon Stewart was an MC, and it goes on and on. You’re dealing with the audience. It’s basically your show. You’re introducing guests who are different comedians. The tone of the audience is essentially based on the tone of the MC. I was good at that and did that well. There was a producer in the audience one day, and he liked my work. The story that I tell so many times is that Jerry Seinfeld was in the wings, and I was introducing him. He was standing in the hallway, and there was a light that was shining on his watch. It just looked enormous on his wrist. I asked him, “How much is that watch?” And he yelled out, ” I’ll tell you how much this is, if you tell me how much that piece of shit you’re wearing is!” Everybody really liked that. I said, “I said, How about we exchange watches for a moment? I put on yours. You put on mine. He said, “Great.” He comes up on stage. I put on his $50,000 Rolex or his Brietling. I immediately fall to the ground because it’s so heavy. I’m writhing on the ground. Everyone enjoyed that. He put on my watch which was a Casio. He basically walked around the stage like there was gangrene on his wrist. I said,”OK that’s great. Now can we switch cars?” After that show, a producer in the audience said,”You should be a late night talk show host.
Guest: Bruce Dern
It was one of those moments where I thought, “Yes that is right. That seems to fit.” I wasn’t really interested in traveling as a comedian.
TSU: Who was your all time favorite talk show host? JK: I was very much affected by Garry Shandling. Garry is someone now who
works with and helps me. He’s a key figure in my life and very generous with advice and direction.
TSU: Who was your favorite guest? JK: We had David Carradine on, his last talk show appearance. That was very
important. I thought that was just great. He was one of those men you just really like right away. I give a bottle of champagne to the guests in the green room. Normally the guests just take it home. David immediately opened it up and drank the entire bottle before the interview. One of the grips asked, “Is that Kung Fu stuff you do real, or are you just acting?” David quickly took him by the throat with one hand and lifted him off his feet! Now mind you, David was about seventy. The grips was about 20 years old. Everyone was just so scared. I thought this is going to be a law suit. As soon as David let go, the kid shouted, “Oh my God! Look my neck is red. David Carradine just kicked my ass.” I really liked David a lot.
TSU: What channel and time slot is your show so our readers can tune in? JK: We’re on JLTV, which is a national network. It’s on Saturday nights at 10:00 P.M. There are also repeats of earlier episodes that go throughout the night, but 10:00 P.M. is when the current episode airs. Also, DirectTV channel 366. And also on local stations. Viewers can go to JLTV.tv for these independent channels if they don’t have DirecTV.
23
UPRISER
Zaina B. Johnson
Comedy Community “The Social Comedian” is an online community that meshes the worlds of Stand-Up Comedy and Social Media together, with on-line support through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as Live workshops in New York City along with a Social Media Open Mic every Monday at 10pm at Broadway Comedy Club. Social Media has become more then just a way of communicating with your on-line fans and followers, but it’s the ultimate “New Stage” for comedians.
www.zainabjohnson.com Letting laughter carry her through the day, Zainab Johnson shares with audiences how interesting everyday life can be, especially when you turn the day’s drama into serious comic relief. Whether she’s performing on stage, writing a script, or acting on screen, Zainab is making people laugh with her own engaging style. But it wasn’t always that way. Zainab began her career in entertainment as an actress, having moved from home in New York City to the glitz and grit of Los Angeles soon after college. As she pursued roles for television and film, others saw in her a talent for comedy that she had never considered before. Her first appearance as a series regular on television for BET’s “Hell Date” led her to explore comedy in earnest, studying the craft with the Groundlings and IO West, two improvisational comedy groups. Zainab then went on to perform improv and sketch comedy with Troop Hollywood and the Black Hand Side. In 2010, Zainab took a leap of faith in her talent and did her first solo stand-up performance. Her success from that day and her talent for the craft have propelled her to working in top clubs throughout the country, from LA to NYC, including the Improv, Laugh Factory, Standup NY, and Caroline’s on Broadway. A trusted artist among her peers, she also performs opening sets for some of today’s most respected comedians.
24
Almost every social media platform has the capability of either uploading or recording videos, so now you literally have a world-wide audience for your humor. More and more industry leaders, networks and comedy clubs are scouring the world wide web looking for the funniest new acts. Why wait for the industry to find you? Take your career into your own hands, on-line and get social. For tips, advice and more information about The Social Comedian email Eric at TheSocialComedy@gmail.com.
BEHIND
the
MIC
WOMEN-ONLY COMEDY SPACES ARE SEXIST... OR ARE THEY?
series
JULIANNE SIMITZ FOR STAND UP MAGAZINE (SUM): ARE WOMEN-ONLY COMEDY SPACES – OPEN MICS, WRITING GROUPS, SHOWS – SEXIST? BOBBIE OLIVER (BO): Women-only comedy spaces aren’t sexist for the same reason the NAACP isn’t racist. Both were born out of necessity to support a subgroup that was being pushed out of the mainstream – in many cases, intentionally pushed out. Sometimes guys in comedy go out of their way to make women uncomfortable. Sometimes they are tougher on women to make them prove themselves. The people who complain about my women-only mic rarely are the people that patronize my regular, mixed-gender mic. The goal isn’t to get less men to do comedy. It’s to get more women to do comedy. SUM: A FEW MONTHS AGO, YOU STARTED A WEEKLY ALL-WOMEN OPEN MIC AT YOUR STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. WHY? TELL US ABOUT IT. BO: The first or second week, I looked around the room and what I saw took my breath away. I’ve been doing comedy since 1988 and I realized that this is the first time I’ve ever been in the room with 20+ women comics. This is what people who like church must feel like! It was fellowship, supportive, uplifting, spiritual. It was like we stopped seeing each other as competition and as more of a sisterhood. At every mic, at every show, our male counterparts are surrounded by a room full of their peers, whereas women are lucky to see more than three or four women at any given mic. It might be getting better, but not fast enough, and not in smaller comedy markets outside of LA, New York, and Chicago. SUM: YOU MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO BAN RAPE JOKES AT YOUR STUDIO. WHY? BO: We banned pro-violence against women jokes at Tao Comedy Studio. For the most part, people have woken up to racism and homophobia. You still hear women called whores and cunts and hear rape and domestic violence jokes regularly. Before the ban, I tried everything. Not only would they not stop doing it. They escalated it. I pay the rent at my studio. I’m a rape vic-
A Conversation with Comedian Bobbie Oliver By Julianne Simitz
tim. I have the right not to hear that in my space. In fact, many men have thanked me for it. One of the oldest adages in comedy is to punch UP, not down. Carlin and Pryor did this, and now these idiots want to drag our art form down to the level of middle school bullying? I’ll be damned if I’ll watch people do that to my craft. If comedy were mostly female and women focused on castration jokes the way many male comics focus on rape jokes, men wouldn’t show up either. Almost any man can walk into an open mic and feel comfortable. It takes a ballsy woman to do comedy and an even ballsier woman to stay in comedy. SUM: BUT WHAT ABOUT FREE SPEECH? BO: Everybody needs to Google “Free Speech.” Free speech goes both ways. It doesn’t mean you’re free from criticism. Every respectable profession has best practices and peer review. Consider this ours. I knew I’d take a hit, but somebody’s gotta do it. I speak from a point of privilege, which is why I speak so loudly. SUM: TELL ME ABOUT THE FIRST LAUGH RIOT GRRRL COMEDY FESTIVAL. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION? BO: The first ever “Laugh Riot Grrrl LA Fest” will be held June 1-8, 2015, at Tao Comedy Studio in LA. It was inspired by the early ‘90s punk rock feminist movement “Riot Grrrl,” which also later inspired political activists “Pussy Riot.” Our ideology encourages more women to do comedy and supports men who are down with the cause. We believe in using our comedy’s powers for good, creating creative safe-spaces for women, and encouraging activism that supports Feminism and Civil Rights. The inspiration for “Laugh Riot Grrrl” came from seeing so few women at other comedy festivals. I participated in a popular comedy festival recently where they held an official Meet & Greet with bookers IN A STRIP CLUB. What kind of message does that send? SUM: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FESTIVAL? BO: Expect it to be funny! The festival will feature Stand Up, Improv, and Sketch Comedy performances, Story-
Bobbie Oliver several open mics, a women in comedy roundtable, free workshops on comedy, meditation and self-defense workshops. You can learn more at www.laughriotgrrrl.com. SUM: CAN MEN PARTICIPATE? BO: If a man is pro-woman, he can participate. If a woman is antiwoman, she can’t. “Laugh Riot Grrrl” is NOT anti-male. We are anti-misogyny and anti-patriarchy. Feminism isn’t just about rights for women but also about civil rights. Remember, taking down easy targets doesn’t make you a sharp shooter. Going after the hard targets is what makes you a great comedian. Bobbie Oliver is one of America’s funniest comedy veterans. Her act is smart and irreverent. She never shies away from personal experience or edgy material, and she tackles tough topics like racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and classism through her comedy. You can follow her on Twitter @thebobbieoliver, @YinComedy, and @TaoComedyStudio. Julianne Simitz (@DCjulesdoesLA) reporting for Stand Up Magazine (@standupmag1).
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THE NEW GIRLS CLUB
By Julianne Simitz
“And your next comic coming to the stage is a LAAAAADDDDDY!!!”
Six to be exact. Despite being a lifelong comedy fan, and also lifelong woman, I’ve never seen a show that comes close to honestly capturing the experience of being a “lady comic.” Until now.
P
Ester Steinberg Stephanie Simbari
Nicole Aimee Schreiber
Calise Hawkins Yamaneika Saunders
remiering on Oxygen, Funny Girls is a new docuseries that fol lows the professional and personal lives of six women pursuing their stand up comedy dreams, climbing – and sometimes, claw ing – their way to the top of the stand up ladder. Ester, Calise, Nicole, Scout, Stefani, and Yamaneika might not be household names yet, but it seems they’re on their way. The cast of comedians is diverse, not just in skin color, sexuality, and stations in life, but also in their years of experience, comedic styles, and ultimate career goals. A quick breakdown: Calise Hawkins hails from Jersey City, New Jersey. Mother to 8-year-old Asha, Calise has appeared on numerous television shows and has opened for legends like Chris Rock and Tracy Morgan. Her style is honest and sometimes painfully revealing. Detroit native Nicole Aimee Schreiber ditched the stability of corporate America for the uncertainty of Hollywood. Now a food-slinging waitress by day and a joke-slinging comic by night, Nicole gives her insights on life’s trials and tribulations through a not-so-rose colored lens tinted by personal experience. A comedy writer and performer, Ester Steinberg started her stand up career performing in the unlikeliest of places…on high school cafeteria tables in Tampa, Florida.
26
Scout Durwood
FUNNY GIRLS She has built a name for herself not only as a performer but also as coproducer and host of her own live comedy show that draws big-name headliners at Canter’s Deli Kibbitz Room, Los Angeles, CA. The common thread: their uncommon combination of ambition, dedication and talent needed to survive and succeed in the City of Broken Dreams. Funny Girls gives viewers a rare glimpse into women going about the business of show business while handling their own business. The show chronicles the highs and lows, onstage and off. From bad sets to bad dates, Funny Girls is a real and refreshing perspective on living, sleeping and breathing the craft. Funny Girls also peeks behind the red velvet curtain at some of LA’s underground comedy spots, letting viewers in on the creative process that leads to stellar stand up performances. Bonus: the cast is mentored by comedy greats like Margaret Cho, Bill Burr, Janeane Garofalo and Horatio Sanz, who pop in as guest stars throughout the season.
I had a chance to sit down with Ester, Nicole, and Calise to talk about the experience just before Funny Girls aired. Check it out:
The Stand Up Magazine (TSU): Last summer, Oxygen ordered a new docuseries about women in comedy called Funny Girls. How did you get involved in the project? What attracted you to it? Calise: I had been out on the scene for some time, and my name was part of the buzz. I had done Fallon and had written for some shows, so people were aware of me. I was interested in the project because reality TV is changing and representing people in new and interesting ways. I don’t think it’s as trashy as it used to be. It’s more personality driven. Nicole: There was a company looking for female comedians, and my name was thrown in the mix. I thought it was really exciting to be involved in something that showcased women in comedy. At the time I had only been doing comedy for about two years, so I thought it was a great opportunity to grow and learn from comedians with more experience.
Calise: One woman per show. That’s the booking. We don’t get to see each other. I’m always excited when I do get to a mic, on those rare occasions, and see lots of girls. It’s also sad because you also know you’re probably not going to see them again. It’s like going to a puppy mill. Some of you aren’t gonna make it. You’re not going to get nurtured. You’re not going to get fed. The stronger ones are ‘gonna’ survive. TSU: That said, is there still sexism in comedy, or have we cracked the glass ceiling? Are we at least making progress? Calise: Sexism is now being hidden as “marketing.” They pretend to know who has the money to buy what and what the demand is, instead of recognizing the reality that they are just reinforcing sexism. Everybody wants to buy something. That’s been proven over again by women-driven shows. Women wanna buy stuff. Black people wanna buy stuff. We should start calling it marketing-ism. Everybody wants to buy stuff.
Ester: I came to the project after I was scouted from a YouTube clip. I had been doing stand up for eight years. As soon as I heard of it, I thought it was awesome because it was comedy from all women, for all women. When you put that spotlight on just women…its a completely different kind of pressure. We were allowed to speak our own language. We could talk about “women’s stuff” without hearing [from the network] our demographic is young guys, so you’re going to have to talk about something else.
Ester: There’s usually one woman on a show. And then, there will be other shows that intentionally want to book female-heavy…that are hyper-conscious of being feminist; but, for the most part, it’s one or two [women] at an open mic of 50 people.
TSU: What inspires your writing? How often do you perform? What’s your process for working out a set?
TSU: Do female comics have any advantages?
Ester: My material is all from life, but my process is all over the place because my brain doesn’t stop thinking in jokes. I don’t really sit down [to write] unless it’s a script or a sketch. My stand up is done in conversation, in ideas, in Twitter. Then I hit the mics. I’m an open mic fiend to work out material. Especially in LA where stage time is extremely limited, I’ve accepted I’m going to be at open mics in order to get the amount of stage time that I need to work out jokes. Calise: When I first started comedy, I lived in the open mic world. But since I had my kid, I couldn’t hit the mics. I started working everything out on social networks; Facebook was my only mic. That’s all I had to see if anyone was interested in anything I was saying. It’s become my method because open mic hours are homework and dinnertime hours. Now, I only leave the house if I’m making money to pay a baby-sitter. TSU: By your estimate, women make up about 10% percent of LA’s and NY’s comedy scene………..thoughts?
Nicole: They feel like a hero if they have two girls on a show…and they always a make point to say that they really wanted a funny girl on the show.
Ester: We stand out. That’s the advantage. We’re a sore thumb. TSU: And the disadvantages? Calise: EVERYTHING else. We have to be careful about how we talk about our lives. Everybody accepts that comedy is a manly place to be. But they [male comics] have permission to talk about whatever they want. It’s a witch-hunt. Did she sleep with someone to get that [spot]? I stopped caring what guy comics thought about me after all the name-calling when I had a child. And, now that I’ve gotten things on TV and in the industry, I’m not worried about what another comedian thinks of me. Nicole: When you’re around guys, you have to be incredibly cognizant of everything you say and do. When you’re around girls, you don’t. That’s in life and in comedy. Read the rest of the interview on our webiste, www.thestandup.net Follow Calise (@CaliseHawkins), Ester (@EsterKay), Nicole (@nicoleaimee), Yamaneika (@yamaneika), Scout (@scoutdurwood) and Stephanie (@stephsimbari) on Twitter, and follow #FunnyGirls for more info on the show. Julianne Simitz (@ DCjulesdoesLA) reporting for Stand Up Magazine (@standupmag1).
“These six multicultural, sassy women bring real, bold humor to the male-dominated comedy industry,” said Rod Aissa, Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. “Their courageous, risk-taking personalities and inspiring journeys to follow their true comedic passion in life will resonate with Oxygen’s young female audience.”
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