Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special, Monday, March 20, 2023
Most recently a part of the sadly cancelled (but possibly picked up) Hulu comedy ReBoot, Bloom will always – happily – be renowned for creating, writing and singing her way through the rude, crude comedy of The CW Network’s musical series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019). While a promise of turning Crazy Ex-Girlfriend into a Broadway musical has yet to materialize, Death, Let Me Do My Special reads like a one-woman performance art comic routine dedicated to Bloom’s love-hate relationship with the film and television industry. I’m in. Bloom is an outrageously clever talent whose wily writing and impeccable comic timing can never get enough time to shine.
Largo at the Coronet, 366 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048-1949
Bad Movie Bingo presents Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, Tuesday, March 21, 2023
That’s right. I’m throwing a bad band movie into the mix because if someone has the guts to screen the unintentionally comic mess that was 1978’s Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and starring a cartoon rock band – genius) and its plot of having the glam quartet use its superpowers to battle an evil inventor – why not? Besides, it’s Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, they’re screening Kiss for free, and you’re in a bar. Who’s to complain?
Bottlerocket Social Hall, 1226 Arlington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Ian Fidance, Tuesday March 21, 2023
The wildly offbeat Brooklyn-based Ian Fidance has appeared in A.D. Amorosi’s weekly Best of Stand-up in the past for his manic act, one that is always “equal parts thoughtful, explicit, and silly.” But, unexpectedly, Fidance was a recent hyper-active opener for, and sparring partner to, roaster/stand-up giant Dave Attel. Once there, not only did Fidance keep up with the catty comic insults, he slung the roasting with them best of them. A star is born. Respect. The entire night’s line up at the East Village outpost of the New York Comedy Club also features Ashley Austin Morris, Kate Sisk and Eagle Witt with Fidance in no particular order. Get there early.
New York Comedy Club East Village, 85 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003
Josh Sneed, Wednesday, March 22, 2023
What does married guy with a wife, kids and a pug in Cincinnati stand-up comedy sound like? Like Josh Sneed – the toast of Sirius/XM radio, and the man behind the dry observational comedy of “Josh Sneed: Live in the Dessert”. It’s a dessert; of course Sneed is dry.
Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Dope City Comedy Tour with Matt Bellak and Tim Hanlon, Thursday, March 23, 2023
Stoner stand-up comedians usually don’t get better than the form’s originators, Cheech & Chong, but this two thirds of the Fresh Drunk Stoned comedy tour keep weed comedy fresher than homegrown.
Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Avenue,Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Chris Franjola, Thursday, March 23, 2023
First off, stand-up comedian Chris Franjola wrote for Family Guy, my favorite ever animated comedy, so kudos. Secondly, his comic podcast, Cover To Cover With Chris Franjola isn’t just him and his stand-up buddies reciting their acts repeatedly in your earbuds. Thirdly, he was the only good thing about the Chelsea Handler E!’s show “Chelsea Lately” for 8 whole years (I’m not a Chelsea Handler fan) with characters such as Bieber Man and his faux Johnny Depp. Even if he just recites lines from Family Guy, this night in New Jersey would be worthwhile. Wait. That’s an idea…
Bananas Comedy Club at the Renaissance Hotel, 801 Rutherford Avenue, Rutherford, NJ 07070
Chip Chantry, Friday, March 24, 2023
As far as smart, clean-working, observational stand-up comedy with a subtle unsober twist goes, you really can’t do better than Chip Chantry. Along with being a regular recurring presence on the Doug Loves Movies and Todd Glass Show podcasts, Chantry has released #1 iTunes-charting live comedy albums such as Across from the Adonis and Swingers Party. Plus, he has lent his pen hand to writing for television shows such as NBC’s Crazy Talk and the NatGeo series Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things. Still for all his wise and worldly wordy ways, catch Chip’s vivid stand-up – you’ll see everyone of his characters and circumstances unspool before your eyes.
Bucks Country Playhouse, 70 S. Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938
Derrick C Brown’s Book Release Party for Love Ends in A Tandem Kayak, Friday, March 24, 2023
My favorite tag line – an “award-winning poet, comedian and sometimes the guy who takes tickets at the Lyric” – is but a falsely modest intro for the wizened lyrical wordsmith, “hybrid weirdo,” and founder of Write Bloody Publishing whose stand-up comedy is always something of a kick in the rubber parts (Brown was also the lead singer in one of my forever favorite band named ensembles, the John Wilkes Kissing Booth). A touring itinerary with our most beloved indie comics and pop groups is an entrée to Brown’s own stand-up poetry. And his newest book, Party for Love Ends in A Tandem Kayak, is but a precursor to a season of new work such as a new live comedy album from Sub Pop Records (in connection with Eugene Mirman’s Pretty Good Friends label) and an upcoming tour via motorcycle with actor, author and old friend Amber Tamblyn.
Lyric Hyperion Theater & Café, 2106 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Nick Swardson, Saturday, March 25, 2023
You’ll know his rubbery face and overly confident, but insistently put upon demeanor immediately from Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time, Reno 911!, and handful of Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions films such as Sandy Wexler and The Ridiculous Six. But, as far as his stand-up comedy goes, it is, however, a free for all: unknowable as the impromptu absurdity of Nick Swardson knows no bounds. I dare you to try it.
Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
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