the comic's comic

Watch and learn! Two makers of xtranormal comedy insider videos talk about their creations

Making animated videos about the inner workings and failings of the comedy club world has become a late-summer sensation for the comedy community, thanks to the technology of xtranormal.

Now the comedian who posted the first "Stand-Up Comedy is Not Pretty" video, and a club owner who has posted another new entry into the field, have spoken with me about what they're doing and why.

The creator of that first entry (see what I wrote and screened for you on Aug. 31) that has launched a few imitators and rebuttals wishes to remain anonymous, at least for now, calling himself (or herself) "I Am Comic" on the site Great That Sounds Fair (named for the catchphrase the stand-up keeps repeating to the club booker) and saying: "Now I just think it would be silly to come out. Who I am is really not important -- and I don't think would add to the story much at this point. I am, however, glad that they caught on pretty quickly that the clip was more about what we as comics have to go through in the early stages of our careers, and not an indictment of their business practices."

The comedian "came up with the theme after seeing a similar clip that involved a conversation between Club Promoter and a Musician. The intent was just to make a local inside joke between the comics.  I had no idea it would catch on the way it did. When the actual club owners themselves started sharing the clip and joking about it, I realized there was really no need to remain anonymous. But by then it was too late."

Look for more to come, the comedian says, who feels that "Joke Joint Becky's" look at the flip side of dealing with open mic'ers is better than his/her own. "I love that people are making their own clips. I was actually surprised more people did not jump on the site sooner. It really is amazing, and easy to use."

One of those to jump on the site is Marshall Chiles, of Atlanta's Laughing Skull Lounge, who said Stand-Up Comedy Is Not Pretty "deserves some mad props for this new little eco-video-correspondence they have started." Chiles created an xtranormal video yesterday about dealing with agents, and modified it slightly to release a new edition today called "Booking a Celebrity." Set up the clip! "This is what it is like SOMETIMES when dealing with an agent trying to get a celebrity to your comedy club." Roll it.

Chiles explained to me today: "I have some other ideas for videos on the industry and what it is like to be a comedian... and be a club owner... then combining the two which is my walk. I really like xtranormal's solution and can see it being a great venue for creative output. And of course, just like all artistic expression, some are better than others. I have seen a few that are just reaching imho."

Which means, of course, in a couple of weeks, there will be a glut of these videos and most of them will suck. Don't worry. I won't make you watch those.

William Knoedelseder talks to Craig Ferguson about his book and The Comedy Store strike of 1979

Not sure about the timing of this booking, since his book has been out for more than a year and went paperback in July, but author William Knoedelseder went on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to talk with Ferguson about his book, "I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era," which features mugs of Ferguson's boss, David Letterman, alongside Jay Leno, Richard Lewis and the late Andy Kaufman on the cover.

The book covers the late 1970s comedy scene in Los Angeles, which Knoedelseder covered as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times in 1978 and 1979. Remember when more newspapers had people writing about comedy as a performing art? Ah, memories.

His book is about all of the comics who flooded the L.A. clubs hoping that Johnny Carson would give them their big breaks on the Tonight Show, and how the comedians unified and organized a strike against The Comedy Store in 1979. Well, here, let Knoedelseder tell it:

And here is him telling the story to David Letterman last fall, which has a different tone to it because Letterman lived it and is in the book.

Want to buy a copy for yourself?

This is not the Stand-Up Boot Camp you were looking for: Ha-Ha Good Time Comedy Fun School

This promotional video for the Ha-Ha Good Time Comedy Fun School features Matt Braunger, Jimmy Dore, Ryan Stout, "student" Ron Babcock and others. It's clearly a parody of the actual Stand-Up Boot Camp run by Kyle Cease and Louie Anderson.

Are you ready? Set? Watch!

Furthermore: Way back in olden times of 2009, the brothers Cease launched their first boot camp videos.

Fallout: You've read Doug Stanhope's rebuttal about comedy classes, haven't you? And Cease's response to that rebuttal? Alrigthy. All caught up.

Go, see: Michael Hartney in "So I Like Superman: A One-Nerd Show"

If you see only one one-man show about a young man obsessed with Superman for most of his life, please make it Michael Hartney's "So I Like Superman: A One-Nerd Show," currently on a run at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. The show includes a phone booth with the all-important, never-before-seen sock removal scene. And videos!

"I don't want Superman," Hartney says. "I want to be Superman."

More Saturday Night Live news? SNL eyes a fourth new hire to the featured cast! Meet Jay Pharoah

If people were excited to hear that Saturday Night Live had hired three new cast members to featured player status (as well as a number of new writers), then what will they have to say when news drops that SNL has its eyes on giving a big break to another new cast member? Let's find out!

EXCLUSIVE and DEVELOPING! The Comic's Comic has learned that Jay Pharoah, a young stand-up comedian from Virginia's Tidewater who has a full arsenal of impersonations -- including one of President Barack Obama (and yes, he'd likely do it instead of Fred Armisen!) -- is just about a done deal to become the fourth new cast member to join the on-air ranks when SNL's 36th season begins on Sept. 25, 2010.

He'll be joining Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain and Taran Killam as the cast newbies. This would represent the biggest single infusion of new talent into the show since 2001, when Lorne Michaels also hired four new featured players for the 27th season (trivia answer: Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Dean Edwards and Jeff Richards).

But what about Jay Pharoah, you ask? His bio says he's 22, but began working on his impersonations as early as junior high and in local comedy clubs in the Tidewater by the time he was 15. He says he would like to meet his comedy idols, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock, both of whom rocketed to fame via SNL. Looks like he may get his chance sooner rather than later. Pharaoh flew in to NYC twice in August for screen tests and meetings with Lorne.

Pharoah has toured in the clubs with Charlie Murphy, and this spring, he performed in character at BET's "Spring Bling." Here's a short video of him as Jay-Z, bantering with BET's Terrence J. Roll it.

He has dozens of other celebrity impersonations, though. Here he shows off both his Will Smith and Denzel Washington in this spoof series he did called "Behind the Actor." Roll the clip!

Want another one? How about Pharoah holding a conversation as both Eddie and Charlie Murphy? Here that is...

Seth, "brother" of Zach Galifianakis, has Sean Penn "Between Two Ferns"

Just when you least expect it, there's a brand-new episode of "Between Two Ferns," the hit series that's not quite a talk show but is most definitely starring Zach Galifianakis -- or, in this case, his "twin brother" Seth -- and featuring Sean Penn. Penn says that talking about himself and being a movie star ain't all it's cracked up to be, which I'm sure comes as a shocker to Seth. Thank you, Comedy Death-Ray!

Eugene Mirman talks about things you can do, but won't see at his third annual "comedy festival"

In its third consecutive year, it's beginning to be difficult to call the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival the anti-festival. Actually, it's been difficult all three years. Despite the fact that some of Mirman's festival features are clearly fake and satirical, there's an even truer fact -- it's even more factual, that is, to say, that the sheer depth of talent in the shows curated by Mirman and his colleagues rivals most of the comedy festivals that other cities and organizations throw each year. It's also loads of fun!

As Mirman told me today about this year's schedule, and how it compares to the first two years: "It's a little festival-y, in that there's more shows that I really like, and not shows that are totally ironic. But either way, it's all silly good times."

What other comedy festival do you know, for example, that kicks off with "An Evening of Comedy From 1986," headlined by Mirman's comedy hero, Emo Philips, and also has hairdressers offering to style your do as if it were 1986. And if you're like me and have less hair now than you did in the 1980s, not to worry. "They will have a pile of hair," Mirman said.

There are more details to come that aren't listed online just yet.

Mirman revealed a few of them to me today. Yes, there will be fake passes and credentials again to be had.

"The VIP Platinum package is $5,000. It comes with maybe two nights of hotels, admission to all shows except for Toddless Tinkle, a dismissive glance from Jon Benjamin, and a 12-minute conversation with me discussing the different types of agents."

Wait. Did you say Asians or agents? "Agents. Ha, yes, there are Koreans, and there are also other kinds. No, agents. There are commercial agents, and other kinds. I'll be going over all of them with you."

"And then the VIP Adamantium package is $10,000, with maybe four nights of lodging, admission to ONLY Toddless Tinkle, five minutes of unchaperoned access backstage, and permission to ask Kristen Schaal why there isn't a third season of Flight of the Conchords."

Sounds great, right! "So far, in the past years, we have sold zero, just to give you an idea of how well that's going."

Now that it's become an annual tradition, Mirman said it hasn't yet become a burden, mostly because it's a lot of fun, but also because "it's just me, Julie Smith and Caroline Craighead putting together shows of people we enjoy and who are available." He said comedians have asked about submitting footage to him, as if it were an actual festival, but he shudders at the idea. His advice to these would-be participants in future years? "The short answer is: Move to New York City and become a star."

As much as some would like to call Mirman "the Godfather" of the Brooklyn comedy scene (and this photo may help feed into that!), he tells me he's just happy to do shows in his neighborhood and have his friends move nearby and do the same. "I think it's great. I love that Kurt (Braunohler) and Kristen (Schaal) started a show down the street. The more shows I can do within walking distance of my home is better for me," he said. "For me, I also like doing something in my neighborhood. It's nice for me."

He does realize that there are several comedians he enjoys who he couldn't find room for this year, either due to space or thematic constraints. Not that he hasn't thought about it.

"We've often considered doing a show called 'Everyone,'" he said. "We've also thought of doing 'Nice Guy, Terrible Comic.' It's a fantasy show. But as you imagine, we cannot approach anyone with that idea."

Tickets are available to all of the shows in the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival via links on the site.

"Love Can Suck..." but this show doesn't, thanks to Leslie Meisel and Megan Neuringer

Warning: The show "Love Can Suck a Dick...and So Can I," does not feature any actual acts of fellatio. Double warning: Leslie Meisel and Megan Neuringer will make you double over with laughter as they rewrite whatever notions you have of a show that revolves around heartbroken woman.

The show is a true collaboration, with Neuringer writing and directing (and co-starring as the manifestation of Meisel's "broken heart") and Meisel performing a combination of great character work and inspired crowd work. Despite centering on heartbreak and opening on a scene that even Debbie Downer couldn't top (or bottom, as it were), Meisel's whimpering mess goes meta based on a suggestion from her heart to write a one-woman show, which becomes a hit, and fast-forwards more than 3,000 shows to what the audience gets to see. Roll a clip!

As Wendy, who is deaf and has a thing for the ladies, and as Carla, a Staten Island woman who is breaking it down, Meisel shines in improvising with unsuspecting audience members. Fun facts: She learned ASL to commit to Wendy's character, and as Carla, she shows us that any man can sit in as the "perfect man."

I don't want to spoil it all, but if you'd like to see two woman with great working chemistry, who also are willing to eat chow mein onstage for the sake of comedy, and also quote some great movie lines, then you're in for a treat.

"Love Can Suck a Dick...and So Can I" continues its run at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC through September. At the Sept. 1 show, Neuringer and Meisel will be donating $1 to Gilda's Club NYC for every person in attendance, with Paige Davis (Trading Spaces, Chicago) matching the amount.

Don't miss it!