by Klaus Kinski

Jesse Popp

Speaking of Hot Tub with Kurt & Kristen, maybe you were at the weekly variety show this past Monday when Andy Blitz, one of my favorite people in the biz, performed. It has been a really really long time since I last had the good fortune to catch him live, but all of a sudden multiple opportunities are popping up!

In general, I try to remain apolitical in my writings here on BV. Believe me, if you knew my views on society it'd be like a scene in a movie where some dude (me) farts in a crowded elevator and everyone in there (you guys) nonchalantly scuttles to the other side of the elevator. However, there is no denying that many many many members of the comedy community are still very much involved in the Occupy Wall Street community. Perhaps not always physically, but definitely philosophically. Case in point; an event called 99 Comics For The 99% happening at the UCB Theater East on Tuesday May 1st at 8:00pm (May Day). This massive undertaking will feature 99 Comics telling jokes in support of the 99% and OWS. Man I don't even think I could name 99 comics. Anyhow, the line-up (included below) features some seriously great talent and many Klaus faves including Adam McKay (via video), Adam Newman, ANDY BLITZ, Eliot Glazer, Giulia Rozzi, Greg Johnson, Jamie Kilstein, Jimmy Dore, John Frusciante, Jon Friedman, Murderfist, Rob Cantrell, Sara Shaefer, Seth Herzog, Stucky & Murray, Tom Shillue, Two Fun Men, and, well, many many more. Two Fun Men were actually on Fallon the other day in what has to be one of my favorite sketches in ages. Video of that below too!

I am also really happy to announce that Jesse Popp, one of the most pants-shittingly funny up and coming NYC comic geniuses of our time, is recording a Comedy Central special over two nights at Union Hall. The shows will take place on May 2nd and May 4th. Both shows have 7:30pm doors, 8:00pm shows. Tickets are only $5, so you not only get to see one of NYCs finest comedians on the cheap, but the back of your numbskull might even make it on TV. Check out Jesse in the New York Times' One in 8 Million series. Jesse is a great down to earth comedian with a good head on his shoulders. This country will be a much better place when the name Jesse Popp becomes a household name, I tell ya.

Continue reading "99 comics telling jokes for 99%; Jesse Popp taping a special"

by Klaus Kinski

Islands at a show w/ comedians in 2008 (more by Eric Townsend)

Oh, hey guys. Lemme get these headphones off. There. Sorry, I've been listening to this Justing Bieber song that's been slowed down 800 percent non-stop since yesterday (sounds like a Justin K. Broadrick remix for crying out loud). Anyway, I almost forgot to tell you about some more very important comedy news. Keeping with the theme of great comedy coming to Brooklyn, Williamsburg's weekly Wednesday night comedy staple Big Terrific will leave the confine's of Cameo and grace the much larger stage of Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday August 27th (8:00pm doors). For the uninitiated and/or too-lazy-to-google, Big Terrific is a weekly show hosted by Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, and Jenny Slate that showcases local talent as well as international comedic super stars. It is one of the many great weeklies in NYC, and it boasts one of NYC's most consistently stellar comedy line-ups, week after week after week, and has been doing so for over two years.

As far as I'm concerned, all really great comedy shows in NYC deserve to get dragged out of the back rooms and basements and given the opportunity to curate a larger scale show at one of our better venues (like Invite Them Up did at Bowery... 5 freakin years ago!? (5 years!? damn)). And the Big Terrific show at MHOW seems like the ideal scenario. It's on a Friday. It's on a payday (for some of us). It features the comedy whatnots of Todd Barry, Brent Sullivan, Joe Mande, Jesse Popp, and MORE. It features a live performance by Islands. It'll have a shitload of surprises that cannot be publicized because that's how the industry works people. It's ONLY 12 BUCKS. So if you're into amazing comedy, jaw dropping surprises, reasonably priced beer, great music, at a wonderful venue (that is turning three years old), I'd say your Friday night is covered. And if you don't like any of those things, I'm wondering why you read this far. Shouldn't you be opposing a mosque somewhere or something? Anyway, times are tough, so if you'd like to try and win a pair of tix, look below.

In addition to Big Terrific, your hosts Max, Gabe, and Jenny are pretty busy pups. SNL keeps Jenny very busy, but she will be returning to the new season of Bored to Death on HBO, which premieres in September. She also just released a short film she made with Dean Fleischer-Camp called Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Gabe Liedman can be seen on the Short List on Fridays at 9 on VH1. And Max just finished filming a pilot for Comedy Central that will hopefully get picked up and then air for thirty years. Following the MHOW show, you can count on Big Terrific every Wednesday at Cameo.

Some videos (and the contest details) below...

Continue reading "Islands, Todd Barry & more fun added to Big Terrific show "

The Forms @ Sound Fix on Feb 20, 2009 (by Jonny Leather)

1. This Thursday's (Feb 26 @ 8pm) Big Terrific is our last show at Sound Fix ever! Isn't that so sad? Sound Fix is closing down, as you may have heard, to become an Urban Outfitters that only sells toe rings. Who even wears toe rings besides little babies? Ugh. I have been hosting shows there for over a year and this is very disappointing, but we're going to send the place off right. We're saying goodbye with some of our favorite guests ever: improvisational musical wunderkind Reggie Watts, one of the best stand-ups in New York and SNL writer John Mulaney, Videogum internet sexebrity and dear friend Gabriel Delahaye, all-star jokesmith Jesse Popp, and Brooklyn master storyteller DC Benny. This show will be funny and sweet and sad and please come help us say goodbye.

2. Luckily, nothing can stop Gabe & Jenny and me and our love of attention. Beginning March 11th, Big Terrific moves to every Wednesday night at Cameo, a gorgeous new music/art/performance space behind the Lovin' Cup at 93 North 6th Street between Berry and Wythe in Williamsburg. Still at 8pm, still free, just on Wednesdays now. And even closer to the train! We are super excited about this venue, and they are really committed to cool things. The show will be even better because now there is a green room for costume changes, and we can have live music. Are you even ready for how fun this will be? There's a SHOWER we can use. Tell your friends. Starting March 11th, Big Terrific is on Wednesdays. NOTE: this venue has nothing to do with the funk-inspired R&B outfit Cameo, though they do provide Gabe Liedman all his wardrobe.
[Max Silvestri] (who is not in the above picture)

The Future of Comedy Is Music (Max Silvestri video below...)

Continue reading "Big Terrific is moving from Sound Fix to Cameo "