by Klaus Kinski

To call me an Anglophile would be politest way to appraise my absolute obsession and preference for all things British. My sad, dork-ass life revolves around Downton Abbey, Top Gear, Wheeler Dealers, The IT Crowd, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Monty Python, Benny Hill, Pink Floyd, Peep Show, Mr. Bean, Matt Berry, The Mighty Boosh, Snuff Box, british grindcore, Battersea Power Station, That Mitchell and Webb Look, annoyingly speaking with a cockney accent for hours at a time much to the annoyance of my fiance and, of course, the holy trinity of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington. And here's you; "Why don't you just move there if you love it so much, dork?" Well, get me a flat with a lift and me and my knickers will be there before you can say "Blinkered".

Anyway, back to the holy trinity of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington... well, more specifically, Gervais/Merchant. The name Stephen Merchant has always been synonymous with the name Ricky Gervais as the pair has collaborated on several Bafta, Emmy, and Golden Globe winning projects like The Office (UK), The Office (US), as well as things like the show Extras, podcasts, radio shows, the animated series The Ricky Gervais Show (which gets its audio material from their audio comedy show of the same name), and more recently An Idiot Abroad. Gervais has always been the more prominent mouth-piece and face of these collaborations, leaving Merchant somewhat just hovering in the background of it all.

Merchant recently dragged his ample bones out from the shadows cast by Ricky Gervais' larger than life persona to embark on his first, large-scale, solo comedy tour. He spent the majority of September, October, and November 2011 bringing his show "Hello Ladies" to packed houses all over the UK. The US is being blessed with a mere 6 shows, four of which are in California, and two of which happen to be at Town Hall in NYC on Tuesday December 20th and Wednesday December 21st. Unfortunately the December 20th show is SOLD OUT, but there are a handful of tickets left for the December 21st show via Ticketmaster. Oh yeah, your old pal Klaus also has 5 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO GIVEAWAY for DECEMBER 21st. Whoa! Instructions on how to win are below. Good luck! You will NOT want to miss this!

Instructions on how to win, and a couple videos below....

Continue reading "Stephen Merchant playing 6 US shows, 2 in NYC (win a pair of tix or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5!)"

New York Comedy Festival is returning to multiple NYC venues this fall from November 9-13. The festival features a number of comedians including Wanda Sykes, Louis C.K., Russell Peters, Bill Burr, John Pinette, Tracy Morgan, Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffin, Norm Macdonald, Ricky Gervais, John Pinette and Jo Koy. The festival spans venues including Beacon Theatre, Town Hall, Carolines on Broadway, 92nd Street Y, Carnegie Hall, and BAM. Tickets are available for each show and are in various states of sale/presale. Full schedule is below.

Australian comedian/actor/musician Tim Minchin is returning to NYC this fall to perform at Town Hall on November 4. Tickets are available for Live Nation presale now (password: ELECTRIC) and go on sale to the general public today, Friday (8/12) at noon. Check out a video of Tim at Bamboozle this past Spring along with all dates below...

Continue reading "NY Comedy Festival 2011 lineup & tickets, Tim Minchin too"

Laugh with the stars at Comedy Central's Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert for Autism Education on Saturday, October 2 at the Beacon Theatre.

Hosted by Jon Stewart, the evening will feature Lewis Black, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Joel McHale, John Oliver, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and too many more scheduled to appear!

Proceeds benefit autism education and family service programs across the country in support of the overabundance of autistic individuals that so desperately need quality services.

American Express® cardmembers can purchase advance tickets, Thursday, July 29 from 10AM - Sunday, August 1 at 10PM before they go on sale to the general public on Monday, August 2 at 9AM.

A great lineup for a great cause.

Much sooner: Tearing The Veil of Maya, the sometimes-weekly show that mostly happens at Union Hall is turning four and celebrating at Union Hall's sister venue The Bell House. The Four Year Anniversary Show will feature Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Leo Allen, AD Miles, Wyatt Cenac "and friends!" Maybe Michael Showalter will be there too? That's at the Bell House on August 1st and tickets are on sale (note: "This show will be mixed seated/standing - please come early for the best seats.")

And speaking of weekly comedy shows happening in bigger, near-by venues, The Cameo's "Big Terrific" is happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg on August 27th. Hosts Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate (SNL) and Max Silvestri promise "Many Special Guests". Tickets are on sale.

Continue reading "comedians fighting autism @ Beacon Theatre, Tearing the Veil of Maya turning four, Big Terrific getting bigger"

Phosphorescent @ the Bell House in 2009 (more by Ryan Barkan)

tonight in NYC
* It is It @ Pianos
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Ratt @ Irving Plaza
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Mike Birbiglia @ Union Hall
* Ricky Gervais @ Hunter College
* Phosphorescent @ Other Music
* Aqualung, Krista Polvere @ City Winery
* Magnetic Fields movie @ the Bell House
* Ane Brun, Olof Arnalds @ Bowery Ballroom
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* The Joy Formidable & She Keeps Bees @ Mercury Lounge
* Crash Ensemble plays Donnacha Dennehy, David Lang and Terry Riley @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Silya, Debbie Miller, Sam Bisbee, The Last 55s, Jim Campilongo Electric Trio @ The Living Room

Phosphorescent is at Other Music tonight and play Union Pool tomorrow.

The Joy Formidable play Mercury Lounge tonight, and you can catch them live on the Internet at noon.

Craig Ferguson is playing Carnegie Hall on October 23rd at 2pm (on sale today at 11am) and 7pm (already on sale).

Local Natives made their late night television debut on Craig Ferguson the other day. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Ricky Gervais is performing two shows at NYC's Theater at Madison Square Garden (May 12-13) before heading west to play two shows at Nokia Theatre LA (May 15-16). Tickets go on sale at 10am.

And for your grown up little sister: New Kids on the Block are playing Radio City. Tickets go on presale at 10am.

Patton Oswalt & Conan O'Brien

"The late-night nightmare is almost over. Conan O'Brien is leaving NBC and receiving a payout--and he'll be free to appear on another network before his contract expires, Kim Masters reports.

The NBC-Leno-Conan war is close to ending, according to a knowledgeable source. According to the outlines of a settlement, Conan O'Brien will leave NBC and the network will make an as-yet unspecified payment. The comedian will be free to appear elsewhere on television well before his contract expires, despite earlier threats from NBC that it would prevent him from working anywhere else.

There is still opportunity for the negotiation to fall apart, but clearly, at this point it is in NBC's interest to put an end to this dismal episode." [The Daily Beast] (via Gawker)

Patton Oswalt, Aziz Ansari, and Ricky Gervais all recently appeared on Conan. Videos below...

Continue reading "Patton Oswalt & Ricky Gervais appeared on Conan O'Brien who reportedly is really leaving NBC "

The B-52's @ Hammerstein Ballroom - Halloween 2008 (photo by Faith-Ann Young)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Xtreme @ Highbridge Park
* Marc Ribot @ Hudson Square
* Mugison @ Pete's Candy Store
* Regina Spektor @ Barnes & Noble
* B-52s @ Beach at Governors Island
* DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock @ Red Hook Park
* Steve Ruel Quartet w/ Tyshawn Sorey @ The Stone
* The Breeders, Whispertown 2000 @ Bowery Ballroom
* Lemonade, Cale Parks, Dinowalrus, Teengirl Fantasy @ Santos Party House
* Ambulance Ltd., The Picture, Savoir Adore, Melati Malay @ Mercury Lounge
* June Madrona, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, Little Gold, Fall Harbor @ Cake Shop
* Love & Rockets tribute release show w/ Frankenstein 3000, David Johansen, more @ Ben Sherman Store

Free outdoor music tonight includes a DJ battle of DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock hosted by Danny Castro of Lyricist Lounge at Red Hook Park and Xtreme plays Highbridge Park.

City Winery presents a rain date for Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog with special guest Eszter Balint at the final show of its free, outdoor Hudson Square series.

De La Soul was supposed to play at Ortley Surf Club in NJ tonight, but apparently it's been cancelled.

Regina Spektor plays a free show at Barnes & Noble Union Square. She plays Radio City on October 14th.

The Ben Sherman Store in Soho (95 Spring St) hosts the release party for New Tales To Tell: A Tribute To Love And Rockets, out today, with music from Frankenstein 3000, Earl Slick, Dennis Dunaway and David Johansen. The party starts at 8.00pm. Video of VEX covering Love and Rockets' "It Could Be Sunshine", below...

The B-52s play the Beach at Governors Island. First person to email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: B52s) gets a free pair of tickets. Include your first and last name.

The Breeders kick off two nights at the Bowery Ballroom. Whispertown 2000 opens.

Lemonade and Cale Parks launch their tour together at Santos with Dinowalrus and Teengirl Fantasy.

Ambulance Ltd., The Picture, Savoir Adore and Melati Malay play Mercury Lounge. Last night was at Union Hall.

Mugison is playing a free show in every NYC borough today. SI and Queens were earlier today, but you can still catch him at Bronx River Art Center (5pm), City Winery (8pm) and Pete's Candy Store (11pm). Why?

...to create awareness and support for the pioneering worldwide human rights advocacy group. In association with local art and music collectives, Mugison will play one free concert in each of New York's five boroughs in one day, August 18th. A limited edition event poster will be offered at the shows and proceeds will benefit Amnesty International.

The Stone's August curator, drummer Tyshawn Sorey, returns to the venue tonight after a stint in Europe. He joins saxist Steve Ruel (who also plays with the Stone's early set) in a quartet.

Ricky Gervais reps the NY Comedy Festival, which presents him at Carnegie Hall in November, in a video below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

by Klaus Kinski

Patton Oswalt, Johnny Depp, & Tim Burton @ Comic Con - july 23, 2009 (Anime Nut)

"Some of the 3-D effects aren't going to look absolutely perfect," said Patton Oswalt, the comedian and voice actor who moderated a presentation of Disney's forthcoming "A Christmas Carol," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Tron: Legacy." Mr. Oswalt asked attendees not to blog about effects being "quite subpar." [NY Times]

The New York Comedy Festival isn't until November 4 - 8, but with the line-up just announced, Carnegie Hall tix available now, and ticket presales (and some on sales) starting on August 12, the time to mention it is NOW. This is the 6th installment of the festival and unlike NYC music festivals such as CMJ or Northside (festivals where you can wander the city for days on end catching hundreds of bands), the focus here is on having a few large-scale shows over the course of a few evenings. NYC is a place where you can catch cheap or free comedy with big name talent almost every evening, but sometimes it's nice to venture out of the back rooms, basements, and comedy clubs and see one or two of your faves at a fancy pants venue. The full schedule is below, but for me some of the better highlights include:

• 11/4 - Stand Up For Heroes - a special benefit presented by NYCF and the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Town Hall
• 11/5 - Ricky Gervais - Carnegie Hall - ON SALE NOW
• 11/5 - Mike Birbiglia - Town Hall - Presale 8/12, On Sale 8/17
• 11/6 - Tracy Morgan - Carnegie Hall - ON SALE NOW
• 11/7 - Patton Oswalt - Town Hall - Presale 8/12, On Sale 8/17

Full schedule (Andy Samberg included) and ticket info below...

Continue reading "New York Comedy Festival - 2009 dates, lineup & ticket info "

by Klaus Kinski (of Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon)

Two films I've been dying to see quickly made their way in and out of our fair city this past June. Being an idiot that cannot seem to prioritize anything, I missed them both. The films I speak of are Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt and Visioneers starring Zach Galifianakis. You may recall from previous articles that Zach and Patton are among my favorite comedians of all time; thus the eagerness to see these films and the anguish at missing them. Big Fan is the directorial debut of Robert Siegel, the man wrote The Wrestler, a film that featured comedian Todd Barry (another favorite). In Big Fan, Patton plays the role of Paul.

Paul is a 35-year-old toll booth operator from Staten Island who lives and dies by his New York Giants. When he has a chance encounter with Giants linebacker Quantrell Bishop, however, things go horribly wrong and a brutal beating at the hands of his idol tests Paul's allegiance to the team. Comedian Patton Oswalt delivers a heartbreaking, layered performance in this pitch-black comedy that reveals the disturbing side of obsessive fandom.

Thankfully, word is out that Big Fan will begin showing in theaters in New York and Philadelphia August 28th, Los Angeles, D.C, Dallas and Houston theatres September 11th and then expanding! In the meantime, visit the official website for trailers and whatnot. And definitely check out Patton's diaries from when Big Fan played at Sundance back in January. Trailer below.

Having seen the trailer last year, I feel like Visioneers has been on my radar for a really long time. It definitely looks to be a somber, Orwellian, supremely dark comedy. The film, directed by Jared Drake, stars Galifianakis as George Washington Winsterhammerman.

George lives a comfortable yet completely uneventful life, and when he starts having dreams in which he's the first President of the United States, his doctor informs him that they could be signs of impending explosion. Later, as the dreams become more frequent and his co-workers continue to detonate, George is prompted to reevaluate his mundane existence.

It looks like that June 3 screening at the 92Y Tribeca may have been my only opportunity to see it theatrically; it comes out on DVD July 21st (using Zach's role in The Hangover to reach a broader audience) and there only seems to be independently organized screening parties scattered across the US. Trailer below.

Zach did a split 7" with Ted Leo a while back, available only via Chunklet.com and only available if you purchased another item from the Chunklet store. Now you no longer need to buy a second item in order to purchase the record. This extremely limited edition 7" is only $5 and is available on four different types of wax. Get 'em while they're hot!.

In Other News........

Continue reading "comedy news: Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Gervais, M Showalter, ATP & more (by Klaus Kinski)"

The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) and the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) unite to present the second annual Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Town Hall in New York City at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 5. Regis Philbin will host Stand Up for Heroes, which will feature star performances by Ricky Gervais, John Pinette, Bruce Springsteen, and Patti Scialfa. Both Whoopi Goldberg and James Niven of Sotheby's will make a special appearance as the guest auctioneers. In honor of the United States' injured service members, the evening promises unforgettable performances, laughter, and sincere gratitude, with proceeds going to the BWF.

Tickets are on sale (soon?) at Ticketmaster.

Bruce is also performing at Obama-related events at Hammerstein Ballroom and in Philly. Ricky Gervais is in the new movie Ghost Town.

words by Klaus Kinski, photos by Shawn Brackbill

Right off the bat, I want to bring something to your attention that's been making it's way around the internet recently. Back in June, comedian Patton Oswalt delivered a graduation speech at his old high school. Anyone familiar with Patton's comedy, his blogs, and his interests in life will realize rather quickly that, in addition to being one of the funniest people alive, Patton is a sharp, thoughtful individual. Anyhow, read the damn speech.

Another one of my favorite comedians is putting out an album. LA-based comedian Doug Benson will unleash his debut CD DOUG BENSON: PROFESSIONAL HUMOREDIAN on July 15th via AST Records.

Whether you know him from VH1's "Best Week Ever," NBC's "Last Comic Standing" or his documentary "Super High Me," chances are Doug Benson has made you laugh before. Now he will make you laugh again, repeatedly, with his first full-length solo comedy album, "Doug Benson: Professional Humoredian." Recorded live at the world-famous Hollywood Improv, "Professional Humoredian" catches Doug at his loosest, silliest and most hilarious. Playing to a rowdy sold-out house on 4/20, Doug tears through his set with wild abandon, delivering material on such wide-ranging topics as movies, politics, relationships, anti-drug campaigns and the miracle of modern science known as McGriddles. A perennial favorite among comedy aficionados, Doug placed sixth on Season Five of "Last Comic Standing" and was named "Stoner of the Year" by High Times Magazine in 2006. Patton Oswalt calls him "prolific ... a resin-scented miracle." One listen and you'll understand why Doug has won such acclaim: witty, charming, relentless and irrepressible, Doug Benson is a Professional Humoredian.

This CD is only 10 bucks and will be worth every penny. If you aren't familiar with Doug, I HIGHLY suggest attending The Doug Benson Interruption on August 7th at 9:30pm at the UCB Theater. The Interruption is for me the funnest, loosest comedy event on the planet. These shows ALWAYS sell out and feature line-ups so majestic and stupefying that many comedy fans fall to their knees and weep. Maybe you'll be able to buy the CD at the show.

As I write this, tickets are still available for all three Ricky Gervais shows happening at the WaMu Theater at MSG on July 14, 15, and 16. And I couldn't be more excited that Todd Barry will be the opener for the 15th and 16th shows. Todd had no problem winning over the sold out crowds at the Flight of the Conchords shows at Town Hall in May so I look forward to his domination of WaMu.

Speaking of Todd Barry, he and several other comedians were part of Sub Pop's 20th Anniversary Festival. The comedy portion of the Festival took place on Friday, July 11th The Moore Theatre and featured David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Kristen Schaal, and Eugene Mirman. I so with I was there. That's where the pictures in this post came from.

More pictures, news, vidoes and upcoming shows, below...

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon & comedy pics from SP20"

Reggie Watts @ Sasquatch - May 25, 2008 (photo by Chris Graham)

The geniuses from Yacht Rock are making another NYC appearance this Saturday, May 31st at the recently vindicated Union Hall for a night of videos (the entire series, mind you), personal appearances, and smooth drinks. Tickets are still on sale but they're Sailing Away, Minute By Minute, but I'm Alright. even though it could TOTOly sell out.

You may recall that British Comedian Ricky Gervais has a handful of upcoming US dates including THREE at the WAMU Theater in July (and even some warm-up dates in LA just prior. I saw him last year and had a blast. Tickets for these shows are still on sale AND we've got some tickets to giveaway at the end of the post.

much more...

Continue reading "Klaus Kinski's Comedy Canon (05/29/08)"

Two in NYC.
One in LA.
Tickets are on sale.

I didn't go, but someone told me that (unlike at the Arcade Fire show) David Bowie introduced comedian Ricky Gervais at his High Line show Saturday night at the whamu theater by singing a song. I don't have a picture, so instead - here are some pictures taken by caural of David and TV on the Radio (and Ricky?) backstage at Deerhoof's High Line show at the Fillmore-Irving Plaza Thursday night (May 17, 2007)....

New Yorkers have probably seen this Time Out cover by now....

Here is what's inside....
* David Bowie interviews Laurie Anderson
* David Bowie interviews Ricky Gervais
* David Bowie talks about Spanish movies
* Pictures and everything else

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The High Line Festival kicks off with The Arcade Fire & The National (& hopefully a special guest) at Radio City Music Hall this Wednesday. TV on the Radio still not added to High Line Festival website.

Tickets on sale at noon for more Ricky Gervais shows.