Comedy News

THE WORST BEST THING

2010-02-24T22:08:49Z

My last post tried to explain why our bookings sometimes aren’t announced until maddeningly close to the date in question. Right after I wrote it, I was reminded there is an even worse circumstance that arises which is also based on the hope for an ultimately great booking. It’s when a customer comes to the door with tickets that have been purchased in advance for an act they now find is not going to be there.

]]> That happens rarely but when Mo Mandel was not present for his advertised Friday, February 12 appearance. Comedy fan Jay Fields let us have it in a strongly worded email demanding a refund. It’s easy to understand how upsetting the situation was to Jay. All things considered, his tone was admirably civil.

The thing of it is though, Mo had to cancel just the day before (and we had to understand and perhaps even were expected to support his decision as it was going to cost him money) because his agent had just told Mo he was in the running for a cast member role on a new TV series that was going to star Tim Allen.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime for me,” Mo explained, “I would be one of his kids. The producers like me but they need to see my chemistry with the guy they like for playing my brother. We have to do a kind of a Lenny and George reading for them.”

Today Ron Reid forwarded a blurb he read in a trade newsletter: “Jere Burns will star in Fox’s comedy, Strange Brew, along with newly added Aya Cash, Skylar Astin and Mo Mandel.”

Holy shit, he got it! I called Mo and, perhaps for the last time, he personally returned my call and quickly rattled off, “I’m going to be playing a 22-year-old. Tim Allen is out. It's about a dysfunctional family with major problems that revolve around their running a family brewery in Colorado (no not Coors) that has fallen on hard times since the death of its founder.”

Break a leg, Mo. Don't forget who let you out of that gig so it could all happen. Hope we can get your back at the end of the first season.

Oh and if anyone is wondering whether Mo will be the Lenny or the George character, “I went in going to be the smart brother and came out being the dumb one.” If that doesn’t answer your question, Google Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.”

Valentines Day Show in Kirkland

2010-02-13T17:22:36Z

The Comedy Underground presents... Love is a Laugh with Susan Rice.

]]> Funny, Familiar and Female! What’s not to like?

For over 26 years Susan Rice has been sharing her quirky sense of humor with audiences young and old! She is; funny and familiar and that combination has proven to be an advantages mix for this veteran comedienne. She is never a stranger. Rice is the kind of comic that brings everyone back to that one beloved relative that maybe was the “black sheep” of the family. The auntie who let you stay up to watch something a little too violent or more than PG rated.

Raised in the Pacific Northwest Rice still resides in Portland but lived and worked in Los Angeles for over 13 years. She has performed all over the US and Canada and has been seen on Comedy Central, Showtime and was a featured performer at the HBO’s Comedy Festival at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Without a doubt Rice knows her craft. She has performed with some of the greats; Jerry Seinfeld, Paula Poundstone, Norm Crosby, Tim Allen, She has done all the comedy shows of the 90”s A& E’s Evening at the Improv, Showtime’s Comedy on the Road Allstars,

Susan Rice will show her audience that age means only helps where humor is concerned. She has the chops and she can provide a side dish as well.

Tickets are $29.00 for adults, $25.00 for seniors and youths. The show time is 8:00 PM. This show is an all-ages event. However, comedy is an expressive art form and shows may contain adult language and content.

BUY TICKETS NOW

Kirkland Performance Center
350 Kirkland Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033
(425) 893-9900
www.kpcenter.org

Sean Kent at the Auburn Ave

2010-01-05T07:24:38Z

2009 Seattle Comedy Competition winner Sean Kent will be headlining a show at the Auburn Ave Theater on January 22, 2010.

]]> Sean rounds out the bill including two other stand up comedians keep you laughing all night long.

Comedy at The Ave is not recommended for children under 18 years.

TICKETS: $17/$15 college students. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Mon-Fri, 8a-5p, or Online at Brown Paper Tickets

For more information, visit: http://www.auburnwa.gov/Community/arts_entertainment/auburnave.asp.

Auburn Ave Theater
10 Auburn Ave
Auburn, WA 98002
(253) 931-3043
www.auburnwa.gov/community/arts_entertainment/auburnave.asp
GET DIRECTIONS
BUY TICKETS NOW

CD Taping with Simon King

2010-01-04T07:44:58Z

Simon King returns to the Comedy Underground to tape a CD.

]]> Simon King was a standout performer in the 2004 Seattle International Comedy Competition. We are very excited he chose to come back to the Comedy Underground to tape his CD.

Simon King is an exceptional and truly unique stand up comedian. His high energy, dynamic, intelligent and often edgy comedy style makes him one of a kind in the stand up comedy world. His explosive performance, an arsenal of dead on impressions, characters and impossible sound effects coupled with an ability to switch between polished material and improvisation at break neck speed always leaves audiences in awe and demanding more.

Simon King will be performing at the Seattle Comedy Underground January 14-16, 2010. For more information visit http://comedyunderground.com/seattlecalendar/view_entry.php?id=1462&date=20100115

Moshe Kasher: Best New Comic on iTunes

2010-01-04T07:34:26Z

The Comedy Underground is proud to announce that Moshe Kasher, one of our upcoming headliners was announced as, "iTunes Rewind 2009: best new comic!"

]]> He has had break out performances at the Montreal Comedy Festival and recently on Live at Gotham. He's also in Boomtime with Alex Koll and Brent Weinbach.

Moshe Kasher played the Seattle Comedy Underground with Alex Koll on January 28-30, 2010.

For more information, visit http://comedyunderground.com/seattlecalendar/view_entry.php?id=1488&date=20100129.

HASTE MAKES WASTE

2010-01-03T06:12:03Z

I’m often criticized for waiting until the last minute to book performers. I say there’s a method to my madness in that delaying until the 11th hour provides an opportunity to get national talk show publicity when a performer calls and says, “I just got ‘Letterman’ and I need a date out of town that Dave can plug.” Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

]]> So it was with great relief last August when I heard from our esteemed club manager Ron Reid that someone named Hannibal Buress was about to do “Jimmy Fallon” and was offering to get us a plug if we booked him. Ron assured me that Hannibal was brilliant but, hey, I’ve heard that before. Ron is a former comic and it sometimes seems he thinks that just about every act (other than those I actually book) is a comedy genius.

It turned out to be true though. Hannibal (now there’s a name that doesn’t take an elephant to remember) killed on TV and attendance at the club benefited when he flew into Seattle directly from the taping. Now it turns out we weren’t the only ones who were rewarded. Hannibal has been hired by “Saturday Night Live” as a writer after being seen making that very same “Fallon”appearance. Anyone who caught that hilarious golf skit with Charles Barkley on SNL last month; that was Hannibal’s work you were watching.

Laugh it up New Years Eve

2009-12-14T01:09:41Z

Thursday, December 31st

Bremerton, Seattle, Kirkland, Everett, Tacoma

Comedy Underground brings you a New Year's Eve Comedy Spectacular!

No matter where you are in the Puget Sound region, you can see the New Year in with a laugh (and see the old one out with a boot to the booty – good riddance!).

We're presenting Winners of the Seattle International Comedy Competition and a finalist from Last Comic Standing - 2009 Seattle Comedy Competition Winner Sean Kent in Everett, 2008 Winner Tommy Savitt in Bremerton, 1989 Winner Matt Weinhold in Kirkland, “Last Comic Standing” star Kristin Key in Seattle, and Comedy Competition winner Harrold Gomez in Tacoma.

New Years Eve Shows

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New Years Eve Shows

Sean Kent
Historic Everett Theatre
Kristen Key
Comedy Underground Seattle
Tommy Savitt
Admiral Theatre
Bremerton
Matt Weinhold
Kirkland Performance Center
Harrold Gomez
Comedy Underground Tacoma

Seattle and Tacoma Comedy Underground shows are 21+. Theater shows are all-ages, but will contain adult language and content and are not suitable for children.

30th Annual Seattle Comedy Competition!

2009-11-17T05:11:39Z

The 30th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition finished up at the Moore Theatre on Sunday November 29 - winner Sean Kent snagged the "big check" for $5000 cash and a recording contract with Uproar Entertainment that includes a $1000 advance.

2. Paul Hooper 3. Travis Simmons 4. Jose Sarduy 5. Rodger Lizaola

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Scuttlebutt: The beat goes on.

2009-10-23T04:59:01Z

It's been just over a year since we reopened on Occidental Park. It was a daunting challenge to recreate an atmosphere similar to that enjoyed for 27 wonderful years at 222 South Main but to a great extent and with all due modesty, I'd say we’ve pulled it off.

]]> Equally challenging has been the need to tinker with our talent bookings a bit. We’ve gone from primarily presenting veteran acts with appeal to nostalgic customers' fond memories to a more contemporary approach for today’s comedy fans.

Don Friesen, who straddes both our past and present, recent engagement coincided with the debut of his "Live at Gotham" appearance on Comedy Central. Even Don was a bit surprised that he was chosen for a show that generally presents, as he puts it, "the young, hip and edgy."

“I was somehow able to slip in under the radar, go figure,” Don reflects, “I guess if you’re really funny, they’re willing to look the other way.”

Don will also be appearing in an upcoming Lewis Black Christmas Special on the History Channel. It’s good to see an act that covers such topics as raising kids, house hunting in L.A., cat problems and marriage survival can stand out nonetheless.

“I’m not even angry at my parents,” Don concludes, “At this point in life, I am my parents.”

Go figure.

Upcoming Comedy Central Taping Brings Mo Mandel Back to Seattle for a Tune-Up

2009-10-15T20:56:51Z

One of our favorite up-and-coming headliners, Mo Mandel, will be at the Comedy Underground in Seattle this weekend to feature with David Crowe to prepare for a November 6th Comedy Central taping in New York. It warms the cockles of our heart to think that of all the clubs across the country he could have picked, Mo choose ours.

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His is quite the success story since moving to Hollywood in January of last year. In the short space of time since then, Mo has hosted a VH1 pilot, signed a sitcom development deal with FX, appeared on “Reality Bites” and “Chelsea Lately.” He’s also gotten quite a few parking tickets.

To others who might want to follow in his footsteps, Mo advises, “Start taking acting classes now and learn to write scripts. Being a stand-up in only interesting in Hollywood if you can do other things as well.” If this item has excited anyone enough that they would like to fly to New York for the taping, tickets can be obtained by going to http://www.ocatv.com/shows/show/26/event/6504

Mo Mandel plays the Comedy Underground October 14-17, 2009. Tickets can be purchased from the box office or through www.ticketweb.com.

SEATTLE COMICS INVADE SAN FRANCISCO

2009-10-07T18:29:35Z

Rodger Lizaola (seen sitting below with the four other finalists in this year's 34th Annual San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition) led a charge down south during September by Comedy Underground irregulars who did well in The City's prestigious annual event.

]]> In addition to Rodger making the finals, Kortney Shane Williams (appearing in Tacoma Nov 6) made the semi-finals and Billy Wayne Davis just missed making the semi-finals. All in all, they served notice that the comedy scene in Seattle is a force to be reckoned with.

Further information can be obtained at http://www.sanfranciscocomedycompetition.com.

New Winter Hours at Seattle Comedy Underground

2009-09-28T23:39:07Z

Showtimes at the Seattle Comedy Underground are now 8:00 pm nightly with late shows on Friday and Saturday starting at 10:15 pm.

In addition, our shows Sunday-Thursday are all-ages. Shows on Friday and Saturday are 21 and over.

SF Comedy Competition Finals

2009-09-28T21:06:12Z

The finalists have been announced for the 34th Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition.

]]> This year's finalists were all smiles after being announced at Montbleu Casino in South Lake Tahoe.

Standing left to right are Danny Bevins from Los Angeles, Jarrod Harris from Atlanta, Tom Simmons from Los Angeles and Maureen Langan from New York City. Seated is Rodger Lizaola from Seattle.

The finals begin this Tuesday at the Rockit Room in San Francisco. The winner will be announced on Saturday at Cache Creek Casino.

Further information can be obtained at http://www.sanfranciscocomedycompetition.com

TALK ABOUT CHARM

2009-09-16T20:20:47Z

The producers of "Leverage," the hip new TNT series starring Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton, were looking for an actor to play an Italian Boston cop named Joey Cospito who gets set up in a diamond heist. So of course they picked Seattle's own favorite Mexican-English-German comedian, Vince Valenzuela. The bad news is that he gets the hell beat out of him (Vince still has the bruises to prove it) and shot in the episode. The good news is that he has a couple one-on-one scenes with Hutton. Check out episode eight, "The Ice Man Job," on On Demand or when it reruns.

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COMEDIAN SEARCHING FOR A WIFE, ER, LIFE

2009-09-16T20:13:07Z

Andy Haynes just can’t stay still. He moved from The Emerald City to The Big Apple last summer (fortunately, he returns to feature with Cathy Sorbo here, 9/17-19) and has made three trips to Latin America just this year. “I stay in dodgy hotels, eat well and sit on the beach to avoid jumping off the beautiful bridges in New York. Really, it’s just vacationing but I like to think I’m in danger, so coming home is still appealing.”

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