Article: Five Favorite Moments From Season One of “Todd Margaret”
David Cross’ “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” returns to IFC Jan. 6 at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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Exclusive download: Corporal, featuring Michael Shannon, presents “Glory”
Comedy
Article: Seth Rogen announces Hilarity for Charity
Seth Rogen is using his powers of humor for good in an upcoming benefit to raise money and promote awareness for Alzheimer’s research, and he’s enlisting the help of a few of his famous friends. The “Knocked Up” funnyman and his wife, Lauren Miller, have organized the first annual Hilarity for Charity event in Los…
Article: Our 10 favorite comedy podcasts that you should be downloading
It’s a different world for comedians these days. Once upon a time, you had to pray for a chance to get on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and then hope you were funny enough to get called over to the couch – the sure sign that you’d made it in the business. But there’s…
Article: Louis CK offers up new comedy special for $5 online, bypassing traditional distributors
Back in 2007, Brit rockers Radiohead shook the entertainment world with an unprecedented event. For their new album, In Rainbows, the band would allow fans to name their own price to download the entire compilation, thus bypassing traditional means of distribution such as retail stores, along with the entire notion of a record label. The…
Article: The 10 most underrated comedies of all time
Comedy is the hardest thing to pull off, despite what the Academy Awards would have you believe. If you want proof of that, think of how painful it is to watch an attempt at comedy that isn’t actually funny. If a drama’s not that good, and can still get a cheeky enjoyability by how seriously…
Article: Neal Brennan talks about his influences, writing race-sensitive material and the state of contemporary comedy
Comedians are literally paid to say provocative things, but typically even their most shocking material has been massaged down for maximum digestibility. But after two and a half seasons working on one of the most incisive and incendiary comedy shows in the last decade, “The Chappelle Show,” Neal Brennan is bold even by normal standards…
Article: Patrice O’Neal Twitter reactions: Patton Oswalt, Charlie Sheen, Sarah Silverman and more
As a longstanding member of the comic community with a generally affable demeanor, Patrice O’Neal had many friendships among his peers. From Patton Oswalt and Opie & Anthony to Colin Quinn and Marc Maron, his brothers-in-arms have flooded Twitter with expressions of sadness and love. The outpouring of affection comes from both existing friends of…
Article: Exclusive: Dane Cook reacts to Patrice O’Neal passing – “Truly a force to be reckoned with”
Dane Cook may be a comedy superstar with chart-topping albums and sold-out arena shows, but at the beginning of his career he was simply a young comic starting out in Boston alongside a fellow newcomer named Patrice O’Neal. With the tragic passing today of O’Neal, we asked one of his oldest industry friends for his…
Article: Comedian Patrice O’Neal dead at 41
Comedian Patrice O’Neal passed away on Tuesday at the age of 41. The diabetic funnyman suffered a stroke last month, and succumbed to unspecified complications November 29, according to reports. O’Neal’s agent Matt Frost issued a statement today, saying, “It is with terrible sadness we must report that Patrice O’Neal passed away this morning… due…
Article: David Koechner talks improv, exploiting yourself to build great characters, and comedy by way of poly-sci
When it comes to comedy, there are all sorts of approaches – not to the material, mind you, but the motivation to do it at all. Some performers are idealists, always in search of an elusive, perfect punchline; others enjoy the nuts and bolts of assembling a routine or a joke that functions on one…
Article: Demetri Martin talks about his evolving career, his multiple interests and the science to building a perfect performance
For a comedian with as big a career as his, Demetri Martin has left much to chance. After departing a future as an attorney, Martin found his calling in New York’s stand-up clubs before landing work on “The Conan O’Brien Show” and eventually his own TV series. After that, he took on high-profile roles in…
Article: The 10 most groundbreaking “Saturday Night Live” stars
“Saturday Night Live.” It’s a comedy franchise unparalleled, launching the careers of dozens of legends of the industry. As it heads into its 36th year, there are so many stars of this show that have become comedy staples and heroes to comics everywhere that it’s hard to contain them all in a list. Stalwart geniuses…
Article: Louis C.K. announces plans to broadcast New York City comedy show online
Like pretty much everyone else on the Internet, we love Louis C.K. His FX series “Louie,” this year’s comedy special “Hilarious,” “Pootie Tang,” hell, even his hysterical appearances on “The Opie & Anthony Show” – the guy can do no wrong. Now, you’ll have a chance to watch the comedian do his thing without any…
Article: Aasif Mandvi talks about acting, comedy and Middle Eastern Corresponding
For more than four years, Aasif Mandvi has been a staple of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” as its “Senior Middle East Correspondent,” but if you ask him, he’ll tell you that he doesn’t think of himself as a comedian. Since his adolescent years, Mandvi has worked in a wide variety of theatrical disciplines, with…
Article: Zack Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Larry David and more describe how Will Ferrell touched them
The annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is probably the largest single honor that a comedian can receive, with past winners including Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bill Cosby and last year’s recipient, Tiny Fey. This year the award went to Will Ferrell, and as part of the ceremony this past weekend, the…
Article: Greg Proops talks about balancing improv, stand-up, and tailoring the comedy to the audience
If you don’t know who Greg Proops is, you probably haven’t watched television, listened to the radio, been to a stand-up comedy show, or otherwise been exposed to any form of entertainment in the last 30 years. From “Whose Line is it Anyway?” to “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to “Bob the Builder” to “Star Wars…
Article: “Funny or Die” nabs Bill Clinton and an all-star cast for new video
If you’re anything like us and start your day reading comments on stories linked to by the Drudge Report just to get your bile flowing good and hard, you know that the most vocal parts of the right wing are positive that Hollywood is out to get them through malice, incompetence or a potent blend…
Article: Jasper Redd talks about “Seinfeldian” influences, Southern styling and staying true to stand-up comedy
Comedian Jasper Redd is an intriguing mass of contradictions. If he had his druthers, his entire routine would be all about race, but he counts Jerry Seinfeld’s trivial observations as a major influence. Even though he’s often dressed up in Western attire to celebrate his Tennessee heritage, he’s as savvy about the vagaries of Hollywood…
Article: Harry Shearer discusses his comedy inspirations and why he doesn’t really go to movies anymore
Harry Shearer shouldn’t need any introduction for a well-traveled fan of comedy. Between The Simpsons, Christopher Guest films, the Le Show radio series, his “Saturday Night Live” work and, really, a vast number of other, varied projects, he’s definitely an entertainer who’s been around and seen a lot. Shearer recently took a sidestep away from…
Article: The 10 most innovative stand-up comedy specials of all time (with video)
Stand-up comedy is one of the most beloved art forms there is, and it’s also one of the most difficult to master. For every Louis C.K., there are a hundred Jeff Dunhams. People often make lists of the best comedians of all time, or the best comedy albums, but when it comes to actual comedy…
Article: “Michael Bay in a Can” fake energy drink ad promises to amp up boring filmmakers
Can the world handle any more Michael Bay than it already has? The guys over at Sneaky Zebra certainly think so (though Gizmodo does not). UK-based filmmakers Gary Scullion and Nick Acott have created a hilarious commercial for their new (fake) product, Bay in a Can. As you probably could tell from its name, this…
