Your definitive list of ‘Arrested Development’ lists

The anticipated return of the cult TV series Arrested Development has hit a fever pitch. Aside from everyone in the cast coming to your house and acting out every scene in the series out in your living room, I doubt there’s any way things could get any higher. With that being said, it seems everyone everywhere is putting together a list of something from the show. Hell yesterday in a 24 hour period alone the same website posted 3 AD lists. So rather than make a list ourselves (or perhaps in the spirit of the show itself) we figured we’d give you a Definitive List of Arrested Development Lists. Read the rest of this entry

Pete Holmes, ‘Nice Try, The Devil’ (review)

Pete Holmes - Nice Try, The Devil Pete Holmes has just graced us all with another rip-roarin’ ride to friendly guy town. Nice Try, The Devil hit the shelves today and it does not disappoint, especially if you were a fan of his 2011 debut album, Impregnated With Wonder a record that took us by surprise in how enthusiastically terrific it was. With that in mind NT,TD needs to hit high marks, and with all confidence it overwhelmingly does. Recorded live at Austin’s Moody Theater ol’ Petey Pants talks about his recent visit to Atlanta, his fascination with Breast Milk, his hatred toward his past girlfriend’s friends, cats and dogs, being gay for Ryan Gosling, religion, the fan-favorite “PIIEEEERRCCEE!!”, and the newly added “JUAN!”

Holmes has a great time on stage and that’s obvious. He comes out laughing only to sing the theme from The Lion King about twenty seconds later. Then he gets right in to talking about Austin, TX and his mother who mistakenly refers to the singer Celine Dion (her “favorite recording artist”) as “Salon Dijon.” Read the rest of this entry

The many talents of Rachel Feinstein (interview)

Rachel Feinstein rose up the national comedy ranks as a finalist on Season 7 of Last Comic Standing. From there she’s written for The Onion, voiced characters on Adult Swim’s Venture Brothers, released a stand-up album, Thug Tears, and toured the world.

We recently had the opportunity to speak wit her about her experience on a reality show, her work cranking out web series, and her recent Showtime special with Amy Schumer and Nikki Glaser, and how she was almost featured in Vogue Magazine when they confused her with another Rachel Feinstein.

To begin, what was it like moving to New York at 17 to pursue stand-up?

 I was a silly person. I moved here with a guy and his band. I did some theater. I cried a lot and I wore these ridiculous looking overalls every day until someone heckled me and called me “Super Mario Brothers.”

 I worked at some store called “Fat Shoes and Clothes” on Broadway for a little while. Here’s how dumb I was at the time; I thought that I had arrived in some way because I got this job on Broadway. I thought it was big stuff and I told everyone that would listen. I showed up for my first day and I played the Beastie Boys on the way over and was really feline’ myself. I was fired in under 4 hours because I couldn’t fold. I cried while my boss Sharif was firing me. Tears were rolling out but he was right. I had a terrible folding system. My folds looked all mangled and deranged and my hands would shake while I was doing it because I knew they were rancid. Sharif noticed. I saw him looking real grossed out in my direction and I knew it was coming. Read the rest of this entry

Center Stage: Joseph Vecsey

I was able to talk with Joseph Vecsey, an up and coming comic in the New York scene. Vecsey was a great guy that discussed his past and how he got to where he is today. Joe has opened for Godfrey, Donnell Rawlings, Jim Breuer, Susie Essman, and hosts The All Star Comedy Showcase at the Bay Street Theatre every year. This year’s event is June 17th and includes Kenny Garcia, Vic Henley, Chris Clarke, and Mark Riccadonna. Joe is definitely a busy guy who seems to have at least one hand in everything, but always gets the job done.

Born and raised in New York City, Vecsey got his start by teaching himself how to write feature length movie scripts in high school. Vecsey continued to sharpen his writing skills through college when some of his friends began to try their luck in stand up comedy. “My second or third year in college, a friend said maybe he wanted to start doing stand up or was thinking about it. I said ‘I’ll write some jokes for you.’ I didn’t want to do it. So I wrote a bunch of jokes and he was like ‘alright, you should do it too.’ I really didn’t want to but I went to an open mic, New York Comedy Club, there was like ten people. I was sh*tting my pants, scared to death. So I went up and I did well and I was hooked from that day.” Vecsey said of his comedic beginnings. Read the rest of this entry

Ben Affleck hosted Saturday Night Live: “It’s been alright, I’ve had a lovely night with you”

Ben Affleck - SNL Ben Affleck was saddled with a big responsibility as the host of the final episode of Saturday Night Live season 38. Though it was his night to be officially inducted into the Five Timers club, there wasn’t much hoopla made about it. In fact, other members didn’t show up for the introduction like they did for Justin Timberlake a few months back. Rather a great Bobby Moynihan and Affleck’s terrific wife were on hand to celebrate the evening. The reason there wasn’t much made about Affleck was because the night belonged to Bill Hader and Seth Meyers, both of which have officially decided that Season 38 would be their last as part of SNL. Also, without it being said, it was a set up for Fred Armisen’s swang song as well.

Affleck is hot off winning a best picture Oscar for the movie Argo and has really grown into his own as a director, it was perhaps this newfound skillset that has allowed him to realize what is needed and where, allowing for him to be well aware of the fact that it wasn’t necessarily his night and happily took a backseat to the other big moments unfolding. In the end he helped put out an enjoyable show that was funny, a celebration, at times sad, and complete 180 from last week’s surprisingly bad Kristen Wiig hosting turn.

Top off the booking of Kanye West as the musical guest just a few weeks before he drops his 6th studio album Yeezus this June, the night couldn’t have much more anticipation and thankfully enough it delivered on all points. Writers, cast,Affleck and West all brought their ‘A’ game, and we got ourselves one of the best episodes of the season.

Since Bill Hader is the consummate utility man, he would no doubt be put in situations where he could show off one last time. While it will hopefully not be the cavalcade of annoying returning charracters we saw last week, we’d most definitely see some of his favorites like Herb Welch and without a doubt, there was no way we would not get a sendoff for Hader’s most popular character Stefon. Fun fact for you, while Stefon did make his debut as the city nightlife correspondent on Weekend Update in 2010, his SNL debut was in a random and somewhat forgettable sketch in 2008 alongside that night’s host… Ben Affleck! Read the rest of this entry

2013-2014 TV watch: NBC’s greenlights, renewals, and cancellations

In advance of the upcoming television upfronts and the ending of the 2012-2013 television season, many networks are in the middle of confirming pilots, cancelling shows, and renewing others. Rather than you sifting through all the noise, we’re going to come up with some cheat sheets to what’s happening to your favorite, and non-favorite comedy on television. Let’s break down each TV network for you. Check out the new comedies that might catch your eye, your favorite shows that are returning, and the ones cancelled to be forever gone into dark TV abyss.

Here’s what’s going on with NBC. Read the rest of this entry