Amy Schumer dishes on relationships and previews a new show clip on ‘Conan’

Tonight Amy Schumer’s new TV show Inside Amy Schumer premieres on Comedy Central. So we’ll be seeing a lot of her this week as she makes the rounds to promote her new sketch comedy show, which looks hilarious and judging by the first episode the network put out for streaming online, we’re correct. Last night Amy was the guest on Conan and not only did she dish on her formerly dating a pro-wrestler, she also premiered a new clip from the forthcoming show called “Slap Chef” which is just what I need to help me lose weight. Even more interesting is “Sleep Gym.” Someone show me the sign up sheet for that place because I’m going to fill that thing out hard!

Comedy legend Mel Brooks sits down with Judd Apatow for fan Q&A

The other day, Mel Brooks sat down with director/writer Judd Apatow for an intimate Q&A session with a live audience as part of SiriusXM’s “Town Hall” series.

Featured on the limited-run channel “Mel Brooks Radio,” (which launched this weekend) the session was an interesting, casual look at Brooks’ long-lasting career. The Spaceballs creator discussed his most satisfying production, his argument of being the Quentin Tarantino of his day, and his funniest non-celebrity friend.

On the radio performance, “I grew up listening to the radio, so it holds a special place in my heart. I’m thrilled to be on SiriusXM and only wish I could have listened to ‘Mel Brooks Radio’ when I was a kid, but of course physics got in the way,” said Mel Brooks.

SiriusXM’s “Town Hall” series has featured previous intimate gatherings with iconic entertainment figures like Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Billy Crystal, and Dave Grohl. Read the rest of this entry

Get a first look at the new Paul Rudd film, ‘Prince Avalanche’ (trailer)

Paul Rudd is going back to his indie roots.

Rudd along with critically acclaimed Emile Hirsch will star in a buddy comedy-drama, Prince Avalanche. Written and directed by David Gordon Green (Eastbound and Down, Pineapple Express), Prince Avalanche is a story about a stern character named Alvin and his dopey girlfriend’s brother who leave the city behind to spend the summer in solitude repainting traffic lines down the center of a country highway ravaged by wildfire. Adapted from Icelandic Film Either Way, the film follows the odd pairing and the unlikely friendship that develops through humor and seclusion in the woods.

The cinematography looks amazing on this and the trailer depicts Rudd sporting an awesome Brian Fantana-esque mustache. Another bonus: soundtrack by Explosions in the Sky.

From Magnolia Pictures (District B13, Deadfall), Prince Avalanache hits the big screen August 9th.

Pete Holmes’ new special ‘Nice Try, The Devil’ is coming next month

Pete Holmes - Nice Try, The Devil Stand-up comedian, writer, cartoonist, voice actor and now future talk show host Pete Holmes will premiere his second stand-up special on May 12th on Comedy Central.

Nice Try, The Devil finds Holmes contemplating the rapture, being obsessed with Ryan Gosling, and the loneliness of making his bed. It’s Holmes’ second special behind 2011′s incredibly fun, Impregnated with Wonder. Seriously, check that album out, it made our top 10 list for that year.

For the raunchier version, an extended and uncensored CD/DVD combo will be released On May 14 via Comedy Central Records. DVD bonus features will include Holmes’ Comedy Central Presents special as well as his appearances on John Oliver’s New York Stand Up Show.

You can pre-order the CD/DVD feature over at Amazon. Read the rest of this entry

The Beards of Comedy are going their separate ways

Well this isn’t good news for those in the follicle fight. For after four years as a collective of touring comedians spreading the gospel of the beard, The Beards of Comedy are disbanding. Well, we’re not going to look at it that way rather than dividing so they can multiply their efforts faster.

The quartet featuring Andy Sandford (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Dave Stone (Squidbillies), TJ Young (Comedy Death-Ray) and Joe Zimmerman (Laughing Skull Festival Finalist) drew the curtains on the group in pursuit of new collaborations and individual projects. The Beards part ways on good terms and with fond memories and gratitude for all they’ve managed to accomplish together.

Since forming in Atlanta, GA, The Beards have performed hundreds of shows all across the country, bringing their mix of stand-up, sketch, music, and improv to countless colleges, comedy clubs, music venues, theaters, and festivals. Between frequent appearances on The Bob & Tom Show and SiriusXM radio, the Beards also released two albums (2009’s Comedy for People and 2011’s Cardio Mix), created and released several videos with their most recent being MSN’s web series “Beards Across America,” receiving over a million views and counting. Read the rest of this entry

This week in comedy: With Conan speeches

This weekend was the White House Correspondents Dinner. Here’s Conan’s speech. [The Daily conversation]
And here’s Barrack Obama telling some jokes. [The Daily Conversation]
Remember the 90′s MTV prank show Buzzkill? That show was great and just kinda disappeared, here’s the story. [The Awl]
Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, and Ben Affleck are hosting the last three episodes of Saturday Night Live. [Spltisider]
Possible Dodgeball sequel? [Hollywood Reporter]
The 10 best times SNL cast members cracked up. [Buzzfeed]
Have you read Larry David’s op-ed in the NY Times about terrorism? [The NY Times]
Amy Poehler, 1934 Cosmo girl. [Warming Glow]

Read the rest of this entry

James Adomian in IFC’s new web series ‘Maron in Space’

Maron in Space Comedian James Adomian is a chameleon of sorts. Not only is he hilarious in his own right but he also has a bit of a penchant for imitation- whether that be Huell Howser, Jesse Ventura or when we saw him at SXSW, Louis C.K. tucking Marc Maron into bed at night.

Seems that IFC.com and Funny Or Die are taking advantage of Adomian’s Maron impression to put together a web series, “Maron in Space.” The series portrays, comedian and podcaster, Marc Maron in space. Crazy, huh? Adomian plays Marc Maron, the captain of the Starship Maroner. Captain Maron finds himself in space mapping uncharted planets, commanding his crew (partly made of cats), and fends off an evil enemy ship known as “The Hive.” A special guest will be playing the commander of “The Hive”, a guest that WTF Podcast fans will want to see. This hilarious five-part web series is now available on IFC.com and Funny Or Die and leads up to the debut of Maron, premiering Friday, May 3rd at 10pm ET. Read the rest of this entry

A first listen to Todd Barry’s new podcast

The long-anticipated The Todd Barry Podcast has arrived!

New podcasts from tenured comedians seems to be popping up in the ten folds. For a comedian, the podcast isn’t a requirement but rather another extension (in addition to Twitter and Facebook) for him/her to connect with fans.

Podcast collective Feral Audio (Call Chelsea Peretti, Steve Agee Uhhh…, The Duncan Trussell Family Hours) brings you Episode 1 of The Todd Barry Podcast featuring great story-telling comedian, Tom Shillue. Known for his dry delivery and sarcastic wit, Barry’s podcast doesn’t veer off from the comic’s signature tone.

The 40-minute podcast gives a pretty honest look at the life of a touring comedian. Barry and Shillue discuss headlining vs. supporting, methods of traveling, performing in theaters vs. clubs, opening for Jim Gaffigan and Louis C.K., and the pros and cons of comedy classes. They also talk about Tom Shillue’s highly ambitious concept of releasingone album a month for a year (that’s 12 albums for the arithmetically challenged).

As the podcast ends, Todd Barry tells Shillue, “Let’s pretend like I’m going to keep doing this podcast. I’m gonna do the British model… where I do six episodes and stop.”

And finally he adds, “Do I hit save here in Garage Band?” You can subscribe and check out The Todd Barry Podcast here.