Quantcast
 

Your browser (Internet Explorer 7 or lower) is out of date. It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites. Learn how to update your browser.

X

    • Louis C.K. tells Grantland why he shoots and edits his own show, structures his business plan

    If you’ve ever wondered why many people look at Louis C.K. as a flagpole for how to run a comedy career these days, this clip from his lengthy interview with Bill Simmons for Grantland’s podcast sheds some light on the process. C.K. reveals that he’s learned to operate in the realm of business that makes both himself and those writing the checks comfortable. From ticket prices vs. guarantee with venues to how he can cheaply make his critically acclaimed show Louie without really worrying the execs at FX in return for creative control.

    I could watch clips of interesting people talking about interesting things like this all day.

    Vernon Chatman talks ‘Mindsploitation’ and the fine art of messing with people

    Vernon Chatman - Photo: Aaron FarleyVernon Chatman is best known as the co-creator of the of the short-lived wonderfully bizarre comedy series Wonder Showzen on MTV and the recently pick-up-for-season-2 hopefully not short-lived wonderfully bizarre Patton Oswalt series on [adult swim] The Heart, She Holler. He’s also a staff writer on South Park and a Producer on the third season of Louie.

    He also wrote a book. Entitled Mindsploitation: Asinine Assignments for the Online Homework Cheating Industry, it’s a compilation of essays he commissioned from a series of online companies you can pay to write various term papers, poems and even eulogies. We recently spoke with Mr. Chatman via email about the book and if the answers to his questions are any indication, you’re in for a “wild ride.” Read More

    Louis C.K. and David Letterman watched that scene from “Louie” together

    I feel every time Louis C.K. is on a talk show it’s worth talking about. Not because everything Louis does is amazing or anything, just because something funny always ends up happening. The other night when Louis dropped by the Ed Sullivan Theatre to talk to David Letterman about his new stand-up special Oh My God, it was interesting because a large portion of the most recent season of Louie revolved around C.K. as a potential replacement host of the late night show. Did Letterman know it was happening? Did he see it? What did he think of Louie cursing him out in the show’s final scene? Something tells me in true David Letterman fashion he wouldn’t really give a damn. Read More

    Louis C.K., Lorne Michaels, and D.L. Hughley are Peabody Award winners

    Lorne MichaelsThis year’s Peabody Award winners were just announced and some comedy heavy hitters were amongst those selected. It includes Louis C.K., Lena Dunham, and D.L. Hughley. Must be something about initials in your name.

    If you aren’t familiar, the Peabody Awards honor excellence in electronic media so everything such as TV shows, documentaries, radio shows and websites can be honored. If you think about it, they probably best represent modern media.

    While I will not bore you with the list of everyone covering tragedy overseas or Hurricane Sandy the list of comedy award winners are C.K.’s critically acclaimed Louie as a “serrated, boundary-testing take on being a single, showbiz dad.” In addition Hughley’s, mock documentary, The Endangered List in which he tries to get the black man on an EPA protection list. Lena Dunham’s Girls was also honored about the, “young and the feckless in New York.”

    They also doled out a rare award individual award to Lorne Michaels whose been the creator/executive producer of Saturday Night Live and after 38 seasons on the air it’s still a tentpole for “discovering new comedic talent, incubating ideas, and nurturing careers.”

    Hanging out with Robert Kelly as he visits the Marvel Comics offices

    Robert Kelly - Thor's Hammer

    We often find ourselves in fun situations where we can offer a behind-the-scenes look at what comedians are up to and what they’re doing. With that in mind, we recently got the chance to spend an afternoon with comedian Robert Kelly. Last week Robert was invited over to the Marvel Comics offices in New York City to take a tour of the place and meet some of the staff. Read More

    It looks like FX will launch it’s own comedy channel

    FXFX, the channel we know and love for delivering us edgy and off beat comedy such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and I don’t know, Anger Management, the point here is they have a lot of great comedies on their channel.

    According to a story that first ran in Broadcasting and Cable, FX is expected to split its network into two stations. First is FX which will continue to carry all it’s popular dramas like Sons Of Anarchy and Justified. The second is tentatively titled FXX and will be a comedy-centric channel that will target millenials and feature the chunk of network’s comedy programming that I mentioned above. The goal is to expand the network’s cable footprint and we’d logically imagine become a competitor to other comedy channels like Comedy Central and TBS. Read More

    The 2012 AFI Awards honor 4 comedies in television and movies

    AFIEvery year, the AFI Awards pick the best 10 movies and TV shows and honors them. The list for 2012 was just released. How did comedies do you ask? In the movie category not good. Out of the 10 picks only one comedy made the cut and that’s Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and the argument could be made that is not a full comedy.

    So our hope lies in the television category where comedy fared better.

    Freshman comedy Girls received a nod for it’s work exposing the world to the writing talent that is Lena Dunham. Though the reviews ranged from dull to stellar amongst critics, the show’s first season managed to pull out some really great moments in it’s first season. I also would not be surprised if this becomes one of those shows that just gets nominated for things.

    Joining Girls in the nomination department is Louie which, hell, what can be said more about the show that hasn’t already been said? Louis C.K. can’t do much wrong at this point in his career and there’s good reason, he’s consistently good.

    The last nomination is the ABC sitcom Modern Family which not only has the distinction of being the only sitcom from the big 4 networks on the list but it’s also one that’s pulls in the best ratings. Is it the best comedy on this list? That’s debatable. It’s also what the comments section is for. What comedies would you put on your list?

    Close