If you are receiving this email, it means you’re either my friend to which I’ve told this new venture and I’ve forced you to hold me accountable, or this is a complete surprise in your inbox and I’ve entered your email without you knowing. It also MAYBE means you’ve asked me at one point for a rec for a stand up special, movie,  podcast, etc. In that case, you’re I’ve taken your inch and ran 10 miles. Thanks for being an enabler.  

Either way, welcome to Kate’s Comedy Almanac! Please hold your applause till the end when you actually know what you’re getting yourself into. 

For the sake of sticking to the script of a free newsletter template, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kate, I’m an aspiring comedy writer in LA bored in her marketing job and looking for an outlet for my comedy obsessions. 

While TikTok, Reels, YouTube and everything in between continue to expand the comedy ‘scene’ further into the digital zeitgeist, I find that IRL comedy (‘in real life,’ if you will) stays fairly word of mouth. Consider these words from my mouth, into a google doc, and henceforth to your inbox. Here, I’ll provide weekly recs of comedy across mediums, talk about shows I see or things I like at the moment, and update you on what’s happening around town* this week.

* Town being the great city of Los Angeles 

NOTE: This is not any kind of review. I am NOT a comedy critic. In fact, I’d call myself the opposite. A complimenter. A supporter. A cheer-on-er. I’m not here to call people out or (semi) publicly shame any comedian or fan of such.

Just here to share what makes me laugh. And maybe it’ll make you laugh, too.

Ok. Now you may applaud.

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BLOG (?)

Whatever you want to call this section.  

Saturday night Meg Stalter and Friends at the Largo was an experience. 

The Largo at Coronet is one of my favorite venues to see shows in LA. With the Little Room bar attached inside the venue, and Roger Room right next door, you can have yourself a great night while staying within a 100 foot radius. The intimate theater holds 280 people and has an elevated stage with wings, lending itself to a wide range of shows from standup to improv to band performances. 

Meg is relentless, unwavering in her confidence and cringe. There’s a difference between a comedian that gets up to tell jokes, and someone like Meg who embodies them. Her onstage persona is addicting; you never want to look away. She cuts to the bone shamelessly in her crowdwork, and had her audience terrified of being called out and simultaneously praying for it. She has what I can only describe as an almost sexual chemistry with the ironic, relentlessly flirting with it and building the tension to the perfectly cringeworthy breaking point. Her guests were Cat Cohen, Pat Regan, and Hannah Pilkes, all stars who each shone in their own sets and during an improv set with Meg. 

Been in love with Meg since the beginning of the pandemic when she unleashed herself on the world, and I will follow this self proclaimed “goofy girl” to infinity and beyond (if you want to see my favorite interview with her, check out Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso). 

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RECENT ROUNDUP:

Some things I like right now.

1. Mike Birbiglia on “Smartless” and his own podcast “Working it Out” : My Superbowl came early this year! Finally hearing him on Smartless was a dream come true, and hearing him interviewing Rosebud Baker on his own podcast?? What a Monday! 

2. Naked in the Rideshare: A modern humorist collection of essays, short stories, scenes, whathaveyou. The writers are Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold, the two youngest writers on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon who were discovered from their viral Yale graduation speech in 2018. 

3. Do yourself a favor and watch Pretend it’s A City on Netflix. Even if you don’t know Fran Lebowitz, she will inspire you to analyze everything in her font of life and consider moving to New York. 

4. Amy Poehler on TikTok. No explanation needed. Just… Thank you, Amy. We needed you here.

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ON DECK THIS WEEK

All the shows I wish I could see this week if neither my bank account nor nature of time existed.

HEAR YE HEAR YE! Kate Berlant opened at the Pasadena Playhouse this week with her new show KATE.  She’ll be here until February 11. If you don’t know Kate, you should. If you want to know Kate, check out Search Party, her Hulu special “Cinnamon in the Wind” from 2022, or her show with aforementioned John Early, “Would It Kill You To Laugh.” 

Comedy Store

• Legendary group of paid regulars, you can’t really go wrong with a “Best of” show or a weeknight special. 

• Horribly Funny on Sunday Night 1/28 - Iliza, Margaret Cho, Rick Glassman, Esther Povitsky, and more!

• Tues 1/30 Steve Furey and The Cronies- Bert Kreischer, Iliza Shlesinger, Trevor Wallace, Steph Tolev, Fahim Anwar, Leslie Liao

Improv

• Hannah Berner Thursday 1/25

• “Tonight at the Improv” this week includes Ilizia Shlesinger, Sarah Silverman, and more TBA!

Largo: 

• Paul Scheer’s “How Did This Get Made” playing Wed-Fri 1/24-1/26

• Pete Holmes Tues 1/30

• Judd Apatow and Friends 1/31

Jam in the Van

• Open mic at the garage 1/31

Elysian

• Isabel Hagen 1/25

• Mike O’Brian Porn Plays 1/28

Groundings 

• Crazy Uncle Joe Show- Long form Improv on Wednesdays 

• Cookin’ with Gas- Short form improv Thursdays

  • This Thursday: Bad Company 

• The Late Show @ 9:30- Main company new after hours improv Fridays

  • This Friday Lights Up- Main Company Improv

• Adopt a Groundling- Sketch from Main Company, The Late Show Saturdays 

• Sunday Company (kate’s fav favorite) Sketch Show

UCB

• Kumail Nanjiani Is Putting It Together 1/25

• Improvised Rudy 1/27 

• ASSSSCAT 1/27

• How I Met Your Sitcom 1/27

• Maude Night 1/31

  *note: always lookout at your favorite bars or any bar at all for open mics and smaller shows. 

LISTICLES

10 FAVORITE NETFLIX SPECIALS FROM 2023 (in no particular order)

1. “Sap” by Mae Martin. They know how to invite you into their head and make you feel welcome there. New era for Mae in their first hour-long special and for director Abbi Jacobson (one half of the starring and co-creator team behind Comedy Central’s “Broad City”). Watch out for Mae around town and specifically at the Largo on February 24!

2. “Beautiful Dogs” by Shane Gillis. He’s surprising and self aware, and, I’ll say it, this is my guilty pleasure special of the year.

3. “The Old Man and the Pool” Mike Birbiglia’s newest special is the perfect mix of storytelling, self exploration, and wit. One of my all time favorites, Mike approaches every word with care and constructs his hours like no one I’ve ever seen on stage. PRO TIP: Watch all of his Netflix specials in order, really cool to watch him grow as a comedian and a person and reflect upon the big moments and questions in life. 

4. “Something Special” Hannah Gadsby. The queen of the full circle moment. I want her to give me a hug. 

5. “It’s Great To Be Here” Michelle Wolf- A 3 parter special on Netflix makes this special formally digestible and then completely dismantles it with her joke content. Stay on your toes with Michelle and be ready to engage with her.  

6. “Baby J” John Mulaney. John’s newfound vulnerability and still-witty humility marks a new era for America’s prodigal son comedian. “I saw him right after he got outta rehab!”

7. “If You Didn’t Want Me Then” Beth Stelling Brings a cup of tea on stage and the house down in her first special.She’s the friend you either had growing up or wish you did. She’s confident and relaxed and a darn good time. Keep an eye out for Beth! She comes to the Largo on February 15!

8. “Sledgehammer” Tom Segura. Another guilty pleasure. He’s raunchy, perfectly oversharing, and belly-laughingly funny. I love to imagine him in everyday life. Like having a Curb Your Enthusiasm-esque show following him…. No one steal that please and thank you. 

9. “Where Was I” Trevor Noah - topical and fun somehow at the same time. The ex Daily Show host has a gift for making you laugh, but not too loud to not hear yourself think at the same time. 

10. “Selective Outrage” Chris Rock’s live Netflix “event,” is something to be seen. Confident and not afraid to be messy, Rock’s, “you can't tell these jokes at work” fiery energy resembles a karate master at work. Even if he’s not your favorite, you simply must respect the legend. And yes, he does address the slap. 

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STAY SILLY HAVE A GREAT WEEK