Hi everyone,
It’s the first Monday of March, which means you get a free digest of comedy from rising creators to get you through the month with a smile on your face. But before we get started, here’s a quick reminder that subscribers get access to all our archived newsletters:
With that, let’s ride.
New York
Electra Telesford is a comedian and writer whose day job as a high school teacher bolsters her material with hilarious observations about Gen-Z and the digital age. We’re excited to catch her performing her half hour at Union Hall on March 23rd.
Newsletter all-time fave Zach Zucker’s alter-ego Jack Tucker is currently making his Off Broadway debut at the SoHo Playhouse, running through the end of March.
Los Angeles
Anna Przy is a digital creator who has gone viral with her not-so-serious videos regarding the daily struggles of mental health. As a follow up, she has written KEET IT UP, CUTIE: A NOT-QUITE SELF-HELP BOOK, full of encouraging messages to make you laugh and also make you feel a little better. She’s currently embarking on a book tour, and will be performing some stand-up based on her life and content at Dynasty Typewriter on March 23rd.
Max Wittert is a singular illustrator and comedian (“a double threat, if you are threatened by the liberal arts,” according to him). His hilarious, fully-illustrated solo show “I Can Steal Your Mother” — originally developed at the BCC Pitchfest in 2022 — will play at the Elysian on March 20th.
Looking ahead: The Bergamot Comedy Festival — presented by the LA Times and The Crow — will take place April 1-6. The lineup features rising comedians from both coasts — check it out here.
We loved MO & BERT from Carmen Christopher & Bardia Salimi — and absurd send up of shows about "making it" in LA. In this pilot, the two encounter comical levels of racial stereotyping as they audition for commercials. Irreverent performances by the two leads, and the juxtoposition between the purposfully stilted dialogue and the "Selling Sunset"-esque transitions over glamourous B Roll of LA had us cracking up.
We've flagged writer/director Matt Barats before (most recently for his excellent feature doc, CASH COW), but we'd be remiss not to flag this bite-sized, extremely sensual advertisement for lofty high-rise buildings in an ambiguous metropolis: THE HIGH RISE BECKONS.
THE LAUNCH, written & directed by KK Apple, recently wrapped up its festival run. Essentially a Steve Jobs parody about a ruthless tech nerd faced with pushback right before a big launch, this is a weird one that feels like a voice to know.
"Bye Little Block!" strikes a perfect balance with its creative animation and clever humor. The film showcases a vibrant, imaginative style that blends traditional and digital techniques, making every scene pop with energy. It's witty, filled with visual jokes that land well with both kids and adults, wrapped up in a package that feels like watching your imagination play out on screen.
"Grizzly Business" skillfully combines a slice of life with a twist of the wild, setting a man's mundane commute against a grizzly bear's escape. There is no dialogue throughout the short, but the score makes up for it and captures both the tension and humor of this silly short. Nelson's work as a one-man animation crew shines, presenting a project that's as much an exploration of creative practice as it is a commentary on daily life.
"Alan the Infinite" has been years in the making, and the work paid off in spades, delivering on its distinctive blend of humor and innovative animation style. The short uses a meticuous stop-motion technique, creative a visually captivating world that's both whimsical and intricately detailed. The story is laced with a dry, witty humor that cleverly unfolds through the misadventures of its characters, and it has a real charm that makes every frame a delight to watch.
Our feeds are riddled with reenactments of whatever dating show is currently airing, but none are as original as Chicago comedian Kim Quindlen LOVE IS BLIND’ing her own marriage.
Created, starring and co-directed by Taylor Ortega, Long Lost is an improvised digital series featuring Junie, a sperm donor baby who meets a new sibling every episode. The series has episodes from comedians Vinny Thomas, Rachel Pegram, Aydin Mayeri and more. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
That’s it for this month.
Thanks!
*This newsletter features contributions from a team of comedy tastemakers:
Carly Hoogendyk
Emily Kochman
Keelin Ryan
Casey Hodgkinson