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From Stephen Elliott
In an exclusive interview, The Rumpus sits down with the very funny, very feminist Sandra Bernhard to talk about comedy, mothers, life on the road, and, of course, San Francisco, where she’ll be performing this week.
...moreMonday 05/13:
Emily Books presents “What is the Queer Novel?” featuring a reading and discussion with Sarah Schulman and Barbara Browning. Housing Works Bookstore, 7pm, free.
The Franklin Park Reading Series welcomes a killer line-up featuring The Rumpus’ Roxane Gay, Karen Russell, Elissa Schappell, Leigh Newman, and Michael Heald.
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While many readers are familiar with the melancholy persona he’s adopted—and despite having written a new novel about a life falling apart—author Dan Kennedy is finally ready to admit something to the lit crowd, here and now: he loves mainstream American comedy…
...moreIs Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
A Bad Idea I’m About to Do.
I Feel Bad About My Neck.
The titles of comedy books almost make a good blog post just by themselves. But if you want to learn more about books to laugh to, check out this Splitsider list, “The Ultimate Comedy Library.” It includes fiction, nonfiction, memoir, oral history, and an afterword by God.
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Iceland’s most famous comedian ran for mayor of Reykjavic, and won…
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“The first assumption people make when they think about comedy and social movements is that our role is to change the minds of people who disagree with us politically, but that’s both incorrect and simplistic.”
...more“Why take to the streets when Stewart and Colbert are on the case? It’s a lot easier, and more fun, to experience the war as a passive form of entertainment than as a source of moral distress requiring citizen activism.”
At The Baffler, Rumpus columnist Steve Almond takes on comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, arguing that the comedians serve, largely, to mollify the public by staunching desire for active action against unjust power structures by engaging in acts of essentially harmless ridicule.
...moreRooftop Comedy talks with comedian Nato Green about his new CD, political humor, audience reactions, and fatherhood.
After you read the interview, scoop up a ticket for tonight’s Celebration of Written Correspondence to see Green in action!
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If you were a teen in the mid 90s and had cable television, most likely you know Michael Ian Black from The State, the sketch comedy show that aired on MTV.
Two of our favorite comedians, W. Kamau Bell and Nato Green are teaming up to present Comedy SuperPAC: Promoting Good Comedy & Great Causes Since 2012! The weekly stand-up comedy showcase will be held at San Francisco’s Hemlock Tavern on Mondays from March 12 to May 7.
...moreKGO News’ Finch Files features comedian W. Kamau Bell, who discusses his use of humor to get people thinking about–and discussing–racism. Also, if you are in San Francisco, take note: this Thursday, Bell will be performing with Laughter Against the Machine at the Eureka Theatre as part of SF Sketchfest.
...moreLaughter Against the Machine is doing New Years! In San Francisco! There are five shows to choose from between Thursday Dec 29 and Saturday Dec 31 at the Phoenix theatre.
Bonus: Discount code “therumpus” gives you $5 off!
Get warmed up with this video:
...moreLouis CK has revealed the results of a social experiment in which he directed, self-produced, and sold his show Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theater. By doing it all himself and avoiding a big company, he was able to make the show available internationally, free of restrictions, and only five dollars.
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“Well, excuuuuuuuuuse me!” my mother says from the kitchen when we complain about baked chicken again. ”Well excuuuuuuuuuuuse me!” grumbles my father when we change the channel from the Auburn game to Elvira’s Movie Macabre.
Three of our favorite comedians, Jeanine Brito, Nato Green, and W. Kamau Bell, are hitting the road with their politically themed comedy act, Laughter Against The Machine and intend to make a documentary. They need your help.
Funny man Michael Showalter sits down with Rumpus Radio host Stephen Elliott and co-host Nato Green. Michael Showalter is one of the founding members of the comedy troupe Stella and The State. He also co-wrote and co-produced the cult comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer. To top it all off he’s just released a book, Mr.
This week in San Francisco, Quiet Lightning moves to North Beach, Janine Brito and Emily Heller get hilarious at the Punchline, Andrew Sean Greer’s The Islanders takes to the stage, and Rumpus Managing Editor, Isaac Fitzgerald, gets his literary Casanova on at Fivepoints Arthouse’s Tales of Tail.
...moreThis week, Do You Love Me Now? (The Rumpus does), 826 Valencia’s Spelling Bee for Cheaters, all you can eat pancakes, and Will Franken hosts The Grand Opening of a New Baby.
Monday 2/14: Spend Valentine’s Day with your beloved Rumpus-folk at Do You Love Me Now?
...moreThis week in San Francisco, get in bed with Quiet Lightning, Microscopic Giant at Space Gallery, Laughter Against The Machine, Andrew Foster Altschul’s book launch, Literary Death Match, Stephen Elliott reads at BANG OUT X: Tough Love, and the Anger Management Reading Series presents Hostile Takeover.
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W. Kamau Bell wants stand-up comedy to be seen as an art form enjoyed by hip, educated people. He’s on a mission to raise the IQ and literacy of comedy audiences
The Awl has a comprehensive guide to comedy podcasts. It’s the most amazing thing we’ve read this morning.
Related: The Rumpus Radio interview with Marc Maron.
...moreThis week in San Francisco, Sketchfest continues, find out what happens when we become Overconnected, pitch your epic sci-fi murder-mystery memoir poem at Booksmith’s Pitchapalooza, and get de-virginized at Cell Space’s Rocky Horror Live!
Monday 1/17: See the comics that kicked off Sketchfest a decade ago at their 10 Year Reunion Show.
...moreThis week in San Francisco: Finally muster the courage to hit on that one cute chick/dude at this month’s Monthly Rumpus, decorate your pad like it’s 1982 and you just got Walk Among Us at Pops’ Cheap Art Show: Skull Edition, get your nerd on at Techshop’s Open House, and check out SF Sketchfest.
...moreThis week in San Francisco: Whether this is your adopted home or you’ve lived here all your life, re-discover the city as you begin another year of living here. Let’s face it, you’re still tired from the holidays and you’re probably saving up your energy for New Year’s Eve, so why waste your time at New Year’s resolution themed singles mixers and monthly dance parties when you could be discovering the concrete slides on Steward Street or the fascinatingly creepy arcade games at Musée Mécanique?
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In our eleventh episode of Rumpus Radio we have an in-depth interview with Marc Maron. We go deep into the roots of alternative comedy and how Marc transitioned from unable to book a show to one of the most popular and successful podcasts, a star of the new medium.
This week in San Francisco: readings, readings, readings! Porchlight, Tenderloin #7, and Naked Minds will keep your craving for words at bay, Nato Green hosts Iron Comic at the Punchline, and Fifty24SF brings science-y new art to the Lower Haight with The Undivided Mind.
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Brand new: Rumpus Radio Episode 9, featuring comedian W. Kamau Bell, co-hosted by Nato Green with special guest Hari Kondabolu (yeah, that guy). We talk about Martin Luther King. W. Kamau Bell poses that question: Late at night, on a street corner, who can a 6’4″ black man ask for directions?
When you grow up being called a faggot by farm boys because you like to read books, Woody Allen can appear as something of a savior. That’s my story, anyway. Allen’s early films with their broad appeal mean that even small town video rental stores are obliged to carry his work, shelving Interiors beside Bananas in the comedy section.
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It’s kind of hard not to fall a little bit in love with someone who, immediately upon meeting up for a mid-afternoon interview, asks if it’s cool to stop at the liquor store first to buy a big bottle of booze.
