Video Mandess From Jake Szymanski

This Thursday at Super Serious, we're excited to screen some crazy fun short films from awesome writer/director Jake Szmanski. It's long overdue sharing some sweet videos from one of our favorite Funny or Die friends. He's a character in real life and his films are always some of the crazier fun ones you'll come across. Some more info on Jake:

Jake Szymanski, as a child, went around mixing up various liquids with sticks and dirt in Ziplock bags to create "potions". This habit was put to an end when his father caught him trying to add his own pee to dirty bag in the middle of the kitchen. Since then he has felt very lucky to work and create at UCBLA, Saturday Night Live, and FunnyOrDie.com.

Grab your tickets now for the show Thursday, August 18th show at Smashbox Studios.

Death Defying Comedy From The Walsh Brothers

Photo by Robyn Von SwankOkay, so maybe they won't be risking outright death, but The Walsh Brothers are always down to push the boundaries of decency and fun. The Boston duo are returning to The Super Serious Show this month, and we couldn't be more excited for the return of the Walsh awesomeness.

Chris and David Walsh continue to perform nationwide and in the Los Angeles area, including a successful stint hosting a monthly crazed-out comedy show at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre. Their shows are full of playful antics and surprises galore.

Check-out the Walsh Brothers' Super Serious page from their last visit for more info and photo fun.

Grab tickets now for the August 18th Smashbox Studios show.

Something Funny About Josh Fadem

Josh Fadem, a young master of physical comedy, will be performing at our 1-year anniversary Super Serious Show this week. Get really, really excited! Okay, now you can rest from the excitement but not for too long.

Fadem is a ball of comedic energy on stage, with his performance colored by his unique style of stand-up comedy and improv. Fadem is often literally tripping on stage and getting battered by the stage equipment. In addition to his physical comedy, Fadem is known for his celebrity impressions and his hilarious delivery of conventional punchline-y jokes.

Over the past few years, Fadem has made his way into film and television. His television appearances include 30 Rock, Eagleheart, The Tonight Show, Reno 911, The Whitest Kids U’ Know and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Fadem had roles in the films, Calvin Marshall and Miss March.

Fadem is a regular performer at the Upright Citizens Birgade Theatre. He hosted and performed at the popular weekly live stand-up show, Comedy Bang! Bang! Fadem can also be seen performing his screwball brand of stand-up comedy at other popular shows at UCB as well as at a range of venues in Los Angeles.

Grab some tickets and get your Fadem on this Thursday at Super Serious Show this week.

Ryan Perez: An Eye For Funny

This month at Super Serious, writer, actor and filmmaker Ryan Perez will be screening a few of his kick-ass comedic shorts. Perez's films are both silly and smart, often taking on pop culture absurdity. Perez is a skilled satirist.

Perez is a favorite writer and director in comedy circles the past few years. He recently worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live and currently writers and directs for Funny Or Die. Perez is a graduate of UCLA School of Film and Television. In 2005, he began his involvement in comedy began working as an improviser and sketch writer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. HBO’s Funny Or Die series featured Perez’s written and directed work, as well.

Come to Smashbox Studios this Thursday and check-out the fun films of Ryan Perez.

Kimmy Gatewood's Got You Covered

This Thursday - May 19th - The Super Serious Show will have a heavy dose of silliness and spunk thanks to receiving a visit from the all-around ball of fun, Kimmy Gatewood. An improviser, musical comedian, writer, producer, director and actor, Gatewood has a slew of ways to slay audiences. Gatewood has performed all over and is a member of the popular comedic group, The Apple Sisters. She’s got a ton of skills at the ready and packs a punch of personality and wit in her performances. Much of Gatewood’s comedy is disarmingly charming while skirting the edges of playfully off-color. Always delivered with a wry goofy smile.

As a musical performer, song and guitar in tow, Gatewood previously opened up for Sarah Silverman and Wendy Liebman. She wrote theme songs for live shows and has a batch of recorded comedy songs. Gatewood’s 1940’s era radio-play style comedy group, The Apple Sisters, continues its strong run of regular shows at the critically acclaimed Largo Theater in Los Angeles. The group garnered a devoted fan base and critical acclaim. Their high energy and original shows get better each time out. The Apple Sisters are currently developing a feature film with the Mark Gordon & Co.

Gatewood is also a skilled writer, contributing to Idiot’s Guide to Jokes, Gawker, Jest Magazine, ESPN, the Oxygen Network and many more.

Kimmy Gatewood has numerous television, radio, stage and online appearances. Her professional acting debut came alongside Sam Waterston in an acclaimed production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Syracuse Stage. She studied comedy and acting at UCB Theatre, The PIT, Second City and Comedy Sportz. Gatewood has toured nationally with the Off Broadway show Chicago City Limits, as well as with numerous groups. Some of the notable groups include Suppertime, The Faculty, Neutrino Video Projects and Not The Apple Sisters. Gatewood was an Andy Kaufman Semi-Finalist in the NY Comedy Festival. Gatewood also wrote and performed in six solo shows. One of those shows, Look On The Bright Side, earned Gatewood an ECNY Nomination for Best Musical Act and a “Best of 2005” selection by Time Out NY.

Gatewood also sometimes steps off the stage to solely produce and direct shows for both stage and screen. Her direction of Kidnapped by Craigslist garnered her a Best Director ECNY Nomination. Gatewood also produced and directed the feature documentary, Nerdcore Rising (screened at South By Southwest 2008).

On top of all the acting, writing and directing, Gatewood also has a budding feather hair accessory company (with fellow Apple Sister Rebekka Johnson), called Nerds of a Feather.

Get excited for the fun of Kimmy Gatewood at Smashbox Studios this Thursday. Grab tickets here.

Late Night Comedy Goodness from The Midnight Show

The Super Serious Show and The Midnight Show are joining forces Thursday, May 19th. Get ready for a sketch comedy explosion from the crazy good team behind the long running hit sketch show at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Los Angeles – The Midnight Show. Their shows are always action-packed and full of lively and surprising performances. It’s a sight to behold. They keep their underground cred intact with a fearless approach to their material, establishing a legion of diehard fans in the Los Angeles area.

The Midnight Show is a Los Angeles based sketch comedy group that performs a monthly show at the UCB Theatre and produces online videos. The show began in 2008 and quickly became one of the theatre’s most popular shows. Their online videos also garnered a ton of attention and acclaim. Their monthly show combines videos and live sketches, along with a new celebrity host each time out. Their past host list includes some of the best names in comedy such as Andy Richter, Drew Carey, Dax Shepard, Fred Willard, Jerry O’Connell, Jerry Minor, Matt Walsh, Paul F. Tompkins and many more. The group put on the show in various cities and festivals, including a 2010 show at the prestigious New York Friars’ Club Improv and Sketch Comedy Competition. They were a finalist at the competition. Alumni from the group have gone on to act and write on television. Notable alumni include: Abby Elliott (SNL), Ryan Perez (writer, SNL – screening videos at the May Super Serious Show, too) and Zach Paez (writer, Community).

Photo by Robyn Von Swank

The current cast and crew behind The Midnight Show:

Stephanie Allynne
Heather Anne Campbell
Joe Chandler
Cale Hartmann
Eric Moneypenny
James Pumphrey
Curtis Rainsberry
Hal Rudnick
Jeff Sloniker
Nic Wegener

Produced by Michael Busch & Megan Reeves
Directed by Joe Wagner

Click here for tickets to see The Midnight Show on The Super Serious Show May 19th at Smashbox Studios. We'll call it Super Serious Midnight Comedy Awesomeness? Or Super Serious Midnight Show? Yeah that works.

Sneaky Good Fun From Allan McLeod

We have a special treat at Super Serious tomorrow. One of our favorite dudes and sneaky good comedic performers, Allan McLeod, will be dropping by the show. McLeod is a versatile talent with great acting, writing and general comedic skills working. Soft-spoken at first encounter, McLeod's a sly performer with the ability to sneak fun and outrageous comedic moments in his live shows.

McLeod studied Theatre and Film at the University of Alabama, where he wrote and performed sketch comedy for the school’s bi-weekly Guerrila Theatre show. His comedy career got its legs while taking classes at Upright Citizen Brigade (UCB) Theatre in Los Angeles. He studied and worked with veteran performers such as Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Andy Daly, Seth Morris and many more. In 2008 he began teaching both improve and sketch writing at UCB. He’s produced and performed in numerous shows at the theatre over the years, including his own one man show “Allan McLeod: A Rabbit Stole My Car Keys.” McLeod is the co-director of the monthly UCB sketch show “Sketch Cram” and created and co-hosts the theatres “Chatroullette LIVE” show. He is a regular contributor to both UCBcomedy.com and Funny Or Die. His current UCB groups with regular shows include the improve team “Arts & Athletics” and his sketch group, “A Kiss From Daddy.”

McLeod’s television contributions include appearances on Comedy Centrals’ Tosh.0, Head Case and a series regular and writing duties for the MTV cartoon series Popzilla. He has written for the online comedy ad agency DumbDumb and the Comedy Central sketch pilot with Matt Besser This Show Will Get You High.

McLeod always surprises with his writing and performances. Get ready for the next round of fun tomorrow at Super Serious. It's a great chance to catch a performance from one of the best young unsung heroes working in the LA comedy scene.

Click here for tickets.

Comedy Blessings From Matt Besser

This week’s Super Serious Show will be blessed by the almighty Besser. The supremely talented Upright Citizens Brigade founding member, Matt Besser, will be the first of the UCB members to head over to Smashbox Studios and join Super Serious for what’s sure to be a night of surprises and many laughs.

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Besser began his comedy career touring the Midwest, performing stand-up and learning improvisation from Del Close at Chicago’s Improv Olympic Theater. In 1991, Besser was one of the founding members of the sketch comedy group, Upright Citizens Brigade. Along with the other founding members (Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh) he performed numerous stage productions, touring the country. The group moved to New York City in 1996 and produced their self-titled Comedy Central sketch show for three seasons (1998 – 2000). The success of the show lead to the group establishing their own comedy theater and improve school in both New York City and Los Angeles. The theaters have become comedy mainstays for both comedy fans and aspiring performers.

Besser’s other television projects include a MTV hidden camera show with Method Man and Redman, Stung. He also co-created and starred in Crossballs for Comedy Central and most recently This Show Will Get You High for Comedy Central, as well. Besser is a frequent guest star, including appearances on Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, Children’s Hopsital, The Sarah Silverman Program, Reno 911!, Frasier and many more.

He is a frequent performer at the LA branch of the UCB Theatre, including writing an co-directing comedy musical “Freak Dance.” Besser is also a regular performer at the popular "ASSSSCAT!" improv show at the theatre. Besser’s performances are always a treat. Besser is also a regular contributor to the popular podcast, Comedy Death-Ray Radio, where he is known to show up impersonating a random assortment of characters.

Grab your tickets for Thursday's show – even we have no idea what to expect. Gold.

James Adomian: Character Builder

This week’s St. Patrick's Day Super Serious Show will feature one of the best performers working today, James Adomian. The popular multi-skilled comedian is known for his impressions and character work, as well as his great stand-up comedy.

Adomian was a top-10 finalist on Last Comic Standing. His other film and television appearances include Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, Face to Bush (Comedy Central), Wordgirl (PBS) and The Onion Radio News, along with numerous underground cartoons and television pilots.

NBC recently cast Adomian in an upcoming comedy series opposite of Sarah Paulson.

Adomian’s good nature and comedy skills made him a favorite in comedy circles. He is a frequent contributor to Earwolf’s Comedy Death-Ray Radio, as well as numerous other podcasts. He’s made a name for himself in political circles through his impression work. Adomian often appears in numerous web videos on Funny Or Die and Atom.com.

Adomian performs stand-up and characters nationwide and often at Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. Adomian is a one of a kind performer with rare skills. We can’t wait to see what he brings to Super Serious this week at Smashbox Studios.

The Birthday Boys Bang Bang Comedy

One of the best sketch groups working today, The Birthday Boys, are bringing their frenetic and wry comedy to Super Serious tonight.

The Birthday Boys previously screened some of their great videos at our inaugural show. Now they're doing it live. We couldn't be more excited.

For several years running, The Birthday Boys have been running a monthly sketch show at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Los Angeles. Every month with a new show of crazy comedy for their devoted fans. They've performed at several comedy festivals, including the prestigious Just For Laughs festival in Montreal.

Group memebers included Jeff Dutton, Tim Kalpakis, Mike Hanford, Mike Mitchell, Matt Kowalick, Dave Ferguson and Chris VanArtsdalen.

Birds of Prey: Sketch With Bite

Photography by Robyn Von Swank

There's a new comedy threesome in town and they're coming to pick your funny bone in the process. Susan Burke, Lizzy Cooperman and Emily Maya Mills are the comedy group, Birds of Prey.

They're bringing their clever, female-fueled sketch comedy to The Super Serious Show this week.  You can usually find the Birds of Prey performing in Los Angeles at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and Steve Allen Theater.

The origin of these funny bird ladies remains a mystery.  Accoring to their website:

They first met above the Hollywood reservoir stalking the same rodent... or was it backstage at a stand up show? Though they all have different voices, they have one common goal-- to ruffle the feathers of convention and create a new kind of sketch comedy... sketch comedy for the disenchanted. Kaw! Kaw! Kaw!

Eric Nigg Will Mess With Your Head

Shhhh...listen closely...and comedian Eric Nigg will most likely mess with your head. Don't worry, it's a good thing. You'll like it. Just trust us. One of our favorite young comedians, Eric Nigg is slyly smart and playful stand-up and comedic actor.

A Minnesota native and recent Los Angeles transplant, Nigg story goes he was born on a farm and then got bored. At age 16 he wrote and produced his own comedy show, successfully selling out the local town theater.

In addition to his stand-up and acting skills, Nigg achieved success with a slew of well-received short films. In 2008, Eric garnered international attention from his short film, Birthmarked For Death, as a co-writer and lead actor.  Shortly after a standing ovation at the Miami International Film Festival, it was selected to screen at the 2009 Festival De Cannes.  Nigg was invited back to Cannes in 2010 with his second short, The Grave Review.

Nationally, Nigg is a recognized writer on the Emmy Nominated Flak Radio podcast. Careerbuilder.com also awarded Nigg the Grand Prize for his 2010 Super Bowl commercial submission. Unfortunately CBS had no sense of humor and banned the commercial. He is also a recent graduate of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

You can let Eric Nigg mess with your head this Thursday at Smashbox Studios. Should be fun.

Character Builder: Seth Morris

Seth Morris is one of our favorite comedians working both in-front and behind the camera. Check him out at The Super Serious Show this month.

Morris is the former Artistic Director of Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Los Angeles and is now part of the popular Funny Or Die team.  Morris is a jack-of-all-comedy-trades, stand-up, sketch and improv.

There's always a chance he'll bring one of his great characters to the show with him. His most recent creation is the hilariously sad divorced man, Bob Ducca. A brief explanation of Ducca:

Bob Ducca isn't just the saddest divorced man in the world, he's also an addict of 12 Step recovery programs, a sufferer of ailments unrecognized by the medical community, a remote controlled motor boat enthusiast, and the holder of the world record for longest sigh.

Originally from San Francisco, Morris began his comedy career in New York City in 1997, studying at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.  He appeared in, directed and wrote for many shows at the UCB and performed in numerous comedy festivals nationwide.

Seth Morris also appeared in the long-running Off-Broadway production of The Marijuanalogues. His television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, as well as numerous appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Comedy Central’s Upright Citizens Brigade and Chappelle’s Show. His film credits include Step Brothers and Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story.

Comedy Kinship: The Walsh Brothers

Straight out of Boston, Chris and David Walsh are the always unique comedic duo The Walsh Brothers. They've been here for years and bring the funny like few others. The Walsh Brothers don't fit into a pre-labled comedy box. They mix stand-up, sketch and all around randomness to entertain audiences.

Started in 2003, The Walsh Brothers Great & Secret Comedy Show became an underground sensation in the Boston comedy scene.  The brothers brought the show to the 2006 Aspen Comedy Festival, which garnered them high praise. After years of leading the Boston comedy scene, The Walsh Brothers made their way to Los Angeles. They quickly achieved must-see status. A Walsh Brothers show is like no other - their vaudevillian style and frequent audience interactions keep you guessing. Get ready for your dose of Walsh Brothers tomfoolery at The Super Serious Show this week.

Mad Comedy: Arden Mryin

File Arden Myrin under the automatically funny category. Myrin's been popping up in movies and television shows for awhile now and always makes a mark. She'll be making a special live appearance at this month's Super Serious Show.  Mryin is one of the best sketch and improv comedic actors working today.  Catching a liver performance from Myrin is sure to be a treat.

Arden Myrin gained notoriety as a regular cast member on MADtv. She also appeared on such hit shows as Friends, Reno 911, Just Shoot Me, Gilmore Girls, Kitchen Confidential, and more.  Her film credit’s include “Kinsey”, “The Lucky Ones”, “What Women Want’, ““Deconstructing Harry”, “The Imposters”, “ Autofocus”, “and The Informant”.  Myrin is a frequent talk show guest with appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien”, Howard Stern, Chelsea Lately, Loveline, among others.

Myrin is a founding member of the long-form improv team "God Squad" IOWest at IOWest in Los Angeles. The heradled group started in 2001. Myrin also has roots at Upright Citizen Brigade Theatre and The Groundlings.

Enjoy the special treat of Arden Myrin at The Super Serious Show this week.

David Koechner added to July Lineup

David Koechner will bringing the funny to our July show. We couldn't be more excited. David is known for his great comedic roles in film and television, including Saturday Night Live, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, The Office, Anchorman, Thank You For Smoking, The Comebacks and many more. Many of David's great characters demonstrate his rare ability to combine an immediate likability with a crazy comedic edge.

David recently completed a month long residency at Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre's Comedy Death Ray Sketch Show and is planning a nationwide tour in the coming months.

Come check out David's great live performance and the rest of our lineup at The Super Serious Show in July.

Mike Phirman Added to July Lineup

Music Comedy is coming to the July show! Mike Phirman, the crazy-talented (much better than "talented-crazy," I think) musical comedian will be performing. Mike is half of the popular musical duo, Hard 'N Phirm - the other half being comedian Chris Hardwick. Mike is a skilled musician who brings a playful and smart style to his comedy and songs. His music will definitely add another level of fun to our July show. We're excited to see him perform live. Click here for tickets.

Mike just released his debut solo album, The Very Last Songs I Will Ever Record (Part One). Here's a great video of Mike riffing on the live "build-a-song" technique currently popularized by the great Reggie Watts. The clip is from his June 15th album release show at UCB Theatre LA.  It's a nice intro into the Phirman world.