An Eye For The Funny: Lauren Palmigiano

Whoa now – one of the coolest comedy directors working today, Lauren Palmigiano, will be screening a few shorts at Super Serious this Thursday. Her free spirited and off-beat films established her as one of the better young directors in today's comedy ranks. She’s currently a writer and producer for FunnyOrDie.com. She’s a sketch alum and past performer at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles. Her first short film, Cried Suicide, premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

Come watch some fun Palmigiano shorts at Smashbox Studios this week. It’ll be fun. We sear.

Click here for tickets.

All-Around Comedy: Sarah Tiana

More killer comedy coming to Super Serious this month thanks to Sarah Tiana being in the fold. Tiana is a nationally touring stand-up and one of the most fun and charming comedians working today. Plus, she’s all-around good people.

Tiana hails from the South. Calhoun, Georgia, to be precise. Her comedy brings her Southern roots to the forefront, along with sly takes on daily life and even the heady stuff. Tiana is a skilled actor and sketch performer. She offered up one of the more memorable characters (Carmen) on Reno 911!. She created a sketch comedy company, The Strait Jacket Society, that helps train your performers. Tiana’s other TV appearances include Showtime’s Jeff Garcia’s Low Budget Madness, E!, TV Guide Channel and Comics Unleashed. Adding more fun to the world, Tiana is also an avid sports fan and has contributed to NFL.com and currently co-hosts a NFL-related web series.

Check-out Smashbox Studios this Thursday for some Sarah Tiana fun.

Super Serious October Photos

We had an insanely fun time at the October show headed up by T.J. Miller, who brings screwing around to an artistic level. Great performances by Miller, Amy Schumer, Matt Knudsen, Garfunkel & Oates and Alex Fernie & Alex Berg. The super talented director Jason Woliner treated us to a sweet sneak preview of a Season 2 Eagleheart episode, too. Thanks to everyone who made it out!

Check out our photos from photographer supreme, Rebecca Rotenberg, at her site: www.rebeccaadlerphoto.com. And more Super Serious photos at our Flickr Page!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Comedy In The Mix: Drennon Davis

Drennon Davis is bringing his offbeat and fun comedy to this month’s Super Serious Show. November 17th at Smashbox Studios Culver City. Davis is one of the more imaginative and creative comedians working today. His unconventional act can have him singing original tunes with his ukulele to performing as a range of inventive and hilarious characters. Davis is definitely one of our favorite wacky characters and we’re certain that he will be yours too.

You may recognize Davis from season 6 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing or from his semi-regular show, The Imaginiary Radio Program, at The Nerdist Theater, located in the back of Meltdown Comics in Hollywood. The show has quickly become a favorite amongst comedy nerds and non-nerds alike. He also can be seen performing at a range of venues in the Los Angeles area.

Please reschedule your dinner plans and business meetings accordingly because you really don’t want to miss this.

You can nab your tickets here. We wouldn't lie about it. Seriously.

The Super Serious Show with Chris Hardwick

Photo by Sian Kennedy2nd time's the charm! After an almost October, comedian and nerd extraordinaire, Chris Hardwick is back to head-up the November 17th Super Serious Show at Smashbox Studios.

Hardwick is one of the more fun and smart comedians working today. Hardwick’s performances are full of charm and wit, loaded with all-direction snark – from nerdy tangents to tales from his Southern upbringing. He’s also a master of the digital domain, including running his own popular weekly podcast, The Nerdist, along with recent Super Serious alum Jonah Ray.

Hardwick has kick-started his own online, podcast, production and comedy empire under his Nerdist Industries moniker. He hosts G4’s Web Soup and is a frequent contributor to G4’s Attack of The Show. Hardwick’s recent television appearances include regular spots on Chelsea Lately, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and John Oliver’s New York Stand-up Special.

Hardwick released his book, The Nerdist Way, this month. Hardwick also has music chops, teaming up from time to time with his pal, Mike Phirman, to form the comedy music outfit, Hard N’ Phirm. Hardwick has a ton of other possible projects in the works with companies such as HBO, NBC, Comedy Central, IFC and Funny Or Die. His televised version of his Nerdist Podcast just aired a special on BBC America this Fall.

Hardwick is a skilled stand-up, touring nationally and a regular at festivals including SF Sketchfest, Just For Laughs, SXSW, Coachella and Bumbershoot.

Grab tickets for the November 17^th show before it’s too late.

Matt Knudsen: Clever with a K

We are excited to announce that comedian and actor Matt Knudsen will be taking the Smashbox Studios stage at this month’s Super Serious Show! Knudsen’s comedy is full of clever and amusing observations coupled with a hilariously dry delivery. Knudsen puts things simply and that’s why we love him.

As a stand-up, Knudsen has performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal as well as on CBS’s The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. The success of Knudsen’s stand-up career has led to a blossoming career in film and television. Knudsen’s television credits include memorable roles on HBO’s Big Love, Boston Legal and Malcolm in the Middle. He also contributed his voice-over work to the Cartoon Network live action series, Out of Jimmy’s Head. Additionally, you can see him in the upcoming movie, Gangster Squad, with Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling. This will be in theaters next year!

Grab tickets for the Oct. 20th show here.

Garfunkel & Oates: Back For More

Garfunkel & Oates, one of our favorite musical comedy duos returns to Super Serious this month. Back for more laughs and music at Smashbox Studios. The mischievous partners-in-crime, Kate Miccuci and Riki Lindhome bring guaranteed fun to the proceedings anytime they step on stage.

The ladies continue to gain fans from all over, touring nation wide and even going global, too. They're a seemingly never ending source of great comedy, with new songs and videos released onto the world at a regular clip. They recently released their 2nd album, All Over Your Face, full of sweet and silly songs sure to get stuck in your head at any given moment.

Be sure to check-out Riki's very cool weekly podcast, Making It. The show is part of Chris Hardwick's ever growing Nerdist Industries podcast network.

You can catch up on more Garfunkel & Oates at their Super Serious Show page or their site, www.garfunkelandoates.com.

Grab tickets for the October 20th show with Garfunkel & Oates.

Check-out this recent fun song and video they did with the always awesome, David Wain.

Amy Schumer Is Bodacious

Photo by Susan MossHooray! Comedian Amy Schumer is performing at this month’s Super Serious Show at Smashbox Studios. Schumer is a clever and fearless performer, her stand-up full of bravado and wry humor. Bodacious through and through.

Since gaining attention as a finalist on Season 5 of Last Comic Standing, Schumer is distinguishing herself as one of the fastest rising comedians working today. Most recently, she appeared as one of the roasters on the highly-anticipated Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen. Her other television credits include Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show and a Comedy Central Presents special. Additionally, Schumer has nabbed acting roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock, and was a co-host on Fuse TV’s A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus.

Grab tickets for the October 20^th show. It's fun. Trust us.

The Super Serious Show with T.J. Miller

Don’t lose your shit or anything but T.J. Miller is the new headliner for the October Super Serious Show. Miller is an actor and comedian best known for his absurd sense of humor. In recent years, Miller’s film and comedy career has really taken off. You may recognize him from the comedy film, Our Idiot Brother, which he starred alongside Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks. He has also appeared in a number of other films such as Get Him to the Greek with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, Gulliver’s Travels, She’s Out of My League, Yogi Bear and Mike Judge’s Extract.

Additionally, he’s showcased his talents on such television shows as Chelsea Lately, Conan and Late Show with David Letterman. 

This past September, Miller released his debut music comedy album, The Extended Play E.P., for Comedy Central Records. We are just hoping and praying that Miller will drop lyrical, magical bombs on us at this upcoming show. 

Grab tickets for the October 20^th show before it’s too late.

Hardwick Out - Miller In

Our original fearless comedian leader this month, Chris Hardwick, unfortunately had to stepdown from his  Super Serious Show duties. We presume he'll be battling zombies or conquering some corner of the world with his nerd army. Maybe both. We can't wait to have Hardwick back at the show in the near future.

In the meantime, check-out the still very-awesome lineup this month with T.J. Miller stepping up to take the reigns. Lots of quality weirdness and funny on the way.

Click here for tickets.

Super Serious September Photos

September's almost gone and with it came a fun Super Serious Show headed by Paul F. Tompkins. Much fun was had thanks to great performances from Tompkins, Margaret Cho, Kyle Kinane, David Huntsberger, Andy Peters and Slow Children Crossing. Bonus: fun videos from Nick & Charles. The talented Anjelica Jardiel stepped in to help capture the night with another round of great photos.

Check out our photos from our awesome guest photographer, Anjelica Jardiel, at her site: www.anjelicajardiel.com. And more Super Serious photos at our Flickr Page!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Slow Children Crossing Returns To Super Serious

Photo by Rebecca Adler RotenbergThis Thursday's show at Smashbox Studios features the return of one our favorite sketch groups - Slow Children Crossing. The group always brings the funny with a heavy dose of whip-smart characters and comedic bravado. They've had successful runs at comedy festivals nationwide. They're just returning from a successful run at the Out of Bounds comedy festival in Austin. We're excited to see what the gang has up their sleeve for the Super Serious Show audience.

Check-out their Super Serious page for more goodness.

Slow Children Crossing group members include the supremely talented quintet: Alem Sapp, Brett J Butler, Tiffany Thomas, Saudia Rashed and Destini Meshack. They're all talented comedic and dramatic performers in their own right, as well. Comedy fans always take note of some of the best live-performance chemistry working today.

We'll have door tickets available, starting at 7PM this Thursday.

David Huntsberger Will Mess With Your Head

Comedian David Huntsberger will be performing at our September show! Huntsberger has one of the biggest brains in comedy. Ideas seem to spill out of him and he won’t stop until you are on board with him. At the end of his set, you’ll be nodding your head like, “That guy gets it.”

This year Hunstberger released his second comedy album, Humanitis, for Stand Up! Records. As a stand-up, Huntsberger appeared on season nine of Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and was a semi-finalist on season four of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. You may also recognize Huntsberger from the popular podcast Professor Blastoff, which he co-hosts along with Kyle Dunnigan and Tig Notaro.

He also regularly opens for Nick Swardson and Doug Benson and has worked with a number of big names such as Paul F. Tompkins (our host for the September show), Maria Bamford, Eddie Gossling and Patton Oswalt. Additionally, he has been featured act at various comedy festivals including the Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival in Washington D.C and the Bridgetown Comedy festival in Portland Oregon.

Get ready to have your mind melted and handed to you at next week’s show by the very smart and talented David Huntsberger.

Grab tickets now for the September 15th show at Smashbox Studios.

Kyle Kinane: A Man of Mirth

Photo by Morten SkovgaardBest news ever! Kyle Kinane is in the lineup for this month’s Super Serious Show! Kinane is the real deal when it comes to comedians. In 2010, Kinane was named by Variety one of the 10 Comics to Watch and released his debut comedy album, Death of the Party, for A Special Thing Records. Since then, he continues to bring it in the comedy realm, including a Comedy Central Presents half hour special as well as an appearance on Conan. Kinane's other TV appearances include Last Call with Carson Daly and Live at Gotham.

According to an interview with the A.V. Club, Kinane just finished working on a Comedy Central television pilot with Matt Braunger, another Super Serious friend. So, we have our fingers crossed for the show making to the light of day. We're excited for the possibility of even more of these awesome guys.

Kinane is the kind of comedian you watch and then want to invite to your home for a beer. His cool and laidback on-stage presence never seems contrived. On the contrary, he is extremely relatable and hilarious, even when describing himself in the most self-loathing way. On top of all this, Kinane is one of the best comedic storytellers out there. We are pumped to see Kinane next Thursday and you should be too.

Grab your tickets now for the September 15th show.

Comedy Cool From Margaret Cho

Comedy veteran and two-time Grammy nominee, Margaret Cho will be taking the stage at this month’s Super Serious Show!

For over two decades, Cho has built a name for herself as a highly respected stand-up comedian and actress. Her stand-up mixes what she refers to as “high brow and low brow things.” While Cho is unafraid to express her opinions on race, politics and gay marriage, she seems just as comfortable being hilariously filthy. Her bold and fearless attitude has made Cho one of the biggest names in comedy.

In 2010, Cho took the plunge into the realm of music and self released Cho Dependent, her first music album, featuring collaborations with Tegan and Sara, Tommy Chong, Ben Lee, Brendon Benson, Fiona Apple and Andrew Bird. Besides receiving a Grammy nod for Comedy Album of the Year, the collection of music exhibits her talent as not only a comic but as a vocalist, songwriter and musician.

On top of all this, Cho has a starring role on Lifetime’s comedy/drama series, Drop Dead Diva. The show is currently airing its third season. While Cho is not working on this television series, she can be seen headlining sold-out shows nationally and abroad.

Although we wrote this brief introduction, now that we think about it, this grand master of comedy really didn't need one. We seriously can’t wait to have Margaret Cho on our show. Get super excited but be cool about it.

Click here for tickets for the September 15th show at Smashbox Studios.

The Super Serious Show with Paul F. Tompkins

The amazing Paul F. Tompkins is headlining The Super Serious Show in September, which means it’s going to be a fun and classy show. Tompkins comes to Smashbox Studios September 15th to lead the charge on a stellar night of comedy. Tompkins is one the best comedians working today, quickly becoming a diehard comedy fan favorite. Tompkins is a stand-up unlike any other, always full of charm and confidence and a master of off-the-cuff comedy. Skilled master of both silly and smart.

Tompkins tours nationally as a stand-up and usually hosts a monthly variety show at the Largo Theatre in West Hollywood. Dapper Paul F. Tompkins was the host of VH1's Best Week Ever for several years and has numerous Television credits, highlighted by stints on Mr. Show with Bob and David, Tenacious D, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Tompkins recently penned a stand-out collection of pop culture satire with his weekly recaps of the last season of American Idol for New York Magazine's online arm, Vulture. Tompkins also produces his own monthly podcast, The Pod F. Tompkast – one of the best ongoing offerings of digital comedy. Tompkins has also written for Real Time with Bill Maher, Mr. Show and Best Week Ever. His feature film roles include Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny, There Will Be Blood and The Informant!.

Grab tickets now for to see Paul F. Tompkins bring his grand comedy to The Super Serious Show, September 15th!

The amazing Paul F. Tompkins is headlining The Super Serious Show in September, which means it’s going to be a fun and classy show. Tompkins comes to Smashbox Studios September 15^th to lead the charge on a stellar night of comedy. Tompkins is one the best comedians working today, quickly becoming a diehard comedy fan favorite. Tompkins is a stand-up unlike any other, always full of charm and confidence and a master of off-the-cuff comedy.

Tompkins tours nationally as a stand-up and usually hosts a monthly show at the Largo Theatre in West Hollywood. Dapper Paul F. Tompkins was the host of VH1's Best Week Ever for several years and has numerous Television credits, highlighted by stints on Mr. Show with Bob and David, Tenacious D, Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Tompkins recently penned a stand-out collection of pop culture satire with his weekly recaps of the last season of American Idol.  Tompkins also produces his own monthly podcast, The Pod F. Tompkast – one of the best ongoing offerings of digital comedy. Tompkins has also written for Real Time with Bill Maher, Mr. Show and Best Week Ever. His feature film roles include Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny, There Will Be Blood and The Informant!.

Grab tickets now for your chance to see Tompkins bring his grand comedy to The Super Serious Show. September 15^th!

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.

Comedy Goodness: Michael Palascak

Comedian Michael Palascak is in the lineup for the August 18th Super Serious Show! Please applaud and then sit back down. Thank you. Palascak is one of the funniest young performers working today.

Palascak’s childish and playful tales of living with his parents and working a shitty job is what makes this gentleman funny and relatable to any audience. It’s hard not to love him. Just his gawky stage presence and innocent speaking voice alone will have you giggling. He is like a little big kid turned comedian.

Palascak has made television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham. Additionally, he performed at the Just For Laugh festival in Chicago, Ceasar’s Palace for the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and was named the winner of HBO’s Lucky 21 Stand-up competition. He can also be seen performing at clubs and colleges all over the country…so don’t you worry. We, personally, can’t wait to ask him if he is still living with his parents.

Grab your tickets early to save some cash - Thursday, August 18th at Smashbox Studios!

Returning Champ: Matt Braunger

Matt Braunger, one of our favorite comedy people is returning to Super Serious this month - August 18th at Smashbox Studios. Braunger continues to be one of the funniest comedians working today. He still tours nationally and has appeared on Chelsea Lately and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson this past year. We're pumped to have him back at the show. A Braunger performance is our comedy guarantee for you.

Click here for tickets.

Check-out Braunger's Super Serious photos and bio.