Comedy

Austin, TX: The Live Comedy Capital Of The World?

Tyler Pratt — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:02:07 +0000

“We’re at a festival, and what is more beautiful than watching someone try?” squeaked Maria Bamford on Thursday night at Austin’s Stateside Theater. The comedian had just attempted a new bit that didn’t quite pay off the way she planned. But she was able to pull it off, thanks to an admission of her own failure and a happy, comedy-loving audience.

Bamford isn’t the only comic trying out new material in Austin: she’s one of a 109 stand-up comedians performing at this year’s Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival (and one of the more recognizable faces at this year’s festival, either for her series of off-kilter Target commercials or her famously strange on-stage antics and voices).

Human Chickens Announce Moontower Comedy Fest Lineup

Tyler Pratt — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:57:30 +0000

Local comedians dressed as chickens took to the streets of downtown Austin Tuesday afternoon. They reenacted the famous Abbey Road album cover, talked to locals and garnered attention for Austin’s secnd Annual Moontower Comedy and Oddity Fest.

Jim Ritts, Executive Director of the Austin Theatre Alliance, announced the festival lineup at the Paramount Theater. This year’s headlining stand-up comedians are Dana Carvey, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr, Bill Hader & Jim Gaffigan.

Dave Chappelle Playing Surprise Show in Austin

Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:03:39 +0000

Comedian Dave Chappelle – who after massive success with his “Chappelle’s Show” TV series shunned the spotlight – is performing in Austin tonight.

Chappelle will be performing at the Paramount Theater at 8 p.m. tonight, in an appearance just announced this morning. After turning his back on his provocative comedy series in 2005, Chappelle has instead focused on standup comedy, often playing “secret” shows like this one just announced.

AM Update: Romney Leads Obama in Texas, State Seizes Yassine Properties, Moontower Fest Kicks Off

Carlos Morales and Tolly Moseley — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:25:28 +0000

Romney Leads Obama in Texas

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would beat President Obama in Texas if an election were held today. At least that’s what a recent survey from Public Policy Polling has found.

The group surveyed nearly 600 Texans and 400 Republican primary voters and found that 50 percent would vote for Romney. Forty-three percent said they would choose Obama. The seven-point spread is a significant drop from the last presidential race in Texas when, in 2008, republican nominee John McCain captured the state by 13 points.

Tonight: 'Party Down' at the Bob Bullock

Tolly Moseley — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:21:20 +0000

In June 2010, cable channel Starz canceled Party Down after just two seasons. The critically revered but little seen show, which depicted Hollywood hopefuls working dreary day jobs for a catering company, was co-created and co-written by UT grad (and former San Antonio high school teacher) Rob Thomas.

Tonight, Thomas returns to Austin to screen the show's unaired pilot.

Shot at Thomas' house, the pilot was used to sell the show to Starz network. Besides Lizzy Caplan, the spot included the whole original cast, including Jane Lynch (who would eventually leave to join the cast of Glee) and Adam Scott (who got snatched up by Parks & Recreation).

'Tim & Eric': Cult Comedians Boldly Go Gonzo

Ian Buckwalter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:04:59 +0000

Picture in your mind John C. Reilly, dressed in a filthy shirt that is five sizes too small, rainbow suspenders holding up his shorts, facing off with a wolf he has lured out of hiding by duct-taping slices of pepperoni pizza to his torso.

Then imagine a 90-minute film in which that's one of the least bizarre images to pass before your eyes.

Watch Austin Filmmakers' Rejected Super Bowl Commercial

Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:12:26 +0000

A certain sporting match is occurring this weekend, and viewers wil