Happy Saturday! Every week, I send out an email with my upcoming shows, one thing I think is great, one thing that made me laugh, and one thing I found interesting.
Upcoming Shows
EVERYWHERE:
I was a guest on the very funny and smart Negin Farsad's podcast Fake the Nation with Sarah Pappalardo (co-founder of Reductress). We talked all about this week's news and why 3D printed guns and Omarosa might not be great for our future. Link
The newest episode of You're the Expert features MIT's Dr. Roz Picard talking about how she helped invent wearable computers and the future of "emotional technology." Link
BURLINGTON, VERMONT:
Sunday, August 26th at 5:30 p.m. I'm teaching a workshop at the Vermont Comedy Club on writing for television and then telling some jokes on the show afterwards. Link
NYC:
SOLD OUT Monday, August 26th at 7:30 p.m. at The Wild Project. A short play I wrote is making its debut as part of Cherry Picking, an annual festival of new work. Link
Sunday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Caveat. You're the Expert is back for a new live taping with a mystery scientist and a panel of incredible comedians. Link
As always, you can find my schedule with all upcoming dates online here.
This week's list
GREAT:
Jo Firestone makes me laugh in a way that no one else does. She is a treasure of a human being and a comedian unlike any other. She just released her debut album The Hits. You should listen. There is no other performer who is going to give you a track of jokes like "An Hour on Raisins" or feature transition music written/performed by Will Butler of The Arcade Fire ("like on This American Life!"). The album is out on iTunes or Spotify and probably many other places too!
FUNNY:
I know that Farah Brook is a very talented standup, but I mostly know her through her Twitter and Instagram. She manages to have such a clear voice online, which I really admire. Her posts are witty and clever and feel so different from what everyone else is doing. Vulture interviewed Farah about her writing process, where she comes up with jokes, and how she and The Rock ended up as Twitter friends. Farah Brook on Tweeting with Anxiety
INTERESTING:
Dave Rangaviz was a public defender in Maryland who noticed that the laws around theft were unfair and ripe for abuse. He wrote an op-ed and began a campaign that led to Maryland's law being reformed. Other states have taken note and are trying to fix their own issues too, but coming up against the lobbying might of giants like Walmart. The issue is so absurd that it seems like it can't possibly be real but it is. From the NYT:They're Falsely Accused of Shoplifting, but Retailers Demand They Pay. I know there's so much going on in the world right now, but this is one issue that could be easily solved with just a little bit more public attention and pressure.
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Have a great day!
Chris