Happy Saturday! Every week, I send out an email with my show dates and recommendations of things I think you might enjoy. At the moment, I don't have much to report. I'm trying to fight off procrastination and actually get my writing done. (The great part about freelancing is also the terrible part: there's no boss to make sure you're doing your work.) I hope you had a productive week, but also that you're taking some time to lie on the couch or the beach if you need it.
NOTE TO NEW ORLEANS PEOPLE: Please stay safe and be careful! If you were planning on coming to this Tuesday's Pop-Up Magazine show, I've been told they're keeping track of the weather and will decide whether it's still happening or not after the weekend.
Upcoming Shows
EVERYWHERE:
Both full seasons of Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas are streaming online and on HBO Go. Link
You can listen to all the episodes of my podcast You're the Expert on any podcast app. Three comedians interview a scientist about her work and why it matters. Link
NEW ORLEANS:
Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. SOLD OUT I'll be performing with Pop-Up Magazine. Please see the note above and be careful out there.
NEW YORK:
Friday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Littlefield. I'll be performing at Bit Tank, a show where comedians pitch jokes to sharks for real money. Link
Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 p.m. at Union Hall. Dillon Stevenson and Mike Brown host Super Video Bros, where comedians (including me) break down classic music videos. Link
July 29-31 at The Wild Project. I'll be acting on Monday and a short play I wrote is being staged on Wednesday at the Cherry Picking festival for new work. SOLD OUT
You can find ticket links for all upcoming shows as soon as they are announced online at my website here.
This week’s list
GREAT:
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is about Jimmie's dream to reclaim the Victorian house his grandfather built in the heart of the city, but it's also about gentrification, friendship, our attachment to stories and art, and how to find a place where you belong. Jimmie Fails stars as a fictionalized version of himself in a movie he co-wrote with his childhood best friend Joe Talbot. It's the best film I've seen this year. The acting, the cinematography, the story, and the music are all breathtaking. The story behind the making of the film is pretty amazing too. Here's an interview with Fails and Talbot about their city and their movie: Who Gets to Say F--- San Francisco Now?
FUNNY:
Nobody has had a showbiz career like Whoopi Goldberg. Broadway solo shows, standup comedy, hosting the Oscars, starring in movies, and co-hosting a daytime talk show. It's incredible. But her fame's almost the least interesting part about her. Did you know she's never eaten an egg, she feels like an alien, and she's significantly more passionate talking about farts than The View? Whoopi Goldberg on Controversy and Conversation
INTERESTING:
One of my favorite parts of traveling to do comedy is visiting old friends and getting to stay with them. Having a grown-up sleepover is the best way of really catching up with someone, in my opinion. You get to talk but also spend some down time together and I always leave with a new picture of what their daily life and routines look like. It's the best. Jessica Francis Kane wrote a novel about a woman who "rekindles old friendships with some strict rules." Staying at their place rather than a hotel is one of them. And to promote the novel, Kane tried to follow the rules herself. It's a fun piece and good inspiration to schedule a trip to see an old friend. The Visitor (h/t The Ann Friedman Weekly)
Thanks for reading! If you like these emails, please forward to a friend or spread the word. If someone forwarded you this email but you're not yet on the list, you cansubscribe here.
Have a great day,
Chris