Comedy Show Tonight in LA: Jonah Ray’s Meltdown

by Chris Hardwick on April 16, 2010

Jonah Ray of Web Soup and Nerdist Podcast fame has a monthly comedy show in the back room of Meltdown Comics on Sunset. This line-up is PHENOMENAL so if you’re in LA tonight you MUST gotothere.

$8 for amazing comedy and FREE BEER??? You’d be crazy NOT to do it!

Comedy Show Tonight in LA: Jonah Ray’s Meltdown.

COMEDY AT MELTDOWN COMICS.

Attention all geniuses NOT going to COACHELLA. This show is a far better substitute than standing in the heat around a bunch of assholes. Come and hang out, should be a lot of fun.

We got pick of the week in the LA WEEKLY: http://www.laweekly.com/events/jonah-rays-meltdown-905773/

Here’s the line up:

HUGH MOORE: Hugh Moore is one of the hardest working comics around right now. You would never think by watching him though. His laid back style is juxtaposed against an onslaught of great joke after great joke. A writer for the short lived CHOCOLATE NEWS is a comics comic. Always generating new material that seems as honed and perfected as anything he’s been doing for years. You will see him and be blown away, I guarantee.

MARY LYNN RAJSKUB: Mary Lynn is best known for her role in FOX’S show “24” starring Kiefer Sutherland. But she’s been a personal favorite of mine as a comic ever since her days on HBO’s MR. SHOW with Bob and David. Never one to say a joke and mean it, Mary Lynn takes you on a weird path down a street yer not quite sure exists. You go along with her, you think to yerself “fuck it, wherever she takes me I’m sure it’ll be awesome.” And it’s true.

LAURA KIGHTLINGER: A legendary stand up comic. A former SNL cast member and the Creator/Star of her own show on IFC (The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.) Laura Kightlinger is a mainstay. I’d say that I’ve been a fan since I was a kid but that would just upset her. Taking self deprecation and self medication to a heightened level of art, Laura has a timeless sensibility that doesn’t age…just like her.

STEVE AGEE: Part of one of the best comedic ensembles on TV (the Sarah Silverman Programme) Steve has a lot going for him these days. But don’t tell him that. You see, Steve is one of the happiest curmudgeons you’ll ever meet. And that’s what makes me such a huge fan of his. More than anybody I know, Steve is constantly convinced he is about to die. So, he will come onto stage in his monthly conversation with me about his hobbies that include: Death Notes, Self Help Tapes, Constantly Getting Sick, and Being single at 40 years old.

DANA GOULD: Mother Fucking DANA GOULD. I would use the term “powerhouse” if I was the type to use such a term. But it’s the only thing I can think of to describe seeing this former writer/producer of the SIMPSONS perform. No matter how long he performs it never seems like enough. If you’ve never seen him perform then stop missing out and do your self a favor by watching him.

If that wasn’t enough, there will be other surprises throughout the show. Including a performance from comedic musician ELI BRADEN. And  a sketch by Marley Halpern-Glaser and Elisha Yaffe.

And to top it off: Free beer, The Crepe’in Around (crepe truck), and comic books.

jonah ray is UNFUCKWITHABLE.

Oh no, It’s Jonah Ray’s MELTDOWN!

With: Dana Gould, Laura Kightlinger, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Hugh Moore and Steve Agee

Friday, April 16th at 8PM

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(map)

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Comedy Meltdown with Paul F. Tompkins

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Date/Time:Fri., December 11, 8:00pm

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Price: $8

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Warm Up To Meltdown

By Nicole Campos

For the better part of two years now, Comedy Meltdown has offered one of the most consistently fantastic laugh lineups in town, overtaking the gallery space in the rear of the mighty Meltdown Comics on Sunset once a month with a reliably killer slate of standups, which has featured Dana Gould, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Aziz Ansari, Maria Bamford and a ton more. It’s with a sad typeface, then, that we have to impart the news that this month’s Comedy Meltdown Grand Finale is likely to be the last for a while: Booker extraordinaire Linda Pine is putting the show on hiatus, and though you shouldn’t count ComMelt out yet, you should definitely be there on Friday to send it off with a bang. Paul F. Tompkins headlines, which is reason enough to get your yucks in, as well as the free frosty beer included with the cover charge. Plus, you can get your Christmas shopping done for the beloved comic-book geeks in your life at the same time.

Comedy Meltdown with Paul F. Tompkins – Meltdown Comics – Los Angeles – Events.

COMEDY MELTDOWN 23

THE END?

Featuring: Paul F. Tompkins – Howard Kremer

Andrew Donnelley – Heather Thomson – Ron Lynch

Hosted by Jonah Ray

Friday, December 11, 2009 8:00 p.m.

7522 Sunset Blvd, L.A., CA 90046

$8.00 cover charge, sponsored by Asahi beer

EXIT INTERVIEW

Marz Richards (www.renfield.com) interviews Linda Pine!

Linda Pine is the impresario behind Comedy Meltdown, the super-successful comedy revue that took place at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown over the past two years. As Comedy Meltdown comes to a close and a new chapter for the Melt Gallery begins, the ever-inquisitive Marz Richards bothered Linda over a period of hours via electronic communiqué to establish this informative dialogue which we now present to you.

Q. Aggggggh!  It’s over?  It’s really over?  This is the last Comedy Meltdown? What are we to do with ourselves?

A. Cry into your respective pillows.

Q. Booking anything in Los Angeles is a whirlwind gig, crushing your email and phone lines and consuming your focus.  What was the toughest evening you produced during the run?

A. Andy Kindler & Ron Lynch were sick one night and I had to replace both of them on SHORT notice. Of course about 100 people  came to the show expecting Lynch and Kindler… I prevented a riot by plying them with Asahi.

Q. Comedy Meltdown introduced quite a few comedians to myself and the nerderati that  enter the store.  Were there any breakout performers from the show?

A. Howard Kremer hands down wins that award.  www.myspace.com/dragonboysuede

Q. The quality of performance at CM was, to my mind, astonishing.  Was there something about the room or the booking that contributed to consistent success, or are we just blessed with a lot of kick-ass comedians at this moment?

A. Thank you, to me too. I was lucky to have amazing headliners before the show really had legs, Dana Gould was on our second show for example… If good headliners build it, they will come.  www.danagould.com

Q. Do you have secret plans for the future?  Divulge them now and ruin the surprise!  We won’t tell anyone!

A. Comedy Meltdown World Tour is looking for sponsors. I am also pitching CM as a show for the TV.

Q. I’m big on learning.  What is the primary lesson to be learned from your experiences producing this show?

A. Comedians work their asses off.

Q. Could you expand on that a little bit?  Are they better promoters?  Do they always do more than expected as entertainers?

A. I just mean they go up every night, and sometimes more than once a night. Matt Braunger is a good example, many of the shows he’s done at CM were his second set of the night, but he always has the energy and just kills.  www.mattbraunger.com

Q. You’re an actor, but you’ve been quite busy with Comedy Meltdown.  Are you going to get back into the great game?

A. Yes, watching these guys and gals instantly produce once they get in front of the mike was inspirational to me. I

need to use that skill at every audition, and remember to roll with the punches.

Q. What did booking this many shows teach you about Los Angeles?

A. That there is always something great going on… and if people show up to CM it means that they passed on any number of awesome screenings, gallery openings, comedy shows, you name it! It’s been very humbling and I am truly grateful that CM found an audience.

Q. This drama may be over, but it’s really not the end.  You are curating more than a few art shows at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown through 2010. Tell me about your current installation and what’s next on the agenda?

A. My current show is called An Aurora of Polar Bears: A Children’s Primer. and it’s 26 original works based on terms of venery. My dad, a zoologist, wrote the introduction. I am hoping to make a children’s book (for smart children) out of it. February 27th will be Night of the Knick-Knacks or Return to Oz, all works inspired by the film. http://gallerymeltdown.wordpress.com

Q. Is it safe?

A. Absolutely not.

COMEDY MELTDOWN 23

THE END?

Featuring: Paul F. Tompkins – Howard Kremer

Andrew Donnelley – Heather Thomson – Ron Lynch

Hosted by Jonah Ray

Friday, December 11, 2009 8:00 p.m.

7522 Sunset Blvd, L.A., CA 90046

$8.00 cover charge, sponsored by Asahi beer

www.meltcomics.com

Date: Friday, September 25th

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Place: The swanktastic Meltdown Gallery at the rear of the store which is located here:

7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046-3408, US

http://meltcomics.com/

Whom: DANA GOULD

JONAH RAY

BLAIR BUTLER

BRIAN KILEY

Hosted by: BLAINE CAPATCH

Sponsored by: Tibetan Tea

L.A. Weekly’s BEST OF L.A.!

In addition to this stellar line-up we offer an OPEN BAR with your $8 cover charge!
Proceeds from the cover charge are donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
Please drink responsibly or designate a driver.

Something to be aware of: parking in this neighborhood is dodgy, so please plan accordingly.

www.comedymeltdown.com

Date: Friday, September 25th

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Place: The swanktastic Meltdown Gallery at the rear of the store which is located here:

7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046-3408, US

http://meltcomics.com/

Whom: DANA GOULD

JONAH RAY

BLAIR BUTLER

BRIAN KILEY

Hosted by: BLAINE CAPATCH

Sponsored by: ASAHI

L.A. Weekly’s BEST OF L.A.!

In addition to this stellar line-up we offer an OPEN BAR with your $8 cover charge!
Proceeds from the cover charge are donated to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
Please drink responsibly or designate a driver.

Something to be aware of: parking in this neighborhood is dodgy, so please plan accordingly.

www.comedymeltdown.com

Find the Los Angeles Magazine shout out with really nice pictures here:

@LosAngelesmag http://bit.ly/9B524

Posted under BOING BOING, Bizzaro Maneuverings, Comedy Show, Do Something, Family, Four toes, Friends of MLT, From the Editor, Gadgets, Gamers, Get to Know, Hollywood, Leaked, Music, News, The Beautiful People, attack of the show, event, g4

The monthly poster for Comedy Meltdown is deliciously absurd, parading two worlds clashing; the sexy and clever world of stand-up comedy and the demure geeky world of comic books.  These two worlds are delightfully in-sync on the fourth Friday of every month when Meltdown Comics, Hollywood’s beating heart of everything comics, pumps eclectic stand-up comedy into the veins of those who like comedy, love comics, and enjoy a beer or two!

Founded eleven months ago by Linda Pine, a 13-year patron of Meltdown, the monthly comedy night was created with the spirit of community in mind; “The plan is basically get the audience drunk and happy!”  She told me after ensuring I had an ice-cold Asahi in hand.

When asked how she obtains big names like Maria Bamford and Dana Gould to perform lengthy sets at a free event, she smiles and replies “I ask nicely!”

Comic art lines the walls of the vaulted-ceiling gallery that holds 100 people.  Though the lineup is different each month just like the poster, this month’s comics talked politics, wheelchairs and misogyny.  Well, the anti-woman banter came creatively from Stephanie Escajeda, dressed in drag, who even had me fooled (I was in the fifth row!) and walked the line of downright offensive but took a sharp left at irony.  The night was hosted by Fred Belford, who has been making Comedy Meltdowners laugh since the beginning.  It has only been a year since the Comedy Meltdown’s conception but it already made the LA Weekly’s famous “Best Of” list, nabbing the “best free comedy, beer included.”

The show’s highlights included Ron Lynch with his distinct theatrical comedy-a symphony of classical music, car horns and vacuums aligning with his simple gestures like dropping a baby and his perfectly droll facial expressions, and the always wonderful Dana Gould.  Mr. Gould was on and spoke to the crowd in his usual informal and hilarious way.  Opening with “What’s with Sarah Palin running?  I thought there wasn’t going to be a Bush on the ticket.”

He had me at bush.  Gould delivered a healthy set to a warmed-up gleeful crowd very receptive to current events and the night ended with monstrous applause for Linda and Meltdown Comics for bringing people out of the usual “Where should we blow our money tonight?” and into pure laughs where everyone is friendly and the Asahi flows like kryptonite.

I would recommend this monthly event to literally anyone who needs some spirited entertainment-ranging from a first date, to a post-wake party!”

Visit www.MeltComics.com for more info.

http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/364/Comedy-Meltdown-The-LA-Weekly-Had-It-Right.aspx

Comedy Meltdown 11: MOONRAKER