Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAst Laugh: This Week in Comedy
There's a bunch of great benefit shows all over the land this week, so now's your chance to be philanthropical and giggly at the same time. There's also some big names on the horizon, with Russell Brand, Janeane Garofalo, and Elephant Larry all putting up some limited engagements around town. Combine that with regular show stalwarts like Harold Night at UCB, Worst Laid Plans, and the opening of the LA Comedy Festival AND the iO West Harold Competition, and there's no reason not to see something this week.
As always, let me know if you've got a show you'd like to promote, and we'll try to get it up.
MONDAY 5/3
Support for LAist comes from
Jo Koy LLS Benefit, 8p Irvine Improv. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are getting some help from Jo Koy. All proceeds benefit LLS.
TUESDAY 5/4
Upstate v. USS Rock N’ Roll, 9p iO West. The annual Harold Competition is upon us again. Actually, it started on Monday, but this is the first really great (and tough) matchup. Go support!
Russell Brand, 11p UCB. A not-so-secret drop in by Brand on Tuesday night means you better get to the theater early to stand in line.
WEDNESDAY 5/5
In The Land..., 8p Comedy Central Stage. Jason Nash revisits his true (and truly funny) one man show: In The Land of Tall Buildings & Red Fire Engines. Raising a child has never been so memorable (for him).
Janeane Garofalo, 8p Largo. Janeane takes the stage of a night of stand up and storytelling at Largo.
Support for LAist comes from
THURSDAY 5/6
LA Comedy Festival, 7:30p ACME. Most of May is dedicated to the LA Comedy Festival, running from the 6th to the 23rd. Features include stand up, sketch, improv, and short films.
Elephant Larry's Treehouse, 8p Comedy Central Stage. The amazing Elephant Larry sketch comedy group is dipping into LA for one show at the Comedy Central Stage. The NYC powerhouse sketch comedy group fellas present: Elephant Larry’s Treehouse.
FRIDAY 5/7
You Fascinate Me, 8p UCB. Jimmy Pardo does some stand up, chat up some celebrities, and play a pretty great gameshow of the same name. This month: Mike Sweeney, longtime head writer (most recently for Conan).
Bring The Rock, 9p Largo. Ben Stiller, Josh Homme, Greg Behrendt, Al Madrigal and others all team up to raise money for Ben’s STILLERSTRONG movement.
SATURDAY 5/8
Support for LAist comes from
Wilt Chamberlain’s Kids, 8p iO West. A crazy improv / sketch show where a portion of the proceeds go to Help The Children. Literally.
Worst Laid Plans Book Show, 10p UCB. The good news is Worst Laid Plans, the bad sex storytelling show, got a book deal. The better news is they’re launching / showing it off / telling even more stories at UCB on Saturday.
SUNDAY 5/9
John Pinette, 7p Ontario Improv. Head East, young man, to see the wonderful stand up stylings of John Pinette.
But I Digress..., 8:30p Improv Comedy Lab. Next to the Improv on Melrose, Bert Hilkes talks about every comic’s one man show: almost making it.
That guy's loud in more ways than one. Photo via ruggybear for LAist Flickr pool.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist