As recently as 2007, Vanity Fair’s resident man of letters (presently dead), Christopher Hitchens, attempted to put a philosophical spin on a theme that recurs with suspect regularity in the comedy world. “Why Women Aren’t Funny” reads like the world’s most long-winded back hand of a compliment, including such Victorian condescension as: “Whereas women, bless their tender hearts, would prefer that life be fair, and even sweet, rather than the sordid mess it actually is. Jokes about calamitous visits to the doctor or the shrink or the bathroom, or the venting of sexual frustration on furry domestic animals, are a male province.” Right, because shit and fart jokes are really just thinly disguised death metaphors and women, unable to bear basic facts of reality, don’t understand the toilet foundation of comedy’s great temple. In this framing, South Park is Dostoyevsky. I’m also fairly certain that torturing animals out of sexual frustration is a psychiatric diagnosis, not a finely tuned gender sensibility. It’s not just Hitchens; Jerry Lewis infamously said much the same without all the literary pomp and even further down the sexism food chain, Two and A Half Men co-creator, Lee Aronsohn, twittered his way into this great debate by dismissively summarizing the role of women in comedy: “Enough, ladies. I get it. You have periods.” more ›

Host Chase Durousseau warmed up the audience quickly with high-energy ruminations on his own “blackness,” the absurdities of The Neverending Story, and a spot-on Mark Wahlberg impression. Austin’s own Bryan Gutmann, whose specialty is finding the hilarious in the mundane, uncoiled the stupidity of all those “ghost hunter” shows, explained with conviction why watching television is better than going to the library, and recounted his visit to a Creationist museum. more ›

The Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival has brought plenty of faraway talent to town this week, but if you're looking for a way to support your local comedy scene (and your local burger joint, too), Unsuspectingly Sponsored By is the show to choose. more ›

Jeff Ross has the best job ever: people pay him to be a dick. If you’ve ever seen a Comedy Central roast you know his face and you certainly know his preternatural talent for saying the meanest thing possible at the perfect moment. No one escapes his wrath, and quite frankly, this is why we love him. more ›

Chelsea Peretti’s sharp, acerbic wit reaches far and wide - it’s likely she’s had a hand in creating something that’s made you laugh. From writing episodes of Parks and Recreation to doing stand-up, creating web videos, and penning articles for The Village Voice and The Huffington Post, Peretti is probably one of the busiest comedians working today. But there’s one goal she’s yet to scratch off her vision board - completing an hour’s worth of solid stand-up material. Peretti is heading to Austin this week to perform stand-up comedy jokes at the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Fest, where she hopes to get feedback on some newer, “sillier” material for an upcoming hour set (Yes, she’s using us, people). We spoke to Peretti recently about stand-up, writing and acting for TV, and her complicated relationship with the Internet. more ›

Every discipline has its required reading: for doctors, it’s the medical journal; for scholars, it’s the quarterly imprint. For comedians, Marc Maron’s WTF Pod is the instrument that measures turns both subtle and seismic in the tectonics of stand-up. more ›

Before stand-up comedians were branding YouTube channels and programming podcast networks, Ari Shaffir earned his web cred the old fashion way: by starring in viral videos. The Comedy Store staple found fame with a series of ironic hidden camera shorts called The Amazing Racist, in which he portrays a nerdy bigot who hurls cutting racial slurs at unsuspecting targets on the streets of LA. The videos earned millions of views after fans uploaded them to YouTube, which came as a shock to Shaffir, who filmed the clips for a DVD no one ever bothered to watch (produced by National Lampoon).

The former Jewish seminary student continues to win fans with appearances on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast and his own Skeptic Tank podcast. Shaffir also tours comedy clubs across the country slinging honest, expletive-filled spiels about sex, drugs and race, and he’s the founder of the annual "Shroomfest," a loosely organized communal daytrip he calls “a psychedelic mushroom party happening all over the world.” We spoke to Shaffir, a “multiple times every day” pot smoker, on 4/20, before his April 28 appearance at the Moontower Comedy Festival. more ›

Maria Bamford would perhaps have a difficult time living in the near future, where voice-recognition technology plays an integral role in tasks as mundane yet important as entering your home, or taking money out of the bank. Or perhaps, she wouldn’t. Perhaps she could live multiple lives with her multiple voices (many of them distinct, a few of them other-worldly, all of them hilarious). Stand-up connoisseurs know Bamford from The Comedians of Comedy as well as her appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live; cartoon buffs may recognize her voice talents from Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, Disney Channel's Kick Buttowski, Nickelodeon's Kung Fu Panda, and PBS's Word Girl; and television commercial aficionados remember her as the overly-excited shopper in Target’s Black Friday ads. Leading up to her performances this week at the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, we caught up with Bamford to discuss self-help books, sipping diet soda, and iPhone river challenges. more ›

“Keep it going for forced enthusiasm…” This is the way Dan Soder introduces himself to an audience. Bitterness is quickly earned in the world of stand-up, and while at first glance, this prologue seems cold and resentful, it’s actually a commiseration. ‘You’re here; I’m here, we (hopefully) know our respective roles, so I’m going to do my best to make you laugh.’ Comedy requires work ethic, and Soder’s been punching the clock for the better part of a decade. Beginning as an open mic-er in Tucson, Arizona, Soder eventually relocated to New York, quickly earning acclaim among the industry and his contemporaries. Alongside winning “New York’s Funniest” competition in 2011, Soder’s accolades include an appearance on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, and performances at Montreal’s Just For Laughs and Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festivals. We caught up with Soder via terrible cell phone connection to discuss South By, terrible jobs and terrible gigs. more ›

When Matt Bearden walks into a comedy open mic around town, a low-register hum effuses the room. The comics communicate like a hive of bees when they see he’s there. Those who have already finished their sets second-guess the delivery of a punch line or a tag; comics who have yet to go up abandon new bits and fall back on the tried and true. They want to make people laugh hard when Bearden’s there. He’s not even on stage and he owns the room. And for good reason: Matt Bearden has some hard-earned bona fides; he won the coveted Funniest Person in Austin Contest in 2002; his television appearances include MTV’s ‘Austin Stories’ and Comedy Central’s ‘Premium Blend.’ He’s done well with this comedy cache; he’s the mind and muscle behind PUNCH!, a weekly comedy showcase at Cap City that’s consistently great and always sells out (on a Tuesday of all days); he’s the snarky voice of reason on KLBJ’s Dudley and Bob Morning Show; he’s served as host every year for Misprint Magazine’s insanely popular Beard and Moustache Contest, and is a mainstay on Fun Fun Fun Fest’s comedy stage. Leading up to a whirlwind of forthcoming shows (including a headlining gig this week at Cap City and next month’s Moontower Comedy Festival), we talked with Matt Bearden about the business of making it as a humorist in a town still a little unwilling to call itself a “Comedy” town. more ›

It was just this past November that I was doubled over in my chair in a dark room at Coldtowne Theater, tears of laughter running down my face, trying to catch my breath while watching Stag Comedy's show: The Jerk Parade. A combination of live sketches and videos, the members of Stag filled the theater to the brim with as many people as the small space could fit. This coming February they will have a bit more room to run wild with their antics, with shows at The Alamo Drafthouse Ritz this February 12th and 19th. This will mark Stag's 4th full length show performed at the Alamo, and if past shows are any indication, tickets will be going fast. Despite being busy preparing for their show, Austinist was able to chat with the members of Stag (Joe Parsons, Mac Blake, David Jara, Dave Youmans, Andrew Rosas, and Ximena Estrada) to learn a bit about their writing process, what they think is funny, and the sketch comedy scene in Austin. more ›

Austin is finally hosting its first another really big all-comedy festival with the just-announced Moontower. Taking place on April 25th, the event has 24 featured comedians announced so far, including headliners Seth Meyers, Aziz Ansari and Steven Wright. The event will be spread out at multiple venues, including sponsor The Paramount, Cap City Comedy Club, landing somewhere around twelve venues to host the 60+ comedians expected to hit town for the festival. more ›

Bill Burr has been on fire recently. The incendiary comic is basking in the glow of victory, having just won the Boston Comedy Festival's "Comedian of the Year Award," with that, along with recent appearances on Letterman and Fallon, a second successful hour-long special, and a recurring guest spot on the much-loved AMC sensation Breaking Bad, meaning that, apologies to Louis C.K., there is room on this great green globe for more than one red-headed, truth-telling comic. Burr, who may not quite yet be a household name, is certainly on the upswing, and he'll be performing some new likely-to-upset-someone material this Saturday night at the beloved Paramount Theater. In advance of his headlining gig, we rang Bill up for a chat on virgins kissing, taking inflammatory words out of context, and his fifteen-second star turn on Law & Order. more ›

Brian Posehn is apparently a drug addict and a roustabout--if you believe everything the internet says. In reality, this actor/writer/comedian/musician/Dad is about as well-rounded as you can get and he has a resume to prove it. Some of you may know him from The Sarah Silverman Program, where he played one of the un-gayest gay men ever seen on television, or you may know him from one of the hundred other things he’s done. In Part 1 we explored how to be more metal (or just plain metal if you weren't metal already) and, though you may or may not have punched an old lady right in her dumb old face, you were educated. Join us again and get ready to travel down a path that'll make you feel both amused and uncomfortable. more ›

Comedian, beatboxer, performance artist, singer, pop culture encyclopedia: Reggie Watts is all of these things at once, which probably explains how he's managed to be a hit with the mainstream comedy crowd and NPR audiences and the experimental art world. Last week, he caught up on the phone with Austinist about his love of John Hughes movies and strong female singers, and he shared his thoughts on the Occupy Wall Street movement, and his dream production space. more ›

Brian Posehn is apparently a drug addict and a roustabout--if you believe everything the internet says. In reality, this actor/writer/comedian/musician/Dad is about as well-rounded as you can get and he has a résumé to prove it. Some of you may know him from “The Sarah Silverman Program” where he played one of the un-gayest gay men ever seen on television or you know him from one of 100 other things he’s been in or written or voiced. We had a nice colloquy with one of our favorite funny men about his real life story, his activist future, and his desire to help everyone be just a bit more metal. (Psst…Part 2 of this Interview goes up after Fun Fun Fun Fest so stay tuned for more about comedy, poop, and the real 99%.) more ›

Things you learn about Brody Stevens by watching Brody Stevens: 1. He’s friends with Snoop Dogg 2. He does karaoke with Jason Patrick 3. He’ll call Zach Galifianakis onstage if you don’t get your act together. Some of that well connectedness is perhaps a put-on (he’s had roles in the last couple of Galifianakis projects, no word on the Snoop Dogg and Jason Patrick…), but the confidence required to sell the “Insider’s Insider” is what makes Stevens a comic’s comic. The years Stevens spent doing warm-up for shows like Chelsea Lately and The Best Damn Sports Show are apparent in his ability to weave top-of-the-head observations into his act. He’s a comic striving for the moment. We called up the self-proclaimed “Positive Energy Provider” to discuss his new podcast, MMA fans, and what state his beard will be in for Fun Fun Fun Fest. more ›

We don’t know if you know this, but podcasts are a big deal. Okay, you probably did know that, but maybe you didn’t know that podcasts have brought about a renaissance of sorts in the world of comedy: Ricky Gervais, Marc Maron, Chris Hardwick, Joe Rogan, Julie Klausner, Paul F. Tompkins, and Scott Aukerman (just to name a few), have reinvigorated the conversations people have about comedy--they’ve given it cultural cachet once again. Austin comic Cameron Buchholtz has been a contributor to that conversation. Over the past couple years, his podcast, CB Radio, has brought to our ears comedy-centric conversations with guests ranging from national acts like Henry Rollins and Dom Irrera, to Austin favorites Matt Bearden, Andy Ritchie and Erik “The Lizardman” Sprague. We caught up with Buchholtz by phone to chat about podcasting, FFF Fest, and talking about porn on Twitter. more ›

Louis Katz tells dirty jokes for smart people. Or smart jokes for dirty people; take your pick. He’s like your grad student friend who blows all his student loan money on Rubenesque strippers. And uses “Rubenesque” in everyday conversation. His credits include appearances on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Jamie Foxx’s America’s Funniest Comics, and HBO’s Down & Dirty with Jim Norton. He also has a half-hour Comedy Central Presents special, and recently released his debut comedy album, If These Balls Could Talk. We chatted up Katz by way of bad internet phone line to discuss BBWs, time-traveling pimps and real-life David Lynch moments. more ›

There are four films in the Comedy Vanguard spotlight at this year's AFF. All of them are premiere titles for the festival and Freak Dance is actually making its World Premiere. We've got a preview of all four features to help you plan your festival picks! more ›

[Editor's Note: This fantastic interview was guest contributed by local writer and amateur comic Jared Walls.] Amy Schumer is busy! She was a finalist on Last Comic Standing, has appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, and Live at Gotham. She’s been on “WTF with Marc Maron” (the most legit of legit comedy podcasts), even has her own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, and a recently released album, Cutting. She’s appeared on Delocated, Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock. Did we mention she’s only been doing stand-up for seven years? Confidence and attention to the craft of the joke have vaulted this Long Island native from NYC open mics to headlining gigs at comedy clubs and colleges nationwide. We got hold of Amy by email to talk about funny chicks, smelly festival goers, and racist toddlers. more ›

[Editor's Note: Both parts of this awesome interview were guest contributed by local writer and amateur comic Jared Walls.] Shane Mauss is a stand-up comic who, for the past year, has called Austin “home,” a relative term for a comic as busy as Mauss. If you find yourself at Cap City on a Sunday or Tuesday night, or at the Velveeta room on Thursday, you may be fortunate enough to catch him working out new material. But you may have also caught Mauss on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Showtime's Comics Without Borders, or maybe his own Comedy Central Presents special. His jokes cast an irreverent lens on topics ranging from theme park disasters, to time travel, to the absurdity of truck commercials. His comedic voice is as distinct as his actual voice (he’s unmistakably from Wisconsin). Punchline Magazine named his debut album, Jokes to Make My Parents Proud, one of the Top 10 Comedy Albums of 2010. In Part One we chatted with Mauss about Australia, Wikipedia K-Holes, and crappy sitcoms, and here we talk his thoughts on the sadness of tough guys and his favorite kind of weirdoes. more ›

[Editor's Note: Both parts of this awesome interview were guest contributed by local writer and amateur comic Jared Walls.] Shane Mauss is a stand-up comic who, for the past year, has called Austin “home,” a relative term for a comic as busy as Mauss. If you find yourself at Cap City on a Sunday or Tuesday night, or at the Velveeta room on Thursday, you may be fortunate enough to catch him working out new material. But you may have also caught Mauss on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Showtime's Comics Without Borders, or maybe his own Comedy Central Presents special. His jokes cast an irreverent lens on topics ranging from theme park disasters, to time travel, to the absurdity of truck commercials. His comedic voice is as distinct as his actual voice (he’s unmistakably from Wisconsin). Punchline Magazine named his debut album, Jokes to Make My Parents Proud, one of the Top 10 Comedy Albums of 2010. We chatted with Mauss about Australia, Wikipedia K-Holes, and crappy sitcoms. On Thursday, we'll have Part Two of this interview, where we'll get his thoughts on the sadness of tough guys and his favorite kind of weirdos. more ›

Sometimes two things are just so much more satisfying when they come together. Peanut butter and jelly, shotgun art, metallic objects in microwaves are all agreed upon combinations. But combining jazz and comedy? Local boundary- and button-pushing institution Church of the Friendly Ghost will mash these two into unholy marriage with their Comedy/Beat Fusion show this evening. more ›

Austin Sketch Fest started off strong on Thursday, and the weekend-long comedy party still has two more nights to go. Tonight at The Spiderhouse Ballroom, catch Austin's Midnight Society with Chicago's Saddle Dads at 8 pm, and at 10, don't miss local troupe Your Terrific Neighbors performing with Delicious Moments, an LA duo known for blurring the lines between performance and reality. Tomorrow, the festivities wrap up with a Best of the Festival show at 7 pm, followed at 8 by local group Rattlesnake and Broadminded, an all-lady team from Milwaukee. After the jump, Joel Osbourne of Your Terrific Neighbors gives a few takes on why you shouldn't miss tonight's show. more ›

This weekend, sketch groups from across the country will flock to town for the second annual Austin Sketch Fest, an event organized by ColdTowne Theater to spotlight some of the most innovative scripted comedy groups in the game -- including nine troupes from right here in Austin. Josh Krilov, host of ColdTowne's The Night Show with Josh Krilov, spoke with several local comics performing in the first night of the fest (which closes with a special edition of the eponymous talk show). Learn how troupes Turn of the Century Paris, The P! Company and Ghetto Sketch Warlock are preparing for the weekend, which features acts from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Check out the video interviews (complete with potty humor and mom joke one-upmanship) after the jump. more ›