And just like that...

...it's weekend!

I have no jokes for you today.

Not really.

Maybe...

Source: SMBC

Enjoy the weekend, and remember that to catch a unicorn you want to really make sure you are on the right kind of LSD.

Hellpants and the FBPK at On Broadway – COMPETITION TIME

I have written about Martin Evans’s new stand up show called Hellpants and the FBPK before when he took it to the Grahams Town Arts Festival. If you ask Martin, he would probably tell you that he only sold three tickets and it was a major flop. If you ask Standard Bank though, they will tell you it was worthy of a Silver Ovation award. So either the show is good or Standard Bank confused three people standing up and walking out as an “ovation”.

From my experience with Martin however, this show is going to be good and Cape Town is finally getting a chance to experience what a FBPK is. A story about how a guy almost had to give a leg to meet his future wife. Martin Evans is coming to On Broadway on the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th of August 2011 so you don’t have much time to get your tickets, as they are sure to sell out quickly.

Tickets can be booked at Computicket

I have more good news though. Through hard work and countless emails (not really, took like one tweet) I acquired two tickets to Friday (5 August 2011) night’s show to give away to one lucky reader. To be that lucky reader all you need to do is comment below and a random winner will be selected in a draw. 

Remember to tell your friends and their cousins about this once in a lifetime opportunity.


Update: Competition closes on Tuesday night. The winner will be announced on Wednesday morning. 

Nik Rabinowitz at On Broadway

Nik Rabinowitz at On Broadway

August is going to be a great month for standup comedy and On Broadway will be where most of it will be happening.  They are continuing their intimate comedy sessions into August. So far we have been treated to Tracy Klass and John Vlismas. Next up is local talent Nik Rabinowitz.

a special kind of talent...

I have seen Nik a couple of times before in his one man shows and with Riaad Moosa and Mark Lottering in the Three Wise men show and he never disappoints. He also recently finished his new one man show so you can expect some new material from his trip to Australia and his new hobby, surfing but also some old favorites.

Nik will be performing at On Broadway for two shows only. Monday, 01 August 2011 and Tuesday, 02 August 2011. Tickets are R100 a pop with group booking specials available. Make sure you grab a ticket before they are all sold out.

Book online now through computicket.

Graca CapeTown Comedy Showdown Heat 2

It's been a week since the first heat of the Graca Showdown and it is time to get ready for Heat 2.

Heat Harder

This week Zula Bar treats us some more with Mark Palmer(top) MC'ing and Siv Ngesi headlining. The contestants this time around are Kagiso Mokgadi, Liam Bento, Carl Weber, Dalin Oliver and Shaun Fickling. They will be doing their best to make us laugh the loudest in their allotted five minutes for the chance to be part of the Nando's Comedy Festival in August. So if you want to wash away those Monday blues head over to Zula Bar tonight and let these guys make you forget about life. The show starts at 21:00 and entry will set you back R40 a pop. Which is well worth it.

See you there.

And just like that...

...it's weekend!

Man, what a crazy week. To recap of the Graca Comedy Showdown at Zula bar this past Monday. The first heat's winners are Oliver Booth and Rustam S August. Oli Booth does impressions which is what his act is based on. His Peter De Villiers impression  rivals that of Nik Rabinowitz. Rustam is the king of one liners delivered in a dead pan state. Very much like the in the same flavour as Steven Wright. He is brilliantly sharp and you better not wink cause you might not catch the next joke. Second Heat is happing on Monday. More detail to follow soon.

I was listening the Drive Time Robbery this afternoon like I do and they have a segment called "Lauren's Weird Shit" which is hosted by Lauren Beukas. This afternoon she shared a link to a video that I just have to share with you. Check it below:



Enjoy the weekend. Remember, if you shine your snitch twice a day, you will go bald.

Graca CapeTown Comedy Showdown 2011

It is very cliche to complain about Monday. For some it is the worst day of the week. The first day of the week where we have to deal with life. I study part-time and I made a rule. No studying on Monday. The day is bad as it is. This gives me some free time to do the things I enjoy in the evening after work. Like watch a movie, go eat a steak and just general fun. So now I look forward to Mondays. It isn't as bad anymore.

But what to do though? If you stay in Cape Town, you are in luck. The first heat of the Graca Comedy Showdown is happening at Zula Sound Bar in Long Str tonight. Show starts at 21:00. Expert funny guys, Rob van Vuuren and Nik Rabinowitz will be MCing. Also you will have the chance to see some new talent do their thing and aim for that spot at the Nando's Comedy Festival Cape Town. Go and show your support by laughing out loud at what these comics have to tell you. So cancel your overtime or record Survivor and watch it on Tuesday. 

For more info visit Zula Bar. Booking is essential

And just like that...

...it's weekend!

And what a week it's been. Some slow days there in the middle. It is over now, we can start the fire and drink some beer.

Keeping with yesterday's theme. Here is some John Vlismas to see you into the weekend.



Enjoy, and remember, Floss your tiger at least once a day.

John Vlismas on broadway

If I remember correctly, John Vlismas was probably my first exposure to south african comedy. Back when I was in Kimberley and bored out of my mind. I remember listening to John Vlismis and how he started to smoke just to piss of the health minister of that time. Seven (wow) years later and I finally get to see the man on stage doing his thing. I have seen John on stage a few times before. The first was when he hosted the bafunny bafunny tour. The second was when he MC'ed Ramfest 2011. Both times I felt that he wasn't given enough opportunity for that Vlismis humour to come through. So when I heard that he was going to do a one man show at On Broadway this coming weekend, I jumped at the chance to buy some tickets. I want to see if he still has that certain edge to himself.

Granted, John's humour isn't for everyone. So if you want to go hear about how cute puppies are and stories about babies falling over, you would probably want to give this one a miss. There might be jokes about puppies and babies falling over, but they won't be done in a 'cute' way.

Yeah... not in a cute way at all...

Official Press Release Below:


JOHN VLISMAS in .38

THURSDAY 14th to SATURDAYS 16th JULY 2011 - all shows start at 20h30 Tickets R85 per person, Students R65, groups of 10 or more R75

Finally, after years of being asked, John Vlismas returns to Cape Town for his first one-man show in ten years.  Ironically, Vlismas returns to his roots, and the company that mounted his first one-man show ever, On Broadway.
When asked what audiences can expect, Vlismas was characteristically blunt: "laughter, hard, outraged and startled laughter - and I hope they get some food for thought along the way.  I'm a reader, and I like to share my learning with an audience that is open-minded and mentally flexible."

John has been very busy in the last few years with large-scale projects, co-directing his first film project, "Outrageous", and co-founding the Comic's Choice Awards.  Now he wants to take some time to enjoy ninety-minute sets with small audiences, and see just how far they will allow him to take them.
"We have been asked often why John hasn't visited Cape Town with a one-man show in the recent past, and the answer is that he has been on so many large theatre and arena line-ups that he felt it would be overboard, but he has sneaked into a few clubs and done impromptu sets, and has had a great time.  He has always felt that massive venues are not great for really connecting with a crowd, and giving them a really good night, so when we heard about the Intimate Comedy idea, we knew it was the perfect opportunity," says Taffia Keight, Managing Partner at Whacked Management.
While the prolific comic promises to add new, topical material, he also says that he would like to revisit some of his classics from his first show at On Broadway, and see if he can rev it up with what he has learned over the last ten years.

For bookings please call 021 424 1194, visit our website www.onbroadway.co.za or book through any branch of Computicket.

Ovation awards and bugs

The Grahamstown festival has come and gone. Artists from all over the country braved the cold, the rain and the lack of posters to come together and show people there art. Since I couldn't go my only way of knowing what happened there is what I read on tweets and the like. From what I gather though, four artists in the comedy section won Standard bank Ovation awards. These awards are to ways to acknowledge artist for their excellence in the fringe section of the festival. There was only twelve (seven silver, two gold and three encore awards) given out so receiving one is no easy feat.

The Four artists are Rob van Vuuren, Stuart Lightbody, Martin Evans and a person I only know as Deep Fried Man. Make sure you check out these guys' shows if they are ever playing in your area. Congrats dudes!

On another note, office life is the bane of almost everyone's existence. Well, at least those that experience it on a daily basis. The mind numbing TPS reports do little to inspire and entertain. So we find ourselves browsing the internet for whatever entertainment we can find. One of my favorite hang outs is the webcomic, Bug. Updated five times a week this comic will give your brain a much needed dose of random humour it so rightfully deserves at 15:00 on a Monday afternoon. Give it a gander next time you feel the meaningless of you existence slowly fade away.

Bug

What? That hint of despair is normal for this time of year.

Nando's Comedy Festival

The Nando's annual Comedy Festival kicks off soon and it will be happening in South Africa's three big cities. For the third time in Durban, fourth time in Jozi and for the fifteenth time in the mother city. This is a great opportunity for us to see some international acts mixed in with our local talent. This years main attraction for Johannesburg and Durban seems to be Mark Curry. For those of you who don't know, Mark Curry is better known for the title roll in Hangin' with Mr Cooper that was on our screens in the nineties. Yes, I was just as shocked as you when I found out about this. Was not aware that he did stand up. Cape Town is treated to Pablo Francisco. We missed out on Pablo last year when he headlined for the other two cities and I remember thinking that I missed my chance to see this brilliant comic at work. So I will do my best to not miss out on him this year.

Book your tickets now before they are sold out! 

Nando's Comedy Festival Cape Town - Computicket

Nando's Comedy Festival Johannesburg - Computicket

Nando's Comedy Festival Durban - Computicket

 Below is some more detail.

NANDO’S JOZI COMEDY FESTIVAL:

Dates:    22 – 31 July 2011

Venue:   The Teatro at Montecasino

Tickets:  From R150 – R250

Cast:       Mark Eddie

                Michael Loftus

                Dan Cummins

                Mark Curry

                Dave Thornton

                Theo Von

                Ndumiso Lindi

                Graça Showdown Winner (to be announced)

 

NANDO’S DURBS COMEDY FESTIVAL:

Dates:    4 – 6 August 2011

Venue:   ICC

Tickets:  From R130 – R180

Cast:       Mark Eddie

                Michael Loftus

                Dan Cummins

                Mark Curry

                Dave Thornton

                Nik Rabinowitz

                Graça Showdown Winner (to be announced

 

NANDO’S CAPE TOWN COMEDY FESTIVAL:

Dates:    9 – 14 August 2011

Venue:   The Artscape Theatre

Tickets:  From R150 – R200

Cast:       Pablo Francisco

               Greg Behrendt

               Mark Eddie

               Michael Loftus

               Dan Cummins

               Ndumiso Lindi

               Graça Showdown Winner (to be announced)

BIOS OF ACTS:

 

Mark Curry - Actor/Comedian Mark Curry has been making people laugh for over two decades.  Since his long running show Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, which is still in syndication in 6 countries, he has hosted several hit shows: Coming to The Stage (BET), Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush (Comedy Central), Animal Tales (PAX), and Showtime at the Apollo. He has had major roles in Fat Actress with Kirstie Alley (Showtime), Def Comedy Jam (HBO), along with numerous specials on HBO and Comedy Central.  He continues to have a heavy stand-up schedule and has been touring the globe with shows in Las Vegas, London, Australia just to name a few. His sold out tour of Africa was a history- making event.

 

Dave Thornton – This razor sharp and engaging comedian was a hit at the Nando’s Cape Town Comedy Festival in 2010 and will be bringing his accessible humour and free flowing style to Johannesburg and Durban audiences for a first time. Dave’s success as a comic has quickly broadened into a range of performance credits on TV, radio and stage – from an ongoing role in ABC’s Bed of Roses, which aired in 2008, to a regular performer on Comedy Inc. – The Late Shift 2007. His stand-up comedy has been televised on Good Morning Australia (Network TEN) and the Melbourne Cup special on Stand-up Australia (The Comedy Channel). Most recently he performed stand-up comedy on Rove (Channel 10).  In 2006 he won Campus Comedian of the Year at the TREV awards and was nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ award for his show Euromission at the 2007 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Presently he is hosting ‘Studio A’ a live chat show on Channel 31 produced by Ged Wood (Spicks and Specks).

 

Theo Von - Theo Von is a Louisiana native whom you may recognize from Comedy Central’s ‘Reality Bites Back’, NBC’s Last Comic Standing Season 4, and Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham. He performs stand-up comedy across the country, and performs nightly in Los Angeles when he’s not on the road. His comedic bits include rants about his dysfunctional family and The South. Theo is the genius behind CrankTexts.com, a website where he texts random numbers and gets into conversations with total strangers. It is featured weekly on CollegeHumor.com.

 

Mark Eddie - With an acoustic guitar, a signature voice and an uplifting spirit, comedian/musician Mark Eddie delivers a host of memorable songs, comedic observations, guitar “riffs” and musical impressions of artists such as Neil Diamond, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi  and Johnny Cash to name a just few. With guitar in hand & tongue firmly in cheek, he answers burning questions like, …what does heavy metal & polka music have in common?  Or …can Neil Diamond sing Dr. Suess?  This former cover band lead singer from Ohio has become one of today’s most sought after entertainers and has opened for Jackson Browne, Melissa Etheridge & Toad the Wet Sprocket after being singled out twice in Billboard Magazine® and charting in CMJ®. After being nominated a staggering five times for the coveted NACA “Campus Entertainer Awards”, Eddie found his place on comedy stages.  He regularly headlines LA’s legendary comedy venues The Improv, The Comedy & Magic Club andThe Laugh Factory where he’s known for rapid-fire rock references.  For 2011, Eddie is developing a feature film project with writer/producer Chris Robert at Two TonFilms and planning to tape a 1-hour HD comedy special for cable.

 

Michael Loftus - Michael Loftus is one of the most sought after writer/performers in comedy today. In 2009 his one-hour special You’ve Changed, all about surviving marriage and that one argument you can never win, premiered on Comedy Central. He is currently a co-producer and executive story editor on the NBC comedy Outsourced. He was previously a writer on the hit ABC comedy series The George Lopez Show and he’s currently a regular on TruTV’s The Smoking Gun Presents… In addition to his own comedy album, he has appeared on the Warner Bros. comedy album Executive Privilege alongside Kevin Pollack and The Best of Bob & Tom CD. Michael Loftus is among the most popular headlining comedians touring today.

 

Dan Cummins - Over the past few years, Dan’s absurd observations and dark autobiographical stand-up has been featured on The Late, Late Show, The Tonight Show, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents Dan Cummins, in his own one hour Comedy Central special, “Crazy With A Capital F”, and on several other nationally televised programs.  Material from his two CDs “Crazy with a Capital F”, and “Revenge is Near” - have both debuted in the top ten on the Billboard Comedy Chart.  No stranger to the festival circuit, Dan’s also performed at the world’s most prestigious comedy festivals, including numerous shows at the Montreal Comedy Festival, the Aspen Comedy Festival, the HBO Las Vegas Comedy Festival, and many more.  Recently, Dan landed a starring role in the upcoming indie feature film, “Trunk’d”.

 

When Pablo Francisco hits the stage, he immediately brings his audiences to their feet with boisterous laughter and applause. He weaves together his arsenal of characters, spontaneous outbursts, and clever insights to create a stand-up show that more resembles an hour-long comedic jazz riff.  He is an off-the-wall, animated character that points out the absurdity in an illogical, pop-culture obsessed world.  His unmatched take on all things pop culture has taken him into the ranks of the most popular touring comedians worldwide. Pablo’s enormous popularity and outrageously funny material has hooked millions of viewers on YouTube and Facebook. He headlined last year at the Nando’s Jozi and Durban Comedy Festivals and due to the overwhelming response from fans, we are bringing him back to SA to perform for the first time in Cape Town.

 

Greg Behrendt should be known for may things. He's a brilliant lifelong comedian who accidentally became the best selling co author of the inescapable He's Just Not That Into You. He was the host of the weirdly named Greg Behrendt Show and he's the musical force behind America's instrumental surf and ska combo the Reigning Monarchs and the foremost collector of small glass pig figurines or ("pigurines"). It is because of all these unique, memorable accomplishments that he is singularly recognized world wide as That Guy From That Thing! Enjoy him in person or at a great distance but enjoy him just the same!

 

Nik Rabinowitz grew up on a farm just outside Cape Town, where he spent many years climbing trees and commentating on his own rugby games in at least three of South Africa’s eleven official languages. The farm community defied Apartheid’s Group Areas Act, with the result that Nik grew up amongst isiXhosa-speaking people, and to this day is still the white sheep of their family.

Over the past ten years he’s established himself as one of the country’s premier acts, well known for his multilingual satire and passion for goats. In 2008 he was awarded SA Stand up the Year, solidifying his position as the world’s leading Jewish-speaking Xhosa comedian. Nik recently appeared alongside eight of SA’s top stand-ups in “Bafunny Bafunny” at The Royal Albert Hall, and burst briefly on to the UK comedy stage with a guest appearance on Mock the Week. Nik is currently performing his one-man show “Nik Rabinowitz – Live in London” to a sold-out Soho Theatre in the UK and will once again star in “Bafunny Bafunny – The Odd Shaped Ball” later this year.

 

Ndumiso Lindi - Known for his trade mark hat, funky urban stylish look and brilliant impersonation of the Madiba Jive, Ndumiso Lindi is regarded as one of South Africa’s top black comedians. An entertainer with flair, Ndumiso delves into honest observations of everyday life in South Africa; the diversity of South African cultures; as well as the uniqueness of black people. Painting the nation from a young black man’s point of view, this talented man is well on his way to the top! Inspired by his family and the likes of Eddie Murphy and Bill Cosby, his first big break came in 2004 during the Vodacom Comedy Campus Tour. After regular successful performances on the local comedy circuit, Ndumiso won a trip to London as the Best Newcomer in the Red Bull Comedy AllStars Comedy Challenge. He has shared the stage with local award winning comedy gurus such as: Kurt Schoonraad, Mel Miller, Riaad Moosa, Stuart Taylor, Dave Levinsohn, Cokey Falkow, Mark Lotterring and David Kau. He has performed to countless standing ovations at all the major comedy events in South Africa and was starred as a guest judge on the TV Show “So you think You’re Funny”.

 

* Graça Showdown Winner - The “Graça Comedy Showdown” winner (the local stand-up competition) will get the chance to perform alongside the international comedy heavy weights and will only be announced closer to the festival start.

And just like that...

...it's weekend!

A special shout out to my lady who is celebrating her birth today. I have the perfect gift in mind. All I need is the right sized box and some cutters and then I am going to romance you right.

Check it.




I really love The Lonely Island.

Enjoy the weekend! Remember, Condomize.

Loyiso Gola hits Cape Town

After two sold out shows at Monte Casino, Loyiso Gola is bringing his new stand up show to Cape town this coming weekend. You can catch him at the CTICC on 8 July 2011. Tickets go from R130 to R150.

Loyiso Gola - Life and Times tickets at Computicket

For those of you who don't know who Loyiso Gola is, well, where have you been this last year? Seriously? The first season of his very popular TV show called 'LNN' on etv just finished its run recently. LNN is a show very much in the same style as The Daily Show, meaning it is news satire. Loyiso isn't the only comedian to be seen on LNN either. Conrad Koch's alter ego Chester Missing has made appearances plus everyone's favorite Indian doctor, Riaad Moosa. I heard today in a interview with Loyiso on KFM that LNN will be back in September. This is great news for Loyiso who already has 10 years of comedy experience under his belt and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

I saw Loyiso last year in Bafunny Bafunny where he graced the stage with the likes of Mark Banks, Nik Raboniwitz and the cousin himself, Barry Hilton. His style of comedy stood out for me and he was by far my favourite act of that show. Below is a promotional clip from his last show's dvd, Loyisho Gola for president. I would vote for him.



On a side note, moving is going very well but there is still loads to do. At least I got my ADSL connection sorted but I find it to slow for my needs. So will need to upgrade soon. Wish me luck.