Comedy in DC: Still Talking About That Same Festival

’shure beta’
courtesy of ‘billaday’

Yeah, okay, so… the big news in DC comedy is still the Bentzen Ball. I rounded up some clips for you (and some fussing about the “curation” of the festival) a couple of weeks ago, then Washingtonian inexplicably profiled the least representative sample possible of comics appearing.  Dandy. But what you need to know is… there are unpublicized shows the Thursday through Saturday nights. Oh yes. After the ticketed shows wind up, there are going to be late-night gigs at Ben’s Chili Bowl featuring informal sets from several of the comics appearing. As one of the organizers of the rogue shows says, “Imagine an open mic where everyone is amazing.” So if you’ve missed out on tickets or are out late on U Street or just want to hang out with funny people, Ben’s Chili Bowl is the place to be.

In what seems like someone’s staggering failure to check the calendar, the DC’s Funniest Fed Finals are  also happening this weekend- Friday night at the Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse. Tickets are $15 and the show starts at 8.

If this explosion o’ comedy this weekend isn’t enough for you (and it isn’t for me, since I’ll be at a wedding for a good chunk of the weekend), there’s Three Chord Comedy at the Velvet Lounge next Friday night. Aparna Nancherla and Eli Sairs will be fresh from crushing at the Bentzen Ball, and they’ll be joined by some NYC comics, including Onion News Network contributor Zach Broussard.

And finally, to round out this post:  A clip that literally made me laugh until I cried.
In Which Jake Young Pitches A Short Film:

Like

Unlike