San Francisco Comedy Blog

Starring Mary Van Note and Natasha Muse.

Welcome to the Stage is a new web series that follows Bay Area comedians Pamela Ames, Marcella Arguello, Janine Brito, and Dana LoVecchio.

by Will Franken

If I was going to be stuck on a desert island and could only bring along five reasons to go see Will Franken perform in Montreal at the Just For Laughs Festival, July 23rd to the 26th, I think there’d be no question as to what the first reason would be:

REASON 1: MONTREAL IS BETTER THAN A DESERT ISLAND

Montreal is a much better place to be than a desert island. Please bear in mind that I have neither been to Montreal nor a desert island before–but I can imagine that the latter is not as much fun as the former. If you are in Montreal, for example, there are plenty of people you could ask to help you get off of a desert island. But if you’re on a desert island–good luck finding someone to help you get off of a desert island!

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Well folks, we’re 3 weeks into the Bay Area Laugh Leader Competition, with 7 more weeks to go!

The shows have been terrific, and competition has been fierce. Here’s the results of the first 3 weeks- these are the comics moving on to the semi-finals.

July 1st:
1st place: Eric Cash
2nd place: Candy Churilla
3rd place: Duat Mai

July 8th:
1st place: Kellen Erskine
2nd place: Joey Devine
3rd place: Ray Molina

July 15th:
1st place: Miles K.
2nd place: Marcella Arguello
3rd place: Dan Wilson

Thanks to all the judges we’ve had so far, including Aaron from The Laugh Button, Kevin from Cobb’s Comedy Club and all the rest.

Keep an eye on SFstandup.com/ball to follow the competition, and join us every Wednesday through September 2nd at The Purple Onion as we crown the SFstandup.com Bay Area Laugh Leader.

Last night, hilarious San Francisco native Al Madrigal made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

Dana Carvey recently appeared on Kevin Pollak’s new online chat show. The Dana Carvey part doesn’t start until about 4 minutes in, but it’s a LONG interview and well worth the wait for Carvey fans.

And if you’re still not Carvey-ed out, check out The Dana Carvey Show. All 8 episodes are available for free at Hulu.

Kevin Camia is one of San Francisco’s rising stars of comedy. In fact, he just won “The Golden Shingle” award as most outstanding rising stand-up star at the 2009 Rooftop Comedy Festival. Around town he’s known as the “comedians’ comedian” with his tightly written material, dry wit, and laid-back “tell it like it is” style. His credits include Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” AZN’s “ Asia Street Comedy,” and the SF Sketchfest. On July 17th & 18th, he’ll be headlining the Opening Weekend of “LIVE at the Purple Onion,” a new dinner & stand-up series at the legendary SF nightclub.

July 17th & 18th @ The Purple Onion
8pm, 10pm
140 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco

So, how did you get started in stand-up?

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The very funny David Feldman, Emmy award-winning TV writer and former SF comic, appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last Thursday. (After what was probably one of the most awkward intros ever given to a comedian on a late night show.)

Christian Finnegan is perhaps best known as one of the original cast members of VH1’s “Best Week Ever.” “Chappelle’s Show” fans will recognize him as ‘Chad’, the only white roommate in the infamous “Mad Real World” sketch.

This Wednesday, June 24th, Christian will be performing at the historic Purple Onion in North Beach for one show only. He usually plays at much bigger clubs when he stops in the Bay Area, so this is a rare opportunity to see him in such an intimate venue as The Purple Onion, and this will be his debut performance at the legendary club.

Wednesday, June 24th
8pm (doors open at 7:30)