Bleav in The Comedy Bureau Field Report

The coming-of-age of comedy will forever be a staple of comedy film and television as it both continues to resonate with audiences across the generations and also, well, time only goes one direction as far as we experience it. With that in mind, American High has carefully built an empire around feature length comedies that focus in on this very popular niche and have done so well that they've assembled a plethora of digital teams including Barely Adult. We got to talk with the brains and cast and boss of this very popular off-shoot of American High to see what goes into expanding the American High cinematic universe. Follow all the fine folks on this ep. as follows: Axelle Azoulay: @axelleazoulay Julianne Lang: @juli_can_ne Jill Young: @jillisyoung Max Castillo: @bigtimemaca Matt Newman: @mattsnewmans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barelyadult/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@barelyadult YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barelyadult Website: https://americanhigh.com/ YouTube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@americanhighshorts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanhighshorts/?hl=enA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@americanhighshorts?lang=en Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With so many specials and hours of comedy already in existence and dozens of them getting put out every month, how could you possibly turn the form on its head? Well, we found out exactly how when we talked to the amazing, description-defying Joey Greer and he's wholly unique and unprecedented special, Teeny Tiny, freshly served on YouTube, and how it turns every trope of a comedy special inside out in the best way possible. Watch Teeny Tiny on YouTube here and follow Joey @godblessjoeygreer on IG. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Such are the times that being a a brown-skinned comedian, much less one from a country South of the U.S. border, is, shall we say, dicey. That's only one of a myriad of reasons why Chilean comedian, now U.S. citizen Fabrizio Copano made sure to secure his status as an American citizen before releasing his latest special (given Trump's penchant for wanting kick everyone who isn't licking his boots out of the country). Fabrizio walked us through the whole, precedent setting, comedy history making journey on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow Fabrizio @fabriziocomedian on IG and watch From The Future on YouTube here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The comedy of Beth Stelling offers up a warmth and a joy that feels rarer and rarer in this world. Even when she does a whole special about a toxic landlord, Stelling's voice is such a great relief. We chit chat in-depth with Beth about the journey to such a unique special (and how you'd even go about making a special focused on how much of a nightmare one person can be when they're in charge of your living situation), all on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow Beth @bethstelling on IG, watch The Landlord Special on YouTube here, and get tix for upcoming dates and more at bethstelling.com. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4319 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles has long been a home for alt comedy and despite the insanely chaotic times we live in, it will continue to be that way, in large part due to the efforts of Isaac Landfert. Formerly the YARD Theater, that venue will live on as The Stray Theater and continue on to be a space even more dedicated to its mission in the LA comedy scene. We talk about the preservation of the venue and the ins and outs of running a small comedy theater with Landfert in the vast LA comedy scene on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow The Stray Theater @thestraytheater and Isaac @isaaclandfert on IG Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Much of the pervasive strangeness of these times is that there is palpable feeling of everything coming to an end, all while many, small everyday things in many people's lives weirdly continuing for the time being. We get into the thick of doing/talking about/philosophizing about comedy in such an obtuse moment in history with the marvelous, internationally touring Lisa Curry just as she is about to release her latest hour of comedy, Emotionally Edging. Follow Lisa @olympianlisacurry across socials and please watch her special Emotionally Edging on YouTube on Sept. 17th. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building an hour of stand-up, especially the first time you do it, is already hard enough with having no experience doing so. In 2025, with the ways of the world, both actual and of comedy, the consideration and craft that has to be put into an bonafide great first hour of stand-up comedy can feel near infinite. That's why we chatted all about this very process with the endlessly funny Bri Pruett who is shaping up what should be an amazing first hour. Follow Bri @bripruett across platforms and get tix to Bri Pruett: Pleasure Champion @ Lyric Hyperion 8/22 here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In such dire times, the roles of comedy being both offering a salve to reality and speaking truth to power can seem to be at odds with each other. However, there are ways to walk such a tight line and we talk with celebrated veteran indie comedy producer Ali Hart (Peacock, The Frogtown Show, Slick Burn) on the intersection of comedy and trying to get folks to come around to making a better world. Follow Ali @trahila Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Romance and the quest for it will forever remain fertile ground for comedy no matter how the art form changes and evolves. IG/Tik Tok sensation Walker Ward marches, or, more accurately, pedals, forward in this regard with Pedicab Connections by picking up strangers looking for love in a pedicab and makes an earnest attempt to match them with someone in real life, no apps needed. For this week's TCB Field Report, we talk to Walker about getting back to basics of human connection in looking forward into finding the funny in love. Follow Walker @walksauce42_ on IG and watch Pedicab Connections on YouTube here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While many of you have to come, know, and love the fantastic Shannon O'Neill through improv and wherever you watch TV, she has discovered another marvelous facet of herself through her work in ceramics. In fact, she's just about to close out her very first exhibition Beat One at The Empty Circle in Brooklyn and was very keen on infusing a comedic spirit into the whole experience of making, presenting, and interacting with her pieces. We have a truly wondrous conversation about art, improv, and the cross-pollination of the two on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow Shannon @spotastic and @sporamics on IG and make sure to make the closing party for Beat One and the Empty Circle in Brooklyn this Friday, July 11th at 6PM. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From just the look of Big Break, David Drake's third and latest hour, you might be surprised that Drake has helped build an entire corner of NYC comedy through the hallowed ground of The Gutter in Brooklyn (that also happens to be a lovely bowling alley). Between CYSKNYC and his multiple hour special in the space, Drake has gotten himself into rarefied air of making 80 minutes of stand-up very, very enjoyable. We get into all of that and more in this week's TCB Field Report. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Photo by @yocoland Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At the same time, comedy can indeed speak truth to power and also express joy from one's unique perspective, but it can be quite the balancing act to do both at the same time. One wondrous Linzy Beltran manages the feat with a bold stroke of unabashed silliness with her solo show El Mago Loco, currently playing at the Hollywood Fringe. For this week's TCB Field Report, we explore Linzy's own explorations within and outside herself to bring to the stage a show that's crucial, playful, and kind-of-not-really-a-magic-show that has a magician as the main character. Follow Linzy @linzybeltran and get tix for El Mago Loco @ Hollywood Fringe on 6/26 & 6/28 here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Almost always, the work that goes into a deeply personal solo show is almost entirely invisible. There are years of work and reworking and giving up and getting re-obsessed that drive a person to create something possibly so unique and inspiring and hilarious and then perform over and over and over and over again only to have audiences marvel an hour at a time. Erica Bitton and her work with her amazing solo show Vacuum Girl has gone through all of its peaks and valleys all the way to the marvelous place that it is now. We talk to her all about it on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow Erica @gurubf and get tix for Vacuum Girl here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Julie Seabaugh has been and still very much is one of our absolute favorite people in comedy because, like us, she has dedicated blood, sweat, and tears to the telling of stories of, about, in, and around comedy. Following her endeavors as an esteemed journalist, author, and documentarian, Julie's latest work focuses on the comedy icon Marc Maron following the passing of his partner, Lynn Shelton in the doc, Are We Good?, brilliantly directed by Steven Feinartz (and screened at SXSW & Tribeca). This week's TCB Field Report goes in on Julie's process of showing Maron's process of both grief and comedy, which are beautifully intertwined in this movie. Follow @julieseabaugh & @arewegoodfilm on IG Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Photo by Troy Conrad Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A lot of what has been dug up from the 90s, mostly by Gen Z, has kind of been a rude look into the mirror for Millennials, but acclaimed, veteran screenwriter Victoria Male has cooked up a comedy feature, Whatever Happened to Baby J?, that is taking a much more favorable look into the 90s, so much so that the one and only Jodie Sweetin (as well as Drew Seeley and stacked cast) is going to be part of a staged reading of Whatever Happened to Baby J? at Dynasty Typewriter on June 9th (tix available here). This week's TCB Field Report follows Victoria's journey all the way to doing this big time staged reading that will be support of the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. Follow Victoria @victoriamale1 and get tix to Whatever Happened to Baby J @ Dynasty Typewriter on June 9th here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The undertaking of putting on a live comedy show can be a lot, but putting on a full scale, multi-week, improvised parody of a celebrated TV franchise is a whole other sport. Yet, that seems to be Sam Walt Jones' favorite thing to do as he is just about to cap off his third season of Survivor: Island of Idiots, one of the most ambitious comedy productions we've ever come across. We get into the how and why of Sam's process on this week's TCB Field Report. Follow Sam @samwaltjones across socials and get tix for the remaining Survivor: Island of Idiots here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cory Peter Lane, Jeremy Elder, and Hunter Sailing, better known collectively as the wondrously rambunctious Business Casual, are leveling up to having their very own ranch of controlled chaos with their new show on All Things Comedy, the aptly named The Business Casual Show. We catch up with the boys on this week's TCB Field Report on getting in on their process for pitching and running bits for what might seemed like really fun mayhem, but definitely has a plan (mostly). Follow @businesscasualcomedy on IG Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

These days, the notion of representation mattering is more crucial than it has been in a long time, especially when it comes to trans/gender non-conforming/non-binary folks. Thank goodness for the likes of people such as Laser Webber, a do-it-all performer/producer in all worlds in and around comedy, music, and theater to co-found The Joy Who Lived, a festival celebrating trans and gnc comedy/performance/art (that's specifically counter-programming a Harry Potter play at the Pantages). We talk about the importance of communing and having joy whilst in survival mode in 2025. Follow Laser @lasertheboy & The Joy Who Lived: trans/gnc comedy & performance festival (that still has a handful of shows left, FYI) @joywholived Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The brilliant Alexis Dubus has made an entire career out of not only playing a character, but playing a misanthropic Frenchman, Marcel Lucont and that presents quite a winding path here in 2025, especially as Dubus is set to play a handful of American dates as Lucont coming up very soon. We have a badinage as well as an in-depth chat about Alexis' journey in and out of himself and Marcel and how he is forging ahead with a character drenched in tasty irony. Follow Alexis @alexisdubuscomedy and Marcel Lucont @marcel.lucont and get tickets for his 4/21 show at The Elysian here. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Still, to this day, Rebecca Drysdale is one of the funniest improvisers we've ever seen. Coupled with her vast writing experience, we'll take any chance to have her on TCB Field Report and what a chance it was for this episode. We legitimately intertwine The Force from Star Wars into improv theory and practice (along with some other IP based metaphors) for a marvelously comedy philosophy heavy episode. Follow Rebecca @beckdrys on IG and sign-up for her classes (the latest round start next week) at drysdaleclasses@gmail.com. Produced by Jake Kroeger Music by Brian Granillo Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.