Friday, December 19, 2008

Show 49: Holiday Wrap-Up

Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts

Chris Maloney in short film "Betrayal"

It's the last show of the year! Can you believe it?

We invited everyone to come out and celebrate the festivities. And by festivities we mean the shabby garland we hang on the wall each year.

Host of Honor Mike Ennis introduced the following lineup:
Reese Waters
Stacia Jensen
Luke Thayer
Liam McEneaney
a sketch by Team Submarine
a comedy short by Tyler Flowers and Chris Maloney

With special guest appearance by Trudy Westwood, Casting Agent and a sketch by Abbi Crutchfield.

Abbi and Luke
Abbi and Luke welcomed viewers to the forty-ninth show with an awkward exchange about holiday wear that ended with Abbi storming off. Luke called her back, and when she asked for an apology, he said, "I'm sorry that bit did not go well." Abbi introduced a short film by Chris Maloney and Tyler Flowers, called "Betrayal".

Tyler Flowers
Tyler enjoyed his work again from the audience.

Mike Ennis
Mike Ennis enjoyed riffing on the art by kids that adorned the walls and talked about his family. Then he bought some for a suggested donation. Artwork, not family members.

Reese Waters
Reese Waters returned to discuss the complexities of interracial dating. It's not just a black and white matter. Although sometimes it is.

Abbi Crutchfield during "Baby It's Cold Outside, The Untold Story"
Abbi returned for an updated version of the twisted sketch, "Baby It's Cold Outside, The Untold Story". Nothing like murder around the holidays. Right, Valkyrie?

Stacia Jensen
Newcomer to the show Stacia Jensen explored the possibilities and implications of leaving New York City and the horrors of dry weddings.

Luke Thayer
His ears were burning, so Luke commented on his own potentially dry wedding. Think of the savings!

Abbi Crutchfield as Trudy Westwood, Casting Agent and Brendan Fitzgibbons
Trudy Westwood of Westwood Casting hears all of the news first, and she shared it with us. But first she coached comedian Brendan Fitzgibbons on how to read for a soup commercial.

Liam McEneaney
Liam McEneaney returned to the Living Room to talk about his Irish heritage, and what it means to live by the Bible. Not related.

Nate Fernald and Steve O'Brien of Team Submarine
Closing out the show and making their Living Room debut, we had Nate Fernald and Steve O'Brien of Team Submarine who played a rousing game of Truth or Dare!

The award ceremony took an unusual turn...
Bring Out The Hat of Chance!

Liam McEneaney was named the Funniest Comedian of All Time! But an audience voiced his need for his favorite performer to win "because she and I are the only people who smoke." So Stacia Jensen got the Smoker's Choice Award! So much for that New Year's resolution.
Winner!  Liam McEneaney


Audience
Get giddy for our next show on Friday January 9th, 2009! It's our fiftieth episode!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Show 48: Thank You for Being a Friend

Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts

Margot Leitman

Whether new to the show or house favorites, every one of our performing friends brought his or her A-game, and it made for a spectacular Thanksgiving show, good enough to last the whole month!

Host of Honor Jeff Sussman introduced the following lineup:
Abbi Crutchfield
Dino Vigo
Margot Leitman
Dan St. Germain
a character by Thomas Middleditch

With special guest appearances by McCain campaign advisor Charles Eddy and Dietrich.

Abbi Crutchfield and Luke Thayer
Abbi and Luke tried to out-orange each other for the holiday and welcomed viewers to the forty-eighth show by sharing tender, precious reasons they are thankful. Abbi's list was mostly romantic, and Luke's was mostly about stuff, but they could both agree on laxatives.

Jeff Sussman
Jeff Sussman got us revved up for the new James Bond film and reminded us of why it's important to be good to your wait staff.

Abbi Crutchfield
It seems like only eight minutes ago! Abbi Crutchfield came back on stage to celebrate the return of the biracial celebrity. It's never been a better time to wear black and white.

Luke as Charles Eddy, advisor to McCain Campaign
Don't call it a comeback. Political advisor to the McCain campaign Charles Eddy is in search of a new role. He offered up professional advice to celebrities making headlines today, but we're not sure it will help them much.

Dino Vigo
Marking his first time to the room, the hilarious Dino Vigo dispelled some rumors about his Hispanic heritage.

Margot Leitman
Also making her debut was the flaxen-haired storyteller Margot Leitman, We had as much fun as she did exploring the dawn of progressive cat-calls and the connection between laundry and a relationship's financial future.

Luke Thayer as Dietrich
Killing silence since the day he was born, the loud and opinionated Dietrich stomped onto the stage to list his THREE AND A HALF PEARLS OF WISDOM!

And what did the Germans in the audience think?
Audience

"Veddy Interesting. But dumb."

Dan St. Germain
The young and impassioned Dan St. Germain marked his first time at the show decrying hot-headed strangers, aging beauty pageant contestants and pensive klansmen.

Thomas Middleditch as a 13 yr old doing stand-up
Closing out the show was the unique talent of 10 year old Kevin Evans, trying his hand at stand-up. He made sure to wear a skateboarding helmet for protection from hecklers.

Winner!  Dino Vigo
It may have been the supafly leather coat--the Hat of Chance selected Dino Vigo as the Funniest Comedian of All Time!

Audience
Bring your lovely face and festive earrings to our holiday special, the only one for the entire month, on December 12th!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Show 47: 3rd Annual Halloween Scare-avaganza

Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts

Happy Halloween from The Living Room!

Trick or treat! Smell our feet. Give us something good to read! Here you go, kiddies. We asked NYC's finest comics to dress in costume and help us celebrate our third annual Halloween Scare-avaganza! Look who dropped in!

Host of Honor Barry Rothbart introduced the following lineup:
Charlie Kasov
Ben Kissell
Hasan McLendon
Luke Thayer
and a sketch by Delusions of Spandex

With special guest appearances by Michelle Obama and High School Musical's Corbin Bleu!

Abbi Crutchfield and Luke Thayer
Abbi and Luke welcomed viewers to the forty-seventh show with lots of candy and then revealed their costumes to each other. Abbi pulled out two Emmy's to show she was Kathy Griffin, and Luke celebrated as a Puerto-Rican hair stylist.

Barry Rothbart
Barry Rothbart starred as not only our host but as a Wall Street stock broker who took the news of the economy harder and harder as the night went on (and as his nose got powdery-er).

Charlie Kasov
Charlie Kasov returned to the show to warn spectators of the scams run in exotic clubs.

Abbi Crutchfield as Michelle Obama
A candid and celebratory Michelle Obama lost her composure several times while dissecting McCain's latest gaffes. Patience, Michelle!

Ben Kissell
Making his debut on the show, Ben Kissell wove a tale of made of funny jokes and references to underpants.

Hasan McLendon
Marking his second appearance on the show, Hasan came back to tell it like it is.

Abbi Crutchfield as Corbin Bleu
Holy Disney sequels! High School Musical 3 had its premier the night of our show, and to celebrate and announce other stars making headlines, the Living Room welcomed Corbin "don't call me Cordon" Bleu!

Luke Thayer
Luke Thayer dazzled the audience with his dark curls and large set list on tiny stool.

Phaea Crede of Delusions of Spandex
Becca Jones of Delusions of Spandex
Hello? Who is this? It's not a scene from Scary Movie, but it is a tale of revenge. It's another hilarious sketch by Delusions of Spandex to close the show.

Winner!  Hasan McLendon
The Hat of Chance selected Hasan as the Funniest Comedian of All Time! This ghastly collage with no eyebrows is sure to give him nightmares.

Audience
Party till it ain't October no more, then be thankful for all the hairs on your head at our Thanksgiving Special on November 14th! Only show for the entire month of November!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Show 46: You're Not From Around Here, Are You?

Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts not available for this show.



Our first show in October brought out the freaks! That is, the non-New Yorkers. The theme of being a transplant magically developed throughout the evening's performance. So get your dry ice and a cooler ready to read all about it! Transplant imagery...no good?

Host of Honor Nick Cobb introduced the following lineup:
Jared Logan
Jennifer Grant
Abbi Crutchfield
Dave Lester
a character by Harry Terjanian

With a special guest appearance by Harry Woodard and a special photo presentation by Abbi and Luke.



Abbi and Luke welcomed viewers to the forty-sixth show and revealed, during these politically saturated times, that they are split on who they want to be President. If only for the elected Vice President that either will be able to portray in later show episodes.

In addition to the producers being from Indiana, the hand-picked host of the evening Nick Cobb is from Tennessee.

He ruminated over the inadequecy of his friend's job-hunting skills. Don't we all? If not, that makes you the friend.

Jared Logan is also from the Midwest, albeit trendy Chicago, Illinois.

He explored a new take on old Christian practices. It was enough to make Kirk Cameron blush.

You just can't keep them from talking about it, Abbi and Luke returned to the stage to discuss their relationship.

This time with regard to their engagement photos and more importantly, the embarrassing photos of other recently engaged folks.

Jennifer Grant may be from Canada

but she still knows how to drink and date and regret it like an NYU student.

Don't bother him with news of Sarah Palin, it's the Alaska-accented Harry Woodard making his debut on the show.

He came to share his take on the current events and address but not explain the bolts in his neck. (Dramatization of actual character. Although we wouldn't put it past this guy having a bolt in the neck.)

Abbi Crutchfield strutted proudly around the stage while joking to show she had mastered the art of walking in stilettos without falling. We all remember how dangerous stiletto heels can be.



Dave Lester traveled from far and wide to talk about...wait a minute! He didn't travel. He's from here!

Okay, we snuck in one Brooklynite. But who else is going to teach us how to raise our kids? Everyone else we know uses time outs. Dave uses straight up revenge.


Hailing from...we don't know, but we'll guess Hilarioustown, Harry Terjanian

celebrated his debut on our show with a glimpse inside the mind of the man behind the marshmallow mouth.

As he told haunting tales of celebrities past, the combo of gummybears, mayonnaise and corn chips never made so much sense.

Too bad foreigners, the Hat of Chance favored locals tonight! Dave Lester became the evening's Funniest Comedian of All Time, winning the same life-size doll that was featured in our Living Room video "Doll-itis".
Abbi Crutchfield as a Doll
He's sure to have plenty of nightmares with that in his house.

Speaking of which, get your goblin and ghoul costumes ready! Our 3rd Annual Halloween-Scareavaganza on October 10th is not to be missed!


Prize for the best costume!

Photo credits:
thewvsr.com
afp.google.com
comedytennessee.com
comedycentral.com
funnybusiness.ca
iron-horse.us
blog.nj.com
stevegiralt.com
sphradio.com
entimg.msn.com