Ghost Riding

So in my local AMC theater, they're running a commercial for an app that lets you take a picture of yourself and see how you would look as Ghost Rider.  You know, from Ghost Rider 2, in theaters this somethingth of something? I couldn't find any online mention or reference to the app in a 5 minutes' search just now, but that's okay.  This app is pretty much the equivalent of one of those big plywood sheets with a scene of mermaids, or the film Aliens, on the front and holes cut out for your family to stick their faces through and get a picture taken.

But there's one key element the Interactive Online Consultants for this movie tie-in may have missed out on.  You know what Nic Cage looks like as Ghost Rider?

You know what I would look like as Ghost Rider?

You know what my friend from high school Kevin would look like as Ghost Rider?

You know what Kevin's wife would look like as Ghost Rider?

Being a big fiery skullhead is pretty central to the whole Ghost Riding experience, from what I can tell.

Where's the app that lets me know what I look like as a bereaved land baron in the hot new The Descendants viral marketing?

Stand-up: Magic Bag 11/12/11

I did a great show called Pizza Day a couple weeks ago.  Every comedian who was on that show books another show in Los Angeles except for me, and one of them was nice enough to invite me to come on his show, which I did last night. Here's me at Magic Bag, run by DC Pierson, who wasn't there, and Eliza Skinner, whom I've never even met..  So if you see them, just tell them it went great!

Upcoming Performances: October 2011

Some places you can see me sometime soon, mostly doing standup: -Matt Mira's Day Off: Open mic at Meltdown Comics most Sunday nights, but I'm guaranteed to be on and bringing democracy to the people, 5:30pm, 10/9

-Pigs' Meat:  A Science-Fiction Tragicomedy for the Swinish Multitude: A play by Lewis Sequeira (there's time travel in it). Dangerfield's II, 9pm, 10/10

-FLOODLAMP 8: Havana Nights. Outdoor open mic comedy performed with megaphones, hosting, 3201 Verdugo Ave in Burbank, 7pm, 10/14

-Dangerfield's II, Showcasing, I'll be opening boxes. 6pm, 10/15

-Pizza Day 3, Lamppost Pizza in Simi Valley.  I'll be opening boxes again. 7pm, 10/21

-Dangerfield's II Open Mic, hosting, 6pm 10/22

-Better Radio LIVE!  The first ever live production of my podcast Better Radio, an almost entirely scripted sketch comedy show, featuring favorite transmissions from our previous episodes and all new material.  Starring G. Maximilian Zarou, Diana Wright, Asterios Kokkinos, and TIM GREER, along with Russell August Anderson on the wall of sound. Dangerfield's II, 9pm, 10/24

-Better Radio presents: Friends of Better Radio! - Our October 24th show has been postponed until November.  Many of the very same performers will be putting on a different show instead.  Still at Dangerfield's II, still at 9pm, still on 10/24.

-FLOODLAMP 9: Another round of open megaphone comedy and frankly, one of the best open shows in town.  Solid performers that stay to watch the show, but not so many you're there all night, which is convenient since the last time we overstayed our welcome the Burbank PD sent a helicopter.  3201 Verdugo Ave in Burbank, hosting, 7pm, 10/28

Coming up in November: Better Radio Live (for real this time), an encore presentation of Pigs' Meat, hopefully some more cool booked shows!

Stand-up: Showcase at Dangerfield's 2 09/17/11

I've been getting up and performing a lot this month.  I think I've had 16 sets in the past 15 days, and I'm just starting to book some longer shows and things that aren't open mics, which feels great. I've been reluctant to post some of the stuff from just a couple weeks ago that would be new to you, because I'm still in the very early levels of the stand-up class* and gaining XP all the time** so that set from a week ago where something went well is already eclipsed by rewrites and better performances.

So even though I would say I've already got half a dozen ways to make this set better, this was a pretty successful show.  Have a look, IF YOU DARE!

*'class' like a D&D*** reference****.  I am not enrolled in a stand-up comedy course.

**In addition to living life by the rules of an adventure game (take everything that's not nailed down, save before trying something dangerous, talk to everyone you meet) I think that RPGs' system of gathering experience is a remarkably good simulation.  Also, I sometimes think of jokes in terms of modifiers and bonuses.  For instance, I successfully pull off a 'closing parentheses' at 8:20, and then fail my roll to do it again at 8:30

***Dungeons & Dragons

****I've never actually played D&D***, I just think it's kind of neat.

Floodlamp 5: Jason Takes Manhattan

I happened to notice, when I should be working, that I'm getting some traffic from people googling for the Floodlamp Open Megaphone show. I think it might get its own tumblr or something soon, but until then, brave searchers and surfers, know that Floodlamp 5: Jason Takes Manhattan will be happening on Friday, September 9th, 2011.

The picnic and pre-show party begins around 7pm.  Bring some food to share, or just mooch off everybody else.  Bring a blanket or a lawn chair if you want one.  And bring your jokes to tell.  We'll give you 3-5 minutes (depending on attendance) to tell your jokes to fellow comics and disaffected suburban youths through one of our decidedly classy megaphones.  The show, hosted by Rob Schultz and Jason Van Glass, won't start until it's dark enough outside to activate the Floodlamp, and even then probably not until close to 8pm.

The show is done in front of Burbank's abandoned public swimming pool.  There's a parking lot for parking your automobile at or about 3201 Verdugo Ave, also useful for the googular mapping. As is this TINYURL.com/wheresfloodlamp