Greetings, It’s difficult to describe last week then somehow segue to Zoom and socially distant comedy shows. So all I’ll say is I hope you’re staying safe and that the return to live comedy can’t come soon enough. But it looks like it won’t yet. Though the D.C. scene has new stand-up shows as of late. Underground Comedy has been hosting a weekly Saturday Zoom show and will continue this week. And D.C. comedy begins a series of Zoom open mics this week. More details below.  SUBSCRIBE HERE SUBMIT A SHOW: If you want to submit a show, do so here. Here’s what’s going on this week: TUESDAY ..read more

Greetings,  The first comedy week of 2021 looks like 2020, but that’s alright. I’ve been combing a bunch of 2020 year-end lists of comedy specials. The one from The Laugh Button seems to hit it on the head for me, but there were also these: The New York Times, Paste and Vulture, which seem to overlap a bit. SUBSCRIBE HERE  SUBMIT A SHOW HERE   Here’s what’s going on this week:  TUESDAY: -       The Spaghetti on the Beach open mic is happening virtually (8 p.m., details). WEDNESDAY:  -       Brian Regan (on Fal ..read more

Greetings, This is the final Laugh Letter of 2020, the year this newsletter was born and the year of so many other things. I’m happy many of you continue to read, keeping comedy alive. The plan is to get better in 2021 and also vaccinated. Here’s hoping I have to type the words “virtual” and “Zoom” less in the new year. If it isn’t totally obvious, 2020 at least taught us webcams can’t replace the real thing. Take what these comics told Vulture for instance. But the tiny lens at the top of your monitor deserves credit for scratching the comedy itch, no matter how unsatisfying. Here’s something ..read more

Greetings,  Comedy around here goes somewhat underground this week. Not a ton of shows out there as people do their holiday thing. Cheers to those still making it work this week. We’ll dig ourselves out over New Years.   Money for comedy clubs made it into Congress’ COVID-19 stimulus deal. The agreement announced Sunday includes $15 billion to help struggling entertainment venues, including comedy clubs, affected by the pandemic. The bipartisan effort to get this money in the bill is colloquially known as Save Our Stages, and was led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn among other ..read more

Greetings, Many of the long-running shows created during quarantine hold their final shows of the year this week, signaling an informal end to the comedy year 2020, as unforgiving as it was.   DC Drafthouse announced it will close, ending the club’s run in D.C. (though Drafthouse’s Arlington location is still going).   The club posted a video on Instagram of its empty showroom and an uplifting message of sorts: “Thank you all for a great 4 years!!! We will miss the good times and laughs here!!!! But this isn't goodbye, just a see you later.” In an email to customers Thursday, it expl ..read more

Greetings, Martin Amini is shooting his new special Friday at Arlington Drafthouse, the D.C.-area club that has managed to maintain a pitter-patter of live shows throughout the latter part of the pandemic. Congrats to him for making it work during a pandemic. Keeping chugging along. Stay safe this week, everyone.   Here’s what’s going on this week: MONDAY: -       Washington Improv Theater’s (WIT) movie-sequel improv show Sequels from the Vault is online with host Alex Kazanas and featuring Erick Acuña, Isabelle Solomon, Karyn Wilson, Macey Schiff, Matt Strot ..read more

Greetings,  There’s nothing really to say this week other than there are still plenty of socially distant and COVID-responsible shows despite it getting wintry.   Chappelle got the better of Netflix, in case you missed it.   Here’s what’s going on this week:  MONDAY:   -       Washington Improv Theater’s And Scene! show features D.C. improvisers dropping into live scripted theater (8 p.m., details).   TUESDAY:  -       Dewayne White hosts an open mic at B. Franklin’s restaurant in Woodbridge, Virgini ..read more

Greetings, A conversation about soy beans on the Joe Rogan Experience turned into a conversation about Donnell Rawlings’ drive-in show this weekend at RFK Stadium, which resulted in both Rogan and Rawlings gushing about the DC Improv. “That DC Improv is one of the 10 greatest clubs in the country,” Rogan said. “And it’s been probably the most consistent for 25 years,” responded Rawlings. “It’s just the perfect size. Perfect. Everything about it is perfect,” said Rogan, who raved about the club’s booking over the years. The whole exchange starts at the 91-minute mark.  There was also high ..read more

Hey all, Thanks for letting me briefly interrupt your Saturday. But I have a small request if you have the time. Regular readers know this newsletter focuses on highlighting comedy shows in the D.C. region – and often some thoughts from me at the top. Over the past 9 months, I’ve tried to think hard about how this humble weekly newsletter can best serve comics and audiences that want to see comedy. But I felt it’s time ask you – the treasured readers - the question: How can this newsletter be improved to best serve comedians, performers and audiences? Your answers can be big or small, obtuse o ..read more

Greetings,  We won’t say a return to the stage is nigh, but you have to see the optimism in the effectiveness rates of the Pfizer (90%) and Moderna (~95%) COVID vaccines. This is the only time biopharmaceutical companies will lead this newsletter, but we had to say it. Things are grim out there, otherwise. Cases are spiking, outdoor shows are getting colder and other states are tightening restrictions. The DC Comedy Loft tweeted it would not hold a live show until at least 2021 because of COVID restrictions in D.C. “With DC's announcement that they are extending the pilot program and not ..read more