SUW Ep.76 DAVE LANDAU

Mike Binder on August 15, 2024

Dave Landau, is the best, on the podcast, Check him out on the Podcast, on X, Apple, Spotify, Standupworld Substack and more…

WATCH ON X

https://x.com/MikeBinderjokes/status/1823118116253319319

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

Also see him on his show, Normal World.

https://youtu.be/U7BFLzneuls?si=nNDavH2Idi_fIls9

Also see him on his show, Normal World, and on tour.

DAVE LANDAU TOUR DATES

That’s it! Thanks.

LAUGH FACTORY MONDAY 8-19-24

Also, if you’re L.A. Next Monday night. An amazing show at the Laugh Factory!!! 8P.M. Some really great guests. Monday August 19th!

Erica Rhodes. Dane Cook. Adam Hunter. Griffin James. Dave Murphy. Dwight Pryde and Sammy Weiser, You can’t beat this show. Get tickets now, and come out next Monday night. 8pm.

GET TIX FOR MON 8-19 LAUGH FACTORY

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DAVE LANDAU’S VERSION OF A NORMAL WORLD

Mike Binder on August 15, 2024

Dave Landau shoots his thrice weekly comedy / talk / sketch /podcast show at a giant studio somewhere outside of Dallas that is owned and operated by conservative media kahuna Glenn Beck. It doesn’t look anything like any of the studios I’ve seen, or you’ve come to know from movies and television in places like Los Angeles, or New York, or even London. It looks more like a giant business park that was taken over by some new species many years after some version of an Armageddon.

Dave and his co-hosts, Quarter- Black Garret, and Angela, put on their show in the cavernous halls of the seemingly very busy studios, yet you have to squint really hard to point out Dave as the guy in charge. In fact, the episode I was on, though it ran quite smooth, didn’t really seem to have anyone in charge. I believe a lot of that comes off of Dave’s personality. He’s very easygoing. Mellow. More interested in what he can find, dissect, then riff on about the absurdity of a day, a moment, the wind, or the traffic in front of him, then how he needs to manage any of it. He seems to get most of his kicks out of observing.

It’s a pretty perfect perch for a comedian to watch the world go by from.

We both came up through Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle outside of Detroit, just a few decades apart. Dave came up in a completely different era of stand up. You didn’t need to go out to L.A. or New York, and in fact Austin wasn’t even a thing yet. I think he just came along in a time where The Kings of Comedy, the Blue Collar tour, the rise of Netflix, and start of You Tube, sent the sniff out that if you just got good where you were, well, that could work too. You didn’t have to go to the big city.

I get the feeling the other thing that helped Dave was the political winds whipping up at the start of the new century with shows like Opie and Anthony, and Steven Crowders building a counterculture off-ramp to stand up and talk television that would pave the way for Joe Rogan, Tony Hinchcliffe, Jimmy Dore, Andrew Sullivan, YMH, and all of the underworld that has almost become, if not mainstream, then something even better.

I don’t know the story, I wasn’t around and he isn’t a guy that likes to discuss that kind of thing. My guess is he either got tired of taking Steven Crowders crap and left, or Crowder fired him and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Dave. He did land on his feet nicely though with his own and an incredibly strong stand up routine. A large cavalcade of fans. He’s pretty amazing. His stuff is incredibly organic is the secret, I think. Torn from the pages of his life and his mind.

His show Normal World, like I’ve said, is all over the place. It’s a talk show, a sketch show, a variety show and a podcast all rolled into one. It’s shot on Glenn Beck’s dime so it obviously has a right of center edge to it for the most part, but it really doesn’t stick to that. It’s more whatever they find worth teasing. They’re brave, and they go out on the ice, but in a real comedically dangerous way, a Jimmy Dore, or a Sam Tripoli way. It’s not a fakey ‘White women suck, and who cares about the WNBA?’ kind of risky. They aren’t trying to please everyone. You don’t get the feeling Dave is asking his wife’s permission who he can and can’t make jokes about.

Check him out this week on the podcast, on Normal World, also on tour.

DAVE LANDAU TOUR DATES

That’s it! Thanks.

Also, if you’re L.A. Next Monday night. An amazing show at the Laugh Factory!!! 8P.M. Some really great guests. Monday August 19th!

Erica Rhodes. Dane Cook. Adam Hunter. Griffin James. Dave Murphy. Dwight Pryde and Sammy Weiser, You can’t beat this show. Get tickets now, and come out next Monday night. 8pm.

GET TIX FOR MON 8-19 LAUGH FACTORY

 

 

STANDUPWORLD w/ MIKE BINDER EP. 74 RAANAN HERSHBERG

Mike Binder on July 28, 2024

Raanan Hershberg, pound for pound, is truly one of my favorite comedians right now. (No, that’s not a fat joke, I live in a glass house, I don’t throw stones.) The reason I think he’s so great is because he has a solid ten bits, or more, I wish I had written. To me that’s the real test if you really love a comic. Do you wish you could do a lot of their act and get away with it? There’s not a lot of comics with that many bits I covet. Maybe Louis C.K. , maybe Burr, Ricky Gervais. Chris Rock. Chappelle? A few others.

There are a lot of comics who are funny as hell, killing it, selling seats, who make me laugh hard, and are monsters, because they’re monsters on stage. Sebastian is a monster. One of the best performers out there. He has amazing bits, but they’re Sebastian bits. I couldn’t take them and make them work. Very few people other than Sebastian could. I can’t tell you one of Bert Kreischer’s jokes I could make work anywhere near the level Bert pulls them off.

There are fifteen or twenty jokes Ricky Gervais has written that I could win with if it weren’t for the fact this British ass-wipe has beaten me to it and written them first. That to me is the sign of a master. Woody Allen wrote jokes you could easily steal if you were looking to be a genius in a room full of people that didn’t know any better.

That’s the truth though, the combination of great performing and great writing is the difference between good and stellar in stand up comedy, and it’s damn rare. That’s why I think this Raanan Hershberg is pretty amazing. Check out the episode with him on the pod this week,

He’s got some world class bits. He’s got the best bit there is on transgender bathrooms.

He’s got a perfect bit on Joe Rogan, which actually is a bit on himself and all comics.

He has a great bit on being a liberal,

“I have mixed feelings being a liberal. I was mugged a few years ago here in New York. I was so relieved the guy was white. The cops were like ‘what did he look like?’, I was all smug, ‘Uhm, he was white!’.

He also has a perfect character. Him. A Jewish guy with a lisp, that’s just totally, Raanan 360 degrees. That’s as important as strong material. A top notch character that isn’t a character you’ve made up. One you’ve lived. An authentic comic voice. He has that in thpades. (sorry.)

Truthfully though, he’s coming from a one hundred and ten percent unique place which top comics do. He’s a fantastic performer with wild energy, loads of confidence, and comedic honesty concerning his foibles and his flaws. The final check in the box is that he’s damn prolific. He’s got that thing that the greats have, that Carlin, and Klein, and modern killers like, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswald, Whitney Cummings have, he can reinvent his hour time and time again and each one seems mostly to be just as good if not better.

BRAVE (YOU TUBE)

If you’re already a fan you know I’m not overselling, if you aren’t, trust me I’m not. This guy really is a lot of fun. He’s way up on a list of the top, about to hit hard, comedians to watch, which includes, Carmen Lynch, Vinny Fasline, Dov Davidoff, Adrienne Iapalucci, Dave Murphy, J.B. Ball, Josh Wolf, Greg Warren, and a few others.

Watch his new special, Brave, his other specials up on his You Tube channel, and the films he’s made. He’s another guy like, Sam Rubinoff, who’s also a filmmaker, out there making smart little films. (*Also with Joe List.)

I love this new world of Stand up. It’s great to see how many strong voices there are. The world needs it. We need to keep laughing.

P.S. Here’s a sharp set he did four years ago on James Corden. I know talk show sets aren’t a big deal anymore, but this is strong and has a lot of the stuff I think that makes him special.

Check out his YOU TUBE SITE;

RAANAN HERSHBERG YOU TUBE

RAANAN WEBSITE

Get tickets to his upcoming shows, and more info on his website.

That’s it, thanks again! Have a great week.

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO HEAR MORE ABOUT STANDWORLD, WHAT WE’RE DOING, THE WORLD, THE ART, AND THE CRAFT OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF STAND-UP.

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STANDUPWORLD – EP. 73 ROBERT KLEIN

Mike Binder on July 14, 2024

Robert Klein was not only my biggest childhood inspiration to get into stand up, one of the most brilliant performers I ever saw live, but I’m honored to say over the years he’s become a friend. We were so lucky to work with him on Reign Over Me. Adam, myself, and even the late, great Donald Sutherland, were all so excited to be on set with him, and even more elated to come to realize not only was he a wonderful actor, a consummate pro, but one a hell of a great guy. In fact looking back on it, both he and Donald were both pretty amazing to be working with.

 

Enjoy the episode. It’s a lot of fun listening to Robert talk, discuss his life, and also to hear his beautiful serenity and happiness let alone to see how great he looks and feels at 82. He’s a rare bird.

So glad I had this chance to talk with him. I really hope you like it.

 

https://youtu.be/jImiiWvuJQo?si=fJdOAf7dkNWdew1L

 

 

Also, if you’re in LA. Great show tomorrow night at the Laugh Factory on Sunset. Come on out and have some fun.

STANDUPWORLD Ep. 72 SAM RUBINOFF

Mike Binder on June 30, 2024

WATCH HERE ON X

Stand-Up Comic and Filmmaker: Sam Rubinoff

Is the guest on Standupworld this week. I’m really excited about it too. In a colosseum sized field of play for the world of stand up to exist today, Sam has a unique spot on the pitch. He’s carved a rare niche for himself by blending sharp wit with poignant storytelling.

His short films, frequently featuring some of today’s most in-demand stand-ups, have garnered a loyal following on YouTube. Among his most recurring collaborators is Joe List, who starred in Louis C.K.’s film “Fourth of July, and makes his own short films as well.

Sam’s work is not only funny, but deeply touching, earning him comparisons to Judd Apatow who I knew well in the early stages of his career. I personally find the two very similar.

STUCK IN PARK

Is his newest film, also starring, Joe List, as well as Keith Robinson, and the very talented Kerryn Feehan.

CIVIC DUTY

Another of my favorites is also a Joe List starrer, Civic Duty. He and Tommy Pope, who’s a strong comic as well, star in a funny little short that feels like something John Hughes would have done if he were just out started right now.

STAND UP CAREER

Sam’s jump into stand-up comedy started in small clubs and open mics across in and around the New York City area. Over the years, he’s performed at all the top clubs back there and has earned a reputation as a not only a comedian to watch, but a good guy that loves the craft and respects the artisans.

YOU TUBE PRESENC

Sam’s YouTube channel serves as the primary platform for his short films. With a mix of comedy sketches, narrative shorts, and collaborative projects, his channel has attracted a diverse audience. Each video showcases Sam’s distinctive style which is characterized by clever writing, strong performances, and a keen eye for detail.

CHECK OUT SAM’S YOU TUBE CHANNEL

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One of the standout features of Sam’s work is his collaborations with some of the cream of the crop of the newer stand-up comedians in the business. By bringing these talented individuals into his projects, Sam elevates his films and introduces his audience to a broader array of comedic voices. Not only, Joe List, Keith Robinson, Tommy Pope, Kerryn Feehan, but also, Rosebud Baker, Michael Blaustein, Shane Torres, and so many others.

Like I say, I think with a good hop of the ball, Sam could be the next Judd Apatow. I see so many similarities. He has a lot of Judd’s good instincts and intellect that gives his comedy another dimension that I love. Check him out. Also, dig a little into his series he did awhile back on You Tube that I love, Dog Days.

Thanks a lot! Appreciate the support here. Enjoy  Standupworld episode #72, .and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Mike

 

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MARLON WAYANS IS ON A HEATER!

Mike Binder on June 22, 2024

Marlon Wayans is on a heater. No doubt about it. He’s been going non-stop since he was fifteen doing background stuff on In Living Color as the baby boy in what was to become the Jackson 5 of Comedy, the most brilliant funny family since the Marx bros.

He later busted out with his childhood bunk mate, brother Shawn, creating hit sitcoms and movies pretty much one after another for a good twenty five years. He’s also proved himself several times to be a fine actor with Darren Aronofsky and several other directors. The core thing about Marlon though is that he’s always been a work in progress. There’s no doubt about that.

Just look at this clip going crazy viral from the Daily Show last week. You feel so bad for this guy. Marlon has no fear here. He’s so into this character Quon, that he doesn’t even understand he’s destroying this guy.

He’s pushed himself time and time again to come up with new hills, buildings and boundaries to get over. New buttons to push. He’s perpetually uneasy with where he’s at in life which is a good journey creatively, even if it comes with a lot of baggage. I’m sure being the little brother your whole life doesn’t help, but if always chasing the milk cart through town your whole life is what gets you to great, Marlon doesn’t seem to be complaining.

The stand up thing that his brothers all took to with ease out of the gate came to him much later. He even talks in God Loves Me, an adventurous as can be one hour, one story special about his feelings on the infamous Chris Rock / Will Smith ‘Slap’ about Chris Rock messing with him onstage at the Laugh Factory very early on and putting a slap on him that stung for years. A slap that came to be one of the best gifts he ever got. Like a lot of his stuff, he cribbed from his life and just stayed with it, learned from his older brothers and comics like Rock about the gold there was to mined in fearlessness, and figured out how not to care about anything but getting laughs and pushing himself to create.

With his new special Good Grief, out now on Amazon Prime, Marlon has planted a bold flag. Mining the loss of his parents, the truths of his childhood, and the pain of getting older. He wants to be taken serious in the same lane of funny as his brother Damon, Dave Chappelle, Chris and even Mt. Olympus, Richard Pryor. I will say, in my opinion, with this hour, not only is he close to getting there, but he’s no doubt someone capable of working his way up into that rare air. He has the talent, the drive, the guts, the time on the boards behind him, as well as the deep need.

Marlon’s best years are coming just up the road now. He’s going to be someone that was right here in front of our eyes all these years and then, whamm, I could easily see him dropping an hour that’s going to floor everyone. He’s going to do in his mid-fifties what Rock did with Bring the Pain in his mid-thirties. Watch.

Check him out on the road. He’s out there everywhere these days. See him live. That’s the fun.

SEE MARLON LIVE -TICKETS

Thanks for reading. Subscribe and share this for me, thanks!

Also, Monday night. The Laugh Factory, Hollywood.

SEE MARLON LIVE -TICKETS

Thanks for reading. Subscribe and share this for me, thanks!

Also, Monday night. The Laugh Factory, Hollywood.

GET TIX for MIKE BINDER AND FRIENDS

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