Louis C.K.

Greg Baumhauer recalls busting out of the hospital for New Faces comedy competition

For any local comic who has yet to appear on Conan or negotiate a sitcom, the New Faces Competition at Comedy Works is the ideal way to gain recognition and earn some cash with your humor. Winning first place in the four-month tournament not only puts a thousand bucks in your pocket, but often leads ... More >>

Comedian Dave Attell on Insomniac, Marc Maron and vintage porn nerds

Best known for his hit Comedy Central show Insomniac, Dave Attell is an all-around beloved character in standup comedy. While often edgy and at times arrogantly confrontational, his razor-sharp wit gives him an everyman-at-the-bar diplomacy. During nearly three decades in the business, Attell has s ... More >>

The ten best comedy events in June

June is jam-packed with a lineup of comedy events so eclectic, you're sure to find something to tickle your funny bone. There are podcasters and Pride festers, twins and Too Much Fun, He-Man and transgenders...so many giggle-worthy performances that your calendar will be bursting with snickers. Keep ... More >>

Marc Maron's new TV series will make you want to shoot yourself in the face

The long-awaited autobiographical comedy Maron, has finally arrived on IFC, bringing all the anxiety, self-loathing and standup comedy wisdom of this podcasting pioneer into the homes of normal folks (i.e. non-comedy nerds), who were surely forced to watch its premiere by their sycophantic boyfriend ... More >>

The ten best comedy events in May

Now that we've finally eked our way into the warmer weeks of spring (fingers crossed), it's time to get off the couch and head out into the fresh air to get to May's ten best comedy events. We've got albums being recorded, albums being released, two Latino-themed shows, nerd heroes Aziz Ansari and C ... More >>

Anthony Jeselnik's five most deliciously offensive moments

Between his standup performances and his Comedy Central show, The Jeselnik Offensive, handsome asshole Anthony Jeselnik has slapped the P.C. button of just about every sociopolitical demographic the world over. Whether you're a liberal female with an eating disorder or a conservative Catholic who su ... More >>

Comedian John Caparulo on being smart to appear dumb

A lot of comedy audiences have an Us vs. Them attitude regarding what standups to like; they feel they have to decide between David Cross or Larry The Cable Guy. And while this attitude would usually push comedian John Caparulo into the latter category (he's critical of healthy eating and people who ... More >>

Andrew Orvedahl on Those Who Can't, the Grawlix pilot for Amazon

The Grawlix have been one of the brightest lights on the Denver comedy scene for a couple of years now, most successful comedy team not to come out of Denver -- but to live in Denver. Their crowning achievement thus far, though, has got to be this past weekend's premiere of the Those Who Can't sitco ... More >>

Louis C.K. debuts new HBO special, continues frightening us all with his vivid logic

At this point, it's really impossible to overstate Louis C.K.'s cultural relevance as a comic. His imagery is as edgy as Lenny Bruce, his material as universal as Bill Cosby, and the doors of creative freedom he's kicked open within the industry (self-produced show; self-distributed specials) will f ... More >>

Natasha Leggero on Sarah Silverman, Russell Brand and poorly dressed comics

A bitter pill wrapped in a sweet cherry coating, comic Natasha Leggero is a double threat of intoxicating charm and tabloid cruelty. With her Audrey Hepburn-style and merciless observational humor, she's known to raise the I-can't-believe-she-just-said-that bar during her regular appearances on Chel ... More >>

Offended: Why Anthony Jeselnik will never be Joan Rivers, or The Onion

Comedy Central's The Jeselnik Offensive ran its fourth episode Tuesday, characteristically taking on the politically sensitive news of the day with an irreverent send-up of Adam Strange, a recent victim of a shark attack in New Zealand. "Was he killed? You bet your sweet ass he was," Jeselnik laughe ... More >>

Doug Benson on comedy, high concepts and Doug Loves Movies

Doug Benson's appearance in Denver this weekend is a welcome addition to a long line of marijuana-themed events that have given Colorado a globally recognized identity as a THC utopia. As the co-star of The Marijuana-Logues and the documentary Super High Me -- in which Benson takes on the Morgan Spu ... More >>

Chuck Roy on POTroast and his favorite public places to get high

If you know Denver comedy, you surely know Chuck Roy. The former anchor of the satirical newscast The Crop Report -- an Onion News Network-style series of short sketches on marijuana, Roy is one of the most established names in Denver comedy, hosting an endless rotation of events at Comedy Works (af ... More >>

Martin Short on Nixon, Canadian comedy and the beautiful weirdness of Steve Martin

Martin Short means different things to different people. Elitist comedy nerds can discuss the merits of Short's SCTV Ed Grimley versus the Saturday Night Live version, while suburban Rom Com fans recognize the name from blockbuster sweet-tarts like Father of the Bride. And you can always count on be ... More >>

Even sobriety can't tame comedian Ben Roy's savage humor

See also: Everybody Loves Ben Roy: Denver comics weigh in on their longtime colleague

Everybody Loves Ben Roy: Denver comics weigh in on their longtime colleague

Ben Roy, the subject of this week's cover story, has worked hard to establish himself as a unique voice in the growing Denver comedy scene. We recently spoke with several local comics who have a relationship with Roy both on and off the stage, some of whom were there at the germination of Denver's u ... More >>

Video: Christopher Dorner, ex-L.A. cop, presumed dead after fiery cabin standoff

Update:Ex-L.A. cop Christopher Dorner has been the subject of a massive manhunt for more than a week after allegedly killing three , including former Denver resident Keith Lawrence; see previous coverage below. Now, the crisis appears at an end, with charred remains found in a gutted California cabi ... More >>

Pauly Shore on Stephen Baldwin, Timothy McVeigh and The Weasel

Yes, yes, we all know him as The Weasel, the speech-impaired, blank-eyed wonderboy who confused parents and enthused Gen X-ers in films like Encino Man, Son in Law and Bio-Dome. But Pauly Shore's revival as a standup comedian is more than just a '90s novelty act: Descended from Mitzi Shore, owner of ... More >>

Ben Kronberg on his new Comedy Central special, and why he left Denver

Ben Kronberg could be the most successful comic to come out of the Denver comedy scene recently. Crafting Mitch Hedberg- style micro-jokes, delivered with a creepy dead-pan stare, Kronberg has developed a style all his own that's gaining some national recognition. After showcasing on Comedy Central' ... More >>

Ten best comedy shows in Denver in February

With Denver's local comedy scene finally beginning to catch up with Comedy Work's national acts -- in terms of both talent and swelling audience numbers -- we figured it was time to assemble some of our favorite standup shows for the coming month. As we salivate over the smorgasbord of Denver's incr ... More >>

Comedian Rory Scovel on crowd tension, Bobcat Goldthwait and why Aurora didn't steal Batman from him

Baby-faced Rory Scovel has been lighting up the comedy world with his classic observational humor, mixed with context-free voices that he applies randomly to no particular jokes or bits (he's been known to drift into a German accent at random points in the show, and may or may not continue with it t ... More >>

John Oliver talks llamas, Ray Lewis and the greatness that is Herman Cain

The first time John Oliver agreed to do an interview with Westword, Michael Roberts noted the utter futility of pointing out when either party -- but mostly the "humble scribe" -- laughed due to the ubiquitous chortles throughout. Five years later, Humble Scribe No. 2 (aka, yours truly), could have ... More >>

Lewis Black on socialism, Louis C.K. and the new NRA app

The most common byproduct of politics is high blood pressure, and no one experiences that kind of pre-stroke madness like standup comedian Lewis Black. With his shaky hands, bulging eyes and unbuttoned suit, Black often appears as an out-of-work schmuck who writes angry letters to the White House an ... More >>

Ten dankest marijuana strains of 2012

Time flies when you're flying high, and this year we've managed to stay nice and medicated thanks to more than fifty metro-area medical marijuana dispensaries that we secret-shopped. Here's a look back at the top ten most delicious, potent and appealing strains (and concentrates) we brought home in ... More >>

Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli on being chased by Meat Loaf for helping himself to Meat's leftovers

While the Afghan Whigs are probably not the first band people think of when they think of the '90s, album for album, the band consistently put out quality material. The outfit's soul-inflected rock, which could just as easily be called power pop even though it packed a lot more punch than some of th ... More >>

Jo Koy on the presidential election, sleep apnea and Chelsea Handler's benevolence

You probably know him best from his weekly appearances on E!'s Chelsea Lately, where host Chelsea Handler frequently questions his sexual orientation and capitalizes on stereotypes related to his Asian-American heritage. But Jo Koy isn't just a basic-cable punching bag. He's been climbing his way up ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary review: The Golden Goat in Denver

After weeks of waiting and building social-media buzz, the Golden Goat has finally reopened in the space formerly occupied by Green Door Wellness -- which always looked like a nest of old Deadheads had taken over an abandoned East Colfax building near a grow store and started selling weed out of it. ... More >>

Karina Longworth talks movies with Woody, Penelope and Ellen

Also read: Woody Allen presents a magical world in To Rome With Love

Louis C.K.'s show will be December 15, 2012, at the Wells Fargo Theatre

Foul-mouthed, hilarious, shameless standup comic Louis C.K. rolled out his latest direct-to-fans initiative last night, saying that he was selling tickets for his upcoming tour directly to fans, much in the same way he sold his special "Live at the Beacon Theatre" online for $5 late last year. The ... More >>

Drew Carey on Johnny Carson, Troll 2 and the banality of bedroom sets

Over his many years as a public (and bespectacled) face, 54-year-old funny man Drew Carey has paid his dues as a Marine, a stand-up comic, a sitcom star, an improv guru and, in his most recent incarnation, the on-air host of The Price Is Right. And on his current tour, Carey will not only offer some ... More >>

Sam Tallent talks about his comedy mixtape Joke Life, and his Fine Gentleman's Club

Sam Tallent gave up the daily grind four years ago to focus on comedy. A full-time comedian since that jump-off, Tallent co-founded the Fine Gentleman's Club comedy troupe, a group that offers its Too Much Fun show every Wednesday night at the Deer Pile community space above City, O' City. In additi ... More >>

Feminism & Co.'s Funny Women: Can you be too much of a woman on stage?

Friday night's installment of Feminism & Co., the third in this season's series at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, was titled simply "Funny Women." But as the MCA has shown itself to be very good at doing, the museum had booked an expert in the field of funny: comedian Cory Kahaney. In turn, ... More >>

Marc Maron Goes Easy

Doug Stanhope on the evolution of jokes and why Breast Cancer Awareness is a scam

​For every parent out there worried about pedophilia, Doug Stanhope offers a reassurance: In all likelihood, nobody wants to fuck your kid. That bit is up there on the list of incredibly offensive Stanhope material, but it's by no means all there is; over the course of his twenty-year career, ... More >>

It isn't okay to laugh at yourself for having adult braces -- it's mandatory.

There are two types of people in this world -- those who can laugh at themselves, and those who can't. It is a pretty simple distinction in personalities, though the ability to self-deprecate effectively doesn't often set in until you make it to age where you just don't care about impressing people ... More >>

Sarah Palin's The Undefeated: I got my money back

​It was after sitting through about 90 percent of the movie that I decided Sarah Palin's The Undefeated was 49 percent PBS-style documentary on how great Alaska is, 50 percent "Palin pal posse" circle jerk, and 1 percent Ronald Reagan references. Or perhaps a more accurate summation of this on ... More >>

The Legend of Zelda, Louie and more new releases for this week, June 21, 2011

​Just because it's summer doesn't mean we can't all sit indoors and consume entertainment. After all, the hotter and nicer it gets outside, the more you need to just relax and unwind in front of the TV or a good book. Unfortunately, there are apparently no books being released this week, but w ... More >>

Marijuana patients get their humor tested by nutty professor Peter McGraw in Wired

Peter McGraw.​Last August, I detailed the strange story of Peter McGraw, a CU-Boulder professor dead set on explaining what makes things funny. Since then, the odd tale has continued: A piece I penned for Wired magazine describes McGraw's continued efforts to crack the humor code, a scholarly ... More >>

Hulu's Best in Show sets out to determine the best show on TV

​Hulu's latest thematic bundling of its online TV content takes the form of a bracket trying to determine the best show on TV. It's a great idea, generally, but it depends on fan voting. So, get excited for the finals showdown between Glee and Modern Family. As with all brackets, it's most exc ... More >>

Comedy Central's Comedy Awards: Due recognition or sideshow?

​Comedy Central announced an awards show devoted to comedy today. It will be called The Comedy Awards and will air simultaneously on Comedy Central, VH1, Spike, TV Land and Nick at Night on March 26. On one hand, comedy does tend to get boned in the other major awards, particularly the Oscars ... More >>

Crowded House, James, Nickelback shows annnounced

​Crowded House, whose new album Intriguer hits stores today, visits the Fillmore Auditorium on Thursday, September 9. Intriguer, the band's follow-up to 2007's Time on Earth, will also be released as a two-disc deluxe edition that includes a bonus DVD. Tickets ($39.50 advance, $45 day of show) ... More >>

Dead Good

Shaun of the Dead revives the zombie comedy with a U.K. twist.

Rescue 9/11

This year, a handful of shows provided the healing power of laughter.