Once dominated by cocky oafs, standup comedy has made way for the pop-culture nerds. A look at the top comedy podcasts on iTunes (the late-night television of our time) is guaranteed to reveal a handful of BuzzFeed-style chat shows — often standup and Super High Me star Doug Benson’s cinema-drenched Doug Loves Movies series, which will be taped live today at Comedy Works. “It’s easier to do comedy with an audience, because their reactions tell you whether or not what you're saying qualifies as comedy,” Benson says, speaking on his decision to always perform the show with a crowd — unlike most comedy podcasts, which are done in a garage or basement. Commenting on our local funny-men and -women, he says, “I’m friends with several Denver comics, and one of my favorites is going to be a guest on my Doug Loves Movies podcast taping. I can’t tell you who it is, because all of the guests on my podcasts are a secret.”

Doug Loves Movies will be recorded — when else? — at 4:20 p.m. Comedy Works is at 1226 15th Street, and tickets are $20; for more information, visit www.comedyworks.com.
Sat., March 9, 4:20 p.m.; Sun., March 10, 4:20 p.m., 2013