Category Archives: National Comics

Sean Patton Finally Cracks

You’ve seen him on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan and his Comedy Central Half Hour was released in 2013. Sean Patton shares a story he’d been bribed not to tell.

Patton sets the scene in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at comedy club The Funny Bone. Patton had been promised $100 at the beginning of the night for two sets. The first set, Patton described what it felt like to be “heckled by crickets.” The second set followed up even worse with a drunk crowd booing him off stage.

When Patton was getting paid out, the manager handed him $50. Patton questioned the payment, “I thought it was supposed to be $100?” and the manager answered, “I thought you were going to be better.” And that was that. His set barely got a smile and his pay was cut in half.

Patton thought to himself, “Well, all I want to do is get drunk, now.” And he did. Not long after sitting at the bar, a beautiful, 40-something-year-old woman plopped herself down next to him. She complimented his set and asked if he thought she was pretty. He indeed did think so and that delighted her. She immediately invited him back to her place to “get high.”

Patton drove himself and this woman to a gated community, an obviously very wealthy community with a key pad entry lock. The lady spewed off 3 or 4 combinations of numbers before the security guard came to check out the issue. The lady yelled something in what Patton described as “shitface” language and surprisingly enough, the security guard replied “Oh, OK!” and opened the gate.

The gorgeous exterior did not mirror the inside of the woman’s home. Patton remembered seeing rows of unwrapped ramen noodle squares towering out of an empty pizza box. “There was a refrigerator in the foyer room, laying on it’s side, open and it was on and it was full of trash,” Patton told Vice.

Completely ignoring the mess, the lady tells Patton she’s going to perform for him. Thinking the obvious, Patton sits back on the couch and awaits the show. To his surprise/disappointment, the woman reappears with a VCR and demands Patton hook it up to the TV. He does. She shoves a VHS tape into the device and illuminating the screen is a younger version of this woman acting in a small play.

Not exactly what Patton was expecting but he sticks around a little longer. Then the woman remembers the whole reason for inviting Patton over: to get high. As someone who had engaged in recreational drug use, Patton was familiar with marijuana and opiate aromas. But when the lady lit her pipe, Patton almost didn’t recognize the smell.

“That is crack. It fits the description as crack. That is a rock and it has that sweet-tinny smell that you hear about.”

The woman passes the pipe to Patton and he takes it in his hand. He pulls it over to the side of his face and pretends to smoke the crack. He even inhales a big gust of air to trick the lady. When he passes the pipe back, the lady is already clearly messed up from her first hit.

Patton realizes this is his best chance of escaping this situation and heads towards the door. Just as we think his crazy adventure is over, in walks mystery lady’s husband. From neck tie all the way to the brief case and his unsurprised face, Patton got the feeling this wasn’t the first time this guy had come home to a similar situation.

Before Patton could get a word out, he felt something hard contact with the back of his head. It was the woman. She was punching him from behind, completely losing her mind. The husband grabbed and contained her yelling “Deardra! Deardra!” and Patton realizes he never got the lady’s name. The husband tells Patton to stay put and comes back with a checkbook in place of Deardra.

The husband asked Patton to never speak of his encounter to anyone and wrote him a check for $500.

I made $50 bombing in front of dumb, f***ing idiot, Baton Rouge people, but I made $500 to basically never tell this story.

 

*all illustrations by Matt Marblo taken from Viceland.com*

 

Catch Sean Patton LIVE at Comedy Works Downtown November 8-10!

Tuesday With Stories About Comedy Works

Comedians Mark Normand and Joe List host a weekly podcast called Tuesday With Stories.

Last weekend, Joe List graced Comedy Works stage and of course had to review his experience on episode #250 Big Purple Ball of the podcast.

They got the best staff in the business.

Mel is as sweet as pie.

The cool thing about Comedy Works is that they have real headliners…. We had Mike Stanley and John Tole…. Mike Stanley comes out on Thursday and is completely murdering! It’s one of those things where the MC might bury the feature. F***ing destroying…. This is great but it’s almost unfair. 

John Tole MC’d Saturday. Love the Tole! 

Dr. Kev is a fascinating guy! He’s like a sexy older guy. I’ll move here [Denver] just to be friends [with him].

Mark and Joe talk about their high anxiety performing at such a pretentious club like Comedy Works.

You just put a high bar for yourself at a club that’s that HOT!

Roy Wood Jr.’s Long Stand Off with Texas

Regular contributor to The Daily Show, Roy Wood Jr. posted a thread on Twitter last Monday explaining why the comedian has been avoiding Texas since 2006.

Before Wood Jr.’s major comedic career, he was mostly known for engaging in prank calls he would make to famous Hip Hop stars. His series caught on and a Houston based record company BCD Records, offered Wood Jr. an album deal.

Like most contract deals, Wood Jr. was limited to whom he could call and prank on this album. BCD Records gave Wood Jr. a list of acceptable prank victims and CEO of Rap-A-Lot Records, James Prince was first on the list.

J Prince has a heavy reputation being a boxing and hip hop guru for over 20 years. Prince has been described as soft spoken, with a composed demeanor making him that much more intimidating.

Before Wood Jr. could contemplate his first prank, he was already dialing, ready to pose as a Mom & Pop record store demanding repercussion from Rap-A-Lot Records.

But to Wood Jr.’s surprise, J Prince didn’t offer the slightest bit of amusement. In fact, his response was quite the opposite of what Wood Jr. usually gets.

Instead of playing along, J Prince asked Wood Jr. where he was. When the producer took over the call to apologize, Prince responded, “Ohhhhhh, you with Lucas? I see. I know EXACTLY where y’all at. (to driver) Aye man turn the car around.”

Wood Jr. was so worried after that statement, he packed up and left Houston after only 4 hours of being in the state of Texas for his album deal. He didn’t care about the contract. He didn’t want to face J Prince.

12 years later, Roy Wood Jr. has been presented with the opportunity to apologize to J Prince via telephone on MTV’s TRL.

Wood Jr. opens the conversation apologizing profusely for the prank call back in 2006 and goes on to say he’s ordered 3 of J Prince’s new book, “The Art of Science and Respect.” J Prince immediately smiles and responds that Wood Jr. must’ve caught him on a bad day.

Prince continues to chuckle as Roy Wood Jr. describes his feelings on that day. Wood Jr. said he was supposed to spend 4 days in Houston and he didn’t last 4 hours. Prince said he did remember that day and that he had just been on his way to “laugh with him in person.”

Roy Wood Jr. asked J Prince if he is allowed back in Houston and J Prince responded, “Yeah we good man.”

 

 

See Roy Wood Jr. LIVE at Comedy Works Downtown July 12-14! 

*all photos were taken via Roy Wood Jr.’s Twitter Account*

Tom Papa Releases Book June 5

Comedy veteran, Tom Papa has announced a debut date for his first book, Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas. This is Papa’s first published novel and it’s packed full of relatable info for anyone with a family. From the “Aunt with a mustache to the Uncle that uses marijuana as a condiment,” Papa exposes all of a family’s classic characters.

“Finally a funny book about parenting. Great observations. Great writing. Actually funny. I’ve always known Tom was hysterical, now I know he is a great writer and a fantastic storyteller. Can Tom Papa write all books?” – Jim Gaffigan, author of Dad is Fat
You can order the book today here!
Catch Tom Papa LIVE at Comedy Works South at the Landmark in September! 

Moses Storm starring in potential new tv show

Pop TV has announced the casting for their new half hour comedy pilot, Arranged. Among the two leading characters is Moses Storm, seen on CONAN, Netflix’s Arrested Development and new TV series Youth & Consequencesfor YouTube Red.

Storm will be portraying the character called Alex, the offbeat, charming best friend to the female lead. The two characters end up in a convenient marriage, thus the name, Arranged.

Although Moses can be seen on many TV shows and films, he is currently pursuing his stand-up career.

Moses is at Comedy Works May 31-June3! Get your tickets here! 

 

From Behind a Rock’s Shadow

Nearing the end of his high school career, Jordan Rock was faced with the question we’ve all been faced with at 17: What do I do now?

He grew up with 7 brothers and some were already finding fame. Rock knew he wanted to do something fun for the rest of his life and so he did. He started to pursue comedy. At this time in his life, his eldest brother, Chris, was well-known in Hollywood. As expected, the public assumed Jordan was choosing this career because the path had already been made for him.

Jordan (far right) and Chris Rock with their mother and other brother via New York Daily News

On the contrary, actually, it was harder for Jordan to establish himself as a comedian.

“The first level of it is just showing people you are serious,” said Jordan. “Coming out, people were like ‘he’s just doing it because of his last name’. They kind of feel you out longer than they would other comics. I knew about comedy from my brothers, but I was like, ‘I have a point of view. I have something to say.’” – Jordan Rock to stlamerican.com

Jordan told stlamerican.com that it wasn’t until he received feedback from Dave Chappelle that he knew he had what it takes to be his own comedian.

After solidifying his sets and showing consistency, his older brother Tony started letting Jordan open for him.

Tony (left) and Jordan (right) Rock via The New York Times

Along with his comedy career, Jordan’s acting career has also begun to build. He just wrapped up season 3 of Netflix’s Love as Kevin.

Catch Jordan Rock at Comedy Works South at the Landmark on May 30 and then Downtown in Larimer Square May 31 – June 2.

CHAPPELLE with STEWART on the road

Dave Chappelle announced he will be touring with Jon Stewart performing stand-up in Houston, Boston and El Paso June 11-24. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 18th at 10am through Ticketmaster.

Photo via thecomicscomic.com

DAVE CHAPPELLE AND JON STEWART DATES

June 11 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre

June 12 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre

June 13 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre

June 21 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre

June 22 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre

June 23 – El Paso, TX – Chavez Theatre

June 24 – El Paso, TX – Chavez Theatre

Netflix Announces “The Degenerates”

“The country’s funniest, delinquent comedians are teaming up for this RAW and EDGY show at Triple B’s in East Fremont… before they all go to hell.” – The Blacklist NYC

You’ve heard of Netflix’s The Standups. Now, Netflix invites you to tune into it’s evil twin sister: The Degenerates. This new special will feature not one, not two but four comedians you’ve seen (or will have the chance to see) LIVE at Comedy Works! Each comedian will get one half hour rated “Not Safe For Work.”

The 6 comedians include: Big Jay Oakerson, Liza Treyger, Christina P, Yamaneika Saunders, Joey “Coco” Diaz and the 6th comedian has yet to be announced.


Joey “CoCo” Diaz 

Big Jay Oakerson