Comedy Central Presents: Kristen Schaal

The following is part of a series that profiles episodes of Comedy Central Presents, a collection of stand-up comedy available for instant viewing.


If you’re anything like me, first of all, congratulations. Second of all, you were surprised to imagine Kristen Schaal as a stand-up comedian. Schaal is actress, perhaps best known as Mel in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords or from her work as a Daily Show correspondent. She’s also appeared in Mad Men, Modern Family, and a few feature films. That said, her Comedy Central Presents episode is solid, more so if you are familiar with her more recent work. Her episode watches more like a one-woman show than a stand-up routine.


Schaal’s episode essentially puts her on stage for 21 minutes, and she puts forth a strong comedic offering. Technically titled ‘Anne Boelyn on Fire’, her show has some brilliant comedic moments that ebb and flow with her performance. She refrains from the rapid-fire jokes that mark more traditional comedians, but her performance displays tremendous command of tension/release, an important comedic factor. It’s definitely worth 20 minutes, if you’ve got ‘em, particularly if you like Schaal’s other work. If nothing else, you can check it out if you want something funny, fresh, and a little off-beat.

Comedy Central Presents: Alonzo Bodden

The following is part of a series that profiles episodes of Comedy Central Presents, a collection of stand-up comedy available for instant viewing.

Alonzo Bodden is a comic’s comic. His stage persona is relaxed and mature, his material is well-written and sharp, and most importantly, his jokes are funny. I first saw Bodden on the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, where he was runner-up to John Heffron. He came back again in Season 3 and won both redemption and the title, and he was a judge in Season 5. I remember him distinctly because he always had new material, whereas the other finalists, even the eventual winner, seemed to recycle jokes week-to-week. Bodden still works as a stand-up today, traveling and performing regularly. Watching him work, he really doesn’t do much besides talk into the mic. But it doesn’t matter, the guy’s a pure stand-up.

Bodden’s set is funny in all the right ways: it’s brave, funny, and sharp. He starts a bit slow but really hits his stride about five minutes in. His racial stuff is particularly memorable, making some funny points about the nature of stereotypes. His bit about his incarceration is also pretty strong (“The thing about jail is, if you haven’t been, don’t go”). He goes right at controversial topics, reminding the audience rather convincingly that “it’s ok to laugh.” The set isn’t perfect—Bodden certainly doesn’t go for laughs with on-stage antics, and I always find airplane security jokes a bit clichéd —, but if you want to see a true stand-up doing solid, textbook, craftsman-like comedy, Alonzo Bodden might be right up your alley.

Check him out at Alonzo Live.

The Larry Sanders Show Season 1 (1992)

Do you like Seinfeld? Ya? What about 30 Rock? Curb Your Enthusiasm? Arrested Development? Then you're gonna love The Larry Sanders Show. This show was on HBO from 1992-98, following the life of Larry Sanders, a fictional late night talk show host played by comedian Garry Shandling. Whats really special about this show is every episode has excerpts from the show within the show, complete with celebrity guests, who always play slightly exaggerated versions of themselves. And we're talking early nineties guests. Like Catherine O'Hara, the mom from Home Alone. It's dry comedy, similar to what you'd see on Curb, and the subject matter, how show business can make you a neurotic mess, is familiar of 30 Rock and Extras. George Sr. from Arrested Development, Jeffrey Tambor, plays Larry's sidekick on the show, Hank. Jeremy Piven from Entourage plays the head writer. Rip Torn plays the Jack Donaghy-type producer. And here's the kicker: Judd Apatow gets a credit as Consulting Producer.