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L.A.’s comedy scene is in a golden era. Netflix Is a Joke proves it

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L.A.’s comedy scene is in a golden era. Netflix Is a Joke proves it

The L.A. comedy scene has never been just one thing. Sure, we’re home to some of the best comedy clubs and comedians in the world. Legendary improv troupes? We’ve got ’em. Podcasts and hilarious content creators? We’re drowning in them. When it comes to variety shows, drag brunches and clowns, our town is top tier. Yet still, at some point even the most omnivorous comedy fan can hit a wall when it comes to looking for new things in this city to laugh about.

Thankfully, every other year for the last six years, the Netflix Is a Joke Festival injects L.A. with a large dose of discovery, turning our local scene into an onstage version of TV’s upfronts for the comedy world.

“Comedy is so much about discovery,” said Netflix head of comedy Tracey Pakosta. “Being able to put groups of people together, or talent that’s been doing this for so long, I think that’s what makes the festival great.”

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Taking over L.A. with surprising comedy shows of all shapes and sizes has been the inspiration behind the sprawling festival since it debuted in 2022. Initially stymied by the pandemic in 2020, it was revived two years later and there had been nothing in the country like it. The two-week bonanza of major talent from all over the world supported by the world’s biggest streaming platform managed to set itself apart from longtime fests like Montreal’s Just For Laughs or the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas. This year, NIAJ is distilled from two weeks down to one between May 4 through 10. Making use of clubs, theaters, bars and arenas all over L.A., the event encourages Angelenos to spin the block and reexamine well-trodden territory to find dozens of unique lineups, new comedians, new formats and memorable surprises all while (hopefully) finding a parking space.

These building blocks of the fest are personified by the big red “Netflix Is a Joke” blocks found on almost every stage. From the giant ones at the Hollywood Bowl the size of a Fiat to handheld ones at a small club that fit on a barstool, you will find them everywhere all week long. They’re part of the branding that unifies every show and a reminder of how big and diverse the scene really is.

“We have so many opportunities for comics to showcase themselves and we have such unique voices here and there’s such diversity,” comedian Iliza Shlesinger said about the festival, which includes her headlining a sold out “Iliza and Friends” show at the Comedy Store. “It’s a chance to see all of your favorite comics in one place. And then about 500 other comics. It may not be great for your brake pads or your traffic time, but there’s a lot going on.”

Shlesinger’s point is evidenced by the comedians she’s sitting next to on a recent afternoon while talking about the impact of the festival on L.A. comedy. Atsuko Okatsuka, Sheng Wang and Shlesinger all took different paths to grow into marquee headliners — from indie clubs to major theaters to shooting their own one-hour specials. Part of what makes them stand out in their L.A. home base is that even at the heights they’ve all reached in their careers, they still love playing small shows all over town.

“There’s a lot of smaller shows around town that are also listed as part of the festival,” said Wang, whose special “Purple,” directed by longtime friend and stand-up star Ali Wong, recently premiered on Netflix. “I like doing those rooms just to practice and to get reps. But it’s cool that they are partnering with the festival so that they can kind of build a profile for themselves.”

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1 Sheng Wang.

2 Atsuko Okatsuka.

3 Iliza Shlesinger.

1. Sheng Wang. 2. Atsuko Okatsuka. 3. Iliza Shlesinger. (Matt Seidel / For The Times)

Okatsuka, who is performing at the Orpheum as part of her national Big Bowl Tour, said it’s significant that the fest, which she describes as “Comedy Coachella,” is happening in the city where she found her voice in comedy. “For me it was the alt rooms that helped me grow because you know everyone has different energies and backgrounds and backstories,” she said. “I’m not someone that could start at a comedy club, my personality doesn’t allow for it.”

With over 350 shows happening all over seven days, NIAJ has the chance to continue its streak of introducing unique live formats and pairings for comedy that have room to grow. The other side of NIAJ’s impact on L.A. comes from massive shows like Gabriel Iglesias’ sold-out gigs at Dodger Stadium (only recently surpassed in ticket sales by his SoFi Stadium gig with Jo Koy), or innovations in livestreaming like last year’s roast of Tom Brady at the Forum. And let’s not forget John Mulaney’s stab at late-night experiment with the live series “Everybody’s in L.A.”

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The past two installments of the festival have shown Netflix’s desire to take comedy to new heights. It continues this year with the live roast of Kevin Hart at the Forum, hosting its first all-Spanish-language show at the Bowl with Marcello Hernandez and Colombian singer Feid, and more musically-driven comedy variety shows hosted by major music acts like Lizzo and Jelly Roll. And then of course there are one-off shows like the 40th anniversary of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” — a comedy variety show hosted by Patton Oswalt, which Wang will also be a part of.

“I’m just grateful to be part of this bigger show,” Wang said. “I’m a childhood fan of Pee-wee Herman, and I’m so grateful to be part of such a bigger tribute to him.”

There are several big variety shows including the Night of Too Many Stars at the Bowl and Seth Goes Greek at the Greek Theatre, starring Seth Rogen. And then there are true oddities like Stamptown, which is shooting its debut special for Netflix during the festival on May 8 and 9 at the Montalban Theatre, that thrive on being an uncategorizable ball of comedic energy with dancers, funny acrobats, skits and stand-up. Being around so many different types of shows also forces a lot of comedians to add more elements to their shows for the festival.

“I do think initially, when the festival started, it was about us going to talent, to try to come up with these ideas and brainstorm what is the most exciting show that could be done,” Pakosta said. “But now it’s a lot of incoming calls with talent having a really clear point of view on what they want to do.”

Some shows are obviously driven by Netflix programming as a way to cross-promote a comic and a TV show the platform is invested in. That includes live podcasts at the Wiltern where Bill Simmons interviews Shane Gillis and the cast of the Netflix sitcom “Tires,” or Tim Dillon doing a live discussion with the cast of real estate reality shows “Selling Sunset” and “Selling the OC.”

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While boosting the visibility of the shows on their platform has become a big part of the fest, that also includes backing comics they support, no matter how controversial they may be. This year the fest’s inclusion of Louis C.K. at the Bowl comes on the heels of the streamer producing his latest special “Ridiculous,” slated for a summer release. It marks his first major partnership with a streaming service since allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017. Since 2020, he’s put out several specials independently on his own website.

Asked about the decision to work with C.K. again, Pakosta said Netflix is in the business of giving comedy fans the choice to see someone they think is still the best at what they do.

“I think it sort of goes back to wanting to be in business with incredibly talented people,” Pakosta said. “And a lot of comics were talking about Louis C.K. and what he was putting out recently. In order to make sure that we have the best and the most variety on-service, having him perform at the festival and then ultimately launching a special [on Netflix] gives members the opportunity to see it if they want to … when we were getting the talent that we were working with, that we have a lot of respect for, saying how great he is and that he’s doing this again, it’s like OK, we want to be able to give people the choice to see it.”

For many comics shooting specials during the week the fest is in town, it’s also a chance to bring more work back to town for film crews and below-the-line workers who need jobs.

“It’ll be almost a year since my special ‘Father’ came out on Hulu and I shot that in L.A. too,” said Okatsuka, who chose to film her 2025 special at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theater and plans to shoot her next special in L.A. later this year. “So many productions have gone to other places and so a lot of crew have lost work or have left… I purposely was like, I’m gonna try to do my L.A. play during the festival… I’m just L.A. obsessed.”

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The feeling seems mutual between comics and their fans from L.A. and all over the world who come to buy their tickets for next week’s extravaganza and people continue to fuss over planning a week of shows where everything funny is happening all at once.

“It is like in a golden era right now,” Shlesinger said. “Comedy wanes and it waxes, and right now it is just everywhere. People you’ve never heard of are micro-famous, they’ve got a billion followers. They make a jillion dollars. You’ve never heard of them. And the festival is great because it keeps growing. So there’s more opportunities for that audience to find you.”

Movie Reviews

‘Mr. Reset And The Society Of Turnbuckle And Bone’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

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‘Mr. Reset And The Society Of Turnbuckle And Bone’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

Mr. Reset and The Society of Turnbuckle and Bone is a gripping sci fi horror/comedy featuring Vinny Pacifico, who is an ex-Ring of Honor Wrestler. What’s it about? What did we think about it? Read on for our spoiler free review!

But first? Take a look at the trailer!

Synopsis

Former Ring of Honor talent Vinny Pacifico stars as a rising indie wrestler lured by the promise of fame and fortune into a dark world of intense trials and sacrifice.

Rob Ryzin (ex-AEW), Bobby Fish (ex-NXT), Nick “Percy Watson” McNeil (ex-NXT), and Nick “Jamie Stanley” Stuible also star alongside writer-director Jedi Koszewski.

From The Press Release

The spectacle of professional wrestling grapples with psychological dread in Mr. Reset and The Society of Turnbuckle & Bone.

Full of gauzy, gorgeous imagery, a kaleidoscope palette, and themes that blend science fiction, body horror, and dark comedy, the surreal horror film explores a secret society that manipulates the wrestling industry from behind the scenes under the enigmatic Mr. Reset’s watchful eye.

Produced by Audacity Complex Studios, the film strips away the glitz of sports entertainment to reveal its psychological toll, while never shying away from the darkly comic moments that lurk in the industry’s shadows.

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“This project holds special meaning for me because it brings together two of my greatest passions: horror and professional wrestling,” Pacifico commented. “Through this story, I’ve had the privilege of exploring authentic experiences within a fictional framework and shedding light on growing up in the entertainment industry.”

Here’s a look at the poster art!

My Thoughts

If you like movies that have a horror/conspiracy feel to them with a hint of creepy, this is the movie for you. The cast did a phenomenal job, and the storytelling was spot on. It also had a touch of breaking the 4th wall in there. This is a great film with a lot of drama, horror, and bad decisions. I will give a PSA to anyone who is sensitive to lights as it switches back and forth a lot. I like the news element to the movie and how it goes from 1st person to 4th person.

Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone under 13 because of the nature of the film and the tricks it can play on your mind. Also, it has body horror which younger viewers might not be able to handle. The gore and the trauma in the movie play on your mind and is not for the faint of heart. Excellent storytelling and the director did a phenomenal job. I highly recommend this B-list movie with a 9/10 for me based on the bizarreness of it and the great storytelling. Sometimes you need a reset.

Mr. Reset and The Society of Turnbuckle and Bone on VOD now!

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‘All My Children’ actor Paul Avery and wife Sheila killed in house fire

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‘All My Children’ actor Paul Avery and wife Sheila killed in house fire

Paul Avery, a journeyman actor best known for his role on “All My Children,” and his wife, Sheila, have died following a house fire. He was 81 and she was 77.

The couple’s death was confirmed by their daughters Parker Sanchez and Kyle Avery, who said the fire broke out in their home in Blairstown, N.J., early last Tuesday morning. While firefighters were able to reach Paul and Sheila inside the Mohican Road home, the couple succumbed to smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Paul had a recurring role playing Hughie the bartender at Foxy’s on the ABC daytime soap “All My Children” for 12 years. He also acted in the 1978 film “Superman,” “Three’s Company,” “Soap,” and appeared in more than 300 commercials. He also acted in theater productions and produced plays in both New York and Los Angeles.

According to his daughters, the actor joked that his “elastic face” landed him multiple national commercials that ran concurrently. Casting directors looking for a “Paul Avery type” would turn the actor away because he was in too many commercials.

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“He had a teeny tiny part — one line in Superman — but boy did he make a meal out of that,” Sanchez joked.

Kyle Avery added that at the Oscars, they played a clip from “Superman” that featured Paul reciting his line.

“His good friend ran into the kitchen and made him an Oscar out of tinfoil and handed it to him,” she said. “But I think the thing that he was proudest of was that he could make a living as an actor.”

Paul Avery was born Oct. 8, 1941; and Sheila Avery was born May 22, 1949. Paul was raised in Indianapolis, served in the Vietnam War in his 20s and moved to Los Angeles and then New York by his late 20s to try to make it as an actor. Sheila was raised in Kansas City, Mo., and moved to New York where she worked as a registered nurse but also had a background in theater.

She studied the craft in college, performed on a USO tour in Vietnam and worked as a costume mistress.

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According to the couple’s daughters, the two brought their Midwest charm and sensibilities to the East Coast.

The couple met while living in an apartment building filled with other journeymen actors in the late 1970s.

“They were all part of this theater community, people who would go from regional theater to regional theater with the season,” Kyle Avery said. “They were a whole troupe of people who’d be in New York for part of the year, but then they’d go and be in Lakewood, Ohio, or Kansas City or Chicago, just following the theater.”

Sheila was previously married to John Quincy Bruce Jr., also an actor in the New York theater community and the father of Sanchez. Sheila and Paul got together in 1982 and married in 1984. They celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary in April.

Paul was a jack-of-all-trades and master of many. He was a small plane pilot who often flew into a tiny airport in Blairstown, N.J., which is how the couple discovered the town they’d call home. There, they opened a bookstore, Cabbages and Kings. Paul also launched a magazine: the Warren County Companion. According to the couple’s daughters, Paul was the first internet service provider in town. He also penned film reviews for the New Jersey Herald and some for the New York Times as well.

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Sheila found what her daughters called the “perfect job,” which brought together her work as a registered nurse and background in theater: speaking in schools about domestic violence and sexual assault. She also became a counselor who worked with survivors, and a trainer who worked with volunteers, teaching them how to interact with victims.

“People who took her training 20 years ago have been contacting us and saying, ‘Your mother changed the way I thought about the world, she is the basis for my feminism,’” Sanchez said. “It’s been so fascinating to hear the ripple effects of young women who took that training from her, and who are now middle-aged women who are still thinking about her.”

The daughters said that their parents were community icons who were dedicated to service. “They had a sense of duty to the people around them,” Kyle Avery said.

“They loved to throw parties,” Sanchez said. “They hosted an annual event called Faux Giving and they would have these insane traditions, like we would have a head-measuring contest and measure the circumference of people’s heads, and then a winner gets to eat their pie first, and a badge.

“Whoever had the smallest head, everyone there would shout, ‘Pin head! Pin head!’ at this person, and it was the silliest thing in the world, but everyone who attended that event, even if they came one time, would talk about it forever.”

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Kyle Avery added, “They were incredibly memorable.”

“They were community builders, they were people who wanted to nourish you in every way, and they were so good at it.”

They are survived by their children: Kyle Avery; Parker Sanchez and her husband, Pablo; Paul Avery’s son from a previous relationship, Stuart Sutherland; and their grandchildren, Avery, Duncan and Liana.

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Movie Review – The Get Out (2026)

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Movie Review – The Get Out (2026)

The Get Out, 2026.

Directed by Derek Borte.
Starring Russell Crowe, Luke Evans, Aaron Paul, Teresa Palmer, Nina Dobrev, Daniel Zovatto, Kartiah Vergara, Josh McConville, Yasmin Kassim, Benedict Hardie, Christian Perez, Cameron Leonard, Cory Beeston, and Ever Love Hope.

SYNOPSIS:

A nightclub owner is on the verge of leaving his dangerous past behind for retirement. After masked gunmen rob him and he finds himself squeezed by ruthless cartels, a mysterious newcomer arrives with an interest in buying the business.

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Before even getting into what co-writer/director Derek Borte’s The Get Out is about, it must be said that if Russell Crowe is in a movie, he is putting on a European accent. Simply put, this is what he does now, and how his fascination with playing Albanians and other nationalities would be more interesting than almost anything in this mostly generic, certainly overcrowded Los Angeles crime tale of fighting one’s way out of that dangerous life to live peacefully alongside a loved one.

To be fair, The Get Out is based on a novel called Strip by Thomas Perry (with screenwriters Derek Borte and Daniel Forte adapting), so it’s possible that the character in that book just happened to be Albanian and that this is actually inspired casting; go get the kooky guy who can’t help himself from playing quirky, offbeat, and violent Europeans (this is essentially the Russell Crowe from Kraven the Hunter). The reality is that, whatever the reasoning behind the decision, it mostly amounts to an otherwise legendary actor (at least he knows Gladiator II sucked and isn’t afraid to voice it) delivering another campy performance that unsurprisingly works even less once the film bizarrely shifts from crime comedy to more grounded action with mostly meaningless stakes (since whatever makes this novel a complex and breathtaking piece of crime fiction isn’t to be found here).

Manco Kapak (Russell Crowe) is a nightclub owner (it was once a strip club but changed to reflect politically correct times, which mostly sounds like a change from the novel and an acknowledgment of that) connected to the cartel (Daniel Zavatto) with a rigid system in place to keep operations functional. It turns out that the only threat to that falling apart is his own physical health, as he suffers a cardiac incident while sexually intimate with his much younger girlfriend, Sunny (Teresa Palmer). This is also what prompts him and her to consider selling the nightclub to an interested buyer, Joe Carver (Luke Evans), leaving that life behind, fleeing the country, and living out the rest of their days in solitude, with no one hunting them down.

Not only do Manco and Joe struggle to come to a financial agreement that feels respectful to the former, but a crooked police detective (Josh McConville) discreetly tasks miserable adjunct professor Jeff (Aaron Paul), who already breaks the law in what he believes to be victimless crimes in writing academic papers to help undeserving youngsters receive a free ticket into prestigious colleges. to mug the nightclub owner and steal the cash that he is carrying to bring to the cartel. The gist is that Jeff failed to get the detective’s son into the college of his choosing, and that, for some reason, the answer is to keep stealing the money necessary from Manco.

Since Manco never takes his gun out of his car’s glove compartment (even after his girlfriend and confidants suggest he start holstering it), getting the jump on him is simple time and again (Jeff is forced to do this on more than one occasion). However, a wrinkle is thrown into all of this when Point Break-obsessed bank teller Carrie (Nina Dobrev) astutely catches on that something is up with his deposits, pushing her way into the con. It also turns out that Carrie is a risk-taker, excited and turned on by crime, which mostly causes Jeff to freak out as he just wants his part in all of this to be over, but is, of course, more than happy to pull over to a motel at Carrie’s request when robbing Manco has made her horny.

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The adventures of this mismatched, dopey Bonnie and Clyde are the most fun there is to be had here, with the clashing personalities of Aaron Paul and Nina Dobrev playing off each other well. Their journey takes them in a direction that has less and less to do with Manco and more to do with Carrie getting it over her head, which is amusing and makes for a far more engaging movie than everything else here. She even gets her own blooper reel that might have more laughs in it than the previous 90 minutes.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has seen a movie before that all of these characters are on a collision course to face a reckoning with one another and the reckless and questionable choices they have made to hopefully enrich their lives. However, there is far too much happening in The Get Out, coupled with poor characterization and a gradual shift in tone from a comedic playfulness that already doesn’t work, to violence that also doesn’t work because there isn’t much to care about. Again, there is a much more interesting movie in the oddball-comedic Bonnie and Clyde duo. Put Aaron Paul and Nina Dobrev in a Point Break remake, and you have a better movie than that actual remake and The Get Out.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Robert Kojder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embed/playlist

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