The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase @ Zanies Comedy Showplace – a showcase of the funniest comedians based in the Nashville area, plus guest sets from traveling comics, and Chad Riden’s IRON COMIC comedy competition with jokes written on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Follow and reply to @IronComic to play along at home.

The June 14th show lineup includes: Nashville’s James Austin Johnson, Riley Fox, Monty Mitchell, Scott D. Hill and Gary Fletcher; plus Pittsburgh’s Ron Placone. New York City’s M. Dickson will headline the event.

Here’s a funny video clip of M. Dickson:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase featuring Iron Comic
Tues., June 14, 2011
doors open: 6:30pm
showtime: 7:30 pm

Zanies Comedy Showplace
2025 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204

tickets:
$5. available at the door, online, or at the Zanies box office at: 615-269-0221

Facebook event:
Tues., June 14, 2011 – 7:30 pm

More info about the N’Sup Showcase @ Zanies is available at: http://NashvilleStandUp.com/showcase/

Comedian Jen Kirkman is a writer and roundtable regular on The E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately.” Kirkman also was the narrator of HBO’s “Drunk History” which received the Jury Prize for “Best Short Film” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. In April, she did stand-up on Comedy Central’s “The John Oliver NY Stand-up Show. Every episode of Paul F. Tompkin’s fantastic podcast, the “Pod F. Tompkast” features a phone call with Jen Kirkman as a regular segment. How much more evidence do you need before you conclude that Jen Kirkman is awesome?

Jen is doing ONE SHOW ONLY at the Basement in Nashville on May 6th with Nashville’s Gary Fletcher. Jen says, “I will also be selling some of my new CD’s “Hail to the Freaks” – shhh before it’s release date.”

Tickets are on sale now!

Friday, May 6th at 7pm – 21+
The Basement
1604 8th Avenue South
Tickets $15 @ ImprovNashville.com

(Facebook event)

AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Storyis a captivating animated documentary drama on the legendary Texas outlaw comic Bill Hicks, whose profound observations on American life changed the face of comedy forever. The film will be playing at the Belcourt Theatre May 2-5, preceded by sets from Nashville-based comedians Chris Crofton, Chad Riden, James Austin Johnson, Gary Fletcher and Sean Parrott.

The film has been called:
“a deeply perceptive, fittingly honest tribute…”
- London Film Festival

“inventive and daring…one of the few great docs for 2010 that has balls.”
- SheffDocFest

“Visually fantastic….completely absorbing and incredibly entertaining”
- Aint It Cool News

Here’s the official trailer:

If you are unfamiliar with Bill's work, here's a quick way to get up to speed. Bill Hicks: The Essential Collection is.. well, essential to any comedy collection.

Bill’s “outlaw” comic reputation and his relentless search for truth with such a brilliant comedic mind has inspired and infuriated comedians at every level of success. Go to any open mic and you can spot young comics who have been listening to his albums – the same way you can identify a HUGE Mitch Hedberg fan or someone who watches a lot of Daniel Tosh. You can spot that influence in comics who haven’t figured out the unique way they are funny yet.

Among seasoned comics, there are guys who can rant about soulless politicians, corrupt religions, bullshit advertising, the ratings obsessed eye-candy media, and evil global corporations.. but not many can do that while being as hilarious and original as Bill Hicks was. Hicks was so good at what he did, it makes me constantly look at my act and think, “what crap!” (BTW, no need to write ‘yeah, me too’ in the comments, I KNOW.) It’s humbling when you take a look at how fantastic stand-up comedy can be.

Bill is such an iconic figure in the world of comedy.. and his story resonates with me on a personal level. I’m a stand-up comic from the South who has zig-zagged across the country doing shows at the Chuckle Huts in the Shithole type towns for years.. and I’ve felt that same frustration and desperation first hand. Bill’s story isn’t just hate-fueled drunken rants, though. The film covers his entire life – sneaking out of the house as a young teenager to go perform at the local club, his struggle on the road, his hate for Los Angeles, his success in the UK, his spiritual journeys and inspiration via psilocybin mushrooms, his fight with cancer, his sobriety, his success and eventual censorship on David Letterman’s show and his redemption when Letterman finally made that right. It’s an incredible film about a legend whose work is still very relevant today.

The film will be playing at the Belcourt Theatre May 2-5, preceded by sets from Nashville-based comedians on the different showings. Tuesday is Chris Crofton night. Wednesday’s late night showing has no special presentation at this time. Thursday night’s two showings will be presented by NashvilleStandUp and feature myself (Chad Riden) and James Austin Johnson at 8pm and Gary Fletcher and Sean Parrott at 10:20.

Monday 5/2/2011
9:40pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Tuesday 5/3/2011
8pm: Chris Crofton, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story
10:20pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Wednesday 5/4/2011
10:30pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Thursday 5/5/2011
8pm: Chad Riden, James Austin Johnson, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story
10:20pm: Gary Fletcher, Sean Parrott, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story

The Belcourt Theatre
2102 Belcourt Avenue
(Hillsboro Village behind Pangaea and the Villager Tavern)
http://www.belcourt.org/events?id=75440
(615) 383-9140

A final word from Bill:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase @ Zanies Comedy Showplace – a showcase of the funniest comedians based in the Nashville area, plus guest sets from traveling comics, and Chad Riden’s IRON COMIC comedy competition with jokes written on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Follow and reply to @IronComic to play along at home.

The April 19th show lineup includes: Nashville’s John Thornton Jr., Matt Buechele, Sean Parrott, Sean Staggs, Brian Bates, and Gary Fletcher; plus Knoxville’s Sandy Goddard; and Chicago’s Drew Michael.

Here’s a sketch from Gary Fletcher, John Thornton Jr. & Brad Edwards:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase featuring Iron Comic
Tues., April 19, 2011
doors open: 6:30pm
showtime: 7:30 pm

Zanies Comedy Showplace
2025 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204

tickets:
$5. available at the door, online, or at the Zanies box office at: 615-269-0221

Facebook event:
Tues., April 19, 2011 – 7:30 pm

More info about the N’Sup Showcase @ Zanies is available at: http://NashvilleStandUp.com/showcase/

Corporate Juggernaut is Nashville’s newest comedy show (Given an 8.7 and Best New Comedy Show by Pitchfork!). Come out and see Gary Fletcher host an evening featuring the comedic stylings of Doug Morinec, John Thornton Jr., and Tim Northern.

Here’s a funny video the boys made to promote the show:

Check out Facebook.com/CorporateJuggernaut and add as a friend to get the latest updates. What? You want videos of the performers!? You got it:

TIM NORTHERN:

GARY FLETCHER:

JOHN THORNTON, JR.:

Show Details:
Corporate Juggernaut
featuring Tim Northern, John Thornton Jr., Doug Morinec & Gary Fletcher
21 and up
April 4th at 7 PM
The Basement (behind Grimey’s on 8th Avenue South)
1604 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 254-8006
(facebook event)