“Max the Hero” (with MST3K’ers Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett) to Screen at NY Television Pilot Festival

The animated comedy “Max the Hero” stars and was written by Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s and RiffTrax.com’s Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett. It was produced, directed and co-written by Nashville’s Mike Salva.

In the show, Max (voiced by Bill Corbett), is an accidental superhero who is kind of a lazy jerk. He never actually saves anybody. His jealous roommate, Stew (voiced by Michael J. Nelson), becomes his arch-rival. And they both injure their buddy Chip (voiced by Kevin Murphy) a lot.

We’ve seen it! It’s hilarious and well worth your time

Here’s a trailer, narrated by Nashville-based stand-up comedian / sketch performer / writer / heavy metal parody band The Dead Dead front man, Sean Parrott:

Max the Hero‘s 13 minute pilot episode will be screened at the upcoming New York Television Pilot Festival, where it is competing for $25,000 and a a development deal in the Independent Pilot Competition.

2009 Comic-Con International Film Festival (CCIFF) judge / KBPS Film Critic Beth Accomando called Max the Hero, “one of the handful of really outstanding films I saw that year.”

The firm has two screenings:

Wednesday, Sept. 22nd at 9:45 pm (tickets)
Thursday, Sept. 23rd at 7:30 pm (tickets)

Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street
NY, NY

The award-winning short has previously been recognized by the Dragon*Con Film Festival as “Best Animated Comedy – 2008,” and as “Best Animation – 2008” by Rutgers Media Center’s Film and DV Festival. More about “Max The Hero” writer, director, producer Mike Salva can be found at ProjectMeatball.com, and on FaceBook.

Jesse Case: New Faces class of 2010 at Just For Laughs Montreal

Jesse Case

The New Faces class of 2010 at Just For Laughs Montreal has been announced and Nashville native Jesse Case is on that list. Congratulations!

Jesse got his start at Nashville open mics before traveling across the country, doing shows and surveying local comedy scenes. He lived in Seattle for a few years, where he used the abundant stage time to his advantage. He since won both the Seattle Laughs Comedy Competition and the 2008 Rocky Mountain Laugh Off, was nominated for ‘Best “Short Format” Comic’ in the CLOG! Awards, was selected to perform at the Great American Comedy Festival, Bumbershoot and the Bridgetown Comedy Festivals..  appeared on Season 6 of Last Comic Standing and is now living in Los Angeles.

Catch up with Mr. Case on Twitter or listen to his podcast “The Last Resort with Jesse Case” over on ComedyPodcast.com.

The 1st Annual Longest Running New Famous #1 International Open Mic Comedy Festival

2010 Festival

The 1st Annual Longest Running New Famous #1 International Open Mic Comedy Festival

April 1-7, 2010
Nashville, TN
(facebook event)

This amazing, unprecedented mega-event kicks off TONIGHT!

Thursday, April 1, 2010 – 6:30pm
“Laugh like hell” OPEN MIC
The Rusty Nail
4054 Andrew Jackson Parkway
Hermitage, TN 37076-2220
(615) 889-2613
(facebook event)

Sunday, April 4, 2010 – 8pm
OPEN MIC at Joe’s Place
Joe’s Place
(Near the Green Hills YMCA and Whole Foods)
2227 Bandywood Drive
Nashville, TN 37215
(facebook event)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – 6pm
Hope Lodge Night of Laughs
American Cancer Center
Hope House
2008 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 342-0840
http://www.cancer.org/
(facebook event)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – 8pm
OPEN MIC @ Spanky’s
Spanky’s Sportsbar & Grill
330 Welch Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37211
(behind the WalMart @ Nolensville and Harding Place)
(615) 837-3450
(facebook event)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 – 9:30pm
Dive Laughing OPEN MIC
Springwater
115 27th Ave N.
Nashville, TN 37203
615-320-0345
(facebook event)

“Be there! ..or SUCK IT!”

Keith Alberstadt to compete for $10,000 in Boston Comedy Festival

Keith Alberstadt
Keith Alberstadt

Congratulations to Nashville native Keith Alberstadt who will once again be competing in the Boston Comedy festival (August 29th – September 5th). No stranger to Boston, Mr. Alberstadt previously competed in the festival in 2003, 2004 and 2005. This year, Keith is scheduled to perform in Preliminary Round 7 on Wednesday, September 2nd. (Buy tickets here.)

The Boston International Comedy & Movie Festival began back in 2000 as a way to showcase New England stand-up comedy talent to bigger audiences and the entertainment industry. Given the long line of successful comedians who got their start in Boston, it seemed to be a natural fit for such a festival. The audience agreed, and the event has grown every year. In addition to the traditional stand-up comedy routines, the festival also includes improv, sketch comedy, and one-person theatre shows, as well as the newly expanded movie portion of this festival.

boston comedy festivalOver the past seven years, they’ve expanded to over a week of festivities, including outdoor family-friendly events and $10,000 in prize money for the competition winners. The addition of The Boston Park Plaza Hotel as the official host hotel and hub of the event has created a more centralized feel, and partnerships with other sponsors have helped them to include over 30 Boston venues and to bring in stars such as Lewis Black.

This year, over 96 comedians from around the world will compete for the prize money. Improv, sketch, and showcase acts will run throughout the week, and the film exhibition will take place at the historic Coolidge Corner theater.

For more info: www.BostonComedyFestival.com

Mary Mack – one of the “New Faces” at the Just For Laughs Montreal Festival

Mary Mack
Mary Mack

Every year Montreal’s “Just For Laughs” festival selects some “New Faces” for a series of special showcase shows. In their words, “Today’s hottest up-and-comers try to catch the eye of talent scouts and network executives in the most important sets of their lives. Come see tomorrow’s stars today!” Of course, these “new faces” are generally well established, proven talents with many accolades and recognition and credits to their name long before the festival took notice.

For example, this year one of the New Faces is our own Mary Mack. You might remember this nationally touring headliner from her appearances on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”, or on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” or on the “Bob and Tom Radio Show”.

Congratulations to Mary! She and the rest of the New Faces perform “the most important sets of their lives” Tuesday thru Thursday this week at the Cabaret Juste Pour Rire.