Up Close & Political: The Road Ahead is Sunday, 11/15 on Zoom
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The dust has settled - well, or is settling, or about to be overturned, depending who you ask.

Yet after the election, we still have polarization. Covid-19. And the threat of Kanye running again.

How will things play out? What part should we play? We sort through the rubble with an excellent lineup of comedians and experts, including:

  • Helen Hong, favorite on NPR’s “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me” and seen on HBO’s Silicon Valley!

  • Jackie Kashian, comedian with #1 iTunes comedy album “I am not the hero of this story” and host of the Dork Forest podcast!

  • Jose Sarduy, comedian seen on Last Call with Carson Daly and a US Air Force pilot!

  • Mark A. Peterson, UCLA professor and expert on national institutions!

  • Geraldo Cadava, Northwestern professor and author of The Hispanic Republican!


Plus your questions from the audience! Hosted as always by Toby Muresianu.

Owing to the ongoing pandemic, this will be our first all-digital show - so people can attend from sea to shining sea with the following login info:

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83962846523?pwd=SDgzL2lUeUtZbjVWVnFQREdsZS92QT09
Meeting ID: 839 6284 6523
Passcode: 854898

It all kicks off at 7pm PST. Presented in partnership with KO Comedy.

Up Close & Political: The Democratic Primary is February 12th!
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Stand-up comedy on the Democratic primary followed by an open discussion with experts--and no weird caucus rules!

Comedians:

Ben Gleib, former presidential candidate, host of Idiotest on the Game Show Network, and star of the Showtime special Neurotic Gangster!

Taquita Love, seen on Funny or Die, Laughs on Fox, and a registered nurse!

Experts:

John L. Ray, Senior Political Analyst at YouGov Blue and former analyst at the DNC!

Aura Vasquez, LA City Council Candidate endorsed by the Sunrise Movement and member of the board of commissioners for LADWP!

8-9:30pm at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club. Get your tickets today!

Up Close & Political: The Housing Crisis is January 7th!
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It’s 2020. Was your New Year's resolution to get out more? Or to make a difference in your community?

If so, come to our next comedy show on the housing crisis!

If not, come to our show and do push-ups or order a salad or whatever. We’re not the boss of you.

California’s housing crisis is causing huge problems: exorbitant rents, homeless encampments, my landlord not refunding my deposit even after the apartment was spotless.

It’s also one where local voices and voters have an outsized impact. What should we do about it?

Join the discussion with some amazing experts:

  • Rev. Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission, who lost his leg serving on Skid Row and is a central figure in the fight against homelessness in LA.

  • Liz Falletta, USC professor, principal of Falletta Development and member of Los Angeles’s Zoning Advisory Committee.

  • Michael Manville, UCLA Professor of Urban Planning focused on the relationship between transportation and land use.

And comedians:

  • Madison Shepard, a comedian seen on Comedy Central, FOX and Amazon - and a former apartment manager.

  • Jenny Yang, host of FreeForm TV’s podcast “A Little Forward,” writer for Last Man Standing, and former labor organizer.

Hosted as always by Toby Muresianu of Comedy Central’s Roast Battle.

We'd love to see you there! It's 7:30-9pm on Tuesday, January 7th at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club.

Get your tickets here!

Up Close & Political: Impeachment is October 7th!
 
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We're back with a special late night show on the big one.

History’s being made, and we’re combining stand-up from great comedians, a panel discussion with experts, and your chance to get your questions answered and/or made fun of!

Featuring stand-up from:

Jordan Coburn, comedian heard on the insanely popular Mueller, She Wrote podcast!

Michael Loftus, conservative comedian with an hour special on Comedy Central!

and expert analysis with:

Michael Genovese, president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, author of fifty books including "How Trump Governs”!

Robert English, USC professor of international relations specializing in eastern Europe and a former policy analyst for the Department of Defense!

Showtime is 10pm at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club. Reserve your tickets today!

Toby Muresianu
Up Close & Political: The Gun Show is September 2nd.
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Up Close & Political is the show where comedians do standup on the big issue of the month followed by a discussion with experts and the audience.

The topic is guns, so we'll be using the first amendment to talk about the second in a well-regulated discussion with no background checks required.

Featuring an incredible panel, including:

Erroll Southers, current director of Safe Communities Institute at USC; former California Deputy Director of Homeland Security, FBI agent and LAPD officer.

Susan Shelley, conservative opinion columnist for 11 newspapers including the OC Register and LA Daily News and VP of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Josh Stepakoff, board member of Women Against Gun Violence and mass shooting survivor.

Steph Tolev, winner of the Canadian Comedy Award for 'Best Female Standup' and seen on Comedy Central's "Up Next" and "Corporate"!

Joe Carl AbouSakher, Tennessee native, Funniest Comic in LA Finalist and host of the "Hometown Heroes" podcast!

Hosted as always by Toby Muresianu of Comedy Central's Roast Battle.

Toby Muresianu