We're back! After a December break, we're starting the new year by taking on a perennial goal: fighting poverty.

As always, comedians will do stand-up on the topic, followed by a discussion with experts and the audience. We're tackling the real questions, namely:

* What are the causes of poverty? Is it stagnant wages, increasing expenses, or personal decisions to pursue stand-up comedy?

* What are the solutions? A bigger safety net, more charity, or getting a job already (our dad wrote these last ones)? 

On the panel will be a lineup of great comedians:

* Michael Loftus of The Flipside with Michael Loftus!
* Armando Torres, formerly homeless co-host of the Cult Podcast!
* Anna Valenzuela of Comedy Central's Roast Battle!

and experts:

* Erin Kaplan, economics professor at Loyola Marymount University!
* Michael Stoll, economics professor at UCLA and fellow at the National Poverty Center!

Appropriately, tickets are just $5. Get yours today!

'Twas the night before midterms, when as pundits groused,
Not a district was swinging, in the Senate or the House.
The ballots were filled out by the people with care,
In hopes that the candidates would answer their prayers.
The voters nestled (not so?) snug in their beds,
With visions of colored waves, whether in blues or reds.

It’s the day before the day we’ve been waiting for.

Up Close and Political, the show where comedians do stand-up on big issues followed by a discussion with experts and the audience, is back.

And while fans will note we already had a midterms show, this show is 12 hours before polls open - so what else were we going to talk about, really?

So as usual, we’ll have stand-up on the topic followed by a discussion with experts and you, the audience. We’ll have people from across the political spectrum:

* Felicia Folkes - seen on Comedy Central and profiled in LA Weekly!
* Julianne Simitz - writer at Jimmy Kimmel Live and a former political organizer! 
* Adam Yenser - writer for Ellen and Politicon's Best New Political Comic!

Plus an open discussion with Gar Culbert, political science professor at CSU-Los Angeles!

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

The show is at 7:30pm at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club, 8162 Melrose Ave in West Hollywood. Street parking is available and free after 8, or there is a valet option as well.

Tickets are just $5 - get yours today!

The day of reckoning (well, another one) is soon nigh. What is at stake in the midterm elections? What should happen? What should we do, besides yell at strangers on social media?

Up Close & Political is the show where comedians do stand-up on big issues, followed by a discussion with experts and the audience. We’re trying, against the odds, to have a civil and funny discussion about politics - with a great panel from across the political spectrum.

It includes:

• Joe Carl Abousakher, Funniest Comic In LA competition finalist and host of the Hometown Heroes podcast!

• Helen Hong, seen on Last Call with Carson Daly and Parks & Recreation!

• Michael Loftus, host of The Flipside with Michael Loftus and seen on Comedy Central!

• Dan Flynn, campaign advisor and political analyst!

• Michael Knowles, host of the Michael Knowles show on The Daily Wire!

• And, as always, host Toby Muresianu of Comedy Central’s Roast Battle!

The show is at 7:30pm (sharp) at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club in West Hollywood. Tickets are just $5 in advance - reserve yours now!

The story is familiar. Traffic is a problem, the drivers are terrible, and mass transit isn't what it should be.

How is should it change? With self-driving cars, bird scooters, high-speed rail and whatever Elon Musk has come with this week all in the mix, we could be at - dare we say - a crossroads. To help figure out what route to take, we're bringing a group of experts, comics, and possibly annoyed citizens together to discuss it.

Featuring comics: 

Virginia Jones, of Portlandia and CNN's The History of Comedy!

(Stephen) Brody Stevens, of Last Call with Carson Daily and Comedy Central's The Half Hour!

Experts:

Joe Linton, editor of StreetsBlog LA!

Brian Taylor, head of UCLA's Institute for Transportation Studies!

Hosted by Toby Muresianu.

The show will be on Tuesday, 9/4 at 9:30pm, rather than the usual Monday, on account of Labor Day. It's still at the Hollywood Improv comedy club and tickets are just $5 - get yours today!

The question keeps popping up in the news.

"Is this who we are?"
"Is this America?"

But what is America, anyway? What are "American values" and how many Americans have them? 

Is Donald Glover's vision in "This is America" more accurate than John Cougar Mellencamp's?

On July 4th America'll be 242 years old and in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis.

So we're trying to resolve the question with a town hall open to all at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club. It features stand-up comedy on this country, followed by a discussion with panelists, the audience, and folks streaming online.

With comedians:

* Sofiya Alexandra, writer for Amazon's Danger and Eggs and seen on Comedy Central!

* Thom Tran, creator of the GIs of Comedy Tour and seen on NBC's Black-ish!

Panelists: 

* Sean Dempsey, American history professor at Loyola Marymount University and Jesuit priest!

* Pedro Gonzalez, writer for American Greatness!

And hosted by Toby Muresianu, Faith Choyce and Laura Crawford.

Tickets are just $5. Get them here!