The Tony Martini Variety Hour returns to The Three Clubs this Saturday night! I'm going!

Mark Fite, Renee Albert, Jim Turner and a cast of vaudevillians, burlesque dancers and god knows what are getting together to put on a couple of hours of good old fashioned variety! A form of entertainment largely thought dead by the early 1980s!

Tony Martini, your host, and titular lounge singer-y guy is portrayed by Los Angeles' comedic hurricane Mark Fite. Mark sings, jokes, and frequently falls flat on his face. Luckily, Martini is accompanied by his super talented wife, Bananas Foster. Foster could only be played by rock and roll accordion grand master Renee Albert. Boing Boing favorite Jim Turner plays their less than kind and understanding manager.

Produced by Steven Espinosa, the cast is joined by a veritable mob of Los Angeles finest variety acts: Michael Rayner, Pam Severns, Karl Herlinger, April Showers, Hannah Beavers, Sarah Elizabeth Pace and the always mindbending contortionist Bonnie Morgan.

Live music will be performed by Ben Jaffe.

Bar opens at 7:30, show starts sometime thereafter. Tickets and more info here.

I'll be drinking heavily in the back. Read the rest

The Tony Martini Variety Hour is running this Saturday, August 10th at the Three Clubs.

A desperate variety show clinging to the art, music, and style that worked so well in the late 50s and early 60s takes the stage this Saturday night in the city of fallen angels! Amazing performers put everything they can into an art form we thought went away with the Star Wars Holiday Special! Come and marvel at the madness!

Tony Martini, your host, and titular lounge singer-y guy is portrayed by global comedy legend Mark Fite. Mark sings, jokes, and frequently falls flat on his face. Luckily, Martini is accompanied by his super talented wife, Bananas Foster. Foster could only be played by international accordion phenomenon Renee Albert. Jim Turner plays their less than kind and understanding manager.

Produced by Steven Espinosa, the cast is joined by a veritable mob of Los Angeles finest variety acts: Michael Rayner, Pam Severns, Karl Herlinger, April Showers, Olive Oz and the always incredible contortionist Bonnie Morgan.

I'm gonna be there! Join us Saturday, August 10th at the Three Clubs. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm.

Photos by Safi Alia Shabaik. Read the rest

On Thursday, August 8th, in Silverlake, California you have the opportunity to see some amazing performers. The line-up includes Jim Turner, Dana Gould, and legendary guitarist Laurence Juber, all while supporting Swing Left Los Feliz.

Evidently Gould will be portraying everyone's favorite conversant simian, Dr. Zaius.

Hi, folks! It’s me, Jim Turner (yes, that Jim Turner)…

I am working with a group putting on a benefit to raise funds to contribute to Dan McCreadys’ special election campaign to fill the seat representing North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House. The special election, which will be held on September 10, 2019, follows allegations the Republican candidate committed election fraud in the initial election. It’s essential McCready is successful in his congressional bid and Swing Left Los Feliz (our group) aims to provide recourses to help make that happen - so the Democrats can hold the House while working towards flipping the Senate.

And equally important: this particular election will be a referendum on trump and is really the first big election of 2020. It’s very important we win it.

The benefit we’re throwing is Thursday, August 8 at The Satellite (used to be Spaceland in Silverlake) at 8:00. And it’s actually one of those benefits that's worth the price. You don’t even have to like Dan McCready. You’ll be that happy you come. Mainly because the inimitable, Dana Gould, will be emceeing the night in a very rare appearance as Dr. Zaius from Planet of the Apes!

Also appearing will be:

Moses Storm Laurence Juber From Mueller She Wrote (Jordan Coburn, Jaleesa Johnson, and A.G.)

Taylor Swift may speak to her home state, but MTv's former presidential hopeful Randee of the Redwoods may be more effective to rally Happy Mutant voters!

Randee reminds us of our youth, while encouraging everyone to register and to vote.

Just say "Whoa!"

Read the rest

Jim Turner is on the movie poster for Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks, so you might expect to see him in it.

Jim plays Doctor Brinks, a humanitarian who dies before the movie begins, in a plane crash with his humanitarian wife, also Doctor Brinks. The film opens at the funeral. Their long separated children are total shits. Raucous hilarity ensues.

Jim is briefly in a flashback sequence.

As of today you can stream Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks via a whole bunch of streaming services, including YouTube, Amazon, and Apple. Read the rest

Holy smokes! Randee of the Redwoods and Pete and Pete? These are some of my favorite television personalities of all time!

The Catskills sure have changed since my dad's day! Meltasia festival makes East Durham, NY the ultimate place to be on Earth this September 8th-10th. My spirit guide, Randee of the Redwoods, will be joined by Pete and Pete, the titular lead characters of of a mid 90s television program apparently targetted at surrealists and absurdists!

There will be music as well!

Check out Meltasia! Maybe you'll head for the Catskills!

Read the rest

You may have seen the Wainwright Training videos on Boing Boing's in-flight entertainment channel on Virgin America.

While they probably won't be offering sensitivity training, Mark Fite and Jim Turner, one-half of Los Angeles' best sketch comedy troupe 2 HeadedwDog, will be appearing at Beyond Brookledge this May, in Riverside, CA.

Beyond Brookledge is a fantastic three-day magic and variety extravaganza thrown by Erika Larsen and Bob Self at Riverside, California's unbelievable Mission Inn May 19-21st. Once a year those two curate a weekend of dazzling entertainment, and amazing community, around the acts from Erika's private shows at the theater in her home, Brookledge.

You'll instantly feel like you are among friends, and spend a weekend hanging out with some of the most amazing magicians, makers and variety performers on Earth.

The Amazing Jonathan will probably make fun of you.

Previously:

Beyond Brookledge, May 19-21st at the iconic Mission Inn Read the rest

We could all use a laugh right now. Read the rest

Sunday night the fantastic comedians of 2 Headed Dog present what may be their magnum opus: CLOWNTOWN CITY LIMITS!

I wish I was in LA, I hate to miss this show!

This Sunday, join Big Bugs (the Happiest Clown Alive), Corky (the unemployed rodeo clown), and Adolph (their Swedish butler) for a very special benefit performance of Clowntown CIty Limits to help fight MCD.

One in ten clowns is afflicted with Mad Clown Disease. With your help, there is a cure. All proceeds to benefit Find A Cure for MCD.

Special post-show VIP autograph and picture signing with Bugs, Corky, and Adolph.

Anyone in Clown outfit (and not afflicted with MCD) gets $2 off price of admission.

Steve Allen Theater

4773 Hollywood Blvd

LA, CA 90027

Sunday November 6th

8:00PM

$12

Trepany House consistently hosts the best performers and shows in Los Angeles. Read the rest

Join LA's best comedy troupe 2 Headed Dog next Tuesday night, 8pm, at the Steve Allen theater!

Jim Turner, Mark Fite, Dave "Gruber" Allen and Craig Anton put up the most fun show I have seen in years! Individually they are brilliant, accomplished actors, as a team 2 Headed Dog is an unstoppable absurdist force.

I understand that Jim Turner's Choam Underhill will be making an appearance. I'm certain to attend, as I lack enlightenment. Read the rest