Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With ME

I've just been hired as a writer for Sara Schaefer's bimonthly comedy talk show, Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You.

For those unfamiliar with the SSIOWY, it's a live stage show in the form of a late-night TV talk program. It's been featured on The NY Post's "Hot List;" has been glowingly reviewed by The Onion and the NY Press; and is a starred pick, every week, in Time Out NY. Plus, Sara recieved an Emerging Comics of New York award for "Best Host of a Variety Show" in 2004. And she's funny and adorable. You can read an interview with her here.

She's interviewed such guests as: The Daily Show's Samantha Bee; comedian Todd Barry; Air America's Marc Maron; Andy Borwitz of The Borowitz Report, and creator of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air; Jonathan Ames, the Author of Wake Up Sir!, My Less Than Secret Life, and What's Not to Love; Ben Curtis, the "Dell Dude;" Dana Snyder, the voice of Master Shake from Aqua Teen Hunger Force; and more. Plus, every show has a musical guest and a special "Law and Order Guest."

The show runs every other Friday at Juvie Hall Sketch Comedy Theater, at 8 PM (however, the show will run once a month during the Summer, returning to its normal schedule in the fall). The theater is at 24 Bond Street, btw Bowery & Lafayette. Tickets are $8, through SmartTix 212-868-4444, or at the door.

The next show is on May 6, and it will mark my first show as a writer. Judah Friedlander will be the guest (Vh1's Best Week Ever, American Splendor, Project Greenlight, and more). Other upcoming shows: May 20 (novelist Nick Sagan), June 17 (novelist Chris Genoa), July 15 (Ed Helms, The Daily Show correspondent). Come check 'em out.




Also, the Jest launch party was fun, other than the inexplicable closing of the open bar at 10:00, rather than the advertised 10:30 (Boooo! To hell with you, Delancey NYC! Don't come between a comedy writer and his booze!). I met some interesting folks, including the editor of Mad Magazine, who used to work at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch (weird career change, there). Also, in case people are interested, apparently Jest is only going to be a pay magazine outside of New York City. Inside the city, we will remain a giveaway, at least for a little longer. So, if you've managed to find it in the past, despite our best efforts at keeping our distribution spotty and unpredictable, you should be able to keep picking it up for free in the future.

Excelsior!

Dan in the New Issue of Jest - PLUS: Jest Goes National

The May/ June issue of Jest Magazine has hit the streets, and I''ve got two pieces in it. The first is a short piece, called "Ways To Make TV More Entertaining," on page 18, and the second is titled "Highlights from the 1st Annual Softcore Porn Awards (AKA 'The Softies')" on page 41. That piece is also highlighted on the cover, proving either that (A.) it was one of the editor's favorites, or (B.) any mention of porn sells.



Also, starting with this issue, Jest has become a pay magazine ($3.99 on the newsstand, or $18.00 for a 1 year/ 6 issue subscription-- although for a limited time you can go to Jest.com, click the subscribe button, and enter the code: "cheap jester" to get a subscription for only $9.95). Plus, starting with this issue, Jest has gone national, with issues being available in 60 U.S. cities.

You can read Jest editor Frank Santopadre's thoughts on the recent changes here, and you can also see a few pieces from the current issue online (although not, unfortunately, either of mine).

Next week I'm going to a launch party for the national version of the magazine, complete with (according to the invitation), "a DJ, models, open bar, and an ice sculpture." I have it on good authority that the ice sculpture is of Michael Jackson with boys' underwear over his mouth. This is a K-L-A-S-S-Y rag I write for!