Halloween Video Cavalcade!

I used to be part of a monthly talk show called "The Primetime Kalan," with my friends Elliott and Erik. Last year around this time, we had our Halloween show, which we hosted as "Ghost Hunting Club of New York," three paranormal scholars who went to various locations in the NY area, trying to catch a ghost. (A side note: our guest for that show was The Daily Show's Dan Bakkedahl, who showed up in a helmet and knee pads, claiming that he thought we were the "Go Stunting" club.)

Anyway, it's taken a year for them to show up online, but here, for the very first time, are the Primetime Kalan Ghost Hunting Videos! (Cinematography courtesy of Brock Mahan)

Video One: "Grant's Tomb" - by Elliott Kalan



Video Two: "The Jersey Devil" - by Dan McCoy



Video Three: "The Yeti of Williamsburg" by Erik Marcisak



And, as a special bonus, I offer this fourth video. It was done by Elliott, Erik, and former show director-turned-Flavor-of-Love-editor Joe Guercio long before I was involved with the Kalan show. Still, you can see that this video share many of the same themes from the ghost hunting shorts (for instance, the conviction that pipes, 80's-style montages, and Photoshop are the tickets to comedy success), proving that it was inevitable that I'd join the group eventually.

Just one bit of background: R2-D2 was Elliott's "co-host" on his show, until they decided to abandon that bit. This video was produced to explain his absence from the show, but you don't really need to know that to enjoy the video, other than one or two stray comments.

WARNING: Do not watch if you are sensitive to violence against robots

"The End of R2-D2"

Celebrating (to) the End

Last night's party to celebrate the end of Juvie Hall was pretty awesome, and shame on you if you didn't come.

"But Dan! I had work Tuesday morn..."

A-bup-bup-bup! You're dead to me.

The details are hazy (it was held in a bar), but I seem to remember doing a long interpretive dance, with intermittant short beverage breaks, with Autumn Clark, and having a lengthy argument with Eric Zuckerman, in which he took the role of Bob Hoskins and I essayed the role of Michael Caine.

You know, the usual annoying performer jackass stuff. But fun.

As for Juvie Hall, it will be sorely missed. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, etc. etc. But before it's gone forever, check out my last few posts, and come see me perform there this weekend.

And thank you Erik Marcisak for driving me home, so I need not brave the subways while cold, tired, and tipsy. Has the E train made its last exit to Brooklyn?

Grand Falls Community Council, Friday the 16th at 8 PM, Juvie Hall

I have a small part in a one-night-only comedy show that the lovely Laura Buchholtz has written and is producing/ directing, called "The Grand Falls Community Council." Come see it at Juvie Hall on Friday the 16th at 8 PM, for a mere $7. Come out to the theater at 24 Bond Street between Bowery and Lafayette for some special limited-edition comedy before the holidays.

Edited 12/ 10 to reflect Laura's helpful update.

Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With NEAL POLLACK this Friday the 29th!

That's right, at this week's Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You, Sara will be interviewing the most important American author himself, Neal Pollack (former McSweeney's contributor, and the author of The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature and Never Mind the Pollacks). He's sure to delight and amuse with his metafictional hijinx.

The musical guest will be The Last Town Chorus, a lap steel and acoustic guitar duo, with a singer who's been favorably compared to Gillian Welch and Rickie Lee Jones. You can sample their music here. And, as always, you can expect a special Law and Order guest, plus our usual office shenanigans. Last week we broke into an unexpected, highly choreographed, Bollywood dance number. Who knows what might happen this week?

The show is this Friday the 29th at 8 PM, at Juvie Hall . Tickets are $8., and they can be purchased here, via Juvie Hall, or at the door-- but be aware, we do sell out.

You want critical acclaim? Check it:

"A compelling, funny take on the boxed-in conventions of both television and office work."
- The Onion "

Much more fun than anything you'd catch on basic cable."
- Amelia David, Backstage

A TimeOut New York Critic's Pick; Emerging Comics of New York Award Winner; Featured on the New York Post Hot List; more praise here.

BACK STAGE Couldn't Love Us More on Their Lovin'-est Day if They Had an Electrified Lovin' Machine

Today's "Back Stage" (the newspaper for actors) listed two shows I'm in as part of their annual list of comedy profiles, or "Comedy Best Bets 2005: 10 [Comedians] Worth Watching."

Firstly, the lovely Sara Schaefer graces the cover, in her traditional "I'm strangling two businessmen with their ties, while I gaze at you in a sultry manner" pose. Her picture is essentially the only one on the cover, taking up about a fourth of the page-- just to get the whole strangling/ sultry thing across. The article inside is terrific too. Sadly, (since I'm an attention whore) I'm not mentioned in the list of writers, since the press materials the writer was working from pre-date my time on the show; but really, who cares? It's great publicity, and I couldn't be happier for Sara, who deserves all the accolades she gets. She puts her heart into that show, and she's Aces.

Also, Erik Marcisak, the manager/ producer of Juvie Hall is profiled, with a special focus on Saturday Night Rewritten. I'm glad that Erik is getting the attention he deserves for providing an up-and-coming alternative to the big comedy houses in the city, and creating the only theater in NYC with a special focus on sketch. I would also like to take special note of one particular part of the article, which singles out one SNR bit to highlight:

"We especially liked a sketch in which a man was cursed with an ever-present voiceover narration, which was particularly funny in a bar, as he tried to socialize and hook up. It was fast-paced and had some very charismatic and funny performances."

Who wrote the sketch that so delighted Back Stage? Dear readers, I cannot lie. It was me. (Well, I cannot lie when lying would mean I'd miss an opportunity to brag. I can lie like a fiend otherwise.)

Anyway, thank you Back Stage for writing about us. We can only hope the publicity leads to us... y'know... actually getting paid for this nonsense.