Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, will play Spider-Man. This is a huge win for meaningless, failed Internet campaigns and fans of the comic book series, Ultimate Spider-Man.
From USA Today:
USA Today reports the actor will voice the character next year in an episode of Disney XD’s animated “Ultimate Spider-Man,” which in its upcoming third season carries the subtitle “Web Warriors.” In the “Spider-Verse” story arc, a dimension-hopping Peter Parker (voiced by Drake Bell) tries to prevent the Green Goblin from collecting the DNA of Spider-Men from parallel universes, including Iron Spider, Spider-Man 2099, the Amazing Spider-Girl and Miles Morales.The prolific actor/comedian/rapper tried to play Peter Parker in the Sony Pictures Spider-Man reboot, but Andrew Garfield got the job. The Internet was 50/50 when it came to changing the ethnicity of the beloved fictional character from Queens. Glover has used this "Black Spider-Man fame" in his comedy, rap and on The Community.
Morales is the half latino, half black high schooler that becomes the wall crawler and replaces Peter after he took a bullet for Captain America. That sounds a bit grim for daytime cartoons for kids.
Tags: Childish Gambino , The Community , Donald Glover , Spider-Man , Miles Morales , Marvel Comics , Ultimate Spider-Man , Video
Billy Crystal was given the honor to the give a touching tribute for the legendary Robin Williams on the Primetime Emmy Awards Monday night. He told a couple of touching stories about their time working together, and how they celebrated family functions like birthday parties and bar mitzvahs.
USA Today transcribed Crystal's story from the Mets baseball game in 1989, and included the video:
“Robin, Whoopi and I once were in Shea Stadium in the broadcast booth with the great Tim McCarver. It was “Comic Relief Day” for the New York Mets. Robin knew nothing about baseball. I asked him, “What’s your favorite team?” And he said, “The San Franciscos.
“So, he was a little lost in the conversation so I got an idea and I said, “Ya know, Tim, we’ve got a great Russian baseball player with us.” I looked over and his eyes got all bright, his ears perked up–it was like he was a little dog that was inside all day and the master came and said, “Hey, ya wanna go for a walk?
“So, I said, “What’s baseball like in Russia?” Without missing a beat he said, “Well, we only have one team … the Reds.” The next pitch, the batter fouled one back, it came screaming back at us. We ducked down, it slammed against the wall … Robin turned around, it bounced into his hands and he stood up and screamed, “I love America, I’m going to defect!”
"Robin Williams. What a concept."
Tags: Robin Williams , Billy Crystal , Video
Monday, August 25, 2014
Tucson lost one her funniest and kindest souls over the weekend. Walter Edward Maxam Jr. passed away on Saturday. Aug. 23. The Vietnam veteran fought a tough struggle against cancer. Maxam has been telling jokes all over the southwest for the last 15 years.
The 67-year-old comedian would perform regularly for local law enforcement, charities and he traveled overseas to perform for the troops in Iraq four years ago. Maxam retired with the Marana Unified School District. He would invite some comedians to tell jokes during the Senior lock-ins.
He will forever be known for his kindness, honesty, wisdom and great hair in the local comedy scene. Maxam spent his weekends going to Laffs Comedy Caffe (almost) every weekend. He would do guest sets, feature and headline. He became a fixture and friend to everyone that toured the club. Someone adequately stated on his Facebook page, "If Laffs were Cheers, they just lost their Norm."
Tags: Walt Maxmam , Laffs Comedy Caffe , Laffs , Comedy , Tucson Comedy , Tucson Comedian , Video
Friday, August 22, 2014
Aida Rodriguez started her career backwards.
"Actually, my first show was in Arizona at The Orpheum Theatre. I did a five minute set before I tried the bit at an open mic," Rodriguez said. "It wasn't until my second set when I was humbled because I bombed."
The mother of two is the midst of the Shaq Comedy All-Star Tour, but she's making a special pit stop in the Old Pueblo. "I believe I'm the first Latin comedian to perform in this tour," Rodriguez said. "This is the same platform that launched Kevin Hart's career."
Rodriguez has reach an important milestone in her comedic journey this month. "I can't believe seven years has gone by, and I feel like I'm just getting started," Rodriguez said. She was a finalist in this year's critically acclaimed reality show, Last Comic Standing. "It was great working with Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Russell Peters. I was lucky enough to receive a (comedy) session with Amy Schumer," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was one of two female finalists in the ninth season of Last Comic Standing. "Being a comedian is a challenge all into it's own. But I would say being a woman has an added pressure because there aren't that many women at the top, and it's a male dominated sport," Rodriguez said. "Opportunities will create themselves when you really work hard at honing your craft, developing a voice and a clear point of view.”
"I don't like playing the "woman victim comic role" because it doesn't service my advancement, but I can't deny there aren't challenges of being a woman in the comedy world," Rodriguez said.
Tags: Aida Rodriguez , Last Comic Standing , Amy Schumer , Kevin Hart , Roseanne Barr , Keenen Ivory Wayans , Russell Peters , Video
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
I, for one, hope the film is better than the comics. I don't think anyone can honestly point out a "good" Ant Man story that doesn't involve cooler Marvel characters. With all due respect, Iron Man was in that same boat. But he could fly and blow stuff up. Ant Man can hardly anything like that.
Here's the photo:
Monday, July 28, 2014
We have some good news and bad news. Good news: Doug Stanhope is coming to Hotel Congress. Bad news: You have to wait three weeks. Stanhope will embark on a summer tour to New York, California, Australia and Tucson, AZ. We haven't seen him since last November when he filmed an hour of original material for the Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe.
You can catch the Bisbee boy at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13 at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. You must be 21 and older, or have some sort of Benjamin Button thing going on. Click here to buy your tickets.
Tags: Doug Stanhope , Club Congress , Hotel Congress , Weekly Wipe , BBC , Video
Monday, July 21, 2014
The Switch Comedy show has come a long way over the last year. Graham Van Bach started the show in the winter of 2012 at Mr. Heads, and it has since expanded to Flycatcher and Hotel Congress.
Local comedians can jump on stage, ditch their set lists/best punchlines, and pray that someone in the audience texts a funny topic to joke about.
If you haven't experienced this improv comedy show, here's your chance: The Switch will feature some of Tucson's local talent and special guest at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Club Congress, 311 N. Congress St. There's no cover charge, and your participation is encouraged. Click here to RSVP on the Facebook.
Here's the latest trailer that was filmed by local filmmaker Ben Riley Lane and comedian Ryan Malchow:
Tags: the switch , the switch show , comedy , tucson stand up , Video
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Max has been graciously giving us a weekly comic strip for the last 25 years. Since it's almost impossible to give him a gift that will measure up to the pain and joy he has given us, all he will get from the Weekly offices is this blog post. I don't know if Max knows this or not, but he was one of the reasons why I picked up this paper. Honestly, I don't know if I would be here if it weren't for him.
It's an honor to call him a friend and colleague.
Happy Birthday, Max.
Tags: Red Meat , Max Cannon , Old Mad Max , Max is crusty , First Friday Shorts , Maxy Cannons
Thursday, July 10, 2014
I recognized he was sharp and witty, but I didn't know how generous and caring he was. When Kish isn't working on art or creating comics, he donates his time and energy to work with children at the Boys and Girls Club. On Earth Day, Kish came to the Weekly headquarters in Airport Heights, and gave everyone a piece of artistry that was cleverly constructed out of cardboard. He had never met anyone in the office except for Dan Gibson and I, but almost every employee received an original piece of art.
Good news if you're a fan of Kish's work or appreciate fine art you can't anywhere else in the world. You can catch Kish's art exhibit "Cardboard Manifesto" until Thursday, July 31, at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N Stone Ave. Click here for more information.
Tags: David Kish , Hoopleville , fine art , boys and girls club
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Craig Gass is one of the best stand up comedians to come out of Tucson. Craig Gass is a New York transplant, but he still claims Tucson as his home. Everyone in his immediate family is deaf, so they relocated here because of the Deaf and Blind school.
Gass was a guest on Marc Maron's infamous WTF podcast last week. That's a big deal. Maron and Gass talked about his uncanny impressions, drug addiction, the Howard Stern show and their mutual dead comedian friends.
Click here to listen.
Tags: Craig Gass , WTF Pod , WTF Podcast , Marc Maron , Video
