In L.A., Un-Cabaret has been a fixture of the alternative comedy scene for over a decade. Founder Beth Lapides started it after growing tired of what mainstream stand-up comedy was offering, and brought in friends over the years like David Cross and Bob Odenkirk, Michael Patrick King, Scott Thompson and Patton Oswalt to break new ground and showcase their material. Today it has grown into a tiny empire with live shows, writing classes and contests for aspiring writers. This week several venues around our fair city play host to The Uncabaret Micro-Festival where never before seen TV pilots will air and comedy workshops will be held, and for comedy nerds (redundant, I know) the lineup is pretty great.
Tonight at Juvie Hall, The Other Network presents the best un-aired TV pilots, introduced by their creators. Some of said creators include Judd Apatow (“Freaks and Geeks”), whose unseen show “Sick in the Head” features SNL’s Amy Poehler, two shows from Robert Smigel and “Heat Vision and Jack”, with Jack Black as an ex-astronaut and Owen Wilson voicing his talking motorcycle. The full line-up of shows and creators is listed here. Shows are at 7:30pm and 9:30pm tonight. $10
On Sunday Joe’s Pub presents Say The Word, a spoken word show performed by Lapides as well as writers of “Sex and the City”, “The Daily Show” and The Onion.
Joes Pub, Sunday @ 9pm
This week is also the welcome return of Neutrino to the PIT Theatre. Neutrino spent the last few years performing their Video Projects, a show in which a film is entirely created on the spot. “With three cameras and a large technical crew, Neutrino takes to the streets to shoot, edit, score, and mix a completely improvised movie in the time it takes for you to watch it. Spontaneous, beautiful, and hilarious, this 'theatrical movie experience' is the first of its kind.” After performing at last year’s HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the group took a break from the show but return this Thursday at 9:30pm.
Also on Thursday the Emerging Comics of New York (ECNY) Awards will be held at the UCB. For nominees and the chance to vote for your favorite up and comers, you can check out the ECNY voting ballot.
If last night’s premiere of Celebrity Charades made you wonder why Chad Lowe and Julianna Margulies get to have all the fun, cry into your Nurse Carol scrubs no more. Monday (June 27) the Big Quiz Thing, hosted by Noah Tarnow, returns to the Slipper Room. At this live game show, teams of four people vy for bragging rights and baked goods as they answer questions in categories like “Actors Who Think They Can Sing” and “Breakfast Cereal Haiku”. 
To participate, show up for the 8pm start time with 3 friends, or be placed on a team with strangers and cross your fingers that they know as much about Don Johnson’s “Heartbeat” as you.
