Bentzen Ball Mandatory Viewing

Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival is 9 days away. It’s time to familiarize yourself with funny. We combed through YouTube (Vimeo is more of art artsy video service than a useful source of funny) for some under-the-radar and highly viewed clips of funny people being funny. Late night appearances, sitcom outtakes, weirdo DIY videos, a little bit of everything. This will make the remainder of your Tuesday workday better. Netflix/Amazon/Hulu mandatory viewing

Tig Notaro

See her Thursday, October 1 and 4 at The Lincoln Theatre and maybe some other places too, who knows???

Tig is our festival curator and D.C.’s best comedy friend. She is also Conan’s favorite. Seriously.

For longer viewing watch her in Tig, a documentary on Netflix, In A World on Netflix, and her most recent HBO special.

Jonathan Katz

See him Thursday, October 1 at The Lincoln Theatre

Most people know Katz as the animated star of Dr. Katz. That’s why he’s coming to Bentzen Ball. But he’s also a very funny stand-up that’s quick on his feet. This clip from Letterman in 1996 is proof.

For longer viewing watch him on Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

Jim Gaffigan

See him Thursday, October 1 at The Lincoln Theatre

The beloved not-actually-fat-but-calls-himself-fat comic is a Catholic. Big C Catholic. So he’s performing for the Pope this week. Really. This Conan clip proves it. Gaffigan is an excellent talk show guest.

For longer viewing watch him on The Jim Gaffigan Show.

Janeane Garofalo

See her Thursday, October 1 at The Lincoln Theatre, and Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

Garofalo is one of the performers we’re most excited to see. No offense to the other comics, but no one else has her type of track record. She spoke out against unjust wars, co-starred with Uma Thurman in mainstream films, wrote books with Ben Stiller and she still doesn’t suck. Her most recent stand-up special proves it.

For longer viewing watch her on the new season of Wet Hot American Summer.

Tim Heidecker

See him Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

You either love him or hate him. We love him. If you like this, you’ll love the October 3 late show.

For longer viewing watch him on the the Tim and Eric Jash YouTube channel.

Jessica Williams

See her Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

The most popular current Daily Show correspondent will co-host Blaria with Phoebe Williams. Go if you like The Daily Show and friendship. Friendship is better than hate so we’re showing the clip below. We’re also showcasing it because Bentzen Ball alum Jena Friedman produced it.

Brett Gelman

See him Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

You either love him or hate him. We love him. If you like this, you’ll love the October 3 late show.

If you have no idea who Brett Gelman is, he’s the guy that was on the series finale of Mad Men. You like Mad Men, right? You have to like him. He’s very mainstream and relatable.

For longer viewing watch him on Another Period. Christina Hendricks is on that show too. You like Mad Men, right? And the best episode of Bored to Death (the one where Jonathan shows Emily a “youthful time”) according to Svetlana.

Wham City

See them Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

Baltimore’s finest comics. Or performers. Or artists. Whatever you want to call them, Wham City sticks with you. Sometimes it’s a nightmare, sometimes it’s a fever dream, sometime’s it’s a nightmarish fever dream. Another love ’em or hate ’em act. We love them. We love Alan Resnick.

Morgan Murphy

See her Thursday, October 1 at The Lincoln Theatre,

The clip below is nearly a decade old but it’s still very funny. It’s what brought our attention to Morgan Murphy.

For longer viewing watch her special Irish Goodbye.

Nore Davis

See him Saturday, October 2nd at The Lincoln Theatre.

Nore grew up in Yonkers.

For longer viewing watch him on Boardwalk Empire. Try and beat that. Oh, and Inside Amy Schumer.

Phoebe Robinson

See her Friday, October 2 at The Howard Theatre, and Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

Co-creator of Blaria is everyone’s bet for the next big comedy thing and officially one of the funniest 10 women in New York. She’s consulted and appeared on Broad City, written for Girl Code, and killed on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Jacqueline Novak

See her Friday, October 2 at The Howard Theatre, and Saturday, October 3 at The Lincoln Theatre

Jacqueline Novak is a (world?) champion of making you laugh at things you never thought you’d laugh about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHAqFN2hRDY

For something longer, listen to her comedy album debut Quality Notions

Ian Abramson

See him Saturday, October 3 at the DC Improv

Ian is a fantastic funnyman. His show is fantastic and easy to imitate. Don’t do that. He came up with the idea. It’s a good idea. It’s a good show. You haven’t been to a show like this.

Vijai Nathan

See her Friday, October 2 at Howard Theatre

Vijai Nathan is a D.C. storyteller that has performed on NPR’s Snap Judgement and that’s why she’s performing at Story District’s Friday night show at Howard Theatre.