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Cameron Esposito has announced a new stand-up comedy special titled “Four Pills,” which will debut on the streaming platform Dropout on April 11.

The special, which is directed by Esposito, “guides the audience on a surreal journey through the ups and downs of her bipolar disorder diagnosis, with detours to talk about marriage, divinity school and one extremely unlucky dog,” per the logline.

“When you do this job, the number one thing people will say is, ‘I don’t know how you can do that job. Stand-up is my biggest fear,’ and I’ve always said, ‘Well it’s just because it’s not my biggest fear,'” Esposito says in the trailer for the special. “Like, as a follow-up question for you, how are you able to be alone in a room with yourself?”

Esposito has previously released three comedy specials, including the acclaimed “Rape Jokes,” an hour about sexual assault from her perspective.

The documentary “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” is set to premiere globally on June 18 on Netflix. The feature-length documentary, the first of its kind to address this topic, examines the history of queer stand-up comedy as — according to its logline — “an instrument for social change over the past five decades, actively reflecting and challenging cultural norms and values.”

The film combines stand-up performances and talking head interviews, as well as archival materials featuring LGBTQ+ comedians, and includes Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Suzy Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen and Trixie Mattel.

Historians interviewed for the documentary include Dave Holmes, Roger Mason, Shar Jossell, Susan Stryker and Kate Aurthur, Variety‘s Editor-at-Large.

“Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” is written and directed by Page Hurwitz. “I’m excited for the film to premiere, particularly at this time, because comedy has the power to unite, and...

In the latest episode of Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!, a group of adventurers faces impossible odds against a more powerful enemy. The series features exciting guest stars in every episode, with elements of comedy, tragedy, heroism, and epic battles. Khary Payton, known for his role on The Walking Dead, discusses his love for Dungeons & Dragons and his fun dynamic with co-star Gabe Hicks.

In the latest episode of Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!, a gruop of adventurers is brought together to investigate a potential threat to the town they are staying in. However, all is not as it seems when they discover the mage they were tasked with hunting down has an even more powerful leader pulling the strings. The trend continues as these level-one characters face impossible odds against something much more powerful than them and fall one by one.

The new episode of Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!...

Exclusive: A3 Artists Agency is expanding its agent roster with two new additions. John Shealy has joined as Touring Agent, and Jenny Kaplan as Digital Agent in the agency’s Alternative Programming, Digital Media, Licensing and Branding division. Their new roles are effective immediately.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jenny Kaplan and John Shealy to the A3 family. Their client-first approach and perceptive eyes for on-the-rise talent fits perfectly within A3’s culture and ecosystem,” said Brian Cho, President of A3 Artists Agency.

Shealy most recently worked as Comedy & Podcast Talent Buyer for Blue Note Entertainment, where he was instrumental in booking comedy and podcast shows nationwide. Previously, Shealy spent eight years as an agent at The Gersh Agency, working alongside comedy notables, including Sasheer Zamata, Brooks Wheelan, Cameron Esposito, Solomon Georgio, Matthew Broussard, River Butcher, and Shane Torres. He will be based in New York.

Kaplan moves to A...

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In 1982 — when L.A.’s LGBTQ film festival Outfest was born, the same year that Making Love, Personal Best and Victor/Victoria were released — queer content on screen was mostly scarce and what did exist was often hard to access.

Cut to the 40th anniversary this year of Outfest, and gay content is easy to find on television, especially on streamers, while on the film front, Universal this fall will release the first studio film with an all-lgbtq leading cast, Bros.

But even with a highly increased amount of queer content accessible from one’s couch and at the multiplex — “We have lots of choices in entertainment. It’s not just independent film [anymore],” says Outfest executive director Damien S. Navarro — L.A.’s queer film festival continues to hold a vibrant spot in the life of Los Angeles and its LGBTQ community and is finding...

The LGBTQ+ organization Outfest announced the complete lineup of its 40th Anniversary Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival today.

The 200 films include feature narratives, documentaries, short films, and episodics. The roster also names an impressive 42 world premieres, films spanning every genre, and represents 29 countries.

Previously announced premieres include the Opening Night Gala world premiere of Billy Porter’s directorial debut “Anything’s Possible,” the Closing Night Gala’s screening of screenwriter John Logan’s directorial debut from Blumhouse, Peacock Original film “They/Them” (pronounced ‘They-slash-them’).

A 20th Anniversary screening of Todd Haynes’ “Far from Heaven” will take place, with Haynes, Julianne Moore, and producer Christine Vachon in person.

Also Read:

‘Wildhood’ Film Review: Indigenous LGBTQ Coming-of-Age Tale Follows Its Own Path

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our programming team has done to craft a lineup that celebrates the history of the Lgbtqia+ community and the art we create,...

Click here to read the full article.

Page Hurwitz had a plan to tell the story of LGBTQ+ comedians with the help of one big historic show — and then the pandemic hit.

But as the global shuttering put a pause on her original plans, it opened the door for an invitation to the Netflix Is a Joke festival, where the director, writer, producer and comedian’s planned show — a featured part of Stand Out: The Documentary, which will debut on Netflix later this year — was able to be part of the streamer’s first major live comedy festival.

Hosted by Billy Eichner and headlined by Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho, Sandra Bernhard, Tig Notaro, Wanda Sykes and Rosie O’Donnell, the show is the largest known amassing of LGBTQ+ comedic talent on one stage. The sold-out three-hour set, held at the 5,900-capacity outdoor Greek Theatre, featured Billy Porter, Lena Waithe, Sarah Paulson,...

Billy Eichner and Mae Martin have called out Netflix’s support of Dave Chappelle’s jokes about queer and trans people — in a comedy special released by Netflix itself.

Both comedians appear in “Stand Out: An LGBTQ Celebration,” which debuted on June 9 after being taped at Netflix Is a Joke Fest in May. The event, hosted by Eichner, was the largest-ever gathering of LGBTQ+ comics in one stand-up special, according to Netflix.

“We all know how backwards and dangerous the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ laws are,” Eichner says in the special. “Queer people, and especially trans people, are under legislative attack in this country. Trans people are being demeaned. They’re trying to dehumanize trans people. They’re trying to erase trans people. And I’m not even talking about Florida. I’m talking about Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special!”

“Oh, come at me! I don’t have Jamie Foxx to defend me,...

With less than four weeks until the festival begins, Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival has added new shows to its lineup, including top stand-up performances, Netflix series cast events, as well as a free outdoor fan experience. The festival, which now boasts over 250 live shows across over 30 venues covering Los Angeles, is produced by Netflix in association with Live Nation.

One of the added highlights of the event is the Billy Eichner-hosted Stand Out: An LGBTQ + Celebration. The celebration is happening in 2022, (although postponed from 2020) in the wake of the October 2021 Netflix controversy that saw LGBTQ employees stage an office walkout due to what they considered to be transphobic content during Dave Chappelle’s Netflix comedy special, The Closer. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos received backlash due to two internal emails — sent out on the same day and leaked days apart — in which he defended Chappelle and argued that...

Samantha Bee and a coalition of celebrities — including Phoebe Bridgers, Tenacious D, Regina King, and Tegan and Sara — called on Congress to do “one fucking thing” about gun control in this preview from Wednesday’s episode of Full Frontal, which focuses on ending gun violence in America.

“I am disgusted and hurt and pissed off that every day, there is almost another shooting in the United States. It’s gotten to the point when a shooting does happen, you can’t even call it the shooting because there were three...

New Foreign

“Parasite” is an often-brutal examination of wealth inequality, and yet its Best Picture win still counts as one of the few universally uplifting moments that 2020 had to offer. This Blu-ray release from The Criterion Collection arrives fully-loaded with extras, including director Bong Joon Ho’s black-and-white rendering of the film — anything but an afterthought, it’s a version that he and cinematographer Kyung-pyo Hong had in mind all along — commentaries, interviews, and a new essay from onetime TheWrap film critic Inkoo Kang.

Also available: Cameroonian college students get pulled into the dark web to pull a “Scam République” (IndiePix); anime saga “Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna” (Shout/Toei) celebrates the franchise’s 20th anniversary; “Three Comrades” (IndiePix) go out to unwind on a Friday night and wind up on an unexpected spree.

Chilean stop-motion feature “The Wolf House” (KimStim) uses unsettling visuals to spin a fable about the...

Get ready to laugh, Los Angeles: Netflix’s comedy brand, Netflix Is a Joke, will host a week-long comedy festival starting in April.

Entitled “Netflix Is a Joke Fest,” the festival will take place across over 20 venues in Los Angeles, including the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, Hollywood Palladium and The Largo, between April 27 and May 3. Produced by Netflix in association with Live Nation, it will feature some of the best in today’s standup performing, as well as paying homage to comedy legends.

Some of the performers taking part are Dave Chapelle, Martin Lawrence, David Letterman, Ali Wong, Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart and more.

But more importantly for the festival, Netflix is also partnering with Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a safety net for comedians in need with mental health, medical and financial crisis support. During the festival, Comedy Gives...

Netflix is about to serve a flood of funny in Los Angeles with its Netflix is a Joke Fest, set for April 27-May 3. For one week, the streaming giant is partnering with Live Nation to bring over 100 live shows and events to various venues in L.A. with recorded shows available on the platform later this year.

Netflix Is A Joke, Netflix’s comedy brand, will present the all-star fest that will include Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, David Letterman, Jamie Foxx, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Sebastian Maniscalco, the cast of Schitt’s Creek and more.

In addition, the fest will feature Stand Out: An Lgbtq+ Celebration, putting the spotlight on Lgbtq+ comedic talent including Wanda Sykes Alan Carr, Hannah Gadsby, Margaret Cho, Rosie O’Donnell and Sandra Bernhard.

The fest will close on May 3 with the very first The Hall, a first-of-its-kind hall...

The Netflix original series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts from DreamWorks Animation has unveiled their voice cast for the forthcoming coming-of-age animated series which includes Karen Fukuhara, Deon Cole, Coy Stewart, Sydney Mikayla and Dee Bradley Baker. The series will also feature an all-star roster of guest stars including Sterling K. Brown, Dan Stevens, Lea Delaria, Joan Jett, John Hodgman, Gza and more. Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts will premiere on the streaming platform January 14.

Here’s the logline of the series: “After spending her entire life living in an underground burrow, a curious young girl named Kipo (Fukuhara) is thrust into an adventure on the surface of a fantastical post-apocalyptic Earth. She joins a ragtag group of survivors as they embark on a journey through a vibrant wonderland where everything trying to kill them is downright adorable.”

Mikayla (General Hospital) will lend her voice as “Wolf,” a...

The up-and-coming young comics vehicle Coming To The Stage has been picked up for seasons 8-10 on Pluto TV, Comedy Dynamics said today.

The next episodes of the series will start production this spring, and Jamie Kennedy will host all three seasons.

Coming To The Stage has been a launch pad for young stand-up comedians to showcase their talents in front of a live studio audience at the Cisco Stage in Burbank, CA. The series premiered on Hulu for seasons 1-5 and then went to Pluto TV for seasons 6-7. It will hit it’s landmark 60th episode with the finale of season 10 and surpass Comedy Central’s iconic stand-up comedy series, Premium Blend, in total seasons. George Wallace, Tom Green, and Andy Kindler have hosted previous seasons.

Coming To The Stage has helped the careers of Rell Battle, James Davis (Wild N Out,...

When E!’s Busy Tonight returns January 7 it will be in a new timeslot. The late-night talk show hosted by Busy Philipps will air at 11 Pm every Monday through Thursday, an hour later than its previous 10 Pm slot.

Busy Tonight, executive produced by Tina Fey, features Philipps giving her opinions on the latest pop culture stories and trending topics with candid celebrity guest interviews and original comedic segments. Upcoming guests include Michelle Williams, Connie Britton, Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Van Ness, Howie Mandel, Cobie Smulders and more. Previous guests have included Mindy Kaling, Kristen Bell, Kim Kardashian West, Tracee Ellis Ross and Camila Mendes, among others.

In addition, a one-hour Busy Tonight Live: Golden Globes After Party special will air at 11 Pm Et/8 Pt Sunday, January 6, immediately following the Golden Globe Awards. Celebrity guests include comedian Whitney Cummings, Netflix’s Queer Eye star Karamo Brown, comedian Rhea Butcher, and Keep It podcast writer-host Ira Madison III.

Considering its Pride Month and we are in a social climate where Lgbtq issues are front and center, the “Breaking Down the Binary” panel at the Atx Television Festival was supposed to be a celebratory and informative discussion about representation and inclusion in the industry until a guy dressed up as a robot — yes, a robot — interrupted the panel with bizarre remarks that turned to homophobic insults.

What started off a fun panel in a safe space with stand-up comedians and Take My Wife creators/stars Cameron Esposito & Rhea Butcher, Younger actor Nico Tortorella, and The Bold Type star Aisha Dee turned odd when an audience member in a low budget robot costume began heckling the panel, making comments about being “binary” and making robot noises. Esposito laughed it off in the beginning, but he continued to interrupt during the discussion to which Esposito told him to cool it. He...

Starz has acquired a clutch of programs that previously aired on NBCUniversal’s Seeso comedy streaming service, including “Take My Wife,” “Night Train with Wyatt Cenac” and “Sklar Brothers: Hipster Ghosts.”

NBCUniversal shuttered Seeso last fall, leaving a number of shows in limbo with finished episodes that had not made it to air.

The deal also includes “The Ucb Show,” “New York’s Funniest,” “Brian Posehn: Criminally Posehn” and “Lachlan Patterson Live from Venice Beach,” which will be available beginning May 1 on the Starz App and Starz On Demand. “The Pistol Shrimps” documentary will be available June 1 and “Andy Richter’s Home for the Holidays” will release Oct. 1 for streaming and download.

“We are excited to address the uncertain fate of several Seeso series, including the beloved ‘Take My Wife’ series, by providing a new home for these programs and their fans at Starz,” said C. Brett Marottoli, head of program acquisitions for Starz,...

Starz has acquired a slew of comedy series, specials and films that launched on Seeso, the NBCUniversal-owned Svod service that shuttered last year.

Among the series in the deal are Take My Wife, Night Train with Wyatt Cenac and The Ucb Show. It also includes stand-up specials from the Sklar Brothers, Brian Posehn and Lachlan Patterson, along with The Pistol Shrimps, the documentary about a group of showbiz folks including Aubrey Plaza who play in a women’s recreational basketball league in L.A.

“We are excited to address the uncertain fate of several Seeso series, including the beloved Take My Wife series, by providing a new home for these programs and their fans at Starz,” said C. Brett Marottoli, Head of Program Acquisitions for Starz. “These comedies align strategically with many Starz Original series and will appeal to our audiences as we continue featuring more diverse casts and storylines across the Starz platforms.

Starz is going to become the new home for a number of series and specials on NBCUniversal's former comedy platform Seeso.

The premium cable network has inked a licensing agreement with NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution that includes seasons one and two of Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher's critically praised series <em>Take My Wife</em>. Also included in the pact are <em>Night Train with Wyatt Cenac, Skylar Brothers: Hipster Ghosts, The Ucb Show, New York's Funniest, Brian Posehn: Criminally Posehn </em>and <em>Lachlan Patterson Live From Venice Beach</em>. These offerings will be available on the Starz App and Starz On ...

Comedians work well in pairs: Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Nichols and May. But it’s high time for a new dynamic duo, and they call themselves “2 Dope Queens.” Out of a smash hit podcast and monthly live show in Brooklyn, stand-up comedians Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson fashioned their very own four-part HBO series, which will air every Friday in February. If HBO needs to use Black History Month as a reason to program these fierce talents, we’re not complaining. But after a few hours with these two, you might find yourself wishing every month was Black History Month.

Read More:‘2 Dope Queens’ Podcast Picked Up By HBO for 2018 Series

Both accomplished performers in their own right, the rise of Robinson and Williams is one of the more heartening comedy stories of the last few years. Their success is a testament to that certain extra something that...

Before you dive headfirst into the holiday season, lighten up with a laugh or two (or three) this month. Below is a roundup of the best L.A. has to offer in November. Performances Every month the all-female improv group Wild Horses (Stephanie Allyne, Mary Holland, Lauren Lapkus, and Erin Whitehead), invite a special guest to join them for a chat followed by an improvised show based off that talk. Darrell Britt-Gibson (The Wire, You’re the Worst) will join them on Nov. 4 at Ucb Franklin. If you’re looking to see some comedy while supporting a good cause, check out The Special Occasionally Show at Nerdmelt, which will feature comedians Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher and more. Proceeds from this show will benefit Trans Lifeline, the only crisis line dedicated specifically to the needs of the trans and gender non-conforming community. Ever wonder what The “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon...

With more podcasts to choose from than TV shows these days, it can be tough to figure out which one are worth a listen, especially when more and more keep debuting. Luckily, there are some fan favorites and newcomers creating their own unique, fun spaces this fall, and they’re definitely worth a listen.

Here are some of the pop culture podcasts we’re queueing our iTunes up for.

2017 Fall Preview: Et's Look at Film, Music, TV and More!

Queery With Cameron Esposito

Feral Audio

Premiered Aug. 5

Photo: Getty Images

Technically, this show was a summer return, but it’s still on our radar as a must-listen as new episodes continue to roll out. Comedian Cameron Esposito is a mainstay on the L.A. comedy scene, running a longtime show called Put Your Hands Together -- which is, naturally, also recorded for a podcast -- and she starred with her wife, Rhea Butcher, on the...

Here, Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher talk podcasts, their upcoming join comedy tour, the wonders of Blue Apron, and perhaps most importantly, their TV show Take My Life, whose fate is still in limbo.

In the wake of Seeso confirming that it would be shutting down operations, one of its stars, Cameron Esposito, is putting into context the important opportunities that have been lost as a result.

Esposito and her wife Rhea Butcher, both stand-up comedians, created and starred in Seeso’s “Take My Wife.” Playing fictionalized versions of themselves, Esposito and Butcher made a comedy that looks at what it takes to make it in both stand-up and a relationship. Financial concerns, working out routines and everyday sexism are just some of the issues that the show tackles, but “Take My Wife” doesn’t shy away from the darker subject matter. The show’s second episode tackled the topic of sexual assault in a way that would be eye-opening to many, even women.

Read More:Seeso Confirms It’s Shutting Down, Leaving Shows Like ‘There’s… Johnny!’ to Look For A New Home [Updated]

After...

Leaders in Hollywood reacted swiftly and severely on social media following President Trump’s tweets that the government would no longer “accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military.”

“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” he wrote, reversing an Obama-era policy announced last year allowing transgender people to serve openly.

Read MoreTransgender Actors From ‘Transparent,’ ‘Sense8,’ & ‘Shameless’ Demand Equality In Rousing New Video — Watch

Out gay actor and prominent Lgbt activist George Takei was one of the first to respond. “History shall record that you are not only the stupidest, most incompetent president ever, but also the cruelest and pettiest,” he tweeted. “Donald: With your ban on trans people from the military, you are on notice that you just pissed off the wrong community.

Anyone who knows a little bit about Kumail Nanjiani knows that he’s a big fan of “The X-Files” — in fact, he’s arguably one of the show’s biggest celebrity fans, one who has hosted 57 episodes of a podcast about the show, got cast as a guest star in the recent revival, and wrote several references to the show into the deeply personal romantic comedy “The Big Sick.”

Read More: ‘The Big Sick’: Kumail Nanjiani Explains Why Racist Jokes Are Ok on ‘Silicon Valley’ And How He Avoids Stereotypical Roles

Nanjiani co-wrote “The Big Sick” with his now-wife Emily V. Gordon, which chronicles the real-life story of how a surprise illness and Gordon’s subsequent coma changed their relationship and their lives. While there are the elements of fictionalization you might expect, Kumail’s real name is used, and his real life obsession with “The X-Files” is mentioned.

In the overcrowded TV landscape, it’s easy to fall behind on even favorite shows. This past spring has been particularly overcrowded with must-see series jockeying for awards attention.

But now that the official season has come to a close, that gives some breathing room to check out other series that premiered over the past season. For one reason or another, these shows may have been overlooked or maybe started off on the wrong foot and lost viewers’ attention. It happens. Even TV critics haven’t gotten around to watching some of the best shows due to time constraints and Peak TV.

Read More: Summer TV Preview: 20 New and Returning Dramas You Need to Watch

Here’s a look at seven series that deserve to be revisited this summer:

“Anne with an E” (Netflix)

Diehard “Anne of Green Gables’ fans may have been put off by the series’ darker tone,...

Here’s… the first trailer for Seeso’s new Johnny Carson show!

Feast your eyes on the colors of the 1970’s, also known as “the decade that taste forgot”: The putrid chartreuse of a shag carpet, blinding mustard swivel chairs, busy cutouts on a wood paneled desk. Set to the hum of a snappy tune evoking earlier days, this trailer drums up enough excitement without actually showing anyone’s face — though the talent on board boasts Seeso’s biggest names to date.

Read More: Tribeca 2017: 9 Breakout Talents From This Year’s Festival

Created by Paul Reiser and his “Mad About You” producer David Steven Simon, “There’s… Johnny” follows 19-year-old Nebraskan Andy Klavin (Ian Nelson) as he stumbles his way into a gig as a gofer at Carson’s “The Tonight Show” in 1972. Billed as a “fictional comedic trip back in time,” it sounds like a period riff on “The Larry Sanders Show.

Which celebrity will be win the coveted title of “Best Guest of the Night”?

That’s the question that TruTV’s “Talk Show the Game Show” asks when it premieres on April 5. When stars visit late-night talk shows to promote a project or themselves, they need to play nice to win over the host, Guy Branum (“Chelsea Lately,” “The Mindy Project”) and audience. “Talk Show the Game Show” awards them for these skills.

Read More: ‘Talk Show the Game Show’ Live: Wanda Sykes Judges Nick Thune at SXSW

For example, points can be awarded for getting applause by naming a city, flashing the host, singing, using a euphemism instead of swearing and making the audience go, “Aww!”

But beware. Being a bad guest is “grounds for sanction,” whatever that means. (Can we vote for pie in the face?) Bad behaviors include excessive name dropping, white male fragility, being boring, failure...

Aymar Jean Christian is part of the inaugural class of Peabody Fellows, distinguished media scholars who provide fresh perspectives and commentary on behalf of the Peabody Media Center, the outreach and media production arm of the prestigious awards program based at the University of Georgia. He is an assistant professor of communication studies at Northwestern University.

You know you’re a TV nerd when your most anticipated awards announcements are the Writers Guild Awards. TV is a writer’s medium. Every TV fan awaits the Emmys, and some even bother to care about the Golden Globes, but most don’t know the major Guilds give out statues to television producers.

Nerdier still, I’m most interested in the nominees almost nobody writes about: web original short form comedies and dramas.

So while you probably could not imagine my disappointment when the WGA released their nominees for original short-form new media this year,...

Of the seismic cultural shifts that occurred in 2016, Hollywood finally embracing web series may be a tiny victory. But try telling that to the creators (a more succinct term for the writer-director-producer-actors thriving in the medium) who have turned their scrappy little web series into big-budget television deals.

Like Issa Rae, creator of the long-running YouTube series “Awkward Black Girl,” who just received a Golden Globe nomination for her new HBO show, “Insecure,” a vibrant comedy that puts black women front and center.

Or Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, the married co-creators who successfully adapted their web series, “High Maintenance,” for HBO. The stoner comedy that raised the bar for online storytelling preserved its indie charm; the six episodes of elegantly-woven vignettes held true to the spirit of the first online episodes, as each revealed little surprises in the lives of believable characters.

Read More: The Best of 2016: IndieWire...

Adam Ruins Everything is taking on our beloved Christmas! In a touching and funny look at our holiday run amuck by consumerism and excess, Adam Conover and his “sister” Rhea (Rhea Butcher) go back in time tonight and reveal why we do what we do. They also remind us that time with family and friends — and fellowship with those around us — are the best gifts of all. Not a rushed store-bought item stuffed in a box for giving’s sake. The episode sees Adam give us an earful about the truth behind the day some actually think is the birthday of...read more...

Take My Wife Renewed for Season Two on SeesoDeadline reports Seeso has renewed its Take My Wife TV show for a second season. A romantic comedy series, Take My Wife stars comedians and real-life, same-sex married couple Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher. Take My Wife, season two, will premiere on Seeso, in 2017.Take My Wife also stars Zeke Nicholson and Laura Kightlinger. Matt Braunger, Janet Varney, Marcella Arguello, and Kulap Vilaysack featured in season one. Creators Esposito and Butcher executive produce. Scott Aukerman and David Jargowsky executive produce for Comedy Bang! Bang! Productions.Read More…...

Seeso has picked up a second season of romcom Take My Wife, starring comedians and real-life, same-sex married couple Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, for premiere in 2017. The half-hour, single-camera original series follows the young lesbian couple as elements of their domestic life intersect with the underground stand-up showcase they co-host in Los Angeles. Season 1 featured Maria Bamford, Jonah Ray, Kulap Vilaysack, James Adomian, Seth Morris, Paul F. Tompkins, Ron…...

Editor’s Note: This article is presented in partnership with Seeso, an ad-free streaming service for comedy lovers. Subscriptions are $3.99 per month, with an option for a one-month free trial.

In early August, The New Yorker Magazine’s esteemed television critic, Emily Nussbaum, sent a tiny missive into the Twitterverse: “I just watched this new sitcom & it was good & funny & romantic. Wtf is Seeso??” with a link to “Take My Wife,” a scripted half-hour series by comedy’s favorite married lesbians, Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, and a Seeso Original Series.

So, Ms. Nussbaum, to answer your question, what indeed (expletive redacted) is Seeso? In a growing world of niche streaming platforms, Seeso stands out for its wealth of TV classics (including all 42 seasons of “Saturday Night Live”), stand-up specials from the likes of Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, Joey ‘Coco’ Diaz, Doug Stanhope, and Rory Scovel, and Original Series from...

Steve Coogan’s tactless alter ego Alan Partridge is coming back to a screen near you in a new one-hour mockumentary titled “Alan Partridge’s Scissored Isle” for the streaming comedy channel Seeso.

In this new special Alan will head to the north of England, leaving behind his comfortable existence, for a personal journey of redemption. Per the synopsis, “With his Land Rover and his dog, he journeys into an unreported Britain inhabited by the very people he had offended to ask whether, in this once united kingdom, a ‘schasm’ has formed – a schism or chasm, between the haves and the have-nots (or haven’ts).”

The presenter will live among everyday people in hopes to understand them, see the world through their eyes and ultimately become a better citizen, man and more sought-after broadcaster.

Read More: Liam Gallagher Says Fans Should Give Up On an Oasis Reunion, But He’s...

Fall TV isn’t just about the tube. Internet-based platforms—outside of the Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon juggernauts—are coming out with great series. Here are the Backstage staff picks of what you should be watching on Seeso, Vimeo, YouTube Red, and ABC’s digital arm, ABCd. Seeso“HarmonQuest”Good thing Dan Harmon maintained a post-“Community” relationship with NBCUniversal. In July, the writer-producer debuted “HarmonQuest,” his part-live-action, part-animated, completely improvised web series featuring talented comedians and special guests playing fantasy roleplaying campaigns for an audience. It’s as innovative as it is off-the-wall. Bonus: Guests include Paul F. Tompkins, Aubrey Plaza, Kumail Nanjiani, and more. —Jack Smart “Take My Wife”If you’re a fan of standup comedian Cameron Esposito and her cheeky “Ask a Lesbian” web series, then “Take My Wife” is for you. A semiautobiographical portrayal of series co-creators Esposito and her comedy partner–turned-wife Rhea Butcher’s life in Los Angeles,...

It took years of working in network television, but Julie Miller finally created the rarest of media opportunities: An insurrection.

“Riot is an uprising,” said Miller, who serves as creative director for the YouTube channel, which is backed by Refinery29. “It’s a space for women to make comedy for everyone and not feel like they have to skew male.”

Fifteen years ago, Miller was double-booked as an intern at Saturday Night Live and Comedy Central. “I was interning for Tina Fey at Weekend Update, and I spent the other half of the week at Comedy Central assisting Jessi Klein in development,” she said. “I came to New York and immediately worked for two of the best female comedians, so the stakes were really high.”

Read More: YouTube Filmmaker Yulin Kuang Brings Cinematic Aesthetic To The CW Seed

In those jobs, Miller saw firsthand what content cable networks bought — and didn’t.

This year marks the inaugural Tiff x Instagram Shorts Festival, a competition open to filmmakers across the globe to have their work seen by the likes of Ava Duvernay, James Franco, and the entire Toronto International Film Festival audience. Tiff will be screening three shorts a day on their Instagram account from now until August 18th, when they will announce the winning film and the audience favorite.

“When Instagram announced they were extending their videos to 60 seconds it seemed like a great time to collaborate with them to seek out new visual storytellers from around the globe,” Tiff Digital Director Jody Sugrue told IndieWire. “We were looking for filmmakers who leveraged the platform and time constraint in different and compelling ways.”

Read More: Tiff Announces Platform Titles, Including ‘Jackie,’ ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Daguerrotype’ and More

Of the 30 finalists, 37% are female filmmakers, the films span a diverse array of genres, and there is...

“Take my wife…please,” goes the classic joke by Borscht Belt comedian Henny Youngman. In their new Seeso show, “Take My Wife,” stand-up comedians and real-life married couple Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher have given Youngman’s joke a 21st century twist, adapting it into a cheeky title befitting comedy’s newest gem.

“Take My Wife” is the story of Cameron and Rhea, playing fictionalized versions of themselves, two lady-identified comics who date each other. The series begins with their wedding night, then cuts to six months earlier, when Rhea is working a graphic design job she hates and Cameron is fielding podcast questions about what it’s like to be a woman in comedy. (“My favorite question!”)

Read More: Wyatt Cenac’s New Show on Seeso Is a Perfect Blend of Comedy and Observation

The two comics host the wildly popular stand-up show and podcast “Put Your Hands Together” in real life,...

Take My Wife is having its big debut in Chicago this weekend. The new Seeso comedy series will preview at the Comedy Exposition, and the event is scheduled on Saturday.Av Club shared a bit more about the new series in its report:“In Take My Wife, the newlyweds—they got married in Chicago earlier this year—will play a young lesbian couple whose domestic life “intersects with the underground stand-up showcase they co-host in Los Angeles.” Esposito and Butcher also executive produce the single-camera series with Scott Aukerman and David Jargowsky.”Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher. Are you planning to check out Take My Wife? Tell us what you think.

Dan Harmon began playing Dungeons & Dragons with his pals as a kid. Now he’s turned a life-long affinity for role-playing games into a full-fledged TV show.

“HarmonQuest,” which premieres July 14 on Seeso, features Harmon and pals on stage as they improvise through the Pathfinder Roleplaying World, with much of their interaction and gameplay then set to animation.

Harmon told IndieWire that he was inspired by HBO’s “The Ricky Gervais Show,” which took Gervais’ podcast with Karl Pilkington and animated their conversations. “I was endlessly entertained by impromptu audio coupled with animation, with the animation bringing what was being said to life, especially when what was being said was absurd,” Harmon said.

“In TV or all things creative, it’s your job to follow your own laughter,” he added. “When I was watching that show I’d be laughing so hard my sides would hurt, which is a rare thing.

Smart Girls at the Party has debuted yet another female-empowering web series. The Legendary-owned digital network, co-founded by Amy Poehler and Meredith Walker, launched the new video game-themed branded entertainment series Smart Girls Build with The Sims 4 on December 9, 2015.

Created in conjunction with Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), Smart Girls Build with The Sims 4 is described in a release as a show which demonstrates “girls can be and do anything they can dream up, by exploring their unique passions and talents in The Sims 4.” Each episode finds one young woman partnering with an EA producer who creates a personalized Sim character based on the girl’s traits, personality, and life goals. The young woman can then realize her talents and dreams in The Sims 4 video game. The first episode of Smart Girls Build with The Sims 4 features 13-year-old Celeste teaming with The Sims 4 associate producer Azure Bowie to build a Sim who loves to dance,...

Smart Girls at the Party has released yet another web series to add to its growing list of originals. The digital video network, launched by actress Amy Poehler in 2008 and owned by Legendary Entertainment, debuted its new female-centric talk show web series She Said on November 16, 2015.

Co-hosted by comedians and real-life fiancés Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, She Said is described in a release as “a new kind of talk show that tackles sensitive and personal topics, with a lighthearted and candid ‘she said/she said’ look at the world.” In the debut episode of She Said, Esposito and Butcher discuss body-positive women’s health issues like getting their periods and going to the gynecologist. Future episodes will cover topics like women in sports, coming out, and female representation in film and TV.

She Said joins several other original series Smart Girls has released over the last few months. Back...