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NBC's comedy streaming service launches January 7th
SeeSo, NBC's comedy streaming service, began serving up buckets of laughs for those with an invite to is free limited beta last week. The network announced today that it would keep its word and make the service available to all the first week of January. Starting January 7th, access to the collection of movies and TV shows will no longer require a special invitation, but it will demand a monthly fee. If you'll recall, SeeSo serves up episodes of series like Saturday Night Live, Parks & Recreation and more alongside new original series that are exclusive to the $4 monthly subscription. What's more, classics like Monty Python are also available to streaming.
NBC's comedy streaming service starts free beta preview December 3rd
If you want to give SeeSo a shot before signing up, you'll get your chance next month. NBC's comedy streaming service will be available as a limited free public beta starting December 3rd. During the web-only trial period, viewers can expect to watch classics from Monty Python, including The Flying Circus, The Meaning of Life, Holy Grail, and Life of Brian. There's also the likes of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Saved By the Bell, and both the US and UK versions of The Office. If that wasn't enough to convince you to check it out, episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers will be available the day after they air alongside 40 years of Saturday Night Live sketches.
Comedians Andy Kaufman and Redd Foxx will return as holograms
Holographic (really, "Pepper's Ghost") versions of dead musicians have proven successful, so why not comedians from days gone by? Hologram USA doesn't think that's a bad idea, at least. The tech firm has revealed that it's producing visual resurrections of legendary comedians Andy Kaufman and Redd Foxx that will go on tour in 2016. Hologram USA says the estates of both celebs are collaborating to make this an "authentic experience," although it's not clear exactly what that means.
NBC launches SeeSo, a comedy streaming service for $4 a month
We've been hearing for a while that NBC was prepping some sort of streaming comedy service -- today it finally took the wraps off. The new service is called SeeSo, and it'll deliver ad-free comedy content to you for just $4 a month. Naturally, NBC will be reaching into its rich library of content, including Saturday Night Live and sitcoms like 30 Rock. But what's more interesting is that it'll also be producing original content for SeeSo, including new shows from Dan Harmon, the insane genius behind Community, and the Upright Citizens Brigade. The service will also house some exclusive content, like Monty Python's Flying Circus and The Kids in the Hall. SeeSo will kick off with a private invite-only beta in December, and it'll be widely available in January.
Comedy Central channel starts streaming on Roku
It took a while, but Comedy Central is finally bringing its video content to Roku's streaming devices. As Variety points out, although the network hasn't made an official announcement, the channel's now available for download. You will need a pay-TV subscription to access most of Comedy Central's on-demand library, however, which includes The Daily Show, Key & Peele, South Park, Broad City and many more shows. That said, cord-cutters won't be completely left out, since they'll be able to enjoy the latest episodes of some shows -- like The Daily Show, The Nightly Show with Larry More and a few select others. Don't have it on your Roku player yet? You can install it directly from here.
Aziz Ansari is getting his own Netflix comedy series
Netflix must have liked the response to Aziz Ansari's latest stand-up special, as it's about to give the comedian a lot more screen time. Deadline understands that the streaming service has ordered a 10-episode series co-created by Ansari and Parks and Recreation executive producer Andy Yang. It's not clear what the plot of the show will be (there's hints of a semi-autobiographic theme), but it'll be co-produced by some of Ansari's Parks and Recreation pals and include guests like Homeland's Claire Danes. One thing's for sure: between this and revivals like Fuller House and Wet Hot American Summer, Netflix is betting heavily on funny fare to keep you as a subscriber. [Image credit: Donald Traill/Invision/AP]
'Mortal Kombat X' and the comedy of violence
Mortal Kombat is synonymous with violence -- hell, it's baked into the franchise's name. But despite how increasingly gruesome the series has become with each successive release throughout its 23-year history, it hasn't lost sight of keeping the tone light as a counterbalance. Whether that's a head popping up saying, "Toasty!" in falsetto after a particularly brutal uppercut, or turning an opponent into a crying baby that slips on a puddle of frozen urine at the end of a match, humor is just as intrinsic to the game as its bloodshed. What the series delivers is cartoony, over-the-top violence akin to the B-movie horror of something like Peter Jackson's Dead Alive. Fatalities, Mortal Kombat's signature, end-of-match moves, are shockingly gory, for sure, but somehow developer NetherRealm keeps the game from feeling like torture porn. "We're not out trying to make Saw or a horror film," says NetherRealm Lead Designer John Edwards. "We don't take ourselves too seriously."
WSJ: NBC is working on a streaming service for comedy fans
Standalone streaming apps continue to surface, and it looks like NBC has one in the works just for comedy-loving cord cutters. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the network is building a subscription service in hopes of reaching younger viewers. The streaming option will serve up comedy content, like full episodes of Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, in addition to a library of outside material. There's said to be original series in the works, as well as "exclusive content" from the stars of its shows. What about pricing? Well, the report indicates that NBCUniversal is looking at a monthly rate between $2.50 and $3.50. WSJ says that NBC also considered genre-specific services for family, faith and horror, but at the moment, comedy is the sole focus.
Uber Seize parody is more 'Grand Theft Auto,' less ridesharing
People may rag on Uber for its tendency to play fast and loose with the law, but they don't have a patch on The Onion's parody version of the ridesharing outfit. The site just posted a video introducing "Uber Seize," a mock service tier that would let you swipe cars to get where you're going. Instead of simply hailing a ride, you'd pick a target vehicle and go all Grand Theft Auto on the hapless driver. No, this isn't going to show up in real life any time soon (we sure hope not), but it's funny to imagine Uber taking its vision of disruptive transportation to a logical extreme.
Aziz Ansari's new Netflix stand-up special debuts March 6th
If you're a big fan of comedy specials that are unique Netflix, the latest from the man behind Parks and Recreation's Tom Haverford is on the way. On March 6th, Aziz Ansari: Live at Madison Square Garden will premiere at 12:01 AM PT. The title is another Netflix original from Ansari, whose first, Buried Alive, debuted back in 2013. Other stand-up specials from the comedian are available through the internet service too, including Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening and Dangerously Delicious. For those who fancy an extra dose of Ron Swanson, fellow cast member Nick Offerman has a Netflix original stand-up session of his own, offering his "10 Tips for a Prosperous Life" in American Ham. [Photo credit: Colleen Hayes/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images]
Louis CK releases his first nightclub comedy special online
Louis CK has made it a habit of releasing comedy specials online, bypassing the industry gatekeepers that jack up prices and delay releases. Well, he's at it again. The laugh-maker has just posted his first nightclub special, Live at the Comedy Store, on his own website. Pay his customary $5 price and you'll get three unprotected video downloads (finally in 1080p!), three audio downloads and three streams. You'll know the drill if you've watched one of Louis' digital shows before, but this show could be just the relief you need if the weather has you cooped up at home. [Image credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for New York Comedy Festival]
Here's why 'Too Many Cooks' is tailor-made for the internet
By now, there's a good chance that you've seen or heard about Adult Swim's Too Many Cooks -- an epic, warped internet video that sends up the overly tidy world of '80s and '90s sitcoms. But just why did this video manage to click with so many people? If you ask PBS, it's because the 11-minute clip speaks directly to the heart of online culture. The internet is fond of absurdist humor that highlights the apparently meaningless, repetitive nature of life, PBS argues; Too Many Cooks plays on that love of the ludicrous by dismantling a formulaic, "perfect" TV universe where everything has meaning.
Backtrace, the geekiest album you'll hear, hits Billboard comedy charts
I saw James Dempsey speak at AltConf this past June (AltConf runs during WWDC for those who want something a little different). James goes way back in Apple lore to the NeXT days, and for his talk he pulled some code to show how Swift didn't just materialize from thin air, it has its origins in NeXT. Dempsey worked at Apple for 15 years, but lately he's been having a good time releasing music with his band, James Dempsey the Breakpoints. Their latest album hit Billboard's charts. So in case you were wondering if being a developer pays off, then yes. But being an artist who writes and performs music that only developers will grok seems to also be lucrative -- if you're as talented as Dempsey. With songs like Endian Reservations and The Fetch Spec Song, it's clear these are inside jokes. But the music is fun and Dempsey's joy for coding and music-making is evident in this album, which got up to number five on the comedy charts. That's no small task considering Patton Oswalt is also on that chart. You can check out his AltConf talk here and buy Backtrace on iTunes here. I'm hoping James winds up making a cameo on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. soon.
Amazon betting on newcomer talent to grow its comedy library
Netflix is looking to tackle the comedy genre with full force over the next few years -- and it's very serious about it too, having recruited Adam Sandler and Chelsea Handler to help along the way so far. Amazon, on the other hand, appears to be ready to take a much different approach. According to Reuters, the online retail titan has acquired Rooftop Media, an entertainment company focusing on recording comedy club performances (audio as well as video) and distributing them. Rooftop Media's main property is the site Rooftop Comedy, which describes itself as a medium that "provides over 6,500 comedians services to help build and expand their careers." Furthermore, Rooftop says it records stands-up comedy sessions in different venues throughout North America and the UK, doing so every day of the year.
Rainn Wilson is making a TV show starring Vine celebrities
Best known for his roles in The Office and The Rocker, actor-turned-producer Rainn Wilson is reportedly getting ready to bring some of Vine's biggest personalities to TV. According to Deadline, Wilson is set to produce a comedy show called Hollywood and Vine, featuring popular members of Twitter's video-focused social network, like Curtis Lepore, Jerry Purpdrank, Simone Shepherd and a few others. Hollywood and Vine, which is said to be written by Lance Krall (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), will be based on following the lives of these Vine personalities as they try to make it into the crazed world that is Hollywood. A co-creator of Soul Pancake, the media company behind characters such as Kid President, Wilson is quite familiar with people who have gained fame thanks to the internet -- now it's just a matter of translating that to TV instead of YouTube.
YouTube now has unreleased stand-up from Dave Chappelle, Louis CK and more
Stand-up comedians don't get to just walk onto the set of Saturday Night Live or The Daily Show and start telling jokes. Nope, like just about every other creative field, they start small and work their way up -- often for free at first. Yes, even the likes of Tracy Morgan and Sarah Silverman. The Just For Laughs (JFL) comedy festival in Montreal has filmed the countless names that've graced its stage since 1987 and has teamed with YouTube juggernaut Maker Studios to start releasing unseen footage from the fest's archives, according to Variety. Right now its channel only has a handful of clips (including Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock [above] and Bill Hicks), but JFL promises three-time-per-week updates are en route. All told, there'll be some 500 hours of performances and when that well runs dry, the outfit plans to add footage from more recent shows. For now, at least, you'll have something funny to sprinkle between Woodstock clips.
Stephen Colbert reviews the Kim Kardashian app
Don't look now, but the "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" app has already generated tens of millions of dollars in pure profit and currently occupies the #5 spot on the App Store's list of Top Grossing apps. There's no shortage of opportunities for jokes here, but why not let a master comedian show you how it's done? Earlier this week, Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report ran a hilarious review of the Kim Kardashian app that will have serious iOS developers cursing the heavens and everyone else laughing up a storm. The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,The Colbert Report on Facebook,Video Archive
Undo a chili knight's work in reverse platformer, Spoiler Alert
Spoilers are generally frowned upon, but we're ready to make an exception when it's the central theme of the game in question. Case in point: Spoiler Alert, a game played in reverse. In this self-described "comedy platformer," you un-shoot fireballs, un-throw hammers and give bosses their lives back on your un-quest to un-rescue Princess Tomato. The game features 100 levels spread across four worlds, but you can create your own using the included level editor as well. Spoiler Alert is developed by two-man Danish studio MegaFuzz and published by tinyBuild Games, the studio behind No Time To Explain and the upcoming JetGetters. It un-made its way to Steam earlier this week and is currently on sale for $6.39 - 20 percent off - until July 7. [Image: MegaFuzz/tinyBuild Games]
Researchers write comedy rulebook for joke-telling robots
Imagine if, at some point in the future, groups of humans were force-marched down to their local theater to watch Jerry Seindroid or Stewbot Lee say "Hey, so what's the deal with humans, eh?" How would our robotic overloads know what zingy one-liners to crack, in order to keep us amused and distracted? As it turns out, the team behind the KOBIAN Emotional Humanoid robot has spent the last few months writing down the rulebook for robotic comedians. Volunteers were wired up to sensors that monitored their reactions to joke-telling, and the team has concluded that dirty jokes, exaggeration and imitation are some of the more effective way to get a laugh. There's a video showing some of the highlights of KOBIAN's bits, but we should warn you that, thanks to the language barrier, you might not find the jokes funny in the way that they're intended. (Actually, no, they're hilarious.)
Dr. Dre as the voice of Siri
In its largest corporate acquisition to date, Apple has acquired Beats Electronics for US$3 billion. As part of the deal, Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine will join Apple as full time employees. While discussing the deal with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg at yesterday's Code Conference, Apple exec and all-around wheeler and dealer Eddy Cue said that the Beats acquisition will enhance Apple's creative with interesting opportunities. Which got me thinking; what would iOS look like if Siri's personality was replaced by Dr. Dre's rap persona? So without further ado, here's a glimpse as to what that that would look like, with all of Dre's answers taking the form of lyrics from some of his more popular songs (song attributions will appear below each pairing). The lyrics in the photo above are taken from "Nuthin' But a G Thang" and "Forgot about Dre", respectively. "Deep Cover" and "Nuthin' But a G Thang" "Forgot about Dre" and "California Love" "Express Yourself" and "Nuthin' But a G Thang" "Lyrical" and "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" "Let Me Ride" and "Been There, Done That" Feel free to drop in any "Dr. Dre as Siri" suggestions in the comments!
