5 Best Comedy Shows in L.A. This Week, Including Doug Stanhope

Doug Stanhope

5. I Don't Know Dick
Bob Wiltfong combs through love letters by some guy named Dick. The Improv, Sat., Dec. 1, 6 p.m.

4. Shaquille O'Neal's All Star Comedy Jam: With DJ Spinderella, Gary Owen, Tony Roberts and Michael Blackson
Yeah, it's not the best venue for laughing, but Gary Owen is a name to watch -- a regular guy doing regular-guy jokes with heart. Club Nokia, Fri., Nov. 30, 7:30 & 10:30 p.m.

3. Guy Branum: Talk Show: The Game Show Tournament of Champions with Karen Kilgariff, Brent Weinbach, Jake Weisman
Let's let Mr. Branum explain: "Talk Show: The Game Show is a three-guest talk show like Letterman, Conan or Leno, but the guests compete to see who's the best talk show guest. The questions are normal interview questions, but they can score points by doing the stuff you're supposed to do on a talk show. Completing an anecdote is 5 points, mentioning international travel is 2 points, Name dropping is 2 points. Then a panel of three judges evaluate them, Idol-style, and give them 1-10 style points. Finally, there's a lightning round where I ask open-ended questions and they buzz in to answer them. Questions like..."This week pop group LMFAO broke up. What will Redfoo's eventual cause of death be?" The Improv; Fri., Nov. 30, 11:59 p.m.

2. Risk!
The State's Kevin Allison's popular podcast and a live show comes to L.A. (from guess where?) once a month for "true stories people never thought they'd dare to share in public." With Eric Andre, Sara Benincasa, Oscar Sagastume, Dave Ross, Eric Martin. Nerdmelt at Meltdown Comics, Fri., Nov. 30, 9 p.m.

1. Doug Stanhope
The most compellingly brutal and honest comic you'll ever see (unless you saw Lenny Bruce). The Comedy Store, Thurs., Nov. 29 & Fri., Nov. 30, 8 p.m.