The best way to keep abreast of all the Bridgetown goings-on is by following us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bridgetown, and if you're on Facebook, don't forget to join our group -- just search for "Bridgetown Comedy".

We'll be making some big lineup announcements in the next few days, and I promise you that as great as the 2008 festival was, 2009 will blow you away.  We're already close to having one hundred (100!) performers scheduled!

Get your tickets here now for the low price of $10!

You loved them at the 2008 Bridgetown Comedy Festival -- don't miss them next Saturday for their only Portland show! Tig Notaro (The Sarah Silverman Program, Last Comic Standing) and Natasha Leggero (Reno: 911!, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Tonight Show) are coming to Berbati's for one night only -- Saturday, December 20th.

Damn you, Coachella!  We had dibs on that weekend!

It looks like we're going to have to cave and move the 2009 Bridgetown Comedy Festival from the weekend of April 16-18 to the weekend of April 23-25, since Coachella jumped on the bandwagon of moving festivals to mid-April.  Here's hoping no one bought plane tickets yet.

See you in six months!

This Friday, Portland's Matt Braunger, winner of "Best of the Fest" at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival, returns to town, fresh on the heels of his first episode of MadTV -- check out one of his sketches here, and here's his MadTV introduction:



The amazing James Adomian will also be performing a slew of hilarious character pieces -- he might just be the greatest impressionist working today.  If you haven't already seen him as George W. Bush in Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay or on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, you should check out his spot-on Orson Welles:



The fun starts at 8pm at Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd, this Friday, September 26th.  The cost is only $8, and includes admission to the 11pm screening of Hollywood Hot Tubs, kicking off the SexPDX film festival.  It's going to be a night of peeing your pants and creaming your jeans at the Bagdad!  Don't miss it!

Keep an eye out for these kickass upcoming Bridgetown Comedy shows:

Doug Benson (Super High Me, Best Week Ever, Last Comic Standing) with Graham Elwood
October 15th
Berbati's Pan
Buy tickets here!

Tig Notaro (The Sarah Silverman Program, Last Comic Standing) with Natasha Leggero (Reno 911!, The Tonight Show)
December 20th
Berbati's Pan

Brent Weinbach
January 14th
Berbati's Pan

You may remember Paul Goebel (aka "The King of TV") from his regular spot on Comedy Central's "Beat The Geeks" as the resident TV geek.  You may also have seen his many guest appearances on shows ranging from "Will & Grace" to "Boston Common to "Curb Your Enthusiasm".  Goebel and fellow comedians Jim Bruce and Brian McNett are fast approaching the 100th episode of their TV-themed podcast "The Paul Goebel Show", and to celebrate, they're taking the show on the road.

Along for the ride is frequent guest and hilarious comic Graham Elwood, who was most recently seen in the Doug Benson pot documentary "Super High Me", as well as "The Sarah Silverman Program".  Seeing Graham perform live is a one-of-a-kind experience -- his ridiculously quick wit coupled with his infectious energy onstage always leave even the most cynical audiences in hysterics.

The Paul Goebel Show Tour brings you comedy from all four of these veteran standups, plus an audience participation game show, and even a TV trivia face-off between Paul and Portland favorite The Famous Mysterious Actor!  All this for only $10!

We've just received word that Seattle's Andy Haynes, featured on last week's Last Comic Standing, will be performing on Monday's show at Berbati's along with Ron Funches, Richard Bain and headliner Will Franken!  Unfortunately John F. O'Donnell won't be able to make it to Portland for the show, but we're working on getting him back to town later this year, and the lineup for Monday's show is still incredible.

Check out our writeup in this week's Mercury!

See you at Berbati's on Monday at 9:00

-Bridgetown Comedy

We're back!  From the people who brought you the 2008 Bridgetown Comedy Festival come a slew of new comedy shows just in time for summer.

Those of you who made it to the fest no doubt remember the manic hilarity of John F. O'Donnell, who's returning to town with SF Weekly "Best Comedian" winner and Andy Kaufman Award runner-up Will Franken for the first Bridgetown Comedy Presents show at Berbati's June 16th.  I think this is Franken's first performance in Portland, and we're ridiculously lucky to have him.  Keep an eye out for some promo videos for both John and Will coming soon.

Also in June, Portland native and Bridgetown co-founder Matt Braunger will be performing with the hilarious Paul Jay and Dan Dominguez at Bagdad Theater on the 27th.  I guess Paul thought he hadn't seen enough of Portland from couch-surfing at my place during the festival, so he's back to bring the funny, eat some Voodoo Doughnuts, and get tricked into using the bathroom at El Grillo.

On July 2nd at Berbati's Pan, Bridgetown Comedy brings you a Very Special Episode (cue strings) featuring the undisputed King of TV Paul Goebel.  You may remember Paul as the TV Geek from the Comedy Central game show Beat The Geeks, where his knowledge of all things television was never matched.  You may also know him as the hilarious co-host of The Paul Goebel Show podcast.  He and co-host/comedian Jim Bruce are bringing the show on the road along with special guests Graham Elwood and Brian McNett.  I'm really psyched about this show -- the format is unique (games! prizes! Graham Elwood kicking things over onstage!) and the lineup is outstanding.

To reiterate:
Monday, June 16th, Berbati's Pan: Will Franken and John F. O'Donnell, plus guests
Friday, June 27th, Bagdad Theater: Matt Braunger, Paul Jay, Dan Dominguez, plus guests
Wednesday, July 2nd, Berbati's Pan: The Paul Goebel Show Tour featuring Graham Elwood, Paul Goebel, Jim Bruce, Brian McNett, plus guests

Come check out the schedule for this year's festival!

You're going to want to catch as much of the action as possible, and that means getting your wristband now for the low, low price of $20.  Three days, five venues, 60 comics -- you can't beat that deal!

Weekend-long tickets for the Bridgetown Comedy Festival are now on sale at Brown Paper Tickets for the low, low price of $20!  Your festival ticket can be exchanged at any of the venues for a wristband that gets you into all three days of comedy in all the venues, which are conveniently located in the "Stumble Zone" of Portland's Upper Hawthorne neighborhood, centered around the Mt. Tabor Legacy Theater.

Bridgetown Comedy Festival
March 6th, 7th and 8th
Mt. Tabor Legacy Theater, more venues TBD
Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets -- only $20 for the whole festival!