AMG Review of Comedy Death-Ray

David Jeffries
All Music Guide

Why should New Yorkers have all the fun? Just like that city's legendary Invite Them Up happenings, Comedy Death-Ray is a weekly "indie" or "alternative" comedy showcase presented by Scott Aukerman and B.J. Porter (both #Mr. Show alum) and held at ~the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles save a couple trips to San Francisco. Comedy Central's two-disc collection of some of the regular irregulars at the show captures the spirit of these anything-goes events with some names you know (David Cross, Patton Oswalt), some names you should know (Todd Glass, Brian Posehn), and a few comics from way out on the fringe (cult favorite Neil Hamburger and the neurotic Maria Bamford, who's the "big find" of the set). The label's commitment to the next wave of standup is admirable, as they give everyone on disc plenty of time to develop their routines with most sets somewhere between ten and 15 minutes. Only a handful of iffy newcomers get less, but they're also pushed to the end of disc two, which makes for a disappointing fourth quarter until the #Reno 911 guys come along with their killer closer. Longtime indie comic fans should watch out for the hidden track from Aukerman and Porter, since it will speak to their soul.