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Comedy
Posted inFall Arts 2022

Portland Comedy Apocalypse

Five local favorites look back on how the pandemic changed their careers and the city’s comedy scene.
Avatar photo Suzette Smith

The idea was simple enough: Talk to five comedians about the pandemic. Find out how they see Portland’s changing comedy scene. While it seems easy to ask that now, we couldn’t have written this piece six months ago. Coming off the winter surge—no one could say where Portland comedy was going. But now? There’s an […]

Posted inPodcast

You’re Wrong About Is the Podcast That Gets It Right

Portland Journalist Sarah Marshall Speaks Wry Revisionist Truth to Power
Avatar photo McKinzie Smith

It feels like everyone in Portland is obsessed with You’re Wrong About—Sarah Marshall’s podcast about all the recent history that we remember wrong. If you don’t know, get in here! If you do know, Sarah Marshall is still so fucking charming.

When we sat down to talk to witty insightful Sarah Marshall about her reminded us
“America has a real pattern of deep fondness for con artists and demagogues.”

Posted inNews

YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Cops’ “Doxing” Excuses, Fire Department Underfunded, and the Devil Went Down to Portland

Avatar photo Wm. Steven Humphrey

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being “the last to know,” then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to […]

Posted inComedy

Portland’s Funniest Person 2022 Is Shain Brenden

After two weird years, the city’s marathon comedy contest seems back on track.
Avatar photo Suzette Smith

Congratulations are in order to stand-up SHAIN BRENDEN for winning the 2022 title of Portland‘s Funniest Person (PFP). Although its surprising he didn’t win the title sooner, the PFP competition had a weird couple years, as have we all. TORY WARD took the runner up position despite what we thought was a poor showing from […]

Posted inComedy

Does Portland Still Demand Lez Stand Up?

“This is a sort of toe-dip,” founder Kirsten Kuppenbender said of the queer comedy showcase’s tentative return.
Avatar photo Suzette Smith

Queer comedy showcase Lez Stand Up has existed in one form or another since 2012, when founder Kirsten “Koop” Kuppenbender says it first popped up at Gay Pizza: a queer night held in a North Portland pizza parlor. While no one can claim that the age of sheltered straight guy humor has passed from mainstream […]

Posted inNews

YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Monkeypox on the Rise, Pickathon Memories, and Patriot Prayer’s Slap on the Wrist

Avatar photo Wm. Steven Humphrey

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being “the last to know,” then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to […]

Posted inComedy

Comedian/Actress/Podcaster Amanda Seales Makes Her Portland Debut

We Love a Creatively Fluid and Outspoken Black Queen
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

Amanda Seales isn’t taking any more questions about HBO’s Insecure, on which the actress formerly played the hilarious, evolving role of Ivy League graduate Tiffany Dubois. Instead, she’s focused on the here and now, particularly her stand-up comedy, which she’s currently taking on the road with the “Black Outside Again Tour.”  “There was more of […]

Posted inComedy

Comedian Kate Murphy Announces Her Return to Portland

To celebrate she put together a stand-up night with way too many outstanding comedians.
Avatar photo Suzette Smith

Hold onto your hahas because Portland’s beloved comedian Kate Murphy is moving back! And she put together a very fun show to celebrate—and also spice up—her preparatory visit.

Portlanders haven’t had the pleasure of hearing comedian Kate Murphy for more than a minute. She is one of the many artists forced to move away during the pandemic when the sudden lack of work conflicted with our city’s high rent. But the big news is Murphy is now preparing to move back—in just a few weeks! And the similarly big news: She’s put together a wildly start-studded bill of local talent for her preparatory visit.

Posted inNews

YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Biz Alliance Power Grab, Portland Invests Big Climate $$$, and Why Your Threesomes Don’t Work Out

Avatar photo Wm. Steven Humphrey

GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being “the last to know,” then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to […]

Posted inComedy

Who’s Who at the Portland Sketch Comedy Festival 2022

Relative unknowns (like TSTMRKT) and satire standards (such as Brunch) fill the fourth year’s line-up.
Avatar photo Suzette Smith

Dimly on the horizon we see her, surrounded in sea foam and pearls. The Portland Sketch Comedy Festival is back for a fourth year. Intimidating uknowns TSTMRKT and skit standards Brunch fill out her glorious line-up.

The Portland Sketch Comedy Festival returns this weekend after a two-year pandemic pause. Who’s new on the line-up and who’re the local legends? We’ve got the goof news.

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