Because We're Not Dead Yet - Part Three

UPDATE: Martha Jane just sent me photos of three people that I hadn't photographed so I thought I'd add them.
Kathy Buckley and Martha Jane

Ant and Diane Nichols

Rick Overton
getting ready to beat the crap out of the manager, who is hanging by his head, the only logical place to hang one from. After all, they do take 15% .


Our hosts, Elayne Boosler and her husband Bill Siddons.

When I told Bill what great artwork he had, he replied without a trace of regret, "It's all Elayne, she won't let me hang anything." Now that's a great husband who has been properly trained. Hot guy Number One, the food server, although he had his eyes closed. He's 21, my waist size. Shut up.Hot guy Number Two, the bartender. Hard to believe he's older than I am.

Only attractive people are eligible for Cater-waitering in Los Angeles. It's not unusual to go to big Hollywood events and see the guests cruising the staff. You should see our UPS drivers. Hands down, the hottest guys in L.A. We used to have one who was so hot that three of us used to order crap off EBay just so he'd come to our building. Then we'd ask him dumb questions like, "What's a stamp?" He now has a movie career.

Hiram Kasten, Karen Haber, Felicia Michaels and Martha Jane of Cocktails From Hawaii who flew in from Honolulu for the party.

Freddy Stoller, who hasn't aged one bit, which I found very annoying. Extremely annoying.

And finally, my arch enemy Jenée who has her cleavage hanging out, for a CHANGE.

I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of everyone and I apologize to those I didn't get. I think we have to hire a photographer for the next event since there were over 90 people in attendance this year and we expect a bigger turnout next year. It was just overwhelming to meet up with people we hadn't seen in many years, some of them from New York and the leaner years, and remember to take their picture. But from all the emails I've been getting from comics who don't live in L.A., they love the pictures more than my astute and brilliant commentary. Whatever.

All night long, no matter what group of comedians I was talking to, the same topic came up over and over, how great it was to get together with our own kind. You could make inappropriate jokes about loaded topics and no one flinched or called you out. You didn't have to be polite and you could swear and bitch without people staring at you with that horrified look I sometimes get when I ...never mind. I think my arch enemy Jenée said it best: "You never have to follow any sentence with just kidding."

What made this party better than every other party? Because everyone was invited, not just the white heterosexual males who hung out together back in the day. We had Black people! We had Asian people! We had women! We had gays! We had Ann Abeyta the Mexican who couldn't spell pinata! I'm never going to let that go.

End of party chat.

Because We're Not Dead Yet - Part Two

All of these photos were taken by my friend Phil Nee, who is not only a standup comic but a photographer as well.

Phil Nee and Elayne Boosler

The amazing view of Los Angeles from Elayne's backyard

The Toast

Dave Edison, Charles Zucker, Billiam Coronel, Mike Rowe, Rondell Sheridan, Mike Dugan and down in front, Phil Nee. I know he got two pictures in one post but his photos, his rules.

Rick Overton manhandles the 'agent' through the mouth (where they deserve it). Keith Barany looks on approvingly, or is it longingly, in the background.

Wendy Kamenoff, Jon Manfrelotti and Billy Riback.

As you can tell from some of the pictures, all s.o.'s, gf's, bf's and spouses have been removed from the pictures. Do I need to know that you're all having regular sex and then publish it on MY blog? Don't think so.

On Friday, the last of the pictures, including the two hot guys and my arch enemy Jenée.

Because We're Not Dead Yet - Part One

After the Richard Jeni Memorial in March comedians decided it was a good idea to get together when someone had not died. Elayne Boosler, Rondell Sheridan and Suzy Soro present the First Annual Because We’re Not Dead Yet Party was hosted by Elayne at her home and co-hosted by yours truly and Rondell. It was the best comedy party of the last fifteen years and the only reason I know that is because I've been to all of those parties and they couldn't even compare to this one. Modest much?Maxine Lapiduss, co-host Rondell Sheridan and host Elayne Boosler

The invitation-only party mixed NY and LA comics along with catering from Kai’s European Catering and Event Design and lots of surprises. Richard Jeni’s best friend Len Austrevich generously donated copies of Rich’s specials Platypus Man and Crazy From The Heat as party favors. Circle of life tokens were also given out as well as one of Kai's nirvana inspired chocolate chip cookies which I ate at 4 a.m. because I'm trying to keep my weight down by eating in the middle of the night when no one can see me. What? That totally works.

Emo Phillips and Mike MacDonald, who are both clearly insane. Or high.

Two candy-filled piñatas dressed as AGENT and MANAGER were beaten to a pulp by a baseball bat. There was a lot of cheering.

A fake sign-up sheet on the door allowed us to pick our own 'spots.'Jerry Diner, Johnny Dark, Jamie Alcroft (from Mack and Jamie) and Scott LaRose sign up for their spotsElayne's pool designBeverly Mickens and Mike Ivy Jann Karam and Margaret Smith

Rondell generously donated a case of Richard Jeni’s favorite champagne, which Richard got in the Oscar gift bag when he was one of the writers for the Chris Rock-hosted Oscars.

L.A. comics Rich Williams, Ryan Stout and Tommy James. Does Tommy have breast implants?

Ant (in the background), Danny Kinsella, Ann Abeyta (she writes the top 10 movie list for my blog) and Billiam Coronel.


Richard Jeni's lovely and heartbroken girlfriend, Amy Murphy

My only regret is that I didn't take pictures of the interior of Elayne's house, mainly out of respect but mostly because I forgot. I've been to a lot of LA homes and Elayne has possibly the coolest house I've ever seen. The greatest mix of artwork, arcana and collections gathered over a lifetime of travel with a discerning eye. We should all have such a cool home.

More pictures to follow, including ones of the two hottest guys at the party and my arch enemy Jenée, who demanded photo approval over the pictures I took of her. You see what I'm dealing with here?