Aziz $5 Standup at UCB

What: Stand-Up Spotlight: Aziz Ansari
When: Friday, May 21 @ midnight
Where: Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Los Angeles
Address: 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 908-8702
Cost: $5

Aziz in new comedy book

The Daily O’Collegian:
The latest release from Vintage Books, “You’re a Horrible Person, But I Like You” brings together some of the funniest comedians in show business and asks them some of life’s deepest questions.

Just about everybody who has made you laugh on TV or in a movie since 2004 contributes to this book. Judd Apatow, Aziz Ansari, Rainn Wilson, Jim Gaffigan, Ed Helms, and Michael Cera, among others, each contribute a chapter of advice while veteran comedian David Cross provides the introduction.

All of the hardest questions in life are addressed in the pages of the book. For instance, Aziz Ansari explains that Gavin from Cleveland’s dizzy feeling isn’t love, but is in fact the result of bad macaroni, a fact that Ansari knows from experience.

The paperback was released on April 6.

Aziz hosting MTV Movie Awards??

Insiders tell Showtracker exclusively that the comedian and “Parks and Recreation” star is in final negotiations to host the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, slated to air live June 6 from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City.

[...]

Nominations for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards have not yet been announced. A spokeswoman for MTV declined comment and Ansari’s reps could not be reached.

Performance

Aziz Ansari announced via Twitter that he, Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza and Nick Offerman will be at Largo this weekend in Los Angeles for a special show with Tig (The Sarah Silverman Program)!

Here’s the basics:
What: Tig with the Cast of Parks and Recreation
When: Saturday, March 13 @ 9 p.m.
Where: Largo at the Coronet
Address: 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: (310) 855-0350
Cost: $25

Darwish vs Harris

Darwish vs. Harris on Twitter = Everything You Could Hope For and More
Yesterday, I convinced both my cousins Darwish and Harris to join Twitter. They’ve since went to war with each other. Currently, Darwish has about 4500 followers while Harris is almost doubling him at 7500 followers.

Darwish has been tweeting about internships, talking about ‘fiiiine ladies,’ and even developed the concept of “TeamDarwish” to rally Twitter-ville to get him to 5000 followers by 1AM (EST). Meanwhile, up until a few hours ago, all Harris had tweeted was ‘eating macaroni’ and he was still somehow trouncing Darwish in followers.

But Harris is no longer silent, as the two are now in a serious macaroni feud!! Read below:

HarrisRules13: eating macaroni

DarGandhi123: @HarrisRules13 Velveeta right? hope you didn’t put too much pepper. (We always make the velveeta then add perfect amnt salt, pepper, butter)

HarrisRules13: @dargandhi123 yeah i put the right amount of pepper unlike u who ruins it with too much pepper,making it spicy macaroni which is just nastyy

OH SHIT.

Where will this go? Time will tell. Let’s just hope it doesn’t end in some sort of macaroni based violence.

The Funniest Tool In 'Parks' Utility Shed

TO LISTEN CLICK HERE!!!

Comedian Aziz Ansari first started doing stand-up comedy as an undergraduate marketing major at NYU. Eight years later, he's playing opposite comedy queen Amy Poehler as the lovable office tool on NBC's workplace comedy Parks and Recreation.

Ansari has acted in MTV's sketch series Human Giant, and he played the part of a xenophobic fruit vendor in HBO's Flight of the Conchords.

His first comedy DVD — Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening — is out now through Comedy Central. He joins Terry Gross for a conversation about his career, his DVD and what exactly the made-up word "tatties" might mean.

Aziz Ansari: Time Out NY

Time Out New York’s Q&A with Aziz Ansari
February 3rd, 2010
From Time Out New York:

In your Comedy Central special, you have a whole bit about getting chummy with Kanye West. Does he know you’re doing it?
I performed that whole Kanye routine over speakerphone for him when I did a show in San Francisco, to make sure he was cool with all of it before I put it down on the special. He was cool with all of it.

What about your younger cousins? You make fun of them, too.
Now, unfortunately, they get beat up by this big kid at their school named Mongo. It’s really a bummer. No, I’m just kidding—they are fine and still chubby weird kids that watch Burn Notice and Psych all the time.

Ever since I saw the episode of your old show, Human Giant, with Michael K. Williams, I’ve wanted to ask: Are you a big fan of The Wire?
The Wire is hands down my favorite TV show ever, and I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with some of the cast. I was standing behind Jamie Hector [who plays Marlo Stanfield] in line at a party once, and they were checking his name off the list; I was hoping the person mispronounced it, just so he could say, “My name is my name!” And then maybe Chris Partlow and Snoop could take that person out and put ’em in the vacants. If you haven’t seen The Wire, I just wasted your time with those last few sentences.

Interview: Aziz

In 2009, you had one of the biggest years ever. Besides Parks and Recreation — of course — you guest starred in multiple episodes of ABC’s Scrubs; appeared in Funny People, I Love You, Man and Observe and Report; performed stand-up comedy across the country (including the taping of your Comedy Central special in July) and sold three movie projects to Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures. Why do you think 2009 turned into the year that you truly broke out into the mainstream?
I started using a really good facial moisturizer. Once I moisturized and people noticed how soft and smooth my skin was, things starting going up, up, up!

Your winter holiday was spent in Japan and then Australia, where you performed a stand-up show on January 2. Explain what that trip was like. Parks and Recreation writer Alan Yang tagged along too, right?
I’d always wanted to go to Tokyo, and Alan and I’s mutual friends James, who is very familiar with Tokyo was going to be there, so we tagged along with him to Tokyo and Australia. It was a great trip. I mainly ate a lot of food (ramen, sushi, teppanyaki, yakitori, etc.)

You’re said to be collaborating with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek on a hip-hop mixtape featuring your popular Funny People character, Randy. How’s that coming?
QUIT REMINDING ME OF ALL THE WORK I HAVE TO DO. Dave sent over a bunch of beats to me and they are really great. I’m busy with the buildup to the special so I haven’t had time to really get to work on my end, but I think it’ll be a really fun project.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s spin-off, Get Him to the Greek, is scheduled to be released this summer. Your character in the movie works for a record company headed by a dude named Sergio Roma (Sean “Diddy” Combs). It also employs guys like Aaron Greenberg, played by the consistently funny Jonah Hill. Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera play themselves, among other cameos. How hilarious of a movie are we talking here?
This movie is going to be great and people will especially be impressed with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.

One of your good friends, Jason Woliner, directed a Parks and Recreation episode earlier this season. A few weeks later, your friend (and fellow comedian) Paul Scheer appeared on the show as KaBOOM! project manager Keef Slertner. Is this by coincidence or do you have some pull in who comes on the program?
I have zero pull man. I’ve been trying to get Nelly on the show since day one. They are not having it.

Obligatory Parks and Recreation question: Give Tom Haverford fans something to look forward to in the second half of the current season.
Here’s some teasers that should get you excited without spoiling anything: Tom’s house. Soloflex. Bowflex. Nightclub. New suits. Jamie Foxx.

Human Giant Marathon

HUMAN GIANT MARATHON ON COMEDY CENTRAL THIS WEEKEND!

The Tumblrumors are true! As a promotion for Aziz's new standup special airing on Sunday at 10/9pm c, Comedy Central is airing a marathon of Human Giant episodes starting this late Friday night. Here’s all the showtimes.

35 Funniest People

Among the list are...
Aziz Ansari - “I’m actually a Caucasian who does the Fisher Stevens-Short Circuit 2 makeup technique every morning."
Amy Poehler- "President Bush threw out the first pitch Monday at Cincinnati's great American ball park. 18 Iraqis were killed."


Link: http: 35 Funniest!

Aziz Ansari teams with Dave Sitek for hip hop mixtape

Aziz Ansari teams with Dave Sitek for hip hop mixtape

From Pitchfork:

Fans of comedian Aziz Ansari know the guy loves hip-hop. … And now he’s putting out a rap mixtape under his blowjob-obsessed hip-hop comedian guise, Raaaaaaaandy (as seen in Funny People). TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek is producing it along with L.A.’s the Have and Baltimore’s DJ Granwizerd. For fans of comedy, rap, and life itself, this is amazing news.

According to Sitek, the as-yet-unnamed tape is due in February and will feature “all original music and guest MCs,” who will be named soon.

From Aziz’s Tumblr:

If everything we have in mind comes together, I can promise three things:

1. Y’all ain’t ready.
2. Motherfuckers need to know.
3. Get yo’ shit.

Link: Aziz Ansari and TVOTR’s Dave Sitek Team Up for Hip-Hop Mixtape

Aziz at Comedy Works

Aziz Ansari to do 5 shows in Denver in February
December 4th, 2009
Aziz Ansari will do five stand-up shows over two days in February at Comedy Works in Denver, CO. Aziz last performed there in November.

Here’s the basics:
What: Aziz Ansari Live
When: Friday, February 19 @ 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Saturday, February 20 @ 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Where: Comedy Works Downtown at Larimer Square
Address: 1226 15th St., Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 595-3637
Cost: $25 (+2 item minimum) | Get Tickets

Aziz in Tv.com

Aziz Ansari talks Jenna Haze, The League and Kanye in TV.com Q&A
December 4th, 2009
From TV.com:

I saw on your Tumblr that you are doing an interview with Animal Collective. I tried to Google it, and discovered that if you plan on typing in “aziz ansari animal collective” into Google, when you get to “aziz ansari a,” Google suggests “aziz ansari and jenna haze.” Given that Haze is a porn star, on a scale from “very” to “defining moment of career,” how proud are you of this?
That’s great to hear. Jenna worked with us on the Randy shorts and is a very nice lady. I was once looking through my wallet for my CVS card and accidentally sat Jenna’s business card on the counter without realizing just how graphic it is. I made quite an impression on the staff there.

Have there been any discussions about you appearing on The League?
Nope, but I would love to do something on that show. [Nick] Kroll and [Paul] Scheer are real good friends of mine.

Did Kanye invite you over for Thanksgiving?
No, I just had Thanksgiving with my family and Busta Rhymes.

Aziz in AOL TV

Aziz Ansari’s Q&A with AOL TV
December 2nd, 2009
From AOL TV:

You’ve guest-starred on a number of shows, including ‘Scrubs’ and ‘Flight of the Conchords.’ What show would you most want to make a guest appearance on?
I think I should play David Palmer’s long-lost son in the next season of ‘24.’ But I’d work at CTU. I’m not a politician.

In terms of your own stand-up, it’s been said by older comics that you need at least 20 years to develop your style.
Yeah, there’s a quote from Jay Leno, I think, that said your first 500 shows don’t matter and I think that’s pretty true. I didn’t put out my first album until now and it’s been eight years since I started. You’re always developing as a comedian. You look at guys like Louis C.K., who’s been doing this for 20 or so years, and it’s like, wow, that guy’s been doing stand-up for about as long as I’ve been alive. He’s so far ahead of everyone.

You moved to Los Angeles from New York last year. What’s the best and worst part about living in L.A.?
The best thing is there’s a lot of really delicious taco trucks there and occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around. And the worst thing is occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around.

Aziz in Movieweb

EXCLUSIVE: Aziz Ansari Brings the Laughs in Funny People
November 30th, 2009

Aziz Ansari Brings the Laughs in Funny PeopleBy now, if you're a comedy fan who doesn't know the name Aziz Ansari, you are in some dire need of comedic catch-up. Aside from his famous rants on the IMAX format Ansari currently stars as the mischevious Tom Haverford on the hit NBC comedy Parks and Recreation and he makes a brief but memorable appearance in the film Funny People, which is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray shelves everywhere. Although his role in the actual film is (sadly) fairly brief, he has a much bigger presence on the DVD special features with the documentary on his character Randy. I recently had the chance to fire some questions over to Aziz via email, and here's what he had to say.

You've had a rather meteoric rise through the comedy ranks in such a short period of time, so what was it like to get a call from Judd Apatow for a role in Funny People?

Aziz Ansari: It was great. I'd just lost the role of Chev Chelios in the film Crank 2 after coming very close to getting it (they decided to let Jason Statham reprise his role as Chev again for the sequel), so times were tough. The call from Judd came at just the right time.

Can you talk a bit about working with Judd on your Randy character? Did you write your own stand-up material or did he have bits scripted for you? How did the whole process of creating Randy come about for you?

Aziz Ansari: Judd and I talked a bit about what he had in mind for Randy and the early ideas he mentioned were about him being really cocky and very conscious about things like merchandise and how much money he made per gig. That attitude reminded me of those new young hip hop superstars like Soulja Boy, and that really became my inspiration. That's what triggered the ideas about the dance, the DJ, idiotic catchphrases, etc. Those to me are the defining aspects of Randy and it was not a shot at any particular comic, like many people think. Another notion that stuck in my head was the idea of the comic that kills with audiences but it is despised by the other comedians backstage. These guys are at every club, talking non-stop about their dick and their dumb stories about going down on girls, etc. This kind of was the jumping off point for when I started writing material specifically for Randy. Initially I started doing my own standup and just "Randy'ing" it up, but then I started writing Randy specific bits and that was really fun.

Like all of Judd's films, Funny People seems very much grounded in reality. Can you speak to the reality of these kinds of struggling stand-up characters and how it's reflected in the film?

Aziz Ansari: It seemed pretty real to me. The main difference I think is that now it's not as much centered around the comedy club scene. In NY and LA, most of the young talent seems to be coming out of places like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and small standup rooms around town, as opposed to the big clubs.

Now this Funny People DVD is just jam-packed with extras including this three-part Raaaaaandy documentary. Can you talk about the making of that? Was that done during regular production of the film, or was that something that came up afterwards?

Aziz Ansari: We were having so much fun with Randy that I asked Judd if myself and Jason Woliner, a collaborator from Human Giant, could make those documentaries. He was into the idea and let us run wild with it. It was shot after production stopped and many people that worked on Funny People worked super hard to help us make it happen and Jason and I love them all very much. The version on the DVD actually has some extra bits that haven't been seen before and is actually one long piece that tracks Randy's journey to getting a spot on the Jimmy Kimmell Live. It also features appearances by two of my favorite people ever - Nick Offerman and Eric Edelstein

I remember they released the videos of that "documentary" online before the film came out and they were quite popular. It seems that there could almost be a spin-off film for Randy seeing as how popular he was. Would you be up for something like that and has it been discussed at all?

Aziz Ansari: Judd talked to us about the idea of doing a movie with him and urged us to come in with some pitches, including one about Randy. We came up with 3 ideas. One about two guys that work for a motivational speaking company, a second about two disgraced astronauts, and a third that was a take on Randy. After the meeting, Judd and Universal decided to buy all 3. We were stunned and it wasn't what we're expecting, but we're totally up for the challenge. Right now, we're developing all 3 ideas and trying to figure out which we'll go with first. Our experiences working with Judd and his team have been great so we are thrilled to work on a bigger project with them.

You have Get Him to the Gig, previously titled Get Him to the Greek, coming up. Can you talk about your character in that film, and what it was like working with Jonah Hill again and the hilarious Russell Brand?

Aziz Ansari: Jonah is a good friend and hands down one of the funniest dudes I've ever worked with. I have so much respect for that guy. I didn't get to do a lot of scenes with him until Greek and seeing him work is incredible. He's a pro and deserves all the success he's gotten and more. I didn't have any scenes with Russell, but I did work with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who also absolutely kills in this movie. I have the utmost respect for Sean as well. Think about it like this - I've been working hard for years to establish myself as a comedic actor and after this film is released, Sean will have done that in a much shorter period of time, in addition to creating a successful vodka and cologne. Not to mention, I've seen a photo of him riding a jet ski in a tuxedo. What a life.

I'm a big fan of Parks and Recreation and, of course, of Tom Haverford as well. Can you talk about what we can expect from Tom as far as his relationship with his wife is concerned, and if there might be an office fling for Tom in the near future? At this point in the season, does Tom see Leslie as more of a big sister, mother or perhaps a lonely aunt?

Aziz Ansari: Tom's divorce hits him pretty hard and we end up at the Glitter Factory. It's the episode airing this week and I think it should be great. Not sure about future romances at this moment, but I imagine that should be an interesting new direction for Tom. As far as his relationship with Leslie, I think she's kind of like a great, great aunt; which is how I joke to Rashida and Amy that I see them in real life.

It was also announced that Will Arnett would be stopping by Pawnee this season. Are there any other big guest stars you can tell us about for the rest of this season?

Aziz Ansari: At this point, just Will and Justin Theroux, both of whom are hilarious and very nice dudes.

Since you've written for TV before, I was wondering if we might see an Aziz Ansari-scripted episode of Parks down the line? Are there any other writing projects you're working on right now?

Aziz Ansari: No thanks, I prefer napping/eating snacks in my trailer when I'm not acting, as opposed to slaving away at a script. Truth be told, that would be really fun to do. Even though I'm not a writer, Mike and Greg are really cool about hearing any ideas we have for our characters and when we're on set, I always pitch Tom jokes to the writer on set and the director; so I feel a part of the process even as an actor. The only writing projects I'm working on now are the Apatow projects I mentioned above.

You have a brand new stand-up special coming out on DVD in January called Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Can you talk about some of the material you cover in the special, and if there are plans for future tours or stand-up specials?

Aziz Ansari: Its material I did on my Glow in the Dark standup tour. I talk about a bunch of stuff - thread counts in sheets, my chubby cousin Harris, and end with a special 10 minute Randy set that includes dancers, DJs, smoke, two minutes dedicated to making it rain. I'm still doing standup and working on new material to tour with in 2010, but with the shooting schedule of the show, it can be a difficult, slow moving process. I'd like to tour in 2010, it's just a matter of getting the set together. So far I have 25 new minutes I like, once I get it up to 45, I'll hit the road a little and then do a big tour in the Spring. That's the plan right now.

You can catch Aziz Ansari in Funny People, which is available on DVD and Blu-ray everywhere.

Aziz at Largo

LA STANDUP SHOW!

Aziz Ansari and Friends at Largo
Saturday, December 5th at 9pm
Call 310-855-0350 for reservations

Aziz is on FIRE!!!

I’m very excited to announce that Jason Woliner and I have sold 3 movies to Judd Apatow and Universal! I am attached to star and Jason will direct.

One idea is tentatively titled “Let’s Do This” and is a road movie about two guys that work for a motivational speaking company.

Another idea is about two disgraced astronauts who have to go back to space to clear their names.

And the other idea is a movie based around Randy, my character from “Funny People.”

We’re currently working on all three ideas now and haven’t decided which we will go with first.

Needless to say, we are very excited to be working with Judd on these projects. Unfortunately, this does however put Jason and I’s plan to remake Short Circuit 2 (with myself playing the Michael McKean role in a revolutionary new makeup technique called “peachface”) on hold indefinitely.

Hes like the Indian Brad Pitt!

In other smokin hot Aziz news...


AzizisBored:
Is it weird that I’m so psyched to be ranked higher than Tim Riggins on this list?? HAHAHAH! “Clear eyes! Full hearts! Can’t lose!” Oh wait, you did lose! TO ME RIGGINS!! HAHAHAH!

Aziz is SEXY!!!

Parks and Recreations very own Aziz Ansari has been honered along side Maxwell and John Stamos in People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive Issue. He is very excited:
Dear People Magazine,

Azizisbored:

Aziz Ansari, Maxwell, and John Stamos here. Thanks for including us in your Sexiest Man Alive issue. Coincidentally, in addition to being the sexiest men of our respective ages, we are also best friends. Maxwell brought the magazine to brunch over the weekend and we all got a nice kick out of it. So thank you. Sincerely,

Aziz Ansari, Maxwell, and John Stamos

Link:http://azizisbored.tumblr.com/post/254542247/dear-people-magazine-aziz-ansari-maxwell-and

Aziz named 10 best comedian of the decade!

Aziz Ansari secures a spot in Paste magazine’s best comedians of 2000-2009

Paste magazine published a top-ten list of the best comedians of the decade. At #10 is Aziz Ansari.

Here’s Aziz’s blurb:

With a cultishly popular MTV show (Human Giant), a flourishing stand-up career, a scene-stealing turn in Judd Apatow’s Funny People, and a blog he actually posts on regularly, it’s only fitting that twentysomething comic Aziz Ansari make our list. Whether he’s hanging with idol Kanye West or bloodying up Ted Leo as “Clell Tickle: Indie Marketing Guru,” Ansari stays connected to the music world while taking us all on the highway to the comedy zone. And watch out, entertainment journos; Ansari recently started writing articles for the likes of Interview. Besides, who else can lay claim to literally being the A to Z of comedy?

Congrats, Aziz!

The complete list:

1. Dave Chappelle
2. Zach Galifianakis
3. Patton Oswalt
4. Chris Rock
5. David Cross
6. Sarah Silverman
7. Ricky Gervais
8. Eugene Mirman
9. Mitch Hedberg
10. Aziz Ansari

*For the record Aziz, in my book you mop the floor with Dave Chappelle, Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman, and Mitch Hedberg. The rest you just dust with...