The Nerdmelt Showroom Logo (@nerdmelt/Instagram)

True Talk Comedy aims to provide a brief, but intensive breakdown of how each theatre stacks up in regards to the quality of its performers and material, as well as what sets it apart from the rest. And unlike “Whose Line is it Anyway,” the points do matter.

An Introduction

Tucked neatly within the outskirts of Sunset Boulevard lies Meltdown Comics. A fresh and expansive comic shop with everything from the mega popular Marvel comics to the also hugely popular DC comics. Alright, so I may not know much about comic books, but that’s alright, because today we are not talking about comics. Instead, we’re focusing on the shop within the shop. A small, black room behind the sizable comic store is where the Nerdmelt Showroom holds its domain.

Poignant with the smells of fearful up-and-coming comedians and the stench of the comedic elite, Nerdmelt has a something for everyone. A great and convenient spot, Nerdmelt provides everything from stand-up to podcasts and so much in between. This comedy club leaves spectators with a completely unique experience every night of the week. Founded by Chris Hardwick (@Midnight and the Nerdist Podcast) and Hannah Kyle Chrichton (Program Director for Nerdmelt), the Nerdmelt Showroom gives the persona of an independent theatre with A-list performers.

The Breakdown

Jonah Ray, Blink 182's Mark Hoppus, Beth Stelling, & guest host Sean O'Connor. (Photo by Katherine Leon)

The Meltdown Showroom does a terrific job of enlisting the hottest comedians in the business into performing on their stage. Daniel Tosh, Aziz Ansari, and Sara Schaefer have all graced the stage at different points in their careers. Nerdmelt has also built up a strong list of podcasts that record monthly or bi-monthly. “Doug Loves Movies" (Created by Doug Benson) and “Proopcast" (Created by Greg Proops) are two podcasts currently dominating the Nerdmelt space. Both bringing in unique audience experiences that transcend the ordinary or derived.

“Doug Loves Movies” hosts three celebrity guests and a whole lot of movie references. From rom-coms such as “Shallow Hall” to big budget action flicks like “Transformers,” “Doug Loves Movies” contains tons of laughs and a very immediate and personal experience. And this feeling of intimateness with the performers thrives in more than just “Doug Loves Movies.”

SEE ALSO: True Talk Comedy: Speaking Indie With 'The Improv Space'

The nature of the stage and the feelings of comfort that the performers evoke brings the audience into the action. This was never more prevalent than in “Beta Test w/ Chris Hardwick.” During this 90-minute comedy show, two stand-up comedians and Chris Hardwick take to the stage for 30-minute sets. During these sets the performers try out all new material to gauge audience reactions. The jokes are not always timed properly and much of it will never make it into an actual performance. However, the electricity that is elicited from the audience and performers throughout the show is something that cannot be fully expressed or felt anywhere else in California. Chris Hardwick has masterfully created an atmosphere of acceptance and excitement. The audience openly laughs at jokes that work and move on from those jokes that don’t. Many of the audience members are regulars to the Nerdmelt Showroom creating a vibe that almost feels familial. This atmosphere is felt through the whole night and is exhibited during all Nerdmelt shows, stripping away the barrier of performer and audience, giving a beautiful honesty to the jokes and stories told. 

The Nerdmelt Showroom does have an every-other-Monday open mic show. 25 comics are drawn from a hat along with five names being drawn for the following week with a guaranteed spot. The open mic is run rather well with two great hosts, Kyle Clark and John Ungaro. Only one stipulation, and this should be expected at all open mics, if you show up for a spot, you should stay until the end. Alright, this is not a Nerdmelt rule, but it’s common decency and makes all open mics a whole lot better. Support those who are performing and you’ll get support as well.

Comedic Ideas and General Themes: 5

The Nerdmelt Showroom has shows for nearly everyone. Each show’s content spans social critiques (Most stand-up shows), marijuana (Doug Loves Movies), and terrible films (Horrible Movie Night). “Harmontown” (Stars Dan Harmon, creator of “Community”), constantly shifts in tone and experience from show to show while still providing for a lot of laughs. Occasionally Dan Harmon, Jeff B. Davis, and friends will play “Dungeons and Dragons” on stage (Relayed in great detail by a kind man who frequents Nerdmelt) or freestyle rap (Mentioned in show description), Dan Harmon touches on a range of subjects that cross gender and age. The main audience of Nerdmelt is primarily young adults, however, older adults will still enjoy many of the shows provided. Nerdmelt is not particularly child friendly, but rather than seeing a show, I’m sure that any kid would greatly enjoy walking through Meltdown Comics for a while.

Musical comedy duo Erin and Melissa in "Movember 2014" (Photo by Katherine Leon)

The only aspect of the Nerdmelt experience that may be viewed as negative or ungratifying would be the amount of experimental comedy that is prevalent. It’s a lot, but if you are aware of what you’re getting yourself into, this can be much more of a gift than a curse. Comedy can become a stiff and rehearsed medium if the audience is only ever exposed to the planned jokes and expected deliveries. Many of the best moments in comedy arise when things do not go as planned, when a stand-up comic veers off course or an improviser gives an insane offer. These jokes may not be where the show was supposed to head, but that’s the beauty of it. Comedy should be fluid and open to the elements of the room. Nerdmelt has very little in the way of rehearsed or scripted performance. Many of the stand-up comedians have set material, but it is all in the early stages and they are still working on the delivery, giving opportunities for improv. The other shows that work off of the podcast mentality or similar panel exercises also provide mostly unscripted dialogue that only exists in the moment of its creation. This improv-esque feel will really work for many audience members, giving a different comedic feel than they can get at any large scale comedy clubs. But it may not work for those who are fans of the well-polished shows of professional theatres. The Nerdmelt Showroom has plenty to keep audiences entertained, but spectators should be prepared for anything.

TOTAL SCORE: 13

Final Thoughts

A small, relatively close comedy club full of great experiences and wonderful atmosphere, Nerdmelt really delivers on a night to night basis. After you find parking (Which isn’t too bad if you check around the nearby neighborhoods) the rest of the viewing process is easy and a ton of fun. Plus, you may just re-find your favorite childhood comic (“Captain Underpants”). Out of a total possible score of 15 points, the Nerdmelt Showroom exits with a combined score of 13 points, earning the ranking of “The Hidden, Hilarious Hipster.”

The NerdMelt Showroom is located at Meltdown Comics (7522 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046). For information about upcoming shows visit NerdMeltLA.com

Contact Staff Reporter Casey James Dunn here.

For more Theater & Dance coverage click here.