Goodbye Cuñados

I’m waving good bye to the Latinx Panel Show!

Every single Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales we ever put up was a blast.

We proved the concept over and over again: get Latinx comics and artists to play trivia games and everyone will have fun, including the audience.

Latinx content from Latinx creators is more important than ever right now.

I know what it feels like to be fetishized for my identity, to have my identity turned into a commodity, and to know the difference between people laughing with me and people laughing at me.

Because of these experiences (which there never seems to be in short supply) I know the importance of Latinx art form Latinx artists. If we don’t tell our stories, someone else will, and they’ll reinforce stereotypes and tired narratives that do nothing to progress our people in America.

So, yes, everytime we did this show it was a story. It was the story of six strangers becoming friends over trivia games.

It’s still a great concept, and I’ll return to it one day when I have the time, attention, and resources it needs to be its best version possible.

Thanks to all the past panelists, and to my origin co-creators, Joe Felix and Andy Lomeli.

Thank you to my latest co-producer, Karla Espino.

Thanks to my special guest co-host, Ammy Ontiveros, for help with this last one.

Thanks to our panelists for this last one: Carmen Scott, Ricky Prieto, CJ Villagómez, and Julio Urquidi.

Thanks to The Pack Theater for this past run.

And special thanks to my sister, Melissa Funes, for the artwork, and for all the help with the social media.

I’m either winning or I’m learning, and I learned a lot on this show.

#improv #latinxcomedy #packtheater #latinxcomedypachanga

Show 51 of 2023

My First Show of 2023!

Love these payasos. From left to right: Fernando A. Funes, Jared Lomeli, Elizabeth Covarrubias, Joe Salas, CJ Villagomez, Linzy Beltran.

Show No.1 of 2023 is in The Books!

First show of 2023 is in the books!
Thank you to these payasos chingones for playing on Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales, the Latinx Quiz Show!

And it was awesome to play at the Pack’s new home at The Broadwater!

The Latinx Comedy Pachanga will be back on Friday, January 20th for a special variety show at The Ledge Theater! See you then!

#improv #sketch #standup #quizshow #packtheater #latinxcomedy #latinxcomedypachanga

Show 1 of 2023

Latinx Panel Show This Sunday, May 22 at the Pack Theater

Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales Goes Live This Sunday, May 22 at 10pm.

Latinx Like to Talk

I grew up in a family of chatterboxes – everyone was always talking all the time about whatever.

I don’t know why it’s like that, but I have my theories.

– We live in large, intergenerational homes, so there’s just a lot of people living under one roof

– There wasn’t as many things competing for our attention nowadays as there used to be. And I’m talking pre-TV and radio. Or maybe you had one over the other

– There’s a rich history of oral history because the spoken word is an easy and proven way to keep our family stories alive

– Also, we’re a bunch of chismosos who like to talk shit about each other!

And that’s what we’re going to do this Sunday, May 22 at the Pack Theater at 10pm for Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales!

This is our Latinx Panel Show where we get a group of our favorite Latinx comedians and play trivia games – it’s a lot of fun!

We’re going to have

Diosa
Patrick Lopez
Burrito Lady Pam
Marquez

And hosted by the amazing Andy Lomeli and Joe Felix!

Join us!

#latinxwriter #latinxcomedy #latinxcomedypachanga #npr #waitwaitdonttellme #packtheater #standup #sketch #improv

I Just Did 5 Shows in 3 Days!

Reading poems at Gatsby Books in Long Beach, CA.

5 Shows in 3 Days!

I just did 5 shows in 3 days!

3 poetry shows (first time I’ve ever done that!)

1 improv show

1 Latinx panel show

Plus, I went to a Latinx Writers Meetup from La Lista Podcast and I bumped into a long lost comedy friend, Rafael, showrunner of the Sin Vervuenca Spanish Standup Show.

Here’s what I learned!

1. Poetry is forever

2. I’m grateful to CLI (Community Literature Initiative) for showing me that

3. You should share your poetry because you never know how it’s going to help someone, including inspiring them to write their own.

4. A poet’s job is to articulate shared universal pain by writing about their specific experiences

5. A space derives its power from its community

6. Like a spirit animating a body, a community breathes life into a space.

7. Poetry has to be read out loud, so I’m going to put up more poetry shows

8. La Lista Podcast has built a strong community of Latinx writers, and I’m grateful to Rubén Mendive for a creating a space for all of us to meet

9. It’s really cool to be part of an ensemble finding its style and voice.

10. I’m grateful for being on Nuisance and creating with them.

11. We had a really fun, bonkers practice, and I think bonkers is the sweet spot for my improv. We had a great show too.

12. Ryan Hitchcock is a good Improv coach. I highly recommend y’all hire him for your improv groups.

13. My long lost bud, Rafael, is a hella funny standup and showrunner. Good to see you, dude!

14. I’m really grateful for Joe Felix. He’s really grown as a co-producer for Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales. Dude is becoming a leader.

15. Andy Lomeli is a leading man, y’all. Dude has gravitas and then some.

16. Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales is coming along. I believe in this show.

17. Also, Menudo is so funny! Book them for your shows!

18. I will always love Richard Aaron, co-founder of the Latinx Comedy Pachanga.

19. Don’t be afraid to put your work out into the universe. You never know how it’s going to change someone, including yourself.

#poetry #bookman #taocomedystudio #gatsbybooks #packtheater #writer #producer #showrunner #improv #dazedandconfusedpoetryclub #cli #nuisance #latinxcomedypachanga #lalistapodcast