Watch Big News Episode 318: Large Information: “Old Wine, New Bottles”

Thursday, June 18, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: "George Bush", A Whole New World, Aladdin, Alan Lebetkin, America's Next Top Model, Americorps, Barack Obama, Beyonce, Blackberry, Brian Smalls, Brian Vestal, Bristol Palin, Carrie Prejean, Christopher Biewer, Craigslist, Craigslist Killer, Dick Cheney, Dr. Phil, Erich Eilenberger, gay marriage, George Caleodis, Gitmo, Guantanamo Bay, Hillary Clinton, Iran, James Jones, Jason Kelley, Jed Alexander, Joe Biden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Kipleigh Brown, Kristina Adelmeyer, Larry King, Levi Johnston, Lindsay Lohan, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad, Matt Blitz, Matt Moore, Megan McAllister, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Miss California, Miss USA, national security advisor, National Service Act, Peabo Bryson, Philip Markoff, Phillip Wilburn, piracy, pirates, Ray Stakenas, Regina Belle, Robert Gates, Ron West, Single Ladies, Somali pirates, Stephen Hawking, Tammie Smalls, Tom Repetto, Top Story Weekly, torture, waterboarding

It was the last Big News ever! But if you enjoy sketch comedy that’s drawn from the headlines, don’t despair – every Sunday at 9 at iO West, you can catch a brand new episode of Top Story! Weekly, with an all-new collection of sketches based upon the news of the previous seven days! And if you can’t get to the theater, you can watch every episode of Top Story! Weekly online!

BIG NEWS EPISODE 318: Large Information: “Old Wine, New Bottles”

Starring Christopher Biewer, Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Jason Kelley, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Ray Stakenas, Tammie Smalls, Ray Stakenas, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Alan Lebetkin

Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 317: “Topic Thunder”

Thursday, June 18, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: A Prairie Home Companion, Adam Fisher, Alan Thicke, Andrew Motion, Applebee's, April 15, Artemis Pebdani, Billy Greer, bo, Britain’s Got Talent, C'mon Ride It (The Train), Captain Phillips, Car Talk, Carry On Wayward Son, Chesley Sullenberger, Click and Clack, Cuba, Danny Ricker, Davenport, Desi Arnaz, Doug White, East Moline, Elmo, Erich Eilenberger, Ethel, Flight 1549, flooding, Fred, Garrison Keillor, Gregg Lopez, I Love Lucy, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Ira Glass, Jay Starr, Jim Coughlin, Jim Nieb, Joanna Quraishi, John Madden, K-Fed, Kansas, Kevin Federline, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Moline, North Dakota, NPR, Oklahoma, Paul Potts, Phillip Wilburn, piracy, pirates, poet laureate, Quad City DJ's, Ray Magliozzi, Ricky, River City North Dakota, Rock Island, Rod Blagojevich, Roxana Saberi, Sean Cowhig, Shamwow, Steve Walsh, Sully, Susan Boyle, Tappet Brothers, Tax Day, teabaggers, teabagging, This American Life, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, Tom Magliozzi, Tom Repetto, Topic Thunder, Tropic Thunder, United Airlines, Vince Offer, Vince Shlomi, Virginia Madden, Vivian Vance, weight limits on planes, William Frawley

BIG NEWS EPISODE 317: “Topic Thunder”

Starring Sean Cowhig, Adam Fisher, Gregg Lopez, Matt Moore, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Danny Ricker and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Jim Coughlin

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 316: “The iO’Reilly Factor”

Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: Abdullah Gul, Allison Reynolds, Ally Sheedy, Amy Scott, Andrew Clark, Anthony Michael Hall, Armenia, Armenian genocide, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Billy Bob Thorton, Bosley, Brian Johnson, Bristol Palin, Charlie's Angels, Claire Standish, David Doyle, Don't You Forget About Me, earthquake, Easter, Easter Bunny, Emilio Estevez, Farrah Fawcett, Flavor Flav, genocide, George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Italian earthquake, Italy, Jaclyn Smith, Jason Kelley, jesus, Jimmy Guidish, Joaquin Phoenix, Joe Biden, John Bender, John Hallmann, John Hughes, Judd Nelson, Julia Gaudette, K-Fed, Kal Penn, Kanye West, Kate Jackson, Kevin Federline, Kipleigh Brown, L'Aquila, Leon Panetta, Levi Johnston, Lindsay Lohan, marshmallow Peeps, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Molly Ringwald, Musicians Roundtable, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Neil Garguilo in his underwear, Peeps, piracy, pirates, Pookie, Rahm Emanuel, Ringo Starr, Scott Garner, Sean Cowhig, Shashi Bhatia, Simple Minds, Somali pirates, Somalia, Stevie Nicks, The Breakfast Club, Tom Repetto, Tommy Bechtold, turkey, Tyra Banks, VH1, VH1 Classic, Watchmen, White House Easter egg hunt, Young Turks

BIG NEWS EPISODE 316: “The iO’Reilly Factor”

Starring Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Sean Cowhig, Bailee DesRocher, Neil Garguilo, Jimmy Guidish, Matthew Harris, Jason Kelley, Gregg Lopez and Artemis Pebdani

Special Guest: Shashi Bhatia

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 315: The Skituation Room: “G20, Blagojevich 16″

Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennie Arthur, Bert the Chimney Sweep, Big Stan, Brian Vestal, Buckingham Palace, Carl Showalter, Chicago White Sox, college admissions, Daphne Moon, David Cook, Dick Van Dyke, Donald Trump, Dora the Explorer, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, ER, Erich Eilenberger, Fargo, flooding, Frances McDormand, Frasier, Frasier Crane, Friends, G20, Gaear Grimsrud, General Motors, George Caleodis, GM, Gordon Brown, Gregg Lopez, Hamburgler, Hillary Clinton, Jane Leeves, Jason Alexander, Jerry Lundegaard, Jim Nieb, John Hallmann, Kelsey Grammer, Kim Jong-il, Kipleigh Brown, Kristina Adelmeyer, Lisa Kudrow, Marge Gunderson, Matt Manser, Matthew Harris, McDonald's, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michael Vick, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama touches the Queen, Mike Funt, Nicolas Sarkozy, Noah Wyle, Ozzie Guillen, Peter Soby Jr., Peter Stormare, Phillip Wilburn, Phoebe Buffay, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, Rahm Emanuel, Rick Wagoner, Rocket Man, Rod Blagojevich, Ron West, Rush Limbaugh, seinfeld, Steve Buscemi, Steve Stone, The Apprentice, The Skituation Room, Tim Geithner, Timothy Geithner, UCSD, University of California at San Diego

BIG NEWS EPISODE 315: THE SKITUATION ROOM: “G20, BLAGOJEVICH 16″

Starring Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Bailee DesRocher, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Mike Funt

Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 314: “Hope Floats?”, with Nicholas D’Agosto and Aaron Krebs!!

Friday, June 12, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, The Biz with Leave a Comment
Tags: "George Bush", Aaron Krebs, Al Gore, Alaska, Andy Nordvall, Artemis Pebdani, Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Christopher Biewer, Chuck Norris, CNN, Current TV, David Crosby, Dead and Gone, economic crisis, Ed Salazar, Elijah Suleman, Facebook, farting, farts, Fired Up, George Caleodis, George Foreman, George Foreman grill, Gregg Lopez, I Love L.A., Jade Goody, Jason Kelley, Jimmy Guidish, Julia Gaudette, Just Dance, Justin Timberlake, Kim Jong-il, Lady GaGa, Lakeview Florida, Laura Ling, marijuana, Matt Blitz, medical marijuana, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Nadia Suleman, Natasha Richardson, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Nicholas D'Agosto, North Korea, Octo-Mom, Octomom, Phillip Wilburn, Poker Face, Ray Stakenas, Rod Blagojevich, Sarah Palin, T.I., The Situation Room, Tom Repetto, volcanos, WLS, Wolf Blitzer

Back in March, Nicholas D’Agosto, star of the hit film “Fired Up,” and Aaron Krebs, one of the great teachers at iO West (and one of the folks behind the new M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater just off the Santa Monica Promenade), guested with our cast in a show that turned out to be one of our favorites – and one that you can now watch in the comfort of your own home!

In this episode:

- President Obama’s Internet press conference reaches new highs!
- Wolf Blitzer finds the Situation Room’s musical segues are “dead and gone!”
- A Florida school board deals with an explosive situation involving a student suspension!
- Current TV’s Laura Ling gets some big help to get out of a North Korean prison!
- Rod Blagojevich goes on Chicago radio and interviews Lady GaGa!
- The Octo-Mom meets her sperm donor!
- Bobby Jindal fights volcano monitoring in Alaska!
- George Foreman brings a struggling family a way to fight their financial woes!
- Kim Jong-Il tells George Bush why he loves North Korea!
- Plus the comedy of Ed Salazar!
- And Nick and Christopher debate deficit spending!

“Hope Floats?”

Starring Christopher Biewer, George Caleodis, Nicholas D’Agosto, Neil Garguilo, Jimmy Guidish, Jason Kelley, Aaron Krebs, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, and Phillip Wilburn

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 313: “Town Hall of Presidents”

Friday, June 12, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: abstinence, AIG, Antonio Villaraigosa, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Ben Bernanke, Boots the Monkey, Bristol Palin, Chachi, Charles Nelson Reilly, Dan Reber, Dora the Explorer, Dr. John Casson, economic crisis, Ed Salazar, Erich Eilenberger, Facebook, Federal Reserve, Fonzie, George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Hannah Gansen, Happy Days, health care, I Love You Man, James Warfield, Jay Leno, Jim Nieb, Jimmy Guidish, Joanie Cunningham, Joe Biden, John Hallmann, Julia Gaudette, Kara DioGuardi, KJ Middlebrooks, March Madness, Marion Cunningham, Match Game, Matt Moore, medical marijuana, Melissa Okey, Mrs. C., myspace, NCAA Tournament, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Neil Garguilo in his underwear, new Facebook, Nickelodeon, Obama on Jay Leno, Obama town hall meeting, Paula Abdul, Peter Soby Jr., Phillip Wilburn, Ponzi scheme, Pope Benedict, Potsie, Rahm Emanuel, Ralph Malph, Randy Jackson, Richie Cunningham, Rick Paulas, Ron West, Ryan Seacrest, sexual frustration, Simon Cowell, Swiper, Taylor Swift, The Barney Frank Show, Tom from MySpace, Tom Repetto, town hall, town hall meeting, Twitter, VI, William Shakespeare

BIG NEWS EPISODE 313: “Town Hall of Presidents”

Starring George Caleodis, Bailee DesRocher, Neil Garguilo, Jimmy Guidish, Gregg Lopez, KJ Middlebrooks, Matt Moore, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Hannah Gansen

Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 312: “7800 Weekends at Bernie’s” with Nick Bush!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: Alec Baldwin, Anne Murray, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Ben Boodman, Bernie Madoff, Bert, blue penis, Bo Vine, Chris Brown, Corey Hart, Dr. Manhattan, economic crisis, Ernie, Geddy Lee, Glengarry Glen Ross, Gregg Lopez, Grover, Hillary Clinton, Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Jeff Cosgrove, Joanna Quraishi, Julia Gaudette, K-Fed, Kevin Federline, Kids' Choice Awards, Kipleigh Brown, Lindsay Lohan, March Madness, Matt Blitz, Matt Champagne, Matt Moore, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, NCAA Tournament, Neil Garguilo, Neil Peart, Nick Bush, Nickelodeon, Peter Soby Jr., Phillip Wilburn, Pookie, Popozao, Rachael Drummond, Ray Stakenas, Rhianna, Rush, Rush Limbaugh, Scott Garner, Sean Cowhig, Sesame Street, Sesame Street layoffs, stem cell research, stem cells, Sunglasses at Night, the Count, Tom Repetto, Viacom, Watchmen, Weekend at Bernie's

BIG NEWS EPISODE 312: “7800 Weekends at Bernie’s”

Starring Kipleigh Brown, Nick Bush, Sean Cowhig, Bailee DesRocher, Rachael Drummond, Neil Garguilo, Matthew Harris, Gregg Lopez, Artemis Pebdani, Ray Stakenas and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Matt Champagne

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 311: “There’s a Kind of Rush All Over the World”

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: Phillip Wilburn, Barack Obama, Al Franken, CIA, Rush Limbaugh, Republicans, Karl Rove, Artemis Pebdani, Gregg Lopez, Christopher Biewer, Barbara Bush, Robin Williams, Brian Vestal, Jimmy Hoffa, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Hughes, Vince Cramer, Kipleigh Brown, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Repetto, George Caleodis, Adam Fisher, Danny Ricker, Oakland Raiders, Elizabeth II, Detroit Lions, Greg Shouse, Rod Blagojevich, Michael Steele, GOP, Judd Gregg, Secretary of Commerce, Commerce Secretary, Corey Smith, Matthew Harris, Republicans apologize to Michael Steele, Norm Coleman, Patricia Heaton, Back to You, Phil Gingrey, Queen Elizabeth II, The Bachelor, Jason Mesnick, Molly Maloney, Animal Planet, Julia Annelise von Arb, Chirstopher Cross, Michael McDonald, wind power, Amelia Earhardt, Marquis Cooper, torture tapes, Stone Phillips, Dateline NBC, Fran Drescher, Fool's Gold, The Nanny, Will Bleakley, Fort Benning, army recruiting, American citizenship, Phoeni, Books, Tintern Abbey, Wordsworth, Endangered Species Act

BIG NEWS EPISODE 311: “There’s A Kind of Rush All Over the World”

Starring Kipleigh Brown, Christopher Biewer, George Caleodis, Adam Fisher, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Gregg Lopez, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Danny Ricker, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Ron Babcock

Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 310: “A New Page for the GOP”

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: "George Bush", Adam Fisher, Alan Greenspan, Ame, American E, Apple, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Artemis Pebdani, Bacon Brothers, Barack Obama, Bernie Madoff, Bobby Jindal, Brian Vestal, California drought, Chelsey Sullenberger, credit cards, drought, early release of prisoners, economic crisis, Erich Eilenberer, Flight 1549, George Caleodis, godfather, He's Just Not That Into You, ipod, Jason Nash, Jim Nieb, K-Fed, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Federline, Kipleigh Brown, Kyle Isao, Matthew Harris, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Muzak, Nadya Suleman, Octo-Mom, Octomom, offenders, Paul Krugman, pendables, Phil Spector, Phillip Wilburn, Pompeii, Popozao, porn, pornography, Press, Rick Paulas, Se, Sean Cowhig, Slumdog Millionaire, state of the union, Stephen Villa, Steve Jobs, Sully, Survivor, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The E, Tom Repetto, Vesuvius, Vivid Entertainment, volcanos, Zsa Zsa Gabor

BIG NEWS EPISODE 310: “A New Page for the GOP”

Starring Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Sean Cowhig, Adam Fisher, Matthew Harris, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn

Special Guest: Jason Nash

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 309: “Red Carpet Remnants”

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video with Leave a Comment
Tags: 'N Sync, 2009 Academy Awards, 2009 Oscars, Academy Awards, Alan Colmes, Andrew Dice Clay, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Artemis Pebdani, Barack Obama, Bristol Palin, Britney Spears, California budget, California budget crisis, cat fucking, Celebrity Apprentice, Cialis, Darrell Steinberg, Dave Co, Dennis Rodman, Don't Stop the Music, Donald Trump, Doublemint Gum, Erik Charles Nielsen, Erik Hoffstad, Flo-rida, Fo, Greg Shouse, Hannity and Colmes, Harry Reid, Heath Ledger, Huggies, Jason Kelley, Jimmy Guidish, Joan Rivers, Joe Jonas, Joey Fatone, John Boehner, John Hallmann, Jonas Brothers, Julia Gaudette, Kate Winslet, Kevin Jonas, Kings of Leon, Kristina Adelmeyer, Levi Johnston, Lisa Rinna, Low, Matt Manser, Matthew Harris, McDonald's, Melissa Okey, Melrose Place, Michael Hughes, Milk, News, Nick Jonas, Now That's What I Call Music, on Fire, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, Oscars, Penelope Cruz, Queen Latifah, Ray Stakenas, Rihanna, Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris, Ron West, Sarah Palin, Se, Sean Cowhig, Sean Hannity, Sean Penn, Tammie Smalls, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, The Reader, The Situation with Erik Charles Nielsen, Tim Geithner, Tom Green, Tom Repetto, Will Weldon, Womanizer, Wrigley's

Our Oscar Night Show!

BIG NEWS EPISODE 309: “Red Carpet Remnants”

Starring Sean Cowhig, Jimmy Guidish, Jason Kelley, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, and Tammie Smalls

Special Guest: Will Weldon

Directed by Ron West