Messing With Texas: Comedy at SXSW

"Missing: 2/3rds of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Last seen wearing skinny jeans and converse, muttering something about 'South by…" something." The missing notice above (written totally by somebody else who is funny!) describes the state of all towns with a large hipster population (except Dallas – we'll climb on board in a week or so). If you or someone you know has headed south for Austin's annual music festival, be sure you and/or that someone you know is taking full advantage of the comedy events tucked away in a bar right around the corner from the Mexican restaurant. No, the other Mexican restaurant – across the street from that one. Here are some recommendations from Patton Oswalt, who as you may already know, had to cancel his own performance: "You comedy fans should still drop by the Red Seven on Friday and Saturday

. I mean, bands like Les Savy Fav, Apples in Stereo and Sloan are a terrific enough reason, but look at these f@cking comedians! David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Mirman, Brian Posehn, Michael Showalter, Laura Krafft, Jonah Ray, Leo Allen, Scott Aukerman, BJ Porter, Jon Benjamin, Jon Glaser, Aziz Ansari and Jamie Kennedy! You'll sh!t laughing turds from your happy-hole! Oh, and also, drop by Friends Bar Saturday night. The Human Giant Show. Because, I mean, The Human Giant."

After the Human Giant show, stick around Friends bar for more comedy from Tim [Heidecker] and Eric [Wareheim], co-creators of Tom Goes to the Mayor and Awesome Show, Great Job!. Finally, you may have missed the TV Comedy of Today panel, featuring writers from Family Guy and The Simpsons, but you can get a recap of their discussions on "the state of humor on televisions and their processes for creating animated comedies." Some pearls of insight scooped from the comedy clams: * The Simpsons Movie is somewhere between Sergeant Pepper’s album and Sergeant Pepper’s film. * Censors are worried about the crackpot group that will voice concerns. Political correctness is getting worse year over year. Network: “we get it but other won’t.” Networks are frightened entities. * Writer’s room is a hot house. Full range of ages. Absolutely rip each other apart. Everyone has to have a really thick skin. * Comedy writers tend to be very self-loathing. * How to get into comedy writing: be obsessed and follow a dream. Have talent and stick to it and something will happen. If you are well adjusted, it’s not for you. * Established rule that Homer can’t be dumber than a dog. But then had a weeklong debate about what kind of dog. * Bootlegging: can’t control it. Think it spreads the show to viewers on DVD & TV. Read the rest of the insight here! And find a full (seriously, Jesus!) list of SXSW shows here.