• Our own Graham Clark, co-host of Stop Podcasting Yourself, has launched my favorite web series of 2012 to-date: “Graham Clark Wilderness Man”. This is must-see internet.
• Eugene Mirman has announced that his first hour-long standup special, Eugene Mirman: An Evening of Comedy in a Fake Underground Laboratory will premiere on Comedy Central at midnight on Dec. 14th. Rumors are suggesting that it will include a theremin. If you’re in NYC, he’ll also be hosting a free simultaneous watching event / celebration at Bell House in Brooklyn.
• The State Department recently invited party-rocker Andrew WK to perform at the US Embassy in Manama. He quickly announced on his own website that he would be a “cultural ambassador” who would unite the human race “with love and partying.” But, sadly, it was not to be. The State Department, shortly after reviewing his “entire body of work” rescinded the invitation. Andrew tweeted later that he believed the trip had been cancelled solely "because I'm too party."
• Louis CK will release his fourth HBO special in early 2013. It will be filmed at one of the stops on his current tour. Good news for you folks without cable: he will eventually make it available as a $5 download from his website.

  

• Your long wait is over: here is Brandon Bird’s T-mas Card for 2012. Fa la la la la, Fool!
• Saddest comedy news of this holiday season: Wyatt Cenac is leaving the Daily Show. His last appearance will be on December 13th - the show’s last edition for this year.
• Happiest news: Both Key and Peele and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell have been renewed for another season.
• Bonus news: Hodgman on both 30 Rock AND the Daily Show this evening. Stay in. Make popcorn.

• Baron Vaughn released his debut album last week on AST Records. It's called "Raised by Cable".
• The Sklar Brothers will be releasing their third CD, "Hendersons and Daughters", on Sept. 13th.
• Eugene Mirman is hosting a science fair. The event will precede a taping of StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Kristen Schaal and the whole evening will be the kickoff event for Mirman's annual comedy festival. It's going down on the 15th at the Bell House in Brooklyn and Mirman is currently seeking out interesting inventions to display. So if you're a comedy fan and you've also created a unique and fascinating scientific-y thing that you can easily transport to Park Slope by Thursday . . . well, first, you are awesome. Second, you should probably drop Mirman a line.
• And finally, Charlyne Yi and Fred Armisen will appear in an upcoming episode of "Yo Gabba Gabba"! I'm guessing they get to keep the hats.

Here is a quick list of cities and venues where you can catch some face time with your favorite MaxFun performers during the coming week. Click on the name of the venue for ticket info.

• Bill Burr will be at Zanies in Nashville on August 18th, 19th and 20th.
• Doug Benson will be at the Acme Comedy Company in Minneapolis on August 16th, 17th and 18th.
• Jonathan Coulton will be performing while afloat on the Jewel, leaving Skyport Marina in NYC on August 19th.
• Kyle Kinane will be at the Slowdown in Omaha, NE on August 17th and at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls, SD on August 19th.
• Eugene Mirman is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his "Pretty Good Friends" show on August 21st at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Guests will include David Cross and A.D. Miles.
• Tig Notaro will be at the Comedy Bar in Toronto, ON (8/16), in Montreal, QC at La Sala Rossa (8/17), in New Haven, CT at Cafe Nine (8/18) and in Allston, MA at Great Scott (8/19).
• Michael Ian Black will be at the Impov in Louisville, KY on August 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st.
• Greg Proops will performing at the Pittsburgh Improv on August 19th.
• Marc Maron will be at the Playboy Club in Vegas on August 18th, 19th and 20th.
• Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald will be performing "Two Kids, One Hall" at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse in Arlington, VA on August 19th and 20th.

From time to time, of course, there are shows which are likely to be so popular that I wouldn't recommend waiting until the week of the performance to buy tickets. I'll list one or two of those separately each week. Buy now:

• John Waters is doing a one-man show called "This Filthy World" at Salt Lake City's Jeanne Wagner Theater on Oct. 13th.

Comedian and podcaster Doug Benson is releasing his third album for Comedy Central, called "Potty Mouth", on August 30th. Usually, I favor digital downloads for my music and comedy, but I've pre-ordered the CD of this performance because it will ship with a bonus DVD that includes all six episodes of "The Benson Interruption". The "Interruption", for those who missed it when it aired, featured Doug sitting in a chair onstage and making digs or observations while another comedian performs. The resulting banter and one-upmanship kept the show lively and fun. Below is a clip featuring one of the show's recurring bits, "Tweet Off", with Michael Ian Black.

And here is Eugene Mirman discussing an awkward search for food while on the road in Pennsylvania.

While you are waiting for your CD to arrive, you should check out Doug's cinephile podcast, Doug Loves Movies.

• A preview of the upcoming animated show Bob's Burgers will air on Fox on Thanksgiving night. Bob's Burgers follows Bob and his family, who run a burger joint. Four of the five main characters are voiced by alums of The Sound: comedy writer H. Jon Benjamin, comedians Dan Mintz and Eugene Mirman and actress and comedian Kristen Schaal.
  
  
• An HBO special, Talking Funny, featuring comedians talking about comedy, is in the works with Louis CK alongside other greats like Ricky Gervais.
  
  
• Writer, actor and comedian David Wain has a new project, Cartoon Show, in development with IFC. The show "follows a large cast of iconic cartoon characters as they struggle to produce a daily variety TV show."
  
  
• Writer Harmon Leon visits one of the cultural sites of California's Interstate 5 highway, Pea Soup Andersen's. It is not what he is expecting.
  
  
• And finally, a new video from art rock band Les Savy Fav for their song "Let's Get Out of Here". Lead singer Tim and guitarist Seth joined us for a special set of songs at the live WNYC show a few weeks back, so look forward to a podcast of their set to be posted tomorrow!

The College Years is a look deep into the vaults of The Sound of Young America. Take a journey with us every week as we post a new program or two from our salad days.

Today's theme: Free Form

To begin the show, Jesse speaks with Tom Scharpling. Known for his writing on shows such as Tom Goes to the Mayor and Monk. Tom talks about his radio programme, The Best Show on WFMU. Why don't you become Tom's friend?

Next up on this episode, Eugene Mirman! Listen as Eugene shares memories of childhood alienation and loneliness. Meanwhile, Jesse talks about Gallagher. If you're feeling lonely and don't want to listen to another Gallagher album, pick up some of Eugene's hilarious work.