LA Weekly’s Best Of LA: NerdMelt

Housed in a comic store, NerdMelt hosts nightly experimental comedy shows, writing workshops, comic book Q&As and the occasional video game competition. But the staff won’t kick you out if you don’t like Star Wars. One of the reasons NerdMelt has a swelling band of followers is the inclusive nature of the community. At one recent MeltDown show, hosted by the irreverent boozers Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani, an audience member volunteered a story about how he went to a theme park with his friends and they deserted him at the park. His fellow audience members started chanting: “We would hang out with you! We would hang out with you!” Devoted audience members also are known to bring food to share with their fellow nerds and be some of the best-looking geeks in the city. After five minutes of a NerdMelt event with Dan Harmon (creator of NBC’s Community), Patton Oswalt or a whiskey-doused, hilarious up-and-coming comic sitting next to you, you’ll want to hang out here, too. 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd. (323) 851-7223, meltcomics.com. (Photo: Seth Olenick. Jonah Ray getting sensual. )

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