By Diego Linares
Holy Grounds Coffee & Tea served as a makeshift comedy club that hosted the show “Sleeping With Chloe and Mark” last Thursday in El Sereno.
The audience couldn’t help but laugh when comedian Jesus Trejo compared probable cause to a secret menu at a fast food restaurant.
“How do you want to be treated?” asks Trejo, imitating a police officer. “Animal style.”
Hosts Chloe McGovern and Mark Alexzandr have turned a coffee shop into a place where people who have been on shows like “Last Comic Standing” on NBC, online outlets like Funny or Die and in clubs like the Comedy Store could showcase their work.
“It’s really hard to find stage time in L.A,” said McGovern. “It’s nice to give (comedians) a good spot.”
Comedians Trejo, Logan Duntzelman, Dave Ross, Eric Dadourian, Marcella Arguello and Debra DiGiovanni all brought their personal styles and views, touching on topics like homophobia, gentrification, immigrant parents, the drought in California, Harry Potter fans and ducks on the Gold Line Metro Rail.
Each set was packed with material that ranged from silly puns to explicit sexual content.
McGovern and Alexzandr are not only hosts, they’re a duo working on bringing known entertainers to the east side of downtown Los Angeles.
“Chloe and I have a motto, and that’s to be as uncomfortable as possible when booking people,” said Alexzandr. “We want to book way above us and bring big people, but with that is the possibility that they’re not going to come.”
There were strong sets from comedians who’ve stepped on stage in front of a national audience as well as those who’ve performed for standing-in-only crowds.
DiGiovanni has seen some accomplishments in Canada and the United States, having won Best Stand-Up Newcomer at the Canadian Comedy Awards, and placed eighth when competing on the fifth season of “Last Comic Standing”.
Arguello brought experience as she’s opened for the likes of Norm McDonald and Hannibal Buress, while also having performed at venues like the Improv Comedy Clubs across California.
Both Arguello and Dadourian have been featured on Funny or Die, while Trejo has had some exposure on Comedy Central.
“(Mark and Chloe) started off small, but they’re dedicated.They’ve assumed the responsibility and have just run with it,” Steve Boland said, owner of Holy Grounds Coffee & Tea.