Badmash, Drew Carey, Sheetal Sheth, and Karma

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Last night I went to the sold out Badmash Comedy Night in West Hollywood. The Badmash guys (Sanjay Shah, Sandeep Sood, Nimesh Patel, and Aron Bothman) are going to be putting on a recurring comedy night in LA (next one is on February 9th), which brings together both South Asian and non-South Asian comics. This is a smart mix. Audiences get tired of a whole night full of desi comedy, with only desi “insider” jokes. The comics end up competing with each other over who will use the same hackneyed “aunty joke” first. Some of the best new South Asian comics that perform here in LA are already moving away from such played-out routines. Their jokes are well balanced and appeal to a general audience, which is key for long term success. Badmash is trying to foster this new talent.

Continue reading this post to learn the sad real life story behind this picture

Sanjay was recently quoted in a Newsweek article about young comics using the internet to launch their careers:

[The internet] has also allowed Sanjay Shah, 28, and his friends to find an audience unserved by traditional TV. For the last few years, their weekly South Asian-themed animations–like an Indian spoof of “The Simpsons” ‘s opening theme–have drawn millions of visitors to his site, Badmash.org. “I look at the Internet right now as the incubator, the RD department for traditional channels,” Shah says.

I actually attended the comedy night as “Press.” One problem. The batteries in my camera died just as the show began. THIS folks is why I am a mere blogger and not a journalist. I’d make a sorry excuse of a journalist. It was quite unfortunate, because none other than Sheetal Sheth was in the audience. The night was co-sponsored by Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, which was plugged throughout the night. Also performing was a surprise guest. Mr. Cleveland himself, Drew Carey, was in the house. His jokes are a lot dirtier in person than you would think from watching him on television. Comedian Jo Koy was on fire. Good stuff.

As much as I complain about life in LA, THIS is why I do like living here. Everyone desi you meet in LA has a thing that they do on the side. They have their main job, career, or way to pay the bills, and then they have their “side thing.” The truly brave ones make their “side thing” their main thing. I’ve always felt that life would suck unless you have “a side thing,” going at all times. You should, at all moments of your life, be pursuing something that you will probably fail at. Speaking of which…

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p> So as I am leaving the show I run into my friend (let’s call him Arun to keep his real identity safe).

Arun: “Hey Abhi. I’ve been reading Sepia Mutiny. You’ve been blogging about my friend Sheetal. Here, why don’t you meet her.”

Abhi: “Uhhh…” [cornered like a mouse about to be killed softly]

Sheetal: [with sweet, sexy, coy look] “What? You’ve been blogging about me? Good things I hope?? [flutter eyelash]

Abhi: [turning so red that my brown skin appeared sepia] “Oh yeah, I promise. I swear. I’m really a nice guy. I’m so embarrassed right now.”

I don’t remember the rest of the conversation because all the blood had leaked out of my brain and into my cheeks. Abhi’s Rule of Blogging number one: NEVER blog about a girl’s breasts. NEVER! There is just nowhere to go from there people. You don’t have a leg to stand on. Nothing you can say will impress her at that point. You are like a little bunny and she is like a big bear. Rrrrrrrrr. That brings me to Abhi’s Rule of Blogging number two: If you do blog about a beautiful girl, then say only nice things. That’s right all you non-believers. Karma is real. I thought she was foooooine just the way she was and said so in my previous post. It turns out she is a sweetheart also.

At the after party I ran into Arun again. He said I should ask Sheetal if I could take a picture with her. I didn’t know if she wanted some random guy blogger to take a picture with her, but I did want to ask. Not for me but…for…the readers. See how hard I work for you all? Only one problem. Remember?? My camera battery had died! Damn the cruel hand of fate that mocks me so. All I had was my camera phone. Even then I was foiled. I don’t have the Sprint Picture Phone service, so there was no way for me to get the picture off of my phone. Sprint PCS better read this shit and call me. I could be their new spokesperson. THIS is why you need their service. The ghetto-ass result of my night is the picture above. It is a picture of me with Sheetal. Yeah, I know. It is so fuzzy that it could be any girl and I could be making this whole thing up. I swear it played out just like I’ve said.

See folks, this is karma. I could have gotten slapped if I were a hater, but instead I got a conversation and a picture with a beautiful girl.

Blog Life till I die.

37 thoughts on “Badmash, Drew Carey, Sheetal Sheth, and Karma”

  7. Note to everyone: Always clean the little lens on your camera phone! Had I done that, I would have something better than an extremely blurry picture with Aishwarya Rai.

  9. No seriously. It was like the funniest thing ever to watch play out in person. Seriously.

    To hear Nimo say, “And today we have a special guest in the audience promoting her latest movie- Sheetal Sheth” and then turning to see the blood completely drain from Abhi’s face was so worth it. Made my week.

    I can’t WAIT to hear what “Yo, Dad” has to say about this.

  10. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaha OMG serves you right Tripathi. Talking about a girls boobies and then having to look at them. Did you try hard NOT to look at them the whole time?????

    I had a weird Sheetal encounter once. She picked up my scarf which had fallen on the floor and handed it to me at a random Starbucks in NYC. And all I could think of the whole time was “Damn where do I know that girl from”. Of course I figured out who she was way too late to say “You are Sheetal?” (Indian istyle)

  11. Abhi God Bless You Dude!! This is the funniest post ever!! And such a great story!!

    You are The Man!!

  14. abhi, thanks for the post — and for not telling everyone that i ate it on stage last night! everyone has off nights, and last night was my turn. thank god drew carey showed up and saved my ass.

    if any of you attended, i’d love feedback on any aspect of the event. badmash will be doing a regular gig at the hollywood improv and i want to make sure we’re doing a good job.

    also, if you know of any innovative desi comics whose range extends beyond curry and accent jokes, please pass their names along. thanks and hope to see some of the mutiny folks at the next show!

    sanjay from badmash

    ps – abhi, read your boob post prior to the show and was waiting to see the hilarity ensue. thanks for documenting what i missed.

  15. Abhi: Last night sometime after midnite (East Coast time) I remember calling you – and there you were at this comedy club. Before I had a chance to ask you, what you were doing at comedy club, you said “Dad guess what just happened? About two seconds ago I met the girl I blogged about – Sheetal Sheth ” I thought you were pulling a fast one on me, then I realized from the background noise that you may be telling the truth. Anyways, what goes around, comes around. Are’nt you glad you only said good things about her? You could have bled all night – had you said nasty things about her, and then face her in person. I Hope that taught you a lesson – Always focus on the study – rather than female anatomy -………Seriously, get that PhD and go boldly where no man has ever gone……Mars or Pluto or somewhere……..Love…..Dad

  17. God bless YOU Sanjay for not giving Abhi the heads up that Sheetal was going to be there.

    You are a true comic genius.

  19. Always focus on the study – rather than female anatomy

    This is the funniest thing I’ve read all week. Abhi, your dad should be doing stand-up!

  20. All I had was my camera phone. Even then I was foiled. I donÂ’t have the Sprint Picture Phone service, so there was no way for me to get the picture off of my phone.

    You can try this.

  22. Abhi, I recommend a quick hack-job to correct any such mistakes. Remove the post with a simple — ‘removed by moderator’. Or just claim an anonymous guest blogger had written the post hide in your bunker in North Dakota. That’s because I imagine that ND is just a tad less chilly that your current social scene in West Hollywood 🙂

  23. Great post Abhi! Your angst made the monitor flicker.

    I donno about the foto though, that “girl” looks more like Vinod (in a wig) with 5 O’clock shadow.

  27. Abs, you’re a genius, bro. That shiznit cracked me up. Even your dad’s comments made me laugh! keep up the absolutely great work. Haters will hate n remember: there ain’t no jokin when it comes to pokin’…

  29. I think all the east coast people just got west coast envy.

    Just a technical question: can’t you forward the photo to an email address as a ‘pix message’? You can on Verizon…

  30. oh god abhi, i’m dying of laughter.. this post is one of the cream de la creams….

    karma is real…as they say in ‘my name is earl’…gotta start one of those lists abhi….. otherwise it will bite you in the arse 😉

  32. Always focus on the study – rather than female anatomy.

    OMG best thing I’ve heard in 2006. I am in stitches. This post is SM’s top 10 post. Dad rocks. I request a duo act with Sheetal in the audience.

  33. Oh, Abhi, the lengths you go to for us.

    And what a coincidence this post is, right on the heels of my watching the Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World trailer and wondering what a Sheetal Sheth is. Now we know, even if a bit hazy and pixelated.

  34. Thanks for the comments everyone. I definitely learned my lesson. 🙂

    Just a technical question: can’t you forward the photo to an email address as a ‘pix message’?

    Nope. I need Picture Phone service.

    You look like russell peters in the snap

    Yes but not in real life, thank God.

    I thought he looked like Rahul Bose

    Perhaps a little. I have more hair though. 🙂

    Unfortunately my Dad works for the government as well so he needs to keep a low profile. If we invited him as a guest blogger his writing style would give him away.

  36. What would have been really funny is if Ms Sheth had read Abhi’s other thread, and had then asked him if he thought she needed a little “nip-tuck” on her frontage…..There’s no “correct” answer to that — think about it: How can you say Yes or No without admitting you’ve checked out the area concerned ? Even “Yes” and “No” each have potentially loaded ramifications.

    Asking Abhi what he thought of her Maxim photoshoot would also have increased the embarrassment/squirming factor 😉

    I thought he handled it well anyway. Abhi — since you didn’t write anything negative about her, you have nothing to worry about, mate.

  37. oh gosh this was too funny!! thanks for the laugh! good for you that you learned your lesson.

    and the first look upon the picture..agree with ‘Hari’ i thought it was Russell Peters but then no it was Abhi.