American Joke

On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.

Al Franken reveals the alarming story of how Bush (barely) beat Kerry with his campaign of "fear, smear, and queers", and then claimed a nonexistent mandate; Republicans decided that Terri Schiavo would make "a great political issue"; Conservatives sought to undermine Social Security by using a strategy borrowed from...Vladimir Lenin; and more.

No more pretending to be someone you’re not. Emily Bawler has only been interested in women since high school. Then why does she keep having this undeniable yearning for a man? But not just any man. These yearnings are for someone she considers a dear friend; a brother even. She believes she should let the feeling pass and try to move on. Yet, her heart won't let her. The fear of rejection can cause you to miss out on happiness. Daniel Tase was stuck between a rock and a hard place. For years he’s been in love with someone he shouldn’t. It was a secret he’d kept from his family and ...

Tara was tired of going to bed every night alone and waking to an empty house. Here it was, another Christmas passing by, and she didn’t have anyone to spend it with. She made a promise to herself to break free and have some fun. No more living life cautiously. And her sexy neighbor would be the perfect person to help her practice what she preached. Bashir had seen his beautiful neighbor in the area every now and then, but he’d never had an opportunity to introduce himself. Either she was heading out, or he was turning in. He felt that he would finally get his chance when he saw her ...

On August 31, 2010, President Obama addressed the nation. He declared combat missions in Iraq over and announced a troop drawdown would begin. One day later, comedian Nathan Timmel boarded a plane as a part of the first group of entertainers to enter the war-torn country under this new 'mission.' Telling jokes to soldiers who face death every day is a different kind of performance - no stages, microphones, or spotlights. Rec rooms, dining facilities, and courtyards become performance spaces, and comedians use their best stage voice to tell their stories without the benefit of a P.A. system....