Since opening in the back of Meltdown Comics in 2011, NerdMelt Showroom—the lovechild of Meltdown, the Nerdist's Chris Hardwick and Nerdist Industries—has become one of the best spots in LA to catch live comedy. The Wednesday night Meltdown shows, hosted by Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani, are a must for anyone looking for belly-laugh-funny from both up-and-coming and established comedians. Louis C.K., Aziz Ansari and Robin Williams are among those who've turned up for the weekly gig.
This is also our pick for the best place to attend a live podcast recording. Although stand-up is performed here, NerdMelt is well suited for nontraditional comedy. Shows such as Harmontown, Risk!, and Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend have recorded at NerdMelt, and the theater is continuously adding new podcasts. So go get your nerd on.