The weekly comedy showcase on Wednesdays at Meltdown Comics — now ground zero for Chris Hardwick's Nerdist Industries — has become a staple on the alt-comedy scene, but those awesome headline comics didn't just come up with those great jokes a few minutes before, while they were out parking their car behind the food truck. You have to test your new material at some point to see whether it flies like Superman or splats like a rotten tomato. And this is where your new Sunday night comedy diversion comes in. Matt Mira, one of Hardwick's two Nerdist podcast co-hosts, kicks off a regular open-mic gathering titled Matt Mira's Day Off this week. Along with Paul Cibis, Mira will host stand-ups breaking in new jokes as well as invite aspiring comics to take the spotlight and see what they can do. Be gentle with the noobs, people! Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Sun., May 8, 8 p.m. (7:30 sign-up); free. (323) 851-7223, meltcomics.com.

Sundays, 8 p.m., 2011

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