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Upcoming Shows
Feb 25#556 · Los Angeles 55 · The ElysianTickets → Mar 25#557 · Los Angeles 56 · The ElysianTickets → Apr 22#558 · Los Angeles 57 · The ElysianTickets → May 27#559 · Los Angeles 58 · The ElysianTickets → All shows & details →
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Press →
Rare, anarchic energy.
— Ben Greenman, The New Yorker
The most entertaining reading series ever.
— LA Times
Helping to revitalize the coolitude of the printed word.
— Interview Magazine
Four read
  • 5 mins each
  • Big names
  • Big nerves
Three judge
  • Celebrity panel
  • Literary merit
    Performance
    Intangibles
Two duel
  • The finale
  • (No reading required)
One wins
  • Death Match champion

A literary variety show where acclaimed authors perform, celebrity judges roast, and it all ends in a gloriously absurd finale.
Part reading, part game show, part party.

LDM Fact of the Day
A new piece of Literary Death Match lore, every day of the year.

Our Cast

Authors, comedians, musicians, 7 Pulitzer Prize winners and 4 Oscar winners.

Roxane Gay Jonathan Ames Aimee Bender Maria Bamford Michael Ian Black Paul F. Tompkins Andy Richter Reggie Watts Aisha Tyler Jonathan Lethem Sloane Crosley Rhett Miller Moby Elvis Mitchell Greg Proops Open Mike Eagle Janet Varney Cameron Esposito Michael Showalter Eugene Mirman Kristen Schaal John Hodgman Baratunde Thurston Jenny Slate Nick Kroll Tig Notaro W. Kamau Bell Phoebe Robinson Jessica Williams Hari Kondabolu Samantha Irby Ottessa Moshfegh Miranda July Dave Hill Wyatt Cenac Chris Gethard Jean Grae Starlee Kine Dana Gould Rhea Butcher Carvell Wallace Tao Lin Gary Shteyngart Simon Rich Jami Attenberg Isaac Fitzgerald Mira Jacob Alexander Chee Saeed Jones Hanif Abdurraqib Morgan Parker Carmen Maria Machado Bryan Washington Tommy Orange Kiese Laymon R.O. Kwon Jia Tolentino Rachel Syme Melissa Febos T Kira Madden Patricia Lockwood Victor LaValle Paul Beatty Marlon James George Saunders Dave Eggers Cheryl Strayed Mary Karr Ben Lerner Rachel Kushner Fred Armisen Carrie Brownstein John Darnielle Colin Meloy Amanda Palmer Aparna Nancherla Jo Firestone Guy Branum Maeve Higgins Josh Gondelman Kurt Braunohler Julie Klausner Zadie Smith Colson Whitehead Jennifer Egan Michael Chabon Lauren Groff Celeste Ng Min Jin Lee Ocean Vuong Leslie Jamison Jenny Offill Brandon Taylor Raven Leilani Akwaeke Emezi Ada Limón Danez Smith Sheila Heti Elif Batuman Nick Offerman Megan Amram Demi Adejuyigbe Jacqueline Novak

Upcoming Shows

EP. 556Los Angeles (55)
Wed, Feb 25 2027
Doors 7p · Show 8p
The Elysian
Readers — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Judges — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Get Tickets
EP. 557Los Angeles (56)
Wed, Mar 25 2027
Doors 7p · Show 8p
The Elysian
Readers — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Judges — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
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EP. 558Los Angeles (57)
Wed, Apr 22 2027
Doors 7p · Show 8p
The Elysian
Readers — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Judges — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Get Tickets
EP. 559Los Angeles (58)
Thu, May 27 2027
Doors 7p · Show 8p
The Elysian
Readers — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Judges — Placeholder, Placeholder, Placeholder
Get Tickets

Merch

Books, totes, and the occasional collector's oddity.
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Shop LDM → Store coming soon · real product photos to follow.
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