Comedians Online

Preview for Jeff Dunham's "Control Chaos" faturing "Achmed"

2011-09-09T11:49:00.000-07:00

Jeff Dunham is returning with a brand-spanking new hour-long special on Comedy Central on Sept. 25 at 9 pm ET. It’s called Controlled Chaos and we have this newly-released clip right here. It features Dunham and his most controversial and most popular puppet, Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Check it out and let us know what you think. Will you be tuning in?

Sit back and laugh: 7 of the funniest stories told by comedians

2011-08-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Story telling is an integral part of stand-up comedy. Most comedians, in some form, tell stories. Maybe a story comes as a quick aside to further explain the premise of a joke; sometimes it takes the form of an extended tag at the end of a minute-long bit. At times, a comedian will tell a story about his or her day to break up the more scripted part of their set. For most comics, the story is just one of many tools they employ to urge laughs from their audiences. But for other stand-up comedians, telling stories defines who they are as a performer; it’s not a means to an end. The stories are the end. And when a comedian does it right — see Bill Cosby: Himself — this kind of live comedy could be the most satisfying type of art you can take in.

With that in mind, I wanted to list some of my favorite contemporary stories told by comedians and share them with you. Some of you will be familiar with most of these while, for others, these will mostly be new experiences. Either way, I truly believe there’s something here for every taste of comedy. So, sit back and enjoy 75 minutes worth of well-crafted, hilarious stories.

JOSH SNEED: Let’s start off with a good fart story, shall we? Don’t sneeze (or fart) at the concept. Even George Carlin was a huge fan of flatulence humor. So, yes, we shall begin with poop jokes. In this one, from the 2008 album Unacceptable, Josh Sneed regales us with a story about his encounter with pop superstar Jessica Simpson. It’s a metaphor for the concept of dominance and the battle between economic classes. Or, it’s just a fart story.

Josh Sneed -- "Farting On Jessica Simpson" by Laughspin

LOUIS C.K.: As a parent of a nearly three-year-old and a newborn, I take great comfort in Louis C.K.’s parenting material. And this track is no exception. From his newest album Hilarious, released in January, Louis C.K. thankfully tells us way too much about a cookie-related fight he had with his younger daughter as well as a story about some messy bathroom business.

Louis C.K. -- "My 3-Year-Old Is A 3-Year-Old" by Laughspin

JOHN MULANEY: In your youth, did you ever fuck around with people in a public place– because, you were simply bored and were a bit of a wise ass? Sure, we all did. Or at least, we all tried. My friend Joe once took a dump on the street outside my friend Mike’s house and led Mike to believe it was dog shit. Hilarious, right? Subtle? No. But John Mulaney and a friend were more subtle than a street shit when they decided to use music to terrorize diner patrons.

John Mulaney -- "The Salt and Pepper Diner" by Laughspin

TIG NOTARO: I was lucky enough to catch Tig tell this story at Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood nearly a year ago. So I was super excited to see it pop up on her newly released album Good One. A master of pacing and timing, Notaro turns some chance encounters with 1980s pop star Taylor Dane (“Tell It To My Heart) into a surrealist piece of art.

Tig Notaro -- "Taylor Dayne" by Laughspin

DANE COOK: Dane Cook’s 2009 album Isolated Incident found the hugely popular comedian in a much more personal and, at times, darker space than in years past. Both his mother and father had died somewhat recently before the recording and while most of the album maintained the levity Cook’s known for, he surely didn’t shy away from getting in touch with his anger. This story about how he handled a single piece of hate mail makes me smile every time I listen to it. Sometimes redemption can be funny.

Dane Cook -- "Haters" by Laughspin

MIKE BIRBIGLIA: Arguably the best comedic storyteller today, Mike Birbiglia delivers a perfectly-balanced recalling of the time he was invited to perform at the MVP Awards for Major League Baseball. If you know even a little about Birbigs, you know he doesn’t exactly feel at home around a bunch of millionaire jocks. And so classic, hilarious awkwardness ensues. This track is the last story he tells on his 2007 album My Secret Public Journal Live.

Mike Birbiglia -- "Roger Clemens Hates Me" by Laughspin

RON WHITE: Like Birbiglia above, Ron White has come to be known as a guy who almost only tells long-form story jokes. And he’s amazing at it. The story below is no doubt his most popular, as it explains the origin of his nickname “Tater Salad” as well as references the title of the 2003 album on which it was first released, Drunk in Public.

Ron White -- "They Call Me Tater Salad" by Laughspin

5 Things Comedians Need To Stop Doing On Facebook

2011-08-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Facebook is an incredibly powerful tool and a great asset to any comedian’s career, but unfortunately too many comics have picked up a few bad habits when it comes to using the social network.

Here’s a few things you should stop doing on Facebook because they’re ineffective, counterproductive, and often times just plain annoying to your fans.

1. Stop Sending Event Invites To People That Don’t Live In Your City

Just because you have the ability to invite all of your fans to your show next weekend, doesn’t mean that you should. Like most people who are fans of comedians on Facebook, my inbox is flooded with event invites from comics who are performing thousands of miles away from me.

If you’re sending out an event invite, take a moment to figure out exactly who you want to send it to so you don’t bother people who don’t live in the area of the show and clearly aren’t going to attend. If you don’t, and you just continue to spam people with those invites, they are very likely to block you or even un-Like your page.

Sending out pointless invites actually carries a lot of risk (it will cost you fans) for no reward (somebody that lives thousands of miles away isn’t coming to your show no matter how many invites and reminders you send).

2. Stop Auto-Posting Your Tweets On Facebook

I’d recommend not auto-posting anything on any social network – it looks sloppy, lazy, and sends a message to your followers that you can’t be bothered to take an extra second or two to actually post the tweet or Facebook update manually.

But one thing you definitely don’t want to auto-post to your Facebook profile is your tweets. Twitter and Facebook are completely different mediums, each with their own rules, strengths, weaknesses, and language. Way too often I see comedians posting Facebook updates that include references to @profiles, hashtags, retweets, and other Twitter-specific details. These posts are great on Twitter, but on Facebook they’re just spam.

Again, doing this can actively hurt your Facebook presence because every time you post a meaningless update you increase the chances that your fans will ignore your future updates and you increase the chances they’ll stop following you. If you’re too busy to take a moment to post a Facebook update without auto-posting, then you probably shouldn’t be using Facebook in the first place.

3. Stop Begging People To Do Things For You

Here’s a big misconception that comedians have about Facebook – its purpose isn’t to give you a way to ask your fans to do you favors. It’s actually quite the opposite – people follow you because they believe you’re going to provide value for them and not the other way around.

It’s one thing to occasionally provide opportunities for your fans to help you out with something, but way too many comedians’ Facebook pages read like a stream of them begging for favors.

Vote for me in this contest, share my video with your friends, come see my show, get more people to Like my page, etc. People didn’t Like your page so they could become your employee, so stop begging them to do your work for you. Instead, figure out what you can do to help them and see how that works out for you.

4. Stop Hiring People To Update Your Facebook Profile For You

Even though I work with lots of comedians to help them develop a good strategy for using Facebook, one thing I’ll never do is actually run their profile and post updates for them (and you wouldn’t believe how many successful comedians have tried to hire me to do so for them).

If you’re a comedian and a professional content creator, why on Earth would you then outsource the creation of content (even 140-character at a time content) to somebody else? Isn’t that supposed to be your expertise?

Don’t turn your Facebook page over to your publicist, manager, or whatever social media guru offers to run it. Fans aren’t that dumb – they can tell when you’re the one posting and when you’re not.

5. Stop Repeatedly Suggesting I Like Your Page

It’s one thing to suggest to your personal friends that they Like your new fan page – that’s actually a good thing to do. But do it once. Or once every few months. Don’t do it once a day.

This is another thing too many comedians beat to death as they just continually suggest their friends Like their page which is again, basically another form of spam. If you’ve suggested that I Like your page and I haven’t taken you up on the offer then maybe instead of suggesting it again, you should take a moment to consider why I turned down your invitation.

It’s probably because I looked at your page and saw that you’re doing the top four things on this list and I decided I wanted no part of that…just like most people do.

Gabriel Iglesias Goes on Stand Up Revolution Tour!

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Stand up comedian and actor Gabriel Iglesias is ready to pack his comedy skills and all his jokes and start his new stand up comedy tour. The Stand Up Revolution Tour debuts at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino during Mexican Independence Day Weekend September 15 - 18.

Gabriel Iglesias is an actor and stand up comedian known especially for his shows I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy and Hot and Fluffy. He also appeared on the Galavision TV show Que Locos! and guest-starred on the ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids and the Fox TV animated comedy Family Guy.

Gabriel Iglesias’ shows are scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 15, Friday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 18 and will begin at 9 p.m. The Saturday, Sept. 17 performance will begin at 10 p.m.

Comedians rally in support of Jerry Lewis

2011-08-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Jerry Lewis' separation from the Muscular Dystrophy Association is not a laughing matter for some comedians.

Paul Rodriguez, Larry Miller, Tom Dreesen, Norm Crosby and others have joined in support of Lewis, the 85-year-old comedian who the MDA said is no longer its national chairman and will not appear on this year's telethon. The Tucson, Ariz.-based association announced earlier this week that the organization was parting ways with him after 45 years.

"If this is the way we're going, we should also tell grandpa we don't need him for Thanksgiving," joked Miller.

The funnymen told reporters gathered at The Laugh Factory comedy club Friday in Hollywood that they want the MDA to feature Lewis in some capacity on the upcoming telethon. At the very least, they said he deserves a proper send-off on the show he made famous. Rodriguez said Lewis should be brought back in a limo and "given the accolades that he deserves."

"He's not dead," said Rodriguez. "He's very much alive."

The comedians said they hadn't spoken with Lewis since the separation was announced, but Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada said they supported Lewis "regardless of why he was dismissed." Dreesen speculated that the MDA told Lewis that he would be phased out of the telethon, and the group was fearful of what Lewis would say during the six-hour broadcast.

There's no way they would give him the microphone for five minutes," said Dreesen.

MDA spokesman Jim Brown declined to say what prompted the decision. Lewis publicist Candi Cazau of Las Vegas also declined to comment. She said on Thursday the comedian was traveling outside his home state of Nevada. Lewis previously said in a statement issued through the association in May that he would make his final appearance on the Sept. 4 telethon.

Preparations for the 46th annual telethon are under way as planned at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, where the event will be held, said casino spokesman Tom Mikovits. He said the MDA telethon, which has been broadcast from the South Point since 2006, makes arrangement with the event venue on a year-to-year basis.

Comedian Jerry Lewis Thinks American Idol Is Super-Sized Garbage

2011-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, Simon Cowell certainly wouldn't have found this funny.

Comedian Jerry Lewis took to the stage during the Television Critics Association press tour and, instead of dishing about his Encore special The Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis, he spent his time dissing American Idol.

So what's Jerry's connection between Ryan Seacrest and the Hamburglar?

They're both nasty by-products of McDonald's!

"The kids who are on American Idol, they're all McDonald's wipeouts," Jerry bitched. "They've all been dumped. They've worked there and now they're doing that. And of course they all play a guitar, which takes the place of music."

And the Idol juggernaut isn't the only reality franchise taking fire from Lewis. Jerry also sniped at The Biggest Loser, saying:

"Proctor & Gamble says, 'Are you nuts? You want me to spend $1.6 million for that variety show when I can get the fat lady to lose weight for $62,000. Let's go with that one. We'll call it reality,' And that's what they've done…Who cares?"

Uh, only like millions of viewers who tune in to each series weekly. But that's beside the point to Lewis.

"The industry has destroyed itself," Jerry ranted, later explaining: "We don't have the soul in our industry that we had when I was working. And the soul has been desperately deteriorated, only because you got a guy that's running a network whose aunt died and left him some stock."

But the fact that he isn't a fan of the reality TV craze doesn't mean Jerry is totally giving up on the boob tube.

"I love the industry," he gushed. "I don't allow people in my family to use the term 'TV' around the house. It's television. It's a miracle…. When I watch it, I want it to grab me. I want it to be like I ran home and I made sure to be there before Law & Order went on."

But the question is, did he mean Law & Order: SVU or Criminal Intent? Or maybe Trial By Jury?

Oh well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. We still love our reality TV—sorry, Jerry, we mean reality television.

How to Break into Stand-up: 10 Tips for Beginner Comedians

2011-07-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

Starting out in stand-up comedy can be overwhelming and a little scary. Before you freak out, check out this helpful list of tips on improving your act and getting over failure for new and struggling stand-up comedians.

1. Get On Stage Now

No amount of helpful tips or discussion can take the place of experience, and that's pretty much all that counts when it comes to stand-up. It's a true "learn-by-doing" art form, and you won't know what works (and what doesn't) until you've gotten on stage in front of an audience. The more chances you have to perform, the more you'll be able to learn. Many comedians perform multiple times a night in the early years, hopping from club to club or open mic to open mic. There is no substitute for stage time in comedy, so make sure you're getting lots of it.

2. Don't Be Afraid to Bomb

You're not going to bring the house down every time you step on stage, particularly in the beginning. That means, from time to time, you're going to find out what it's like to bomb. That's ok; bombing can be very useful. You'll learn which parts of your act aren't working and possibly why. You'll quickly find out how you react in these situations: are you fast on your feet? Can you recover the set? If nothing else, the experience of bombing will be unpleasant enough that you'll work that much harder on your act to avoid it ever happening again. Fear can be a powerful motivator.

3. Keep Up With Your Old Stuff

Even if you're working up new material, don't forget to keep your old stuff fresh. Maybe you've got a great setup, but there's a punchline or tag that will make a joke work even better. There's always room for improvement; go back every once in a while and punch up older jokes with new tags or punchlines. This can also be a great way to break out of a rut -- it gets your creativity going without requiring you to generate new material out of thin air.

4. Don't Steal

Don't steal. Just don't. Don't even "borrow" or "rephrase." It's never cool, and it will end your career as a stand-up very quickly. If you ever think you might be lifting a joke from another comic -- even if it's unintentionally or subconsciously or whatever -- just drop the joke. It's not worth being labeled as a thief and a hack, which is ultimately what could happen.

5. Stick to Your Time

Always be sure to stay within the time slot given to you by a promoter, club manager or open mic organizer. It's rude and unprofessional to go longer than your allotted time; remember, there are other comedians that are following you, and they should get every minute they've been promised. Conversely, it's also unprofessional to do less time on stage than what you're expected to deliver. That puts an unfair pressure on the comic after you to fill in the gap and perform longer than he or she had anticipated. Even if you're bombing, you're expected to fill a certain slot and should fill it. You want to establish a reputation for yourself as being a professional, and sticking to your time slot is a good way to do that.

6. Tape Yourself

If you're able to (depending on where you're performing), take video of your performance. Think of it like a football team's "game film"; you'll be able to go back and watch yourself to see what worked and what needs changing. Were you talking too fast? Did you step on laughs from the crowd? These are things you probably won't be aware of in the moment, when nerves and adrenalin may get the better of you. A videotape will give you the opportunity to examine and reflect on your performance so you can make changes for the future. Just remember not to obsess over it too much; if you over-evaluate, you may lose so of the freshness and spontaneity in your act.

7. Hit the Clubs

Even if you're not ready to get on stage at a comedy club yet (and you may be better off starting at open mic nights), you should still try to get out and see as much live comedy as you can. With every comedian, you're going to be learning something new; study the ones you like and learn from the mistakes of the ones you don't (just remember: NEVER STEAL JOKES). Plus, you may be able to start making connections with promoters, club owners and -- most importantly -- other comics. Comedy is a community, and the sooner you can become a part of it the better off you'll be.

8. Make Nice with the Audience

Just because you've seen other comics (like, say, Lisa Lampanelli) insult their audience doesn't mean you should -- at least, not yet. And it may be tempting, particularly if you're feeling strapped for material or if someone is heckling you. Of course you should respond in that instance, but watch how far you take it. It can be easily to alienate your audience, and you always want them on your side. Plus, you never know if an audience member is going to take a joke the wrong way; many a comic has a story about someone from the audience waiting for them after the show. If they feel humiliated and have been drinking (which, given the nature of the comedy club, is likely), you may be bringing trouble on yourself.

9. Carry a Notebook With You

You never know when or where comic inspiration is going to strike, and it would be a shame to lose the moment because you have no way of writing your thoughts down. Always be ready to take notes or jot down ideas; before you know it, you'll have the rough beginnings of an act.

10. Be Yourself

A lot of comedy sites will offer tips about how you should imitate other comics, write in the style of established comedians or develop a persona for yourself. Don't worry about any of that. No one wants to see an imitation Dane Cook when the real one is out there, and you're denying the audience the chance to get to know you as a comic. You want to perform stand-up because you're funny and you love it, and those are the two most important things you need. Be true to yourself.

Michael McIntyre shocked at 'hostility' from other comedians

2011-07-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

In an in-depth interview with Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael McIntyre has admitted to being surprised at the 'hostility' shown towards him by some comedians.

Interviewer Kirsty Young observed: "The success you've had generates a lot of attention, it also generates a lot of envy, and sometimes derision. Some people are very rude about your comedy. Stewart Lee said that he felt that you were 'spoon feeding your audience warm diarrhea'."

Asked about what he thought about such comments, McIntyre responded: "I think it comes with the territory. I'm sure it does, actually. Of course, I can't say it is water off a duck's back and I'm so thick skinned I could just say that - I can say it now because I'm getting used to it, but it did come as a shock at the beginning, I can't deny that. It was confusing because my big break came - certainly at the beginning - with an amazing amount of hostility."

He went on to say: "I would never be rude about someone else in my profession, because we're all doing the same thing - trying to make people laugh. I have my audience and other people have their audience."

"I went to The British Comedy Awards and quite a few people were making jokes at my expense and it just made me feel awful. I was there with my wife and she had gone out and bought a new dress, and it was my big night and I won... and the over-riding experience was that of nastiness. For what reason I don't know. What I was doing was just making people laugh."

10 Best Comedians to Follow on Twitter

2011-07-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

Following the best comedians on Twitter beats reading multi-level marketing spam. These are 10 funny celebrities worth following.

Michael Ian Black: He's got over 1.5 million followers. He rarely tweets more than 3 times a day and they're almost all funny like saying he needs to get better at doing things that people want to pay money for. That's actually good career advice.

Stephen Colbert: This comedian just hit over 2 million Twitter followers but just wishes there was some way to let you know he also has a TV show. He limits the tweets to a few a day and keeps them comical.

Sarah Silverman: This SNL graduate has over one million followers thanks to several tweets a day and virtually no promotion I could find. Love the observation that mass insanity is harder to spot.

Steve Martin: I love even the dumbest Steve Martin movies, and he takes a serious interest in art unlike celebrities who seem to treat it as a commodity. He's got a little over half a million followers. His tweets sometimes run over 10 a day, but they're usually hilarious or at least interesting.

John Cleese: Too much promotion but there's occasional gems like the anniversary tweet suggesting the show was nearly called Monkey Piston's Frying Circle. Over 800,000 people are following. You can also sign up for John Cleese's newsletter.

Sarah Thyre: This Los Angeles actress has under 3,000 followers but she's worth following if you think "Rape-ublican" is a funny word.

Sarah Palin: Sure, her bio doesn't mention being a comedian, but laugh at her not with her. Actually, I think following her sends the wrong message so just look discreetly.

Justin: This guy claims he's 29 years old and just writes down stuff his 74 years old dad says. With almost 2 million followers, he's sprucing up the image of adult men who still live with their parents, and he only tweets about once a month.

Louis C.K: If you like the TV show, you may want to join his 300,000 followers.

Tweet The Joke: Here you can follow lots of famous comedians who act as the day's host by writing an opening line. Then, you tweet the punch line with the hashtag "#tweetthejoke." They've only got 1,117 followers now, you don't get anything for winning, and the volume of tweets could get annoying. But, you may find more humorous people you want to follow.

Have fun following these funny comedians on Twitter.

Comedians Tweet The News: The Week's Best Jokes On The Week's Hottest Topics

2011-07-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days when someone must tune into a late night talk show or go to a comedy club to hear topical jokes about the day's headlines. Today, Twitter has given many comedians a reason to turn joke telling into a 24/7 business. Even during relatively slow news cycles, like right now, comedy wordsmiths still make topical jokes about the events in the news available to a mass audience. Here are some of the best tweets from our favorite funny tweeters that cover today's biggest stories, from the "Huckleberry Finn" controversy, to John Boehner, to Ted Williams:

Morgan Murphy:
I bet Ted Williams will get a great job. And the guy he replaces will end up homeless.

Stephen Colbert:
It's great that they took the N-word out of "Huckleberry Finn." Now get to work on "Moby D-Word."

Rob Kutner:
Just ordered my copy of Mark Twai's Huck Fi from Amazo.com

Chris Regan:
The GOP are doing the "People's Work" of reading the entire Constitution. Or the "People's Homework They Should've Done in 9th Grade."

mileskahn:
I've replaced all the racist words in Huck Finn with "Boehner." Reads much better now.

Guy Nicolucci:
Michelle Bachmann was appointed to the Intelligence Committee. Didn't George Carlin do a routine about that?

Chelsea Peretti:
Scientists! Look at what's right in front of you. The dead birds were killed by Mark Twain's ghost. He's lashing out bc he loves the n word

Top 9 Black Stand-Up Comedians

2011-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

In the world of comedy, segregation may be a good thing. Black comedy is something like extended time with a member of our family. Instead of the person on stage coming up with ridiculous situations only they went through, black comedians thrive on finding ways to relate to their people via the audience before them. It’s as if they say, “Being a black person in this world is a trip, and I know you know what I’m talking about.” Here are nine black comedians who took us on trips we were all familiar with, and made us laugh throughout the entire journey.

EDDIE MURPHY

Eddie Murphy may still be making at least one movie ever year, some of which are good, but a lot of his die-hard fans miss the Eddie Murphy of old. He was the one wearing the red leather suit in Delirious making jokes about men claiming the house when they’re drunk and memorable impressions of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and James Brown. Or, for some fans, the Eddie Murphy in the leather purple jump suit from Raw. Whichever one you choose, no one can deny, before Murphy went all “Nutty Professor” on us, he was the biggest black stand-up comedian in the world.

RICHARD PRYOR

Before Murphy, there was Richard Pryor, the larger-than-life stand-up comedian who broke through the mainstream in a way few had before him. Pryor’s act was unapologetic, aggressive, and deeply steeped in black life. The man didn’t just know how to tell a joke, he knew how to tell a joke in areas of life where people hadn’t thought laughter existed. From drug addiction to his public demolishing of the N-word in his off-stage conversations, Pryor knew how to make others laugh at things he could barely smile about.

DICK GREGORY

Dick Gregory made a name for himself as the face of black comedy during the Civil Rights era. At a time when black comedy was and stand up comedy in general was still a somewhat cottage industry, Gregory came of age to an audience that was both black and white. His popularity was undeniable, just ask Hugh Hefner who hired Gregory to perform at the Chicago Playboy Club.

BILL COSBY

Before he became America’s dad in his sitcom series, The Cosby Show, Bill Cosby was one of the biggest stand-up comedians in the 60s and 70s. Unlike his peers like Pryor and Gregory, Cosby gained notoriety for keeping his stand-up acts clean and without curse words.

CHRIS ROCK

Arguably the best comedian performing stand-up today, Rock’s stand-up comedy is so smart, his jokes would not sound out of place in a college classroom. Rock rifts from the heart but most noticeably from his brain, where he comes up with some of his most well-known bits like his long tirade and explanation about the difference between “black people” and “niggers” and rich” and “wealthy”.

DAVE CHAPPELLE

Chapelle will go down in history as the man behind one of the greatest sketch comedy shows of all time, “Chappelle’s Show”. But prior to his show, Chappelle was one of the sharpest stand-up comedians working in the 90’s. His aw-shucks style on the microphone gave his routine a childlike innocence, but his jokes were strictly for grown folks who never could stop laughing.

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER

Before Cedric became the host of BET’s popular Comic View, and one of four comedians featured on the Kings of Comedy Tour, he was a funny man who sold insurance during the work week and told stand up jokes on the weekend. The grind paid off and now, Cedric The Entertainer has lived up to his stage name in venues around the world.

STEVE HARVEY

Harvey wears a lot of hats, but none of them would be worn without his first one: stand-up comedy. Unlike most comedians who pander to a younger audience, Harvey takes a different approach. Harvey laces his humor with bits of wisdom he learned back in his younger years, like the older uncle you love to hear talk at the family barbecue.

BERNIE MAC

The late great stand-up had a long career before coming into fame as a member of the Kings of Comedy tour back in 2000. After his performance — the raucous, prfoanity-laced finale — Mack went onto find success with his own sitcom on FOX and numerous roles in successful movies like the Ocean’s Eleven franchise.

The Best Comedy Albums of 2011 (So Far)

2011-07-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Even though 2011 isn't over yet, we've already had an impressive number of excellent comedy albums, both from veterans and relative newcomers. Check out the best comedy albums of 2011 so far.

1. Louis C.K. - 'Hilarious'
It almost seems unfair that comedian Louis C.K. releasedd his latest album, Hilarious, within the first two weeks of 2011. It's unfair because the album is so outstanding that it set an impossible standard for every other record that followed it; over and over again, I can hear myself saying "Sure, it's funny...but is it Hilarious?" It's so rare to find a comic with a point of view these days that coming across one as sharply defined as Louis C.K.'s is a kind of miracle. Hilarious finds the best comic of today at the top of his game, and truly earns its title.

2. Natasha Leggero - 'Coke Money'
On her first comedy album, Coke Money, Natasha Leggero does exactly what her contemporary female comics like Kathy Griffin and Chelsea Handler do -- only much better. She's the spoiled-brat-as-comic, the girl who is all too aware of her own shortcomings but who still isn't going to suffer fools lightly. That's how she ends up taking on L.A. club girls, douchebag guys, egotistical rappers, toilet babies and many, many more in routines that only get funnier as the album goes on. Coke Money is so much better than what several of Leggero's more successful or better-known contemporaries are putting out. It's one of the funniest records of the year.

3. Tommy Johnagin - 'Stand Up Comedy 2'
Tommy Johnagin is way too funny to have finished in only second place on Last Comic Standing in 2010, as evidenced by his second album Stand Up Comedy 2. Johnagin is a terrific joke writer and, like a lot of great comics, has a knack for applying logic to situations that may not call for it and pulling the humor out of that juxtaposition. It's the kind of comedy album that will hold up to repeat listens, and it moves quickly; Johnagin knows how and when to get out of a bit and into the next one. Bring on Stand Up Comedy 3.

4. Amy Schumer - 'Cutting'
Overlooking the double meaning in the title of Amy Schumer's debut album, Cutting, it's a great example of the comic's approach to stand-up: take a subject that might otherwise be sensitive or off-limits (in this case, teenage cutting) and turn it into comedy. When she's not destroying political correctness for its own sake, she's comes up with some terrific black comedy one-liners, and her album shows a real intelligence and knack for using language. Oh, and it has maybe the best final joke of any comedy album I've heard in a long, long time.

5. Norm Macdonald - 'Me Doing Standup'
There's something so laid back about Norm Macdonald's approach to comedy -- as evidenced even by the title of his latest album, Me Doing Standup -- that I think some people have a hard time taking him seriously. Macdonald segues from a deconstruction of language into long-form bits about 24 hour news, the woman troubles of Tiger Woods and gives an involved, detailed description of just how he would go about getting away with a murder (not that he's planning on killing anyone, but a river can only go so long before there's a bend). The material is funny enough on its own, but it's made even better by Macdonald's trademark delivery.

Comedian Jimmy Tingle jokes about running for president in new stand-up show -- or is he?

2011-07-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

from: DailyNews.com

To the running joke that is the Great American List of Unqualified Presidential Candidates, add one more joker.

This one actually admits he's running as a joke.

"I have absolutely no legislative accomplishments whatsoever," says comedian Jimmy Tingle, through a chowder-thick accent that reminds voters he was born in Cambridge, Mass.

"I want to take the great political principles of the United States and combine them with the great spiritual principles of the world's major religions that focus on love, compassion, peace, mercy and forgiveness."

It is really funny to have his say all these especially now that the games for next year's presidential elections have already started.
Is he going to be the new president???? I guess if you stay tuned you will hear more about this.

In the mean time we just want to stay entertained so let's hit the comedy shows and see the best performances !

Comedians dish about funny business at fest

2011-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

from: BostonHerald.com

NANTUCKET — Hundreds of Nantucket Film Festival fans felt like flies on the wall yesterday as funny guys Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Stiller, Seth Meyers, Colin Quinn and Aziz Ansari took to the stage to talk amongst themselves about making people laugh.

The high hilarity at the high school, moderated by Meyers, the head writer of “Saturday Night Live,” was an hour-plus inside look into making hit TV sitcoms, sketch comedy shows, funny films and stand-up routines.

And here’s a sample of some of the things we overheard:

•Stiller, who flew in from New York after closing his Broadway show, “The House of Blue Leaves,” on Saturday night, bombed at his first try at stand-up comedy.

“I think it’s the hardest thing you can do in show business,” he said. “At 16, I took a class at The Improv in New York, and I wrote a horrible bit about alternate-side-of-the-street parking.” Whereupon Quinn said, “Hmm. Jerry did a whole episode on that.”

• Seinfeld said his one regret about his uberpopular, long-running sitcom was pulling the plug on doing an entire episode in Claymation.

“I didn’t do it because Tim Allen has already done a Claymation scene in ‘Home Improvement,’ and I didn’t want to imitate Tim Allen,” he said. “I regret that.”

• And speaking of Seinfeld, he missed the griminess of stand-up comedy when he was starring in the hit NBC comedy series. But he still can’t understand why his jokes need to be approved by an audience. Because, really isn’t he the funny one?

“If a joke doesn’t work, how come I have to come and ask you?” Jerry asks a hypothetical audience. “What do you know about comedy? If you were funny, you wouldn’t be here (in the audience).”

• Quinn, who has been touring with his one-man show “Long Story Short,” directed by Seinfeld, said the last time he was in Massachusetts for a stand-up gig, it was in Gloucester and a fight started outside the club.

“There was a giant brawl after the show,” he said. “This little waitress comes back inside and I said, ‘I’m sorry about this’ and she said, ‘It’s awesome.’ Goes to show you the clientele...”

• Ansari, who stars as Tom Haverford on NBC’s “Parks & Recreation,” joked he would much prefer to have others write great material for him — like they do on his sitcom.

“Writing is soooo hard,” said the proprietor of the faux Pawnee uberconglomerate ‘Entertainment 720.’ “But seriously it’s really important to write your own stuff.”

• Meyers, who confessed he thinks Bill Hader’s alter ego Stefon is the “funniest character on “SNL,” said writers only have two hours after two run-throughs to tweak the show and get it down to 90 minutes before it airs at 11:35 p.m. And many weeks, it’s a nail-biter. Also nearly half of the Weekend Update jokes are tossed out before he performs the bit for real.

The audience at the Nantucket Film Festival’s final big event included many aspiring Jerry Seinfelds (although the questions from the audience at the end were rather lame). So we asked Jerry what’s the secret to a blockbuster comedy career?

“You got to fall in love with it,” he said. “I am a big fan of obsessive behavior. I’m a big fan of what people think of as workaholism. I don’t think that this is a real problem in (our) culture that people are working too hard. I’ve seen the antithesis of that. So I am a big fan of go crazy and become obsessed to the exclusion of all other things.

“People say you need to have balance in your life and a broad perspective. I’m against all these things,” Jer told the Track. “I advocate for narrow and unbalanced. And that is the only possible route to becoming a comedian.”

And not that there’s anything wrong with that ...

Jon Stewart Is Definitely a Comedian. Chris Wallace Admits Fox's Bias

2011-06-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

from: HuffpostMedia

In the wake of the now-famous televised showdown between Jon Stewart and Chris Wallace Sunday morning there's lots of chatter from pundits on both the left and right that Stewart, as Wallace charged, is dodging his true role as a 'journalist.' To paraphrase Stewart from the interview, anyone who believes this ridiculous assertion is "insane."

I'm not exactly sure where all the confusion lies. Stewart was a stand-up comic for years and now has a comedy show. On "Comedy Central." And like many a legendary humorist before him -- Mark Twain, Will Rogers, Mort Sahl, George Carlin and Lenny Bruce to name a few -- his material consists of politics, politicians and American culture. You will never see anything on The Daily Show, Stewart's nightly program, that is delivered with a serious tone. You will never see Stewart himself analyze and comment on anything unless his set-ups have wickedly funny punchlines. He's a satirist. And probably the best there ever was. But that's all he is. To paraphrase the late Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen's famous smackdown of Sen. Dan Quayle in their 1988 vice presidential debate, "Mr. Stewart, I know journalism. I studied journalism for many years. I have a journalism degree. Mr. Stewart, you're no journalist."

It's pretty sad when, as Rogers said, "People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke." A society which considers Stewart and people like Bill O'Reilly "journalists" is a society that's in deep trouble. To label Stewart a journalist is offensive to journalists and non-journalists alike. I don't get my news from Stewart. I save that for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, The Huffington Post and other outlets. I watch Stewart for the same reason I watched/watch Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Carlin and a zillion other comics: to get a biting, funny take on the day's news. Because Stewart makes us laugh about the news doesn't make him a newsman. That he makes us laugh about politics doesn't make him a political activist. He's simply doing his job as a comedian.

Now on the other hand, as Stewart pointed out to Wallace, there are millions of very "misinformed" people who watch Fox News and actually think they're watching an objective news network. They listen to people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and think they're getting the truth. They're not. In an astounding admission of his network's true bias, Wallace, while discussing other networks with Stewart, said "I think we're the counterweight. I think that they have a liberal agenda, and I think we tell the other side of the story." Wow. So much for "fair and balanced."

Stewart is a true genius. But he's a comic genius. And without even being a true journalist he brilliantly managed to do what no one else has done: get Fox to admit that it's a politically biased television network. I bet Wallace didn't have that outcome in mind when he invited Stewart on his Fox "News" Sunday program.

Just for Laughs Chicago Kicks Off

2011-06-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

from: About.com

Though last night's performance by Tim Minchin at Chicago's Lincoln Hall provided the "soft opening" of the 2011 Just for Laughs Chicago Festival, tonight is the night the fest begins proper with performances from Jo Koy, Ron White, Rodney Carrington, Jim Breuer, Dave Attell, Jim Norton and Bill Burr.

This years festival runs through Sunday, when it concludes with an incredible-sounding performance from Steve Martin and Martin Short.

The Just for Laughs Chicago Festival has become one of the premiere comedy festivals in the United States, so if you're anywhere near the Chicago area during the next week, you owe it to yourself to stop in for at least one show. You can check out the schedule here.

For tickets, visit: Here

And, in case you needed any more convincing, you can check out some highlights of the 2010 and 2009 festival.

Comedian Kevin Hart to Host This Year's "BET Awards" Premiering Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m.

2011-06-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

from The Futon Critic

NEW YORK, May 17, 2011 -- BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced that actor/comedian Kevin Hart has been tapped to host this year's BET AWARDS, ranked among the Top 5 Cable Award Shows every year among total viewers. The brightest night in music will broadcast LIVE from the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.* on BET.

For over a decade the BET AWARDS has reigned as the biggest family event rivaling all top awards shows. Having escalated each year in industry influence with A-list celebrity nominations, star-studded appearances and one-of-a-kind performances, the BET AWARDS has undoubtedly established itself as the hottest ticket on television.

The brightest stars in music, acting and sports will appear and perform at this year's BET AWARDS which recognizes the achievements of artists, entertainers and athletes in 20 categories. Leading the pack this year is Chris Brown with an impressive 6 nominations across multiple categories: Best Male R&B Artist, Best Collaboration (for which he holds two nominations), Video of the Year, Best Actor and Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice. Closely behind him is Lil Wayne with 5 nominations: Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration (with fellow nominee Chris Brown), Video of the Year and Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice for his collaborations with Chris Brown and Cory Gunz. Rounding out the list and tied with 4 nominations each are Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake.

"When we asked folks who should host this year's BET AWARDS online, in the streets, among other celebs and throughout social media, one name came back to us loud and clear: Kevin Hart," said Stephen Hill, BET's president of music programming and specials. "He is blue flame right now and we are looking forward to working with him on the show," stated Hill. "His energy, wit and the always fantastic performances will make for yet another must see event - and the 'Chocolate Droppa' might even get a verse in the show," he added.

Kevin Hart burst onto the scene as one of the most versatile comedy actors in film and television. Hart is currently touring the nation on his "Laugh at My Pain" tour. He is the number one comedian on Ticketmaster and in February 2011, Hart sold out the Nokia Theater two nights in a row to break a record previously set by Eddie Murphy. Hart will spend the summer of 2011 filming lead roles in two new movies. In July, he will start working on Screen Gem's "Think Like A Man," the comedy is based on Steve Harvey's bestselling 2009 book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. Hart will then start work on the Nick Stoller comedy "Five Year Engagement" with producer Judd Apatow and Universal.

Hart was last seen in "Little Fockers" and "Death at a Funeral," alongside Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence. He also co-starred with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in "Fool's Gold," as well as opposite Steve Carell in "The 40 Year Old Virgin." Hart's additional film credits include: "Soul Plane" opposite Tom Arnold, Method Man and Snoop Dogg, "Not Easily Broken," "Extreme Movie," "Drillbit Taylor," "Epic Movie," "The Last Stand," "Scary Movie 4," "In the Mix," "Meet Dave" and "Superhero Movie." In 2009, Hart's one-hour comedy special "I'm a Grown Little Man" on Comedy Central was one of the highest-rated specials for the network. Hart was also the host of BET's classic stand-up comedy series "Comic View: One Mic Stand."

Sponsors for this year's BET AWARDS telecast include Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award, Subway Sportsman of the Year and Subway Sportswoman of the Year.

Keith Olbermann to hire Richard Lewis

2011-05-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

It's true.

I just read about it.

i got this cool picture of Richard Lewis looking like a sad old man, too. like Michael Caine or something

Mike Epps is in Trouble

2011-05-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

watch this video here from TMZ

It all went down at the Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie ... while Mike was in the middle of his set, a process server approached the stage and served him with a lawsuit stemming from an altercation inside of a Detroit nightclub in December.

Mike looked down and said, "White b*tch just threw some papers up on the mother f*cking stage ... b*tch, f*ck you."

Mike then admitted participating in the nightclub brawl ... saying, "This is from when I whooped that n*gga's ass in Detroit."

Mike continued to berate the process server as she made her way towards the exit ... saying, "B*tch, I don't give a f*ck ... suck my d*ck."

I think he was in enough trouble as it was; now that video is going to make him look like a complete pig.

Kristen Wiig is Awesome

2011-05-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

from Film Journal:

Founding “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels has called Kristen Wiig one of the top three or four performers in the 36-year history of the show, and while that opinion can be debated endlessly, there’s no denying she’s one of the standouts of the current cast, a chameleon with a large repertoire of zany (and sometimes highly irritating) characters. But Wiig’s brief sketches on “SNL” give no indication whether she’s capable of carrying a feature film as the leading lady.

Fortunately, the faith of her first starring movie’s producer, Judd Apatow (another comedy heavyweight), has been justified: Bridesmaids, which Wiig wrote with her friend Annie Mumulo, is a solid and very funny vehicle for a newly minted big-screen star.

It seems like every other female-driven comedy these days has a wedding theme, but Bridesmaids is something of a riposte to that cliché. It’s not really about the sentimental allure that marriage rituals have for many women, but what a grind the process can be. And more than that, it’s a film about female bonding, and how a life-changing event can impact a longtime friendship.

Of course I already liked Wiig from when she did MacGruber with Will Forte. If you haven't seen that movie then I don't ever want to speak to you again and I'm keeping the dog.

Jerry Seinfeld Is In The News Too Much

2011-05-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

from Gibson:

Jerry Seinfeld recently appeared on the SiriusXM program, Come to Papa, hosted by fellow comedian Tom Papa. Among the topics discussed was Seinfeld’s decision to end his hit TV series at the height of its popularity. Seinfeld said that his inspiration for shutting down the hit show after just nine seasons was a surprisingly musical one.

“The Beatles ended too soon for me, and it was also nine years," said Seinfeld. "That hunger for The Beatles has lasted my whole life. Whenever a Beatles song comes on the radio I reach for the volume and turn it up, because I still haven't gotten enough of them. That was really how I made the decision.”

Seinfeld said that urge to leave the crowd wanting more can be found in another musical source, as well.

“Somebody said to me, that’s what makes Mark Knopfler such an amazing guitarist. He doesn’t play quite as much as you want him to. You know, you just want him to play more, and he doesn’t. You know? And that’s what makes you love it.”

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I'm literally angry that this was taken as a legitimate statement. This is tripe. Seinfeld has nothing to do with the Beatles.

Andy Dick arrested for acting like Andy Dick

2011-05-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

from San Diego:

The latest Andy Dick arrest happened right in our backyard. He was recently on comedian Marc Maron’s “WTF Podcast” and stated “There’s been times when I haven’t drank for three years in a row. Right now, I know I’m in a very long stretch of complete abstinence and sobriety.” The sobriety Dick said he was in didn’t last long, as he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly at a Marie Callender’s in Temecula. He was in the bar causing a disturbance and was booked for public intoxication.

A little farther north (Riverside) three years ago, he pleaded guilty after being drunk outside a restaurant. He received probation in that case, which makes me wonder if any of these arrests are ever going to count as probation violations.

In Kathy Griffin’s book Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir she talks about how crazy Andy Dick is at shows. He’ll get wasted and not show up, or he’ll arrive and not perform well. It was always a train wreck she claimed to enjoy watching, but worried about. She said sometimes it ended up with him and underage males getting into his limo. He said at some universities he would arrive with just minutes before he was to hit the stage, and college student coordinators asking Griffin to stretch her set out longer to give him time to arrive.

San Diego fans that caught him at UCSD around 15 years ago are already well aware of what his live shows can be like. The crowd booed during the 30 minute set, and many wanted refunds. The local papers did stories about he stood on stage staggering, doing a drunken rant and yelling at the crowd. Years later, in 2004, he told Howard Stern that he was 86’d from UCSD.

Last year, he was charged with sexual abuse after allegations that he groped a bouncer and a patron in West Virginia at the Funny Bone.

The story goes on to talk about him doing cocaine off a hooker in the backseat of a car or something.

Definition of class act.

Tina Fey's "memoir" is a hit

2011-05-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

from a verbose little badger:

When beloved comedy icons like Fey announce they’re writing a memoir, unjustified fears that the book will be drenched in self-promotion or worse, take a nose dive into stilted, never-before-seen seriousness quickly emerge. But to those who doubted Fey’s ability to translate her deadpan funny to the parchment sheets of “Bossypants,” I say shame on you. Has “Saturday Night Live” taught you nothing? Of course this will be hilarious, it’s Tina Fey — the woman who declared, “Bitch is the new black.”

It may not be the comedic oeuvre displayed in the same vein of the Sedaris family narrative, but it is still a worthy glimpse into the comedic genius of the mother of “30 Rock” and retired “SNL” funny lady.

Straying slightly from the typical memoir mold, Fey touches on everything from her duties as “30 Rock” boss, her expectations as a female comedian breaking into a traditionally male-dominated field, her stint as caribou-Barbie Sarah Palin to her candid musings on motherhood. Essentially, Fey verifies what fans already knew — she’s a talented writer and comedian who has deftly mastered the skill of fierce delivery.

Somewhat haphazard in its chronological organization, Fey begins with childhood anecdotes and intelligently guides the reader with her classic heartfelt humor all the way through her present tribulations juggling motherhood and being a boss.

The misadventures in adolescence she divulges are admittedly pathetic at times, but her cynical humor and inherent ability to transform any situation, as sad as it may initially come off to the reader, into a witty and hilarious narrative make Tina Fey the eternal champion for awkward nerdy girls everywhere.

I love Tina Fey. I will always love Tiny Fey. You can't have her, she's mine.

Zach Galifianakis is Awesome

2011-05-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

from AP:

Zach Galifianakis (gal-ih-fih-NAH'-kihs) leads the 15th annual Webby Awards with four awards for his "Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis" Web series.

Galifianakis' irreverent interview show won best Web personality, best comedy short and best online variety show as chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The actor also won best online variety show in the voter-chosen People's Voice category.

Lisa Kudrow won two awards for her "Web Therapy" series. Arcade Fire's innovative "The Wilderness Downtown" music video also won two awards.

Justin Bieber took the People's Voice award for best comedy video for his April Fool's takeover of FunnyOrDie.com as "Bieber or Die."

check out Between Two Ferns, oh my god

"Anchorman 2" isn't happening

2011-05-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

from Hollywood:

Will Ferrell has confirmed that Anchorman 2 is dead in the water.

Speaking at a press conference Friday for his upcoming film Everything Must Go, the comedic actor joined the ranks of people involved in the wildly popular first Anchorman who have accepted that a sequel will never be produced.

"Anchorman 2, you really have to assert some sort of email hate campaign to Paramount Pictures. They've told us, 'We've run the numbers and it's not a good fit,' " Ferrell said, according to Cinema Blend.

The actor, who rose to fame after the first Anchorman film and is set to replace Steve Carrell on The Office, also revealed that his upcoming political comedy with Zach Galifianakis, Southern Rivals, will center on two political rivals battling over the same position in a South Carolina congressional district.

He said the film's 2012 release will be timed to coincide with the presidential elections, and that it will "have comments on the circumstance now in modern day politics."

Ferrell also denied any knowledge of whether he has a role in the upcoming Zoolander 2, and teased the possibility of Step Brothers 2.

"Yeah, we just sat down with John [C. Reilly] and we were kicking around some ideas," Ferrell said. "So, you know, maybe. We'll see."

Everything Must Go, a comedy about an alcoholic who loses his job and wife and tries to start over by holding a yard sale, hits theaters May 13.

Wow, Everything Must Go sounds like a riot. An actual riot, with people beaten bloody and flame in the streets.

Recreating "Everybody Loves Raymond" for Russia

2011-04-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

from San Diego:

Creating a hit television sitcom requires talent, instinct and maybe just a little luck. But it isn’t until the taping of the pilot episode that you know whether you’ve created magic or misery. Phil Rosenthal lived through both scenarios with the sitcom he created, “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Rosenthal’s success story revolves around a TV show about a regular guy (Ray Romano) and his wacky family that ran from 1995 to 2005 on CBS. The show was such a hit, in fact, that the studio wants to re-create a version for Russian audiences, like they had done so successfully with sitcoms like “The Nanny” and “Married With Children.” And so begins Phil Rosenthal’s comedy nightmare, as portrayed in the documentary he wrote and directed, “Exporting Raymond.”

Rosenthal is about as un-Hollywood as you can get. Think of a mix between Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld; geeky, sharp and funny with a serious streak when it comes to comedy. These qualities make Rosenthal an endearing guide on this odd journey, even if he is irrationally afraid of kidnappings, poisonings and rickety buildings that cause cancer. (Maybe we should add a little Woody Allen to that personality mix.)

Fears aside, Rosenthal is ready to travel to Russia to re-create “Raymond” using the same formula of mining humor from the everyday lives of average American families. Here’s the problem — this is Russia. Even if Russian families are remarkably similar to Americans, as Rosenthal seems to think they are, that doesn’t mean they want to see something resembling real life on television (and based upon the way Russia is portrayed here, I don’t blame them).

This potential problem doesn’t seem to occur to Rosenthal or the American studio executives brokering the situation until the Russian creative team begins fighting Rosenthal’s advice at every turn. Why cast an average-looking actor for Raymond when you can have a hunk? Why dress his wife in casual clothes if she can clean the house in glamorous garb (or the Russian version of glamorous, which recalls American fashion circa 1988)?

What we get is a cultural standoff, and it’s awkward, nonsensical and really funny. Certainly funnier than the television show that’s coming together inside the rundown industrial building that serves as the television studio. Rosenthal’s exasperated expressions and reactions may make him the comic, but he’s also a tough negotiator who rarely backs down from his vision, even if it would make his life easier. And sometimes it even works.

As enjoyable as the debacle is to watch — especially when Rosenthal interacts with his delightfully flighty parents, the inspiration for Raymond’s parents — there is something slightly disingenuous about the documentary itself. Although he never explicitly says so in the film, it’s clear that Rosenthal took on the project with the goal of turning the experience into a documentary — presumably a funny one. While the Russian way of doing business does create increasingly ridiculous barriers that make for comedy gold, I couldn’t help but wonder how Rosenthal’s desire to make an entertaining documentary might have shaped his actions on camera and in the editing room. There’s no denying the hilarity of these cultural differences and quirky personalities (a TV director who performs music with enema bags as a hobby?), but the whole project seems so outrageously untenable that you have to question the motivation for attempting it all.

While these concerns came to mind more than a few times during the film, they were promptly shoved aside by a genuine laugh at whatever craziness happened next. I don’t think a television writer hopes for anything more than that.

Neat.

In other news, 50 Cats Straight Chillin'.

Gilbert Gottfried continues being a jerk

2011-04-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

from Chicago:

Expect a tsunami of audacious comedy when Gilbert Gottfried returns to Zanies Comedy Nightclub in Vernon Hills on May 7.

"People will either laugh or throw a chair at me," said Gottfried, 56. The fare will include lots of dirty jokes and riff on recent events.

Known for his sharp wit, flawless delivery and distinctively irritating public voice, this Brooklyn native straddles the entertainment world with his feet firmly planted in both children's entertainment, as a voice actor for Disney, and the anything-goes poster-child for the dark corners of adult stand-up.

...

He said he feels bound to discuss the reasons he's been the recent subject of media scrutiny. "Like the elephant in the room, it is impossible to avoid it," said Gottfried.

That elephant would be his firing last month as the voice of the AFLAC duck in commercials, a job he's had since 2000. The supplemental insurance company that does 75 percent of its business in Japan, felt he'd gone much too far when he used his Twitter account to post several jokes in questionable taste about the tsunami and earthquake that shook that country.

"Centuries from now, when aliens land and they are digging up the remnants of our society, they'll probably see all the reports and think I was the cause of those tsunamis," said Gottfried.
Finding the funny in disasters is nothing new for him.

"I was the first one to do a September 11 joke," he recalled. "The funny thing about that is it was with a September 11 joke that I completely lost the audience, and won them back by talking about bestiality and incest."

Oh, Gilbert. What won't you say? Besides "AFLAC," which you are no longer legally allowed to say.

Will Ferrell isn't as cool as Steve Carell

2011-04-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

from The Daily Bruin:

For now, let’s just say it’s strange. For more than six seasons, “The Office” has been at times hilarious, wonderful, misguided and boring, but Carell was the constant. He wreaked havoc until you wanted to punch him but showed just enough heart that you held back and laughed instead.

Now we’ll have to divide “The Office” into two eras, like Van Halen or “American Idol,” and it’s hard to imagine the post-Carell show measuring up.

Two episodes in, Ferrell has been decidedly unfunny. Part of that may be the actor’s nervousness at filling such big shoes, but it also seems the writers are hedging their bets. Last week’s episode actually revolved around Vickers’ inability to tell a joke, a worrisome sign if the character is going to stick around much longer.

At this point, though, it’s hard to imagine something that wouldn’t be worrisome – this being television, a resistance to change is unavoidable.

Let's ignore the fact that both of the actors are regional stand-ins for Ricky Gervais. What's he up to, besides ruining award shows? Let's go get him instead.

Rob Schneider gets married to someone far too sexy

2011-04-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

from The Examiner:

Comedian Rob Schneider was married on Saturday in Beverly Hills, California. The 47-year-old actor married Patricia Azarcoya Arce on Saturday in a private ceremony. The news, confirmed by a statement from the comedian, came as a shock to some fans who didn’t realize his courtship was serious or that the marriage was actually going to happen.

To stop the fans from dismissing the news as rumors, Rob Schneider released a report Monday night confirming his marriage and sharing the joy in his new life.

"We had a great time at the wedding and are looking forward to our honeymoon." says Rob Schneider from a released statement.

Proof that you don't have to be handsome, or particularly talented, to marry someone way, way out of your league.