|
Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Dane Cook, Katt Williams Tracy Morgan & Jeff Dunham Slated to Appear as TBS Presents a "Very Funny" Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, A Co-Production with AEG Live, Returning to Caesars Palace for Fourth Year
TBS Television Specials to Include Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show, Presented by Ellen DeGeneres;
Laffapalooza, Hosted by Tracy Morgan; and a Celebrity Roast of Cheech and Chong
THE COMEDY FESTIVAL to Take Place in Las Vegas Thursday, Nov. 20, to Saturday, Nov. 22;
Tickets On Sale Now
Up-and-Coming Comedians to be Featured in the TBS LOL Lounge,
With Performances and Exclusive Programming Streamed Online at thecomedyfestival.com
Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan and Jeff Dunham are among the headliners slated to appear this year as TBS Presents a "Very Funny" Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, co-produced by AEG Live. Joining them will be Mike Epps, David Alan Grier, The Kids in the Hall, Russell Peters, Jim Breuer, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Norton and John Oliver. In addition, Caliente Comedy will feature comedians Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco and Anjelah Johnson. TBS will televise several programs from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including the variety special Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show, presented by DeGeneres; Laffapalooza, an evening of performances by top comedians hosted by Morgan; and a celebrity roast of Cheech and Chong.
Now in its fourth year, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL is a three-day event taking place Nov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased for individual shows and packages online at thecomedyfestival.com, by phone at (877) TCF-FEST or in person at the Box Office at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Exclusive VIP packages are available online or by calling The Colosseum box office at (702) 866-1409. Hotel information can be found at www.caesarspalace.com, while additional festival information and schedule updates is available at thecomedyfestival.com.
In addition to the comedy stars appearing in The Colosseum, the Palace Ballroom and the Augustus Ballroom, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL will showcase more than 25 up-and-coming comedians in the TBS LOL Lounge (located in the Emperors Ballroom). Many of their performances will be streamed online at thecomedyfestival.com, which will use cutting-edge technology to give online fans the opportunity to get in on THE COMEDY FESTIVAL experience.
Additional performances at THE COMEDY FESTIVAL and TBS specials from the Las Vegas event will be announced in the coming weeks.
"This marks TBS' first year as a full presenter of this massive comedy event with AEG Live, and we couldn't be more thrilled at the way the lineup is coming together," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president and general manager of comedy festivals for TBS. "We look forward to showcasing an outstanding lineup of established and rising stars on a variety of platforms � from the webcast to TBS telecasts and, of course, the live shows. TBS and THE COMEDY FESTIVAL are the destinations for comedy fans."
"All of us at AEG Live are very proud of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL as it enters its fourth year at Caesars Palace," said John Meglen, president and co-CEO of Concerts West/AEG Live. "We've always believed THE COMEDY FESTIVAL format was a perfect fit for Las Vegas and are pleased to be presenting, with TBS, another edition of extraordinary comedic talent and experiences."
The following is the current schedule for this year's edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL:
Thursday, Nov. 20
TBS Special: Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show � The Colosseum
Ellen DeGeneres is back for another edition of her massive variety special, set to air Saturday, Nov. 29, on TBS. Live music, dancers and a boatload of specialty acts will be showcased in this throwback to variety shows of the past. It will be produced by Telepictures Productions, with Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin and Andy Lassner, whose credits include DeGeneres' Emmy�-winning talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, serving as executive producers.
Katt Williams � The Colosseum
Known just as much for his permed hair as he is for his animated performances and quick wit, comedian Katt Williams has been making his mark in Hollywood for more than 10 years. His early 2008 comedy tour, the Its Pimpin Pimpin Tour, is on mark to become one of the highest grossing comedy tours of 2008, and in November, Salient Media will release his third DVD. He has become somewhat of a staple comedic force on BET, appearing on shows such as Comic View, Rip the Runway, Black Carpet and 106th & Park, and he is set to host his third BET Hip Hop Awards ceremony again this year in October. His talent extends over multiple mediums. Known to many for his breakout role in three seasons of Nick Cannon's highly-rated MTV improv show Wild �N Out, the funnyman has appeared in numerous music videos, in addition to landing scene-stealing roles on the small and big screen in such projects as Friday After Next, First Sunday and Norbit. Williams also recently signed a development deal with Comedy Central for an unscripted show.
Breuer Unleashed � Palace Ballroom
Jim Breuer has established himself as one of the most outrageous comedians in the United States through his incredible stand-up performances, charismatic stage antics and impressions, various television appearances, movie roles and Sirius Satellite Radio show. He pioneered the "heavy-metal comedy" revolution, combining his love of rock �n' roll with comedy. In 1995, Jim joined NBC's Saturday Night Live, becoming best known for his original character Goat Boy and his impression of actor Joe Pesci. He later went on to host MTV's Beach House and VH1's Web Junk 20. In 2004, he began hosting the Sirius Satellite Radio show Breuer Unleashed on RawDog 104. For this show, Beuer will be joined by his Breuer Unleashed sidekick, comedian Pete Correale.
Friday, Nov. 21
Jerry Seinfeld � The Colosseum
Funnyman Jerry Seinfeld, the star of his own smash-hit sitcom, best-selling author and stand-up legend, performs his unique brand of observational comedy live at The Colosseum. Right out of Queens College, Seinfeld hit the comedy ground running, appearing on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Merv Griffin Show. He later joined forces with Larry David to create the hit series Seinfeld, one of the most popular and critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time. After the series ended its run with an audience of 75 million viewers, Seinfeld returned to stand-up, appearing across the country and in his own stand-up specials, the process of which was documented in the movie Comedian. This past year, he wrote, starred and produced the blockbuster Bee Movie.
Dane Cook � The Colosseum
Combining energetic physical comedy, clever wordplay and trenchant observations about human behavior, Dane Cook's unique brand of stand-up and accessible guy-next-door attitude have galvanized audiences. He has performed for enormous crowds at Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, Chicago's United Center and the University of Florida's Gator Growl. His second CD, Retaliation, went double-platinum after debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest debuting album in 27 years. Cook's feature film credits include Dan in Real Life, Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Brooks and My Best Friend's Girl.
TBS Special: Cheech and Chong Celebrity Roast � Palace Ballroom
Cheech and Chong, the stoner pair who dominated the comedy scene in the 1970s and '80s and recently reunited for their Light Up America tour, take their place in the hot seat to be roasted by close friends and fellow comedians. The duo made a name for themselves with their drug-laced humor, which kept audiences rolling in the aisles with such comedy routines as "Earache My Eye," "Basketball Jones," "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" and "Sister Mary Elephant." They transferred their success to the big screen with a number of hit movies, like Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams and Things are Tough All Over. After several years working on solo careers, the pair recently hooked up again to take their comedy on the road with an American and Canadian tour.
David Alan Grier � Palace Ballroom
The wildly talented David Alan Grier has kept audiences in stitches with his work in such TV series as In Living Color, Life with Bonnie and Thank God You're Here. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, he first hit the stage playing Jackie Robinson in the Broadway production of The First, which earned him a Tony nomination. He went on to star in the Broadway production of Dreamgirls and A Soldier's Play, reprising his role in the film version of the latter. His extensive film credits include Jumanji, Bewitched and Baadasss! Grier is currently gearing up for the premiere of his new Comedy Central series Chocolate News.
The Kids in the Hall � Augustus Ballroom
Discovered by Lorne Michaels, The Kids in the Hall � Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson � exploded into the American consciousness when their half-hour sketch comedy show debuted on HBO in 1989. The troupe's distinctly edgy humor broke new ground with their characterizations of secretaries, prostitutes, gays, drug users and oddball creations like the half-human Chicken Lady, the vengeful "head crusher" and the chauvinist Cabbage Head. Critical acclaim, Emmy and CableACE nominations, plus a legion of extremely dedicated fans, quickly followed the debut. Since the show ended, each member of the troupe has been involved in a variety of extremely successful projects. They later put their classic sketches back in front of a live audience in 2000, followed by a movie version of the Same Guys, New Dresses tour. They launched another tour and DVD, Tour of Duty, in 2002. They just recently embarked on a third tour and were inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Russell Peters & Friends � Augustus Ballroom
Steadily making his way to the top of the heap in the United States, Russell Peters is already a comedy superstar in much of the world, selling out engagements from London to Sydney to Toronto, and even at the famed Apollo Theater in New York. This year, he joined the exclusive ranks of comedians who have headlined and sold out Madison Square Garden. He also was the first comic of South Asian heritage to do so. In Hollywood, the industry refers to this phenomenon as "The Legend Of Russell Peters," because his success � without a network sitcom, a hit movie or a high-profile comedy album to anchor it � is practically unprecedented. He'll be joined in his show by three rising stars: Tom Segura, Nick Thune and Dom Irerra.
Jim Norton � Augustus Ballroom
Jim Norton is a nationally-touring comedian and best-selling author who can be heard weekday mornings on the Opie & Anthony radio show both on CBS and XM radio networks. Fans will get even more of his honest and raunchy humor this fall with his new HBO series, Down and Dirty with Jim Norton, premiering Oct. 3. I Hate Your Guts, his highly anticipated second book, will be published by Simon Spotlight Nov. 4. Norton was most recently seen in his HBO special Monster Rain. Other TV credits include Lucky Louie and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. He has also performed on all the major late-night talk shows. His first book, Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch, was published last year and was a New York Times bestseller. In addition to radio, books & TV, he is currently performing his unique stand-up to sold-out crowds across the country. Norton will be joined by comedians Robert Kelly and Russ Meneve.
Saturday, Nov. 22
Jerry Seinfeld � The Colosseum
Funnyman Jerry Seinfeld, the star of his own smash-hit sitcom, best-selling author and stand-up legend, performs his unique brand of observational comedy live at The Colosseum.
Jeff Dunham � The Colosseum
Breathing life into an elderly curmudgeon, or a purple human-like creature from the Micronesian islands, or even a self-effacing, talking jalapeno-on-a-stick, ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is straight man to some of the funniest partners in show business. He has amassed legions of loyal fans throughout the United States and abroad with thousands of sold-out theater and comedy club performances, countless television guest spots � including numerous late-night appearances with both Leno and Carson � and with two top-rated specials on Comedy Central. Dunham was voted Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic at the American Comedy Awards and in January of this year was voted #1 in Comedy Central's Stand-Up Showdown. He is a true veteran of the comedic stage, performing 40 weeks and 250 dates a year in concert venues, comedy clubs and countless private corporate appearances. Anyone who has experienced an evening with Dunham knows, however, that the real stars of the show are his partners in comedy: Achmed, Peanut, Walter, Jos� Jalape�o and Bubba J.
Caliente Comedy � Starring Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco, Anjelah Johnson � Augustus Ballroom
Hispanic comedians Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco and Anjelah Johnson take center stage in this stand-up event. Mexican-American Iglesias, a former star of All That, is known for his loud Hawaiian shirts, funny voices, lifelike sound-effects and animated style of comedy. Tucson native Francisco, a former member of the duo Blowout Boys, has an uncanny ability to create vividly funny living pictures using off-the-wall sound effects and loads of his own ample imagination. And Anjelah Johnson, whose routine about going to a nail salon is an online phenomenon, has made a name for herself with her excellent voice characterizations and sharp observational wit.
Andrew Dice Clay � Palace Ballroom
Andrew Dice Clay is proud to be one of America's most controversial and outrageous comics of all time. For years, the Diceman has been shocking audiences and breaking rules with a never-before-seen style of hardcore comedy. He was even banned from MTV. Despite the media backlash, Andrew Dice Clay remained a comic icon and the self-proclaimed Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy.
TBS Special: Laffapalooza, Hosted by Tracy Morgan � Palace Ballroom
Tracy Morgan will host this gathering of top comedians guaranteed to keep the audience and TBS viewers in stitches. Morgan can currently be seen as wild and unpredictable movie star Tracy Jordan in the Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock. A standup comic who headlines across the country, Morgan first caught the attention of television audiences as Hustleman on the hit comedy series Martin. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1996, appearing for seven seasons and creating such memorable characters as Astronaut Jones and Brian Fellows. He went on to star in his own comedy series, and on Crank Yankers. His film credits include First Sunday, The Longest Yard, Little Man, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Head of State. Executive-producing Laffapalooza are Jamie Foxx and Marcus King of Foxx King Entertainment, Stu Schreiberg for Levity Productions and Ron Wilson for Laffapalooza! Productions.
Mike Epps � Augustus Ballroom
Mike Epps has generated a lot of buzz among his peers and within the industry for being one of the funniest comedic actors to emerge in Hollywood. His films include Talk to Me, The Fighting Temptations, Next Friday, How High, Bait and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins. Epps' comedic talent was first hit the big time in 1995, when he appeared on the Def Comedy Jam tour and HBO's Def Comedy Jam broadcasts. In early 2009, he will co-star with Ice Cube in Janky Promoters.
John Oliver � Augustus Ballroom
The Daily Show's John Oliver will be joined by Rob Riggle and Rory Albanese as they showcase their biting satirical comedy in this special performance. United Kingdom comedian Oliver has worked as a stand-up comedian for the past seven years, with regular shows taken to the Edinburgh Festival. With his friend and long time collaborator Andy Zaltzman, Oliver wrote and starred in three series of The Department for BBC Radio 4. His one-hour special John Oliver � Terrifying Times, premiered in April and has just been released on DVD. This summer, he co-starred in The Love Guru and recorded a second series of Political Animal with Zaltzman, which included a special from New York. Riggle has been a correspondent on The Daily Show for two years. He has been performing sketch and improv comedy in New York and Los Angeles for the last nine years as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. His television and film performances include Saturday Night Live, The Office, Arrested Development, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story, Talladega Nights, Unaccompanied Minors and Step Brothers. Riggle has served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and is currently a Major in the Marine Corps Reserves. Albanese is an Emmy-winning executive producer and comedy writer whose credits include The Daily Show, The 80th Annual Academy Awards, The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards and the television comedy special I'm a Correspondent, Please Don't Fire Me.
Thursday, Nov. 20-Saturday, Nov. 22
TBS LOL Lounge � Emperors Ballroom
This year, the Emperors Ballroom will once again be the site of a comedy club, featuring up-and-coming stand-up, sketch and alternative performers. These artists are not bound by the old rules of live performance, so it's sure to be one of the festival's most talked-about shows. More than 25 comedians will perform in the specially designed space.
thecomedyfestival.com � Live webcasts 6�9:30 p.m. (PT)
TBS's Web site, thecomedyfestival.com, will be the online destination for THE COMEDY FESTIVAL. During the weekend of the event and for a few weeks afterwards, comedy lovers will be able to experience the sights, sounds, and laughter of the festival. Each night, users will virtually be able to attend the festival at Caesars Palace. Using the latest in cutting-edge technology, the site will allow viewers to choose from a menu of events from the LOL Lounge.
About THE COMEDY FESTIVAL
With more than 70 performances and events over a three-day period, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL's goal is to bring together the biggest names and cutting-edge comedy talent in a broad range of programming, from star-level performances and special events to stand-up and sketch comedy. TBS presented three prime-time specials from last year's edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including Ellen's Really Big Show, Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation and Frank Caliendo: All Over the Place. In addition, last year's event featured performances by Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Past television highlights include a 2006 airing of the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief, starring Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams; A Salute to the Troops and USO, with special guests Kid Rock and Carmen Electra; and 2005's Earth to America, with Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Larry David, Steve Martin and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
About Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is the world's best known resort-casino, celebrating the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, in an 85-acre destination location that sets the standard for entertainment, dining and luxury. Reigning at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace is adding a $1 billion expansion with the new Octavius Tower, a larger pool area and more meeting space to open in mid-2009. The property ranks among the world's top luxury resorts known for their originality and beauty and features 3,348 hotel guest rooms and suites, 24 unique restaurants and cafes, 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods pools and gardens, the 50,000 square foot Qua Baths & Spa and 240,000 square feet of premium meeting and convention space. The 4,300-seat Colosseum spotlights renowned headliner entertainers such as Bette Midler, Cher, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld. The magnificent theatre sits just steps away from celebrity chef restaurants and the acclaimed Forum Shops at Caesars. More information is available at caesarspalace.com or by calling (702) 731-7110 or (800) 634-6001. Journalists can download information and photos at media.harrahs.com.
About AEG Live
AEG Live, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring for a variety of programming and multi-media production. One of the largest concert promotion and touring companies in the world, AEG Live is comprised of special event, broadcast and exhibition divisions and operates and owns numerous state of the art venues nationwide. Current AEG Live tours and productions include Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On and Cher at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; and Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, an international tour of the artifacts of King Tut. Recent and current promoted concert tours include Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Bon Jovi, Hannah Montana, Spice Girls, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney and American Idols Live. AEG Live also co-produces the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Goldenvoice, the company's southern California-based regional promotion division, created and operates the award winning annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Additional information is available at www.aeglive.com.
About TBS
TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top-rated comedy network. It serves as home to such original comedy series as My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, 10 Items or Less and Frank TV; hot contemporary comedies like The Office, My Name is Earl, Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, King of Queens, Seinfeld and Friends; specials like Funniest Commercials of the Year; special events, such as The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas and Just For Laughs: A "Very Funny" Festival in Chicago; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
|
