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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: stand up comedy

stand up comedy stories: 16 news summaries



 Daily Show's 
 John Oliver 
 Gets Series 

Comic to host stand-up variety show

Nov 18, 09 1:56 PM CST
(Newser) - Comedy Central has ordered six episodes of a new series starring Daily Show correspondent John Oliver. Each installment of John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show will feature performances from four comedians of Oliver's choosing—Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, and Paul F. Tompkins are confirmed. "It's the most worthwhile way... More »

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comedy • stand up comedy • The Daily Show • comedian • John Oliver

Ha. Ha.

 Hollywood's Least 
 Funny Comics 

These guys get no respect, and they deserve it

Nov 16, 09 1:40 PM CST
(Newser) - You rarely see Carrot Top or Gallagher anymore, but showbiz is still full of guys who just aren’t funny. Sarah Bell of Newsweek points out the worthiest tomato targets:
  • Larry the Cable Guy: A really, really poor man’s Jeff Foxworthy, minus any actual jokes.
... More »

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entertainment • television • Deal or No Deal • comedy • stand up comedy • Jay Leno • late night talk show • late night host • Howie Mandel • Dane Cook • Larry the Cable Guy • Carlos Mencia • Jeff Dunham

DRUG CZAR IN TRAINING

I Snorted Coke 40 Feet From Obama at DC Dinner: Actor

David Cross, of Arrested Development fame, says he did it on a dare

Oct 22, 09 9:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - We’ve all done silly stuff on a dare, but probably not on the level of actor/author/comic/crazy guy David Cross, who says he snorted cocaine not 40 feet from President Obama at the White House Correspondents' Dinner (not, for the record, held at the White House). With cabinet secretaries, Supreme... More »

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Secret Service • cocaine • stand up comedy • Arrested Development • White House Correspondents Dinner • Obama administration • President Obama • David Cross • Amber Tamblyn

(Newser) - Judd Apatow doesn't dispense entirely with his raunchy humor in Funny People, but his venture into more serious themes meets mixed success with critics. Most, however, love Adam Sandler as a gravely ill comedian confronting the emptiness of his life.
  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: "Apatow scores by crafting
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
comedy • movie review • stand up comedy • Adam Sandler • Judd Apatow • Seth Rogen



 Kimmel Rips 
 ABC to Shreds 

Slams own network at advertiser presentation

May 20, 09 9:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jimmy Kimmel took the stage yesterday at a network presentation for advertisers, and promptly bit the hands that feed him—ripping into ABC, its advertisers, and even Jay Leno, writes Dave Itzkoff in the New York Times reports. “All of ABC’s late-night comedy talent is assembled here on... More »

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television • NBC • ABC • network • stand up comedy • Jimmy Kimmel • Jay Leno • advertisers • upfront week

SLIDESHOW

 Obama Brings 
 Down House 
 at Press Dinner 

President plays stand-up comic

May 10, 09 5:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama slayed his audience with killer jokes last night at the celebrity-studded White House Correspondents' Dinner, reports the Washington Post. Aiming zingers at everyone from Hillary to himself, Obama drew guffaws from the 2500 guests with lines like: "My next 100 days will be so successful. I... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • media • stand up comedy • White House Correspondents Dinner • Jay-ZTV

(Newser) - Wanda Sykes has been tapped to roast Barack Obama at this year’s White House Correspondents' Dinner on May 9. The lesbian comic will likely skewer the President’s anti-gay-marriage stance, but she has some skeletons of her own, the Los Angeles Times reports. After hearing about the engagement,... More »

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gay rights • gay marriage • lesbians • stand up comedy • comedian • White House Correspondents Dinner • President Obama • Wanda Sykes • roast

 CNN Adds Laughs 
 to News Lineup 

Network recruits Hughley for Letterman-style talk show

Oct 16, 08 12:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - The 24-hour news cycle will take a break for comedy with a Letterman-like talk show set to make its debut on CNN next weekend. Comic and actor DL Hughley, one of the "Original Kings of Comedy," will host. "When you watch as much news as our audience... More »

MORE ABOUT:
stand up comedy • CNN • late night talk show • D.L. Hughley

 Seinfeld
 Defense:
 Lawsuits
 are Funny

Sez silly suits are fodder for routine

Aug 28, 08 12:42 PM CDT
(Newser) - Jerry Seinfeld insisted yesterday that he didn’t slander a woman suing his wife for cookbook plagiarism because silly lawsuits are fodder for good comedy. The comic cited episodes from Seinfeld as well as his kid-friendly Bee Movie in a court filing as examples of the First Amendment-protected comedic license... More »

MORE ABOUT:
New York City • free speech • plagiarism • Jerry Seinfeld • First Amendment • celebrity • stand up comedy • slander • frivolous lawsuits • civil lawsuits • Jessica Seinfeld • cookbooks

 Cho Gung-Ho on New Show

Comedienne has a new show and plenty to talk about

Aug 21, 08 12:26 PM CDT
(Newser) - If you've missed Margaret Cho's raunchy brand of comedy, her new "scripted reality sitcom," The Cho Show, debuts this month on VH1 and follows the comedienne and hangers-on through outrageous adventures in Hollywood. Cho sat down with Radar to talk about anal bleaching, defending Britney Spears, and winning... More »

MORE ABOUT:
reality TV • comedy • VH1 • stand up comedy • interview • Margaret Cho

 Comedian Bernie 
 Mac Dies at 50

Standup comic moved on to film, TV

Aug 9, 08 9:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Comedian and actor Bernie Mac has died at 50 of pneumonia after a week’s hospitalization in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reports. Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, an unusual autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the lungs. Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, the comedian was a late bloomer, achieving fame in his... More »

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television • film • comedy • stand up comedy • actor • Bernie Mac

ANALYSIS

 Where Will Jay
 Go After 
 Tonight? 

Comedian may be getting the boot, but tomorrow's looking pretty bright

Jun 28, 08 6:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jay Leno might be losing his beloved "Tonight Show," writes the Hollywood Reporter, but the host still has a ratings punch and an enviable set of options (in decreasing order of probability):
  1. Take ABC’s 11:30pm-12:30am slot, displacing Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live and competing
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NBC • CBS • ABC • news • stand up comedy • Jimmy Kimmel • Jay Leno • late night talk show • late night host • Conan O'Brien • David Letterman • Tonight Show • network television

 70s Comic Icon
 George Carlin Dies 

Funnyman, 71, was known for pushing limits

Jun 23, 08 3:59 AM CDT
(Newser) - Provocative comedian George Carlin died yesterday of heart failure in a Santa Monica hospital at the age of 71, Reuters reports. The counterculture hero, who long battled heart and drug problems, had been admitted earlier in the day complaining of chest pains. He was known for boundary-stretching, drug-referencing routines. One... More »

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television • comedy • stand up comedy • comedian • George Carlin

obituary

Laugh-In Creator Dick Martin
Dead at 86

Zany funnyman socked it to US audiences, topped ratings for years

May 25, 08 11:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - The final judge has come for Dick Martin, co-founder of the groundbreaking comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and later a prolific director, the AP reports. Martin, the wacky counterpoint to partner Dan Rowan's straight man, died last night at age 86 of respiratory problems. Laugh-In, which began in 1968,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
obituary • stand up comedy • comedian • respiratory problems • Dick Martin • Laugh-in

 Seinfeld: Still a Classic? 

Two critics battle over the show about nothing

May 4, 08 7:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Does the sitcom "about nothing” still evoke something—like laughs? Two TV critics revisited Seinfeld and emerged with different takes on the nutty New Yorkers. David Noonan argues that great actors—including an awesome string of small-part oddballs—still make the comedy sparkle. "They add a deep and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • Jerry Seinfeld • Seinfeld • comedy • stand up comedy • Julia Louis-Dreyfus • sitcom

Chappelle Treated for Exhaustion

Comedian "fine" after weekend hospital visit

Jul 18, 07 6:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - Dave Chappelle, the sketch comedian who's famous for finding success stressful, was hospitalized for exhaustion over the weekend. His publicist suggested the comedian’s travel schedule was the reason for an emergency room visit Saturday. In May 2005, Chappelle caused a media uproar when he abruptly walked away from his... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Los Angeles • South Africa • Laugh Factory • Dave Chappelle • Chappelle Show • Comedy Central • stand up comedy

16 Stories


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