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Comedy Kings and Queens

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Comedy Kings and Queens

Following the lives, loves, and laughs of the world's favorite funnypersons

From the writers' strike to the funny pages, comedians are consistent newsmakers. Leno and Letterman provide nightly commentary on wacky happenings; Tina Fey and Larry David keep television comedy on its toes; Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert take newsmaking quite literally. So much comedy, so little time: Make this your stop for the latest from the world of humor.

Stories

Stories 81 - 100 of 196

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January 2008
- Oscar Plans Remain Under Strike Cloud
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Jan 9, 08 1:53 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - After the threat of picketing writers shut down the Golden Globes, organizers of the Academy Awards know they're on thin ice, the Hollywood Reporte r writes. "Our hope is we can work something out or that the strike is resolved in time," Academy executive director Bruce Davis said of the planned Feb. 24 event, already behind schedule. More »
- Author Sues Seinfelds Over 'Copycat' Cookbook
  
  The Smoking Gun | Jan 8, 08 1:05 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The author who blasted Jessica Seinfeld for allegedly stealing her cookbook ideas slapped Seinfeld and her funnyman hubby with a lawsuit today, simultaneously accusing Jerry Seinfeld of defaming her character, the Smoking Gun reports. After Missy Chase Lapine accused his wife of plagiarizing her book, The Sneaky Chef, Jerry Seinfeld called her "hysterical" on David Letterman's show, comparing her to "wackos," stalkers, and assassins. More »
- Stewart, Colbert Return to Late Night
  
  Chicago Tribune | Jan 8, 08 11:24 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Late-night TV hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert returned to the air last night, without writers or scripted material. In recognition of the WGA strike, both shows included commentary on the work stoppage, reports the Chicago Tribune. Stewart said, “From now on until the end of the strike, we will be doing ‘A Daily Show with Jon Stewart’ but not ‘The Daily Show.’” More »
- Scribes Cut Deal With Tom Cruise's UA
  
  Variety | Jan 7, 08 7:14 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Striking scribes cut a deal with Tom Cruise's United Artists today, their first with a major studio since walking out in November, Variety reports. Terms were kept secret, but analysts say they likely match a deal struck with David Letterman's WorldWide Pants last week, including new media residuals. “United Artists has lived up to its name," WGA West president Patric Verrrone said. More »
- Tom Cruise's United Artists Cutting Deal With Writers
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jan 6, 08 5:00 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - United Artists, the independent production unit of MGM controlled by actor Tom Cruise, is expected to soon finalize a deal with striking Hollywood writers modeled on the one made by producers for talk-show host David Letterman, the Los Angeles Times reports. United Artists will likely grant some key demands of the Writers Guild of America. The union hopes getting independent producers on board will help push the big studios back to the bargaining table. More »
- Writers Want Leno to Can the Jokes
  
  New York Times | Jan 4, 08 9:34 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Jay Leno is back on the air telling jokes, but striking writers want him to knock it off. Leno returned to TV—and the top of the ratings—Wednesday and yesterday with monologues he wrote. Writers say that violates strike rules and are trying to pressure him and NBC to scrap the stand-up bits, reports the New York Times . Leno, though, says he got permission from the guild and is holding firm. More »
- Late-Night Hosts Return With Laughs, Politics
  
  Associated Press | Jan 2, 08 11:19 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Late-night talk shows returned to the air tonight for the first time in two months with a dose of politics mixed among the laughs, the AP reports. Mike Huckabee appeared on Leno, apparently a bit confused by the status of the writers' strike, while Letterman got a taped intro from Hillary Clinton. Letterman and Conan O'Brien sported beards, having put their razors on strike, too. More »
- Dave, Jay, Conan Back Tonight
  
  Reuters | Jan 2, 08 5:27 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The nation's late-night hosts return tonight after a two-month hiatus because of the writers' strike, with a decided advantage going to David Letterman, reports Reuters. He will return with his writers and top 10 lists intact after negotiating his own deal. Not so for Jay and Conan, who also may struggle getting A-list celebrities. Hillary Clinton taped a cameo for Letterman tonight, while Mike Huckabee will make a full appearance on Leno. More »
- Where Are the A-Listers in Writers Strike?
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jan 2, 08 1:00 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Although the writers strike has drawn many B-list and small-screen actors to the picket lines, A-listers have nearly all avoided publicly taking sides, notes the Los Angeles Times . The big stars may be in the awkward position of working on movies, despite their union's pledge of solidarity with the Writers Guild of America. They may also be spending their time seeking new ways to promote their work while the late-night TV circuit is mostly shut down. More »
December 2007
- A-Listers Don't Want to Be Like Mike
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Dec 31, 07 3:00 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Mike Huckabee will be Jay Leno’s first guest when the “Tonight Show" resumes for the first time since the writers strike began last month, the Hollywood Reporter says. The Republican presidential candidate will enjoy the spotlight on Wednesday, the eve of the Iowa caucuses. The late-night talkers have been scrambling to book guests as many A-listers refuse to cross picket lines. More »
- Letterman to Return, With Writers
  
  New York Times | Dec 28, 07 5:31 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Like colleagues Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, David Letterman’s late-night talk show will return to the air Wednesday, but with an important difference: He will be supported by his usual writing staff, the New York Times reports. Letterman’s production company, not network CBS, owns his show, and secured an independent deal with the striking writers guild after two weeks of negotiations. More »
- Late-Night Hosts at a Loss for Words
  
  Wall Street Journal | Dec 28, 07 12:38 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The late-night talk shows will be back next week, but they’ll be virtually unrecognizable, the Wall Street Journal reports. Broad, vague Writers Guild rules prohibit the hosts, many of whom belong to the striking union, from providing their shows with “writing services.” That means no scripted monologues, sketches, or fictional characters. More »
- Stewart's Daily Show to Return
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Dec 20, 07 6:57 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Jon Stewart fans can rejoice. His Daily Show will return to the air Jan. 7, along with the Colbert Report , says the Hollywood Reporter . The two Comedy Central shows will return five days after Leno, Conan, and Jimmy Kimmel do the same, despite the writers' strike. Stewart and Colbert may be at a disadvantage because their shows rely more on writers and less on celebrity interviews. More »
- Worker Axed Over Dilbert Zinger
  
  Des Moines Register | Dec 20, 07 2:50 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Bosses at the Catfish Bend Casino in Iowa suffered a sense of humor failure after a Dilbert cartoon referring to decision-makers as "drunken lemurs" appeared on a workplace bulletin board. They checked the security cameras to find the culprit and fired the employee who posted the strip, reports the Des Moines Registe r. More »
- 60% of Viewers Favor Writers Over Studios
  
  USA Today | Dec 19, 07 1:52 PM CST