Ellen DeGeneres Has a Bigger, Longer, Wider Show
June 27, 2009 by Chandra
Ultra popular, Emmy-winning actress, comic, and daytime talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres kicks off the second day of TBS’ televised A “Very Funny” Festival: Just for Laughs tonight, June 27, with another one of her always entertaining variety specials. Saturday Night Live alum Martin Short got things started last night with his own special called Let Freedom Hum: An Evening of Comedy Hosted by Martin Short.
The “Very Funny” Festival: Just For Laughs is a comedy event sponsored by TBS in collaboration with Just For Laughs, which has been running comedy festivals for 25 impressive years. The current extravaganza was filmed live in Chicago during the five-day period June 17th to 21st. More than 70 shows held around Chicago included performances by top comedic talent like DeGeneres, Louis CK, Andy Dick, Bill Engvall, Jimmy Fallon, David Alan Grier, Jim Jefferies, Lisa Lampanelli, George Lopez, Bob Odenkirk, and Russell Peters.
Now, TBS is giving fans the opportunity to enjoy the very first Just For Laughs Chicago event on television through a series of specials, including the latest edition of Ellen’s variety show, which premieres tonight on the basic-cable network at 9pm ET. This one is called Ellen’s Bigger, Longer and Wider Show.
Joining Ellen for an hour of comedy, dancing, magic, music, and unique acts are multi-talented America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon serving as DJ, magic maestro David Blaine, and Grammy-winning recording artist Kanye West, among others.
The program was taped on Wednesday, June 17, at the Chicago Theatre, and Ellen was really jazzed to be a part of it, as indicated by her comment, “I’m so excited to be going to Chicago for my variety show. We’ve got amazing acts, plus I’ve never seen the Liberty Bell up close.” Toldja.
Incidentally, TBS recently picked up The Very Funny Show, a new 30-minute, late-night standup series hosted by Tim Meadows of The Bill Engvall Show and Saturday Night Live. Filmed entirely at the Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago during the Just For Laughs Festival, the series will include sets by 30 comics. Look for it to arrive on a small screen near you later this year.
Coming up tomorrow, June 28: The David Alan Grier: Comedy You Can Believe In standup special on TBS and an interview with Grier earlier in the day, right here at Comedy Centric.
