David Alan Grier Presents ‘Comedy You Can Believe In’
June 28, 2009 by Chandra
TBS’ entertaining A “Very Funny” Festival: Just for Laughs event continues tonight at 10pm ET with David Alan Grier: Comedy You Can Believe In, another new hourlong standup special taped in Chicago, this time hosted by In Living Color veteran and Chocolate News mastermind David Alan Grier.
Part of TBS’ recent five-day comedy festival held in Chicago through a partnership with Just For Laughs, Comedy You Can Believe In features an all-star lineup to die for, including Bruce Bruce (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector), Mark Curry (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper), Marina Franklin (Chapelle’s Show), Ralph Harris (Last Comic Standing), Jo Koy (Don’t Make Him Angry), and Aries Spears (A Different World).
Grier recently set aside some time to answer questions in support of the program. Follow the jump to get insider information on his latest hosting gig, such as why he accepted the job and what he hopes the show accomplishes.
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.
Martin Short Hosts TBS Comedy Special
June 26, 2009 by Chandra
Saturday Night Live veteran Martin Short is back on the small screen tonight to host TBS’ latest comedy special, Let Freedom Hum: An Evening of Comedy Hosted by Martin Short.
Slated to appear during the taped hourlong event are standup comics Jeremy Hotz, Greg Giraldo, Kathleen Madigan, Tom Papa, and John Pinette.
Join the festivities tonight, June 26, at 10pm ET, only on basic-cable network TBS.
Michael J. Fox Is an Incurable Optimist
Feeling down for whatever reason?
If so, Family Ties, Back to the Future, and Spin City icon Michael J. Fox may have just what you need to lift your spirits, then, when ABC presents the special Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist at 10:02pm ET tonight.
The fan favorite will travel around the world to share stories of hope and optimism with people from all walks of life.
Among the more familiar guests he’ll chat with are his wife of 20 years, actress Tracy Pollan; seven-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong; comedian and actor Bill Murray; talk show host and actress Bonnie Hunt; and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Ben Harper.
Preview the special in the sneak peek after the jump.
Laura Prepon Returns on ‘How I Met Your Mother’
March 16, 2009 by Chandra
Tonight at 8:30pm EST, CBS’ How I Met Your Mother will welcome back That 70s Show alumna Laura Prepon, who’s reprising her role as Ted’s college ex-girlfriend Karen from the last new episode “Sorry, Bro.”
During “The Front Porch,” Ted gets into hot water with Karen when she discovers earrings that belong to someone else in his bed. It turns out Lily is behind the whole incident, and it’s not her first time deliberately interfering in one of Ted’s relationships. Bad, bad girl! And she looks so deceptively sweet and innocent.
Also up tonight on CBS’ two-hour comedy block are new episodes of The Big Bang Theory at 8pm (“The Work Song Nanocluster”), Two and a Half Men at 9pm (“My Son’s Enormous Head”), and Rules of Engagement at 9:30pm (“Jeff’s New Friend”), the last of which will feature a guest appearance by funnyman Orlando Jones (Men in Trees).
How I Met Your Mother airs Mondays on CBS at 8:30pm EST and Mondays at 7pm and 7:30pm on Lifetime.
Late Night, Done Right: Reunited and It Feels So Good
February 28, 2009 by Chandra
You’ve heard the news, right? Late-night yakker Conan O’Brien and his former 1993–2000 Late Night sidekick Andy Richter are joining forces again.
The auspicious coupling will take place when O’Brien takes the helm of his new gig on NBC’s Tonight Show, which will thence be known as The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. I get goosebumps just writing that since I’ve never been a fan of The Chin.
Richter will assume announcing duties, as well as an occasional part in comedy segments. His sidekick role won’t involve couch work, however, which is fine by me, as long as he gets adequate screen time elsewhere.
I never thought I’d say this during the last 17 years, but I just might have to start watching The Tonight Show again (sorry, Dave!).
O’Brien and Richter debut in their new, one-hour-earlier late-night home on Monday, June 1, at 11:30pm EST.
Dane Cook Gets ‘Rough Around the Edges’ Sunday
January 10, 2009 by Chandra
Not too long ago, I wrote about Comedy Central’s January-long Stand-Up Month event. Well, at 10pm EST tomorrow night, January 11, comedian Dane Cook kicks off the network’s Sunday Night Stand-Up specials with the world television premiere of his comedy concert Dane Cook: Rough Around The Edges.
Filmed live at Madison Square Garden before 40,000 fans, the “in the round” performance features Cook riffing on topics ranging from Save the Children ads to the aphrodisiac qualities of a motorcycle helmet.
Preview the special in a few uncensored clips at the end of this post, and don’t forget to catch the following future stand-up specials this month from comics D.L. Hughley, Katt Williams, and Kevin Hart, as well.
D.L. Hughley: Unapologetic: The always dapper Hughley descends on D.C. to offer his take on all of your favorite hot topics: immigration, urban living, family matters, and the “N” word. [January 17, 10pm EST]
It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’: Nothing is sacred in this performance as Katt Williams takes on prescription drugs, terrorism, elections, and even some of our past, present, and future presidents. [January 25, 10pm EST]
Kevin Hart: I’m A Grown Little Man: Hart takes a grown-up approach to being a little man. Everything from giving his wife moral support in a fight at the club to why black people don’t go whitewater rafting seems larger than life when standing at 5 foot 4 inches. [January 31, 10pm EST]
Now on to the Dane Cook videos, which I warn you contain very strong language and adult material. So, don’t watch if such stuff offends you easily.
Videos after the jump…
Doogie Does ‘SNL’ Tonight
January 10, 2009 by Chandra
If you’re a fan of Doogie Howser, M.D. and How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris — and who isn’t, I ask? — you’re in luck because tonight he hosts the first new installment of Saturday Night Live in 2009. Also on the roster is wildly successful musical guest Taylor Swift.
Get a taste of what’s in store for Barney lovers everywhere by watching the following promo featuring Neil and SNL player Will Forte. Considering that the alter ego of Dr. Horrible is actually funny, this one just might be — wait for it — legendary, or at least consistently entertaining.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays on NBC at 11:30pm EST.
Comedy Central Declares January ‘09 “Stand-Up Month”
Basic cable’s Comedy Central has tons of laughs in store for fans of the stand-up brand of comedy.
The network recently announced that come January 2009, it will devote four whole weeks to special programming and events for Stand-Up Month, all centered around comics who like to tell their jokes from behind a live microphone.
In addition to new stand-up specials from Dane Cook, D.L. Hughley, Katt Williams, and Kevin Hart, premiering every weekend, starting on January 11, viewers can look forward to brand-new episodes of COMEDY CENTRAL Presents, premiering each Friday night at both 10pm and 10:30pm EST, from January 9 onward. The run marks the series’ 13th season in existence.
Then there’s the Stand-Up Showdown scheduled for Sunday, January 25. During the month of January, fans can vote online at comedycentral.com for their favorite stand-up comedian. Viewers’ top twenty choices will then be counted down, one by one, during the day-long special Stand-Up Showdown Finals on January 25. Later that night, the winning comic’s special will air.
Follow the jump for more details about some of the specials premiering throughout the celebration, many — if not all — of which are a must-see for comedy devotees.
Eddie Izzard Previews ‘Valkyrie’ on Conan
December 16, 2008 by Chandra
It was *so* good to catch funnyman Eddie Izzard, last seen on the small screen in the prematurely canceled FX dramedy The Riches, hanging out with Conan O’Brien on his chat show early this morning. If you didn’t already know, the British standup comedian and standout actor has a prime role in the upcoming Tom Cruise mega-buzz flick Valkyrie.
The movie is about Hitler and Nazis and assassination attempts and a whole bunch of other depressing whatnot, which is why I’ve been having a mighty hard time understanding why it will be released on Christmas Day. With Eddie in the cast, it can’t be all that dark, though, right?
Well, not necessarily. As the entertainer points out during the interview, this role is a very dramatic turn for him. He plays a man named General Erich Fellgiebel whose presence is integral to the film’s plot.
Check out the following video of the appearance to see an intriguing clip from the movie, featuring star Cruise. And, of course, Eddie and Conan get along fabulously while discussing other stuff, such as the international (non-)status of holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and also just how wonderful France is (you’ll never guess why).
A video of Conan’s interview with Eddie and the trailer for Valkyrie follow the jump.