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.
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…
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.
Mitch Hedberg Giveaway: ‘Do You Believe in Gosh?’
August 29, 2008 by Chandra
Two months prior to his death from an accidental drug overdose in March 2005, well-known 37-year-old standup comic Mitch Hedberg recorded almost forty minutes of previously unreleased comedy material. Comedy Central Records is releasing the work on September 9 as the comedian’s third album, Do You Believe in Gosh?.
According to the label, the CD captures most of the material Hedberg planned to include in his next full-length album, which would have been a free-form show with a large amount of audience interaction. Although he never had the opportunity to finish what he began, the upcoming release still reflects the standup icon’s “inimitable wit and spirit” and is “a document of a comedy master.”
In celebration of the new album, Comedy Centric is giving away one copy of Do You Believe in Gosh? to three very lucky winners. Follow the jump to learn how to get your chance to receive the CD.
And the Winners of the Jimmy Dore Giveaway Are…
August 7, 2008 by Chandra
Four randomly selected people have confirmed their selection as winners of the recent Jimmy Dore giveaway. They are:
Michelle, whose favorite standup comic is Sinbad.
John, who likes Dane Cook.
Vicki, who has fond memories of recently departed George Carlin.
James, who apparently remembers how funny Howie Mandel was before he went bald and became synonymous with a certain NBC game show. (He’s still funny now, too, of course.)
Two of the winners will receive Jimmy Dore’s recently released standup special Citizen Jimmy on DVD and the remaining two on CD. Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway with prizing sponsored by Special Ops Media.
Standup Giveaway: Win Jimmy Dore’s ‘Citizen Jimmy’
July 31, 2008 by Chandra
Any Jimmy Dore comedy fans in the house?
If so, here’s your chance to win one of four copies of his standup special Citizen Jimmy, which premieres on Comedy Central this Friday, August 1, at 11pm EST. The 52-minute special will be released on DVD and CD next Tuesday, August 5, for the retail price of $14.98 and $13.98, respectively.
According to the press release: “Jimmy’s hilarious, topical take on all the ills of the country, from George W. Bush’s well hidden genius, to health care, gas prices, Dick Cheney, and Christian Preachers who rail against gay marriage before getting caught in an Airport restroom, Citizen Jimmy pulls no pre-emptive punches in dealing with the insanity of our times, and the ridiculousness of our leaders.”
Blog Off Sign Off: Standup with Lewis Black
June 20, 2008 by Chandra
Well, I can’t think of a better way to end this Blog Off than with a little standup from Lewis Black. The comedian stopped by Late Night with Conan O’Brien on June 5 to promote his new book Me of Little Faith. But before he took to the couch, he treated the audience and viewers to a hysterical comedy routine that was relatively clean.
Take a look at the following clip of Black’s appearance to learn things like why it’s not so good for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama to be so full of hope and the high cost of using corn for fuel. No wonder Comedy Central hurried up and renewed his series Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil for a second season last month — Black is the real deal when it comes to funny.
NOTE: If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video player by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.
And the Winners of the Drew Hastings Contest Are…
May 6, 2008 by Chandra
The four lucky, random winners of the Drew Hastings Irked & Miffed CD and DVD giveaway have been selected. They are:
Commenter #16 — Denise, whose favorite comedian is Richard Pryor.
Commenter #56 — toasters, whose favorite comedians are Richard Pryor again (past) and Eddie Izzard (present).
Commenter #103 — Paul N, whose favorite comedian is George Carlin.
Commenter #117 — Jay French, whose favorite comedian is Rodney Dangerfield.
What a great field of responses — everyone obviously knows their comedy!
Congratulations to the fortunate winners and many thanks to all of the other people who participated and helped make the giveaway a huge success. Stay tuned for even more fun and unique giveaways at Comedy Centric in the near future.