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Shirley Jones & Marty Ingels Oscar winning actress, Shirley Jones and her husband, comedian Marty Ingels, present a motivating and humorous program.
The Amazing Kreskin World’s foremost menatlist and entertainer.
Montana Logging & Ballet Co. Musical political satire troupe.
The Def Poetry Experience A thrilling evening of spoken word infused with hip-hop music featuring the stars of HBO Def Poetry…Daniel Beaty, YOLANDA KAE WILKINSON, & Helena D. Lewis. Join these three internationally renowned, award winning poets as they electrify the mike tackling themes such as womanhood, bad relationships, Jewish identity, sexuality, racism, and bad breath!
Drew Carey and the Improv All Stars The show will feature Drew Carey along with some of the regular cast members from his most recent hit television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" - Greg Proops, Chip Esten, Sean Masterson and Jeff Davis. A native of Cleveland, Carey, 45, began his successful stand-up comedy career in 1986 at the Cleveland Comedy Club. Among his first significant breaks was competing on "Star Search" in 1988. National prominence came in 1995 when "The Drew Carey Show" premiered. Carey won the 1996 People's Choice award for "Favorite Male in a New Series"; 1998 Golden Satellite award for Best Actor in a Television Series-Comedy; 1999: TV Guide Editors' Award; and, he received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
SINBAD Sinbad's name recalls the literary legend that symbolizes strength, adventure and optimism and is what he strives for. "I renamed myself Sinbad because Sinbad is bad. He could hang with rogues and with kings. He didn't have the strength of Hercules, but he could outwit anyone." Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Sinbad grew up telling jokes to his three brothers and two sisters. The image sticks; Sinbad the wild child, off-the-wall Sinbad who would do anything for attention, acting stupid, free as the wind, on unpredictable force that can't be harnessed, and always willing to pay any price, looking for laughs.
Curb Your Enthusiasm feat. Richard Lewis and Jeff Garlin in Concert
Martin Short & Second City The legendary comedy theatre The Second City, founded in Chicago in 1959, has become the premier training ground for the comedy world’s best and brightest. Its alumni list reads like a "Who’s Who" of American comedy, including Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Shelley Long, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Harold Ramis, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Chris Farley and countless others. An evening with Martin Short and The Second City will provide audiences with the chance to see comedy stars in the making with hilarious satires and cutting-edge improvisation. If your parents asked you not to speak about it at the dinner table, chances are that this group will make fun of it. Second City’s spontaneous and irreverent humor inspired "Saturday Night Live" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?".
The Passing Zone Take two guys with chainsaws. Put them in tights, throw in a Garden Weasel, and what do you get? Well, it?s kind of hard to explain. But they?re called The Passing Zone, and they?ll amaze you. And make you laugh. They juggle. Jugglers have been around for thousands of years. But Jon Wee and Owen Morse are different. They really are. And not just because they wear tights while tossing gasoline-powered destruct-o devices at each other. They?re funny. Really funny. And they?ve got class. So much class that they were asked to perform at The Royal Command Performance for Prince Charles in London. They break things. Lots of things. Like five Guinness World Records. And they?ve won eighteen gold medals from the International Jugglers Association ? more than any other team in the world. They?ve appeared on television shows you?ve actually watched (The Tonight Show), in movies you?ve actually seen (The Adams Family), and at venues you?ve actually seen (Caesar?s Palace and the MGM Grand). So invite them over. You?ll be in good company. They?ve been featured at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, on MADtv, and on Penn & Teller?s Sin City Spectacular. They?ve wowed them at IBM, McDonald?s, and Hewlett Packard. And they?ve performed with Bob Hope, Bob Newhart, Rita Rudner, and Tony Bennett. This isn?t just juggling. It?s The Passing Zone. Let?s face it ? a corporate event is a distinct and deceptively challenging venue. The objectives of corporate programs are as specialized and innovative as the companies they are designed to promote. Most performers can?t quite make the jump. They may have appeal for general audiences. But when it comes to corporate events, they fall flat because they don?t understand the nuance of corporate culture, convention objectives, team building, or the specialized field of corporate entertainment. You can?t afford to risk your reputation on entertainers who don?t comprehend your situation. That?s why The Passing Zone is extraordinarily popular on the corporate circuit. Put Jon and Owen?s award-winning performance to work for you. They won?t just juggle your company?s products; they?ll make your CEO part of the act. And they can custom design their show, tailoring their act to drive home sales messages, corporate themes, and other information critical to your company?s mission. Find out why Domino?s, Frito-Lay, Boeing, MCI, Andersen Consulting, and other Fortune 500 companies make The Passing Zone central to their corporate functions. Because when it comes to the success of your event, these guys mean business. You?ve heard of keynote speakers, but keynote jugglers? The best keynote speakers do a lot more than just present a meaningful and informative message. They act as a springboard to launch your imagination, expand your perception and open new doors to possibility. Jon and Owen do that. And they do it in ways you have to see to believe. Juggling is the perfect metaphor to describe what people do in their workday and how they balance life?s many demands. And these guys know about teamwork, learning from mistakes, and reaching goals. As members of the National Speakers Association, Jon and Owen demonstrate exceptional skills as highly motivational speakers. Add their artistry as jugglers, comedians, and entertainers, and The Passing Zone can turn your next function into the most talked-about and effective event your group has ever experienced. Keynote addresses include: ? Teamwork: The Power of Partnership ? Taking Risks: Learning from Mistakes ? Achieving Goals: Steps to Success
One-Man Star Wars Best known as the mastermind behind the in famous One Man Star Wars Trilogy and One Man Lord of the Rings. Word of Ross's one of a kind talent has spread across North America, from Toronto, Orlando, Atlanta, and Boston, to Chicago, San Diego, and Vancouver. To mark the release of Star Wars: Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, Charles was honoredto perform at Lucasfilm's official movie release convention, Celebration 3. Even the likes of Vin Diesel and Sir Ian McKellan have taken in his performances with ravereviews.
MR. PRESIDENT The unlikely jump from pulpit to stage actually began in Bridge's childhood. A Dallas native, he moved with his family to northern California's Oakland Bay area at the tender age of three. Not many years later, his natural talent for making people laugh became apparent via his dead-on impressions of the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, and/or Curly) done from the back seat of his parents' car. By high school, Bridges had carefully honed his uncanny characterizations to include contemporary political figures. Then, his biggest laughs came courtesy of Jimmy Carter. Today, he arguably does one of the best George W. Bush impressions anywhere. In between, he has mastered a host of other political characters (with the emphasis on characters) including Bill Clinton, AI Gore, Senators Phil Graham, Ted Kennedy, and Strom Thurmond - even the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He also has expanded his repertoire to include newsmen Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Geraldo Rivera, and Sam Donaldson, as well as television characters like Regis Philbin and Homer Simpson - not to mention the ever-popular Mr. Haney from Green Acres. What makes Bridges such a comic standout is his ability not only to accurately voice these and many other characters, but to instantly switch between them to create "conversations" among two or more of them at the same time. A member of SAG/AFTRA, Bridges' extensive training includes work at the famed Groundlings in Los Angeles as well as private classes with some of the best comic trainers in the business. Also to his credit, he has made numerous appearances at many of southern California's best comedy venues including The Improv, The Ice House, and The Comedy Store. Known for his hilarious - but clean - comedic routines, Bridges has appeared on many television shows including ER (NBC), TheDistrict (CBS), and ABC News Overnight (ABCNationwide). His numerous radio credits include guest appearances on KABC (Ken and Barkley Show) and K-EARTH 101 out of Los Angeles, NBC Mutual Radio (nationwide), and even the venerable BBC. He also has done commercial voice-over work for clients HBO and Coca-Cola, to name a few. A resident of Pasadena, Bridges keeps audiences laughing from coast to coast with his club, commercial, and corporate work. His future plans include adding more local and national television appearances to his ever-expanding resume.
RETTA RETTA was born to immigrant parents in what is often known as the armpit of America... Newark, New Jersey. Upon graduating from Duke University, she went into the pharmaceutical research field and soon found out that drugs were not the way to go. She left the chemistry job and moved to Los Angeles for a life in comedy. She immediately found success at the open mics and soon was showcasing at NACA conferences. During the past 5 years, RETTA has traveled to every state in the union sharing her stories about family and friends and even those not-so-happy people at the popular fast food chains. Her comedic stylings have gotten her a half hour special COMEDY CENTRAL Presents - RETTA; Premium Blend & sketch work on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". You can also find her in such movies as "Slackers" and "Dickie Roberts-Former Child Star"
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood An Evening with Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood Following enormously successful solo tours, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy nominated Whose Line Is It Anyway? have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Using their quick wit, Colin and Brad take contributions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes. Throughout the evening, the show becomes truly interactive as audience members are called to the stage to participate in the fun. Their high-profile presentations have played to corporations, universities and theatres all over the country.
Seth Meyers & Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live Package) Kenan Thompson a native of Atlanta, Georgia, Thompson made his television debut as a member of Nickelodeons allkid sketch comedy series All That. Seth Meyers returns for his fifth season on SNL. In addition to contributing to numerous sketches, Meyers appears in the recurring Jarrets Room sketch as DJ Jonathan Feinstein as well as cohosting the Irish talk show Top O The Morning as William Fitzpatrick, opposite Jimmy Fallons Patrick Fitzwilliam. He has also contributed notable impressions of Hugh Grant, Russell Crowe, Tobey Maguire, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry and NBC News Stone Phillips and Brian Williams.
Orny Adams Orny Adams has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, and co-starred in the movie Comedian with Jerry Seinfeld. Orny was named in The Hollywood Reporter as one of the favorite comedians to watch on the New York comedy scene. He has written jokes for Jay Leno and Garry Shandling, among many other top comedians. And this year he is a writer for the 56th Annual Emmys broadcast. Orny made his first TV appearance in 1996 on Friday Night Videos. He has since hosted his own show on Discovery's Travel Channel, has appeared on Jiminy Glick, Tough Crowd on Comedy Central, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and Last Call With Carson Daly. Orny shot a pilot for his own late night television talk show for TBS. You may also recognize him from many of his national commercials, including Coca-Cola, and other notable television appearances. In July 2000, Orny made quite an impact at the Montreal Comedy Festival which resulted in a development deal with the Warner Brothers Studio, and his first appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. In July of 2002, Orny triumphantly returned to the Montreal Comedy Festival. Orny considers himself a student of the art of stand-up comedy and takes his profession very seriously. He has studied his predecessors and even their predecessors. He loves to learn. For the past 12 years, he has been on a what he dubs the "Neverending Tour." His tour has reached clubs, theatres, even the Staples Center in LA, colleges, corporate events, and festivals as far away as Ireland. "The road is life… I didn't say that. Kerouac did." Orny's comedy style is unique, yet universally appealing. Orny is quick on his feet to deliver a clever, sophisticated, and fast paced routine that attacks topics from an angle that many people have never considered. "I question everything. That's the root of my comedy… and I try to come up with some solutions." One minute he's goofy, the next minute he's intelligent, and you never completely know when he's being serious. But that's what's funny. Most importantly, He was once a paperboy and a native of Boston, Massachusetts.
Dan Ahdoot After appearing on NBC's Last Comic Standing this season, Dan Ahdoot's web site was swamped with emails from around the country telling him he should've moved into the house. Dan's performed at more than 100 colleges around the country after graduating from Johns Hopkins University and is a regular performer at all the top New York City clubs. He won first place at the NYC Triad comedy competition and was an honorary guest at the HA! Comedy Festival in New York. He's been featured on ABC's 20/20 w/ Barbara Walters and on the radio has been heard on the KISS FM Morning Comedy Special. He's also performed with a number of different Improv groups such as Upright Citizens Brigrade and Second City New York.
Ted Alexandro Ted Alexandro: Don't let Ted's boyish good looks fool you. He is wickedly funny. Ted has appeared on MTV and on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Louie Anderson Multifaceted, Emmy award winning comedian, Louie Anderson, is well known for not only hosting the return of the game show, Family Fued, but for his countless appearances with Jay Leno, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, on Comic Relief and on Touched by an Angel.
Bob Arno In his expose' show, The Art of the Steal, Bob redefines dynamic comedy. Demonstrating his spectacular brand of classic thievery, Bob reveals the sly tricks of pickpockets plying city streets worldwide. A few minutes of exclusive video footage showing actual pickpockets informs, amazes, and preludes Bob's surprising take on how it really happens--with a comedy twist. This is a full hour of innovative, unique, and hilarious pickpocket entertainment, free of fluff and padding. Bob is always profusely thanked for his invaluable advice, once guests have wiped away their tears of laughter. It's pure entertainment--with a take-away lesson.
Dave Attell One of the most popular comedians on the circuit, Dave Attell performs regularly at colleges and clubs. Television viewers enjoy Dave's comic genius each week with "Insomniac With Dave Attell," which airs on Comedy Central. A former contributor to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Dave also appears frequently on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. In addition, he's done half-hour comedy specials for both HBO and Comedy Central.
Ben Bailey Ben Bailey: Ben has made appearances on HBO, NBC, Mad TV, Comedy Central, Star Search, and is in the upcoming movie Bad Meat due out this spring.
Bill Bellamy Well known comedian and actor.
Justin Berkman Justin Berkman is an emerging star in stand-up comedy. This young comedian brings passion, wisdom, and an incredibly original and equally hilarious brand of comedy to the stage. Justin doesn't just tell jokes, he puts on a show. His likeability and widespread appeal are enabling his current rise to stardom. The Los Angeles native appeared on three episodes of MTV's "Yo Momma", and has also been seen on FX's "The People's Champion" and SiTV's "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner". Additionally, he was one of the headliners on The New Generation of Comedy Tour which traveled to over 30 cities across the country. He has been a guest comedian on a number of radio stations, and his services are in demand at numerous comedy clubs and colleges nationwide. So, check out this former gymnast, Jamba Juice smoothie engineer and Trivial Pursuit question writer because, "he's funny" (quote by Justin Berkman).
Lewis Black Popular comedian and winner of the 2001 American Comedy Awards, Lewis' comedy is angry and frenetic. No subject is out of reach for this satirist. His material is always fresh and funny, which makes him a favorite on Comedy Central's Daily Show and at colleges and comedy clubs across the country.
Josh Blue Josh Blue a comedian who was voted the "Last Comic Standing" on NBC's reality show Last Comic Standing during its fourth season. Blue has cerebral palsy and many of his jokes center on living with his disability, how he deals with it and how other people view him. He has made many jokes including coining the term Palsy Punch. The palsy punch is a term coined by Josh during his last set during the finals of Last Coming Standing. He says that the palsy punch is effective in a fight because "first of all, they don't know where the punch is coming from, and second of all, neither do I." Blue got his start in comedy doing open-mic sets while attending The Evergreen State College. Audiences reacted enthusiastically to his self-deprecating humor, and Blue started making a name for himself on the comedy circuit. He has appeared several times on Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia. He is also an excellent soccer player and was part of the 2004 U.S. Paralympic team.
Kevin Bozeman Kevin uses his high-energy act and knack for the obvious to give a unique perspective on traveling, dating, social and controversial issues. No subject is sacred from his hilarious truths. He is quickly working his way to the top headlining comedy clubs throughout the country. Don’t be surprised if you see Kevin Bozeman appearing in the next big sit-com. Kevin has appeared on Comedy Centrals Comics Come Home, Premium Blend, opened for Aretha Franklin and was a 1999 winner of the HBO Comedy Competition
Wayne Brady Wayne Brady is perhaps one of the funniest comedic actors on TV. His hilarious improvisational antics, paired with his ability to impersonate just about anyone, have won the laughs of many Americans on ABC's hit comedy series "Whose Line is it Anyway?"Wayne scored a second Emmy Award nomination in 2002 for his work on "Whose Line is it Anyway" in the category of Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Musical. He has received several other accolades for his work in theater, including nominations for Best Actor in a Musical for "Cotton Patch Gospel" at the distinguished Edyth Bush Theatre. Wayne was also named Sak Theatre's 1992 Rookie of the Year for Theatre Sports/Improv. He continues to tour the country with his own improv show, "Wayne Brady and Friends," selling out the nations top theaters and venues. In addition, he and his wife Mandie recently opened a four-week run of the stage production, "The Only Game in Town" in Los Angeles. The Daily Variety called Wayne's performance as compulsive gambler Joe Grady "an absolute winner."
David Brenner Well known comedian and television star.
Jim Breuer Jim Breuer, a former cast member of "Saturday Night Live," has been continuing to make us laugh since his departure at the end of the 1997 season. During his time at "SNL," Breuer was probably best known for his original character, "Goat Boy" and his Joe Pesci impression on the recurring, "Joe Pesci Show." Breuer's feature film career began to take off after leaving "SNL." He starred in Universal Picture's hit comedy, "Half-Baked" and in Phoenix Pictures', "Dick." He recently completed filming a role in Laurence Fishburne's directorial debut, "Once in The Life." A stand-up comedian since his college days on Long Island, New York, Breuer worked in comedy clubs around the country for several years before deciding to become a regular on the New York comedy club circuit. After being in New York for only seven months, he landed a gig on the nationally syndicated show, "Uptown Comedy Club" where he spent two seasons. Breuer has been featured on many network and cable television showcases, such as CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman," NBC's "Later," Comedy Central's "Denis Leary Roast" and hosted Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" series. Jim also had his own show at MTV entitled, "The Jim Breuer Show," and his own Comedy Central special, "Jim Breuer: Hardcore."
Steve Bridges Impressionist and comedian and a double for President George W. Bush. For the past year Bridges has been doing his right-on impression of President Bush for audiences across the nation. And, while he's not really the President, most people are hard pressed to tell them apart.
Cocoa Brown Being called one of the funniest ladies to hit the comedy scene in recent years,this sista is bringing the noise…and the truth to audiences all over the world. Sharing experiences of her own as well as her family friends and basically anyone, this crazy child is making a serious roar in the jungle we call stand-up comedy. Now that you’ve entered the website Cocoa Brown just wants to know one thing…
Bruce Bruce One of the most recognizable figures in African American comedy, Bruce Bruce has been the host of BET's daily comedy showcase Comic View for two years and he has appeared on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, Showtime at the Apollo and Comedy Central Presents. He has appeared at the Black Film Festival in Acapulco, the Just for Laugh's Festival in Atlanta, the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the Crown Royal Comedy Soul Festival.
Bill Burr I've been doing Stand Up for the last 15 years. I started out at a comedy club in Boston Ma, called Nick's Comedy Stop. I was supposed to do five minutes and I think I did about three. I've been doing it ever since.My biggest gigs have been The Chappelle's Show, HBO One Night Stand, The Opie and Anthony Show and The David Letterman Show. Because of those gigs I know make a comfortable living telling jokes around the country.If I were better adjusted that would be enough for me. For some reason it isn't, so as of yesterday I moved from New York to LA. I'll let you know how it goes.
Frank Caliendo Whether he is appearing on late night television or Foxs NFL Pre-game show, comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo brings a hilarious act filled with larger-than-life stories and characters. Frank Caliendo is Americas premier impersonator. Widely considered to be one of the funniest and most talented comedians of our time, Caliends uncanny impressions will have your audience rolling in the aisles with laughter. The star of TBS hit show Frank TV, Caliendo has literally dozens of impressions that will leave you guessing who he will be poking fun at next. From the real to the surreal, Caliendo always delivers a hilarious take on icons of the past and current events.
Lee Camp Since Lee Camp graduated college 4 years ago, he has headlined over 300 college shows, published three comedy books, been head comedy news writer for two popular websites, been featured on MTV's "Walk of Shame," NBC's "Law & Order: SVU," Spike TV's "Order of The Serpentine," Gwyneth Paltrow's short film "Dealbreaker," and DirecTV channel 101. You probably recognize him as a comedian commentator on MTV, Animal Planet, E!, and Fox News. He won the Laugh Across America Contest for New York. At the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival he was named one of the best New Faces. Most recently he was a finalist in the 2007 New York Comedy Festival's Funniest Comedian Contest. His comedy is unafraid, sarcastic, and opinionated. Lee gets audiences to laugh at the way we all act like idiots every day of our lives. Lee has been the opening act for Jimmy Fallon, Darrell Hammond, and Lewis Black, and he's also the author of the popular college comedy book - Neither Sophisticated Nor Intelligent: A College Humorist's Take on Life.
Michael Caracciolo I would like to take the time to introduce myself to you. My name is Michael Caracciolo. I am the president of a ticket company in New Jersey. However, although I have been in the ticket business for many years, I am certain that I am in the wrong profession. I should be an actor instead. I believe that I possess all the qualities necessary for success as an actor. I am a very conversational person, my voice easily projects, via my six foot six inch 400 pound amplifier! I also sing. My unique background, persona and life’s experience truly qualify me as one of a kind .The material recorded here is ad-libbed, improvisational and spontaneous. It contains profanity which is offered only in support of demonstrating my dramatic intensity and the context of the material. I am certain that after watching it once you will immediately want to contact me.
Jordan Carlos Jordan Carlos is an All-American stand-up comedian who is most known for his role as Alan, Colberts black friend on The Colbert Report. He also co hosted the Nickelodean show MeTV. Carlos' performance is sure to knock the audience off their seats and leave them rolling on the ground in laughter.
Adam Carolla No stranger to Comedy Central, Too Late host Adam Carolla spent four seasons as co-host and co-creator of The Man Show, served as co-creator and handled the voice of Dick Birchum on Crank Yankers and also lent his voice to the character of Spanky on Drawn Together. A former carpenter and boxing instructor, Carolla began working for LA-based radio station KROQ-FM's "Kevin and Bean" show. His success on KROQ led to a hosting job on the radio and television show Loveline. The popularity of the show led Adam to co-author "The Dr. Drew and Adam Book: A Survival Guide to Life and Love" which is now in its second printing.
Nancy Cartwright Emmy Award-winning actress Nancy Cartwright is the voice of "Bart" on The Simpsons, the longest-running animated show in history. She has voiced hundreds of characters in such favorites as Rug Rats, Kim Possible, Richie Rich, The Critic, God,The Devil and Bob, The Pink Panther, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Toonsylvania, Pound Puppies, My Little Pony, Glo-Friends, and the online cartoon Timber Wolf. While establishing herself as a voice-acting professional, Cartwright balanced that role with an on-camera career, landing guest roles on Fame, Empty Nest, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air , Cheers, Godzilla and The Twilight Zone: The Movie. Cartwright is the author of My Life as a Ten-Year-Old Boy, the ultimate insider's guide to The Simpsons.
Dana Carvey Dana Carvey Emmy-award winning comedian Dana Carvey has maintained an illustrious career. A repertory member of Saturday Night Live since the 1986-87 season, Carvey left in 1992 after seven seasons. Carvey is best known for his characters the Church Lady; Hans, of the Hans and Franz body building duo; Garth, Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) Excellent Co-Host on the immensely popular sketch Waynes World, and Weekend Updates Grumpy Old Man.
Henry Cho Asian American comedian who is one of the fastest rising young comedians in the country. Cho was the host of NBC's "Friday Night Videos" and was a regular guest comedian on Jay Leno and the Arsenio Hall Show. Cho's many other comedy credits include NBC's "Bob Hope's Comedians Special," MTV's "1/2 Hour Comedy Hour" and VH-1's "Stand-up Spotlight."
Margaret Cho Margaret Cho started performing stand-up at age 16 in a comedy club called The Rose & Thistle above a bookstore her parents ran. Soon after, she won a comedy contest where first prize was opening for Jerry Seinfeld. She moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s and lived in a house with several other young performers. Arsenio Hall introduced Margaret to late night audiences, Bob Hope put her on a prime time special and, seemingly overnight, she became a national celebrity. In 1999, Cho chronicled her experience on the sitcom in an off Broadway one-woman show called I'm The One That I Want. The show was extremely well received, toured the U.S, and was made into a concert film and a best-selling book of the same name. The film, which garnered incredible reviews, broke the record for the most money grossed per print in movie history. After the success of her first show, Cho launched Notorious C.H.O. in 2001, a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Notorious C.H.O. was also recorded and released as a feature film, hailed by the New York Times as "Brilliant!" Both films were acquired by Showtime Cable Networks in 2004 and are currently airing on their channels. Cho embarked on her third sold-out national tour, Revolution, in 2003. The tour ultimately grossed 4.4M and was heralded as "Her strongest show yet!" by the Chicago Sun Times. The concert film premiered on the Sundance Channel in 2004 and was released on DVD later that year. The CD of Revolution was nominated for a Grammy for best comedy album of the year for 2003. In 2004, Cho took her politically charged State of Emergency tour through the swing states of the Presidential election. Lauded as "Murderously funny!" by the New York Times, State of Emergency eventually evolved into her fourth national show, Assassin. Her most political and topical work to date, Assassin toured the US, Canada and Australia and was filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. The concert film premiered in select theatres and on the gay and lesbian premium channel Here! TV in late 2005. It was recently released on CD by Nettwerk records and on DVD by Koch Entertainment. Margaret was recently the recipient of the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California, and the Intrepid Award from the National Organization for Women (NOW). She has also been honored by GLAAD, American Women in Radio and Television, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and PFLAG for "making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity."
Mystro Clark Mystro started going to local comedy clubs in Dayton Ohio, while attending University of Dayton. After graduation Mystro was activated with his Army Reserve Unit for desert Storm. When Mystro returned home instead of Medical School he decided to move to LA and become a professional comedian. Four years later he landed his first television series The Newz. The rest is history in the making.
Lenny Clarke Lenny Clarke was born in Cambridge, Mass., one of eight children. He decided to pursue stand-up comedy one night when he was working as a janitor, putting himself through college at University of Massachusetts in Boston. That night, he went to the Ding-Ho Restaurant in Cambridge and saw some comics performing. Convinced he could do the same thing, he returned the next week and, "The rest, as they say, is history!" he exclaims. Clarke spent several years as the host of the open-mike nights there and has traveled the world as a stand-up comic. His comedic abilities captured the attention of Rodney Dangerfield, who gave him his first big break, casting him in Nothin' Goes Right. He and Dangerfield also worked together years later on Meet Wally Sparks. After years of hard work, Clarke was "discovered" at the Montreal Comedy Festival. He had his own series, the eponymous Lenny, which ran for 18 episodes. Other TV work includes The John Larroquette Show, hosting The Sunday Comics, and appearances on Touched by an Angel and The Love Boat: The Next Wave.Clarke became friends with Denis Leary over 21 years ago on the stand-up circuit in Boston, and has worked with him in the feature films Two if by Sea and Monument Avenue, which Leary also produced. His other feature films include Baby's In Black, What's the Worst That Could Happen?, Me, Myself & Irene, Rounders, There's Something About Mary, Two if by Sea, Southie, Massholes, and the independent film, Bluff. Clarke has numerous charities close to his heart. Prompted by his sister's battle with MS, he works for several charities related to that cause, as well as for the Genesis Fund, which helps to prevent and treat birth defects
Wali Collins Wali Collins: He has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, MTV's Jim Breuer Show and Louie Anderson's Comedy Hour. Wali was recently featured in the film Coyote Ugly
Patrick Combs Patrick Combs tells the amazing-but-true story of how he deposited a $95,093.35 junk-mail check marked non-negotiable hoping to spread a little banking cheer to tellers and how it erupted into a staggering and funny David vs Goliath-like adventure that still continues today if you count his internationally touring, award winning, off Broadway one-man show about the incident. What happens after the bank cashes the ridiculous check? To name only a few things: angry banking officers threatening jail time and death; the nations leading authority on banking coming out of retirement; astonishing legal twists; and worldwide media coverage (including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Good Morning America and calls from Letterman & Leno).The show sold out in New York during its off-Broadway run at the Lambs Theatre in the heart of Times Square. It also sold out at HBOs 2004 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival held in Aspen; sold out its six show run and garnered Critics Choice at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston; sold out its 10 show run in Winnipeg where it created 3 hour ticket lines, hundreds were turned away and it garnered the Best of Fest award; sold out the Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles; won Best of Fest at the San Francisco Fringe where it also sold out and was awarded Best Solo Comedy; sold out in Auckland where it was an official selection of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival; sold out in Montreal and won the Just For Laughs prize for Best Comedy.
Dane Cook Dane Cook has captured the attention of audiences worldwide while building an unprecedented following throughout his 15 year career in stand up, television and film. Where Dane goes, the masses follow. Sell out crowds are the norm at colleges, clubs and theatres around the country this includes headlining at Carnegie Hall, a 50,000 seat venue at the University of Florida's Gator Growl, as well as his nationwide documentary entitled TOURGASM. This ardent fan base has propelled Dane's CD/DVD Harmful If Swallowed to over 230,000 units sold in less than two years, garnering appearances on 5 different Billboard charts on numerous occasions since its release.
Tom Cotter With a burst of energy Tom Cotter has taken the comedy scene by storm. His wise guy brand of humor and rapid fire delivery never miss a beat. It is obvious Tom feels most comfortable on stage. Watching him perform one would think that the stage was his home and the audience was his family. Of the audience, Cotter says, "I feel as if I should be paying them." It was not long before he became a regular in the Boston Comedy clubs. Audiences could not get enough of this young talent. Club owners asked him back time and time again. Tom was thrilled for the opportunity to develop his comedic gift. Shortly after winning the competition, Tom was offered the headlining spot for the Reebok Campus America Tour. His connection with the audience made him a mega hit at colleges all over the country. Tom continues to enjoy his success with the college audiences and is one of the most requested comedians at the NACA conventions. In 1995 Tom moved to New York to pursue new goals. He has since earned the right to play in some of America’s most famous comedy clubs including, The Improv, Catch a Rising Star, and Caroline’s just to name a few. His television credits include "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," "New Joke City with host Robert Klein," "The Ru Paul Show," A&E’s "An Evening at the Improv," as well as Comedy Central’s "2-Drink Minimum," "Short Attention Span Theatre," and "Stand-Up, Stand-Up." Tom has also become a regular at the Gotham Comedy club in NYC much to the delight of his fans. Versatility has allowed Tom to excel in many areas of show business. His voice has become a familiar staple in commercial voice-overs for many high profile clients including NBC, MTV, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, and Converse. Tom’s obvious enthusiasm for this kind of work has made him a popular choice for advertisers. In 2003, Tom taped his own half hour special for Comedy Central which will air in early 2004. He also won the National Laugh Across America Contest in the comedy club category at the 2nd Annual Las Vegas Comedy Festival.
Charles Cozart Charles Cozart hails from Los Angeles, California. Charles brings his own unique brand of stand-up comedy. He's appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and performs regularly at the famous Comedy Store in La Jolla. He is sure to cause everyone in attendance to "bust a gut."
Dov Davidoff Dov is one of the hottest up and coming comics on the scene today. In addition to performing regularly in clubs and at colleges throughout the country, Dov has appeared on several late night talk shows including The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Last Call with Carson Daly. Dov has also become somewhat of a regular fixture on Comedy Central having performed on Premium Blend and appeared on The Chappelle Show and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.Currently, Dov is shooting the Paramount feature film Invincible in which he stars opposite Mark Wahlberg. Dov has also been featured twice at HBOs U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and has won numerous comedy competitions.
Tommy Davidson An actor, stand-up comedian, musician, and singer, Tommy Davidson's exceptional range has made him a rising force in entertainment. Perhaps best known as one of the original cast members of the hit television show "In Living Color," Davidson has parlayed that success into a flourishing motion picture career. Recently, Tommy starred in Spike Lee's Bamboozled where he received acclaim and praise for his turn as Womack/Sleep 'N Eats, a character which showcased his comedic and dramatic acting abilities. Most recently Tommy starred in Morgan Creek Productions' Juwanna Mann released in June 2002.
DeRay Davis A born hustler from Chicagos inner-city, DeRay has made a name for himself in comedy with his standup and film and television appearances. Winner of the 2000 Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition and a standout on the Cedric the Entertainer Tour and at the 2001 Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, DeRay spends most of his time building on his extensive resume of comedy clubs and colleges.
Jeff Dunham Jeff Dunham is a ventriloquist and stand-up comedian. He has performed on numerous comedy shows including Comedy Central Presents in 2003 and The Late Show with David Letterman. Some of his famous puppets include a woozle named Peanut , a bitter old man named Walter, and José Jalapeno - a talking Jalapeno pepper on a stick (whose running joke is adding "on a stick" to the end of other sentences). His latest DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing With Myself, was released in April 2006. In this latest stand-up offering, Jeff plays straight-man to his usual crew and two recently added characters, the Playa-In-a-Management-Profession, Sweet Daddy D, and Nascar enthusiast (amongst other things), Bubba J.
Dean Edwards Young innovative comedian who has appeard on Def Comedy Jam.
Mike Epps Popular actor and stand-up comedian of the Def Comedy Jam broadcasts, Mike Epps co-stars in the hit movie, Next Friday, sharing the spotlight with Ice Cube and John Witherspoon.
Jimmy Fallon Since beginning his career on NBCs perennial late night hit Saturday Night Live in 1998, Jimmy Fallon has appeared in an impressive number of television shows and feature films, working with celebrated directors such as Cameron Crowe, Woody Allen and the Farrelly brothers. Jimmy first showed an interest in performing at the age of two, developing a mini repertoire of impressions that included James Cagney and Don Ho. Impressions would take him all the way to Saturday Night Live in 1998 where Jimmy became one of the shows youngest cast members at the age of 23. During his six year stint on SNL, Jimmy became an audience favorite for his dead on impressions and his quick wit as the host of the popular Weekend Update newscasts. His other television work includes a featured role in the Emmy winning miniseries Band of Brothers, which was directed by Tom Hanks. He guest hosted for David Letterman in June of 2003, and in 2005 participated in Cameron Diazs MTV travel show Trippin, during which he traveled to Africa with Diaz, Justin Timberlake and rapper Talib Kweli, educating viewers about the countrys wildlife and environment. Jimmy has been a favorite among the MTV audience, co hosting the MTV Movie Awards with Kirsten Dunst in 2001, and hosting the MTV Video Music Awards the following year. He also hosted the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. Jimmy made his feature film debut in Cameron Crowes Almost Famous in 2000, as band manager Dennis Hope. In 2003, he worked with Woody Allen in the film Anything Else, alongside Christina Ricci and Jason Biggs. In 2004 he starred with Queen Latifah in the big screen action-comedy Taxi, which he followed up with the romantic comedy Fever Pitch, costarring Drew Barrymore and directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. He was most recently seen in the Weinstein Companys Factory Girl, alongside Sienna Miller and Guy Pierce. This spring he finished shooting the title role of Rockett re teaming him with Factory Girl Producer, Holly Wiersma, and co starring Sharon Stone and Lucy Liu. He is also developing an untitled comedy at Universal with Tom Shadyac. In addition to his television and film work, Jimmy, who started out as a stand up comedian, was nominated for a 2003 Grammy award for Best Spoken Comedy Album for his record The Bathroom Wall. Jimmy and his sister Gloria co wrote the book I Hate This Place: The Pessimists Guide to Life, which was published in 2003 by Warner Books. Jimmys childrens book, Snowball Fight, was released in 2005 by the Penguin Group. Jimmy is currently at work on his second comedy album.
Mitch Fatel Mitch has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Comedy Central's Dr. Katz.
Adam Ferrara A proven favorite in comedy clubs, festivals and sitcoms, Adam Ferrara has earned a name for himself as one of today's leading comedic talents. His popularity as a stand-up has been validated with two American Comedy Award nominations for Best Stand-Up and two "Comedy Central Presents" half-hour specials. Adam's stellar list of stand-up television appearances include multiple appearances on Comedy Central, as well as "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The View," "Politically Incorrect," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," and "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn." Adam has also been a featured performer at the Comedy Central Roasts of Rob Reiner and Denis Leary. Adam's range as an actor has grown since his early years of playing the role of Pete on NBC's "Caroline in the City." He has moved onto projects such as the critically acclaimed ABC series "The Job," in which Adam co-starred opposite Denis Leary. Adam played the role of "Tommy Minetti," a young NYC detective in the prime-time series. He also starred in the behind the scenes Improv documentary "Contest Searchlight" on Comedy Central and most recently wrote and co-starred opposite fellow actor/comedian Lenny Clark in the Comedy Central pilot "Lenny and Adam." Adam was also a guest lead on the NBC hit drama "Law and Order" in their 300th episode entitled "Smoke." Adam's feature film debut "Ash Tuesday" was received at the Tribeca Film Festival with rave reviews. Additionally, Adam recently appeared in the feature "Dark Descends." Adam performed for all 48 of the Democratic Senators at the annual Caucus (with special guest Bill Clinton). Adam was delayed in traffic on the way to the event. Later that evening, Adam was quoted as saying, "I've waited this long for healthcare, now, they can wait for me."
Tina Fey Comedian and head comedy writer for "Saturday Night Live."
Chris Fonseca To be a first in Hollywood is not an easy task, but comedian Chris Fonseca has earned that title. He is the first (and only) person with a visible disability to entertain on The Late Night Show with David Letterman, something that had not been done in the show’s 18 year history. Chris allows his Cerebral Palsy to be the foundation of many of his stories. He notes that this helps to break down many preconceived barriers about CP. For fifteen years now he has had collegiate, corporate and association audiences rolling with him in the aisles. Chris was already on his way up as he was asked to become part of the award winning PBS production, Look Who’s Laughing. This show became a break-through production as it became the first comedy special featuring those with disability. He has also be featured as an entertainer on The American Comedy Awards, a presenter at The Presidents Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities Conference, and a featured comedian at The Montreal Comedy Festival. Each year he is the star performer of the San Antonio Latino Laugh Festival where he plays to sold-out crowds of 20,000. He currently is a headliner at the newly formed Los Angeles Latino Comedy Festival. For over a decade, Chris has become a veteran performer turning his physical disability into a positive visual image. He has won the praise of Presidents Clinton and Carter and was invited to entertain on the ABC Special, An Evening of Hope-Christopher Reeve. Chris’ career has been highlighted by many appearances on Evening at the Improv, Comedy on the Road, Entertainment Tonight and has been featured in USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, and Daily Variety. He also had a co-starring guest role on a Media Access Award winning episode of Baywatch. Although touring over 200 nights a year, he still finds time to share with his two beautiful daughters.
Karith Foster By the age of 4, Karith Foster knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I distinctly remember watching Sesame Street and thinking, I should be doing that! Though she never got to fulfill her dream of sitting on a fake brick wall shooting the sh*t with multicolored Muppets, today she is fulfilling her dream of entertaining audiences around the world in the hopes of leaving them with a universal message or twolike we really are all the same underneath but sometimes one of these things is not like the other; and not only is it okay to acknowledge, but a must, to make fun of. Because ALL is fair in love and comedy. Raised in Plano, Texas the affluent suburb north of Dallas with the ethnic diversity of a Klan rally Karith indulged her performing bug by starring in her high schools ALL WHITE production of A Raisin in the Sun. She currently resides in New York City where everyday she learns something new like just because she blends into her Harlem neighborhood it is not cool to walk into a bodega a little Spanish grocery store and say Que pasa yall?!! Since her stint in NYC, shes been nicknamed Princess by several friends and acquaintances who are convinced shes actually a Jewish girl from Long Island trapped in that bodywhich would technically make her a JAAP (Jewish African-American Princess). So in her case its not talk to the hand, but talk to the manicure. And although she may never have cooked a full meal in her life, she knows how to use a Zagats Restaurant Guide like nobodys business. Karith performs weekly at a variety of NYC comedy clubs including The Boston Comedy Club, The Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, and Stand up New York Comedy Club just check her schedule to see when and where shes going up or to see if shell be in a town near you. Imus introduced Karith Foster on his new radio show WABC AM
Pablo Francisco When Pablo Francisco unleashes his creative combustion his audience is jolted into boisterous laughter and applause. It is not uncommon to sense the anticipation of Pablo's audience as his fans await their favorite impressions. Those who experience Pablo's show for the first time find themselves captivated by his brilliant off-the-wall sound effects and uniquely animated delivery. His natural ability to create vividly funny living pictures that focus on family and relationships give Pablo's show a universal appeal. His hilarious spoofing of those intensely melodramatic Spanish language soap operas on Telemundo, and his narration of the action-movie preview with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a tortilla vendor brings huge laughs coast to coast. Pablo has become an international sensation selling out numerous shows overseas where English is the second language. This gifted performer continues to thrive on the unpredictability of stand up comedy, continually weaving new material throughout his show. Pablo was inspired by the comedy sets he watched on Carson and Letterman at the impressionable age of 13. Armed with a VCR his dad bought, Francisco started taping every comedy set possible. By the age of 17, the young Tucson native took his first step on the path to success. It was clear that comedy had become an irresistible inspiration, and Pablo was up for the challenge of his first open mic night. It wasn't long before the Improv discovered his undeniable talent. Now the 30 something L.A. resident, is living his passion with guest appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special which is consistently in the top 5 most requested, FOX's animated feature "The Family Guy," Showtime's "Full Frontal Comedy," Comedy Central's "Short Attention Span Theater" and "Make Me Laugh. Francisco was a cast member on the Fox Network's sketch comedy show "Mad TV" and has performed at the "Montreal Comedy Festival." Pablo was nominated Comedian Of The Year by the American Comedy Awards and starred in national commercials for Coke and City Bank with Elton John. Watch for Pablo as the movie reviewer on David Spade's new Comedy Central show entitled "The Show Biz Show." Recently Pablo did a hilarious appearance as the Movie Guy on Comedy Centrals Mind Of Mencia and is currently touring the country. Pablo can be seen regularly as the host of Latino Laugh Festival: "The Show" on SiTV seen by over seven million people.
Al Franken One of America's top comedians and political satirists, Al Franken was a part of Saturday Night Live's original writing staff and one of the program's most popular performers, bringing to life the quirky self-esteem guru, Stuart Smalley. He made a big splash with the publications of his books, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations and Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency. Al Franken is perhaps best known for his work on Saturday Night Live. In 1975, Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking late night show. Franken remained with the original show until 1980 and then returned in 1985. He stayed for another 10 years, leaving after the 1994-95 season. Franken received four Emmys for his writing on SNL and a fifth for producing. He also won recognition for his on-camera work, first as half of the comedy team of "Franken and Davis", then for his "Al Franken Decade" persona. He also was recognized for such characterizations as the one-man mobile uplink unit and Stuart Smalley, the new age cable TV host.
Ardie Fuqua Ardie Fuqua You've seen him on HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Apollo Comedy Hour. While attending Rutgers University as a Journalism Major, Ardie ventured to New York City's Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem. There he watched a lot of young guys getting laughs and thought it looked like a lot of fun, he had no idea you could make a living from it. After working just one year in comedy, he became a regular at the Boston Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy and Carolines. Since then he's been seen on NBC's Friday Night Videos and HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Apollo Comedy Hour. When not on the road, he can be seen at his home based club, the Comedy Cellar in New York City.
Zach Galifianakis I was bored and raised in the foothills of North Carolina. I was a small child. At the age of four I grew a beard. I named it Sheila. I started doing stand up humor in NYC at a place called Hamburger Harrys. I bombed many, many times. Sheila was very discouraged. When my jokes improved I started getting acting jobs. Not to brag but I have been in many shitty things. Some good. Here goes: TV Reno 911 Tom Goes To The Mayor Apt. 2F Letterman Conan James Kimmel Shitcom Boston Common Tru Calling (when I sold my soul) Late World with Zach Movies AKA Films: Comedians of Comedy Flushed Heartbreakers Bubble Boy Corky Romano Out Cold Below
Greg Giraldo Greg Giraldo is one of New York City's top comedians and a headliner in clubs across the country. Socially provocative and yet broadly funny, Greg has become one of the most versatile and highly entertaining comics working today. Greg is currently hosting "Stand-Up Nation with Greg Giraldo" on Comedy Central, every Friday at 9pm (8pm central). It's a full night of comedy from some of today's top stand-ups plus a monologue from Greg on the events of the week along with interviews in-studio with guest comedians as well as field pieces. Last year, Greg Giraldo hosted the popular "Friday Nite with Greg Giraldo" also on Comedy Central. Prior to hosting his own show, Greg was a regular panelist on "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn" which aired for three seasons on Comedy Central. Greg Giraldo has had two half-hour stand-up specials for Comedy Central Presents and performed on Comedy Central's year-end special "Last Laugh" in 2004 and 2005. He has also appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS) several times, and has been a guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC) over a dozen times. Greg Giraldo developed and starred in his own ABC sitcom, "Common Law," which was loosely based on his experiences at a New York law firm. He also created and starred in sitcom pilots for NBC and CBS. In 2004, Greg partnered with European producers LazyBoy on a hit modern rock/electronic song released by Universal/Motown Records called "Underwear Goes Inside the Pants." The song was the #1 most downloaded song on Itunes in the electronic music category, and an international hit appearing on the charts in America and many other countries including Australia where it rose to #4.
Whoopi Goldberg Versatile stand-up comedienne and performance artist Whoopi Goldberg gained the attention of Hollywood with her eponymous show of character sketches. With her trademark dreadlocks, gravelly voice and blunt, hip-yet-compassionate style, she was unconventional star material to be sure, and the ups and downs of her career clearly represent the attempts of producers to smooth over what they consider to be her rough edges. She made an auspicious feature debut with an atypically subdued but very moving performance in Steven Spielberg's controversial film, "The Color Purple." She gave an Oscar-winning performance as a fake psychic medium in the 1990 boxoffice hit, "Ghost." Her unusual and considerable talents, and her earthy, straightforward persona have kept her extremely busy from hosting two Academy Awards ceremonies to performing in the low-key romance, "Corinna, Corinna," voicing Shenzi the hyena in "The Lion King" and playing a lesbian in the road film, "Boys on the Side."
Ellen Gootblatt Relationships expert and a former ABC Talkradio show host and a nationally syndicated advice columnist, Ellen Gootblatt's topics include, Sex, Passion & Intimacy; "Meeting, Dating and Mating: 250 Important Questions to Ask Before You Go Further in a Relationship and Men Aren't Women Understanding and Appreciating the Inherent Differences Between the Sexes." Ellen presents an upbeat, humorous, entertaining and motivational program that will be the highlight of your booking season.A "relationships" expert, a nationally syndicated advice columnist and author, Ellen Gootblatt was the host of the #1 rated ABC evening talk show heard in thritynine states, Getting Together with Ellen Gootblatt. Her radio talk show was about just that: how to build and sustain the finest relationships one can in a positive, optimistic way. Her topics varied widely from program to program, and her shows unpredictability was part of its appeal. The umbrella was male-female relationships: marriage, divorce, the lifestyle of singles and widows. But on any given night, the topic may have been parents and children; neighbor and friend or any other aspect of the human condition that piqued her interest and what she thought might be meaningful to her listeners. Ellen Gootblatt is a person who lives a full life and, whey they're relevant, shared her experiences with her listeners and guests. A former educator, her curiousity about people, common sense and sense of humor set the tone for the show. She questioned her guests celebrities and ordinary people about just the topics most of us would wonder about but wouldn't dare ask and disarmed them by being open, vulnerable and honest about herself. Ellens personal warmth and her ability to draw out her guests brought to her program such celebrities as Steve Allen, Valerie Harper, John Denver, David Brenner, David Steinberg, Kris Kristofferson, George Carlin, Patricia Neal, Phyllis Diller and Lucille Ball and somehow, in her presesnce, each of these prestigious stars found new stories to share.
Jim Gossett The most “listened to” impressionist/humorist in the country.
Gary Greenberg Besides being seen on Comedy Central and Bravo, Gary is the author of three books, the best-selling The Pop-Up Book of Phobias, The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares and Self-Helpless.
Eddie Griffin With DysFunKtional Family, Scary Movie 3 and My Baby's Mama out on DVD, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo coming in August and a starring role in New Regency's comedy Romantic Comedy currently shooting, Eddie Griffin is now enjoying the film career that he always planned. He is best known to television audiences as the star of UPN's hit comedy series Malcolm & Eddie. Griffin was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Best Actor in a Comedy Series" for his portrayal. He also wrote and directed four episodes of the sitcom, one of which starred his mentor, Richard Pryor.
Kathy Griffin Emmy nominated Chicago native, Kathy Griffin, a multi faceted performer with a rapid fire wit, is probably best known for her four year stint on the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan" as Vickie Groener, Brooke Shields acerbic colleague. After moving west and joining the famed Los Angeles Groundlings comedy improvisational troupe, Kathy began building her resume with guest starring roles on such series as ER and Seinfeld" where she created recurring character Sally Weaver. After her various TV guest spots, Kathy began gaining notice as a stand-up comedienne and landed her own HBO Half Hour Comedy Special. In 1998, HBO gave Kathy her own One-Hour Special, "A Hot Cup of Talk". Kathy has supplied voices for characters on the animated series "Dilbert" and "The Simpsons", and she appeared in a dual role on the "X-Files" as well as in Eminems video, "The Real Slim Shady", which was co-directed by Dr. Dre. Kathy has co-hosted The Billboard Music Awards three years in a row; and appeared on numerous talk shows including "Late Night with David Letterman", "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "Howard Stern" and "The View", as well as having been featured in the films "Its Pat" and "Four Rooms" among others. Kathy has a great passion for reality TV. She participated in, and won "Celebrity Mole" on ABC, and then hosted the NBC reality series "Average Joe" as well as the MTV series, "Kathys So-Called Reality". Kathy has performed two very successful stand up specials for Bravo. The first in 2005 called Kathy Griffin...Is Not Nicole Kidman and the second in May of 2006 called Strong Black Woman. Kathys DVD stand-up special "Allegedly" is in stores now. In August 2005 Kathys reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, debuted on Bravo to rave reviews. The second season of Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List" was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program.
Kyle Grooms Kyle Grooms is an intelligent comedian whose material crosses over to all audiences. He recently performed in New Faces at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and appeared on Comedy Centrals Premium Blend and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. He has been prominently featured on Chappelles Show and was the host of the Comedy Central special Straight Plan for the Gay Man and was selected to showcase for the 2005 NACA National Conference in Minneapolis. Next up for Grooms is serving as the host of a developing show on VH1. Other credits include: I Love the 80s, I Love the ‘70s, Worst Songs Ever, Best Week Ever, BETs Comic View, Comedy Picante, Showtime at the Apollo and The Bob and Tom Radio Show.
Darrell Hammond Darrell Hammond as Repertory Player Now entering his eighth season on “Saturday Night Live,” Darrell Hammond is best known for the many impressions he has brought to the show. His impressions have been applauded by television critics and viewers alike for their uncanny accuracy and range. After playing President Bill Clinton for most of his time in office, Hammond has taken over playing practically the entire Bush Administration from Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge – sometimes in the same sketch. Hammond performed as Vice President Al Gore in a performance so telling that it was used as a reference in preparation for the 2000 Presidential debates. Other political highlights include Jesse Jackson and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Hammond has also played media figures including Dan Rather, Ted Koppel, Geraldo Rivera, Sam Donaldson, Bob Costas, Tim Russert, Phil Donahue and Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s “Hardball” as well as celebrities (Sean Connery, Jay Leno, and Regis Philbin).
Perez Hilton He is the Internet’s most devilish gossip columnist. He currently resides in Manhattan with his pet poodle Mariel. His signature colors are blush and bashful. His favorite drink is a Viagra Martini, and his motto is “I’m gay, but I’m not as big a slut as Paris.” He loves animals, enemas and animus.
D.L. Hughley Star of the hit television show, "The Hughley's" and popular comedian, D.L. Hughley humorously deals with subjects like violence in white schools, gun control, the battle of the sexes, the state of the black family and the differences between black and white cultures and attitudes.
Gabriel Iglesias Gabriel Iglesias is a Mexican-American standup comedian from San Ysidro, California. He is best known for making fun of his obesity and his ability for impressions. His opening joke is "The 5 kinds of fat": Big, Healthy, Husky, Fluffy (which he says he is) and "DAAAAAAAMN!" He has made several guest appearances on such television shows as The Tonight Show, My Wife and Kids and in his own half hour special on Comedy Central. He was a series regular for one season of All That on Nickelodeon where his most notable role was portraying Bill Clinton. Iglesias was a finalist in the fourth season of the reality television series, Last Comic Standing. In the July 11, 2006 episode, which depicted the series' regular roast segment, Iglesias was chosen as the roast subject. He was evicted before that episode's elimination round, however, after it was discovered that he had violated the terms of the contestants' contract several times, having not only broken curfew, but having violated the rules against unauthorized outside communication more than once. Whereas the contestants are allowed one phone call every two days on the residence's house phone, on which conversations are monitored by the producers, Iglesias was discovered having smuggled a BlackBerry into the contestants' residence, and then, after the BlackBerry was confiscated, having used a payphone to call his girlfriend at approximately 3 or 4am, during which he revealed some of the contents of the roast competition.
Victoria Jackson Squeaky-voiced comedienne Victoria Jackson is perhaps best known for being a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992, but she also makes sporadic film appearances.
Robert Kelly Robert Kelly is an American stand-up comedian. Kelly resides in Manhattan and frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar. Robert Kelly often appears on Opie and Anthony on XM Satellite Radio. He has also appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and Premium Blend. In 2003, Bob Kelly was voted the Breakthrough Stand-Up of the Year on CringeHumor.net [1]. In 2006, Kelly toured with comedians Dane Cook, Gary Gulman, and Jay Davis on the cross-country tour entitled Tourgasm. Despite breaking his leg, he managed to finish the tour which is airing on HBO as a comedy documentary series in June.[
Jamie Kennedy Setting himself apart from his contemporaries as an actor, writer and producer, Jamie Kennedy is proving that talent and versatility can be parlayed into success in several different forums of entertainment. Kennedy co-wrote and starred in the Warner Bros. hit film "Malibu's Most Wanted." Kennedy's character in the film, B-Rad is based on the one that he created and portrayed on his popular WB television series "JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," where he wears three hats as star, writer and producer. The show recently concluded its third and final season.
Kurt Kilpatrick Business humorist and mimic with a motivating message.
Thom King Relationship expert and author of Good Girls Guide to Great Sex; Sex, Intimacy and Lying about Love plus three other new books on love, romance and relationships. His presentation of An Evening of Foreplay is an adventure in human desire, sexuality and relationships.
Jessica Kirson Jessica Kirson's unique style and captivating stage presence captures the attention of audiences and club bookers everywhere she performs. Her wide variety of characters brings a diverse energy to her routine. Once you have seen her amazing talent, it is easy to understand why she was selected to perform at the Hamptons, Toyota, and Marshall's Women in Comedy festivals. She has been featured on various television shows including, Comedy Central's, "Premium Blend" and "Fresh Faces", Nickelodeon's, "Sixth in the Suburbs", Noggin's, "LOL", VH1's, "Awesomely Bad Hair," "Awesomely Bad Love Songs,' "Awesomely Bad #1 Songs", "Awesomely Bad Breakup Songs," Oxygen's premier game show, "Can You Tell?", Bravo's, "The Great Things About Being", The Women's Television Network's, "She's So Funny", and NBC's, "Last Comic Standing seasons 2 and 3." Jessica can be seen at clubs and colleges all over the United States receiving rave reviews. Between her hilarious characters and amazing crowd work, she will be wowing audiences across the country for years to come.
Jen Kober i have been in development for about a year now trying to get a project up and running that was both funny and informative for prime time tv. after writing and re-writing and taping several pilots for different shows, the idea for big dish was born. i wanted to fuse together my passion for comedy with my love for cooking into an original reality style sitcom. we shot a pilot, showed it to some big wigs and they loved it! once we had the money to make it happen, we pulled out all the stops. i got on the ball - assembling my dream cast and crew to make what I think is a killer new comedy that is deliciously funny.
Richard Lederer America’s wittiest verbalist, nationally syndicated language columnist and author of such books as, Anguished English the most widely sold language/humor book in publishing history.
Richard Lewis Well known comedian and actor, Rchard Lewis is probably best known for his role as himself on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with Larry David
Wendy Liebman Up and coming young comedian who has starred in her own HBO comedy special and on Comic Relief. She has won The American Comedy Awards "Best Female Stand-up Comic" award and has made regular appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Jamie Lissow Jamie Lissow is one of comedys fastest rising stars, having made appearances on the Tonight Show and Comedy Centrals Premium Blend. He was nominated twice for Campus Performer of the Year, giving him the opportunity to perform at over 200 colleges. Jamie has also been featured in The Nobodies of Comedy, our annual comedy showcase of the future starts of comedy.
Roger Lodge As the host of BLIND DATE, television's most successful syndicated dating program, Roger Lodge is a dating expert extraordinaire (in watching the show, you'll notice he's also adept at recognizing when people are making fools of themselves). In addition to the often hilarious commentary he shares between video dates on the comical show, Roger writes a dating column for popular publications such as Mademoiselle, Glamour, Seventeen, and Elle. While lecturing on campuses across the country, Roger provides students with a humorous behind the scenes glimpse of BLIND DATE, by showing film clips and outtakes and by telling anecdotes that might even make Hugh Hefner blush! During his funny and entertaining lecture, Roger also discusses dating do's and don'ts with his audience.
Brad Lowery Brad Lowery has long been a favorite at Colleges and Universities across the country. He averages over 200 College performances per year and was nominated for Comedian of the Year 4 times in a row. He's been seen on A & E 's Caroline's Comedy Hour, Star Search and twice on NBC's Showtime at the Apollo. He's opened for acts such as Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Tommy Davidson. This past year he's been doing the audience warm up for The Queen Latifah Show on Fox and can be seen on the Fox Television special entitled Comedy Flava which first aired in November. Brad currently resides in the New York City area and has a black belt in karate. Lowery also has opened for comedians Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and Tommy Davidson.
Norm MacDonald Fired in bitter haste from Saturday Night Live and following up with two career-crippling film credits, Norm Macdonald's career has been spiraling into disaster since 1997 -- "or so the Germans would have us believe." Though he began his career as a stand-up comedian in Ottawa, most people's familiarity with MacDonald derives from his three-year stint as Weekend Update anchor on the ever-enduring Saturday Night Live. Realizing that a change in location was the key to success, MacDonald packed his bags and took his routine to L.A, where he continued to refine his specific brand of acerbic wit through his stand-up act. In addition, MacDonald became a writer for the popular sitcom Roseanne, as well as The Dennis Miller Show.
Bill Maher Whether skewering Republicans, Democrats, the mass media or Hollywood, Bill Maher is one of the most perceptive and hilarious satirists at work today. From the podium he delivers his trademark blend of devastating social commentary and politically incorrect humor that always leaves audiences begging for more. Bill first gained fame as the host of ABCs Politically Incorrect, which featured celebrities, pundits and politicians discussing current events with enlightening and often hilarious results. He is now the host of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, as well as the worlds first Internet-exclusive talk show on Amazon.com, Amazon Fishbowl. Like his shows, Bills lectures provide an entertaining and insightful look at the world that will amuse and stimulate every audience.
Howie Mandel Howie Mandel's versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, ranging from television to film and stage. From his work on the Emmy Award-winning St. Elsewhere to the international (and also Emmy-nominated) Bobby's World, Mandel has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene Currently the host of the hot game show Deal or No Deal, and the Canadian version, Deal or No Deal Canada, Mandel started his career on a dare during a trip to Los Angeles. He was at the legendary Comedy Store on amateur night and was coaxed by his friends to get up and try his luck. As fate would have it, there was a producer in the crowd who immediately hired him to appear on the comedy game-show Make Me Laugh. His appearance on the show led to talk-show appearances, a stint as Diana Ross' opening act and, to the television series St. Elsewhere, where he spent six seasons as Dr. Wayne Fiscus. Mandel's Emmy-nominated animated children series Bobby's World ran eight seasons and now appears in syndication six days a week in 65 countries. As the series' creator and executive producer, Mandel was closely involved in its writing, as well as providing the voice of Bobby, Bobby's dad and other characters. Mandel attributes the show's success to drawing the storylines from real life. Mandel has done countless comedy specials both on cable and network television. He has also hosted his own syndicated talk show The Howie Mandel Show, and continues to be a mainstay on the talk-show circuit. He frequently appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performing his signature hidden-camera bits. He also is one of the first people that Regis Philbin calls to fill in for him when he takes a vacation from Live with Regis and Kelly. Mandel also continues to perform as many as 200 concerts a year throughout the United States and Canada.
Ralphie May Known for his Hip-Hop brand of comedy, Ralphie May has his ebonics and quick wit down pat, which has earned him roles in such urban films as "for da love of money and gas". He has gained notoriety from being an equal-opportunity offender with a political incorrectness and plain-spoken truth-telling in his routines that is reminiscent of rap. Most recently, Ralphie participated in VH1's first season of "Celebrity Fit Club," in which eight celebrities bravely stepped forward and acknowledged that they have been losing the battle of the bulge. Ralphie has struggled with his weight since he was a teen. At the beginning of "Celebrity Fit Club", he weighed in at 481 pounds and has since dropped to about 400 pounds. Ralphie May's popularity exploded after the success of the first season of NBCs hit reality series, "Last Comic Standing," when America thought he was robbed of the winner's title. But, coming in second place did not stop him from becoming one of the most popular comedians in the country. Ralphie rails about the Hollywood bias against overweight people, It isnt a fat joke its a prejudice joke. In his act, he talks about the time he auditioned for the role of a fat person, only to be told he was too overweight. Too fat to play fat? And he describes the time he did a showcase for one of the late-night talk shows and they told him he was the best comic of the bunch, but that because of his size hed never get booked. Comedy is not about appearance, its about rockin a mic, he says. Are they laughing? Thats the only test.
Reggie McFadden Well known comedian, entertainer and actor.
Carlos Mencia Carlos Mencia takes no prisoners. In his show, Mind of Mencia on Comedy Central, the critically-acclaimed comedian mercilessly skewers the current and the cultural, whether in the studio, in the audience, out on the street, or in commercial parodies. One of the most popular comedians in the country, Carlos has sold out live concerts at venues throughout. He has a no nonsense point of view and the ability to connect with a diverse audience by pointing out societys hypocrisies.
Jim Mendrinos Jim Mendrinos, a versatile comic and writer living in New York City, has been one of the most sought after comedy writers of his generation. He started writing and performing his stand-up at the age of 19, sharing the stage with future stars Chris Rock and Colin Quinn. Soon after he began touring across the country with Sam Kinison and Bill Hicks, all the while honing the comedic skills that audiences have come to love. As a performer Jim has appeared on Comedy Central, and is one of the most sought after club acts. He is a regular performer at Gotham Comedy Club, and has performed internationally. He has appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, NBC, and FOX. Jim is also one of the most sought after comedy writers, having contributed jokes to touring comedians such as Rodney Dangerfield and Joan Rivers. He has contributed jokes to many late night television shows; including SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S WEEKEND UPDATE featuring Colin Quinn. He was the sole writer for USA NETWORK PRESENTS: THE PROBLEM CHILD, Staring Gilbert Gottfried. Jim was also the first talent coordinator for Gotham Comedy Club, and is a respected industry expert who has lent his opinions and observations on comedy to publications such as The Daily News, Newsday, Daily Variety, Time Out New York, and the BBC. He is also a columnist for the industry publications "Two-Drink Minimum" and "Sheckey Magazine."
Jay Mohr Jay Mohr is a quadruple threat. Film, television, radio and stand-up are all among the treasures in the bag of tricks he's been working on throughout the 15-year career he began as a teenager. He has worked with superstars, matching wits and chops with Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire, Al Pacino in "Simone," Eddie Murphy in Pluto Nash, and Bill Murray in Speaking of Sex.
Tracy Morgan Tracy Morgan segued from the completion of his seventh year as a cast member on NBCs Saturday Night Live to primetime as star of his short-lived series, The Tracy Morgan Show. Even after seven amazing years in late night, theres nothing like getting a shot at primetime. On SNL, Morgan most recently popularized two memorable characters Safari Planet host Brian Fellow and the space adventurer Astronaut Jones. Other popular characters include Woodrow, the homeless romantic, and the longtime favorite, Dominican Lou. His impressions include Mike Tyson, The Views Star Jones, Della Reese, Busta Rhymes, Maya Angelou and Samuel L. Jackson. He has also made numerous comedic appearances as himself, both on Weekend Update and in backstage sketches where he grills the guest host with inappropriate questions. Born and raised in New York City, Morgan is a standup comedian, actor and sketch-comedy player, who continually works the national standup comedy circuit while appearing on television and in feature films. After appearing on Def Comedy Jam, he first became well known appearing on Martin as the recurring character, Hustleman. Morgan debuted an hour-long standup special on Comedy Central in August 2002 and contributed a voice to Comedy Centrals Crank Yankers. He also hosted the channels standup showcase, Comic Groove, and in 2002 was named the It Ready for Prime Time Playa by Entertainment Weeklys It List. Morgan recently appeared in a featured role in the film Head of Statedirected by and starring SNL alum Chris Rock. Other movie credits include A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Half Baked, the independent feature 30 Years to Life, How High and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
John Mulaney John Mulaney grew up in Chicago and began performing at age seven with a children's sketch group called The Rugrats. Most agree that John should have been born 100 years ago as his love of history and old-timey jargon comes through in his improv, stand-up and films. He co-wrote the ECNY award winning short-film Cavalcade of Personalities, which appeared on Comedy Central's Jump Cuts. He is the co-creator of I Love the 30s, now playing on Comedy video. As a stand-up John performs throughout New York City and the U.S., sharing with audiences his dislike of the Liberty Bell and his confusion over "Goths" wherever he goes. In the spring of 2006 John Joined Mike Birbiglia's Medium Man on Campus College Tour, sure to be a hit among liberal arts majors across the country.
Kevin Nealon With his unique sense of humor, profound dry wit and likable demeanor, Kevin Nealon has established himself as one of the premiere television, theatrical and stand-up comedians of his generation. As a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1986-1995), Mr. Nealon is most recognized for the characters he created, including; The Subliminal Man, Hans and Franz, and anchoring Weekend Update. His extensive television credits include guest appearances on such award winning shows as, The Larry Sanders Show, Fat Actress, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Comedy Centrals, Crank Yankers. Kevin Nealon, who made his film debut in the 1987 romantic comedy, Roxanne, with Steve Martin, has gone on to star in over two dozen comedies, including Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer, both with Adam Sandler, Joe Dirt, Anger Management with Jack Nicholson, Daddy Day Care with Eddie Murphy and Grandma's Boy. He is currently starring as Doug Wilson in the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe nominated Showtime series, WEEDS. Mr. Nealons films in 2008 include Steve Carells, Get Smart, Adam Sandlers, You Dont Mess With The Zohan, and in January 2009, Twentieth Century Foxs, They Came From Upstairs. Kevin Nealons first book called, Yes, Youre Pregnant but What About Me?, published by HarperCollins and in bookstores May 2008. Mr. Nealon also stays busy performing stand-up comedy around the country and can be seen in his own Stand-Up Special airing in the fall of 2008. In addition to his acting credits, he is an established and acclaimed writer, garnering him an Emmy nomination for his work on Saturday Night Live. Raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Kevin Nealon has a degree in Marketing from Sacred Heart University and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and son.
Bob Nelson Bob Nelson performed his first "stand-up" routine on June 14, 1978. From that day on, he has performed at hundreds of comedy clubs, colleges, corporate events, casinos, theaters, and charity fundraisers. He has performed in such well-known places as Radio City Music Hall, Las Vegas, The Ford Theatre (for President Ronald Reagan), Carnagie Hall and on Broadway! His television credits range from "The Merv Griffin Show" to "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson"... where Mr. Carson remarked after Bob's first appearance, "You won't laugh any harder in five or six minutes, then you did at that guy... Bob Nelson!" Bob has many other television credits including an Emmy Award, that he received for a children's show which aired in Philadelphia. Rodney Dangerfield jettisoned Bob's cable television career by putting him in two of his own HBO specials. "The Ninth Annual Young Comedians Special", where Bob presented his classic football piece, and "It Ain't Easy Bein' Me", where he introduced us to one of his most popular characters... Jiffy Jeff! Bob went on to do two more HBO specials, this time they would be solo performances, the half hour "One Night Stand" and then his innovative one hour special "Nelson Schmelson". Bob has even showed up on the silver screen in Ivan Reitman's "Kindergarden Cop" with Arnold Schwartzenagger, "This is My Life" the Nora Ephron film starring the loveable Julie Kavner, and we can't forget Dennis Dugan's "Brain Donors" with the great John Turturro, the incredible Mel Smith, and of course our own Bob Nelson!
Conan OBrien Conan O?Brien is best known as host of NBC's late-night talk show/variety show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. O'Brien is scheduled to take over for Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show in 2009.
John Oliver John Oliver was born and raised in England, Great Britain, in the year of punk 1977. His passport lists his occupation as 'comedian' and as we all know, passports never lie. He has worked as a stand-up comedian around the UK entertaining and irritating audiences in equal measure for the last 7 years, and has regularly taken shows to the Edinburgh Festival. With his friend and long time collaborator Andy Zaltzman, John wrote and starred in three series of 'The Department' for BBC Radio 4. It centered around a three man 'think tank' who each week solved one of the world's major problems. Hopefully one day it will be available on CD, but as things stand it looks like that will be the same day that you can first don ice skates and pirouette across the fiery rivers of hell. They also wrote and presented 'Political Animal' where they linked the satirical material of various stand-ups with sketches which included firing themselves out of a water canon at a crowd of protestors, contracting bird flu and getting into a gun fight with the Queen. In the course of his career, John has received no awards worth mentioning but did receive a letter of complaint from Buckingham Palace, which is clearly a lot better. When The Daily Show with Jon Stewart came knocking at his door, John flung it open and jumped into their arms with a relish which made all parties slightly uncomfortable. He is very pleased to be coming to ply his trade in your country, as to be honest he had all but burnt his bridges in his own.
Patrice ONeal Patrice O'Neal grew up in Roxbury, MA across the street from the projects. Even though the buildings on both sides of the street were brick and looked just alike, Patrice and his friends let the kids from the projects know the distinction - Patrice's and his friend's buildings were privately owned and they took pride in that. The pickup football games became "Projects vs. Private Property" - the trash talking that went on during those games honed Patrice's early comic sensibility. In high school Patrice's talent in football was recognized and he was recruited by the coach at Northeastern University. But Patrice hated playing football... he really wanted to be a comic. And so it was. He attended Northeastern University, but studied theatre arts. He never played football again. Patrice got his first real taste of standup at a place called "Estelle's" in Boston, where he heckled a comic. The comic suggested maybe Patrice thought he could do better. Patrice did - the following week, Patrice went up at the club and brought down the house. From there he went on to work at The Comedy Connection and then moved to working at most of the clubs in and around Boston, New England and New York. Now, years later, Patrice has a wide range of comedic tools - from whispers and tiny facial expressions to animated movement and shouting. In one bit, Patrice at 6'5" and 300+ lbs, makes the audience hear and almost see the story of an eastern gymnast quietly speaking of her difficult upbringing and training. The Boston Globe said, "It is a hilarious piece, made all the more so by the contradiction between O'Neal's very visible presence and that of the tiny, tough white girl he is playing". Asked to whom he aspires, Patrice mentions only two names: George Carlin and Richard Pryor; Carlin for his distinct point of view and universal appeal; Pryor for his honesty, vulnerability and personal revelation. Patrice has appeared on many many TV shows in the USA, and will be appearing on the Comedy Factory for Dutch TV. He is making his debut appearance at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is set to become one of the regular visitors to the UK Comedy Circuit.
Rob Paravonian After growing up in the Chicago area, son of a first-generation Armenian-American school teacher who was also involved with local politics, Rob Paravonian went to college at USC in Los Angeles and now lives in New York . Rob writes and performs comedy and music and is a regualar at New York stand-up clubs and alternative comedy spaces. He also tours the country playing colleges and comedy clubs everywhere from Florida to Alaska, and from Maine to Montana. Rob discovered music at an early age, learning cello at age six and playing it from grade school through to the Waukegan High School Symphony (yes, there was a Waukeagn High School Symphony). At age 10 Rob got his first taste of life on the road when the Grade School Orchestra went to nationals in Nashville, and at 13 he went to Florida with the High School Chamber Orchestra. While in high school, Rob taught himself guitar and bass and began playing in bands, much to the dismay of his music instructors. While he was still underage, he played in bars in Chicago, Milwaukee, and once he went to college, the greater Los Angeles area. Although music had been the bulk of his life up until college, as an undergrad Rob pursued his other passion and studied writing. U.S.C.'s creative writing program was headed by author T.C. Boyle and Rob focused on short fiction and novellas. Rob also found a new love while in college comedy; and he began performing at wide-open shows in artsy cafes in L.A. (the precursor to the alternative comedy trend). Comedy took Rob back to Chicago after college, where he studied improvisation and ensemble work at the legendary Second City Training Center. While in Chicago Rob became a regular at the Improv and began going on the road, playing the midwest clubs and headlining colleges from coast to coast. Not wanting to limit himself to being a touring performer, Rob moved to New York where he has made a name for himself as an intelligent and unique performer. Rob quickly became a regular at Catch a Rising Star, has appeared on Comedy Central, VH1, has written cartoon theme songs, written and performed sketch shows and is on his third solo show.
Rodney Perry Rodney Perry has a wife and 5 kids, with such a big family “Making It” is the only option. Rodney was born in Chicago raised in Monroe, Louisiana and then ushered into the comedy world in the Bay Area. His Stage show is energy-driven with sidesplitting insights on everything from the work world to the everyday joys…and occasional trials…of family life. Rodney has appeared in the Fox Searchlight Film Johnson Family Vacation (Starring Kings of Comedy Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey). Rodney has made scene stealing performances in several upcoming films, Legac, Redrum and ShowStoppers all set for release in 2007. Most recently Rodney serves as Co-Host of Tv One’s hit comedy competition “Who’s Got Jokes”. Rodney Perrys television appearances include BETs Comic View, Showtimes LAFFAPALOOZA, and Hbos Def Comedy Jam. He has toured with legendary Hip-Hop artist RUNDMC as well as late music icon Ray Charles. Rodney is a McDonalds Bay Area Black Comedy Competition and Festival Champion.
Dat Phan Is the Original Winner of NBCs Last Comic Standing, and is a Headlining Comedian touring live across the U.S. He has made numerous TV and Movie appearances including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Family Guy voiceover, and Cellular. Dat Phan Productions is working on several upcoming projects including a live DVD & CD to be released in 2008, and preproduction on a movie titled Yellow Fever.Dat was born in Saigon, Vietnam and grew up struggling and poor in San Diego, CA. His culturally insightful comedy inspects ridiculous stereotypes, and shares his experience of being a regular American guy with a Vietnamese heritage. He has been included in The Smithsonian Institutions exhibition of The Top 10 Most Influential Vietnamese American Individuals. Dat Phans mission is to bring a more positive portrayal of Asian Americans to mainstream entertainment and Hollywood. We want to be seen as more than just martial artists, or bad stereotype token roles in American TV & Movies. He has performed at countless Comedy Clubs, Universities & Colleges, Casinos, and Corporate events. Notably: Harvard Law, Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce, Penn State, Foxwoods, and the U.S. Marine Corps to name a few.
Tony Powell What do you get when you cross the charisma of Eddie Murphy, the irreverence of Chris Rock, and the Old School charm of Bernie Mack? I have no idea, however, I do know that when you add a quick wit, great storytelling ability, and the performance chops of a seasoned pro you have Tony Powell. Like George Washington's unfinished portrait, accidents have a way of discovering pure artistry. While attending the University of Virginia, Tony Powell was asked to calm an unruly audience. Suddenly all those summer afternoons listening to Richard Pryor, and Bill Cosby albums seemed to have purpose. With his trademark quick wit, and clever impressions, Tony released the comedic genie trapped within to the delight of the unruly audience. Who knew at that moment in time that Powell was about to embark on a comedic odyssey that would lead to appearances on The Chris Rock Show , NBC's Showtime at the Apollo and two appearances on A&E's Comedy on the Road. Powell has made several appearances on The Comedy Channel. Powell has also opened for celebrity musical groups such as The Ojays and the Whispers. He has worked as the studio warm-up act for Bill Cosby and Nickelodeon's Keenan and Kel show. As an actor, he has recently appeared on three national television commercials (Visa, Dawn Detergent and Ritz Crackers). Tony was also the radio voice of Mr. Chill for Miller Genuine Draft and the U.S. Army reserves. Powells voice has also been featured in national radio spots for Fila and Heineken. Powell a college favorite as well, has showcased both the NACA Great Lakes and New England conferences. Growing up in East New York, Brooklyn, survival requires one of three things; you either have to be a great fighter, fleet of foot, or be a whole lotta funny. Lets just say, Tony Powell ain't no Ali or Carl Lewis, he is however, a whole lotta funny. Imus introduced Tony Powell on his new radio show WABC AM
Paul Provenza Popular comedian who hosts the Comedy Channel talk show series, "Comics Only." Paul Provenza portrays a doctor on the hit television series, "Northern Exposure" and is a regular on the "Tonight Show" and the "David Letterman Show."
Joe Queenan Author and humorist, Joe Queenan has written such books as, If You're Talking To Me, Your Career Must Be in Trouble; and Red Lobster, White Trash, and The Blue Lagoon: Joe Queenan's America.
Colin Quinn Colin has also appeared in movies, including Who's the Man?, Married to the Mob, The Roxbury Guys and most recently, Comedian. Colin was hired as a writer and feature player on NBC's sketch/comedy show, "Saturday Night Live." September 1997 he became a full-time cast member, showing up on Weekend Update as 'Lenny the Lion' and 'Joe Blow.' He also established the recurring characters 'The Thank you Guy' and himself in the skit 'Colin Quinn Explains the NY Times.' Colin Quinn is currently starring in his own show on Comedy Central called "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn". It is airing now on Comedy Central.
Rich Ramirez Hispanic-American comedian who appeared in all major comedy clubs and cruise ships throughout the world. Rich Ramirez has also appeared on BET, VH-1 Comedy Central and many other television shows. A class Act!
Stuart Rappaport Winner of the 2005 Jewish Week’s Comedy Contest, Stuart is an orthodox Jew whose comedy is a bit unorthodox. He has been doing stand-up for over 15 years and has entertained groups from The Main Street Synagogue, in Columbus, OH to Chabad of the Five Towns. He opened for Modi at the Riverdale Jewish Center last year and will be the featured act on April 5th at the “Ramada Marco Polo” in Miami Beach Florida. Stuart is an Optometrist by profession, and he brings his unique perspective to his comedy. Stuart sings with “The Meshuga-daddies” a barber-shop quartet, acapella group. He has starred in many regional theater productions, from “Fiddler On The Roof” to Neil Simon comedies, such as “Last Of The Red-Hot Lovers” and “Broadway Bound.” Stuart is a cantor for a synagogue in Providence, Rhode Island. He has also written a few original songs, as well as some musical parodies.
Mike Reiss Mike Reiss has won four Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons, the wacky animated series that has kept America laughing for more than a decade and earned Time magazine's vote as "the greatest TV show of the twentieth century." During his eleven seasons on the show, Reiss penned a dozen scripts and produced over 200 episodes. His other television credits include The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Alf, Eddie Murphy's The PJ's and It's Garry Shandling's Show, where he earned an ACE award for writing and producing. Reiss is also the co-creator of The Critic, an animated series starring Jon Lovitz as a lovable movie critic. The well-reviewed series has been running on Comedy Central for five years. Reiss also created Queer Duck, the animated adventures of a gay duck. An Internet hit with rave reviews in the U.S. and Europe, the series recently made the jump to the Showtime network. Culled from more than two decades of creating the funniest and most outrageous shows on television, Reiss' presentation is a unique glimpse inside the cutting edge of entertainment, including rare video clips from The Simpsons and The Critic. He takes audiences inside the lives of Springfield's first family, revealing how The Simpsons was almost cancelled before it hit the air, secret trivia of the show, insane dealings with network censors, and lots of juicy gossip about celebrity guest stars. Reiss also delves into the current state of television programming, describing with his characteristic wit why TV is so rotten and what steps need to be taken to bring the medium back to life. A former editor of both The Harvard Lampoon and The National Lampoon, Reiss continues as a consulting producer on The Simpsons. In addition, he is a frequent contributor to Esquire and Games Magazine, and is an award-winning mystery writer. He has published four children's books, including the surprise best seller How Murray Saved Christmas, a Christmas story for Jewish kids. His latest work is Santa Claustrophobia. He has lectured on comedy and animation at more than two dozen colleges, as well as the Smithsonian Institution.
Mo Rocca Mo Rocca, contributor to NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno and former correspondent for Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, is known for his wacky, tongue-in-cheek news reports and hilarious commentary. He is regularly seen on VH1's I Love...series. Rocca's book, All the Presidents' Pets, just released in paperback, is a satirical tour-de-force of investigative journalism that blows the lid off of a long-held secret in Washington: the presidents' pets are more than just photo ops. Equal parts All the President's Men, Charlotte's Web and The Da Vinci Code, the book is the journalistic watershed event of the decade. Really. At the podium, Rocca delivers his uniquely informed commentary on current news events and the coverage of them by the "mainstream media," and takes audiences behind the scenes of America's most popular news satire program with never-before-seen clips from The Daily Show and his other television appearances. He also provides the inside story of the pivotal role that presidential pets play in politics, and shines a klieg light on the complacent Washington press corps that missed the hot story. The former president and writer of Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Rocca is no stranger to the stage. His acting credits include the role of "Doody" in the Southeast Asia Tour of Grease. Rocca began his career in TV as a writer and producer for the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning PBS children's series Wishbone. Rocca went on to write and produce for other kids series, including ABC's Pepper Ann and Nickelodeon's The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, a pre-school series combining the whimsy of Seuss characters with the magic of Henson puppetry. He served as Consulting Editor at the adult men's magazine Perfect 10. Doing "pre-school by day and porn by night" helped prepare Rocca for the broad range of topics he'd soon tackle on The Daily Show. On The Daily Show, he profiled eccentrics ranging from a man so obsessed with First Ladies that he dresses up as Florence Harding (wife of Warren) to a husband and wife pet mummification team. A regular panelist on NPR's Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!, Rocca is also a frequent commentator for Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Larry King Live and the Fox News Channel.
Paul Rodriguez Paul Rodriguez career has spanned more than two decades and includes starring roles and featured appearances in over 30 films and countless television series and specials. His first big break came while doing comedy warm-ups for Norman Lear's show "Gloria." Lear ultimately wrote and developed a weekly series for Paul, "a.k.a. Pablo." Paul holds the honor and is enshrined at the Smithsonian as the first television show about a Mexican American Family on mainstream American television. He went on to do two other series, "Trial and Error," and "Grand Slam" for CBS. For four years (1990/94) Paul hosted "El Show de Paul Rodriguez," an entertainment talk show for the Spanish-language Univision Network. The show reached an international audience throughout the United States and 17 other countries in Central and South America. Paul's directorial debut came in 1994 with the film "A Million to Juan," a family comedy in which he also wrote and starred in. In addition, Paul also found time to guest star in several episodes of Showtime's original series "Resurrection Boulevard," and starred in six comedy specials for HBO, including "Loco Slam," "Live in San Quentin" and the most recent being "Idiots and Armadillos," which he also wrote and executive-produced. He also served as host for The Alma Awards on the ABC and the Latino Laugh Festival for Showtime, as well as his own television creations- four specials for the Fox Broadcasting Company ("Back to School," "Behind Bars") Paul segued nicely from television to motion pictures, making his feature film debut in the Universal Pictures comedy "D.C. Cab." Paul also had co-starring roles in Orion Pictures' "Miracles," Paramount's "The Whoopee Boys," Columbia Pictures "Quicksilver," and Universal's "Born in East L.A.", as well as "Made in America." He landed the coveted role of outspoken fight physician Freddie Pacheco in Columbia Pictures big budget biopic Ali for director Michael Mann and Producer John Peters. Other movie roles that followed are New Line Cinema's The Price of Glory, starring Jimmy Smitts, Metro Goldwyn's Tortilla Soup, with Hector Elizondo Crocodile Dundee in LA with Paul Hogan The Shipment with Mathew Modine, Jerry Zuckers Rat Race and Chasing Papi directed by Linda Mendoza Recently he had the opportunity to work with the legendary Clint Eastwood in the Warner Brothers film Bloodwork. Paul was the executive producer and star of the comedy concert film, The Original Latin Kings of Comedy, distributed by Paramount Pictures. His latest film projects include, A Cinderella Story starring Hilary Duff, Badassss directed by Mario Van Peebles, Cloud Nine starring Burt Reynolds and still in theaters, The Worlds Fastest Indian starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and directed by Roger Donaldson. Paul currently is in pre production on two series which were picked-up by VH1 and UPN/ Revolution Studios and just finished starring in a comedy showcase series entitled, The Laugh Factory: Very Funny, set to air on TBS. Paul Rodriguez is an in demand performer with a busy schedule of concerts and personal appearances. As a well rounded stand-up comedian, having honed his craft over the past twenty five years, it is estimated that Paul has performed live to well over one million concert goers from coast to coast building a solid fan base. Within Hispanic communities, Rodriguez is considered to be the Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and George Carlin when it comes to original comedy. Hands down, he has become the Original Latin King of Comedy. Paul remains strongly rooted in the Latino community, working with civic and educational groups and his main contributions go to the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund (NHSF). Paul also contributes to such charitable efforts as Comic Relief appearing on the HBO's program every year since its inception and hosts the annual Elizabeth Glazer Pediatrics Aids Foundation celebrity Golf Tournament.
Ray Romano Ray Romano admits that he always knew he could make friends laugh, but he never really gave stand-up comedy any serious thought until one fateful open-mic night at a New York comedy club in 1984. He did well, the bug bit hard and Romano was smitten. After stints at odd jobs, including futon mattress delivery boy and bank teller by day and journeyman comedian by night, he decided to leave the 9-to-5 ranks and pursue comedy full-time, eventually winning a stand-up comedy competition sponsored by a major New York radio station that same year. Following that success, Romano continued to regularly appear at comedy clubs throughout the country, leading to appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and then with Jay Leno. He was eventually invited to appear on "Late Night with David Letterman." Following that success, Romano continued to regularly appear at comedy clubs throughout the country,leading to appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and then with Jay Leno. He was eventually invited to appear on Late Night with David Letterman. That night, Letterman, recognizing something very unique in Romanos persona, offered him a development deal with his production company, Worldwide Pants. Through that association, the CBS hit, Everybody Loves Raymond, was born. Romano has not only gone on to star in his own television series, but to perform at the White House Correspondents Dinner for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, and headline the Toyota Comedy Festival at Carnegie Hall. Romano recently won a TV Guide Award for Actor of the Year in a Comedy Series (2001), as well as the Funniest Male Lead in a TV Series at the 14th Annual American Comedy Awards (2000) and the Television Critics Association Award For Outstanding Individual Achievement in Comedy (1999).
Jeff Ross Comedian JEFFREY ROSS is adored by his fans for going where no other comedian dares to go in his roasts of celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Hugh Hefner, and Flava Flav. Jeffrey is one of the most versatile talents working in the comedy business today. His stand-up performances at comedy clubs and colleges are legendary. Jeffrey is regularly featured on MTV and Comedy Central. His all new Comedy Central stand-up specials: Jeffrey Ross: No Offense Live From New Jersey, is scheduled to air August 22nd. And as if that wasn't enough, he has had dozens of appearances on the late night shows including Letterman, Leno, Conan and Kimmel.
Maya Rudolph Saturday Night Live" star Maya Rudolph is one television's most versatile performers. In addition to the brilliant comedic talent she brings each week to "SNL," Maya is also quite adept musically, having sung vocals and played keyboards for The Rentals, a band that's opened for groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garbage and Alanis Morisette (Maya's mom, the late Minnie Ripperton, was also a talented singer.). On "SNL," Rudolph has performed memorable characters such as Britannica of the pop group "Germini's Twin," opposite Ana Gasteyer. She's also known for her portrayal of Megan, a character who hosts the high school morning talk show "Wake Up Wakefield." Maya's film work includes a role in "Duets," which featured Gwyneth Paltrow, a friend of Rudolph's (they were childhood classmates).
Bob Saget Bob Saget He's doing great business in colleges and clubs all across the country and the latest buzz on him comes from his appearance in the undergound hit feature "The Aristocrats". Saget including his recent appearance on the HBO series "Entourage" and hear the rap "Rolling with Saget" in which he is featured with Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone.
Horatio Sanz Popular comedian and the first Latino performer to join the cast of "Saturday Night Live". Sanz has performed impressions of Jerry Garcia, Rosie O'Donnell and Meat Loaf and has appeared as an orderly in the 1994 movie"Miracle on 34th Street." He recently finished a movie "Boat Trip" in which he co-stars with Cuba Gooding Jr. and he has also starred in the comedy "Tomcats" and in the hit movie "Road Trip".
Mr. Belding From Saved By The Bell Dennis Haskins actor best known for his role as principal Richard Belding in the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993 on NBC. Before his foray into acting, Haskins briefly worked as a concert promoter, associating with the likes of Earth, Wind, and Fire and Tom Jones. After the end of the original series, Haskins would continue his role with the spinoff "Saved by the Bell: The New Class", until its cancellation in 2000. He has also made guest appearances on a variety of TV series, including The Dukes of Hazzard, 7th Heaven and JAG. Most recently, he appeared in an episode of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. On the E! True Hollywood Story special on Saved by the Bell, Haskins mentioned his difficulty of obtaining parts, as he is now typecast as Mr. Belding. Haskins grew a moustache to distance himself from the character.
Rondell Sheridan Popular comedian and actor, Rondell Sheridan stars as Andre, the dad in Cousin Skeeter, one of Nickelodeon's greatest successes. Rondell's also the host of the FOX Family channel's highest rated series, Show Me The Funny.
Pauly Shore Pauly Shore and the world-famous Comedy Store stages a comeback in TBS's Original Comedy Series, "Minding the Store," which premiered July 17, 2006. TBS is giving down-but-not-out comedian Pauly Shore (Encino Man, Jury Duty) the chance to get his mother's world-famous Comedy Store back on track, while also giving his career a boost, in this new original comedy series. "The Comedy Store is the place where such comedians as Jim Carrey, Richard Pryor and David Letterman got their start, so it seems perfectly fitting for television's very funny network to follow its revival," said Steve Koonin, executive vice president and chief opperating officer of TBS. "The show will blend the comedy on-stage at The Comedy Store with the quirkly personalities and offbeat backstage antics of Pauly Shore and his mother, Comedy Store owner Mitzi Shore." "Minding the Store" opens with Mitzi reluctantly handing over the reins of her legendary Comedy Store to her youngest son Pauly, in the hopes that maybe he can pump some life back into it. With his plans of renovations, new promotions and A-list talent, Pauly's goal of making the comedy club great again proves to be a daunting task, especially since his mom just can't seem to let him take over completely.
Michael Showalter Michael Showalter is a man of many talents. His credits as writer, director, and actor have spanned his ground breaking work as an original member and co-creator of MTV's The State and now Comedy Central's Stella. His work includes the cult classic, summer camp comedy Wet Hot American Summer, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001, and 2005's The Baxter, which Showalter directed, wrote, and starred in. His resume includes appearances on VH1's I Love The 80's, HBO's Sex and the City, NBC's Law and Order, and feature film credits including Kissing Jessica Stein and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs.
Owen Smith Owen Smith - clearly a rarity on the college and entertainment scene. He is the definitive balance, proving relevance can be hip. Surely the freshest talent in America, as evidenced by his mass audience appeal on Comedy Central's Premium Blend, NBC's Friday Night, CBS's Star Search, and the highlight of the Montral Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. For a comedian who not only makes you laugh but also makes you feel equally relevant with his observations of humanity...two words - Owen Smith. "Owen Smith is on the brink of super stardom..." - some newspaper said this - "Not since Bill Cosby has a comic been able to blend real-life experience with comedic perspective..." - my manager said this one - "Owen Smith makes you laugh by exposing his own life to show the universal humor that runs through us all..." - a friend said this after finally seeing my show - "What I like about you is that you were funny without having to be vulgar." - some guy said this to me after my show - "Owen Smith is meticulous, deliberate, and definitive in delivering a superior product..." - my big brother said this one -
Hal Sparks A native of Peak's Mill, Kentucky, Hal Sparks began his professional career as a member of the famed Second City Troupe. His quick wit and affable personality earned him the title of "Funniest Teenager In Chicago" by the Chicago Sun Times in 1987. After a successful run with Second City, Sparks moved to Los Angeles and immediately began performing at numerous comedy clubs including The Improv, The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and The Ice House, as well as at Comic Relief's American Comedy Festival. Sparks was the host of the Emmy-award winning "Talk Soup" on E! Entertainment Television. For five seasons, Sparks co-starred as Michael on the hit Showtime series "Queer As Folk," based on the controversial and critically acclaimed British series. In 2006, Sparks hosted the WB reality series "Survival Of the Richest," and is one of the stars of the VH1 hit pop culture series "I Love The 90's," "I Love The 80's," "The 80's Strike Back" and "I Love The 70's." He also co-starred in the Showtime Original feature "Bleacher Bums," adapted from the critically acclaimed play of the same name. In 2004 Sparks appeared in the box office hit "Spiderman 2." He also co-starred in the 20th Century Fox comedy, "Dude, Where's My Car?," "Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star" and "Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town" with Billy Bob Thorton. Sparks also provided the voices for two animal characters, a bee and a fish, in the 20th Century Fox film "Dr. Dolittle 2." His numerous television appearances include "The Tonight Show," "Larry King Live," "Charlie Rose," "Good Morning America," "The View," "Politically Incorrect," MTV, "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn," and "Hollywood Squares." Hal is an accomplished singer/songwriter and an expert in the martial arts with 20 years experience in Shaolin kung fu, Wushu and Karate.
Chris Spencer Chris Spencer is a versatile comedian and actor with irrepressible flair and commitment to his art. The Los Angeles native began his acting career at age six, starring in a national television commercial for Mattel's "Tuff Stuff" toys. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from University of California, Los Angeles, but decided to continue with his real love – performing. Chris Spencer Chris Spencer Chris Spencer co-starred on the television series "Soul Food," and had recurring roles on "The Jamie Foxx Show" and "In Living Color." He has guest-starred on "The Chris Rock Show," "The District" and "Rude Awakenings." He claims to be "almost famous" thanks to his role as the first host of the late-night talk show "Vibe." He brings all of his experiences "with crazy women" to play Devon on NBC/Bravo's hit "Significant Others." His feature film credits include "Two Can Play That Game," "The Sixth Man," "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" and "Sin." Chris Spencer has appeared in more than 30 commercials. He hosts "Chocolate Sundaes," one of Los Angeles' hottest comedy shows and a collaboration with his childhood friend and executive producer Leland "Pookey" Wigington. The name of the show represents their philosophy of diversity – the mixture of many ingredients needed for a chocolate sundae. It illustrates the variety of races and cultures seen in the show and in the audience. Comedians, such as Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Tucker, Mike Epps and Jay Mohr frequent the stage with Chris Spencer during the popular show at Hollywood's Laugh Factory. Spencer's stand-up comedy has also been featured on such shows as "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and BET's "Club Comic View." In addition to being an actor and comedian, Chris Spencer is also an accomplished writer. His writing credits include the popular book "150 Ways to Tell if You're Ghetto," the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, the 2003 ESPY Awards, and the popular comedy specials "Jamie Foxx Unleashed – Lost, Stolen and Leaked!" and "Jamie Foxx: I Might Need Security."
Ben Stein Ben Stein is probably the closest any man comes these days to being a true renaissance man. His financial and economics work was cited in the efforts of the recent Nobel prize winner in Economics, George Akerlof. He is also the host of the long running comedy quiz show on Comedy Central, Win Ben Stein's Money, a show that has won seven Emmies. He has written hundreds of thousands of words about financial fraud and investment policy, but two words made him a household name: "Bueller" and "Anyone, Anyone." ( From his iconic role in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off.") He has written novels that the New York Times describes as "stunning," but what you have probably heard him talk about recently are "dry eyes, red eyes, and clear eyes." He worked and demonstrated and struggled for voting rights for African Americans, and he also was a speech writer for Richard Nixon and for Gerald Ford. He introduced the world to complex concepts of the politics of culture, but he also introduced the world to Jimmy Kimmel and made possible The Man Show. Lawyer, teacher, actor, comic, economist, father, novelist, essayist, expert on finance, meet Ben Stein!
Capitol Steps A rousing musical political satire performed by a talented group of Washington insiders. Appraised by The Washington Post as “the funniest, most ably wrought musical satire this side of Tom Lehrer!”, the Capitol Steps has given more than 300 performances over the past five years. Their shows hit the lighter side of current events and can bring highsprited fun to your next meeting, banquet or college event.
Buzz Sutherland Buzz Sutherland is one of the most sought after comedians in the world today! He is a man who is sincerely and seriously committed to entertaining audiences with humor that is 100% clean and 200% funny. Buzz has been at the very top of the college comedy world for the past 7 years. Recently named Campus Activities Magazines 2004 Comedian of the Year (for the 4th year in a row), Buzz has also been named NACAs Entertainer of the Year (2002), NACAs Comedian of the Year for the past five consecutive years (retiring the award), and APCAs Comedian of the year 4 times & Entertainer of the Year twice. Buzz is described by students and entertainers alike as one of the finest entertainers in the business. Buzz has performed on HBO's Comic Relief and MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour.
Wanda Sykes A quick-witted comedien who has transcended the comedy scene to become one of the funniest comics to hit the stage in some time, Wanda Sykes' unique blend of stinging humor and outspoken honesty has found her moving beyond a career in standup thanks to notable success in film and television. With an Emmy under her belt indicating a bright and enduring career in the years ahead, Sykes has shown a versatility that has gained her increasing attention on such acclaimed HBO series' as The Chris Rock Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Lily Tomlin Lily Tomlin continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in productions in television, theatre, film, animation and video. Recent projects include the film I Heart Huckabees and the hit NBC television series The West Wing. Throughout her extraordinary entertainment career, Tomlin has received numerous awards, including six Emmys; a Tony for her one-woman Broadway show, Appearing Nitely; a second Tony (Best Actress), a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics’ Circle Award for her one-woman performance in Jane Wagner’s The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe; a CableACE Award for executive producing the film adaptation of The Search; a Grammy for her comedy album This Is a Recording; and two Peabody Awards—the first for the ABC television special Edith Ann’s Christmas: Just Say Noël and the second for narrating and executive producing the HBO film The Celluloid Closet.
Carrot Top As for Carrot Top's live show, it has to be seen to be believed. It has evolved into a spectacle of lights, lasers, and music. The evening consists of numerous travel trunks overflowing with bits and pieces of everyday life transformed into creations of reality which everyone can relate to: a Mark Fuhrman belt with a bloody glove attached, a party horn with an inhaler for asthmatics, a briefcase with a credit-card machine attached for O.J. Simpson's lawyers, slippers with bumpers for those nighttime excursions, etc. Each prop is introduced to his captivated audience with a twist of the absurd. With rapid-fire succession, he displays an uncanny accuracy for making people laugh in a carnival-like atmosphere. Yes, that is his real hair and it's naturally this curly. There are some people who honestly think he went into a salon one day with a normal head of hair and said, "Can you screw it up real bad?", and then paid for it. His favorite color is plaid, but he loves all colors and think they should all be worn at the same time. His philosophy on clothing is "Never Match – It's Boring." In case you were wondering, for a brief time he preferred briefs or boxers, but all he can tell you now is "I'm Swinging Like a Pendulum – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." He is originally from Cocoa Beach, Florida... Talk about a difficult place to get an education. When you get up, it's really hard making the decision whether to surf or go to school. He went surfing more than he went to school. His father worked for NASA and his brother became a fighter pilot after going to the Air Force Academy on a swimming scholarship, and here he is on stage, swinging around a plastic private body part. Now that's giving his parents something to be proud of !!! He considers himself pretty strange. Sometimes he reminds himself of the Kennedys. Maybe he is a Kennedy or even an Osmond. Not because of the freckles or the red hair, of course, but because of his big teeth. As for his transportation, he has a "rot-proof" Carrot-Mobile. And then there are his hundred servants, bowing at his feet. As for the road, what started out as a Yugo and a tackle box has now become 35 fully packed trunks – can't have enough props – in an 18-wheeler, and a tour bus. Carrot Top would have to say his major comedy influences are Jonathan Winters, (you just look at him and have to laugh), and Robin Williams. Don't forget one of his favorites – George Carlin...the MASTER!
Aisha Tyler The elegant Aisha Tyler, has taken quite a journey to end up where is today.She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and soon after fully devouted her time to comedy. You have seen her on E's Talk Soup, The Fifth Wheel as well Friends. She then moved into her acting roots and did more dramatic films and shows. She played in Fx's Nip/Tuck and is now in two of the hottest shows on televison ,CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and Fox's '24'. Aisha is very versatile for now she can do comedy and drama and successfully pull it off.
Jimmie Walker The term "maximizing one's potential" could have been coined to describe the life of Jimmie Walker. He strode out of the New York ghetto, called the "South Bronx," famed for burnt-out buildings, pervasive neglect and disrepair, determined to educate himself. He worked by day and went to school at night until he finally discovered his Dyn-O-Mite sense of humor. From the tiniest comedy clubs to multiple appearances on "The Tonight Show," Jimmie's starring role for six years on "Good Times" was only the beginning. Today his healthy career includes Las Vegas, national tours, film and television. Jimmie is available for stand-up comedy and/or motivational lectures.
Damon Wayans Popular comedian trapped in an actors body and best known for his innovative television show, In Living Color, Damon Wayans has achieved unparalleled success on stage, television and film, with most recently extending his creative expression into writing, producing and directing.
Shawn Wayans Shawn Wayans made his acting debut in 1989 in his brother Keenen Ivory Wayans' I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Immediately following, he joined the cast of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series In Living Color. Alongside his brother Marlon Wayans, Shawn co-wrote and starred in the box office smash Scary Movie. Most recently he starred in Scary Movie 2, which he also co-wrote and co-executive produced. Wayans' past film credits include the hit comedy Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, which he co-wrote, executive produced and starred in with brother Marlon.
Steven Wright Comic with his own deadpan style of humor, Wright has appeared frequently on "The Tonight Show," "Saturday Night Live," and "Late Night with David Letterman."
Alan Zweibel Alan ZweibelRenowned comedy writer: Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm, "700 Sundays" Alan Zweibel's career began writing and creating characters for the most legendary comedians of a generation: Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Steve Martin. That the setting was one of the most successful entertainment programs in television history and live made it all the more memorable.