Las Vegas Nevada News Feed

Local favorite, Wayne Brady, has captured the hearts of Las Vegas audiences with his one-of-a-kind show, Making It Up, and now Brady has caught the attention of the Recording Academy and has been nominated for a GRAMMY.

Wayne Brady Tickets

Brady released his debut album, A Long Time Coming, in September and is now vying for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his soulful rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.

“We couldn’t be happier for Wayne,” says co-CEO of BASE Entertainment and presenter of Making It Up, Scott Zeiger. “Wayne is an incomparable talent and this nomination proves he can really do it all – a Vegas headliner, an actor and now a GRAMMY-nominated artist.”

The GRAMMY is the recording industry’s most prestigious award and the only peer-presented award. The annual GRAMMY Awards presentation honors artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.

The GRAMMY Awards will be presented at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Emmy award-winning comedian, and now GRAMMY-nominated artist, Wayne Brady is truly one of the most versatile men in show business. Making It Up at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino is a guaranteed hit, heralded as “pure genius,” “hysterically funny” and “amazing.” Structured in the classic Variety show style, “Making It Up” incorporates improv, singing and even dancing, earning Brady the title of “Best All-Around Performer” by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal in its annual “Best of Las Vegas” 2008 guide.

Since he started performing Making It Up in April 2007, Brady has lived up to its title. Not only does he create a different show each night with improv partner Jonathan Mangum, he is also constantly adding new elements to the line-up, making each show an original. Working with his four-piece band, led by musical director Cat Gray, and a chorus of talented dancers and singers, he recently added new production numbers including a tribute to Sam Cooke. Brady continues to delight audiences with his performances of songs made famous by showbiz luminaries, such as Sammy Davis, Jr. and James Brown.

Making It Up can be seen Thursday – Monday at 9:00 p.m. in The Venetian Showroom, with occasional Wednesday performances.

Wayne Brady Tickets

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

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Tickets for celebrity impressionist, singer, comedian and ventriloquist Terry Fator at The Mirage Las Vegas are on sale. Winner of NBC’s 2007 season of “America’s Got Talent,” Fator and his cast of thousands have entertained millions across the country and will make The Mirage their new home in early 2009.

Terry Fator Tickets

“In what seemed like all of a sudden, it took me 25 years to become an overnight sensation. Ever since that life-changing night on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I feel like I am truly living the American dream,” said Terry Fator. “The incredible opportunity to perform at The Mirage in my own theater is something I could have never imagined.”

Combining the art of ventriloquism with singing celebrity impressions, Fator brings his style of comedy and entertainment to the Las Vegas Strip. His cast of puppets, including Winston the Impersonating Turtle, Walter T. Airdale and Emma Taylor, take on a life of their own through their comedic banter and convincing personalities. Throughout the show, Fator and his co-stars effortlessly perform the singing styles of an eclectic group of stars including Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse, Elvis, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Garth Brooks, Nat King and Natalie Cole, Etta James, Gnarls Barkley, The Beatles, James Blunt, Brooks & Dunn, Pussycat Dolls, Louis Armstrong, Fergie and even Kermit The Frog.

In addition to his win on “America’s Got Talent,” Fator also has performed to rave reviews on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Later this year he will release his first book, “Who’s The Dummy Now?”, chronicling his journey from struggling performer to sold-out entertainer.

Terry Fator Tickets

Mirage Resort & Casino

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One-Hour Special Hosted by Comedian and Master Impressionist Frank Caliendo. Show Taping at Caesars Palace and Rio in Las Vegas During Week of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, Premieres on TBS Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

Frank Caliendo Tickets

THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a Co-Production with AEG Live, Returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22

The year’s best comedy movies will take center stage on TBS this month as the network presents an all new special, FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR: 2008. Hosted by comedian and master impressionist Frank Caliendo (Frank TV, Fox NFL Sunday), this one-hour collection of hilarious movie scenes from the past year will climax with the announcement of the film online fans have chosen as the year’s funniest. Throughout the show, Caliendo will infuse his famous impressions into introductions of the films.

FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR: 2008 is being taped at Caesars Palace and Rio in Las Vegas during the week of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL. The special premieres on TBS Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), immediately after the premiere of ELLEN’S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW, a variety showcase presented by Ellen DeGeneres.

FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR is produced by Robert Dalrymple Productions, with Dalrymple serving as executive producer. Dalrymple also produces TBS’s enormously popular FUNNIEST COMMERCIALS OF THE YEAR specials, with this year’s edition slated to premiere Saturday, Dec. 23, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

During the build-up to FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR: 2008, comedy fans went online at tbs.com to vote on which movies they think delivered the most laughs. Clips from their top choices will be featured throughout the special, grouped into such themed segments as “Painfully Funny,” “Animal Behavior,” “Love Hurts,” “Car Trouble” and “Say What?” The movies in the running to be named this year’s funniest are Burn After Reading, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Smart, Hancock and Tropic Thunder, to name a few.

Caliendo can currently be seen on TBS Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) in his late-night sketch comedy series Frank TV. Named by Variety in 2007 as one of 10 comics to watch, he has cultivated fans through almost every means possible. His presence on YouTube and MySpace resulted in what one blogger called “The Caliendo Effect,” marking the shift from traditional entertainment outlets to the Internet, where his videos have been watched by more than 10 million fans.

Caliendo’s spot-on impression of President Bush earned him an invitation to perform during the 2007 White House Correspondents Dinner, where he brought down the house. Sports fans know him for his weekly picks on Fox NFL Sunday, which he delivers as a wide variety of characters and personalities, including his famous John Madden impression. Late-night comedy fans remember him as a regular cast member on the popular MADtv sketch comedy series, as well as from his regular appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Caliendo is currently performing to sold-out crowds in theaters across the country on the Frank TV Stand-Up Comedy Tour, sponsored by TBS.

Robert Dalrymple is a Peabody and Emmy®-winning television producer whose most recent productions include Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials for CBS, in conjunction with IMG Media; the American Cinematheque Specials for TNT and AMC; and Showtime’s adaptation of Sam Sheppard’s True West. He also co-founded and executive-produced the Screen Actors Guild Awards® for NBC and TNT.

Dalrymple is perhaps best known for Billy Joel’s tour in Russia, Billy Crystal’s first comedy special from Russia and the CBS production of pianist Vladimir Horowitz’s return to Moscow after 62 years. He won Emmys for Free to Be a Family and a documentary on Itzhak Perlman’s tour of Russia and was nominated for The King & I – Recording a Hollywood Dream. His television movies include Howard Hughes – His Woman and His Movies, Shame, Baby Brokers and A Christmas Romance.

Now in its fourth year, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a co-production with AEG Live, is a three-day event taking place Nov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The extensive lineup for the event includes such previously announced performers as Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan, Jeff Dunham, Dave Attell, Jamie Kennedy, Mike Epps, David Alan Grier, The Kids in the Hall, Russell Peters, Kate Clinton, Jim Breuer, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Norton and John Oliver. TBS will televise several programs from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including the variety special ELLEN’S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW, presented by DeGeneres; LAFFAPALOOZA! Hosted by Tracey Morgan, an evening of performances by top comedians; and CHEECH & CHONG ROASTED, a celebrity-filled skewering of the legendary comedy duo. (A complete list of the previously announced acts is available at thecomedyfestival.com.)

This year, for the first time, the excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL also will be just one mouse click away. TBS’s thecomedyfestival.com Web site will utilize cutting-edge technology to give fans the opportunity to choose from four simultaneous video streams direct from the event.

Frank Caliendo Tickets

Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino

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Popular for coining the catchphrases “Git-R-Done” and “Lord, I Apologize,” Larry the Cable Guy, returns to the Orleans Arena on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 9 p.m. Known to some as Daniel Whitney, Larry the Cable Guy has showcased his talent, comedy act and characters on stage, television and in film.
 
Larry The Cable Guy Tickets

Larry’s one-liner filled act earned him appearances on “Evening at The Improv,” “Comic Strip Live” and the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.” His success with radio continued when he became a regular on “Jeff Foxworthy’s Country Countdown.” Most notably, Larry the Cable Guy is one of four “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” performers who have taken the country by storm with their unique brand of comedy that speaks to the American heartland. Noted films include, the hugely successful Disney/Pixar animated feature, “Cars,” “Witless Protection,” “Delta Farce,” and of course, “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.”

About the Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility, located just off the Las Vegas Strip is host to more than 200 events each year, including top concerts such as Van Halen, Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Rihanna, Brooks & Dunn, and Panic at the Disco; family favorites Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus; and a variety of sporting events including the Las Vegas Wranglers professional ECHL hockey team, NCAA basketball tournaments, the West Coast Conference Tournament, plus three major motorsports events each year.

Larry The Cable Guy Tickets

Orleans Hotel and Casino

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Dubbed by The New York Times as comedy’s “Lovable Queen of Mean,” Grammy-nominated Lisa Lampanelli is set to perform at The Pearl Concert Theater on Saturday, January 17, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

Lisa Lampanelli Tickets

Lisa Lampanelli is a no-holds-barred insult comic who masterfully works her audience while maintaining an inherent likeability that wins the hearts of her fans. Hailed as a cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker and a vial of estrogen, she has even won accolades from The King of All Media, Howard Stern, who describes her as “a real funny broad.” The comic will be shooting a one-hour HBO standup special this November, and also has a pilot deal with HBO for her own sitcom.

Lampanelli’s ability to make people laugh at their own stereotypes and differences helped her conquer the club scenes in both New York City and Los Angeles in a few short years. Her popularity skyrocketed in 2002 when she was the only female comedian invited to skewer Chevy Chase on the NY Friar’s Club Roast on Comedy Central. Since then she has become a staple of the Comedy Central Roasts for her stinging jests towards the guests of honor. Again, she was the only female invited to be part of the enormously rated “Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy” in March 2004, and in the summer of 2005, her show-stopping performance on the “Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson” received national attention. She has since closed the “Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner” and most recently drew headlines for her appearance on the “Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.”

In addition to her success on Comedy Central, Lampanelli is a regular on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Howard Stern Show on Sirius satellite radio. Her one-hour special “Dirty Girl” was nominated for a Grammy in 2007. Her “Dirty Girl” CD and DVD was released by Warner Bros./Jack Records on January 30 and debuted at #4 on the comedy charts.

As one of the few white comedians to perform on BET’s “Comic View,” the comic cemented her huge crossover appeal. Lampanelli also taped several specials for VH1, MTV and CMT, and with frequent spots on Sirius satellite radio and hitting the big screen as well with a role in “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector” and an appearance in “The Aristocrats.” Currently, Lisa can be seen in the Lionsgate release “Delta Farce” starring Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy and D.J. Qualls. She also appeared in the feature film “Drillbit Taylor,” opposite Owen Wilson. For more information about Lisa Lampanelli, visit www.insultcomic.com.

Presented by Andrew Hewitt and Live Nation.

Lisa Lampanelli Tickets

Palms Casino Resort

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TBS Lines Up More than 25 Comics for LOL Lounge And Brings Excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL Live Online For The First Time Ever.

Comedy Festival Tickets

Unprecedented Online Coverage of Event to Utilize Cutting-Edge Technology, Allowing Users to Interact with Web Show Hosts and Comics.

THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a Co-Production with AEG Live, Returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22.

TBS has tapped more than 25 emerging and established comic talents to perform in the network’s LOL Lounge, a specially designed comedy club being set up in Caesars Palace’s Emperors Ballroom during THE COMEDY FESTIVAL in Las Vegas. An outstanding roster of comedians (complete list attached) will take the stage each night of the festival, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (PT). Unlike other events during THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, the LOL Lounge performances will be free to the public, with no tickets required.

This year, for the first time ever, the excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL will be just one mouse click away. TBS’s thecomedyfestival.com Web site will utilize cutting-edge technology to give fans the opportunity to choose from four simultaneous video streams direct from the event:

· The LOL Lounge stream will give users a front-row seat to the more than 25 performances set to take place in the comedy club.

· Backstage at the LOL Lounge will take viewers behind-the-scenes for interviews with the LOL Lounge comedians and a chance to catch them with their hair down.

· The Web Show, hosted by Janet Varney (TBS’s Dinner & a Movie) and Ian Bagg (The Ian Bagg Show), will head out onto the casino floor for interviews, background, interesting tidbits and lots of fun. The Web Show section will also feature a chat function to allow users to submit questions for interviews, as well as chat with the hosts and each other.

· Greatest Hits is a video stream of fantastic performances from past editions of the annual Vegas event, as well as other TBS comedy hits.

The technology that allows for the four simultaneous live streams got a high-profile tryout earlier this year by TBS’s sister network TNT. During the NBA Western Conference Finals, TNT OverTime NBA Playoffs on NBA.com provided feeds from four different arena cameras for all of the games during the series.

Now in its fourth year, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a co-production with AEG Live, is a three-day event taking place Nov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The extensive lineup for the event includes such previously announced performers as Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Joan Rivers, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan, Jeff Dunham, Dave Attell, Jamie Kennedy, Mike Epps, David Alan Grier, The Kids in the Hall, Russell Peters, Kate Clinton, Jim Breuer, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Norton and John Oliver. TBS will televise several programs from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including the variety special Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show, presented by DeGeneres; LAFFAPALOOZA!, an evening of performances by top comedians hosted by Morgan; and Cheech & Chong: Roasted, a celebrity-filled skewering of the legendary comedy duo. (A complete list of the previously announced acts is available at thecomedyfestival.com.)

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased for individual shows and packages online at thecomedyfestival.com, by phone at (877) TCF-FEST or in person at the box office at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Exclusive VIP packages are available online or by calling The Colosseum box office at (702) 866-1409. Hotel information can be found at www.caesarspalace.com, while additional festival information and schedule updates is available at thecomedyfestival.com.

The LOL Lounge

The Emperors Ballroom at Caesars Palace

Three talented and well-known comics will serve as hosts of TBS’s LOL Lounge. Comedian Jeff Garcia will handle hosting duties Thursday, Nov. 20, while Pete Correale will host Friday, Nov. 21, and Tammy Pescatelli will take over as host Saturday, Nov. 22. The three hosts will also be delivering their own comedy acts.

The following is a complete list of the hosts and comedians set to perform in the LOL Lounge:

Jeff Garcia, who got his comedy start at the young age of 15, uses hard-edged characters and street-smart stories in his versatile performance. Credits: Loco Slam, Friday Night Videos, Vibe with Sinbad, Funny is Funny, Latino Laugh Festival.

Pete Correale is a Long Island-born comedian who co-hosts Breuer Unleashed, with Jim Breuer, on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Raw Dog Comedy channel. Credits: MTV Super Bowl Special, The World Stands Up, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Shorties Watching Shorties, Premium Blend, performing for troops returning from Iraq on the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier, performing at Lincoln Center as part of the New York Comedy Festival.

Tammy Pescatelli is one of the funniest comedians working today. She has performed in comedy clubs all over the United States and recently made her mark in the feature world with the indie Everybody Wants To Be Italian. Credits: Last Comic Standing, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents, Last Call with Carson Daly.

Ian Bagg is a Canadian-born comedian who describes his act as “controlled chaos.” Credits: The Ian Bagg Show, Comedy Central Presents Ian Bagg, A Comic’s Climb with Ian Bagg, MVP II, MVP III.

Matt Braunger is a founding member of The Seaning improv group and has played several major comedy clubs in Los Angeles. Credits: MADtv, Pushing Daisies, iCarly.

Whitney Cummings is a comedian, actress and writer who has co-starred in films such as Made of Honor and Tell Me You Love Me and penned jokes for the Comedy Central Roasts of Flava Flav and Bob Saget, as well as various pilots and award shows. Credits: Down and Dirty with Jim Norton, Last Call with Carson Daly, Comedy All-Stars, Comics Unleashed, co-host of The Tony Rock Project.

Jim David, known as the “Mouth of the South,” has performed his outrageous and biting comedy across the country. Credits: Comedy Central Presents Jim David, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Out on the Edge, Comedy Central’s USO Tour, The View, CDs Eat Here and Get Gas and Live from Jimville, one-man show South Pathetic, three-time winner of the Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets Award for Outstanding Comedian, writes regularly for HuffingtonPost.com.

Dana Eagle is a petite, self-deprecating and off-beat misfit who says her humor allows others to embrace their feelings of inadequacy and celebrate their own “geekdom.” Credits: E! Entertainment, Comics Unleashed, Premium Blend, Bud Light Ladies of Laughter’s Best New Comedian, creator and star of Mood Disorders: A Light-Hearted Romp through Crippling Depression, host of Oxygen’s Girls On.

Bret Ernst can be seen headlining at top clubs across the country and received rave reviews for his performance in Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show. Credits: Comedy Without Borders, Premium Blend, The Late Late Show, Showtime’s Weeds.

Kirk Fox is an actor and comedian who put his tennis talents to use co-writing and starring in the movie Tennis Anyone? Credits: Comedy Central Presents Kirk Fox, Live at Gotham.

Don Friesen’s comedy is a fresh , frenetic, self-deprecating skewer of his life as a suburban husband and father of two. Credits: Two-time winner of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, The Martin Short Show, Comics Unleashed.

Ron G., “The R&B Comedian,” is blazing a trail through the comedy circuit with a style he describes as “down to earth with an urban flare.” Credits: Winner of 2005 Sierra Mist Late Night Laugh Off, national spokesperson for Checker’s and Rally’s.

Eddie Gossling is known for his absurd humor and his outstanding vocal characterizations. Credits: Comedy Central Presents Eddie Gossling, Walt Disney’s The Wild, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CDs Fresh Brewed Eddie and Eddie Gossling Live at the DC Improv.

Brian Haner, known as “Guitar Guy,” is a highly talented musician who, two years ago, decided to combine his music and comedy talents into an amazing new career. Credits: CDs Songs to Make Love To and Cougar Bait, currently touring with Jeff Dunham.

Robert Hawkins has made a name for himself as a comedian, actor and writer for the acclaimed series Titus. Credits: Comedy Central Presents Robert Hawkins, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Bob and Tom Show.

Gayla Johnson was born and raised in Los Angeles. She uses her performance as an expression of ethnic diversity and performs at major clubs across the country. Credits: Brothers and Sisters, Comics Unleashed, Comic View.

Jesse Joyce has performed in 13 countries on four continents, from Iraq to Malaysia. Credits: Live at Gotham, Date Night, writer for Comedy Central’s Roasts of Bob Saget and Flava Flav, star of the upcoming feature film Stags.

Kristen Key, one of the youngest headliners working on the road today, is known as “The Preacher’s Kid Gone Wild.” Credits: Last Comic Standing, The Bob and Tom Show, The Preacher’s Kid Gone Wild (CD) and Buckle Up (CD).

Simon King mixes high-energy, physical, intelligent and often edgy comedy with impersonations and exceptional vocal characterizations. Credits: U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Yuk Yuk’s International Stand-Up Comedy.

Veronica Mosey delivers fiery performances laced with her unapologetically strong opinions. Credits: Comedy Central appearances, The Dr. Phil Show, US Weekly’s “Fashion Police” and named one of the Five Comics to Watch by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Tim O’Rourke draws upon his blue-collar roots for his high-energy, cutting-edge comedy sets. Credits: The Drew Carey Show, Family Guy, Nickelodeon’s Fairly Odd-Parents, Comic Strip Live, Half-Hour Comedy Hour, Stand-Up Spotlight, Heavyweights of Comedy.

Karen Rontowski is known as a “Baby Boomer Hippie” and claims Gracie Allen as her primary influence. Credits: Live at Gotham, Comics Unleashed, Return to Sender, opening for Bob Hope and Ray Charles.

Carl Rimi’s ability to deliver intellectual humor and physical comedy at lightning speed turns the mundane into the insane. Credits: Appearances on Comedy Central and ABC.

Ken Rogerson has been called “the funniest man you’ve never heard of.” A central component in Boston’s exploding comedy scene in the 1980s, Rogerson performs a routine that is “sharp enough to cut the head off a rabbit at 30 yards.” Credits: The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Sunday Funnies, Rescue Me, It’s All Relative, Fever Pitch, There’s Something about Mary.

Malik S. is a fresh comedic talent who has toured with the best in the business, including D.L. Hughley and Dave Chappelle. Credits: Bad Boyz of Comedy, Live at Gotham, Last Comic Standing, Comic View, Blood Line.

Dwight Slade is not only funny, but also thought-provoking. He has been billed as “The Northwest’s Most Dangerous Mind,” known for his high energy and sharp wit he honed while being a talk-radio fixture in Portland, Ore. Credits: Winner of 2008 Boston Comedy Festival, Premium Blend, Comics Unleashed, Friends of Bob and Tom, five-star review at Edinburgh Film Festival, telefilms Inconceivable and My Way Home, CDs Weird State and Shut-Up.

Paul Varghese is one of the fastest-rising young comics touring North America today. Named by the Dallas Observer as the “Best Stand-up comic in Dallas,” Paul explores a wide array of topics including, but not limited to, his Indian heritage. Credits: Last Comic Standing, Live at Gotham and Loco Comedy.

Laz Viciedo hails from North Bergen, N.J., and was inspired to do standup after he played Freddie Prinze in the play Great Comedians of Color. Credits: Appearances on Fox, Court TV and Telemundo; performances in comedy clubs all over California; winner of the 2007 HBO New York International Latino Film Festival Award for his performance in the film Rewind.

Johnny Walker blends traditional standup comedy with parodies and original songs. Credits: Laugh Factory, Hollywood Improv, Boys Behaving Badly, Breaking Up with Shannen.

In addition to the extensive list of comedians, the comic musical duo TASTiSKANK will perform in the LOL Lounge Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22. Billed as the “rockin’ love child of Tenacious D and the Indigo Girls,” TASTiSKANK comprises Sarah Litzsinger and Kate Reinders. They recently performed at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and won the Jury Award for Breakout Performance of 2007. The pair was also voted among the “Top 25 Sexiest New Yorkers” by the New York Post. *

About THE COMEDY FESTIVAL

With more than 70 performances and events over a three-day period, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL’s goal is to bring together the biggest names and cutting-edge comedy talent in a broad range of programming, from star-level performances and special events to stand-up and sketch comedy. TBS presented three prime-time specials from last year’s edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including Ellen’s Really Big Show, Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation and Frank Caliendo: All Over the Place. In addition, last year’s event featured performances by Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Past television highlights include a 2006 airing of the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief, starring Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams; A Salute to the Troops and USO, with special guests Kid Rock and Carmen Electra; and 2005’s Earth to America, with Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Larry David, Steve Martin and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Comedy Festival Tickets

Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino

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Comedian, impressionist and actor Frank Caliendo will perform his stand-up comedy routine Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. Star of “Frank TV,” Caliendo will perform a one-night only engagement inside the Treasure Island Theatre.

Frank Caliendo Tickets

Must be 5 years or older to attend.

In 2007, Caliendo created “Frank TV,” a comedy based on his impressions of famous personalities such as Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, John Madden and George W. Bush. The side-splitting show is an extension of his popular sketch comedy routine. Executive producer, writer, host and cast member of “Frank TV,” Caliendo performs hilarious sketches in full makeup as characters he impersonates.

A veteran of comedy for more than seven years, Caliendo has made several appearances on “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” and “Conan O’Brien.” He also is a guest host on FOX Network’s NFL weekly pre-game show with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson.

Frank Caliendo Tickets

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

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Tracy Morgan Hosts All-Star LAFFAPALOOZA! Featuring Mark Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford on Saturday, Nov. 22, at THE COMEDY FESTIVAL

Tracy Morgan Tickets

Show to be Taped for TBS Special Airing Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT)

THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, Co-Production with AEG Live, Returning to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year to Take Place Thursday, Nov. 20, to Saturday, Nov. 22; Tickets On Sale Now

Top comedians Mark Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford are set to join host Tracy Morgan for LAFFAPALOOZA!, a comedy showcase taking place Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Palace Ballroom at Caesars Palace.  The performance is part of the star-studded weekend line-up as TBS Presents a “Very Funny” Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL.

In addition to the live performance in Las Vegas, LAFFAPALOOZA! will be taped for television audiences, premiering on TBS Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT).  The special is being executive-produced by Jamie Foxx and Marcus King of Foxx King Entertainment, Stu Schreiberg of Levity Productions and Ron Wilson of LAFFAPALOOZA! Productions.

Now in its fourth year, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a co-production with AEG Live, is a three-day event taking place Nov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.  The extensive lineup for the event includes such previously announced performers as Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Joan Rivers, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan, Jeff Dunham, Dave Attell, Jamie Kennedy, Mike Epps, David Alan Grier, The Kids in the Hall, Russell Peters, Kate Clinton, Jim Breuer, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Norton and John Oliver.  TBS will televise several programs from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including the variety special Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show, presented by DeGeneres; LAFFAPALOOZA!, an evening of performances by top comedians hosted by Morgan; and a celebrity roast of Cheech and Chong.  (A complete list of the previously announced acts is attached at the end of this release.)

Since its Atlanta debut more than 15 years ago, LAFFAPALOOZA! has been a launching pad for up-and-coming comedians.  Nick Cannon and Mike Epps are among dozens of comedians who came into prominence on the LAFFAPALOOZA! stage.  Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford are all alumni of the LAFFAPALOOZA! platform.  This marks the first year that LAFFAPALOOZA! is part of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL.  It is also the first LAFFAPALOOZA! special being taped for TBS.

Tracy Morgan can currently be seen as wild and unpredictable movie star Tracy Jordan in the Emmy-winning NBC sitcom 30 Rock.  A standup comic who headlines across the country, Morgan first caught the attention of television audiences as Hustleman on the hit comedy series Martin.  He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1996, appearing for seven seasons and creating such memorable characters as Astronaut Jones and Brian Fellows.  He went on to star in his own comedy series and on Crank Yankers.  His film credits include First Sunday, The Longest Yard, Little Man, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Head of State.

Actor/comedian Mark Curry is best known as a star of the ABC sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.  His countless other television and film credits include his own Comedy Central stand-up special, three years of hosting duties on Showtime at the Apollo and a starring role in the movie The Fanatics.  Curry is currently performing to sold-out crowds across the country and encouraging students to stay off drugs and follow their dreams.

Sheryl Underwood is currently heard on The Sheryl Underwood Show on Sirius Radio’s Foxxhole and makes frequent appearances on The Tom Joyner Morning Show.  Her television credits include Oh Drama!, Holla!, The View, Politically Incorrect, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Chelsea Lately, Def Comedy Jam, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Nikki.  She has also co-starred in the films Beauty Shop, Bulworth and I Got the Hook Up.  She performs in comedy clubs and comedy festivals across the country.  This past December, the Air Force veteran showed her support for the troops by performing in the USO Tour.

Earthquake (aka Nathaniel Stroman) has headlined the Crown Royal Comedy Soul Fest, the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and he toured with the Latham Entertainment Presents Comedy Tour.  He takes center stage in the DVD It’s About Got Damm Time and has appeared on such television shows as Comedy Central Presents: Earthquake!, Everybody Hates Chris, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Orlando Jones Show, The Dennis Miller Show, Comic View, Premium Blend, The List and MadTV.  He also opened Atlanta’s Uptown Comedy Corner and Earthquake’s Comedy Corner II and co-starred in the films Getting Played, Clerks 2 and The Long Shots

Corey Holcomb is one the most engaging and appealing acts in comedy.  He has taken top honors at the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search, Budweiser Comedy Competition, Chicago Home Jam and LAFFAPALOOZA!  He has appeared at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the Chicago Comedy Festival.  His film and television credits include Like Mike, Half & Half, The Tonight Show, Late Friday, MADtv, Premium Blend, Def Comedy Jam, It’s Showtime at the Apollo and Comic View.

Lavell Crawford has appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, The Jamie Foxx Show, Steve Harvey’s Big Time, Motown Live, Showtime at the Apollo, BET’s Comic View and Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam.  His films include Baby Mama Drama, Beverlyhood and Ghetto South Problems.  On stage, he has appeared at numerous comedy festivals and acted in such hit plays as Men Cry in the Dark and Friends and Lovers.  He is currently touring nationally and recently released his own comedy DVD, Takin’ a Fat Break.

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