by What’s happening in the comedy world right now…
- NBC has ordered five additional scripts of Guys With Kids. That makes the network’s new fall sitcom offerings three for four in terms of staying alive through the season and into 2013.
- Showtime’s House of Lies will welcome two new cast members for season two in January 2013: Larenz Tate will play Don Cheadle’s younger brother, and Nia Long will play a former classmate of his.
- Vanity Fair will publish its first “Comedy Issue” in January 2013, and lined up Judd Apatow to guest edit the mag for that issue. Please don’t confuse this with any other monthly magazine’s “Comedy Issue” that also trumpets the same half-dozen comedic actors and actresses. Thank you.
- After close to five years of renovations, the space formerly known as The Triad will re-launch officially as STAGE 72 in November at 158 W. 72nd St., in NYC’s Upper West Side. The renovated theater’s new life will begin in concert with the New York Comedy Festival, with performances and appearances by Susie Essman, David Steinberg, Meredith Vieira, two special editions of Celebrity Autobiography featuring Janeane Garofalo, Tony Danza, Mario Cantone, Oscar-nominee Jennifer Tilly, SNL alum Rachel Dratch, and more. It’s run by the Triad’s Peter Martin, and Rick Newman — creator and founder of Catch A Rising Star. You heard of it? Good for you for having a memory of comedy. Check out the new digs next month!
- SXSW already has announced many of the panels for its Interactive, Film and Music festivals in March 2013 in Austin. Did you make the first cut?
- Ellen DeGeneres received her Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington, D.C. The televised special will air Oct. 30 on PBS.
