Comedy Headlines for 5/24/13

What’s making news in the comedy world this week…

• Sundance Channel (with EW magazine) is bringing The Writers Room to TV this summer, beginning July 29. Hosted by Jim Rash (Oscar-winning screenwriter for The Descendants, actor/writer in Community), it’s six half-hour episodes of roundtable talk from TV writers — included among them, the writers of Parks and Recreation and New Girl.
• Sinbad reportedly has filed for bankruptcy again. The comedian born David Adkins, 56, claimed in bankruptcy filings that he owes upward of $11 million, much of that in state and federal taxes dating back as far as 1998.
• New Wave Entertainment is bringing a bit of stand-up comedy back into movie theater previews, with a deal in place with NCM Fathom Events. Talent yet to be named. Locations initially include Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Boston and Atlanta.
• Hannibal Buress has signed a development deal with Comedy Central. The deal is multiplatform, which in his case means a recurring role on the upcoming series Broad City, a pilot commitment, a one-hour stand-up special and a national “Comedy Central Live” stand-up tour.
• Billy Crystal may return to weekly TV for the first time in three decades — he’s attached to star in FX pilot The Comedians as the old veteran performer on a sketch comedy series. It’s based on the 2004 Swedish series Ulveson And Herngren, which starred comedians Felix Herngren and Johan Ulveson. In related news, FX also has given a script commitment to Ray William Johnson, who has 8.8 million subscribers to his YouTube channel.
• The final eight unaired episodes of ABC’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 have been released online for viewing now through Jun 2, 2013. You can catch up with the now-cancelled sitcom via ABC.com, the Watch ABC Player for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Kindle Fire, Hulu and iTunes.
• Seth MacFarlane posted on Twitter this week that he was too tired to host the Oscars again? “Traumatized critics exhale: I’m unable to do the Oscars again. Tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep,” he wrote. Of course, it’s only May. Perhaps he’ll get some rest between now and 2014.
• CBS sitcom Mike & Molly cancelled plans to air a tornado-themed episode on Monday night after a fatal tornado ripped through Oklahoma. The sitcom, which returns for a fourth season with 22 new episodes in 2014, will do so with a new showrunner. Creator/showrunner Mark Roberts is leaving, to be replaced by co-executive producer Al Higgins.
• Just For Laughs, which produces TV shows and tours in addition to its world-renowned festivals, has changed its agency representation. JFL is now a client of UTA. It had been with CAA.
• And Critics’ Choice Awards nominations are out, with The Broadcast Television Journalists Association naming winners on June 10, 2013. Nominees in comedy categories include:BEST COMEDY SERIES
  • The Big Bang Theory – CBS
  • Louie – FX
  • The Middle – ABC
  • New Girl – FOX
  • Parks and Recreation – NBC
  • Veep – HBOBEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
  • Don Cheadle (House of Lies) – Showtime
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) – FX
  • Jake Johnson (New Girl) – FOX
  • Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) – CBS
  • Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) – NBC
  • Jeremy Sisto (Suburgatory) – ABCBEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES 
  • Laura Dern (Enlightened) – HBO
  • Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) – FOX
  • Lena Dunham (Girls) – HBO
  • Sutton Foster (Bunheads) – ABC Family
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) – HBO
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) – NBC

  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
  • Max Greenfield (New Girl) – FOX
  • Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory) – CBS
  • Alex Karpovsky (Girls) – HBO
  • Adam Pally (Happy Endings) – ABC
  • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) – NBC
  • Danny Pudi (Community) – NBC

  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY 
  • Carly Chaikin (Suburgatory) – ABC
  • Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) – CBS
  • Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) – ABC
  • Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) – CBS
  • Eden Sher (The Middle) – ABC
  • Casey Wilson (Happy Endings) – ABC

  BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES 
  • Melissa Leo (Louie) – FX
  • David Lynch (Louie) – FX
  • Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory) – CBS
  • Patton Oswalt (Parks and Recreation) – NBC
  • Molly Shannon (Enlightened) – HBO
  • Patrick Wilson (Girls) – HBO

  BEST TALK SHOW
  • Conan – TBS
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Comedy Central
  • The Ellen DeGeneres Show – Warner Brothers Television Distribution
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! – ABC
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – NBC
  • Marie – Hallmark Channel

  BEST ANIMATED SERIES
  • Adventure Time – Cartoon Network
  • Archer – FX
  • Phineas and Ferb – Disney Channel
  • Regular Show – Cartoon Network
  • The Simpsons – FOX
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Cartoon Network