What’s happening in the comedy world these days…
- Joan Rivers turns 80 on June 8, and she and her daughter Mellissa will be part of a special edition of ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap later this month, as they’re swapping with Bristol and Willow Palin? That’s June 23. Next week, E! is airing special new half-hours of Fashion Police (strike or no strike), and also an hourlong birthday celebration next Friday plus appearances on other E! programs.
- Jerry Seinfeld isn’t 80 yet, but Crackle has released a promo for the second season of Seinfeld’s webseries for the Sony online imprint, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” which will feature David Letterman, Chris Rock, Don Rickles, Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers and more. Watch it here.
- HBO announced the fourth and this time final and they mean it season of Eastbound and Down will premiere on Sept. 29, 2013.
- FX has cancelled Brand X with Russell Brand, the British comedian’s late-night talker, but also announced plans to give him a more proper comedy sitcom pilot.
- Showtime has renewed Nurse Jackie, which people from the network still tell me is a comedy and not a dramedy or a half-hour drama with comedy elements, for a sixth season.