The Definitive Guide to Comedy
She had played Carnegie Hall, headlined the Apollo with Cab Calloway for decades, but in 1967, Dick Smothers introduced her to a whole new audience, saying: “Some of you may not have heard of her yet. She’s only started recently doing television.” She was Jackie “Moms” Mabley. “She’s been lost somewhere …
John Oliver did such a stellar job substituting this summer as host of The Daily Show, everyone just naturally assumed Oliver had become the de facto successor to Jon Stewart whenever he’d decide to step down from his role atop Comedy Central’s late-night talk show. Did they think nobody else …
Eight seasons on HBO were not enough for the man-boys of Entourage. Director Doug Ellin and cast member Jerry Ferrara (“Turtle”) announced the news Monday via their Twitter feeds that the big-screen continuation to their cable TV series was all set and ready to proceed into production. Pretty much. From …
When TV networks sign a “put pilot” deal, the suits are essentially telling the talent that they’ll put their pilot on TV, and if not, they’ll give them even more money to back up that promise. Yet you didn’t see Sarah Silverman’s semi-autobiographical single-cam, Susan 313, on the fall 2012 …
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon includes so many buzzworthy segments that take place away from the late-night TV panel desk and chairs, that it’d almost behoove a site to just place a permanent link to the show. But this lip sync challenge from Tuesday night’s show singlehandedly will make you …
Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield did not win the Emmy this year for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, but the 30 Rock finale episode they wrote (“Last Lunch”) that included the “Rural Juror” song did win for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, so that’s got to count for something. …
We’re riding along with Kanye West in his Escalade. West is playing a barely fictional version of himself. Comedians sit next to him and behind him in the SUV limo, including Kym Whitley, Wyatt Cenac and JB Smoove, playing members of West’s entourage in a 2007 TV pilot for HBO …
The Emmys love Louis C.K. Louis C.K. this year earned more Emmy nominations for an individual in a single year than anyone before him with nine — covering his FX series (Louie), his HBO special (Oh My God) and his hosting stint on SNL — and honoring him as an actor, …
Here’s the thing you have to remember about the Emmys: As much as the TV people like to send out mixed messages (they love to reward buzzed-about series in their first seasons, but also love to reward the same series season after season), you cannot get an EGOT with the …
What’s happening in the comedy world these days… You knew it was happening before it happened, but Community creator Dan Harmon is back running his show for the NBC sitcom’s fifth season in 2013-2014. Chris McKenna, who also left before the fourth season, also is returning as an executive producer. …
