Comedy Bits: This Week in Comedy News, Adam Sandler Announcement, Billy Connolly Sighting, a Comedy Duo Splits, Michelle Wolf Roasts a Luncheon and More

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This week in comedy news, we covered plenty of Comedy Central announcements including some updates on Clusterfest, another development deal, and a few new podcasts. Comedy Royalty all got together at The Garden, a new comedy record label is born, and comedians circled the wagons to help one of their own.  We checked out the trailer for a new Jim Jarmusch movie starring Bill Murray, we covered Luis J. Gomez’s new special, debuted a new weekly column, and got a very interesting edition of The 5 from Gastor Almonte.

But there were so many more quick takes that maybe didn’t need a full article written, but you’ll definitely want to know about if you follow the comedy world.

Adam Sandler will be hosting Saturday Night Live May 4.  You might be surprised to realize he’s never hosted before, and now that he’s returned to the stand up stage seems like the perfect timing.  Shawn Mendes is the musical guest for the episode.

Billy Connolly sighting!  The comedy legend has been out of the spotlight lately as he deals with the consequences of a Parkinsons Disease diagnosis but he was out this weekend leading a parade in NYC!  The Tartan Day parade marched up Sixth Avenue with Connolly leading the way looking fantastic. You can catch some video of him saying how leading the parade lifted his heart and spirits, here. Source: Chortle

Those looking closely may have also spotted another comedy giant in NYC.  Zach Galifianakis was seen on the sidewalks of New York’s West Village, and popping  in and out of the famed Comedy Cellar.  He didn’t go on stage, but stayed low key talking to friends and watching a few comics on stage. He stood out only because of his decidedly un-west-village attire which we can only describe as stylish and dignified. It was also so great seeing Tom Rhodes in NYC at The Stand NYC’s pop up show and at The Cellar all weekend.  Another spy report, a New York Times photographer was following Bonnie McFarlane at City Winery  this weekend- can’t wait to see what that’s about.

Did anyone notice which brilliant stand up comedian made an appearance in the new trailer for The Joker? That’s Gary Gulman who you can spot very briefly about the one minute mark.  The movie promises to have plenty of references to comedy in general and particularly stand up comedy.  We’ll be watching. Here’s a link to the Trailer.

A historic comedy partnership is parting ways.  Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are splitting up and disbanding the 13 year collaboration that resulted in comedy platform Funny or Die and classic comedies like Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys.  It’s not a gigantic surprise, McKay has been focusing on more serious topics with comedic overtones, which are a long walk from his prior walk. Source: Deadline

Jimmy Pardo is getting ready for his annual Pardcast-a-Thon.  The yearly fundraiser that delivers twelve hours of entertainment has raised over a cool million since it started ten years ago. Pretty impressive for a podcast, but Pardo is not just any podcaster, he was one of the first to create a lasting ongoing series and he’s still going strong.  The 10th annual Pardcast-a-Thon Fundraiser streams live on Saturday, May 4 from Noon to Midnight Pacific Time (so starting at 3pm Eastern).  You can watch at nevernotfunny.com to see Jimmy and his super celeb friend. Past guests have included John Hamm, Conan O’Brien, Rich Sommer, Scott Aukerman, Tig Notaro, Amy Poehler, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, Patton Oswalt, Billy Eichner, Lisa Loeb, Angela Kinsey, Bob Odenkirk, Tom Bergeron, Richard Kind, and Weird Al.

Michelle Wolf hosted Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon and did not disappoint.  She took some strong shots at everyone and everything including the luncheon itself.  A luncheon for ladies?  Yeah, that’s a bit dated. “Nothing says women aren’t still there yet by assuming we have nothing to do in the middle of a workday. ‘Oh Friday at noon? Yeah sure, free as a bird!’ Assuming we’re not doing anything in the middle of a workday? Who do they think we are – the president?” she said.  She also joked about the college bribery scandal,  and made fun of Biden”  “We have more women running for president than any other time in history. Let’s show them as much support as possible before eventually . . . rallying behind Joe Biden. When we’re behind him, he can’t touch us.”  And of course, she made fun of Trump  “He doesn’t have a big enough spine to attend. A person who can’t take someone making fun of them, I don’t really care about,” Wolf said.

Bill Cosby isn’t interested in settling a defamation lawsuit against him, even if he’s not footing the bill.  Reports came out earlier this week that his insurance company had decided that they can save more money by settling the suits than by defending their client. Cosby wanted no part of it and issued a statement basically telling the insurers to go fuck themselves, calling AIG part of the corruption against him.  He accused them of paying off the “distractors” without his knowledge permission or consent and even called them corrupt.  Because of course, insurance companies don’t care about innocent or guilt, just costs.  It’s unclear how the settlement will affect Cosby’s countersuit.

Kumail Nanjini’s star continues to rise as two new big projects were announced this week. First it was announced that he’s teamed up with Legendary for a historical comedy adventure picture: Any Person, Living or Dead. Jonathan Krisel who you may association with FX’s Baskets, is directing. The story is about a brilliant scientist who uses a homemade time machine to gather some of history’s greatest hits. Think Bill and Ted, but they’re not gathering the big thinkers to impress a high school teacher, they’re looking to solve the problems of modern humanity. But a lack of a homemade language translator, and some unenlightened, unwoke thinking (ie racism, sexism, violence, mansplaining and so on) throw a big wrench in those plans. Source: THR  Kumail is also reportedly negotiating a starring role opposite Angeline Jolie in Marvel’s The Eternals. Source: Hollywood Reporter

Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures has a signed a multi-platform production deal with Lionsgate, the company announced on Thursday at its CinemaCon presentation. “Long Shot,” the romantic comedy starring Rogen and Charlize Theron, which hits May 3.

Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini star in the all-new Netflix Original Series, Dead to Me, a dark comedy launching globally Friday, May 3rd. Jen (Christina Applegate) is a sardonic widow determined to solve her husband’s recent hit-and-run murder. Judy (Linda Cardellini) is an optimistic free spirit who’s recently suffered her own tragic loss. When the two women meet at a support group, they become unlikely friends despite their polar-opposite personalities. But as they bond over bottles of wine, Entenmann’s cookies and a shared affinity for The Facts of Life, Judy desperately tries to shield Jen from a shocking secret that could destroy her life as she knows it. Created by Liz Feldman. Source: Netflix.

This is the year of the 10th anniversary in comedy.  SiriusXM Canada’s Top Comic is one of our favorite annual young comedians search.  Top Comic scours all of Canada for the funniest young stand up comedians and ends at JFL42 in Toronto where finalists compete for a major prize- $25,000 cash and global exposure at various JFL events and tv tapings. To mark the 10th anniversary, SiriusXM is opening up the competition to past winners for the first time, giving them the chance to win for a second time, and raising the bar.  Ben Miner will once again host the competition.  In 2018, Chanty Marostica took home the grand prize, with Vancouver’s Sophie Buddle and Scarborough’s Nick Reynoldson claiming the runners-up prizes. Following the win, Chanty’s debut comedy album, The Chanty Show was nominated for the JUNO Award for Comedy Album of the Year. Previous Top Comic winners are Gavin Matts (2017, Vancouver), Chris Robinson (2016, Toronto), Derek Seguin (2015, Montreal), Faisal Butt (2014, Montreal), Pete Zedlacher (2013, Wawa), Eric Andrews (2012, Brampton), Matt O’Brien (2011, Toronto) and Brian Stollery (2010, Calgary).

The History of Standup podcast has a simple mission, to tell the story of standup comedy in America, and to have fun doing it. Wayne Federman and Andrew Steven are your guides through the history that began last year with Season 1, a chronicle of the evolution of the artform from vaudeville to Netflix.  In the six episode arc, Wayne and friends like Judd Apatow and Jimmy Pardo helped teach Andrew.  Now Wayne and Andrew have announced season two, beginning on June 4th, zooming in on various stand up scenes, rooms and platforms that have been important to the development of stand up comedy.  They’ll look at the Chitlin Circuit, the Apollo Theater, Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge, San Francisco’s Holy City Zoo, the Academy Awards hosting and presenting roles, the Playboy Clubs, Nerdmelt and the Great White Way. Listen everywhere podcasts are available.

Alan Partridge is back.  The alter ego and character of comedian Steve Coogan will be hosting a show titled And Did Those Feet, With Alan Partridge. It will mimic the Simon Schama style of historic documentary.  Production is underway and filming begins this spring.  Source: Chortle

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