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Comedian moves into NJ Ikea store

By nobugsonme on Jan 9, 2008 in bed bugs, cockroaches, comedian, get rid of cockroaches, ikea, strange news

This ABC7 news article says comedian Mark Malkoff has moved into a Paramus, NJ Ikea store when his Queens, NY home was evacuated for “fumigation:”

When Mark Malkoff thought about where he could stay while his New York City apartment was being fumigated for cockroaches, he quickly ruled out friends’ places (too small) and hotels (too expensive).

Instead, the comedian and filmmaker decided to move into an Ikea store in suburban New Jersey, where on Monday he unloaded two suitcases into a spacious bedroom at the store.

His wife went to stay with relatives.

So this is a question for all the PCOs out there. Do apartments get evacuated so that you can treat for cockroaches?!?

I must have bed bugs on the brain, but when I hear someone from Queens is being “fumigated,” I assume they mean pest control treatment, not fumigation per se, and I also wonder if it’s not our smaller, rust-colored friends.

Carrot Top

Biography

Thompson was born and raised in Cocoa, Florida where his father, Lawrence Thompson, was a scientist at NASA during the Gemini and Apollo era.^[1] In 1983, he graduated from Cocoa High School, and while still a freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Thompson appeared in his first stand-up comedy routine.^[2][1] Two months later, he performed on campus in an open-mic night.

[edit]Career

Carrot Top has appeared in the television programs: Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular , Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Criss Angel Mindfreak(2006), and Tugger: The Jeep 4x4 Who Wanted to Fly (2005). He has also appeared on The George Lopez Show, Howard Stern, Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Ferguson, and Live with Regis & Kelly. His movie roles include the 1998 film Chairman of The Board, and served as a spokesman in commercials for 1-800-CALL-ATT. From 1995 to 1999, he was thecontinuity announcer for Cartoon Network. In 2002, he recorded a commentary track for the Roger Avary film The Rules of Attraction. In 2006, Carrot Top appeared in the Reno 911! episode "Weigel's Pregnant" as an enraged version of himself who trashed his hotel room and resisted arrest. In 2008, he was a guest judge for NBC's Last Comic Standing in a contest where the participants had to performprop comedy at a Bed, Bath and Beyond utilizing store items with only an hour to prepare.

Carrot Top produced and starred in an early morning show on Cartoon Network called Carrot Top's AM Mayhem from 1994-1996.^[3][4]

Carrot Top has also been frequently parodied. Such examples include Mr. Show (in which David Cross appears as "Blueberry Head"), King of the Hill ("Celery Head"), Family Guy ("Carrot Scalp"), MADtv("Broccoli Top"), and several Achewood comic strips.^[5]

As of 2008 he headlines at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, and performs various comedy gigs when his show is not playing.^[6] His comedy routine incorporates dozens of props stored in large trunks on stage; his prop jokes commonly consist simply of him pulling out a prop, describing it in a one-liner, and tossing it away. Many of his props are specially built objects.

rosie

NBC's Rosie O’Donnell variety show disappoints

Rosie O'Donnell gave NBC a real turkey.

The network's attempt to revive the primetime variety show failed to draw an audience Wednesday night, tying for the evening's lowest-rated program.

A mere 5 million viewers tuned in for the 8 p.m. premiere of "Rosie Live," with the program earning a 1.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating. The telecast matched ABC's recently canceled "Pushing Daisies" as the night's lowest-rated program on a major broadcast network.

NBC had high hopes for the special and planned to expand the program into a series should viewers re-embrace the decades-old variety format. Other networks, too, were watching closely since several are developing variety shows of their own.

"There's a notion that the climate is right for the genre to make a comeback," emailed one executive at a rival network. "I guess we now know what not to do, thanks to Rosie."

Segments included Kathy Griffin impersonating Nancy Grace, Alec Baldwin hitting Conan O'Brian with a pie, O'Donnell singing "City Lights" with Liza Minnelli and Jane Krakowski doing a product-placement-themed striptease for White Castle burgers and Crest Whitestrips.

Critics were not kind. The NY Times described it as "hokey comedy with an enemies list." TV Guide called it a "ghastly ego trip." And the LA Times asked, "Rosie, what on earth were you thinking?"

Networks have been looking for variety show programming as a cheap option to fill their schedules. But the idea has been sought by executives due the format's rock-bottom cost, cross-promotion possibilities and advertiser-friendly format. In other words, the neo-variety show is a retread designed to solve financial woes rather than an act of programming inspiration -- a bean-counting origin story that makes it tough to imagine an exciting final product.

NBC's variation, in particular, seemed unlikely to attract a broad audience given O'Donnell's divisive personality. Stocked with appearances by Alannis Morrisette, Ne Yo, Rachael Ray, Harry Connick Jr., Clay Aiken and Gloria Estefan, along with Minnelli, Baldwin, Griffin and Krakowski, the lineup's appeal also skewed heavily female for a primetime show airing on the eve of a family holiday.

One special that did perform well last night was Barbara Walters' interview with Barack and Michelle Obama (11.6 million, 3.0 rating). The interview nearly matched "CSI: NY" in the 10 p.m. hour and gave ABC its highest non-awards show rating in the time period in more than a year.

Rip Taylor

Rip Taylor was born Charles Elmer Taylor in Washington, D. C. on January 13, 1934. As a young man he entered show business as a stand-up comedian, diligently playing second- and third-rate burlesque theaters and nightclubs. His original stand-up persona did not include the trademark moustache, toupee, and loud suit. Instead he appeared clean-shaven in an ordinary business suit. His early years followed the conventional path of a stand-up comic: nightclub tours and TV appearances, with a strictly verbal monologue: just jokes, no special material or props. (Sample joke: "[Tonight's emcee] is a very honest man. He worked in a bath house for two years, and never once took a bath.") Rip soon realized that he needed a gimmick, something that would distinguish him from the other stand-ups. He hit upon an everything-happens-to-me routine, where he would recount all the terrible things that bothered him, and deliver each punchline with a sobbing wail. A typical appearance was on the Jackie Gleasonshow: Rip walked on-camera with prop crutches, moaning about the bad drivers he just encountered. Soon Rip Taylor was being billed as "The Crying Comedian." During this period he appeared, as himself, as one of the eligible bachelors on The Dating Game -- punctuating his answers with sobs.

A much more successful gimmick started quite by accident in 1969 at Merv Griffin's show. Rip tore up a script on stage and threw the pieces in a fit of pique. The outburst got a huge audience reaction, prompting the comedian to assault the crowd with confetti at every performance; to wit, when he made his entrance on any given show he would randomly toss handfuls of confetti at audience members from a huge sack before ultimately slinging the entire contents of the sack at the audience- or whoever happened to be nearby. When asked how much confetti he used, he once jested in an interview that "three nuns are tearing it for me 24 hours a day."

[edit]

Jimmy Shubert

NCC Timmy went to JR's Comedy Club in Valencia. Timmy said it was cool for being at a Marie Calendar's. He liked the parking and good service and he saw Jimmy Shubert who Timmy loves but not in a creepy way. Jr's had a little stage but put on a big show.

Steve Carell

Mini Biography

Steve Carell, one of American comedy's most popular faces who edited a school newspaper as a child, is now celebrated as the funniest man on the cover of Life Magazine and on NBC's SNL, where he hosted the 2005-2006 season premiere. He became an unusually versatile comic after more than two decades of improv skits and bit parts, and received the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in Television Comedy for the leading role of Michael Scott in his remake of Britain's existential comedy "The Office" (2005).

He was born Steven John Carell on August 16, 1962, into an Italian-American family in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. He was educated at The Fenn School, an all boys private school in Concord, Massachusetts, then at Middlesex School in Concord. He studied and graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, then took acting at Chicago's Second City troupe. Carell made his film debut in 1991, as Tesio in Curly Sue (1991). From 1990-1996 he taught improvisational comedy class and also performed with The Second City troupe in Chicago. During the 1990s he was writing for The Dana Carvey Show, then he had a stint as one of correspondents on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Carell shot to fame after his breakout performances as Evan Baxter opposite Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty (2003) and as Uncle Arthur opposite Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell in Bewitched (2005). He co-wrote the original screenplay for the summer box-office hit The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) which was chosen as one of the Top Ten movies of 2006 by the American Film Institute. At the same time he appeared in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), an independent dark comedy that gives an unusually sharp and sarcastic view on America. In 2007 Carell reprized his role as Evan Baxer, filling Jim Carrey's leading-man shoes as a politician asked by God to build a giant ark in Evan Almighty (2007), the second installment of the "Almighty" franchise, co-starring Lauren Graham and Morgan Freeman. In 2008 he re-united with Jim Carrey in highly successful animation hit Horton Hears a Who! (2008), then appeared as Agent Maxwell Smart in popular comedy Get Smart (2008).

Steve Carell has been enjoying a happy family life with his wife, actress Nancy Walls, whom he met when she was a student in an improv class he was teaching at The Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. The couple have two children, daughter Elisabeth (born in May 2001), and son John (born in June 2004). Steve Carell is living with his family in Los Angeles, California

George Wallace

Early life

Wallace was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Mary Lou and George Wallace, Sr. He grew up in a loving, religious family. He was educated at Lynwood Park Elementary School and Lynwood Park High School. Since his early teenage years, Wallace dreamed of becoming a comedian. Wallace's mother died when he was sixteen, prompting him to move to Ohio where he found a job with Firestone Tire. As part of the company's tuition reimbursement program, George enrolled in the University of Akron, where he studied transportation, marketing and advertising. Upon graduation, Wallace moved to New York City in pursuit of his childhood dream. At first, success in comedy proved elusive and Wallace worked as a salesman for an advertising agency to pay the bills.

[edit]Career highlights

Wallace's break came when one of his clients opened a comedy club. The club owner was amused by Wallace's natural humor and friendly demeanor and offered him the chance to perform standup comedy. In 1977, Wallace walked on stage for the first time, wearing a preacher's robe and calling himself the Reverend Dr. George Wallace. His routine was completely improvised, yet it included the same imagery and delivery of the spiritual leaders who had influenced him as a child. Wallace was a hit. He stayed in New York for several years, perfecting his craft and living with friend and fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

In 1978, Wallace moved to the West Coast, where he quickly became recognized as a talented young comedian. After one of his performances, producers from The Redd Foxx Show asked him to write for the popular series. However, after only one year of writing, Wallace returned to the stage. He became a regular at the famous Comedy Store, which also featured such artists as Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Roseanne Barr, Jay Leno and Robin Williams. Wallace also took his comedy show on the road, opening for George Benson, Diana Ross, Donna Summer and Smokey Robinson, among others.

Wallace, who was named the Best Male Standup Comedian during the 1995 American Comedy Awards, says that his routines are inspired by everyday moments of life. His unique brand of social commentary proved popular with radio audiences as well. Wallace was a regular on The Tom Joyner Morning Show before joining the legendary Isaac Hayes on a popular radio program on WRKS, New York. He also starred in his own HBO special and appeared on many television shows, such as The Tonight Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Late Night with David Letterman. His motion picture credits include Batman Forever, A Rage in Harlem, Punchline, Things are Tough All Over and Postcards from the Edge.

Among his more memorable jokes was the suggestion that African-Americans should not have to pay Social Security because their average lifespan was only 65 anyway. His best-known bit is People Say Stupid Things, in which he points out the folly of many popularly used phrases. For example, in response to the term untimely death, he asks "When is a GOOD time to die?" He's then followed this question with, "I wanna hear something on the news like, 'Senator Jesse Helms died today, and it's about doggone time!!!'" Wallace also pokes fun at himself for having the same name as a famous segregationist.

Currently, Wallace has a running show at The Flamingo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, he calls the Flamingo home and regularly spends time walking the hotel casino floor mingling with hotel guests.^[2]

boy george

It has everything -- hookers, handcuffs, erotic photo shoots and a fallen scalp-tatted celebrity who's freedom is on the line -- welcome to the Boy George Handcuffed a Hooker Trial -- Day 1!!!

Hours ago, a London jury heard opening arguments from the prosecutor, who claimed the ex-Culture Clubber, real name George O'Dowd, hired a male model (who happened to moonlight as a male escort) to come to his home where he allegedly did the following things: 

-- took erotic photographs of the male model

-- accused male model of screwing with a computer in the house

-- got a friend to help handcuff male escort and chain him to a hook in the bedroom

-- struggled with male escort, until man-whore broke free and ran away to cops.

George is facing charges of assault and false imprisonment and could get up to life in prison. Stay tuned for updates! 

See Also

nice fella

Ark. man sentenced for killing slow hairdresser

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Sat Nov 22, 3:30 pm ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An Arkansas man has been sentenced to prison for fatally shooting a stylist who was taking too long to braid his hair.

Thirty-year-old Kerry Rendall Wilson of Little Rock was sentenced Friday to 24 years for second-degree murder. He will be eligible for parole in six years.

Wilson's lawyer says his client was high on marijuana dipped in formaldehyde when 39-year-old Henrietta Jones was killed in November 2007.

But the lawyer, Bill James, says one of the woman's sons actually killed her.

moms

W.Va. mom accused of burning 'wimp' into child

5 hours ago

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia mother faces charges after being accused of burning the word "wimp" into her 6-year-old daughter's neck.

Tammy Smith is charged with five counts of child abuse and of malicious assault, all felonies.

Moundsville Police Chief Jim Kudlak said Saturday that the child told police that her mother used a cigarette to burn her. Smith's daughter told authorities that her mother burned her because she was angered that the girl tripped and fell.

An employee at the child's school noticed the burns and police were called Wednesday. The girl is in foster care.

The 43-year-old Smith is being held in jail on $50,000 bond. Kudlak says he doesn't think she has an attorney yet.

Moundsville is in northern West Virginia.

green light

Girl, 10, Drafted School Hit List

"Killing spree" note named 25 students, teachers at Wisconsin school

NOVEMBER 20--A 10-year-old Wisconsin girl drafted a hit list containing the names of 21 classmates and four teachers who would be targeted "when I go on my killing spree." Thehandwritten list was confiscated Monday afternoon by a teacher in a McKinley Middle School classroom, according a Kenosha Police Department report, a copy of which you'll find below. At the top of the one-page list the sixth grader wrote, "When I go on my killing spree the victims are..." Asecond list contained the names of four students--including the girl herself--who were "people I don't want 2 kill." When interviewed by cops, the student denied she wanted to hurt anyone, claiming she drafted the list "because she was angry with some other students who accused her of spreading rumors." The girl said she was angry with teachers on the list "because they ignore her when she raises her hand in class." The teacher who seized the note told cops that she "feared for my safety after reading the list," and thought it was "possible for [the student] to hurt me and the other people on the list." A Kenosha detective has forwarded the girl's case to juvenile justice officials with the recommendation that she be charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The child, who has not had prior disciplinary problems, was suspended from school pending an administrative review of the November 17 incident. However, the school's principal told police that she was not recommending that the child be expelled. (5 pages)

we can all finally rest now

AN extraordinary account from a German army medic has finally confirmed what the world long suspected: Hitler only had one ball.

War veteran Johan Jambor made the revelation to a priest in the 1960s, who wrote it down.

The priest’s document has now come to light – 23 years after Johan’s death.

The war tyrant’s medical condition has been mocked for years in a British song.

The lyrics are: “Hitler has only got one ball, the other is in the Albert Hall. His mother, the dirty b****r, cut it off when he was small.’

Until now there has never been complete proof Hitler was monorchic – the medical term for having one testicle.

But the document tells how Johan saw the proof with his own eyes. In the account, he relives the horror of serving as an army medic in World War I.

Saved Hitler ... Johan Jambor

He died aged 94 in 1985, but had told his secret to priest Franciszek Pawlar, who kept a note of their conversation.

Johan’s friend Blassius Hanczuch confirmed the priest’s account of how the medic saved Hitler’s life. He said: “In 1916 they had their hardest fight in the Battle of the Somme.

“For several hours, Johan and his friends picked up injured soldiers. He remembers Hitler.

“They called him the ‘Screamer’. He was very noisy. Hitler was screaming ‘help, help’.

“His abdomen and legs were all in blood. Hitler was injured in the abdomen and lost one testicle. His first question to the doctor was: ‘Will I be able to have children?’.”

Blassius said that when the Nazis swept to power Johan began to suffer nightmares and blame himself for saving Hitler.

Hitler’s genitals have long caused controversy. Some historians dismissed the “one ball” song as propaganda. But an alleged Soviet autopsy on Hitler backed it up.

Records show Hitler did suffer a groin injury in the Somme.

It is the first time an interview with anyone who treated Hitler during WWI has come to light.

Dr Martin Farr, senior lecturer at Newcastle University School of Historical Studies, said last night: “This genuinely new twist is fascinating.”

Katt Williams

Comedian arrested for guns
07/11/2008 19:33  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

New York - Comedian Katt Williams has been arrested on weapons charges in midtown Manhattan after police say they pulled him over for driving a car without licence plates.

The 35-year-old performer was released on bail on Thursday in time to make it for his show at Carnegie Hall. He told the audience that he "just got out of jail".

Police say a handgun was found in Williams' car after he was stopped for the alleged traffic violation.

His attorney, Charles Ross, did not immediately return a call requesting comment early on Friday.

Williams is best known for his role in the movie Friday After Next and for his appearances in rap videos. He also voices A Pimp Named Slickback in The Boondocks animated television series.

- AP

book

It's the latest lawsuit over the book, "Hot Chicks with Douchebags." Michael Minelli says the author, as well as Simon and Schuster, took photos of him without permission and characterized him as a "douchebag."

Minelli, who wants more than $10,000, says he "continues to be called a Douchebag by friends, acquaintances, coworkers, employers, and strangers alike."

Minelli says a Douchebag is "a feminine hygiene device." Our search of the Urban Dictionary reveals 89 definitions, including...

-- Anyone who does the following: puts a ballcap on and makes sure it's crooked ... wears Puka shells ... puts collar up. 

-- Someone who has achieved the highest level of being an a-hole.

-- Another definition is simply ... Kevin Federline.

Will truth be a defense? Stay t

Bruno

NEW YORK (AP) - Even a make-believe psychic couldn't spot the scam when an actor disrupted a scene for "Medium" involving Patricia Arquette, who stars as psychic Allison DuBois in the NBC drama.

After the unruly extra was ejected by security, the truth became clear: He was chameleonic comic prankster Sacha Baron Cohen in his identity as outrageous fashion reporter Bruno.

It was unclear how Cohen gained entry to the set, and whether he was secretly filming his performance for his own use, according to Entertainment Weekly, which first reported the incident. But prior to the Nov. 7 invasion in Los Angeles, Cohen had been shooting other "crash" footage for his new film, a followup to his comedy hit "Borat."

BangCock Jail

Con-jugal Visits

Cops: Indiana inmates crawled through ceilings for sexual trysts

NOVEMBER 17--Undaunted by a concrete wall separating their respective cellblocks, male and female inmates took advantage of a design flaw in an Indiana jail to engage in late-night sexual trysts. The Greene County inmates--three men and three women--pried open metal security tiles in the ceiling of their respective dormitory-style housing units to gain access to the adjoining cellblock, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Circuit Court. A copy of that detail-packed, and entertaining, affidavit can be found here. They were able to get into the lockup next door because the concrete wall separating the spaces did not continue to the building's roof. As first reported by the Bloomfield Free Press, a blind spot in the Greene County jail's security camera system kept officials from quickly spotting the illicit excursions, which began two months ago. The six inmates, pictured in the below mug shots, were charged today with felony escape. Investigators learned of the ceiling hijinks after conducting a search of the cellblocks last month. During that shakedown, the November 14 affidavit notes, investigators found letters in the female dormitory indicating that inmates "were getting through the ceiling area, and making contact with each other. This contact appears to include sexual activity." The first female inmate approached by a sheriff's investigator was asked "if she knew why I might want to talk to her," wrote Detective George Dallaire. The woman, who was not charged, "asked if it had anything to do with the girls going through the ceiling."

Bob Levy

For all of you fight fans wondering what happened in last night's big match -- no, not Lesnar vs Couture -- between once de-penised John Wayne Bobbitt and comedian Rev. Bob Levy ... it didn't make the cut. 

Bobbitt sliced himself out of last night's 3-round match at the Marpel Sports Arena in Penn. citing high blood pressure problems, and Levy was forced to beat the crap out of some dude named Thomas Kirschman.

John Wayne showed up and apologized to the crowd, then rescheduled his chance to Bobbitt and weave in the ring with Levy in January.

Bob Levy

For all of you fight fans wondering what happened in last night's big match -- no, not Lesnar vs Couture -- between once de-penised John Wayne Bobbitt and comedian Rev. Bob Levy ... it didn't make the cut. 

Bobbitt sliced himself out of last night's 3-round match at the Marpel Sports Arena in Penn. citing high blood pressure problems, and Levy was forced to beat the crap out of some dude named Thomas Kirschman.

John Wayne showed up and apologized to the crowd, then rescheduled his chance to Bobbitt and weave in the ring with Levy in January.

AL Franken

Al Franken has shown himself to be an angry, easily enraged man and after the October 16 Minnesota Senatorial candidate's debate he allowed his overwrought emotional state to send him over the edge once again. After the debate was over and the Media had turned off their microphones and cameras, Franken rushed over to Senator Norm Coleman's table and proceeded to angrily get in his face over some point or another made during the debate. Franken was getting so angry that his own wife had to rush over and force him to back off from a mounting confrontation with Coleman.

This isn't the only time that Al Franken has allowed his seemingly delicately balanced temperament to be tipped to unseemly anger. In fact, he's allowed himself to be driven to physical violence in the past. In 2004, for instance,Franken tackled a disruptive LaRouchie at a Howard Dean speech. He has also been known to get into shouting matches with rally attendees and opponents alike. Not to mention his past usage of intemperate or profane language and mean-spirited use of ridicule in his comedy routines and during his radio shows when he was an Air-America host.

Artie Lang

Personal life

Lange frequently discussed his on-again/off-again relationship with longtime girlfriend Dana Sironi after they began dating in early spring 2002. Most of the couple's problems stemmed from Lange's lifestyle. In mid-2006 Lange declared that the couple had officially broken up, for which Lange cited his heroin abuse as the primary reason, and claimed to have warned her that she would be "tortured" if they stayed together. However, Lange announced on an early November 2006 Stern Show that he and Sironi were again together to some extent, but that the situation was a mystery even to him. The couple broke up in early 2007, but began dating again in December 2007. On January 29, 2008, Vinnie Favale from The Late Show with David Letterman accidentally emailed Dana the itinerary for the night of Artie's appearance. The email contained the details of the reservations Vinnie made for Artie and three Penthouse Pets at a hotel and the Penthouse club. They have since parted ways.

Lange remains very close to his family, which includes his sister Stacie, a successful corporate fashion designer^[10], and his mother Judy, who retired in March 2007 from a secretarial career.^[11] He considers comedian George Carlin to be the all time greatest and jokingly said "it's easy to follow the funniest guy ever" when he appeared after Carlin as a guest during his first late night talk show appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.[1] Contrary to popular belief, he had not met comedians Norm MacDonald or David Spade prior to his making films with them (Dirty Work and Lost And Found respectively) though he has remained close friends with both in the years since.

Politically, he has said he does not consider himself to be a "liberal," though he supports abortion, gay rights (despite his notorious penchant for gay jokes) and unions since his time as a longshoreman. He has called President George W. Bush a "dolt" and voted for John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential Election. He initially supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but has since changed his mind. When documentarian Michael Moore visited The Howard Stern Show in 2007, Lange told him that he had changed some of his political opinions because of Moore's films.

He has indicated that his favorite band is The Who, he is also a devotee of Bruce Springsteen and AC/DC. His favorite book is A Confederacy of Dunces.

[edit]

Denis Leary

Denis Leary was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Nora and John Leary, Irish immigrants who had grown up together. After a childhood in the 1960s, Leary went to Emerson College in Boston, where he tried his hand at acting and writing. He was a charter member of Emerson's Comedy Workshop, and taught at the college for five years after graduating. By that point he had written several pieces for magazines and had worked at stand-up comedy for a time. In 1990 he and his wife Ann flew to London to perform in the BBC's Paramount City. That weekend Ann's water broke. Their planned weekend trip became a stay of months, and Denis, with not a whole lot to do in London, wrote a one-man comedy act. He brought friends in from the States, and they wrote songs to perform on stage. Leary, with Chris Phillips and Adam Roth on guitar, performed "No Cure For Cancer" at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival in Scotland. Despite some protests about the title, the show won the Critic's Award and the BBC Festival Recommendation. The next year the show was moved to America, and it was eventually taped and broadcast on Showtime (No Cure for Cancer (1992) (TV)). The show spawned a book, CD, cassette, and a videotape. It also started Leary's movie career. Since then, he has starred in several films and has had two of his own TV series.

Brad Garrett

Deputies investigate battery claim against Garrett

1 day ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities are investigating battery allegations against Emmy-winning actor Brad Garrett in an incident involving a photographer in West Hollywood.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Kristin Aloma said the 48-year-old Garrett has not been arrested in the incident that occurred late Tuesday or early Wednesday. She did not provide further details.

A video posted on celebrity gossip site TMZ.com shows photographers shooting and taping Garrett for about three minutes as he left a restaurant. As he approached his vehicle, Garrett briefly chased one photographer, then pushed the video camera of another paparazzo.

In the video, the man immediately claims Garrett broke his camera, although it shows him holding it up like he is still filming. The men exchange words and Garrett appears to challenge the paparazzi to a fight, but no punches were thrown.

A message left for Garrett's manager, Glenn Robbins, was not immediately returned.

Garrett stars in the Fox sitcom "'Til Death." He snagged three best supporting actor Emmys for his role in the comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond."

madtv

« 'House' tops Tuesday; 'NCIS' hits season high | Main | The CW orders more 'Privileged' »

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Fox cancels 'Mad TV'

Fox has canceled one of its longest-running shows -- the late-night sketch comedy veteran "Mad TV."

The Saturday night mainstay's current 14th season will be its last on the network, say Fox sources confirming a report on Defamer.

Yet the show's co-creator David Salzman says he's not giving up on the program and plans to shop "Mad TV" to cable networks and other outlets.

"There’s a long list of parties that have called us, including a few very recently, and we’re going to start conversations with them very shortly," Salzman says.

Fox told Salzman the show had become too expensive considering its time period and ratings. Unlike dramas and comedies that suffer the broadcast ax, however, Salzman believes his show's budget can scaled back to suit a cable network.

"I think we can change it without it really being noticeable," he says. "We’ve learned over the years how to do things on an efficient basis."

Salzman calls his show "the only success in the 21-year history of Fox's late night" and gave credit to the network for giving him enough notice to potentially find another distributor without interrupting production. He adds that Fox ordered a shortened season this year and will wrap production in December.

In one respect, the timing of the cancellation is actually fortuitous -- the show’s licensing deal with Comedy Central, which airs the show's first 11 seasons in repeats, is set to expire at the end of the year. Salzman can offer buyers the exclusive rights to air the show's library of content if they pick up the show, or sell the show and its library separately.

Salzman also praised competitor "Saturday Night Live," calling the show "the greatest of its type of all time." Still, Salzman noted his show -- which embraces a hip-hop sensibility compared with the NBC program's 1970s rock-and-roll roots -- has faced an uphill battle for attention.

"Saturday Night Live" is a heavily promoted and legendary member of the NBC family. On Fox, "Mad TV" has been like a distant cousin of the network's other programming, a holdover from the network's mid-1990s brand that, to its credit, kept managing to draw an audience and survive despite several programming management turnovers.

"'Mad TV' has been one of the longest running series in recent television history," says Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment at Fox, in a statement. "The fact that this Emmy Award-winning show has been a Fox mainstay in late-night for 14 years is a testament to the creativity and dedication put forth each week by the talented cast, writers and crew. This was a very difficult decision and we would like to give our heartfelt thanks to everyone at 'Mad TV' for making us laugh for over 300 irreverent episodes."

"Mad TV" is averaging a 1.1 adult demo rating and 2.6 million viewers this season, down 6% from last year -- a relatively modest drop compared to the ratings hits endured by many shows this fall. Of Fox’s programming, only “The Simpsons,” “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted” have been on the network longer. Fox's decision does not current impact Fox's other late-night Saturday program, "Talkshow with Spike Feresten."

The final Fox episode -- No. 326 -- is scheduled to air in May.

"We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, we’re appreciative of what Fox has done and we don’t think it should be over yet," Salzman says.

secret

Secret Service Officer in Sex Sting

Monday, November 10, 2008; B03

A Secret Service sergeant was arrested early Saturday after he allegedly tried to solicit sex from a D.C. police officer working undercover as a prostitute, authorities said.

The sergeant, driving his Secret Service vehicle and in uniform, encountered the undercover officer about 12:50 a.m. near 11th and K streets NW, said Inspector Brian Bray, commander of the District's narcotics and special investigations division.

After bantering about prices and services, Bray said, the woman agreed to perform oral sex for $20 and told the sergeant to meet her around the corner. He was arrested there by D.C. police officers, Bray said.

The sergeant, whose name was withheld by police, was cited for soliciting a prostitute, which carries a maximum 180-day jail sentence, Bray said. He was released.

The Secret Service said the man will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and will also face an internal investigation.

-- Matt Zapotosky

comedy store

NCC Timmy hit open mic at comedy store and said that Azis Asari was no good, mike young was no good, ari shifer pulled out his balls, steve rannizi was good, ty barnett was good and Ari pulled out his balls.

football

2 Dead in Argument Over College Football Game

Monday, November 10, 2008

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EVERGREEN, Ala. —  Authorities say an argument over Saturday's Alabama-LSU football game led to the shooting deaths of a couple at a home in southern Alabama.

Prosecutors identified the victims as Dennis and Donna Smith of Brewton. The shooting happened about 7 p.m. Saturday at the home of Michael Williams in the rural community of Owassa.

Williams was arrested and charged with two counts of murder.

Investigators told the Press-Register newspaper in Mobile that Dennis Smith, an LSU fan, called Williams, an Alabama fan, after Alabama's 27-21 overtime win and an argument ensued.

The Smiths went to Williams home. Investigators said Smith had a pistol and Williams had a shotgun and fired. Donna Smith was a relative of Williams' girlfriend.

LBC Laugh Factory

Laugh Factory owner explains Long Beach flop

September 22nd, 2008, 4:11 pm · 6 Comments · posted by Kelli Skye Fadroski

I was feeling really bummed about the show at the Laugh Factory on Saturday night. With all of the hype and all of the no-shows, it left me hoping this wasn’t a sign of things to come for the place. The venue itself, as I said in the article, was spectacular — any comic (at least the ones I know) would be stoked to perform on a stage like that.

My spirits were lifted today, however, whenLaugh Factory owner Jamie Masada called me to explain, but not defend, the opening-night mishaps.

According to Masada, a series of unfortunate events took place . The valet parking situation hadn’t been worked out. Dane Cook had to cancel at the last minute due to promotion obligations for his new film My Best Friend’s Girl. Jamie Kennedy had an accident on the 405 on his way to the show. Brad Garrett had to pull out last-minute as well — hard to do much else on Emmys weekend — but he will be performing at the venue in a few weeks. (Details coming soon. Check back at laughfactory.com).

Masada calls Saturday’s event a “soft opening” and plans to do an even bigger event in about six weeks, in which he hopes to have even the smallest of kinks fully worked out.

Masada, who has owned the Los Angeles Laugh Factory for 29 years, has always been a huge supporter of the stand-up scene. So many comic greats have graced his club -Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy, just to name a few. Masada says he created the beautiful $10 million Long Beach spot because he wanted to give comedians the type of venue they deserve to perform in.

“A lot of places just open up a club, they paint it black and put up a spotlight and a mic and then say, ‘We’re a comedy club,’” he says. “They don’t give the comics the dignity they deserve.”

He loves comedy and says that without comics, he would be lost.

“When I came to this country (from Israel), I was sleeping in a garage,” he says. “Absolutely, without stand-up comedy, I would not be where I am today.”

Bottom line: Masada’s goal is to ensure everyone has a good time, and is backing his word. If you had tickets to Saturday’s event (and can prove it) and came away dissatisfied, Masada wants to hear about it. You can reach him or one of his staff members at 323-848-2804.

great fight

Crazies »

Joe Calzaghe dominates Roy Jones Jr.

The first round of the Joe Calzaghe fight may very well be the last good round Roy Jones Jr. ever has in a boxing ring. For the second straight time fighting on U.S. soil, Calzaghe picked himself up from the canvas and defeated a future hall-of-famer. Saturday, Calzaghe dominated Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden. He won by a score of 118-109 on all three scorecards.

Read Wally Matthews' excellent column on the fight in Newsday.

Click here to see photos of the fight.

Read TheSweetScience.com's coverage of the fight.

No man had ever showboated in such a manner against Roy and remained vertical. The fighting was crude at times but after 12 rounds the verdict was definitive.

Both men have hinted at retirement. Calzaghe moves to 46-0 for his career. Should Jones Jr. (52-5) retire now, he will do so off a humiliating defeat. Jones Jr. dropped Calzaghe late in the first round but never really did anything beyond that moment. He was cut badly over the left eye in the seventh round and generated very little offense for the remainder of the fight.

It's the second time the Welshman came to the U.S. and defeated an American ring legend -- albeit a pair of legends beyond their peak. In April, he decisioned Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas. He's now 24-0 in world title fights. That's a career some guys.

The most interesting quote after the fight came from Calzaghe when he said, "Everyone seems to have an off night against me."

The implication was that Jones or Hopkins suffered from bad nights, they lost the fight more than Joe had won them. Maybe it's time we in the States start acknowledging that Calzaghe had something to do with those bad nights

Councilman

A Jersey City councilman has reportedly been arrested for urinating on a crowd of concertgoers from the balcony of a Washington D.C. nightclub.
  
The New York Daily News reports in Sunday's editions that two-term Jersey City councilman Steve Lipski has been charged with simple assault.
  
The newspaper says 44-year-old Lipski was removed from a place called the 9:30 Club on Friday night.
  
That's after club staffers saw him relieve himself onto the crowd from a second floor balcony during a concert by a Grateful Dead tribute band.
  
Messages left at Lipski's council office, and a Jersey City listing under his name were not immediately returned.

Copyright Associated Press

Bob Zany

Mini Biography

In 1977, at the tender age of fifteen, the native Southern Californian appeared on the infamous Gong Show. Halfway through his stand-up routine, which he read from a piece of paper, he was pulled off the stage by a man dressed like a nun wielding a net. Eleven years later, he made a triumphant return as a celebrity judge. This marked the first of over 100 appearances on national television. In 1981, while attending Mt. San Antonio College, he applied for a job as a newcaster at the campus radio station but was turned down. Later that year, he auditioned for the owner of The Ice House in Pasadena. The audition took place in the middle of the afternoon in a club that seats 300. From the only occupied chair came the voice of the owner, "You're not ready". Zany looked around the empty showroom and said "Neither is your club!" Undaunted, he talked the owner into letting him produce his own show so he could have the stage time, and for the owner, an audience. The result was The Bob Zany Show featuring such newcomers as Garry Shandling, Yakov Smirnoff, Robert Wuhl, Kevin Nealon, and Nia Peeples. After one show, Bob was approached by Frazier Smith, the host of a top-rated radio show on KLOS/LA. After a short time doing guest spots on Frazier's show, Zany was hired by KLOS as a personality with his own show on Saturday mornings. Other accomplishments include the creation of Bob Zany's Comedy Outlets, with over 50 locations throughout California and Nevada; a comedy album "Hi Home, I'm Honey", on Laff Records; a soon-to-be published diet scrapbook, "Laugh at Fat, Bay-bee!", and the highlight of his career to date, being hired by his idol, Steve Martin, to appear on George Burns' Comedy Week. Zany's stage persona has evolved over the years, but the dramatic weight loss in 1991 caused the need for a major overhaul...along with the 175-lbs, he lost 30 minutes of his actHe spent the following year doing late night spots at Hollywood clubs, trying to "reinvent" hi mself. The result is the cigar-smoking, audience-interactive crowd favorite Bob Zany we know and love today. He is married to comedienne/actress Erin O'Connor, and they live in Los Angeles with their three dogs and three cats.

AL Franken

U.S. Senate
Minnesota

Democratic Republican

All Party Keys

Status

Candidate

Vote

Vote %

Coleman (Incumbent)	1,211,644	42%
Franken	1,211,167	42%
Barkley	437,382	15%

100% precincts reporting - 10:51 p.m. EST, Nov 5 '08

Vote by County

County Results | Larger Map

Harland Williams

Mini Biography

Harland Williams spent 5 years as a forest ranger while developing his own sense of humour in stand-up comedy. Harland made his movie debut in the hit Dumb & Dumber(1994). He is currently working on a television show on CBS. Harland has written and illustrated a series of children's book about a brontosaurus named Lickety Split. He is a trained animator and is currently working on a few animation projects based on his hand-drawn characters.

and he's on 97.1 right now.

Comedy Store

National Comedy Correspondent Timmy went to the Comedy Store on Sunday. It's free before 9pm and Timmy paid 10 dollars to park. Timmy doesn't like that. He saw 22 comics. Timmy liked Mike Allen and said he had a funny looking face and lots of potential.

tim allen

Tim Allen Sued for Hoggin' Profits

Posted Nov 3rd 2008 7:30PM by TMZ Staff

Tim Allen is being sued for allegedly ripping off the idea for his movie "Wild Hogs" ... but the real shocker -- someone is actually taking responsibility for that piece of crap!

The best part of the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, is the production company suing Allen claims they were the first people to exploit "the recent trend of many middle-aged Americans purchasing motorcycles ... and associating with club that emulate biker gangs." 

The production company is asking for at least $25k. Wild Hogs raked in around $160 mil -- yet we can't find a single person who will admit they saw it.

chicks

Outrage over 'chastity belt' lingerie fitted with GPS tracking system 

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:32 PM on 03rd November 2008

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Controversial: Critics have said underwear featuring a tracking system is the high-tech equivalent of a chastity belt

Feminists around the world have reacted with horror to a new line of lingerie that comes equipped with a GPS tracking system.

The 'find me if you can' range of underwear has been described as a modern-day, high-tech chastity belt.

'It is outrageous to think that men can buy this, programme it and give it to their partners and then monitor them,' said Claudia Burghart, leader of a Berlin feminist group.

'It is nothing more than a chastity belt for insecure men.'

Lingerie maker Lucia Lorio of Brazil says her design targets the 'modern, techno-savvy woman'.

The lingerie combination set consists of lace bodice, bikini bottom and faux pearl collar, with the GPS device nestled in the see-through part of the bodice next to the waist.

'This collection... is a wink to women and a challenge to men because, even if she gives him the password to her GPS, she can always turn it off,' Lorio said.

'It's not a modern chastity belt. Some men think they can keep tabs on their girlfriends with it, but they're wrong,' she added.

Unconcerned with the controversy her collection has raised, Lorio is also dismissive of the global financial crisis and its adverse impact on luxury items sales.

The GPS lingerie sells from a cool £500, complete with a standard Global Positioning System, to £700 with a more advanced model.

'Some women are now interested in buying it for protection,' she said, programming it for partners themselves so they are safe on a night out alone.

'In London, New York, Rio de Janiero - wherever there is danger, the underwear may prove to be a lifesaver,' she added.  

Russell Brand

Russell Brand tones down his act as he returns to the stage - but he still manages a joke at Sachs girl's expense

By RICHARD SIMPSON
Last updated at 5:45 PM on 03rd November 2008

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Russell Brand took a measured swipe at Andrew Sachs’s granddaughter while testing out new comedy material in Los Angeles last night, but for the most part stumbled and stuttered through a very toned down act. 

Performing at the Largo Coronet Theatre in West Hollywood – his first show since the Radio 2 scandal broke – he said: 'Burlesque and erotica – I’ve been rethinking it of late,' referring to Georgina Baillie’s profession as a burlesque dancer and glamour model.

Brand and fellow DJ Jonathan Ross left messages on Sachs' answerphone claiming Brand had slept with his granddau

Bruno

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sacha Baron Cohen went undercover as his alter ego Bruno on Sunday by crashing a rally in support of a ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in California. The British comedian is working on a film based on the fictional character Bruno, a gay Austrian fashion reporter who conducted gag interviews on HBO's "Da Ali G Show." Cohen, in disguise in a blond wig and preppy outfit, marched with demonstrators who support Proposition 8 while being trailed by cameras in a rally across from City Hall. When photographers and reporters realized who he was and tried to approach the star, members of his film crew tried to shield him, and he was eventually whisked away in a van. Cohen, who has made a career out of filming unwitting victims of his fake identities, also played a journalist in the hit movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."  Copyright 2008 The Associ

Mccain

OCTOBER SURPRISE: ALIEN ENDORSES MCCAIN!

Posted on Saturday, November 1st, 2008
By Reginald Cunningham III

 24 comments | 

Buzz up!

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WASHINGTON, DC - In a shocking reversal, the Alien has switched his endorsement from Barack Obama to John McCain.

With major implications for the U.S. presidential election, political kingmaker the Alien has changed his endorsement amid furor. Both political camps are buzzing about the implications, as the Alien has correctly predicted the winning president in every election for the past 28 years.

Ongoing investigation points to Cindy McCain as being the cause for this historic shift in allegiances.

Uncovered photos suggest that in a last ditch effort to help her husband’s failing campaign, Cindy McCain seduced and then blackmailed the Alien for his endorsement.

Pauly shore

I saw Natural Born Komics last night for the 2nd time. The 1st time I was drinking so I didn't pay much attention but this time I stayed focused and was very proud of myself. I've always been a Pauly fan and I don't care what you say. There's some great sketches and some hot chicks nude so right away I have to give that a (9). What makes this kick ass is comics Ari Shaffir and Kirk Fox. So if anything check it out.