News

Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Pete Holmes are among the comedic talents set to appear at this year’s New York Comedy Festival, taking place from Friday, November 7 to Sunday, November 16.

Colbert and Sedaris will join Paul Dinello on November 8 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the cancellation of Strangers with Candy, the sitcom for Comedy Central co-created by Colbert, Dinello, Sedaris, and Mitch Rouse. Other headliners this year include The Basement Yard, Hannah Berner, Michael Blackson, Margaret Cho, Alex Edelman, Chris Fleming, Morgan Jay, Ismo, Ryan Long, Nurse John, Yohay Sponder, and Trevor Wallace, to name a few.

Founded by Caroline Hirsch in 2004, the New York Comedy Festival features 200+ top comedians from around the globe across more than 100 shows in all five boroughs, taking over iconic NY venues like Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall. Information on further Nycf programming, including Stand Up for Heroes,...

Laughs are loading for this year’s New York Comedy Festival.

The festival will feature more than 200 comedians at 100 shows at venues across the five boroughs for 10 days from Nov. 7-16. This year’s headliners include such acts as the Basement Yard, Hannah Berner, Michael Blackson, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Alex Edelman, Chris Fleming, Pete Holmes, Morgan Jay, Ismo, Ryan Long, Nurse John, Yohay Sponder, Trevor Wallace and more.

Also on the lineup is a special reunion for Strangers with Candy creators and stars Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris. The event, to be held at Town Hall on Nov. 8, is billed as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the show’s cancellation. Strangers with Candy aired for three seasons on Comedy Central and became a cult classic thanks to its risqué humor and wild storylines. It cast Sedaris as Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old ex-drug addict who returns...

The Made in NY Awards have announced Darren Aronofsky, Michelle Buteau, Tracy Morgan, and Thomas J. O’Donnell, president of Local 817 International Brotherhood of Teamsters, as the honorees for the upcoming 2025 ceremony.

Earlier this year, Mome presented a Made in NY award to producer Celia Costas at the 45th Annual New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards.

Created in 2006 by Mome, the Made in NY awards shine a light on the film and television artists who bring the streets and iconic locations of New York City to screens around the world and encourage global audiences to visit, work, and live here.

Hosted by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman, the Made in NY Awards ceremony will come on the heels of the 23rd Tribeca Festival. The ceremony will take place June 16 at the mayor’s official residence, Gracie Mansion.

Last week, in a special evening honoring John Mayer and Jeff Ross, Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine raised more than $1.3 million for the Scleroderma Research Foundation (Srf)—the country’s first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research into scleroderma.

Candace Cameron Bure, Lori Loughlin, John Stamos and Jodie Sweetin attend the 2024 Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine gala

Credit/Copyright: Tyler Curtis/ABImages

Hosted by Jeff Ross, and co-chaired by Srf Board Members Susan Feniger and Regina Hall alongside Caroline Hirsch and Kelly Rizzo, the signature fundraising event featured some of the biggest names in comedy and music to support the Srf’s mission, funding cutting-edge research programs and educational outreach. John Mayer and Jeff Ross received the Bob Saget Legacy Award, recognizing their ongoing commitment to scleroderma research and their efforts to continue the legacy of late Srf Board Member Bob Saget.

“Tonight, I get to present the Bob Saget Legacy...

The Scleroderma Research Foundation (Srf) — the country’s first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research into scleroderma — announced the lineup for its annual Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine fundraiser, featuring musical guest John Mayer and comedians Whitney Cummings, Alex Edelman, Chris Hardwick, Jim Jefferies, and Jeff Ross.

Jeff Ross will also host the event, set for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

The Srf will honor Mayer and Ross with the Bob Saget Legacy Award, recognizing their ongoing commitment to scleroderma research and their efforts to continue Bob Saget's mission of raising awareness for Scleroderma Research Foundation’s vital work.

“This year’s lineup is made up of people who loved Bob dearly, and I could not be more grateful to them for carrying on Bob’s passion for using laughter and music to fight scleroderma,” says Kelly Rizzo, event co-chair. “It’s going to...

The “Made in NY” Awards ceremony will return this fall after a decade of handing out the honors behind the scenes.

Created in 2006 by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the “Made in NY” Awards celebrate excellence in New York City’s creative community and recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to NYC’s entertainment and digital media industries.

Prior recipients of the “Made in NY” award include 2024 Academy Award nominees Noah Baumbach, Danielle Brooks, Robert De Niro and Jeffrey Wright, as well as Awkwafina, Alex Borstein, Tina Fey, Caroline Hirsch, “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Spike Lee, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nas, Rosie Perez and “Sesame Street.”

From 2014 until earlier in 2024, no ceremony was held, and instead individual “Made in NY” Awards were presented to winners at various entertainment events throughout the city including the Gotham Awards and the Nywift Muse Awards.

The Scleroderma Research Foundation (Srf) — the country’s first and leading nonprofit investor in medical research into scleroderma — announced today that Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine (Cchc) will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

This unforgettable evening of laughter and amazing food aims to raise vital funds for scleroderma research.

At this year’s event, the Srf will present the Bob Saget Legacy Award to John Mayer and Jeff Ross. Both were dear friends of beloved Srf Board Member Bob Saget and have a long and generous history of helping him raise funds and awareness for scleroderma research. The Bob Saget Legacy Award recognizes those who follow in Bob’s footsteps to shine a spotlight on scleroderma and raise funds for a cure.

Jeff Ross, in addition to being an honoree, will also serve as the host for the evening. The event will feature...

The 20th anniversary New York Comedy Festival this November will feature more than 200 comedians in more than 100 shows throughout the city, with a roster of headliners including Judd Apatow, Dave Attell, Bill Maher, Tracy Morgan, Jb Smoove and Jaboukie Young-White, among others.

With performances at venues throughout the city’s five boroughs, the festival runs from Friday, November 8 to Sunday, November 17. Other headliners include Jeff Arcuri, Zarna Garg, How Did This Get Made?, Gabriel Iglesias, I’ve Had It, Joe List, Matt McCusker, Nurse John, Ms. Pat, Adam Ray is Dr. Phil, The Rest Is History, Justin Silva, Dan Soder and Jimmy O. Yang.

The New York Comedy Festival is the largest and longest-running annual comedy festival in the United States. Launched in 2004, the event was founded by Caroline Hirsch and produced by Carolines, with the inaugural festival featuring a dozen stand-up shows over five days. Today, the Nycf has expanded its reach and impact,...

The 2023 “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine” fundraiser for the Scleroderma Research Foundation was filled with tributes to the late comedian and scleroderma research advocate Bob Saget, who died in 2022.

Held at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday night as part of the 19th annual New York Comedy Festival, the event was filled with tributes to Saget, who worked with the foundation for 30 years to raise money and awareness about the ravages of scleroderma, a devastating autoimmune disease.

Jeff Ross hosted the event, opening by saying, “Tonight will be a tribute to Bob, but also a look ahead at what we’re doing in the fight against scleroderma.”

Thanks to an auction featuring items like a 10-day resort trip to Bali and a five-day trip to Tuscany as well as donations made during the event, the foundation raised an impressive $1.2 million for the cause.

Dr. Luke Evnin, the chairman...

Earlier this week, Stand Up for Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter, returned for its 17th annual celebration to honor our nation’s veterans and their families at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Bruce Sprinsteen and John Mellencamp perform onstage during the 17th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Benefit

Credit/Copyright: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation

The event raised awareness and over $14 million for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures.

Jimmy Carr, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Tracy Morgan, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, The War and Treaty, and Rita Wilson treated the crowd to an evening of comedy and musical performances. In addition to the incredible entertainment, Stand...

Stand Up for Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter, presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival (Nycf), returns for its 17th annual celebration to honor our nation’s impacted veterans and their families on November 6, at 8:00 p.m. Et at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Sufh will feature performances by comedians and musicians including Jimmy Carr, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, The War and Treaty, Rita Wilson and more. The event will also spotlight the inspiring, remarkable stories of resilience and service of the men and women who have stood for us as members of our nation’s military. Sufh raises awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families...

Conan O’Brien will bring his podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend to this year’s New York Comedy Festival, with a taping of the live episode later airing on Team Coco’s SiriusXM Channel.

O’Brien joins a festival line-up that includes Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Nicole Byer, Jimmy Carr, Margaret Cho, Tim Dillon, Giggly Squad, Ilana Glazer, Brett Goldstein, Nate Jackson, Anthony Jeselnik, Matteo Lane, Sam Morril, Nick Mullen and Adam Friedland, Atsuko Okatsuka, Pod Meets World, Donnell Rawlings, Jeff Ross, Robyn Schall, Daniel Sloss, and Michelle Wolf.

The festival runs Nov. 3-12 and includes more than 100 shows at such New York venues as the Apollo Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Msg, Town Hall, and more.

The taping of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend live podcast will take place at Brooklyn Academy of Music (Bam) on Tuesday,...

The New York Comedy Festival has announced its 2023 headliners, this year welcoming Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Nicole Byer, Jimmy Carr, Margaret Cho, Tim Dillon, Giggly Squad, Ilana Glazer, Brett Goldstein, Nate Jackson, Anthony Jeselnik, Matteo Lane, Sam Morril, Nick Mullen and Adam Friedland, Conan O’Brien, Atsuko Okatsuka, Pod Meets World, Donnell Rawlings, Jeff Ross, Robyn Schall, Daniel Sloss and Michelle Wolf to the 10-day event.

The largest comedy festival in the U.S., the New York Comedy Festival is now in its 19th year and will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12. The event, founded by Caroline Hirsch and produced by Carolines, brings together over 200 of the country’s top comedians who perform in more than 100 shows at some of the most prestigious venues in the five boroughs, including the Apollo Theatre, Bam, the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Msg and Town Hall.

Burr returns to...

The New York Comedy Festival, considered the largest comedy festival in the U.S., is about to get larger: In its 19th year, the 2023 Nycf will expand from seven to ten days, running Friday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 12.

Headliners are set to include Dave Attell, Bill Burr, Nicole Byer, Jimmy Carr, Margaret Cho, Tim Dillon, Giggly Squad, Ilana Glazer, Brett Goldstein, Nate Jackson, Anthony Jeselnik, Matteo Lane, Sam Morril, Nick Mullen and Adam Friedland, Atsuko Okatsuka, Pod Meets World, Donnell Rawlings, Jeff Ross, Robyn Schall, Daniel Sloss and Michelle Wolf.

“We’re very excited to bring the best comedians – from emerging talent to established headliners – from across the country and throughout the world to perform at this year’s festival,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival. “We’ve curated an amazing line-up of shows, with many more to be announced in the coming months.

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for No Hard Feelings, I’m a Virgo and Downey’s Dream Cars.

Downey’s Dream Cars premiere

Robert Downey Jr. made a rare red carpet appearance to debut his new Max series at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on June 16.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey

No Hard Feelings premiere

Jennifer Lawrence joined director Gene Stupnitsky and co-stars Andrew Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Hasan Minhaj, Kyle Mooney, Scott MacArthur, Zach McClarnon, Jordan Mendoza, Matthew Nozska, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Amalia Yoo at the New York premiere of their new comedy on Tuesday.

John Phillips, Laura Benanti, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gene Stupnitsky, Natalie Morales, Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Feldman and Matthew Broderick Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Feldman

I’m a Virgo premiere

Stars Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray,...

Carolines Entertainment has tapped Horizon Sports & Experiences as its agency of record to develop sponsorship, brand activation, experiential and hospitality strategies to engage audiences across a variety of platforms on behalf of the 2023 New York Comedy Festival. Hs&e, part of Horizon Media, will provide sponsors its full suite of data and analytics services and solutions.

The 19th annual festival is slated to return in November.

In an era when a writers strike has advertisers wringing their hands about how to align their brand messages with new comedy content, the festival, which started in 2004, may provide an alternative, says Neal Gluckman, Hs&e’s senior vice president and head of sales, in an interview. “Brands still need to be out there,” he says, and the festival attracts a young, engaged base and also generates a lot of social-media content as comedians, venues and fans share their expereinces.

“There is a...

As the market for independently made documentaries continues to dry up, regional film festivals have become essential to filmmakers hoping to sell their docs.

At this year’s Sarasota Film Festival, which kicks off on March 25, 36 documentaries are part of the lineup. Over 25 of them are seeking distribution. They include Luke Lorentzen’s “A Still Small Voice,” Alexandria Bombach’s “It’s Only Life After All” about the Indigo Girls, Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto “Aum: The Cult at the End of the World” and Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng’s “Invisible Beauty.” All four films premiered at Sundance in January.

“From Submarine’s point of view, we’ve always encouraged great regional festivals like Sarasota, the Berkshires, Woodstock and the Hamptons partially because there is the possibility that awards voters are there,” says Submarine Entertainment sales agent Josh Braun, who reps both “Aum: The Cult at the End of the World” and “Invisible Beauty.

Carolines on Broadway, one of the country’s most famous and influential comedy clubs, will host the final performances at its Times Square home on New Year’s Eve, ending a 30-year run at the location just as the nearby ball drops on 2022.

“After 30 wonderful years at our location in Times Square, we have decided not to renew our lease. Our final shows here will be on December 31,” the club posted on Instagram.

Although the closing announcement doesn’t provide a reason, club owner Caroline Hirsch told The New York Post that the venue’s 10-year lease was due for a rent “reset” and building landlord “felt they can get a lot more for the space.” The Post identified the building owner as a “Kuwaiti wealth fund.”

Located at 750 Seventh Avenue in the heart of the Broadway theater district, Caroline’s has played host to such comedy superstars as Jerry Seinfeld,...

Stand Up for Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter, presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival (Nycf), returns for its 16th annual celebration to honor our nation’s impacted veterans and their families, and to kick off the 2022 Nycf on November 7, at 8:00 p.m. Et at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Sufh will feature performances by comedians and musicians including Amber Iman, The Lumineers, Hasan Minhaj, Jeff Ross, Iliza Shlesinger, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart and more. The event will also highlight inspiring moments, memorable surprises and stories of resilience while recognizing the men and women who have served in our nation’s military. Sufh raises awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to find, fund, shape, and accelerate equitable solutions that help the veteran and military community thrive.

“Caroline’s Comedy Hour” is set to return to TV with fresh episodes under a licensing deal that comedy maven Caroline Hirsch has set with Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment.

Sox has licensed 100 episodes of the standup comedy showcase series that ran on A&e Network in the early 1990s. Those will be collected with new installments that Hirsch and Sox Entertainment will produce. Sox has also reached a deal with the New York Comedy Festival for access to select performances across that celebration of standup that is set to unfold its 18th edition Nov. 7-13.

Hirsch is marking the 40th anniversary this year of her influential comedy club on Broadway in the heart of the theater district. Hirsch also was the driving force behind the NY Comedy Festival. Notable names featured in the episodes to be sold include early appearances by Marc Maron, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Richard Belzer,...

A popular standup TV franchise is making a comeback. Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment has acquired global rights to Caroline’s Comedy Hour, which ran on A&e Network from 1989-96. Koondel, former CBS Chief Content and Licensing Officer, plans to produce new installments, which he will shop alongside 100 library episodes from the show’s original run as a lower-cost comedy programming alternative for cable networks and streamers.

Koondel was retained to distribute the package of new and old episodes by Caroline’s owner Caroline Hirsch.

The A&e series was hosted by Carol Leifer, Colin Quinn and Rich Jeni and featured acts appearing at Hirsch’s New York comedy club, including Marc Maron, Bill Hicks, Joy Behar, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Louis Ck, Richard Belzer, Judy Tenuta, Susie Essman, Mario Cantone, Ray Romano, Colin Quinn, Larry Miller, Jeff Foxworthy, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Al Franklin, Kevin James, Norm MacDonald,...

Click here to read the full article.

The New York Comedy Festival, returning for its 18th year, has announced its 2022 headliners.

John Mulaney, Conan O’Brien, Tracy Morgan, Wanda Sykes, Jenny Slate, Bill Maher, Jo Koy, Jb Smoove, Jimmy O. Yang, Mo Amer, Shane Gillis, The Guilty Feminist, Nurse Blake, Ms. Pat and Bassem Youssef will headline this year’s festival, taking place Nov. 7 to Nov. 13. Nycf, the largest comedy fest in the U.S., will expand for the time ever to Nassau County, Long Island at the Ubs Arena, where Mulaney will play on Nov. 11.

Launched in 2004, Nycf is produced by Carolines on Broadway and created by Caroline Hirsch, bringing together over 200 top comedians in over 100 shows at venues throughout the five boroughs of NYC, at venues including the Beacon Theatre, Carolines on Broadway, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall.

“To come together and experience the best in stand-up comedy...

Like many Oscar viewers, Caroline Hirsch, owner and founder of the New York comedy club Caroline’s on Broadway, thought she was watching just another pre-rehearsed bit on Sunday night when Chris Rock delivered his “G.I. Jane 2” joke about Jada Pinkett Smith and then saw Will Smith walk onto the stage and slap Rock across the face. “I thought (Will) was kidding around, cause he’s kind of a playful guy,” Hirsch told TheWrap. “And then when he smacked him, the expression on Chris’ face was like, ‘Oh, my God, what just happened?’ And I knew he wasn’t part of it. It was like, Ok, he really did this.” And soon Hirsch, who has known Rock since he was a young comic making his way in the stand-up world, realized that the incident could lead to copycat aggression against comics performing around the country, including her club. “We...

Stand Up for Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter, returned for its 15th annual celebration to honor our nation’s impacted veterans and their families, on Monday, November 8th at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Bob Woodruff, Lee Woodruff, Donnell Rawlings, Nate Bargatze, Bruce Springsteen, Nikki Glaser, Jim Gaffigan, Caroline Hirsch, Andrew Fox, Anne Marie Dougherty,

The event raised awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to find, fund, shape, and accelerate equitable solutions that help the veteran and military community thrive. Stand Up for Heroes was presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation (Bwf) and the New York Comedy Festival (Nycf) and was brought to you by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Veterans On Wall Street, Alliance Data, Hsbc, Citi, Ubs, Wells Fargo, H.C.S. Foundation, Vehicles For Veterans, State of Qatar, TriWest, Toyota,...

Stand Up for Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter returns for its 15th annual celebration to honor our nation’s impacted veterans and their families, on November 8, at 8:00 p.m. Et at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The event will raise awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to find, fund, shape, and accelerate equitable solutions that help the veteran and military community thrive. Stand Up for Heroes is presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival and is brought to you by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Veterans On Wall Street, Hsbc, Citi, Ubs, Wells Fargo, H.C.S. Foundation, Vehicles For Veterans, TriWest, Toyota, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Ann G. & James B. Ritchey Foundation, Philip Morris International, State of Qatar, Barclays, PayPal, Ey, Balyasny Asset Management, Bloomberg Philanthropies,...

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Nikki Glaser and more are set to perform at the annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit event, which supports the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s efforts to help wounded service members, veterans and their families. The 15th annual celebration will take place 8 p.m. Nov. 8 at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Also appearing on the bill includes comic and musical performances by Nate Bargatze, Grace Gaustad, Sing Harlem, Donnell Rawlings, more. The event — which features Springsteen entertaining with select songs and choice dirty jokes — will also highlight inspiring moments, memorable surprises, and stories of resilience while recognizing the men and women who have served in our nation’s military.

Springsteen has appeared at 13 Stand Up for Heroes events, only missing in 2017 due his busy “Springsteen on Broadway” schedule. At a previous show, Springsteen auctioned off a motorcycle and dinner featuring his “mom’s lasagna.

The New York Comedy Festival is paying tribute to beloved comedian Norm Macdonald following his passing today at age 61 after a nine-year private battle with cancer. Macdonald had appeared at the festival numerous times over the years and he was scheduled to perform for the fest’s in-person return in November. He was set for seven shows at Carolines on Broadway from Nov. 11-14.

Norm Macdonald: A Career In Photos – Gallery

“We are completely devastated by the tragic news of our friend Norm Macdonald’s passing. Apart from being one of the most talented and unique performers of his generation, Norm was simply an amazing person, a consummate professional and a joy to be around,” said Caroline Hirsch, NY Comedy Festival founder and owner, in a statement to Deadline. “Norm graced our stage on many occasions throughout the years, and it was always a special occasion when he was here.

The New York Comedy Festival has set a lineup of 200 performers set to take the stage across the city’s five boroughs when the festival returns in-person in November.

Among those performing are Vir Das, Tim Dillon, Colin Quinn, Michelle Wolf, Norm Macdonald, Megan Stalter, Ronny Chieng, Nick Kroll, Alok, Marc Maron, Brian Regan, Bill Maher and Michelle Buteau. The festival, which was canceled last year due to Covid-19, is set to run from November 8 to 14.

In keeping with New York City mandates and Covid-19 public health guidelines, all festival shows will require proof of vaccination for performers and attendees. The comedy fest joins Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Film Festival and a host of other cultural mainstays lighting back up in the city this fall.

Venues will include the Apollo Theatre, Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Carolines on Broadway, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and Town Hall.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and Caroline Hirsch, the founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival, Tuesday announced the event’s return November 8-14.

Hirsch’s comedy club Carolines on Broadway produces the event which was canceled in 2020 for the first time in 17 years due to public health and safety concerns related to Covid-19. It will feature more than 150 shows featuring more than 200 comedians from around the world, podcast stars and late-night hosts. The lineup will be announced in August. A key focus of this year’s festival is to shine a much needed spotlight on small venues that have been hit the hardest this past year.

“We’re thrilled to be able to reunite fans with their favorite comedians again as New York City continues on the road to recovery,” said Hirsch.

“Our venue partners across the city have suffered tremendously over the last year, and so this year,...

An array of high-profile documentarians have come on board “The Conspiracy,” exploring the history of anti-Semitism and archaic conspiracies against the Jewish people, Variety has learned exclusively.

“The Conspiracy” will explore various myths and inaccuracies that have plagued Jewish people and the Jewish religion through the centuries, and which have given rise to a unique prejudice that persists to this day. This documentary seeks to showcase the manner in which one of the most pervasive deceptions about Judaism of all time — that a dangerous group of powerful Jewish people equipped with mysterious powers control the world — can be traced through cataclysmic and violent events toward Jewish people throughout history and into the present. This film includes a mixture of animation and archival footage as it shows the evolution of these lies via the stories of different Jewish families throughout history.

The film is in production and is directed by Sundance award-winning filmmaker Maxim Pozdorovkin,...

Stand Up For Heroes (Sufh), New York’s highly anticipated night of hope, healing and laughter honoring our nation’s veterans and their families, is going virtual for the first time in its 14 year history, and will air on ABC News Live, TikTok, Facebook, Cheddar, Twitch and Armed Forces Network on Wednesday, November 18th at 9:00 p.m. Est.

The event will raise awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission to help veterans and military families thrive is especially vital as veterans face increased challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Stand Up for Heroes is presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival and is brought to you by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Veterans on Wall Street, led by Citi, Hsbc Bank, and Wells Fargo, and supported by Vehicles for Veterans.

Hosted by Jon Stewart, Sufh will feature performances by comedians and musicians including Nate Bargatze,...

The Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services organization Easterseals, has announced the honorees of the awards show, which include critically-acclaimed documentary “Crip Camp,” Netflix’s “Away” and Ramy Youssef.

The award show, which will be presented virtually Nov. 19 and hosted by model and actor Nyle Dimarco, aims to pay tribute to creatives, series and films that have holistically portrayed individuals with disabilities and advanced representation for the disability community both on and off-screen.

“One out of four American adults has a disability, but they rarely see their lives reflected in the stories told on film and television. The Media Access Awards is an ongoing campaign to change that reality. And it will change. People with disabilities will be seen and heard,” Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of Media Access Awards, said in a statement.

The evening will see special appearances from Selma Blair, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel,...

Stand Up for Heroes, the annual New York comedy event hosted by Jon Stewart honoring veterans and their families, will go virtual for the first time in its 14-year history. With performances by comedians and musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Sheryl Crow, Tiffany Haddish, Mickey Guyton, Brad Paisley, Patti Scialfa and Iliza Shelsigner, the November 18 event will air on ABC News Live, TikTok, Facebook Watch, Cheddar, Twitch and Armed Forces Network.

Special guests will include Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Ray Romano, Jeannie Gaffigan and others. The benefit is presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, and will raise awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission to help veterans and military families thrive is especially vital as veterans face increased challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event will also highlight “inspiring moments, memorable surprises, and stories of...

Tribeca and Walmart Drive-In Screenings

The Tribeca Film Festival is teaming up with Walmart for a new drive-in series that will take place at 160 Walmart stores across the country. Store parking lots will be turned into outdoor theaters Aug. 14 to Oct. 21 for free screenings of family-friendly films, including classics such as “The Karate Kid,” “Back to the Future,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Ghostbusters” and “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” as well as more contemporary fare like “Black Panther,” “Wonder Woman” and “The Lego Movie.”

Drew Barrymore will serve as virtual hosts for all the screenings. Peter Berg, Jennifer Garner, LeBron James and Chrissy Metz are expected to make virtual or in-person appearances.

Race to Erase Ms Moves

Race to Erase Ms is moving to the Rose Bowl. Nancy Davis’ annual gala, which usually takes place at a hotel ballroom, will be transformed into a socially-distanced drive-in on Sept. 4. The evening...

The annual New York Comedy Festival is taking a year off: The 2020 edition of the 16-year-old event has been canceled over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The next comedy fest is now set for November 8-14, 2021.

“It’s during times like these when we can all use a good laugh,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway. “But, as they say in comedy, it’s all in the timing.”

Since 2004 the Nycf has taken place each November at such venues as New York’s Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall, among others. Taking the stages have been such comedians as Judd Apatow, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Norm Macdonald, Bill Maher, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and Wanda Sykes.

“While we...

Editors’ Note: With acknowledgment of the big-picture implications of a pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives, cratered global economies and closed international borders, Deadline’s Coping With Covid-19 Crisis series is a forum for those in the entertainment space grappling with myriad consequences of seeing a great industry screech to a halt. The hope is for an exchange of ideas and experiences, and suggestions on how businesses and individuals can best ride out a crisis that doesn’t look like it will abate any time soon.

Caroline Hirsch has spent nearly four decades as one of comedy’s prime movers. Her namesake club, Caroline’s, has hosted a steady stream of A-list acts in its current location at 49th Street and Broadway since 1992. While the Times Square location lacks the downtown flair of Chelsea, the neighborhood where the club opened a decade before, it does have its advantages. Robin Williams,...

The latest film from the Academy Award-nominated team of Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Call Your Mother is a laugh-out-loud love letter to one of the most universally defining figures in all of our lives. (That would be our moms.) Executive produced by Caroline Hirsch, the force behind legendary comedy club Carolines on Broadway and the New York Comedy Festival, the doc airs on Comedy Central on May 10th. Featuring a vast and eclectic array of interviews with famous funny folks — everyone from Awkwafina, to Tig Notaro, to Jim Gaffigan and Jo Koy discuss their mother’s […]...

The latest film from the Academy Award-nominated team of Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Call Your Mother is a laugh-out-loud love letter to one of the most universally defining figures in all of our lives. (That would be our moms.) Executive produced by Caroline Hirsch, the force behind legendary comedy club Carolines on Broadway and the New York Comedy Festival, the doc airs on Comedy Central on May 10th. Featuring a vast and eclectic array of interviews with famous funny folks — everyone from Awkwafina, to Tig Notaro, to Jim Gaffigan and Jo Koy discuss their mother’s […]...

If you forgot to call your mother on International Women’s Day, well, here’s a friendly reminder from Comedy Central.

Well-timed for release this Sunday, the trailer for the Comedy Central documentary “Call Your Mother” has dropped. In this documentary, stand-up comics you know and love — including Roy Wood Jr., Kristen Schaal, Jo Koy, Bridget Everett, Fortune Feimster, Louie Anderson, and many others — celebrate the women who raised them and made them funny. “Call Your Mother” premieres this Mother’s Day, May 10, on Comedy Central. Watch the trailer below.

“Call Your Mother” is directed by documentary stalwarts Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the filmmakers behind “Jesus Camp,” set amid an evangelical Christian summer camp; “Freakonomics: The Movie,” based on the bestselling book; “One of Us,” which chronicles the lives of three ex-Hasidic Jews from Brooklyn; and “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You,” about the famed television writer and producer.

Female leaders across multiple entertainment platforms were honored for their vision and achievements in their respective fields at New York Women in Film & Television's 2019 Muse Awards on Tuesday. And they shared their advice for all women, in every business.

Singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, director Kasi Lemmons, Tribeca Film Festival co-founder and producer Jane Rosenthal, Emmy-winning Handmaid's Tale actress Ann Dowd, writer-creator Shoshannah Stern, New York Comedy Festival founder Caroline Hirsch and Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud were this year's honorees.

"It's extraordinary to be honored by my peers," Rosenthal told The Hollywood Reporter on the red ...

Female leaders across multiple entertainment platforms were honored for their vision and achievements in their respective fields at New York Women in Film & Television's 2019 Muse Awards on Tuesday. And they shared their advice for all women, in every business.

Singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, director Kasi Lemmons, Tribeca Film Festival co-founder and producer Jane Rosenthal, Emmy-winning Handmaid's Tale actress Ann Dowd, writer-creator Shoshannah Stern, New York Comedy Festival founder Caroline Hirsch and Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud were this year's honorees.

"It's extraordinary to be honored by my peers," Rosenthal told The Hollywood Reporter on the red ...

The absence of women among director nominees for the Golden Globes is another example of how much work remains to be done to achieve gender parity in the entertainment industry, honorees said Tuesday night at the 40th annual Muse Awards presented by New York Women in Film and Television.

“Harriet” director Kasi Lemmons, “The Irishman” producer Jane Rosenthal and “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Ann Dowd shared their thoughts about the helming snub as the three were feted for their work.

Upon receiving Nywift’s first-ever and only Career Impact Achievement Award, Rosenthal, the longtime business partner of Robert De Niro, told the crowd, “It’s wonderful to be acknowledged, but you don’t manifest justice or impact with an award. We create impact when we commit to doing something. We must also commit to supporting each other to promote and produce underrepresented voices.”

The org, which aims to improve on...

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart and John Oliver will once again Stand Up for Heroes at the 13th annual event presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival. The evening of comedy and music is set for Monday, November 4 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Raising funds and awareness to support the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Stand Up for Heroes is the annual kick-off of the New York Comedy Festival (Nov. 4-10). This year’s fest will feature more than 200 comedians in more than 100 shows across the city.

In addition to Springsteen, Stewart and Oliver, the Sufh event, starting at 8 p.m., has lined up Ronny Chieng and Hasan Minhaj, along with some surprise guests. The event honors veterans and their families.

“Even after 13 years of Stand Up for Heroes, the event continues to inspire our audience and our nation,” said Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent...

Late night show hosts Trevor Noah and Stephen Colbert as well as Nicole Byer, host of Emmy nominated Netflix baking competition “Nailed It!” are among the list of names set to headline the 2019 New York Comedy Festival.

“Nothing beats being able to perform stand-up comedy in New York to some of the best audiences in the world, and that’s what this festival is,” Noah said. “I can’t wait.” Other headliners of the festival include Vir Das, Kathleen Madigan, Demetri Martin, Bill Maher, Randy Rainbow, Norm McDonald, Jenny Slate, Jay Mewes, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Nate Bargatze, Tom Segura, Kevin Smith, No Such Thing As A Fish, and U Up? Live by Betches Media.

Festival goers can expect pop-up events, panel discussions, radio and podcast broadcasts, film screenings and live improv and sketch comedy at this year’s event, done in partnership with The Female Quotient, a woman-owned and led...

The New York Comedy Festival has announced the lineup of headliners for its 16th annual edition this November, a roster including late-night TV hosts Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher and Trevor Noah.

More than 200 comedians, sketch performers, TV hosts and podcasters will perform in more than 100 shows at various venues across the city.

Other headliners include Nate Bargatze, Nicole Byer, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Vir Das, Kathleen Madigan, Demetri Martin, Norm McDonald, Randy Rainbow, Tom Segura, Benito Skinner, Jenny Slate, Kevin Smith and Jay Mewes, No Such Thing As A Fish, and Betches Media’s U Up? Live. More performers and shows will be announced in the coming months.

The Nycf this year is partnering with The Female Quotient (The Fq), a woman-owned business committed to advancing equality in the workplace. Through the partnership, the Fq will aim to increase female comedic representation both on and off the stage via its signature pop-up experience,...

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart and Seth Meyers lead the all-star lineup for the 2018 Stand Up for Heroes benefit, taking place November 5th at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City and kicking off the New York Comedy Festival.

The lineup also boasts Eric Church, Jim Gaffigan and Jimmy Carr, while additional surprise guests will take the stage as well. Tickets for the show go on sale September 13th at 12 p.m. Est via Ticketmaster, the Bob Woodruff Foundation or the New York Comedy Festival.

Both Stewart...

The 15th annual New York Comedy Festival has revealed the lineup of comedians for the weeklong event that runs Nov. 5-11.

Expanding to seven days this year and featuring over 200 comedians, Nycf will feature headliners including Bill Burr, Jimmy Carr, David Cross, Desus & Mero, Dan Harmon’s Harmontown, Gabriel Iglesias, Jim Jefferies, Anthony Jeselnik, Jo Koy, Bert Kreischer, Marc Maron, and Jason Mewes. Also headlining the fest are Tracy Morgan, Conan O’Brien, Yvonne Orji, Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson’s Throwing Shade, and Jonathan Van Ness and Antoni Porowski. Additional performers and shows will be announced in the coming months.

The comedy festival, presented in partnership with TBS, will also feature programming including podcasts and radio broadcasts, conversations, panel discussions, improv and sketch comedy, film screenings, and art installations.

After presenting the event in 2017, TBS is returning with a new activation — the TBS Stage at Sony Hall. TBS will...