Tag Archives: comedians

Conan O’Brien to Star in Las Vegas Revue on May 1?

The recently deposed “Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien has apparently lined up his first Las Vegas headliner gig. 

O’Brien, who took over Jay Leno’s spot last June only to lose it to him in January, has apparently a May 1 engagement at The Pearl, the Palms’ concert venue. 

But he’s reportedly still bound to his NBC contract, which paid him $45 million to walk away. His exit agreement with NBC reportedly prohibits him from any form of TV until September, when he is allowed to launch his own show. According to reports that surfaced after his departure from NBC, where he was a late-night host since 1993, he’s not even allowed to give interviews. 

But as a way to get around that, keep his name out there and interact with his fans, his people have been talking about some sort of national tour for the past few weeks. 

According to rumblings, he’s poised to use his new Twitter account, possibly to circumvent the contract language. 

Look for his announcement any day that his national tour will include a stop in Las Vegas. It will be called a revue because it will be a mix of music and comedy.

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Lily Tomlin Survives Fast Pace of Entertainment – and Prospers – after 70 years

Lily Tomlin is 70 years old.  But don’t tell her that.   Heavens, no!  For the past five decades, since her days performing on the Rowan and Martin sketch comedy TV show Laugh-In, she has been cracking up audiences without missing a beat, winning as an actress and comedian Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award’s galore. LilyTomlin

Starting today and running though November 14, Tomlin will be performing live at the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

The aging funny gal says she’s “a little more flexible now,” adding “I think people got used to me.  I play casinos all over the place, and it’s no different than any other place.” 

Tomlin’s forte is her extended monologue, sticking with a character long enough to really sell it and not worrying about gaps between punch lines. 

Whether she’s costumed as Ernestine, the brassy switchboard operator, pictured, or playing Edith Ann, the little naïve girl that never seems to grow up, her performances are always riveting, as they are entertaining.

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Turn Out the Lights on the Las Vegas’ Comedy Festival

Count one more event as a victim of the weakened economy.  After four years of bringing laughs and more laughs ad finitum to Las Vegas, The Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace will be “taking the year off.” lasvegascomedyfestivaldanecooke

Since the 2005 kick off of the hugely popular Las Vegas Comedy Festival, comedians including Dane Cook, right, Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle and many more have brought marquis value to festival tickets.  But the profit vs. cost profile and dipping economy imperatives have led TBS and AEG to opt out of the event, at least for 2009. 

In its media release TBS stated:  “This year, because of the uncertain economic climate, TBS has decided not to stage The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas.  TBS remains committed to the festival business, however.  We plan to be back in Las Vegas in the near future.” 

Caesar’s stage will not be going dark, by any stretch of the imagination.  Current Coliseum draw Cher will be performing during the festival’s normal November weekend.  And those comedy fans that just can’t wait a year to return to Las Vegas for their comedy fix can consider heading to Chicago, Illinois for the TBS sponsored “Just for Laughs” festival in June 2010.

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Comic Judy Tenuta in Las Vegas

Grammy nominated comic, author, and producer Judy Tenuta, named the best female comedian at the AmericanJudyTenuta Comedy Awards and star of her own many specials on HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime is now gracing the Harmon Theatre stage in Las Vegas with her unequalled ribald humor this Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

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Michael Jackson Acts in Las Vegas Get Tribute Style Facelifts

Michael Jackson’s death has caused Las Vegas impressionists and comedians to scurry and quickly alter their acts, turning satirical scenes into sincere tributes. TerryFator3

Mirage headliner Terry Fator said he would cut a segment where he dresses up as Jackson and asks a cowboy puppet named Walter for country music lessons, where the cowboy is a little wary of the superstar. 

Golden Nugget headliner Gordie Brown is changing his Jackson impression of the “Billie Jean” song that has a parody of jokes about the singer having body parts fall off after too much plastic surgery. 

“American Superstars,” which features Frederick Henry performing at the Stratosphere, is looking for a way to pay a serious tribute to Jackson. 

Carrot Top’s publicist, Steve Flynn, said the Luxor comedian’s crew has already started editing the show-closing rock sequence which features Jackson’s music.  The comedian has removed all jokes that made fun of Jackson, but kept in a moment where he strikes a Jackson pose in front of an industrial fan, repositioning it as a tribute.

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Robin Williams’ Comedy Featured at CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas

Robin Williams is always a tough act to follow.  But at the 11th annual CineVegas film festival in Las Vegas from June 10 through 15 at the Palms Casino & Hotel he’ll be the last act. robinwilliams

His dark comedy “World’s Greatest Dad” directed by Bobcat Goldthwait will close the six-day film extravaganza.  The film features Williams as a high school poetry teacher trying to connect with his teenage son (Darryl Sabara) and an art teacher (Alexis Gilmore) – until a freak accident triggers both tragedy and opportunity. 

The very popular annual Las Vegas festival features a “Pioneer Documentaries” section featuring seven non-fiction films including the world premier of the poker documentary “All In.” 

“Diamond Discoveries” section spotlights new independent films available for distribution, among them “Palermo Shooting,” starring CineVegas chair Dennis Hopper, and “Vegas:  Based on a True Story,” about a compulsive gambler and his blue-collar family living on the outskirts of Glitter City. 

The festival’s “Area 52” is devoted to midnight showings of underground and cult films. 

A special section will also spotlight features and shorts produced in Nevada, or by Nevada filmmakers, including the world premiere of “Thor at the Bus Stop,” which follows a mythical creature on his final journey. 

More information is online at www.CineVegas.com

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Comedian Bob Newhart to Receive NAB Award in Las Vegas

Droll comedian/actor Bob Newhart will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show Television Luncheon on April 20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. bobnewhart

Newhart is being recognized for his contributions to entertainment which span comedy albums, two highly successful television series and several movies and guest appearances.   The award will be given to Newhart by NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr.

Past NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame television inductees include Bob Barker, Regis Philbin, The Tonight Show, and Star Trek. 

The NAB Show will be April 18 through 23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Hilton.  Exhibits will begin on April 20.  NAB Show information:  http://www.nabshow.com/2009/eventInfo/default.asp

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Penn & Teller, Harrah’s Entertainment Give Back to Las Vegas

Comedy-magic duo Penn & Teller will present Goodwill of Southern Nevada with hundreds of men’s and women’s business suits that were collected throughout the Harrah’s Entertainment properties. The event starts at 11 a.m.  April 15 at the Penn & Teller box office in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. pennandteller

The event’s purpose is to raise awareness of Harrah’s Entertainment’s ‘Giving Back to the Community’ resource fair that focuses on professional and personal development on Thursday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  at the Rio Pavillion Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. 

Workshops and presentations planned for April 16 include opportunities to improve skills in job searching, health and wellness, nutrition, and create awareness of financial and community resources available.  Highlights include resume review, interview practice and feedback, free mammograms, health screenings and dental checks, healthy cooking demos and more than 30 organizations that provide services to Las Vegas. 

Both events are free and open to the public.

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Jerry Lewis Has A Love Child?

jerrylewisDNA test results, according to United Press International, recently revealed that Suzan Minoret, also known as Susan Lewis, and Jerry Lewis’ oldest son, Gary, share a very rare DNA marker that indicates with an 88.7 percent probability that they are half brother and sister- and iconic comedy legend Jerry Lewis is indeed their biological father.

 

Jerry Lewis, a longtime Las Vegas resident, has never confirmed or denied that Susan is his daughter. 

 

Asked for comment, the comedy and film star’s spokeswoman, Candi Cazau, said, “Mr. Lewis has no comment – period.”

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Las Vegas’ Newest Headliner: Terry Fator at The Mirage

Terry Fator, 43, has come a long way.   The “America’s Got Talent” impressionist, singer, comedian, and ventriloquist went on from winning that competition in 2007 to land a five-year, $100 million deal The Mirage in Las Vegas, with an option for an additional five years.  terryfator1

“When I won Talent, my wife and I were broke,” says Fator, who has a new autobiography, “Who’s the Dummy Now.”  “Now I have to convince her that she doesn’t have to buy shoes at discount stores.”

Fator is the newest headliner at The Mirage.  His performances start today, Saturday, February 14, at the helm of the 1,265-seat Terry Fator Theatre (formerly the Danny Gans Theatre) for five shows a week.

Fator’s show is family-friendly and features a cast of seven puppets, including Cowboy Walter, Emma Taylor and Winston the Impersonating Turtle. Combining ventriloquism and impersonation, Fator performs the singing styles of an eclectic group of stars including Elvis, Maroon Five, James Blunt, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie.

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