comedian

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Golden Girl Bea Arthur Dead at 86

TV legend made a career out of playing acerbic heroines

(Newser) - Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows Maude and The Golden Girls, died today at age of 86. Arthur, who had cancer, died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family at her side. “...

Murray's Lousy Shot Knocks Fan Over

(Newser) - Gail DiMaggio got a much better look at Bill Murray then she bargained for. Competing in a pro-am tournament in Florida yesterday, the comedian hooked a shot so badly that he hit and knocked over DiMaggio—who was watching from her own yard. Murray rushed to the woman, being tended...

George Lopez Lands TBS Talk Show

(Newser) - Comedian George Lopez will hit the late-night airwaves later this year with a TBS talk show, Variety reports. The 11pm gabfest will begin airing in November, Mondays through Thursdays. The still nameless show will follow the regular late-night mold, with celebrity guests, stand-up comedians, and musical performances. Lopez himself will...

Williams' Heart Surgery a Success: Docs

(Newser) - Surgery last week on actor Robin Williams’ heart “went extremely well,” doctors said today. The 3½-hour procedure corrected an irregular rhythm and replaced a valve, People reports. “A couple hours after surgery, he was entertaining the medical team and making us all laugh,” said the...

Jacko Wants Apology for IRA Joke

Singer wants apology for 'disgusting slur'

(Newser) - Michael Jackson was “appalled” after BBC comedians compared him to the IRA, and he wants an apology, the Mirror reports. Just days after three IRA-related murders, the comedians noted that both Jacko and the terrorist organization are “80s celebrities” making a surprise comeback. “To compare him to...

Colbert Vies to Be Namesake of NASA Module

But Joss Whedon's devoted nerd army may spoil comedian's plans

(Newser) - Again proving that his love for self-promotion knows no bounds, Stephen Colbert is urging fans to vote for his write-in suggestion for the name of the new observation deck attachment to the International Space Station, Space.com reports. In two days, Colbert nation has pushed his name to the top...

Williams Needs Heart Surgery
 Williams Needs Heart Surgery 
Mar 5, 2009 4:20 PM CST

Williams Needs Heart Surgery

(Newser) - Robin Williams will soon undergo heart surgery, People reports. The 57-year-old entertainer, who needs a new aortic valve, has canceled performances of his one-man show until at least the fall. He entered a Florida hospital this week short of breath. "I'm so touched by everyone's support and well wishes,...

Williams Hospitalized With Heart Problems

(Newser) - Robin Williams' health troubles may be more serious than thought. The 57-year-old entertainer is in a Florida hospital with heart problems, the Miami Herald reports. Yesterday, Williams canceled four shows in Florida after citing shortness of breath, but he planned to be back on tour March 11. Sources, however, tell...

Williams Scraps Shows, Short of Breath

After being short of breath, comedian cancels 4 shows

(Newser) - Robin Williams is taking a break from his one-man whirlwind comedy tour after suffering from shortness of breath, CNN reports. Williams, 57, covered 11 cities in the last 3 weeks and has been performing sold-out shows since September. The funnyman rescheduled four Florida performances of Weapons of Self-Destruction and plans...

Seinfeld Returns to NBC With 'Marriage Ref' Reality Show

Comedian sees something funny about marriage

(Newser) - Jerry Seinfeld is returning to network TV after an 11-year-break with a show mining marriages for comedy gold, Variety reports. The comedian is the creator and executive producer of the upcoming NBC reality series The Marriage Ref, which will feature opinionated celebs giving lighthearted marriage advice to couples going through...

Sykes to Roast Obama at Press Dinner

(Newser) - Wanda Sykes has been tapped to roast Barack Obama at this year’s White House Correspondents' Dinner on May 9. The lesbian comic will likely skewer the President’s anti-gay-marriage stance, but she has some skeletons of her own, the Los Angeles Times reports. After hearing about the engagement, “...

Harry Stirs Up New Race Row
 Harry Stirs Up New Race Row 
Feb 11, 2009 8:19 AM CST

Harry Stirs Up New Race Row

Prince in hot water again for telling comedian he 'didn't sound black'

(Newser) - Prince Harry is facing fresh accusations of racial insensitivity after telling a black comedian "You don't sound like a black chap," reports the Daily Telegraph. Stephen Amos says the prince made the quip when they met after a comedy show for Prince Charles' 60th birthday. "I wanted...

R-Rated Razz Lands Griffin in Hot Water

CNN red-faced after off-color reply to heckler goes out live

(Newser) - CNN may not be asking Kathy Griffin to host another New Year's Eve special after her ribald reply to a heckler made its way onto live TV, the New York Post reports. "Screw you!" the comedian, who says she thought she was off-air at the time, yelled at...

Dane Cook's Bro Busted for Embezzling

Funnyman's brother-manager accused of skimming millions

(Newser) - Comedian Dane Cook's half-brother and manager has been arrested and charged with stealing millions from the entertainer, the Boston Globe reports. On one occasion, Darryl McCauley—who has managed his younger brother's business affairs since the early '90s—forged Cook's signature on a $3 million check and deposited it into...

Fey Is AP's Entertainer of the Year

30 Rock star and Palin impersonator beats out Downey, Ledger

(Newser) - Tina Fey is the entertainer of the year? You betcha. Fey was voted the AP's Entertainer of the Year, an annual honor chosen by newspaper editors and broadcast producers across the country. Fey was selected by AP members as the performer who had the greatest impact on culture and entertainment...

How Comedy Turned Serious
 How Comedy Turned Serious 
ANALYSIS
Nov 29, 2008 7:53 AM CST

How Comedy Turned Serious

A funny thing happened on the way to the election—politics and comedy swapped roles

(Newser) - Politics and comedy are trading places, Lee Siegel writes in the Wall Street Journal, as the antics of politicians get more outlandish and comics are increasingly the people speaking truth to power. Fake newsmen like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, with their stern commentary, lean more towards the "dark,...

Iman Crosson for Prez... on SNL: Bloggers

Should he be Fred Armisen's replacement?

(Newser) - The race to find a new comedian to impersonate president-elect Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live continues, reports ABC News, and bloggers such as Andrew Sullivan and Anovelista have the man for the job. Meet Iman Crosson, whose Obama imitations can be found on his YouTube AlphaCat channel.

Silverman Will Get $2.5M for Book

(Newser) - Funny girl Sarah Silverman will be paid $2.5 million by HarperCollins to write a collection of comic essays, the New York Observer reports.The bankable big- and small-screen star set off a spirited bidding war among publishers, though she will fall short of the reported $6 million that fellow...

SNL Addresses Estrogen Deficit
SNL Addresses
Estrogen Deficit
Nov 12, 2008 5:34 PM CST

SNL Addresses Estrogen Deficit

Eccentric additions to bring youthful energy

(Newser) - The election cycle is over, along with Tina Fey's impersonations of Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler's run on Saturday Night Live. Lorne Michaels has plucked two young female comediennes to help fill the gap, the Comic's Comic reports. Abby Elliott, the daughter of eccentric funnyman Chris Elliott, and Michaela Watkins...

Obama Brings Radical Change —for Black Comedians

Hope infuses acts built on raging at system

(Newser) - The 2008 election was a game-changer for many facets of US society, and not least for black comedians, the LA Times reports. Many have made careers out of lampooning and railing against a system that seems stacked against them. “Now, there’s this self-made black man, and they don’...

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