Tag Archives: Tig Notaro

Pope Francis to Bring Together Comedians From Around the World for Special Vatican Gathering

Posted on by
Reply

Pope Francis is embracing the funny…

The 87-year-old Argentine head of the Catholic Church, bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State is set to meet with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock and other comedians from around the world on Friday for a special meeting.

Pope FrancisAccording to the Vatican’s news site, the meeting “promises to be a moment of meaningful intercultural dialogue and sharing of joy and hope.”

Those on the guest list also include Jim Gaffigan, Whoopi Goldberg, Tig Notaro and Conan O’Brien.

Also on the list of James Martin, the Jesuit priest who was dubbed the chaplain of The Colbert Report.

Other comedians from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland and Italy will be in attendance.

In total, more than 100 guests are on the list for the papal audience.

Ian Hislop and Stephen Merchant are guests from the UK.

The Vatican noted that in an interview with an Italian TV channel, the pope said that he “prays daily in the words of St. Thomas More, asking the Lord to grant him a sense of humor.”

The meeting was organized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication, and will take place at the Apostolic Palace.

The Vatican wants to “celebrate the beauty of human diversity” and “promote a message of peace, love and solidarity,” per the Vatican’s news site.

Jimmy Smits to Take Part in This Year’s Stand Up To Cancer SU2C Fundraising Special

Posted on by
Reply

Jimmy Smits is taking a stand (up)…

The 68-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor will take part in this year’s Stand Up To Cancer SU2C fundraising special that’s set to air on Saturday, August 19 at 8:00 pm ET.

Jimmy SmitsIn addition to Smits, best known for his roles on L.A. Law, NYPD Blue and The West Wing, other celebrities making a special appearance during the show include Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric, Danai Gurira, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Maria Menounos, Julianne Moore, Tig Notaro, Eric Stonestreet and Justin Timberlake.

A special montage of comedic skits from past shows will feature Jack Black, Ben Falcone, Zach Galifianakis, Brad Garrett, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy, and Matthew McConaughey.

The televised special will also feature past musical performances from the likes of Brittany Howard, Simone Ledward Boseman, and The Who.

The one-hour televised celebration entitled “How It Started, How It’s Going” will recognize SU2C’s impact and progress over the last 15 years.

“We started this movement in 2008 to save lives and it is remarkable to see that in 15 years our scientists have accomplished this goal through breakthrough research that intercepts and treats cancer in ways we never thought possible,” said Katie Couric, SU2C co-founder. “There is more work to do to cure cancer and every dollar counts; we will not stop until we make every cancer patient a long-term survivor.”

The biennial special will air simultaneously on more than 50 participating media platforms across the United States and Canada, including all four major broadcast networks in the U.S. Broadcasters carrying the show are donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free prime time. The telecast will also be available on-demand on several streaming platforms.

“Our telecast is a powerful tribute that demonstrates the importance of standing together to save lives,” said Russell Chew, president and CEO of SU2C. “Everyone plays a critical role in this goal, and we are so grateful for the support of the entertainment community, the broadcast networks, our generous donors, and the incredible researchers who work tirelessly to develop new cancer treatments.” Chew added, “100% of public donations to SU2C support innovative cancer research and vital awareness programs.”

Selena Gomez Wins HCA TV Awards Trophy for “Only Murders in the Building”

Posted on by
Reply

Selena Gomez is the critics’ choice…

The Hollywood Critics Association has revealed the winners in its streaming edition of the two-night HCA TV Awards, with the 30-year-old Mexican American actress taking home a prize.

Selena GomezGomez was named Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy for her performance in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

Tig Notaro served as the presenter during the streaming awards ceremony.

Here’s list of streaming winners:

Best Streaming Docuseries or Non-Fiction Series
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy (Hulu)

Best International Series
Squid Game (Netflix)

Best Comedy or Standup Special
Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special (Netflix)

Best Streaming Documentary Television Movie
Lucy & Desi (Prime Video)

Best Animated Short Form Series
Love, Death + Robots (Netflix)

Best Short Form Live-Action Series
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Netflix)

Best Streaming Reality Show or Competition Series
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Prime Video)

Best Streaming Animated Series or TV Movie
Arcane (Netflix)

Best Streaming Variety Sketch Series, Talk Series, or Special
The Kids in the Hall (Prime Video)

Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks “The One, The Only” (HBO Max)

Best Writing in a Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Movie
Danny Strong, Dopesick “The People vs Purdue Pharma” (Hulu)

Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Drama
Dan Erickson, Severance “The We We Are” (Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks (HBO Max)

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick (Hulu)

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama
John Turturro, Severance (Apple TV+)

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama
Sadie Sink, Stranger Things (Netflix)

Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Lucia Aniello, Hacks “There Will Be Blood” (HBO Max)

Best Directing in a Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Movie
Lake Bell, Pam & Tommy “The Master Beta” (Hulu)

Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Drama
Ben Stiller, Severance “The We We Are” (Apple TV+)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama
*Tie* Britt Lower, Severance (Apple TV+)
Laura Linney, Ozark (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout (Hulu)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game (Netflix)

Best Actor in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Michael Keaton, Dopesick (Hulu)

Best Streaming Movie
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney+)

Best Streaming Series, Drama
Severance (Apple TV+)

Best Streaming Series, Comedy
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Best Streaming Limited or Anthology Series
Dopesick (Hulu)

Special Honorary Awards
Spotlight Award – As We See It
Legacy Award – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Among the Real-Life Heroes Celebrated in DC Comics’ “Wonder Women of History” Graphic Novel Anthology

Posted on by
Reply

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is getting illustrated…

DC Comics has unveiled the new young adult graphic novel anthology Wonder Women of History, which celebrates real-life heroes, including the 30-year-old Bronx-born Puerto Rican politician who currently serving as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ocasio-Cortez, or simply AOC, as she’s known, drew national recognition when she won the Democratic Party‘s primary election for New York’s 14th congressional district in June 2018, defeating Democratic Caucus chair Joe Crowley, a 10-term incumbent, in what was widely seen as the biggest upset victory in the 2018 midterm election primaries. She defeated Republican opponent Anthony Pappas in the November general election.

Taking office at age 29, Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress. She has been noted for her substantial social media presence relative to her fellow members of Congress

Female and non-binary writers and artists tell 17 stories of those “who take up Wonder Woman‘s iconic mantle” in their respective fields of science, sports, entertainment, politics, social justice and more, according to the DC Comics blog. 

New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson edited the collection after recently writing the original graphic novel Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed.

In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Wonder Women of History also spotlights singer-actress Janelle Monáe, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Iskwew Air CEO and Founder Teara Fraser, LGBTQ+ rights activist Edith Windsor, transgender activist and Stonewall uprising figure Marsha P. Johnson, Parkland shooting survivor and gun control advocate Emma Gonzalez, disability rights activist Judith Heumann, NASA‘s first Hispanic female astronaut Ellen Ochoa, deputy director of Wuhan Institute of Virology and China’s “Bat Woman” Dr. Shi Zhengli, 23-time Grand Slam winning tennis player Serena Williams, stand-up comic Tig Notaro, actress Keiko Agena, and the first African American gymnast to win an individual Olympic medal Dominique Dawes.

The graphic novel will officially hit bookstore shelves everywhere on December 1. The anthology will also include portraits of illustrators Weshoyot Alvitre, Colleen Doran, Agnes Garbowska, Bex Glendining, Ashley A. Woods, and Safiya Zerrougui.

Wonder Women of History is already available for pre-order here.

Armisen to Participate in Comedy Central & Superfly’s “Colossal Clusterfest”

Posted on by
Reply

Fred Armisen is preparing for a colossal cluster…

The 50-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor/comedian will take part in Colossal Clusterfest, Comedy Central and Superfly’s comedy event.

Fred Armisen

It’s slated to run June 2-4 at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, culminating with a live Comedy Central special.

Colossal Clusterfest aims to do for the icons of Millennial comedy what Burning Man and Bonnaroo have done for music and other contemporary art happenings: Bring folks together for a paid communal experience featuring a wide range of programming, tons of food and ancillary experiences that will promote diversity and, not coincidentally, their brands.

In addition to Armisen, the inaugural lineup includes Sarah Silverman & Friends, Ice Cube, Hannibal Buress, Tig Notaro, Pete Davidson, Natasha Leggero, Tegan and Sara, Chromeo, Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, Bob Odenkirk, Vince Staples, Chris Hardwick, Reggie Watts, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Princess featuring Maya Rudolph, and Gretchen Lieberum. The full lineup is available at http://www.clusterfest.com.

“For a long time we’ve been really looking at the festival space,” Comedy Central president Kent Alterman said, discussing plans for the event at Superfly’s Midtown New York office. “It’s a great opportunity to connect directly with our fans and utilize the talent that is part of the fabric of what we do on a daily basis.

“We’ve had experience with comedy festivals in different regards – those festivals are always very fractured experiences that are all over town,” Alterman added. “Several years ago we got to know these guys at Superfly by going to Bonnaroo [and] Outside Lands, and those festivals are just complete holistic experiences that bring people together, where everything is happening in this almost communal atmosphere.”

The festival includes interactive attractions featuring three iconic comedy shows: Comedy Central’s South Park, FXX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Seinfeld. It will also incorporate musical performances and collaborations between musicians and comedians across five indoor and outdoor stages.

“Music is in our DNA,” said Superfly co-founder Jonathan Mayers. “And we’ve always had comedy as an ingredient at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands.” Mayers said that San Francisco was chosen as the site of the new festival because of Superfly’s decade-long experience presenting Outside Lands in the city’s Golden Gate Park.

On June 4, as the festival comes to a close, Comedy Central will present a live 90-minute on-air special hosted by @midnight’s Chris Hardwick and will feature a team of on-the-ground comedian correspondents, taped performances, collaborations, highlights, interviews and behind-the- scenes segments from the Colossal Clusterfest weekend, as well as live wrap-arounds from the last day.

“Comedy has become such a huge part of the Millennial audience lives, in terms of how they identify themselves,” Alterman said. “In our generation growing up it was all about music…comedy over the last decade or so overtook music.”

Gonzaga to Star in “Still Punching The Clown”

Posted on by
Reply

Ginger Gonzaga is ready to clown around…

The Latina actress will star in Still Punching The Clown, the sequel to Punching The Clown, which won the prize for Best Narrative Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Ginger Gonzaga

Henry Phillips returns to star in the sequel, which he again co-wrote with director Gregori Viens.

Still Punching The Clown follows Phillips’ misadventures as a stand-up comic attempting to make a name for himself amid myriad trials and tribulations as he tries to balance success with artistic integrity.

In addition to Gonzaga, who last starred in the television series Mixology, Still Punching The Clown also stars J.K. Simmons, Sarah Silverman, Mike Judge, Jim Jefferies, Derek Waters, Ellen Ratner and stand-up comedians Tig Notaro, Nikki Glaser and Doug Stanhope.

Gonzaga’s other credits include television appearances on Anger Management, Growing Up Fisher and The Millers. She also starred in the film Ted.