Latest news with #standupcomedy
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joy Behar bizarrely begs Sarah Silverman to kiss her at the end of an interview on The View
Joy Behar pleaded with Sarah Silverman to kiss her as they wrapped up the comedian's interview on The View. Stand-up comic and actress Sarah, 54, was a guest on the ABC panel show on Thursday where she promoted her latest Netflix special, PostMortem, which debuted on the platform May 20. But as her appearance came to a close, longstanding panelist Joy, 82, was heard asking the School of Rock star to 'kiss me.' 'It's always fun to see you,' the host remarked seconds before, with Sarah immediately retorting, 'I love seeing you!' Whoopi Goldberg then gently hinted that something was about to come, as she asked, 'You want to do the goodbye?' 'Kiss me,' Joy quietly insisted to Sarah which then prompted her to lean in for a smooch. The live studio audience erupted into applause after the bizarre moment and Sarah smacked her lips together. 'We'll all do it,' she added. Sarah had been in the studio to chat about her recently released stand-up special which she wrote after the death of her father and stepmother, who died just nine days apart from each other in 2023. Speaking to the panel, she said: 'I recorded a special and before this one, the one before that was coming out as my dad and my stepmom were dying, and so when you're finished with a special, you're at zero again with material. 'I had no material so when I went back to stand-up, that's what my life was, you know, so I literally went from, cleaning up their apartment with my sisters all day to the club and then that's what I talked about. 'It was a good jumping off point because I spoke at my dad's funeral. 'We all wore his clothes. T-shirts and shorts and there were stains on everything. 'And, you know, he was so funny that my eulogy was funny. 'I had so many funny stories about him so that's where I kind of started from when I started over.' Filmed at the Beacon Theater in New York, PostMortem, according to the official synopsis, follows Sarah as she 'hilariously navigates the absurdities of death with her signature wit, from unexpectedly finding the deal of a lifetime while planning their funerals to cherishing the bittersweet experience of hearing her mother's last words.' Earlier this month, Sarah shared a shocking revelation her late father Donald told her about how her baby brother, Jeffrey, died. Sarah had always been told that her three-month-old brother, who died before she was born, had 'suffocated' after he slipped through a space between the mattress and the bottom rail of his crib. 'The story was that something happened with the crib, and Jeffrey's little body slid and he got suffocated,' she recalled to Rolling Stone. 'But if you look back, there was never a lawsuit with the crib company or anything,' She claims that prior to his death in 2023, Donald told her that he believed the infant was killed by her 'violent' grandfather — Donald's dad — after he 'shook him in a rage.'
The Review Geek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Forget You Not – Season 1 Episode 1 Recap & Review
Time Is A Butcher's Knife Episode 1 of Forget You Not begins with us at a bustling market, where a little girl loses her father in the crowd. This is Le-le and her father, Kuang-chi, has a habit of putting others ahead of his own daughter. Le-le has always had a tumultuous relationship with her dad, whose whimsy and playful behaviour does not go over well with his daughter – especially on her wedding day when he's late and ends up crashing his bike en-route. Her husband, Chang-kai, does his best to support her while she stalls for time. There's also Lin Chai-yun and Huang su-fei, Le-le's two best friends whom we follow across the season. Furthermore, it's worth noting that Le-le has unresolved trauma with her mother too who left when she was 8. Unfortunately, as she trauma-dumps at the wedding through the medium of stand-up, it doesn't go over well with Kai's parents. Yep, Le-le is a stand-up comedian by trade and her awkward impromptu speech is interrupted by word of her dad, Kuang-chi, being admitted to hospital after falling off his bike. This is apparently a pretty regular occurrence and the mood soon changes though when Le-le finds out that her dad has started to exhibit the first signs of dementia. Le-le shrugs it off as her dad just messing about like always, but she hasn't seen him for 2-3 months so it's hard for her to say for certain. The thing is, she has a bad opinion of her dad, but according to him, he did a lot with her growing up. It's here we cut forward in time, but the show doesn't explicitly tell us this until later in the same scene. Over at Kuang-chi's, she finds the place a complete mess and her father has definitely been forgetting dates and people too. Included within those dates are Chang Kai, whom Le-le is apparently separated from now. Le-le works at the local FamilyMart during the day between gigs, but her comedy work is struggling too. She does a good job segwaying the set into the topic of her getting older, which appears to be the theme of this series ,and it also ends this episode too. The Episode Review Forget You Not shares some similarities with Navillera and other shows of its kind, leaning into the dementia angle and trying to bridge a severed relationship and heal past trauma. This show very much leans into the sentimentality and this father/daughter relationship that looks set to encapsulate this drama. Le-le's stand up comedy works well as a narrative device to bridge the different scenes together, although it's not always clear exactly what timeline we're in, given there are inconsistent scenes stitched together, making it a little difficult to follow the flow of everything. Whether by design to emphasize the confusion of dementia or not though is up for debate. Regardless, everything here is set up nicely for what should be a dramatic and emotionally charged series. Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cat Laughs Comedy Festival visits Belfast and Londonderry
For the first time in its history, Ireland's longest-running comedy festival has come to Northern Ireland. Billed as Ireland's "annual craic pilgrimage", organisers of the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival said it has been "heralding the start of the summer season since 1995".It has previously played host to big names like Bill Murray, Suzy Eddie Izzard, and Tommy Tiernan, and, from now until 26 May, there are 26 shows across Belfast and Karl Spain, who is performing in Belfast, says Northern Ireland is "definitely on the map now for comedy". This year's acts include Colin Murphy, Diona Doherty, Seann Walsh, Deirdre O'Kane and Chris Cook, who founded the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, says he wanted to create something linked to theatre."Cat Laughs is a celebration and an exploration of stand up. It's not a comedy festival, it's a stand-up comedy festival and that's very particular."For Mr Cook, the difference between "comedy" and "stand-up comedy" is an important one. He says that, unlike many other performers, stand-up comedians are immediately aware of the audience's reaction. "If people aren't laughing, it's not working. It can be a very lonely place." Over the last 30 years, acts such as Dara Ó Briain and Kevin Bridges have performed at the when Mr Cook first founded it, he says he had no idea if it would work. "A lot of shows didn't sell. But there was something quite magical about it."Now, the festival is venturing north from its usual venue in Cook says he was "inspired" by County Down comedian Shane Todd's "brilliant" performance at last year's also cites the thriving comedy scene in Northern Ireland as a reason for the festival coming to Northern Ireland."You see the explosion of stand-up comedy [in Northern Ireland]. I thought: 'Why don't we bring comedians from all corners of Ireland to share a stage?'"There's a passion for comedy in Northern Ireland". Comedian Karl Spain says Belfast "feels very exciting"."There's lots happening," he says the comedy scene in Northern Ireland is "growing more and more", with the likes of Colin Geddis, Shane Todd and Paddy McDonnell who are now well established."There are so many now that are really good, and very different," he says."It's going to be the first of many festivals in Belfast. I think it will be a regular thing."Spain says comedy festivals provide an opportunity for up-and-coming performers to "gauge their ability". Spain himself performed on a line-up that included Jimmy Carr, Bill Bailey, and David Cross in the early 2000s."It reassures you that you are on the right path," he admits that the cost of organising comedy festivals is rising year on year but says he organises Cat Laughs "for the love of it". "We're bringing these great comedians together not as a commercial proposition - it's an artistic proposition."
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Johnny Vegas's REAL name revealed as his surprise new career comes to light and the effects of a shock diagnosis
's real name has come to light while he has been busy promoting his unexpected new career. Johnny, 54, is best-known for being a stand-up comedian but has also embarked on a brand new career as a sculptor and antiques shop owner. While promoting his new venture, Johnny's little-known real name has come to light as he referenced his birth-given moniker in a new interview. To fans' surprise, who have long known him only by his stage name, it has emerged that his real name is actually Michael Joseph Pennington. Speaking to Loaded, he described Johnny as his 'alter ego' and said as Michael, he is more 'timid' by nature, revealing he is exploring more of that side of himself in his art. 'I always said I was his agent, his PR person who cleaned up the mess,' he said of himself versus his on-stage persona. 'So now, I'm starting to see more of Michael and getting back into my art.' The stand-up legend also spoke finding out he has ADHD has influenced his successful career. Adults with ADHD may have trouble sticking to tasks, concentrating on work, paying attention to others, and remembering obligations. Discussing being diagnosed two years ago at the age of 52, Johnny was asked whether he thinks his stage persona would still exist without his ADHD. He replied: 'I think he would have, he came from a different place, he was more of a defence mechanism,' as he noted the differences between Johnny and Michael. However, he noted that it has actually helped his art, adding: ' ADHD can be hindering with decision-making, timekeeping, and certain anxieties. 'It works well with art as you're never short of ideas, it's like catching butterflies - which one will I catch next?' Johnny has long fostered a love for art as he graduated with a BA in Art and Ceramics from Middlesex University, and he has now revisited that interest. Johnny launched his debut art show in 2023 with his sculpting and ceramic designs and he has now opened an antiques shop, Vintage Vegas, for a new TV show Johnny launched his debut art show in 2023 with his sculpting and ceramic designs and he has now opened an antiques shop, Vintage Vegas, for a new TV show. The show, which is titled Johnny Vegas' Little Shop Of Antiques and is set to air in July, will follow Johnny as he adds new pieces to his collection. It will see him try to make enough profit to turn his new shop into a permanent business and reveal a completely different side of him. Johnny opened his shop at Dagfields Crafts and Antiques on Saturday, May 10, and Johnny has been promoting his new venture on Instagram. 'Hopefully, see you there, if nothing else, it's as eclectic as it gets,' he teased in a recent video. Johnny launched his art career after collaborating with sculptor Emma Rodgers and his first ever exhibition was revealed at Jersey's gallery Private and Public in August 2023. He most recently sold his ceramics as part of a charity auction held at Christie's as part of London Craft Week, where the identity of the artist is not revealed until after. 'I can't share my piece, as it's 'secret ceramics' where 100 artist have donated work made in clay,' he teased on Instagram. 'The artists' identity is revealed after the work is sold. All the pieces are sold at a fixed price.' WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Richard Bean: The White Lotus is unmitigated garbage
When I was 22 I was working as a personnel officer in a telecoms factory in London and by fluke I started reading a novel in which the narrator was a personnel officer in a telecoms company in New York — that book was Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller. It corrupted me because I went from a psychology graduate pursuing a career in personnel management to five or six years later living in a squat trying to be a stand-up comedian. I drank the Henry Miller Kool-Aid. The White Lotus, the Thailand one. It's terrible. The characters and the storyline don't make sense. It's unmitigated garbage but I'm hooked because they start the bloody thing with a murder, so you have to watch
