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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’...

Denis Leary: Autistic Kids Are 'Just Stupid'

Comedian's caustic book says disorder is all in parents' heads

(Newser) - Denis Leary is not a sensitive man. His new book, Why We Suck, seems bound to offend people, the New York Post reports, particularly autistic people. Leary asserts that autism is booming because parents “want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically,” so they...

Jimmy, Sarah May Be on Again
 Jimmy, Sarah May Be on Again 
Oct 8, 2008 10:26 AM CDT

Jimmy, Sarah May Be on Again

Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman dating again

(Newser) - Funny couple Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman are back together, People reports. The pair, who ended their 5-year relationship in July, have been going on touchy-feely dates, leaving an LA restaurant holding hands and getting cozy during pal Howard Stern’s wedding last week.  "They're taking it slow,...

Alanis Ex Cops to Making Mess, Inspiring Song

Full House star confirms rumors that he 'oughta know'

(Newser) - Comedian Dave Coulier says he is indeed the target of Alanis Morissette's angry 1990s hit "You Oughta Know." The two had a nasty breakup at the time, but Coulier denied the rumors that he was the creator "of the mess that you made when you went away"...

Kimmel, Silverman Split Up
 Kimmel, Silverman Split Up 
Jul 14, 2008 5:15 PM CDT

Kimmel, Silverman Split Up

No comment from Damon, Affleck

(Newser) - After 5 years together, Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have broken up, reps for the newly minted ex-couple confirmed to Vanity Fair today. "Jimmy and Sarah have and will have no further comment," said a joint statement. Confessions of involvement with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck apparently didn't...

Bernie Mac's Act Too Salty for Obama

Comedian earns rebuke for his racy jokes at fundraiser

(Newser) - Bernie Mac landed in hot water for making off-color jokes about women while introducing Barack Obama at a Chicago fundraiser yesterday, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. His last quip—which had the word "ho's" in it—drew complaints from a heckler. When Obama came on, he chided the comedian playfully....

The Real Joke May Be on Minn. Voters
The Real Joke
May Be on
Minn. Voters
Opinion
Jul 7, 2008 11:03 AM CDT

The Real Joke May Be on Minn. Voters

If they don't learn to laugh, they'll reelect the inoffensive hack

(Newser) - Voters always say they’d rather support “real people” than “professional politicians.” But Al Franken is having trouble in Minnesota precisely because he hasn’t spent his life reading a political script, Michael Kinsley writes in the Washington Post. Instead, he told jokes for a living—jokes...

Murray's Divorce Settled in a Flash

After allegations from both sides a month ago, comedian's wife gets custody, houses

(Newser) - Gossip hounds hoping for acrimonious divorce proceedings for Bill Murray aren't getting their wish, TMZ reports. The actor's divorce has already been settled, with papers signed June 13. Wife Jennifer Butler Murray, 42, gets custody of the four kids; Bill, 57, will have to pay child support. Jennifer, who also...

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