Five Must-See Shows at the 2008 Comedy Festival
If you plan on attending the 2008 Comedy Festival, taking place from November 22 to November 24 in Las Vegas, here are five shows you can't miss (and be sure to check out the complete Comedy Festival schedule).
Though certainly not for all tastes, The Kids in the Hall (Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson) were one of the best things to happen to sketch comedy in the 1990s. The Kids will make a stop at the Comedy Festival during their third North American tour since their show ended in 1995; though not really a reunion, it is a chance to see one of the best sketch comedy troupes of the 1990s translate their material to a live setting.
Though most of the Comedy Festival is made up of big-time acts like Jerry Seinfeld and Dane Cook, I like the fact that up-and-comers are still being showcased. The "Triple Threat" is made up of comedians Jamie Kennedy, Mitch Fatel and Danny Bhoy; though all three are fairly well-known (particularly Kennedy), none are quite up to the superstar status as other fest performers. That fact -- plus the 11:30 p.m. showtime -- ought to give this performance a special kind of energy. There's a good chance that at least one of these guys (I'm thinking Fatel, who does deadpan irony better than almost anyone now that Mitch Hedberg is gone) will be performing in a main time slot some day, so this should be a good chance to catch them "back when."
1. Cheech & Chong: Roasted
Sure, you can probably catch the Cheech & Chong reunion tour in your home town some time in the next year (it's scheduled to continue on into 2009). But the chance to see the duo reunite in the Las Vegas setting and in the surroundings of The Comedy Festival makes this particular performance too good to pass up. I'm not the world's biggest Cheech & Chong fan (or of stoner humor in general), but there's no denying that these two are legends. As such, their appearance at The Comedy Festival is a pretty big deal. If you can't make it to the festival, an edited version of "Roasted" will air on TBS on Sunday, November 30, at 9 p.m. CST.
2. The Kids in the Hall
Though certainly not for all tastes, The Kids in the Hall (Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson) were one of the best things to happen to sketch comedy in the 1990s. The Kids will make a stop at the Comedy Festival during their third North American tour since their show ended in 1995; though not really a reunion, it is a chance to see one of the best sketch comedy troupes of the 1990s translate their material to a live setting.
3. Katt Williams
Hot on the release of his latest stand-up DVD, It's Pimpin' Pimpin', Katt Williams' fast-talking, high-energy performance ought to be a festival standout. Though the comedian has been around for nearly a decade, his popularity has exploded in recent year and he only seems to keep getting bigger. This show may especially be worth checking out because the Comedy Festival isn't showcasing a whole lot of urban comedy this year, and Williams might just be the best there is in that genre these days.
4. Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show
Ellen DeGeneres returns with the second installment of her "Really Big Show" variety show (you can watch footage from her first show here). DeGeneres will attempt to revive the variety format with live music, dancers, comedy and what's referred to in press materials as "specialty acts" (I smell a knife thrower!). What's best about "Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show" is that -- unlike most of the other, more traditional stand-up acts appearing -- it's exclusive to The Comedy Festival. And, like Cheech & Chong's "Roasted," TBS will air "Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show" on Saturday, November 29, at 8 p.m. CST.
5. Triple Threat of Comedy
Though most of the Comedy Festival is made up of big-time acts like Jerry Seinfeld and Dane Cook, I like the fact that up-and-comers are still being showcased. The "Triple Threat" is made up of comedians Jamie Kennedy, Mitch Fatel and Danny Bhoy; though all three are fairly well-known (particularly Kennedy), none are quite up to the superstar status as other fest performers. That fact -- plus the 11:30 p.m. showtime -- ought to give this performance a special kind of energy. There's a good chance that at least one of these guys (I'm thinking Fatel, who does deadpan irony better than almost anyone now that Mitch Hedberg is gone) will be performing in a main time slot some day, so this should be a good chance to catch them "back when."
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