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Comedy VIDEO: Triumph ‘The Insult Comic Dog’ Covers Presidential Debate, GOP Spin Room

by on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 3:28 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, comedy, Election 2012, Politics

Conan O’Brien’s furry correspondent Triumph takes GOP scalps at the final 2012 Presidential Debate:

WATCH:

WATCH: Ricky Gervais’ Controversial 2011 Golden Globes Monologue

by on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 12:03 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, comedy

Ricky Gervais was absolutely hysterical Sunday night as host of the 2011 Golden Globe Awards!

Granted, he pushed the envelope in terms of appropriateness, but come on now — seriously! — isn’t that what all of us are secretly hoping for from any major award event’s comic MC?  Without a Ricky Gervais or Chris Rock or someone who’s going to shake the evening up a bit, the event always evolves into something resembling a slow death — an unmemorable, uneventful fizzle.

Chelsea Handler hosted the Mtv Awards recently, and it was obvious that she deliberately toned it down — played it conservatively.  I had to switch the channel after about 10 minutes.  Boring!  More often than not, these comics rose to stardom, because they wouldn’t allow their shtick to be roped into some old Hollywood magnate’s idea of “wholesome & uncontroversial” etiquette.

Now, I don’t enjoy seeing blatant cruelty directed at anyone, but look at who he singled out for a spirited ribbing: Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, Hugh Hefner, and some unnamed Scientology stars.  And he pummeled Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie’s latest film, The Tourist.  None of them strike me as the kinds who will lose sleep from being joked on by a stand-up comic, like Gervais.

It’s been reported that members of the Hollywood Foreign Press reacted as if his jokes destroyed the entire evening.  I’m guessing they’ll soon discover that this year’s Golden Globes will be the most talked about event of the month.  And if they were wise enough to bring Gervais back next year, the event would likely garner twice the ratings it did this year — on Gervais’ presence alone.

But that appears unlikely to happen.

Gervais apparently got in the most trouble for making fun of Philip Berk, the current head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).  Another member was quoted as saying to PopEater:

“Ricky will not be invited back to host the show next year, for sure,” a member of the HFPA tells me, adding that Gervais’ relentlessly mean shtick could have even larger consequences. “For sure any movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. He humiliated the organization last night and went too far with several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain.”

I doubt Ricky Gervais is worried.  His stock has risen considerably after this performance.

WATCH his beginning monologue:

UPDATE:

Ricky Gervais responds to his critics.

WATCH: New Ricky Gervais Appearance On Conan O’Brien

by on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 12:40 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, comedy

Ricky Gervais — one of the funniest comics around — appeared on Conan O’Brien last Thursday to discuss his upcoming gig hosting the Golden Globe Awards.  He also has a new one-off HBO special “Talking Funny” with fellow comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, and Louis CK.

Here’s the entire interview, for your pleasure:

ENJOY!

WATCH: Funny David Sedaris Interview With Jon Stewart

by on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:23 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Books, comedy, Writing

Here’s a very funny Daily Show clip with Grammy Award-nominated comedian/author David Sedaris — promoting his new book, “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.”  Sedaris’s joke at the end of the interview is hilarious! ENJOY! The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c David Sedaris www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire […]