http://www.dead-frog.com/news en Todd Jackson Copyright 2009 2009-10-05T17:39:11+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#martins_mix http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#martins_mix Steve Martin: "It’s strange, I just don’t have a reason to do standup... It would always be a blend of banjo at this point, I think." (Rooftop Comedy) If you want to see Steve Martin perform mostly banjo, you can check out his tour dates here. 2009-10-05T17:39:11+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#the_bluth_truth http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#the_bluth_truth A script for an "Arrested Development" movie is in the works and will be penned by creator Mitch Hurwitz and former show co-producer James Vallely. Everybody probably suspected this, but the announcement of the trades makes this little comedy nerd fantasy seem just a little closer to reality. Fingers crossed that work on the movie itself can begin in Spring 2010. (Hollywood Reporter) 2009-10-05T16:21:09+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#david_cross_book_stand-up_tour http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#david_cross_book_stand-up_tour During last night's Daily Show, David Cross announced a stand-up comedy tour to support his upcoming book "I Drink for a Reason." It gives me as good as reason as any to pull back the veil on a project I'm working on for the Stand-Up Comedy Database that will aggregate comedians live performance dates. Check out David Cross' Upcoming Tour Schedule, as of today. More to come. 2009-08-18T20:32:00+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#need_a_goode_home http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#need_a_goode_home The producers of The Goode Family are resolved to find a new network after ABC aired their last episode this weekend. It took a while for them (or me) to get the show's voice. The characters stopped being targets along the way and it's finding that right balance of sympathy/send-up that marked King of the Hill. I'm glad they're not letting this one go. Onward to Adult Swim hopefully, where Comedy Central can poach it a year later. (via TV Squad) 2009-08-10T18:49:23+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#john_hughes_dead_at_59 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#john_hughes_dead_at_59 John Hughes died of a heart attack during his morning walk in Manhattan yesterday. The filmmaker had a pretty solid lock on film comedy for much of the time, writing and directing "Ferris Bueler's Day Off", "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club" and "Planes, Trains & Automobiles." His humor roots began with the National Lampoon, where he penned the story "Vacation '58", which became the basis for the film "National Lampoon's Vacation", which he also wrote. You can read the original "Vacation '58" here. The New York Times obituary is here. 2009-08-07T16:16:44+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#something_funny_in_funny_books http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#something_funny_in_funny_books Comedy Death Ray's Scott Aukerman will bring stand-ups together for a Comedy Death-Ray anthology comic book under the brand new American Original imprint. Among the writers: Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, B.J. Novak, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Scheer and Zach Galifianakis (finally succumbing after riding around with "nerds" during Comedians of Comedy). Premises with promise may get produced as movies/TV for the less nerdy (but probably, considering the talent, culty). 2009-07-27T21:21:35+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#just_for_spite_news http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#just_for_spite_news A new CD from Doug Stanhope is coming this Autumn from Stand-Up Records. Tentative title: "Live from Cape Fear" He's recording it August 11 in Wilmington, NC at Level 5 at City Stage. Tickets available here. 2009-07-25T20:46:58+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#comedy_con http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#comedy_con If you're going to San Diego for Comic Con, here's a couple of panel if you're looking to explore the other meaning of the word "comic." Here's some of the Humor and Satire Panels of Comic Con. Friday:The most unlikely pilot preview in Comic-Con history: Patricia Heaton's family sitcom "The Middle."Plus: Two Funny Frebergs - featuring satirist Stan Freberg and partner in crime (and life) Hunter FrebergSaturday:Panels on Family Guy and a "first look" at the spinoff "The Cleveland Show." Seth MacFarlane will be a part of both.Sunday:Seth MacFarlane finishes his hat trick with nerds with a panel on American Dad.More promising are panels on Indie comedies "Paper Heart" (with Charlyne Yi) and "Mystery Team." 2009-07-22T17:37:19+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#review_pun_prediction_over-drawn http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#review_pun_prediction_over-drawn Comedy Central producing a movie for it's canceled animated series "Drawn Together." The characters of the reality show realize they've been canceled and go on a road trip to win their place back on the airwaves. They're having a panel for "The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!" at Comic-Con in San Diego tomorrow, so during Q&A go for a spoiler and ask if they'll succeed! (Nope. It's going straight to DVD and the "Secret Stash") 2009-07-22T16:33:00+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#ist_sued http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#ist_sued Ayman Abu Aita, who was interviewed and labelled a terrorist in the Brüno movie, is considering legal action. Some of his complaints seems to be more pulled from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's description of meeting him on Letterman, particularly about him carrying a weapon or having a bodyguard. If he does sue, he'll join Richelle Olson, who just readjusted her claim that Cohen assaulted her in the course of making his film. She now only claims "emotional distress." Lawyers eagerly await the stimulus package of Cohen's third reality-based comedy. 2009-07-13T16:42:00+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#sitcom-mitted http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#sitcom-mitted Comedy Central's not dipping, but diving into traditional three camera sitcoms by ordering a untitled effort from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay that will star Jon Heder. The setup sounds a little standard: Heder is an IT guy who returns home to his small town, moving in with his parents and younger brother. The prove will be in the execution of the 10 episodes order. And if it's executed well, like the brilliant "Eastbound and Down", Comedy Central has committed to order 90 more episodes, setting it up for syndication. It's the kind of deal Tyler Perry has made twice with TBS. That's borrowing from Black artists in the age of Obama. 2009-07-09T18:27:51+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#robin_williams_still_standing http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#robin_williams_still_standing Robin Williams will shoot his 5th HBO Special in Washington in November. It'll share the title of his current tour - "Weapons of Self Destruction." HBO has got a quick turnaround on this one - it should air in December of this year. The tour itself is set to resume in September, making up for lost dates after Williams' emergency bypass in March. It'll be interesting to see what new material will spring from that obviously scary event. (Variety) 2009-07-09T16:11:45+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#c_words_from_the_d_list http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#c_words_from_the_d_list Kathy Griffin has been tapped to be the roastmaster for the upcoming Comedy Central roast of Joan Rivers. Here's hoping this is the beginning of a mostly female dais. Not for equality sake, but because Roasts are celebratory. Rivers should be hailed/destroyed by those she blazed a trail for. The Roast will tape June 26 and air on Sunday, August 9th. 2009-07-06T16:09:25+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#ed_mcmahon_dead_at_86 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#ed_mcmahon_dead_at_86 Not necessarily a funny man in and of himself, but a great comic foil to Johnny Carson. Some info on McMahon's life: New York Times Obituary, Los Angeles Times Obituary and here's video of the one time McMahon lived up to all those jokes Carson told about him. 2009-06-23T20:00:17+00:00 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#new_york_comedy_fest_09 http://www.dead-frog.com/news/#new_york_comedy_fest_09 Ricky Gervais, along with Tracy Morgan and Bill Maher, will be among the headliners for this years New York Comedy Festival. Comedy Central will also shoot their 2010 season of Comedy Central Presents during the event as well. The fest will run for November 4th to the 8th and tickets begin going on sale August 5th. 2009-06-22T18:10:12+00:00