TBS Presents a "Very Funny" Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL
Ellen DeGeneres Takes Center Stage to Present a Variety of Performers Hand-Picked from Around the Globe in ELLEN'S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW
Variety Show Taped on Thursday, Nov. 20, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Premieres on TBS Saturday, Nov. 29
Packed Slate of Fresh Talent Includes Magician Hans Klok, Celebrity Impressionists and Much More
THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a Co-Production with AEG Live, Returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
For Fourth Year Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22
At last year's edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL in Las Vegas, Emmy�-winning comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres wowed the crowd by presenting a super-sized variety show that combined her signature comedic style with a massive collection of performances. This November, she's back with ELLEN'S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW, an all-new showcase of extraordinary performances from around the globe. Taped at THE COMEDY FESTIVAL for a TBS special, the show will feature performers hand-picked by DeGeneres from several countries, including Spain, Russia and Germany. The unique performers and acts, many never before seen on American television, include award-winning magic sensation Hans Klok, celebrity impressionists, dancers, musical acts, comedy skits, to name just a few.
The curtain will rise on ELLEN'S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. (PT), with the show premiering on TBS Saturday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
As host, DeGeneres will also perform her own stand-up comedy. She will also take part in several humorous vignettes, among them a taped segment at the famous Legends in Concert show at the Imperial Palace, where she crashes the celebrity impressionist show as an Ellen impersonator.
"We decided to bring the show back to Vegas because the first act we booked is a 'brother-sister pole act,'" said DeGeneres. "Apparently Vegas is the only place where you can get away with something like that."
ELLEN'S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW is being produced by Telepictures Productions, with Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin and Andy Lassner, whose credits include DeGeneres' Emmy�-winning talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, serving as executive producers. Leading the house band for the show will be Ricky Minor, famous for his musical contributions to American Idol, America's Got Talent, Showtime at the Apollo and Celebrity Duets.
Now in its fourth year, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a co-production with AEG Live, is a three-day event taking place Nov. 20-22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The extensive lineup for the event includes such previously announced performers as Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Dane Cook, Tracy Morgan, Jeff Dunham, Dave Attell, Jamie Kennedy, Mike Epps, David Alan Grier, The Kids in the Hall, Russell Peters, Kate Clinton, Jim Breuer, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Norton and John Oliver. TBS will televise several programs from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including the variety special ELLEN'S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW, presented by DeGeneres; LAFFAPALOOZA!, an evening of performances by top comedians hosted by Tracy Morgan; and CHEECH & CHONG ROASTED, a celebrity-filled skewering of the legendary comedy duo. (A complete list of the previously announced acts is available at thecomedyfestival.com.)
This year, for the first time ever, the excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL will be just one mouse click away. TBS's thecomedyfestival.com Web site will utilize cutting-edge technology to give fans the opportunity to choose from four simultaneous video streams direct from the event.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased for individual shows and packages online at thecomedyfestival.com, by phone at (877) TCF-FEST or in person at the box office at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Exclusive VIP packages are available online or by calling The Colosseum box office at (702) 866-1409. Hotel information can be found at www.caesarspalace.com, while additional festival information and schedule updates is available at thecomedyfestival.com.
About THE COMEDY FESTIVAL
With more than 70 performances and events over a three-day period, THE COMEDY FESTIVAL's goal is to bring together the biggest names and cutting-edge comedy talent in a broad range of programming, from star-level performances and special events to stand-up and sketch comedy. TBS presented three prime-time specials from last year's edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, including Ellen's Really Big Show, Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation and Frank Caliendo: All Over the Place. In addition, last year's event featured performances by Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Past television highlights include a 2006 airing of the 20th anniversary of Comic Relief, starring Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams; A Salute to the Troops and USO, with special guests Kid Rock and Carmen Electra; and 2005's Earth to America, with Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Larry David, Steve Martin and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
About Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is the world's best known resort-casino, celebrating the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, in an 85-acre destination location that sets the standard for entertainment, dining and luxury. Reigning at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace is adding a $1 billion expansion with the new Octavius Tower, a larger pool area and more meeting space to open in mid-2009. The property ranks among the world's top luxury resorts known for their originality and beauty and features 3,348 hotel guest rooms and suites, 24 unique restaurants and cafes, 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods pools and gardens, the 50,000 square foot Qua Baths & Spa and 240,000 square feet of premium meeting and convention space. The 4,300-seat Colosseum spotlights renowned headliner entertainers such as Bette Midler, Cher, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld. The magnificent theatre sits just steps away from celebrity chef restaurants and the acclaimed Forum Shops at Caesars. More information is available at caesarspalace.com or by calling (702) 731-7110 or (800) 634-6001. Journalists can download information and photos at media.harrahs.com.
About AEG Live
AEG Live, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring for a variety of programming and multi-media production. One of the largest concert promotion and touring companies in the world, AEG Live is comprised of special event, broadcast and exhibition divisions and operates and owns numerous state of the art venues nationwide. Current AEG Live tours and productions include Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On and Cher at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; and Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, an international tour of the artifacts of King Tut. Recent and current promoted concert tours include Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Bon Jovi, Hannah Montana, Spice Girls, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney and American Idols Live. AEG Live also co-produces the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Goldenvoice, the company's southern California-based regional promotion division, created and operates the award winning annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Additional information is available at www.aeglive.com.
About TBS
TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top-rated comedy network. It serves as home to such original comedy series as My Boys, The Bill Engvall Show, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, 10 Items or Less and Frank TV; hot contemporary comedies like The Office, My Name is Earl, Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, King of Queens, Seinfeld and Friends; specials like Funniest Commercials of the Year; special events, such as The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas and Just For Laughs: A "Very Funny" Festival in Chicago; blockbuster movies; and hosted movie showcases.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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