New York Comedy Festival

The New York Times; Arts Beat; Culture News and Views

August 12, 2009

By Dave Itzkoff

If a certain presidential election distracted you last November from the New York Comedy Festival, you have no excuse for missing out this year, especially now that all the nation’s political disputes have been completely resolved. On Wednesday, the festival’s organizers announced the lineup for this year’s festival, which will run from Nov. 4 through 8, and it’s a formidable crop: Andy Samberg, the “Saturday Night Live” star; the sometime film actor Dane Cook; the “Howard Stern Show” regular (and “Joe Buck Live” hijacker) Artie Lange; as well as Patton Oswalt, Mike Birbiglia, Bill Burr and Mike Epps have been added to the bill. They join the previously announced headliners Ricky Gervais (who performs on Nov. 5 at Carnegie Hall), Tracy Morgan (Nov. 6 at Carnegie Hall) and Bill Maher (Nov. 8 at Avery Fisher Hall). More than 150 comedians are expected to perform over the course of the festival; panel discussions at the Paley Center for Media are also planned, with those lineups still to be announced.

USAToday.com

Updated 6/17/2009 at 4:33 PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Ricky Gervais, Tracy Morgan and Bill Maher will headline the sixth annual New York Comedy Festival.

Organizers announced Wednesday that Gervais and Morgan will perform at Carnegie Hall and Maher will play Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Specific dates for the performances weren't announced; the festival will be held Nov. 4-8.

Gervais said that it was an honor to headline the festival and to play Carnegie Hall, which he noted was near his apartment.

Said Gervais: “I can walk to work. I won't walk, obviously. I'll take a limo. But I could walk if I had to.”

More performers will later be announced for the festival, which expects to showcase more than 150 comedians.