All posts tagged: comedy

S7, Ep 2: Joanne McNally, comedian and podcaster | Life and style

S7, Ep 2: Joanne McNally, comedian and podcaster | Life and style

Published by skeptic

Joining Grace this week is one of Ireland’s most acclaimed comics and host of the award-winning podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Joanne McNally. With a number of sell-out shows and tour dates in the US later this year, they discuss how Joanne uses comedy to process difficult periods in her life, how her mum is her favourite cocktail buddy, and what exactly she stole to get herself kicked out of the Scouts. Hot off her stint on the latest series of Taskmaster, and with an upcoming show at the Edinburgh festival fringe, the real question is: what is the banger of a sandwich Joanne McNally turns to whenever she’s shut off from the outside world and has a rare moment of peace? How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Divine comedies: the best jokes for the Pope | Comedy films

Divine comedies: the best jokes for the Pope | Comedy films

Published by skeptic

A hundred top comedians are generally considered a tough crowd, but Pope Francis had them rolling in the aisles at the Vatican on Friday, with jovial praise for their profession. To “laugh at God” was fine, he explained, in the same way “we play and joke with the people we love”. “While communication today often generates conflict,” the pontiff continued, “you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities. How much we need to learn from you!” The church has been the source of a great deal of humour over the ages – not all of it welcomed at the time by believers. Here we look at some of the most successful comedies for Pope Francis – and his disciples – to contemplate. Life of Brian All study of religious irreverence must begin with Monty Python’s satire about Brian (Graham Chapman), born to Mandy (Terry Jones), in the stable next door to Jesus – prompting considerable confusion. Now considered one of the finest films ever made, it was banned for blasphemy in 1979 …

S7, Ep 1: Katherine Ryan, comedian and writer | Life and style

S7, Ep 1: Katherine Ryan, comedian and writer | Life and style

Published by skeptic

Katherine Ryan joins Grace this week to share her favourite comfort foods. The Canadian comedian, writer, presenter and actor is best known for her deliciously wicked comedy, delivered with a side dish of couture. Katherine shares memories from her past, including her father’s attempts to bring Indian food to Canada via Ireland, her difficult early days in London as a single parent trying to makes ends meet, and the deep fried delights on offer at her first place of work: Hooters. Now, Katherine has had two Netflix Comedy specials, and is a regular on the UK panel show circuit. But the question is – what is fuelling her funny? How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Stephen Merchant on his ‘preposterous’ trajectory; the trouble with the Zoe nutrition app; and when does drinking become a problem? – podcast | Life and style

Stephen Merchant on his ‘preposterous’ trajectory; the trouble with the Zoe nutrition app; and when does drinking become a problem? – podcast | Life and style

Published by skeptic

Comedian, writer and actor Stephen Merchant on standup, fame and the pressures of cancel culture; testing the ‘world-leading science’ claims behind the Zoe nutrition app; and the point when writer Harriet Tyce realised she didn’t want to be remembered only as a drinker How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

F1 Racing Comedy From Silicon Valley’s Alec Berg in the Works at Hulu

F1 Racing Comedy From Silicon Valley’s Alec Berg in the Works at Hulu

Published by Sam

Alec Berg and Adam Countee are moving from Silicon Valley to the world of F1. Hulu is teaming with the duo for Downforce, a comedy that has been picked up to pilot at the Disney-run streamer. Described as Entourage set in the world of Formula 1 racing, Downforce follows what happens when the heiress to a dynastic racing team is thrust back into the family business and the hard choices she must make about the future of the team and her family’s legacy.  Berg and Countee will write and serve as showrunners on the potential series, which is produced by ABC Signature. Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey will exec produce alongside Berg, Countee, Aussie F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo and Amy Solomon. The latter serves as head of development for Berg’s ABC Signature-based production company after working with the writer-producer on Barry and Silicon Valley. Ricciardo’s involvement as an exec producer will also lend added credibility to the show and likely assist with marketing to the F1 base. Downforce marks the first sale to …

Cate Blanchett to Play Alien Invader in Zellner Brothers’ Comedy

Cate Blanchett to Play Alien Invader in Zellner Brothers’ Comedy

Published by Sam

Cate Blanchett has signed on to star in Alpha Gang, the new comedy from David and Nathan Zellner, the sibling duo behind wacky Sundance entry Sasquatch Sunset. The two-time Oscar winner is set to star as Alpha One, the leader of an alien gang sent on a mission to conquer Earth. She arrives disguised in human form together with her fellow extraterrestrials, posing as an armed and dangerous 1950’s leather-clad biker gang. But their ruthless plan is disrupted when the gang catches “the most toxic, contagious human disease of all: emotion.” David and Nathan Zellner will direct Alpha Gang as well as produce. Blanchett and Coco Francini are also on board as producers, through their Dirty Films outfit. Other producers include Ryan Zacarias for Fat City, and Gina Gammell for Felix Culpa. The film is set to being shooting this fall. “The Zellner brother’s work never fails to surprise and delight us,” said Blanchett and Francini in a joint statement. “In Alpha Gang, they have created a far-out world in order to lampoon something much …

Dawn of the Big Yin: rediscovered film shows Billy Connolly on the road to comedy glory | Comedy

Dawn of the Big Yin: rediscovered film shows Billy Connolly on the road to comedy glory | Comedy

Published by skeptic

In an age where our every selfie, photogenic breakfast and “thing I’m ashamed to admit” is preserved eternally online, it’s a shock to recall that actual art was once disposable – and prone to getting lost. Big Banana Feet, a documentary chronicling the Irish leg of Billy Connolly’s 1975 UK tour, was consigned more or less to oblivion when its distributor later went bust, and director Murray Grigor left his own personal copy with a friend in the US, never to be seen again. Until now: the film was rediscovered four years ago in an archive at the University of California, and is being re-released by the BFI in a lovingly restored print. It’s quite the time capsule, with its endless fag-smoking and a backstage sequence – oh, the glamour! – featuring Belfast tea ladies and their slow-pouring pot of tea. It’s also an absorbing portrait of Britain’s most influential comic as he teeters on the brink of megastardom. Inspired, says Grigor, by DA Pennebaker’s film of Bob Dylan’s 1965 UK tour, Don’t Look Back, …

Reba McEntire Comedy Happy’s Place Coming to NBC

Reba McEntire Comedy Happy’s Place Coming to NBC

Published by Sam

Ahead of next week’s upfront presentation to Madison Avenue ad buyers, NBC has solidified its comedy lineup for the 2024-25 broadcast season. The network has handed out a series order to the multicamera comedy Happy’s Place, starring Reba McEntire, and renewed George Lopez’s half-hour Lopez vs. Lopez for a third season. Additionally, NBC has canceled rookie comedy Extended Family, starring Jon Cryer. Happy’s Place, which was picked up to pilot in late January, revolves around Bobbie (McEntire), who inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had. The series reunites McEntire with the team behind her eponymous 2001 sitcom, including showrunner Kevin Abbott, and co-star Melissa Peterman. Belissa Escobedo, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn round out the cast of the series, which is produced in-house at Universal Television. Exec producers include Abbott, Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis, Julie Abbott and McEntire. Lopez vs. Lopez, also produced in-house at Universal TV, recently wrapped its second season and …