Originally posted by Matt with The Laugh Button:

Comedian Vic Henley passed away April 6, 2020. While reports are sparse right now, what’s known right now is the comedian was hospitalized this weekend after suffering a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in the lung). In the days since, many attempts by doctors to improve the comedian’s condition were unsuccessful and at 3:55pm the comedian passed away.

Many know Henley from his years in the stand-up business working the road with many established an emerging comedians all over the nation. A lot of his most recent work came in the world surrounding SiriusXM and radio personalities Opie & Anthony and most recently working on with Opie Radio show/podcast where Henley was a regular with comedian Sherrod Small and celebrity chef, Carl Ruiz (who also passed away earlier this year). In fact once the rumblings of Vic’s death started to rumble. Greg “Opie” Hughes shared an image of Ruiz and Henley with the phrase “no words”.

Henley began his stand-up career in the 80s, starting in Phoenix, AZ with other local comics like David Spade. Henley made his way to NYC in 1985 working clubs around the city honing his “city-billy” brand of comedy about topical pop culture and politics. He’s earn appearances on Comedy Central, VJ work on VH1, late night sets, and appeared on Star Search. He also got to work on Sacha Baron Cohen’s prank movie Bruno and penned a book with Jeff Foxworthy and served as Ron White’s opening act for many years. Almost immediately after news of Henley’s passing, a flood tributes were made to Henley who was beloved by other comedians.

It's hard to come up with words when there is so much loss going on right now...But @VicHenley was a comic and a friend and his family should know that he will be sorely missed by many in the NY comedy scene. pic.twitter.com/Cct0wjpY6W

— Dave Attell (@attell) April 7, 2020

For my pal @VicHenley .... pic.twitter.com/K4JsOfdqX0

— Tammy Pescatelli (@TammyPescatelli) April 6, 2020

Very sad news about @VicHenley. He was loved and universally respected by other comics. RIP

— Jim Norton (@JimNorton) April 7, 2020

If you have a relationship with a higher being, be it God, Buddha, Allah, etc... please say a prayer for @VicHenley Great dude, Great comic, Great friendhttps://t.co/u1qHtXqVIG

— Tom Cotter (@TomCotterComic) April 6, 2020

No words

REST IN PEACE OLD FRIEND!!!!

The Comedy Zone / Comedy Zone Worldwide / ECE

Marc Maron, Patton Oswalt, Adam Sandler, Nikki Glaser, Bob Saget, Bill Burr, Ken Jeong, Bill Burr, Ray Romano, Amanda Seales, Adam Pally, Craig Robinson, Jeff Ross, The Sklar Bros, Brian Posehn, Roy Wood Jr., Bobby Lee, Al Madrigal, Cameron Esposito, Kevin Pollak, Joel Kim Booster, Kurt Braunohler, Tom Green, Kyle Kinane, the “How Did This Get Made?” crew (Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, June Diane Raphael) and more are taking part in virtual comedy benefit called Laugh Aid that happens Saturday, April 4 at 7 PM Eastern. The gist:  “Today’s biggest names in comedy are safely at home and ready to help their fellow comedians who have lost gigs and income due to the coronavirus. It’s a great night, for a great cause, under not so great conditions.”

Specifically, it’s raising money for the Comedy Gives Back COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund:

While many people can work from home, this is not an option for comics. If you’ve had gigs canceled due to this pandemic, we’re here to help.

The intent of this fund is to provide approved applicants with a one-time grant to minimize financial hardships caused by COVID-19. These modest grants are meant to give immediate relief to stand-up comics who have lost gigs and income due to recent shutdowns.

You can watch Comedy Gives Back online via Twitch, YouTube, the Laugh Lounge and on cable via Comedy Central. Check out the announced Laugh Aid lineup below:

LAUGH AID LINEUP
Marc Maron
Nikki Glaser
Adam Sandler
Howie Mandel
Patton Oswalt
Ken Jeong
Bill Burr
Ray Romano
Bob Saget
Amanda Seales
Adam Pally
Jamie Denbo
Jessica Kirson
Bert Kreischer
Angelah Johnson
Craig Robinson
Jo Koy
Dane Cook
Jeff Ross
Dave Attell
Tom Papa
Andrea Savage
The Sklar Bros
Brian Posehn
Roy Wood Jr.
Bobby Lee
Al Madrigal
Cameron Esposito
Kevin Pollak
Joel Kim Booster
Preacher Lawson
Nate Bargatze
Kurt Braunohler
Tom Green
Kyle Kinane
Gina Yashere
Big Jay Oakerson
Dan Soder
Iliza Shlesinger
Anthony Jeselnik
Ron Funches
Daniel Sloss
How Did This Get Made

New details about the launch of HBO Max adds even more stand up comedy to its pre-launch roster. Tuesday, executives from HBO Max announced that the platform will be producing original stand up comedy hours with Tracy Morgan’s star power leading off the list. John Early, a powerhouse in all forms of comedy performance is next on the announce. Rose Matafeo and Ahir Shah round out the list.

Tracy Morgan’s last hour special “Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive” was released in 2017 and covered his comeback after his devastating car crash. This new hour will be his fourth. Early is best known for his co-starring role in the ensemble dark comedy “Search Party”, his 30 minute sketch special as part of “Netflix: The Characters”, a memorable turn on “Drunk History” and appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” This will be Early’s first hour special.

Matafeo is already set to star in Startstruck, a scripted comedy series already given the green light for HBO Max. Her stand up and sketch show was a smash hit in 2018 at Eidenburgh, where she won best show. Shah is currently touring.

These four newly announced hours come in addition to the previously announced Conan O’Brien presents specials which will include two showcase style hours hosted by Conan and two additional hours spotlighting comedians O’Brien selects and a fifth hour with comedian James Veitch.

No release dates have been announced for the four stand up hours.

Aside from stand up, HBO Max is fully committed to a big comedy presence. When the platform debuts in 2020, its offerings will include South Park (new episodes within 24 hours of debuting on Comedy Central, and a full archive), all Rick and Morty episodes, episodes of Friends, Big Bang Theory, Ellen’s Game of Games,
Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Impractical Jokers, CNN’s The History of Comedy, and W. Kamau Bell’s United Shades of America as well as new cartoons and classic cartoons from Warner Brothers properties Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, and Hanna Barbara, a hybrid animated and live action comedy called Tooned Out.

There will also be original series and movies in the genre– Mindy Kaling’s College Girls, Elizabeth Banks high school super hero DC prequel, and an Issa Rae comedy.

With (near) death comes (mandated by the network) rebirth, which is exactly what Zach Galifianakis has to deal with in Netflix’s upcoming Between Two Ferns: The Movie, thanks to his pal Matthew McConaughey almost ruining their very serious, very consequential interview by drowning via sprinkler system. Zach’s boss (Will Ferrell) goes into damage-control mode by forcing him to travel across the country with his posse to get ten more episodes, thus birthing a carousel of very game (if not wildly confused) celebrity interviewees, including Keanu Reeves, Paul Rudd, “hot idiot” Jon Hamm, David Letterman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tiffany Haddish, and a ready-to-cheat Chrissy Teigen. It premieres September 20 on Netflix.

Published by  Interrobang Staff

Comedy Central announced the return of Crank Yankers will take place at 10:30pm on September 21st immediately following the premiere of South Park.

The new trailer has some great characters old and new. It looks like Sarah Silverman’s Hadassah will be back. Tracy Morgan’s “Spoonie Luv” is returning, and Tony Barbieri is bringing back “Niles Standish.” Jimmy Kimmel is bringing back “Elmer Higgins” and Elmer’s grandson “Terrence Catheter”. “Mr Birchum” is back with Adam Carolla voicing, David Alan Grier is bringing back “The Truth”, and although we see no signs that the un-PC Special Ed will be be a part of the new season, (we’re still hoping), we are excited to see Ed’s cousin, Bobby Fletcher, also voiced by Jim Florentine will be a part of the new season.

Also lending voices to Season Five: Arturo Castro, Will Forte, Nikki Glaser, Kathy Griffin, Tiffany Haddish, Lil Rel Howery, Abbi Jacobson, Nick Kroll, Natasha Leggero,
Thomas Lennon, Demetri Martin, Bobby Moynihan, Kevin Nealon, Adam Pally, Chelsea Peretti, Aubrey Plaza, Jeff Ross, Paul Scheer, Iliza Shlesinger, Jimmy O. Yang, Derek Waters and Many More

Comedy Central has ordered 20 episodes of the beloved series, and they say they’re not really messing with the format. This will be Jimmy Kimmel’s first project for his
newly formed production banner KIMMELOT. Jonathan Kimmel will serve as showrunner and executive producer, joined by executive producers/creators Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla and Daniel Kellison.

Yaaaaaaaaaay!

Originally posted by: https://thelaughbutton.com/author/matt/

HIRE/BOOK any of these acts with Comedy Zone Worldwide! 

Amazon is taking a deep dive into the world of stand-up comedy. In addition to grabbing Jim Gaffigan to be the tip of their stand-up spear, they also announced that they’ll drop 4 specials all on the same day, Friday August 23rd.

The comics dropping specials include Alonzo Bodden, #IMomSoHard, Alice Wetterlund and Mike E. Winfield and will be exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Here are the special descriptions hot from the company’s press release:
Alonzo Bodden Heavy Lightweight: Bodden isn’t afraid to talk about everything: from topics like slavery to cell phones, the #MeToo Movement to millennials, Kanye to Taco Bell and a little bit about Israel too. A regular panel member on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, Bodden has been making audiences around the country laugh for more than 20 years. Since his win on NBCʼs Last Comic Standing, he has starred in two comedy specials for Showtime: Historically Incorrect and Who’s Paying Attention, and has made appearances on series including ABC’s Dr. Ken and Fresh Off the Boat, Dr. Phil, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Last year, he released his fifth comedy CD titled Man Overboard, and currently hosts the podcast Who’s Paying Attention? Produced by Comedy Dynamics and directed by Devon Shepard. Executive Producers include Cisco Henson, Ian Arougheti and Brian Volk-Weiss.

#IMomSoHardLIVE: Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley of the viral web series #IMOMSOHARD, filmed live at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, WI. The two share their honest and self-effacing humor on topics ranging from friendship, periods, sex after marriage, body image and their failures at parenting. Combining stand-up, improvisation, the audience’s own purses, and wine, the high-energy show unites their almost entirely female audience in a collective sigh of relief and uproarious laughter, because, hey: You’re not in this alone, ladies. Jen and Kristin will be your best friends, because you need friends to survive motherhood. #IMOMSOHARD has 2 million followers and over 200 million views across all platforms. Hensley and Smedley’s book, #IMomSoHard (HarperCollins) was released in April 2019 and has hit The New York Times’ Best Sellers List. They have recently embarked on their third nationwide stand-up tour. Produced by Comedy Dynamics, directed by Brian Volk-Weiss, and executive produced by Cisco Henson.

Alice Wetterlund My Mama Is A Human and So Am I: Wetterlund’s first stand-up special. Follow the comedian/actor as she recounts her struggles with peeping toms, cat-rearing, alcoholism and the secret alien conspiracy behind New Country music in her breakout comedy special. Best known for her scene-stealing roles in HBO’s Silicon Valley and the comedy ensemble film Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Wetterlund shines in this tour de force hour-long special taped at the Gothic Theater in Denver, CO. Produced by Comedy Dynamics and directed by Brian Volk-Weiss. Cisco Henson, Olivia Gerke, and Michael Rotenberg serve as Executive Producers.

Mike E. Winfield StepMan: the newest special from the stand-up comedian, actor, creator and rising star. He can be seen in the Netflix comedy special Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo and the feature film Pimp alongside Keke Palmer. It announced earlier this year that Winfield beat out over 1,600 comedians to win the NBC Annual Stand-Up Comedy Competition. Produced by Comedy Dynamics and directed by Brian Volk-Weiss. Executive Producers are Cisco Henson and TJ Markwalter.

Mark your calendars for August 23rd.

Watch the trailer for the new season of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee”

A new trailer for the next batch of comedians to get in cars with Jerry Seinfeld and get coffee is here. The Netflix series will return for another round (we don’t even know what season we’re on at this point because of how the show runs) of trips to the coffee shops with Seinfeld and some vintage cars. This trip contains some great comic minds including Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais (who returns), and some others like Matthew Broderick, Martin Short, Bridget Everett, Martin Short, Jamie Foxx, Sebastian Maniscalco, Mario Joyner, Melissa Villaseñor and more. Perhaps the most interesting guest of this entire season could be Eddie Murphy, the two appear to have a great conversation that definitely partly takes place at the Improv. Which means Murphy is close to a stand-up comedy stage, and that should make all comedy fans out there smile at least a little bit.

The new batch of shows premieres on Netflix on July 19th.

Jim Gaffigan’s New Hour Will Become Amazon Prime’s First Original Stand Up Special on August 16

Published by  Interrobang Staff 

Jim Gaffigan is continually putting out killer hour specials, and it seems like he is determined to use his gigantic audience to break in new platforms every time he does it. Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime, coming to all Prime subscribers for free on Friday August 16th.

JG: QT is Amazon Studio’s first original stand up hour.

In Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time, using his signature everyman humor to deal with the unthinkable, four-time Grammy Best Comedy Album nominee Gaffigan proves why The Wall Street Journal has anointed him the “King of Clean comedy.” Quality Time was directed by comedy and life partner Jeannie Gaffigan, and executive produced by Brian Volk-Weiss and Cisco Henson of Comedy Dynamics, with Alex Murray of Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Quality Time is distributed and produced by Comedy Dynamics.

Quality Time is Gaffigan’s seventh original stand up special. He recorded the hour at the State Theater in Minneapolis in March during a five show sold out run.

Gaffigan’s last hour was the first to be distributed via a mass multi-VOD platform release. Before that he worked with Netflix for several specials, and has also recorded hours for DVD release, for web release and for Comedy Central. His last four have all been nominated for Grammy awards, and were all in partnership with Comedy Dynamics, proving that it doesn’t really matter how he releases his specials. His audience will find him.

Since giving up his critically beloved show, The Jim Gaffigan Show to make time for other projects, Gaffigan has been making good use of his time. Besides releasing his seventh hour special in fifteen years, Gaffigan has ten films releasing in 2019, three of which premiered at Sundance this year, including Amazon Studios’ Troop Zero (Viola Davis and Alison Janney), Them That Follow (Olivia Coleman) and Light From Light (Marin Ireland). Gaffigan is running parallel careers, one as a standup comedian, and one as an actor who is quickly on the rise – all while raising five young kids and helping his wife recover from a brain tumor. Fans and haters also follow Gaffigan’s weekly rants on CBS This Morning taking down such sacred cows as craft beer, and ridiculous cheeseburgers.

Prime members can stream the stand-up special exclusively via the Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online. Members can also download the special to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. The special is a global release and available on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Prime Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.

Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura are best friends in real life. For anyone that follows them in their podcasting or social life knows they’re already competing against each other in ridiculous challenges like exercise and weight loss. The two are fans of the First We Feast web series, “Hot Ones” and have appeared on the show separately over the years. This week, just for fun the duo just appeared on Hot Ones’ “Truth or Dab” competition where they played a round of truth or dare where they had to spill their darkest secrets (truth) or eat an extremely hot wing (dare).

Comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura—a.k.a., Burnt Chrysler and Drip Daddy Dollaz—have two simple choices in this Hot Ones spinoff: Tell the truth, or suffer the pain of the Last Dab. Watch as host Sean Evans drills the comedy BFFs with high-stakes questions about everything from comics who crib jokes, to which standup had the worst Netflix special of the year. The only way to escape the truth is to eat an incredibly spicy wing.

NBC to Air Comedy Competition Series ‘Bring the Funny’