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[10/16/08 - 09:55 AM]
Tracy Morgan Hosts All-Star Laffapalooza! Featuring Mark Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford on Saturday, NoV. 22, at the Comedy Festival
The event will be taped for television audiences, premiering on TBS Sunday, November 30 at 11:00/10:00c.

[via press release from TBS]

TBS Presents a "Very Funny" Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL

Tracy Morgan Hosts All-Star LAFFAPALOOZA! Featuring Mark Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford on Saturday, Nov. 22, at THE COMEDY FESTIVAL

Show to be Taped for TBS Special Airing Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT)

THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, Co-Production with AEG Live, Returning to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year to Take Place Thursday, Nov. 20, to Saturday, Nov. 22;

Tickets On Sale Now

Top comedians Mark Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford are set to join host Tracy Morgan for LAFFAPALOOZA!, a comedy showcase taking place Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Palace Ballroom at Caesars Palace. The performance is part of the star-studded weekend line-up as TBS Presents a "Very Funny" Festival: THE COMEDY FESTIVAL.

In addition to the live performance in Las Vegas, LAFFAPALOOZA! will be taped for television audiences, premiering on TBS Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11 p.m. (ET/PT). The special is being executive-produced by Jamie Foxx and Marcus King of Foxx King Entertainment, Stu Schreiberg of Levity Productions and Ron Wilson of LAFFAPALOOZA! Productions.

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, Joan Rivers, Dane Cook, Katt Williams, 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 Morgan; and a celebrity roast of Cheech and Chong. (A complete list of the previously announced acts is attached at the end of this release.)

Since its Atlanta debut more than 15 years ago, LAFFAPALOOZA! has been a launching pad for up-and-coming comedians. Nick Cannon and Mike Epps are among dozens of comedians who came into prominence on the LAFFAPALOOZA! stage. Sheryl Underwood, Earthquake, Corey Holcomb and Lavell Crawford are all alumni of the LAFFAPALOOZA! platform. This marks the first year that LAFFAPALOOZA! is part of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL. It is also the first LAFFAPALOOZA! special being taped for TBS.

Tracy Morgan can currently be seen as wild and unpredictable movie star Tracy Jordan in the Emmy-winning NBC sitcom 30 Rock. A standup comic who headlines across the country, Morgan first caught the attention of television audiences as Hustleman on the hit comedy series Martin. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1996, appearing for seven seasons and creating such memorable characters as Astronaut Jones and Brian Fellows. He went on to star in his own comedy series and on Crank Yankers. His film credits include First Sunday, The Longest Yard, Little Man, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Head of State.

Actor/comedian Mark Curry is best known as a star of the ABC sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. His countless other television and film credits include his own Comedy Central stand-up special, three years of hosting duties on Showtime at the Apollo and a starring role in the movie The Fanatics. Curry is currently performing to sold-out crowds across the country and encouraging students to stay off drugs and follow their dreams.

Sheryl Underwood is currently heard on The Sheryl Underwood Show on Sirius Radio's Foxxhole and makes frequent appearances on The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Her television credits include Oh Drama!, Holla!, The View, Politically Incorrect, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Chelsea Lately, Def Comedy Jam, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Nikki. She has also co-starred in the films Beauty Shop, Bulworth and I Got the Hook Up. She performs in comedy clubs and comedy festivals across the country. This past December, the Air Force veteran showed her support for the troops by performing in the USO Tour.

Earthquake (aka Nathaniel Stroman) has headlined the Crown Royal Comedy Soul Fest, the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and he toured with the Latham Entertainment Presents Comedy Tour. He takes center stage in the DVD It's About Got Damm Time and has appeared on such television shows as Comedy Central Presents: Earthquake!, Everybody Hates Chris, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Orlando Jones Show, The Dennis Miller Show, Comic View, Premium Blend, The List and MadTV. He also opened Atlanta's Uptown Comedy Corner and Earthquake's Comedy Corner II and co-starred in the films Getting Played, Clerks 2 and The Long Shots

Corey Holcomb is one the most engaging and appealing acts in comedy. He has taken top honors at the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search, Budweiser Comedy Competition, Chicago Home Jam and LAFFAPALOOZA! He has appeared at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the Chicago Comedy Festival. His film and television credits include Like Mike, Half & Half, The Tonight Show, Late Friday, MADtv, Premium Blend, Def Comedy Jam, It's Showtime at the Apollo and Comic View.

Lavell Crawford has appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, The Jamie Foxx Show, Steve Harvey's Big Time, Motown Live, Showtime at the Apollo, BET's Comic View and Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam. His films include Baby Mama Drama, Beverlyhood and Ghetto South Problems. On stage, he has appeared at numerous comedy festivals and acted in such hit plays as Men Cry in the Dark and Friends and Lovers. He is currently touring nationally and recently released his own comedy DVD, Takin' a Fat Break.

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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