Addie Morfoot ContributorGeorge Carlin’s enduring comedic legacy inspired Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio to make HBO’s upcoming documentary about the counterculture icon, whose observations remain eerily topical nearly 14 years after his death.Carlin, who appeared on “The Tonight Show” more than 130 times during his lengthy career, riffed about abortion, the planet, police brutality and organized religion in his stand-up sets and also appeared in movies such as “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” His legendary 1972 routine “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” is still regularly invoked in media circles.“We were always so surprised that anytime something happened in the news, George would start trending,” says Apatow, who co-directed “George Carlin’s American Dream” with Bonfiglio, a frequent collaborator. “Most comedians’ material ages really badly, but his work was so deep — and he also liked to talk about the big picture — that it just gets better with age.
Second City To Offer Asian American Pacific Islander Fellowship In Improv Comedy
02.05.2022 - 14:17 / deadline.com
The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret. It has since grown to become the world’s most influential name in improv comedy, boasting such prominent alumni as John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Eugene Levy, and many more.
Now, the Chicago troupe is giving back with its Victor Wong Fellowship for AAPI Voices in Comedy, a first-of-its-kind workshop funded by Peng Zhao, CEO of Citadel Securities, and his wife, Cherry Chen.
The fellowship will annually provide 16 Fellows with a tuition-free master program in improvisational comedy.
California native Victor Wong (1927-2001) moved to Chicago in the 1950s to study theology at the University of Chicago. He joined The Second City at the encouragement of his close friend and famed theater academic, Viola Spolin. A fixture in the San Francisco Beat Scene of the 1950s and ‘60s alongside Jack Kerouc and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Wong’s acting credits included roles in the films Th e Joy Luck Club,The Last Emperor, Big Trouble in Little China, The Three Ninjas series, and The Golden Child.
Beginning this fall, 16 fellows a year will be selected through auditions and granted a ten-week program in improvisational comedy taught by The Second City’s instructors and directors. The fellows will also have access to the theater’s executive creative team and alumni, including AAPI mentors.
Following the training, the fellows will present a mix of their original comedy, improvisational games, and classic scenes from The Second City archives in a showcase event on a Second City stage in Chicago.
“Beyond professional success on stage and screen, the skills of improvisation are a kind of super-power for life,” said
Watch TWICE perform ‘The Feels’ live on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’
TWICE recently appeared in-person on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform their hit English single ‘The Feels’.On the May 18 broadcast of the late-night American talk show, host Stephen Colbert ushered the nine-member girl group with a brief introduction, before TWICE kickstarted their performance of ‘The Feels’.The girl group utilised much of the talk show’s set during their performance, making use of Colbert’s desk and more to showcase the song’s choreography throughout their performance. Moreover, TWICE also changed up the instrumental for the live version of ‘The Feels’, adding an extra set of horns for the song’s final chorus.Their live appearance on The Late Show marked TWICE’s in-person television debut in the United States.
Trevor Noah And Minka Kelly Are ‘Over’ – Again!
Another couple bites the dust!
Florida Residents Refile Lawsuit Against Gov Ron DeSantis Over Disney’s Special Tax District
last week threw out the suit less than a week after it was initially filed. The same group of plaintiffs and legal teams has now refiled the suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit state court in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The move was expected.
Naomi Judd Remembered at Emotional ‘Celebration’ by Wynonna and Ashley, Brandi Carlile, Bono, Oprah, Emmylou Harris and Others
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticOne of pop culture’s most famous mother figures got a sendoff from her community at the Mother Church of country music Sunday, as Wynonna and Ashley Judd welcomed country stars and other celebrities to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for “Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration,” a tribute that was broadcast live on CMT.A frequently heaven-looking Wynonna, who with her late mother was half of the country duo the Judds, sang “River of Time” early in the ceremony, then closed it joined by her local Christ Church choir for what was the pair’s final hit, “Love Will Build a Bridge.” She also participated in a recreation of the mother/daughter harmonies by pairing up with Brandi Carlile for a duet of “The Rose,” preceded by a video testimonial by Bette Midler. Pure magic on stage tonight ✨ @Wynonna @brandicarlile pic.twitter.com/5XmUe8EdGA— CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022“It’s so strange to be here, but natural at the same time,” said Wynonna.
Chris Rock Jokes About The Infamous Will Smith Slap Yet AGAIN!
Chris Rock pulled out yet another joke about The Slap at the Oscars from Will Smith!
Naomi Judd memorial: Robin Roberts to host with appearances by Oprah, Bono, Morgan Freeman and others
Editor's note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Naomi Judd will be honored with a memorial presented by CMT on May 15 at 5 p.m.
Simu Liu Receives IMDb’s STARmeter Award And Celebrates Asian Heritage Month
On Tuesday, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” actor Simu Liu was presented with IMDb’s “Fan Favourite” STARmeter Award.
‘Game of Thrones’ Stuntperson Sues Over Battle of Winterfell Injury
Variety.The lawsuit, which was originally filed in January 2021, names Fire & Blood Productions, an HBO-owned subsidiary based in London. HBO did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Rapper Dumbfoundead Launches Production Company Focused on Asian American Artists (EXCLUSIVE)
Wilson Chapman editorRapper Jon Park, better known by his stage name Dumbfoundead, has launched new production company Big Dummie.Big Dummie Productions was created in association with global music and entertainment company Transparent Arts. The company will focus on producing projects from and starring Asian American artists, and shares its name with a Peacock comedy series about Park’s life, which has been in development since 2020.“The name ‘Big Dummie’ was inspired by my journey as a young creator thrown into an unfamiliar industry and learning by swimming with the sharks,” Park said in a statement.
‘Unit 234’, ‘The Bayou’, ‘Flying Shadow’, ‘A Haitian Wedding’, ‘Shoulder Dance’ Castings; HBO Max’s Asian Pacific American Visionaries Finalists; Acquisitions By Gravitas, Freestyle; More – Film Briefs
EXCLUSIVE: James DuMont (The Righteous Gemstones), Christopher James Baker (Ozark), Manny Galan (City on a Hill), Juvian Marquez (Power Book II: Ghost) and Anirudh Pisharody (9-1-1) will round out the cast of the thriller Unit 234, from director Andy Tennant, which is currently in production in the Cayman Islands. The quintet will star alongside previously announced cast members including Isabelle Fuhrman, Don Johnson and Jack Huston.
HBO’s George Carlin Doc Gets May Premiere Date, First Trailer (Video)
HBO’s Original two-part documentary “George Carlin’s American Dream” will debut later this month.Directed by Judd Apatow (“The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling”) and Michael Bonfiglio (“May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers”), the doc will air on HBO on back-to-back nights, with Part 1 premiering on Friday, May 20 at 8:00-9:55 p.m. ET/PT, followed by on Saturday, May 21, at the same time.Both episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max beginning Friday, May 20.
Bill Gates Would ‘Marry Melinda All Over Again’ Despite Divorce: I ‘Highly Recommend Marriage’
No regrets here. Bill Gates isn’t so sure he’d say “I do” again, but he knows marrying Melinda French Gates was the right decision despite their divorce.
I went to Stockport's newest kebab shop and the feast I got for just over £10 could feed three people
They say you can judge how good a restaurant is by how busy it is. So if the punters queuing down the street outside Leve Bakery on a Thursday lunchtime are anything to go by, Stockport's newest kebab house is off to a flying start.
HBO Max Launches Asian American Pacific Islander Voices Collection to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month
Angelique Jackson In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month, HBO Max is launching a special collection dedicated to AAPI stories.Starting May 1, HBO Max will spotlight its Asan American and Pacific Islander Voices Collection, with hours of curated programming including its Max Originals like “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” “Tokyo Vice,” “Take Out With Lisa Ling” and “House of Ho.” The collection also boasts hit movies including “In the Mood for Love,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Aquaman” and “Bend It Like Beckham;” as well as Warner Bros. streaming exclusive “Moonshot.” Plus, it will highlight anime and other global animation with a dedicated page that includes content from Studio Ghibli.
CAPE Unveils 2022 Class Of New Writers Fellowship Program, Celebrating A Decade Of Bolstering AAPI Representation
The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) celebrates the tenth anniversary of their New Writers Fellowship Program by ushering in a class of seven writers.
Oprah Winfrey And Gayle King Reveal How Their Special 46-Year Friendship Began: ‘We Ended Up Talking All Night Long’
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King spoke about their special 46-year friendship in People‘s “Beautiful” issue.