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Viaero Great American Comedy Festival June 16 - 20, 2010
Other News
Saturday night Gala and Comedian Finals
It’s impossible to know who got the loudest laughs Saturday night at the Viaero Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk.
The chortles and chuckles, giggles and guffaws started when host Larry Miller joked about the previous logo on the state’s license plates that boasted Nebraska has “the good life.”
“I liked the motto. Now no matter where you live . . . even if you have healthy kids and good jobs, you can say, ‘We’re not living the good life. Maybe we should move to Nebraska,’ ” said Miller, an actor and comedian who has appeared in more than 50 movies, including “Pretty Woman” and “Princess Diaries.”
The laughter ended 2-hours later when Joe Wong of Boston was named winner of the comedy competition, which involved eight comedians who had made it through the first rounds of competition on Thursday and Friday nights.
Chicago man wins top amateur prize
Prashanth Venkat, a 23-year-old college graduate from Chicago, won the top prize — $500, a trophy and a consultation with Eddie Brill, comedy talent coordinator for David Letterman.
Venkat cracked jokes about living at home with his parents (because he “has that kind of money”).
Venkat qualified for the competition here in Norfolk during preliminaries in March. He knew a lot of other comedians from Chicago who have been to Norfolk’s festival, and he thought he’d give it a shot.
“By no means did I think I’d actually win the competition,” Venkat said.
Free tickets for those affected by flooding
As much as they might like, organizers of this week’s Viaero Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk can’t wash away the problems caused by this week’s flooding of the Elkhorn River.
But they can offer a temporary respite from clean-up efforts.
Festival organizers are making 250 tickets to the Sunday, June 20, performance by comedian and ventriloquist Taylor Mason available free to any people in Norfolk and the area who have been affected by the flood.
The tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis as of noon Thursday at the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce office.
“After all everyone has been going through in dealing with the flood, it’s the least we can do,” said Kent Warneke, festival chairman. “Perhaps it’s a way to take a bit of a break and find a reason to smile.”
The performance is set for 5 p.m. Sunday at the Johnny Carson Theatre.
Veteran actor Ed Asner to receive Comedy Legend award
Ed Asner likes to joke around.
But when it comes to comedy or other parts of his show business work, it’s apparent he couldn’t be more serious.
Asner is probably most well known for his role as Lou Grant on both the Mary Tyler Moore Show and then on his own series, “Lou Grant.” He was able to prove his versatility by going from comedy to a serious role while keeping the same character working in journalism.
When asked to distinguish between drama and comedy, Asner said show business can thrive only if the entertainer finds the means to achieve both.
“The greatest tragedies need the sporadic laugh to break up the heaviness, to break up the constancy,” Asner said.
Win an invitation!
Interested in having the chance to mingle with some of the comedians and headliners who will be performing at the 2010 comedy festival this June? You might just get the chance.
Persons buying tickets to both the Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18, performances of the festival can have their names entered in a drawing for tickets to an invitation-only “wrap” party at Divots, which will be held after the Saturday, June 19, comedy competition finals.
At the Thursday and Friday performances, those with tickets will be able to enter their names for the drawing for the Saturday party. The winners will be announced at the Friday, June 18, performance.
More...
Comedians selected for 2010 stand-up competition
The 20 were selected after auditioning in front of Eddie Brill, the festival’s producer and talent coordinator for David Letterman, in 10 locations across the nation earlier this year, including Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Austin and New York City.
They’ll compete in June for the festival’s $5,000 top prize, which was won last year by Kermet Apio of Seattle.
Larry Miller to host and headline 2010 Festival
His name may be ordinary sounding, but there’s nothing ordinary about his talent.
As one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces, Larry Miller has appeared in more 50 films, guest-starred on numerous television shows and performed stand-up comedy routines for David Letterman, Jay Leno and many others.
And this summer, he’ll be performing in Norfolk, Neb.
Miller has agreed to be the host and headliner at the 2010 Viaero Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk, taking to the stage at the Johnny Carson Theatre on Saturday, June 19.
“We considered a lot of comedians, but we kept coming back to Larry Miller,” said Eddie Brill, talent coordinator for the “Late Show with David Letterman” and comedy festival producer. “He’s terrific.”
Calendar of Events
Thursday, June 17
Semifinals Night 1 - Johnny Carson Theatre - 7:00 PM
Adult Late Night - Divots Conference Center- 10:30 PM
Friday, June 18
Semifinals Night 2 - Johnny Carson Theatre - 7:00 PM
Adult Late Night - Divots Conference Center- 10:30 PM
Teen Late Night - Divots Conference Center- 10:30 PM
Saturday, June 19
Downtown BBQ - 5th and Braasch- 12:00 PM
Q&A with Dick Carson/Eddie Brill- Arts Center- 2:30 PM
Gala/Comedy Finals - Johnny Carson Theatre- 7:00 PM
More...
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