Nov 6, 2011

My absolute favorite showroom in Las Vegas is The Orleans Showroom. It isn’t just me, loads of people love that little spot. Even Craig Ferguson refers to his love for it often on the “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” It is the perfect size for an intimate show, and it seems to be the perfect venue for an entertainer. Last night, Sinbad performed on that stage and made me laugh for over an hour and a half.

If you’re old enough, you’ll remember Sinbad competing on “Star Search” in 1983. Oddly enough, I still remember stuff from 1983. The later 80s, not so much, yeah, um, some good times there… I think… Anyway, Sinbad was an instant hit with viewers but lost to someone else in the end. He is one of the most loved losers even today. Forget your flash in the pan reality TV show/talent search show winners and losers of today, Sinbad lives on forever in our hearts. He is just that lovable, down to earth funny, talented and well, handsome. When I post about Sinbad on twitter I get tweets back telling me about how much they love him.

Last night at The Orleans Showroom was my first time ever seeing Sinbad perform in person. I was ready for a great show. I got a great show. I have seen him on television on so many shows over the years and I think I’ve seen all of his television specials. I had an idea of what to expect.

There wasn’t a warm up act for him; he just took the stage himself after an introduction. As expected he started talking about kids, relationships and somehow managed to spend a long time on sexual harassment. That topic is a real dangerous one, but he took it to a whole new danger level, he asked people in the audience to shout out their story. I was thinking, “Ut-oh, this can’t be good…” He actually managed to make a nearly packed room laugh their guts out about the topic. A woman in the audience told him she’s an attorney and he had her do the part of the sexual harassment victim. He showed how he could cross examine her as a television attorney. It might have been that time when tears of laughter started welling up in my eyes. He took that emotionally charged, sometimes painful topic and played every side of numerous issues with it while the crowd roared with laughter. It was brilliant.

It occurred to me, while sitting there in the crowd, that when I go see a comedian in Las Vegas, I’m usually in a very white audience. I never realized that before this show. Last night it was a mixed crowd. What a difference. If you have never been in an audience with a lot of black people, you are really missing out. That type of audience has a passion that is unstoppable. The women are loud, they shout out their approval or disapproval. The entertainment goes both ways. It instantly put me back into memories of Southwestern Michigan theaters and women yelling at the movie screen telling that stupid girl who is being stalked by the killer, “Oh, don’t you open that door, girl! Don’t you open that door!” It is hysterically funny just to sit in there and take in all the entertainment – the movie and the crowd. Last night it was a perfect combination, Sinbad and Sinbad working with the crowd.

Sinbad had the house lights partially up throughout the show so he could see people and he spent a lot of the act talking to them. One woman in particular, was drunk out of her mind, shouting out stuff that didn’t even make any sense. It is a shame there wasn’t a video to capture the event for, what is bound to be, her upcoming intervention. Sinbad turned that into just another hysterically funny bit, while encouraging her husband to take a little control of her.

I really admired Sinbad’s ability to throw chaos out there with the crowd with so much interaction and manage to actually control it. That takes a hell of a lot of sharp thinking, awareness and just plain talent – and a lot of the latter. His act is 100% clean. His style is somewhere between the insult comics like Brad Garrett and Don Rickles and the relationship comics of today, but he’s never off color or truly insulting. He is sharp, quick and completely on top of the crowd at all times. His focus is more relationships between people than anything else, whether it be a president and his mistress, you and your boss, you and your children, or you and your spouse. It seems to be that interaction between us and our fellow man is where he finds our comic relief.

Sinbad tours heavily, so if you miss him tonight, catch him when he comes to your town. He is very active is on twitter and always posts schedule updates. http://twitter.com/sinbadbad

Sinbad is playing again tonight at The Orleans Showroom, 8pm.
Tickets start at $49.95.

Nov 2, 2011

LISA LAMPANELLI TO PERFORM AT THE PEARL AT THE PALMS

Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, 8 p.m.

Tickets On Sale – Friday, Nov. 4 at noon

Tickets are $49.50 & $59.50, plus any additional service fees

To purchase tickets, please visit the Pearl Box Office, call 702-944-3200, visit any Ticketmaster location, call 1-800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

Comedy’s loveable Queen of Mean returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m.

Heralded as “more than a standup — a standout,” by comedy legend Jim Carrey, Lisa Lampanelli is a cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker and a vial of estrogen. She has won accolades from The King of All Media Howard Stern, who called her “a true original and a brilliant comedy mind who’ll steal the show every time.” Known for saying things that most people are afraid to think, Lampanelli’s raunchy, gut-busting performances are wildly popular at theaters across the U.S. and Canada. She recently appeared in her latest one-hour special “Tough Love,” which premiered on Comedy Central and is now available on CD/DVD. Continuing her rise, Logo television has recently given a green light to developing “Big Loud Lisa” – the unscripted series to be produced by Chelsea Handler’s production company. The show will follow Lampanelli in standup as she juggles her recent marriage with her life on the road. She is also currently working on a one-woman show for Broadway with plans to debut in 2012. Hitting the big screen, Lampanelli will appear in a David Chase-directed feature film (yet to be titled), scheduled for release in October 2012.

Lampanelli’s rise to the top of the comedy food chain began in 2002 when she was the only female comedian invited to skewer Chevy Chase on the NY Friars Club Roast on Comedy Central. She soon became known as the “Queen of the Roast” with roasts of such names as Pamela Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, William Shatner, Flava Flav and most recently, David Hasselhoff. Because of her success as a roaster, in 2009 Lampanelli was asked to be Roastmaster for the highly rated Comedy Central roast of friend and fellow comic, Larry the Cable Guy. Lampanelli joined the ranks of comedy greats with her 2009 HBO comedy special, “Long Live the Queen,” and that same year, released her first autobiography, Chocolate, Please: My Adventures in Food, Fat and Freaks.

This event is produced by Andrew Hewitt and Live Nation. Doors at the Pearl will open at 7 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. The Pearl Box Office is open daily from noon until 7 p.m. with extended hours on select event days. The Pearl is sponsored by Citi and is now on Twitter. Please follow @PearlatPalms for concert announcements and event information.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE PEARL

Nov. 18 – Strikeforce, Antwain Britt vs. Lumumba Sayers; $44, $69 & $99
Nov. 30 – Fighters Only World MMA Awards hosted by Chael Sonnen; $59, $79 & $99
Dec. 3 – The Ultimate Fighter Finale: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller; $200, $350 & $450
Dec. 10 – Puscifer; $35 & $45
Jan. 14 – Lisa Lampanelli; $49.50 & $59.50

Oct 28, 2011

Playboy Comedy inside The Lounge at the Palms announces November 2011 headliners

Award-winning Playboy Comedy announces the November 2011 schedule of comedians. Hosted by Cort McCown, all shows take place inside The Lounge at the Palms Casino Resort. A longer lead schedule is listed below for reference and a full schedule can be found at www.playboycomedytour.com.
Comedians are available for interviews. Please submit requests to alissa@prpluslv.com.
Playboy Comedy Headliners:

Nov. 3 -5 – Rob Riggle, “The Hangover” & “The Daily Show”
Nov. 10-12 – Jimmy Dore, “The Marijuana-Logues” and Michael Yo, “E!” & “Chelsea Lately”
Nov. 17-19 – Ben Gleib, “Chelsea Lately”
Nov. 24-26 – DARK

Show Times:

Thursday – 10 p.m.
Friday – 10 p.m.
Saturday – 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tickets:
Ticket prices start at $39.99 (inclusive of taxes), which includes entry into the legendary Playboy Club following the show. VIP tickets are also available for $59.99, which includes a line pass into Playboy Comedy, VIP seating at the show and entry into Playboy Club following the show. Buffet dinner package now available, which includes VIP ticket amenities and a dinner buffet ticket for $69.99.

Tickets can be purchased at 702-944-3200, www.palms.com or at the Palms Box Office. The Box Office is open daily from noon – 7:00 p.m. with extended hours on select event days. Follow The Lounge on Twitter for updates @loungeatpalms.

About Rob Riggle
Southern born and raised, Rob Riggle has been entertaining crowds over the last 12 years with his sketch and improvisational comedy. Along with his title as Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, holding 20 medals and ribbons as a result of his service; Riggle is also known for his clever delivery as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Riggle has also appeared in several major television and film projects including “Saturday Night Live” and the motion picture hit “The Hangover.” Audiences can expect to hear Riggle’s hilarious and sharp delivery about current events and newsworthy beats.

About Jimmy Dore
After appearing in several Comedy Central specials, Jimmy Dore is no stranger to stand up and engaging audiences with his current take on pop culture and politics. Dore notably put together a one-hour Comedy Central special appropriately named “Citizen Jimmy” that was chosen Best of 2008 by iTunes and named one of the Top 5 Comedy DVDs of the Year by Punchline Magazine. Most recently, Dore has taken on a double role performing in his Off-Broadway hit “The Marijuana-Logues,” which he also wrote. Dore’s everyman style and razor-sharp material continues to draw audiences in and has made him one of the fastest rising comedians to date.

About Michael Yo
Michael Yo, the self-proclaimed “Half-Black Brother with a Korean Mother” was born and raised in Houston TX. Yo made his debut on E! in 2008 as a celebrity correspondent for E! News. He can also often be seen being belittled by Chelsea Handler as a round table panelist on “Chelsea Lately” and can be seen on “Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami.” Yo has been perfecting his stand up comedy routine for a long time now…since April 7, 2011, and has appeared at numerous comedy clubs across the country including ­­­the Improv clubs, the Comedy Store and Stand Up Live. Yo would like to thank the women in his life, namely his mother (fans will find out why soon enough), Chelsea Handler and random hookups across the country for supplying him with endless comedic ammunition.

About Ben Gleib
Standup comedian, actor and writer, Ben Gleib, has been headlining comedy clubs and colleges around the globe. His witty comedic take on life had Esquire Magazine name him as one of “Six comedians who could be comedy’s next big thing.” Regularly appearing as a round table guest on “Chelsea Lately,” Gleib also headed back to his stand up roots opening for Dane Cook’s North American 2010 tour. Gleib has made appearances on numerous television shows including “The Real Wedding Crashers,” “Last Comic Standing” and guest hosted Game Show Network’s popular show “GSN Live.” Audiences will continue to be enticed by Gleib’s wide range of material and quick improvisational skills.

UPCOMING PLAYBOY COMEDY HEADLINERS (headliners subject to change):

OCTOBER 2011
27-29 – Jim Jeffries

NOVEMBER 2011
3-5 – Rob Riggle
10-12 – Jimmy Dore and special guest Michael Yo
17-19 – Ben Gleib
24-26 – DARK

DECEMBER 2011
1-3 – Steve Rannazzisi

About The Palms:
The Palms Casino Resort, heralded as one of Las Vegas’ hippest resorts, is an all-encompassing, one-stop destination. The boutique property boasts three distinct towers and a diverse mix of bars and restaurants across a 95,000-square-foot casino. Amenities include the legendary Playboy Club; Ghostbar; Rain Nightclub; the Pearl Concert Theater; Moon Nightclub; N9NE Steakhouse; Nove Italiano; Little Buddha; Simon Restaurant & Lounge; The Palms Pool & Bungalows; Palms Spa and AMP Salon; Drift Spa & Hammam; LA Sunset Tan; Brenden Theatres, a 14-theatre Cineplex; Huntington Ink Tattoo Lounge; the Fantasy Suites, including the Hardwood Suite, the only hotel room in the world with its own basketball court; and over 60,000 square-feet of meeting space. The Palms has played host to MTV’s Video Music Awards, Real World: Las Vegas, Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown and E!’s Girls Next Door and Sunset Tan feature the resort on a regular basis. The Palms Casino Resort is located just west of the Las Vegas Strip and I-15 on Flamingo Road. For room reservation information, call toll free at (866) PALMS-RES, (866) 725-6773, or visit www.palms.com. For groups of 15 rooms or more, contact the Sales Department at (866) PALMS-MTG or (866) 725-6768.

Oct 25, 2011

THE IMPROV AT HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS: THIS WEEK’S HEADLINER – MAX ALEXANDER

Special two-for-one tickets available to locals for 10:30pm show

Budd Friedman and Mark Lonow’s world-famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s Las Vegas showcases a different marquee of acts each week. Max Alexander takes the stage today through Sunday, with Phil Hanley and Daryl Wright. Improv shows are at 8:30pm and 10:30pm every Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $29.05 (plus applicable taxes) or $44.95 (plus applicable taxes) for VIP tickets that include special seating, an Improv t-shirt and post-show meet-and-greet with the comics. Special two-for-one tickets are available for locals for the 10:30pm show. Tickets are available.

Originally from the East Coast, Max Alexander moved to Los Angeles in his twenties. In addition to doing stand-up comedy, Alexander also began appearing in supporting appearances on many sitcoms such as “Full House” and “Matlock.” Alexander’s resume also includes film roles in “Roxanne” starring Steve Martin, “Punchline” with Tom Hanks, and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” with Jason Segel.

He also appeared in Comedy Central’s “Best of the Improv, Vol. 5” and “Comedy Club Greats” with Jerry Seinfeld. In recent years Alexander has been performing his comedy alongside Tom Jones and others. He also frequents the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

His stand-up routine focuses primarily on his large size, constantly poking fun at his weight and is known for pulling his pants up to his chest during his routines. But as Jay Leno has said, Max’s material is as relevant today as any “young” comic.

One thing about Max Alexander that separates him from many is his giving heart. He is not only known as the go-to person to perform for a charity, but he has also helped countless artists, be it a comic, musician, dancer or actor get started in their careers, which showed when they honored him at his benefit.

As of May 2009, Alexander will be one of the only comics to perform on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.

In 2009, Alexander went through some health issues when he suffered a stroke after a kidney transplant. In response to this, comedic headliners joined together for “Comedy Headliners Salute Max Alexander.” Acts included Shelley Berman, Norm Crosby, Jeff Garlin, Dom Irrera, Kevin James, Carol Leifer, Jay Leno, Larry Miller, Kevin Nealon, Ray Romano, and host Fred Willard.

Alexander fully recovered and is back to touring the country entertaining audiences with his side-splitting stand up.

UPCOMING IMPROV ACTS:

November 1-6: Gary Gulman, with Joe List

November 8-13: Dat Phan, with Larry Brown and Joan Fagan

November 15-20: Shelley Berman, with Brant Von Hoffman and David Gee

November 22-27: Stagebenders, with Gary Cannon and Gary Brightwell

Oct 20, 2011

Sinbad Brings His Brand of Comedic Storytelling Back to The Orleans Showroom November 5-6th

Renowned comedian Sinbad returns to The Orleans Showroom with his unique comedic storytelling and wit November 5th and 6th, each evening at 8 p.m.

Sinbad is best known for various television and movie appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including several HBO comedy specials. In 2010, he was a cast member on the third season of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

Sinbad’s comedy is built more on stories than jokes, based on everyone he meets, everything he’s seen and everything he does. As the son of a preacher man, he is committed to making his comedy proud but not profane. He also takes the trials and tribulations of audience members and throws it back in their faces, creating a unique comedy experience.

Sinbad began his career as a seven-time contestant on “Star Search.” He spent four years on the television show “A Different World” and starred in his own series “The Sinbad Show.” Sinbad made his film debut in “Necessary Roughness” and also had leading roles in “Jingle All the Way,” “Houseguest” and “First Kid.” He recently appeared on the series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” receiving critical acclaim for his guest spot.

Sinbad was named one of Comedy Central’s top 100 comedians and was featured in a special program on the network in 2010. He received a NCAAP Image Award two years in a row for his annual HBO special “Sinbad’s ‘70s Soul Music Festival.” Sinbad has also participated in several USO tours and performed at the USO of Hampton Roads 2006 Patriotic Festival.

Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets start at $55, plus tax and convenience fees, and can be purchased at any Coast Casinos Box Office, by calling 702.365.7075, or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

Oct 17, 2011

Riviera Hotel & Casino Welcomes Comic Legend Andrew Dice Clay

The “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy” Hits the Las Vegas Strip for 8 Performances in October

One of the most recognizable and often-quoted comedians of all time, Andrew Dice Clay, is making his return to Las Vegas for eight performances at the Riviera Hotel & Casino’s Starlite Theatre in this Mike Tricarichi Production.

It’s not every act that comes with an adult content warning label. But Andrew Dice Clay is proud to be America’s most controversial and dangerous comic of all time. The Dice man is guaranteed to elicit a gasp or two when he performs during this special limited engagement.

Dice’s rise to fame was meteoric, selling out Madison Square Garden two nights in a row plus hundreds of other sports arenas from coast to coast. Along the way, he starred in numerous feature films including The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, appeared in several HBO specials, released best-selling DVDs and a string of multi-gold and platinum selling CDs. And the Dice’s star continues to rise with his recent recurring role on the final season of HBO’s hit show, Entourage.

To this day, Clay remains the only performer banned for life from MTV. When he released his debut album, DICE, the parental advisory label simply read “Warning: This album is offensive.”
But despite the media backlash, Dice has remained a comic icon and the self-proclaimed “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy.”

Dice delivers his outrageous comedy Oct. 20-23 and 27-30. The show begins at 10:30 p.m. each night and comes with three ticket options: $49.99 for General Admission, $69.99 for Preferred Seating and the special “Dice Pit” VIP Package for $89.99.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting www.rivierahotel.comor calling the box office at 702-794-9433.