Just For Laughs
Gala
Jason Alexander
One of the industry’s most versatile talents, Jason Alexander became a household name with his role as George Costanza on the long running NBC hit Seinfeld. Throughout nine seasons of performing, Alexander earned five Screen Actors Guild nominations (winning in 1995), two American Comedy Awards, an American Television Award, six Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nods. The Screen Actors Guild went one step higher and honoured him with the Best Actor in a Comedy Series Award, despite his role as a supporting actor. Don’t miss Jason Alexander’s highly anticipated performance at this year’s Gala, with special appearances by 3rd place winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing Gerry Dee, Wendy Liebman, Kevin Hart, Jeffrey Ross and special guests Robert Klein and Robert Schimmel.
Host: Jason Alexander
Line-up:
Gerry Dee |
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Jeff Ross |
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Kevin Hart |
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Wendy Liebman |
Special Guests: Robert Klein |
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Robert Schimmel |
Jason Alexander
One of the industry's most versatile talents, Jason Alexander became a household name with his role as George Costanza on the long running NBC hit Seinfeld. Throughout nine seasons of performing, Alexander earned five Screen Actors Guild nominations (winning in 1995), two American Comedy Awards, an American Television Award, six Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nods. The Screen Actors Guild went one step higher and honored him with the Best Actor in a Comedy Series Award, despite his role as a supporting actor. Alexander's film roles include Brighton Beach Memoirs, Mosquito Coast, Jacob's Ladder, North, Pretty Woman, Dunston Checks In, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Shallow Hal and The Aristocrats. Tony-winner Alexander sang, danced, joked and schemed for eight months at L.A.'s Pantages Theatre, starring in the role of Max Bialystock opposite Martin Short in the regional production of Mel Brooks' hit Broadway musical The Producers, which wrapped in early January, 2004. He is also the author of the children's book for Scholastic, Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy?.
Gerry Dee
Gerry Dee has set himself apart from other Canadian comedians with several impressive accomplishments both North and South of the border. In 1999 he won Toronto’s “Funniest Person with A Day Job” competition and promptly quit his day job as a high-school phys-ed teacher to pursue his comedy career. He’s been nominated twice for a Canadian Comedy Award as best male stand-up and became the first Canadian in 27 years to win the prestigious San Francisco Comedy Competition in 2002. In 2003 he appeared on Star Search, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and was cast in CBS golf reality show “The Ultimate Round”. He then starred in every Canadian actor’s dream role, playing a member of the 1972 Canadian national hockey team in “Canada-Russia 72”, a CBC miniseries. Hot on the heels of that dream role, he was cast in another important piece of Canadiana; The Trailer Park Boys movie. He also qualified for the TV portion of Last Comic Standing4 and Last Comic Standing5 on NBC and recently taped an episode of Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”. But what makes him even more one-of-a-kind is his material. Gerry’s act is 100% clean. He truly is a comedian you can enjoy alongside your kids. So don’t miss your chance to see this 100% clean, 100% Canadian (well, with 100% Scottish parents) 100% hilarious comic in action!
Jeff Ross
Jeffrey Ross is a really great guy. Honest. Okay, maybe you've seen his show stopping performances at celebrity roasts which inspired New York Magazine to label him "The Meanest Man in Comedy". It's also true that his MTV animated series "Where my Dogs at?" where he mocked Hollywood's elite was so controversial that it got pulled off the air. But then there's the sensitive Jeffrey Ross whose critically acclaimed documentary on the Iraq war entitled 'Patriot Act : A Jeffrey Ross Movie' led the Chairman of the Joint Chief of staff to declare, "...funny and poignant--every American should see it". There's also the Jeffrey Ross who despite his countless late night talk show appearances (he's done them all!) always finds the time to do countless charity benefits. He's an awesome guy. You should laugh. Especially since he has a black belt and will kick your ass if you don't. Please don't tell him we said that.
Kevin Hart
Kevin began performing full time at clubs such as the Boston Comedy Club, Caroline's, Stand-Up NY, The Improvisation, The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. He expanded his reach world wide, performing at comedy clubs in both Amsterdam and London. But it was his performance at the Montreal Comedy Festival which led to his work in feature films such as Paper Soldiers, Scary Movie 3, Along Came Polly, Soul Plane, The 40 Year Old Virgin, In The Mix, and most recently in Scary Movie 4. Today Kevin is the national headliner for all The Improvisation Comedy Clubs and will be featured on the upcoming segment of Def Comedy Jam. He also has three new films coming up over the next year – Parental Guidance, the Last Stand, featuring Anthony Anderson and Guy Torry, and Bob Bailey’s Disco Ball. While stand up continues to be his first love, he continues to work towards advancing his acting and writing careers.
Wendy Liebman
Wendy Liebman has been a regular on the Late Show with David Letterman, and has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Johnny Carson. In addition, she was the first comedian to perform on the Rosie O'Donnell show, and she has done two comedy specials, one for HBO and one for Comedy Central. Other television appearances include: Comic Relief VII, VH-1's Stand-up Sotlight, MTV's Half Hour Comedy Hour, The Daily Show, Politicaly Incorrect as well as Evening at the Improv and Caroline's Comedy Hour among others. In addition to winning the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-up in 1996, Wendy's work is included in the Smithsonian Museum for Women of Humor exhibition in Dallas, Texas.
Robert Klein
For more than forty years, Robert Klein has entertained audiences, and he continues to have an acclaimed career in comedy, on Broadway, on television, and in film. Klein was the first comedian to appear in a live concert on Home Box Office. He regularly appears on talk-shows, making more than 100 appearances on “The Tonight Show” and “Late Show with David Letterman” alone. Klein has also appeared in many notable films including, “Hooper,” “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “Primary Colors,” “People I Know,” “Two Weeks Notice,” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” and “Reign Over Me“. Klein has just released his first book “The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue.” It is an affectionate coming-of-age memoir about growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s before embarking on a show business career. The book is pure Robert Klein: witty, honest, self-questioning and always contagiously funny.
Robert Schimmel
Robert Schimmel is on a mission. It goes way beyond proving yourself as a comic. Robert's all too real brand of humor which focuses on sex and relationships have earned him top accolades for two decades now. Winner of the prestigious Best Male Stand up Comic Award at the 13th annual Comedy Awards, Robert Schimmel has long been considered one the best stand up comics in the world, but when he was diagnosed with stage 3 Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, he was faced with the toughest challenges in his life. After six years in remission, he is now on a personal quest to bring hope to others and prove that laughter is the best medicine. He does it by raising money CD's, DVD's and audio books to stock libraries in infusion centers across the United States. No doubt about it, both on stage and off, Robert Schimmel is an inspiration.
