JUST FOR LAUGHS’ FINAL ADDITIONS TO THE COMEDY CONFERENCE & INSIDER SERIES:

JUST FOR LAUGHS’ FINAL ADDITIONS TO THE COMEDY CONFERENCE & INSIDER SERIES:

 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – THE SECOND CITY

COMEDY WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD – IAN BRENNAN, ON BEHALF OF GLEE

BREAKOUT COMEDY STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD

– AZIZ ANSARI

AND COMEDY STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD

– DONALD GLOVER

 

PLUS A SNEAK PEEK SCREENING OF PHIL ROSENTHAL’S DOCU-COMEDY FILM EXPORTING RAYMOND ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 14

 

(Montreal – Tuesday, June 22, 2010) – Just For Laughs is proud to announce The Second City – recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Falchuk (Glee) – winners of the Comedy Writer of the Year Award; Aziz Ansari (NBC’s Parks and Recreation) – winner of the Breakout Comedy Star of the year Award and Donald Glover (NBC’s Community) – winner of the Rising Comedy Star of the Year Award.   To add to the celebrations surrounding their Lifetime Achievement Award, The Second City will participate in a very special live panel discussion featuring a stellar line-up of alumni, as part of the Insiders Series. Also part of the Insiders Series, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal, and producer John Woldenberg will be on hand for a special screening of Exporting Raymond, which is Phil Rosenthal’s movie directorial debut. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.  The Just For Laughs Comedy Conference and Insiders Series will take place from July 14-17, 2010.

 

The Just For Laughs Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to The Second City for their 50th Anniversary. Hailed as a “comedy empire” by the New York Times, The Second City is best known as the incubator for North America’s best and brightest comedy superstars:  Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Jack McBrayer, Rachel Dratch, Stephen Colbert and many, many more all have roots extending to The Second City. On hand to accept the award will be:  Colin Mochrie; Fred Willard; Andrew Alexander, co-chairman, CEO and President; and other names to be announced.  The award will be presented as part of the Comedy Conference award luncheon on Friday, July 16 at 12 PM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  The live panel discussion, The Second City – The First 50 Years will take place at the Cinquieme Salle, Place des arts on Thursday, July 15 at 9:30 PM.

 

The Comedy Writer of the Year Award will be presented to Ian Brennan on behalf of the writers, producers, and creators of Glee - Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy. The Golden Globe Award-winning musical comedy drama has captured the attention of critics and TV viewers alike, with over 7 million digital sales and has spawned its own nation of Gleeks.  The award will be presented as part of the Comedy Conference award luncheon on Friday, July 16 at 12 PM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

 

This summer, two brand new awards will be delivered to some of the most exciting comedy performers currently in the biz. Aziz Ansari, currently starring on NBC’s Parks and Recreation and the most recent host of the MTV Movie Awards, will be the first-ever recipient of the Just For Laughs Breakout Comedy Star of the Year award.

 

The Breakout Comedy Star of the Year is reserved for the comedian/actor who has made the jump from talented star to super-stardom. Ansari embodies many of the qualities that will set the standard for future recipients: This enormous talent is charismatic, a multi-disciplinarian, and most of all, incredibly funny. 

 

His current tour, entitled Dangerously Delicious, is selling out across North America. He has appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live and this year debuted an hour-long special on Comedy Central entitled Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening.” He is currently filming 30 Minutes or Less opposite Danny McBride and is in development for three other films for Apatow.  Parks and Recreation was listed as one of Time’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2009 and Entertainment Weekly named him one of 2009’s Breakout TV stars.

 

Hot on his heels, the first ever Rising Comedy Star of the Year award will be presented to actor, writer and comedian Donald Glover. The award is reserved for a talent who is the NEXT BIG THING. This 26-year old is quickly positioning himself as one of Hollywood’s most promising talents.  Most recognized for his role as the jock “Troy” on NBC’s Community, Donald was hired as a staff writer on the hit-show 30 Rock while still a Resident Assistant at NYU.  During his time at 30 Rock the show won two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series, as well as a Writer's Guild Award for Best Comedy.   Additionally, Donald is a founding member of the internet sketch comedy sensation Derrick Comedy, whose videos have garnered millions of views and most recently released their first feature film Mystery Team.  This great new star is charming, multi-talented, and the consummate example of the Hollywood triple-threat.

 

The docu-comedy Exporting Raymond follows Phil Rosenthal, creator of the hit TV series “Everybody Loves Raymond," in this incredibly funny true story of the attempt to translate 'Raymond' into a Russian sitcom. Even if you've never seen an episode of the show, you will relate to Phil's American "fish out of water" tale, where culture clashes lurk around every Moscow corner. This sneak peek screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Writer/Director Phil Rosenthal and Exporting Raymond producer John Woldenberg.  The film will be screened Wednesday, July 14 at 9:30 PM at the Cinquieme Salle, Place des arts.

 

Previously announced Insider Series events include behind-the-scenes anecdotes and discussions with Kevin Smith; the cast of Childrens Hospital, including Rob Corddry; Leon Black (JB Smoove) from Curb Your Enthusiasm; The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour with the Trailer Park Boys – Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells; Kenny Vs. Spenny; and the Not Inappropriate Show with Bob Odenkirk.

 

Tickets for these and all the Insider Series events are available at the Just For Laughs box office, by calling 514-845-2322 or at www.hahaha.com.

 

The Insider Series events are available to comedy fans who purchase the Comicpro pass - The Just For Laughs ULTIMATE FAN PACKAGE.

 

For only $99 the COMICPRO Fan Pass includes:
- Access to the Insider Series

- Access to the Just For Laughs Comedy Conference panels and speakers who will be discussing TV and film, keynote speaker Lewis Black, Andy Kindler’s State of the Industry Address, the Onion Presentation, the Comedy Conference Awards Ceremony, and more.
- Access to Zoofest Comedy shows including sketch, solo shows, international acts and more
- Access to Just For Laughs Films

INFO & REGISTRATION FOR COMICPRO: www.hahaha.com/fan

 

Industry members can still purchase their passes, featuring full access to the Comedy Conference and the Just For Laughs Festival.

INFO & REGISTRATION FOR INDUSTRY MEMBERS: www.hahaha.com/conference

 

About the Just For Laughs Group

Founded in 1983, the Just For Laughs Group’s growth is concentrated on four major focal points: Festivals (in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago and Paris); television production (most notably Gags seen in 135 countries and on 95 airlines); live shows (Canadian tour dates for Jerry Seinfeld, Jeremy Hotz, John Pinette, Louis C.K., the Capital One Just For Laughs Comedy Tour, North American dates for Family Guy Live!, Arturo Brachetti’s show Change in London); and talent management. Its’ inaugural Montreal Festival 27 years ago is now the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event. The Group has offices in Montreal, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto and London.

 

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Contact:                 Corrine Leon – Just For Laughs – 514-845-4069 ext 6069 cleon@hahaha.com

                                Leisa Lee – Just For Laughs – 514-845-4069 ext 6005   llee@hahaha.com