Larry the Cable Guy’s Oklahoma City show canceled
Blue-collar comedian Larry the Cable Guy’s Oklahoma City show set for this weekend at Chesapeake Energy Arena has been canceled, the venue has announced.
Here is the cancellation announcement:
Due to changes in Larry the Cable Guy’s schedule, his show scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City has been cancelled.
Tickets ordered by phone or online will automatically be refunded. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase for fans who purchased at the box office or any other Ticketmaster outlet.
-BAM
What to do in Okahoma on Oct. 18, 2011: Laugh along as New Movement Theater brings its OCTourber to Ghostlight Theatre Club
The New Movement Theater
Today’s featured event:
Laugh out loud as OKC Improv hosts The New Movement Theater’s 11-city OCTourber with a performance at 8 tonight at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker in the Paseo Arts District.
The touring company features improvisers from New Movement theaters in Austin and Houston, Texas, as well as New Orleans, La. Nationally acclaimed OKC-based comedy duo Twinprov will open the show.
Tickets are $10 each. Call 343-1570 or e-mail okcimprov@gmail.com for reservations. The show is ponsored by Studio8.net and The New Movement.
In addition, OKC Improv will begin a new session of weekly improv classes for adults starting Saturday and continuing weekly through Nov.26 at Ghostlight Theatre Club. The Level 1 class will take place from noon to 2 p.m., followed by Level 2 from 2 to 4 p.m., and Level 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. Drop-ins are always welcome in the Level 1 class. The first class attended is free; the cost is $10 for each additional class. Returning students get a free class when pre-paying for an entire six-week class session.
OKC Improv also currently offers a FUNdamentals of Improv class for fifth- through eighth-graders at The Studio of The Sooner Theatre, 227 E Main in Norman. Classes run through April with an end-of-year performance for friends and family. Classes take place every Monday from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Tuition is $50 a month. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, go to www.soonertheatre.com.
OKC Improv is Oklahoma’s premiere performance showcase and teaching institution dedicated to the art of improvisational comedy and theater. OKC Improv’s performance showcase at Ghostlight Theatre Club will resume next month with shows on Nov. 12, 19, 25 and 26.
For more information on tonight’s show, classes and more, go to www.okcimprov.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Jeff Dunham’s comedy special premieres to 5.5 million TV viewers; tickets to Tulsa show on sale Friday morning
Stand-up comic/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is bringing his “Controlled Chaos” tour to Tulsa’s BOK Center for a Feb. 26 performance.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for the Tulsa show. All seats are $45.50 and will be available online at www.bokcenter.com, Arby’s Box Office, all Tickets.com outlets, or by calling (866) 7-BOKCTR.
Dunham premiered his fourth TV special, “Controlled Chaos,” Sept. 25 on Comedy Central, drawing 5.5 million viewers and a 2.6 rating with viewers 18-49.
Chart numbers for the home market DVD and Blu-ray sales of “Controlled Chaos,” which hit stores on Tuesday, jumped to No. 1 in comedy titles and No. 5 in all DVDs/Blu-ray title sales. “Controlled Chaos” is being released by Comedy Central Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. He has sold more than 7 million units to date on his three previous specials and TV series.
Dunham also stoked a significant buzz with the special, coming in as the third most-talked about cable show that night behind the premiere of the second season of the acclaimed HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” and a pivotal episode of the six-time Emmy Award-winning show “Breaking Bad.” The statistics were measured by Trendrr.tv, a comprehensive television index that ranks shows by their activity across a number of social networks, according to a news release.
The American premiere of “Controlled Chaos” was part of an unprecedented same-day worldwide debut of a comedy special that saw the show bowing in a dozen territories around the globe, including Canada, U.K., Holland, Sweden, France, Australia and other nations.
Since Dunham debuted his first self-produced comedy special, “Arguing With Myself,” in 2006, he has jumped from the comedy club circuit into theaters and then into arenas and other major venues in North America and overseas. For three years running he has been the highest-earning live comedy act in North America as well as for two years in a row worldwide in the wake of three tours of Europe as well as visits to South Africa and Australia.
His Internet presence is just as significant with more than half-a-billion worldwide views of his online clips, nearly 6.5 million Facebook followers, and being the No. 1 comedian on MySpace. He also scored last year as an author when his unique autobiography, “All By My Selves” – just released as a trade paperback on Sept. 6 – spent three weeks on The New York Times Book Review bestsellers list.
“Controlled Chaos” will air again at 9 p.m. Saturday on Comedy Central. He now takes his new “Controlled Chaos” live show on road starting Oct. 6 in Loveland, Colo., and throughout the U.S. and Canada into 2012.
During the Comedy Central special, Dunham introduced two new puppet pals that he is taking on the live tour: Achmed Junior, the not-as-equally skeletal son of Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and Little Jeff, a mini-version of the ringmaster himself.
For more information on the Tulsa show, go to www.bokcenter.com or www.jeffdunham.com.
-BAM
Best Bets for Sept. 9-11, 2011: Check out Micky & the Motorcars, Mike McClure Band, Lisa Lampanelli and more
Micky & the Motorcars
Here are my top 5 Best Bets for events happening in the greater Oklahoma City metro area this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more options, go to www.wimgo.com.
1. Hear Texas country band Micky & the Motorcars at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
2. Take in a hay maze, barrel train rides, hands-on arts and crafts and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the 15th annual Septemberfest, a free family festival at the Governor’s Mansion, 820 NE 23, and Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive. To read my recent interview with Gov. Mary Fallin about this year’s Septemberfest, click here. Information: 557-0198.
3. YUKON — Listen to Mike McClure Band with Camille Harp at 8 p.m. Friday at Grady’s 66 Pub, 444 W Main Street. Information: 354-8789 or www.gradys66.com.
4. View two new exhibits — “Faded Elegance: Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman” and “Poodles & Pastries (and Other Important Matters): New Paintings by Franco Mondini-Ruiz” — at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. To read my recent interview with Franco Mondini-Ruiz about “Poodles & Pastries,” click here. Information: 236-3100 or www.okcmoa.com.
5. SHAWNEE — Laugh at stand-up comic Lisa Lampanelli at 7 p.m. Friday at Firelake Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: 964-7263 or www.firelakegrand.com.
-BAM
Larry the Cable Guy to play Oct. 22 Oklahoma City date; tickets on sale Friday
Larry the Cable Guy will bring his distinctive brand of blue-collar humor to Oklahoma City on Saturday, Oct. 22 with a show at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the venue announced today.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday and will be available at the Cox Convention Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets including area Homeland stores, online at www.CheaspakeArena.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000.
With his signature catchphrase, “Git-R-Done,” Larry the Cable Guy continues to sell out theatres and arenas across the United States. In addition to his tours, movies and specials, Larry is now the host of his own show on The History Channel. The 13-episode “Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy” premiered in February 2011. In the show, Larry crisscrosses the nation, going off the beaten path to find the people, places and things that define America’s unique history.
Since gaining notoriety during the highly successful “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” and 2003 movie of the same name, Larry has starred in three feature films: “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector,” “Delta Farce” and “Witless Protection.” He also lent his voice to the character Mater in the popular Disney/Pixar animated features “Cars” and “Cars 2.”
On television, Larry hosted Christmas specials for CMT in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, “Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular” aired on CMT to huge ratings. It was followed with 2009’s “Larry the Cable Guy’s Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau.” In March 2009, Comedy Central aired “The Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy,” which Larry executive produced. It was the third-highest rated roast in Comedy Central’s history, attracting 4.1 million viewers, according to the news release.
Larry has also scored hits with his comedy albums. His 2007 album, “Morning Constitutions,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard comedy chart. His previous release, “The Right to Bare Arms,” debuted at No. 1 on the Soundscan comedy chart, No. 1 on its country chart and No. 7 on the Top 200 chart. It marked the first time in Soundscan’s history a comedy album debuted at No. 1 on its country chart. The album also received a Grammy nomination.
He won Billboard’s 2005 Comedy Artist of the Year and Comedy Album of the Year. His book, “Git-R-Done,” debuted at No. 26 on the New York Times Bestseller List in 2005. In May 2011, Larry was named to the Forbes Celebrity 100 list for a third time (also 2007 and 2006). This lists the hottest and most successful celebrities in the entertainment industry.
For more information, go to www.CheaspakeArena.com.
-BAM
Ron White to play Nov. 11 Tulsa show; tickets on sale Sept. 29
TULSA – Give comedian Ron White a stool, a cigar and a glass of Scotch and then get prepared to hear his comedic tales and observations. On Nov. 11, the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” veteran will perform at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
Tickets start at $60 and go on sale Sept. 29.
A stand-up veteran of nearly 30 years, White broke through as part of the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” from 2000-03. The tour also featured Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall, sold-out 90 dates, grossed more than $15 million and resulted in the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie,” which became the highest-rated movie on Comedy Channel when it premiered.
The Texan’s career exploded on the heels of the tour with his first one-hour comedy special, “They Call Me Tater Salad,” which earned Comedy Central its highest rated Sunday in history and sold more than 2.5 million copies as a DVD/CD combo.
To date, White has released five solo projects on CD, including 2003’s “Drunk in Public,” which was certified gold. Overall, White has sold more than 10 million copies of his CDs and DVDs and earned two Grammy nominations. His most recent release is 2009’s “Behavioral Problems.”
For more information on White, including info on the Oct. 11 DVD release of “Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops,” go to www.tatersalad.com. He is also active on Twitter under the username @Ron_White.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is located off of Interstate 44 at exit 240A. Ticket prices and information on upcoming shows are available online in The Joint section of www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com. The Joint box office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. All guests must be 21 years of age or older.
-BAM
Q&A: Comedian Tig Notaro talks new CD, TV opportunities and more before tonight’s Norman show
A version of this story appears in Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Tig Notaro tries out TV, CD
The standup comic is performing live Wednesday in Norman, but she also just released her first comedy album and is developing a TV show with Sarah Silverman.
From the strange Spanish translation of a commonplace hotel sign to her awkward and frequent encounters with ‘80s pop star Taylor Dayne, comedian Tig Notaro has finely honed her knack for transforming life’s oddities into uproariously winding stories and drily hilarious one-liners.
As a standup comic, Notaro has been featured on the TV shows “Last Comic Standing,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and her own half-hour Comedy Central special. In addition, she has performed at some of the world’s top comedy and music festivals, including South By Southwest in Austin, Texas; Just For Laughs in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Australia.
“I’m probably drawn to the uncertainty of it all. I truly love doing standup,” Notaro said in an email interview. “I was obsessed with it before getting into it and watched it on TV nonstop. Now that I’m doing it for a living, I rarely watch it, but still enjoy doing it nonstop.”
While Notaro will perform live Wednesday night at The Opolis in Norman, she also is taking her signature dry humor beyond the standup stage. She was a series regular on the 2009 sitcom “In the Motherhood” opposite Cheryl Hines and Casady High School graduate Megan Mullally, has made guest appearances on the shows “Community” and “The Sarah Silverman Program” and is working with Silverman on a TV version of “Tig Has Friends,” her popular regular live show at Los Angeles’ Largo Theater.
In addition, Notaro’s weekly podcast “Professor Blastoff” premiered at No. 1 on iTunes in May, while her debut comedy album, “Good One,” reached No. 2 on iTunes this month. The first and only comedian signed to the prestigious indie music label Secretly Canadian, Notaro fielded via email several questions about her burgeoning career:
Q: Why was this the right time to do an album? Did you have concerns that your comedy wouldn’t translate to an audio-only format? How did you handle those concerns?
A: It was never a concern, because people that can’t use their imagination when something is described probably won’t be into this CD. People that can seem to love those moments on the album. As for the time being right, I didn’t realize it was until I was offered the right deal, then everything fell into place.
Q: The deluxe version includes the DVD “Have Tig at Your Party,” described as “the human equivalent to the ‘burning log’ DVDs.” I guess my question would be how does a concept like that go from “I should do a human equivalent of the ‘burning log’ DVDs” to actual execution?
A: Just sitting around with friends who work on the production side of things really loving the concept and then insisting that we make it. It’s really so ridiculous and I’m very proud of it and how dumb it is.
Q: You are known for having a dry, laidback comic delivery. Is that just a reflection of your personality or a style you’ve deliberately developed because it appealed to your sense of humor? Who are your comedic influences?
A: I always say you wouldn’t be too surprised to meet me offstage. I’m sure there’s moments when I’m less laidback while hanging out with friends and acting stupid, but in general, I’m not a stretch from my stage persona. My influences now are my peers I’ve come up with like Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, Maria Bamford — those types. As a non-comic, I loved Paula Poundstone, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Joan Rivers — those types.
Q: You were a regular on the series “In the Motherhood” with a favorite Oklahoma talent, Megan Mullally. Feel free to talk about how great Megan is …
A: Megan is so crazy supportive of not just me, but other up-and-comers, and that’s pretty great coming from someone that’s basically a living legend. And her comedic sensibility is superb. I love Megan.
Q: You’ll have two talented local comedians, James Nghiem and James Draper, opening for you Wednesday in Norman. Do you enjoy or get inspired from hearing new comics perform?
A: I do like to hear what’s out there because I rarely have the time to seek it out. Most of the time I bring my own opener and MC, but this tour I’m using only locals. Looking forward to J & J (James and James.)
Q. What question do you wish interviewers would ask you that they never do? And how would you answer that question?
A: That question. Like this.
Going on
Tig Notaro
With: James Nghiem and James Draper.
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: The Opolis, 113 N Crawford.
Information: www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.
-BAM
Video: “Twinprov Deathly Hallows Rap (Dirty Harry Potter)”
Oklahoma City-based comedy duo Twinprov (AKA Clint and Buck Vrazel) has released new video of their “Twinprov Deathly Hallows Rap (Dirty Harry Potter),” which they prepared and performed especially for last month’s release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”
As they note in their rap, the film’s release marked the end of an era, since “Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ is the eighth and final film based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series. (According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, the last Harry Potter movie has made almost $1.3 billion worldwide. That should buy a lot of chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts’ Every Flavour Beans.)
I’m a big fan of the Vrazel brothers’ brand of smart, off-kilter improvisational comedy, but I’m particularly fond of their movie parody raps since I first met the guys at a 2009 preview screening for J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek.”
The Vrazels also are artistic directors for the OKC Improv showcase, and they were named in this year’s “40 Under 40″ by OKC Biz.
Twinprov will be on the road for the majority of OKC Improv’s fall 2011 run as they have been invited to perform at improv festivals in Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; and Honolulu, Hawaii. But the Vrazels will return home to help close out the four-week run on Oct. 1 with performances by nationally-acclaimed troupes Twinprov and The Ones Your Mother Warned You About.
OKC Improv will feature performances at 8 to 10 p.m. every Saturday starting Sept. 10 at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker. For more information, go to www.okcimprov.com.
- BAM
Blake Griffin interning with Funny Or Die
Oklahoma native and Los Angeles Clippers basketball player Blake Griffin performs in a scene during the first day of a week-long internship at comedy video website Funny Or Die, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, in Los Angeles. A fan of Funny Or Die and comedy in general, Blake will spend the week on tasks ranging from running office errands to helping out on productions. (AP Photo)
With the NBA lockout lingering, it’s Funny or Die for Oklahoma basketball superstar Blake Griffin.
According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward this week is interning at Funny Or Die, the comedy website co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Griffin, an Oklahoma City native who rose to b-ball stardom at Oklahoma Christian School and later at the University of Oklahoma, arrived at the site’s LA offices Tuesday to begin three days of work in video production.
The 2011 NBA rookie of the year will help write, shoot, edit and act in several videos for the site. Funny Or Die quickly creates digital comedy videos, often with celebrity guest appearances.
Griffin, 22, told the AP he’s a big Funny Or Die fan. As an intern, he hopes to learn more about film production.
“Just to get an inside look at how things are run here is exciting to me,” Griffin told the AP by phone Tuesday. “I don’t know what interns at Funny Or Die are like, but I’m about to find out, I guess.”
Griffin isn’t the only young NBA standout with Oklahoma ties considering a jump into the entertainment biz during the lockout: Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is on the verge of finalizing a deal to star in a major Warner Bros. film, The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry reported earlier this week.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Aug. 24, 2011: Listen to Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers at Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Steve Martin
Today’s featured event:
TULSA – Spend “An Evening of Bluegrass and Banjo” with the multi-talented Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers at 7:30 tonight at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E 2. For more information, go to www.tulsapac.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
