Robin Williams Among Line-Up of Comedy Central's NY Comedy Festival

The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), in association with COMEDY CENTRAL, today announced its 2012 line-up, that will feature some of the industry's biggest stars performing in the city's most prestigious venues, including The Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, The Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden, and Town Hall, among others, from Wednesday, November 7 – Sunday, November 11.

Kevin Hart returns to The Festival to become only one of a handful of comedians ever to headline the Madison Square Garden arena when he brings his Let Me Explain Tour to MSG on November 10. Hart shares the rare accomplishment of headlining the famed arena with Bob Hope, George Burns, Eddie Izzard, Chris Rock, Andrew "Dice" Clay and Dane Cook, who in 2006 for the New York Comedy Festival performed two shows in one night. HBO's "Real Time" host Bill Maher returns to the Beacon Theatre on November 10, to share his unique and hilarious views on the presidential election. Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams returns to the festival with a lively conversation with Emmy® Award winning director David Steinberg (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds) at the 92nd Street Y on November 11. AZIZ ANSARI, star of NBC's hit series Parks and Recreation, will perform on two of the city's biggest stages – the famed Apollo Theater on November 9 and at Carnegie Hall on November 10. Emmy® Award nominated Ricky Gervais will kick off The Festival when he returns with his razor-sharp wit for an in-depth conversation at Town Hall on November 7.

They will be joined by comedy superstars including Adam Carolla, Rob Delaney, Jim Gaffigan, Artie Lange, Patton Oswalt, Brian Regan, Marlon and Shawn Wayans and more than 175 other comedians performing in more than 50 shows as part of The Festival.
Additional shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

"I can't even find the words to describe what I'm feeling right now!" says Kevin Hart. "I'm honored to join a group of comedians that will go down in history because of their performances at The Garden!!! God is good!"

"The New York Comedy Festival continues to solidify New York City's position as the comedy capital of the world," says Caroline Hirsch, founder of The Festival and owner of Carolines on Broadway. "Once again, we're thrilled to partner with Comedy Central and to continue to grow The Festival brand with an incredible line-up of talent and programming. We have some of our favorite comedians returning as well as introducing some who have not been part of The Festival in the past. There won't be any shortage of laughs this November," Hirsch adds.
"Each year, the Festival keeps expanding its caliber of talent, shows and venues with killer success. This year is no exception and Comedy Central is excited to be a part of it again," Mitch Fried, Executive Vice President, Enterprises, Comedy Central.

Citi cardmembers will have special access to purchase presale tickets to select NYCF shows. For more information visit www.citiprivatepass.com. The presale will run from August 8 at 10:00 AM EDT to August 12 at 10:00 EDT. Tickets for all shows are available to the general public starting Monday, August 13 at 10:00 AM EDT through the New York Comedy Festival website: www.nycomedyfestival.com.

The 2012 NYCF is presented in association with COMEDY CENTRAL. Now in its ninth year, the festival is produced by Carolines on Broadway. Sponsors are Citibank, Klondike ®, JetBlue and Svedka Vodka. The media sponsors are: New York Post, Timeout New York, Variety, and the Village Voice.

THE 2012 NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

(EVENTS CONFIRMED TO DATE AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONS)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
NEXT BIG THING – 7 PM – PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
A CONVERSATION WITH Ricky Gervais, INTERVIEWED BY John Hodgman – 8 PM TOWN HALL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Artie LangE – TOO FAT TO DIE – 8PM – TOWN HALL
MARLON AND Shawn Wayans
THE WAYANS BROTHER LIVE – 7:30 AND 10 PM - CAROLINES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
AZIZ ANSARI – BURIED ALIVE! – 7:30PM – THE APOLLO
Patton Oswalt LIVE - 7:30PM – TOWN HALL
BRIAN REGAN LIVE IN NEW YORK – 8 PM – BEACON THEATER
MARLON AND Shawn Wayans
THE WAYANS BROTHER LIVE – 8:00 PM AND 10:30 PM - CAROLINES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
AZIZ ANSARI – BURIED ALIVE! – 8 PM – Carnegie Hall
Adam Carolla'S NOT TACO BELL MATERIAL – 7:30PM – TOWN HALL
Rob Delaney – BROUGHT TO YOU BY KLONDIKE – 7:30 PM – NYU SKIRBALL CENTER
Jim Gaffigan: THE AMERICA TOUR – 7:30 PM - THE APOLLO THEATER
Kevin Hart – LET ME EXPLAIN – 7:00 PM AND 10:15 PM – Madison Square Garden
AN EVENING WITH Bill Maher – 7:30 PM BEACON THEATER
MARLON AND Shawn Wayans
THE WAYANS BROTHER LIVE – 8: PM AND 10:30 PM - CAROLINES
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
David Steinberg AND Robin Williams TALKING ABOUT NOTHING THAT IMPORTANT – 7:30 PM – 92nd Street Y
MARLON AND Shawn Wayans
THE WAYANS BROTHER LIVE – 7:30 PM AND 10 PM - CAROLINES

ABOUT THE NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL:

Now in its ninth year, the New York Comedy Festival is produced by Carolines on Broadway in association with COMEDY CENTRAL. The festival has featured the country's top comedians, including Louis C.K., Bill Maher, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook, Sarah Silverman, AZIZ ANSARI, Wanda Sykes, and Joel McHale, to name a few. In 2007, the festival launched the "Stand-Up for Heroes" event to benefit The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has featured performances by Robin Williams, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Lewis Black, Ricky Gervais, Conan O'Brien, and Bruce Springsteen.

ABOUT COMEDY CENTRAL:

Available on-air, online and on-the-go, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.cc.com) is the #1 brand in comedy and is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIAB).

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.