Comedy

Critic at large Laurie Stone comments on stand-up comic Jimmy Tingle.

Street performer turned film actor Rick Aviles (a-VEEL-us). Aviles started out doing comedy on the streets of Manhattan, and was named "Comic of the Year" by the Village voice in 1980. He's since appeared in the movies "Mondo NY," "Street Smart," and "Spike of Bensonhurst." Aviles has a part in Jim Jarmusch's new movie, "Mystery Train."

Television critic David Bianculli previews the upcoming animation series by cartoonist Matt Groening. It's called "The Simpsons" and begins on January 14th on the Fox Network.

Commentator Laurie Stone has some thoughts about comedian Richard Lewis, standup comic, and star of the show "Anything but Love."

Critic Laurie Stone reviews comic Jim Turner, member of Duck's Breath Mystery Theater.

Robert Kaplow and the Punsters' Basil Starling visits the show to play Valentine's Day songs.

Television critic David Bianculli two Showtime cable specials about the British comedy group, Monthy Python's Flying Circus. The specials are called "Life of Python," and "Twenty Years of Monty Python--Parrot Sketch Not Included." David says they're both fun, but both fall short of telling the full story of the group.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis. She stars in the new thriller, "Blue Steel," as a rookie cop tracking down a serial killer, who turns out to be her lover. Her earlier film roles include "Halloween," "The Fog," "Trading Places," and "A Fish Called Wanda." She also co-stars on the ABC TV series, "Anything But Love."

Television critic David Bianculli previews three new shows, coming up this week on each network. They are: "Bagdad Café," "Equal Justice," and "Carol & Co." (with Carol Burnett).

Comedian Imogene Coca. Coca is a television legend, co-starring with Sid Caeser on the groundbreaking comedy series, "Your Show of Shows," in the 1950s. Since then, Coca's had numerous roles on TV, on stage, and in movies. Imogene Coca is teeming up with Sid Caesar once again, for a series of appearances at Michael's Pub in New York City, beginning April 17th.

Critic Laurie Stone reviews British performer and clown Geoff Hoyle. In his solo piece, "Feast of Fools," Hoyke uses physical and verbal comedy to portray a series of caricatures. Though Hoyle has training in classical theatre and mime, STONE says his performance is anything but refined. Hoyle is performing "Feast of Fools," in New York.

Actor, comedian, filmmaker, and author Michael Palin. In the fall of 1988, Palin set out to recreate the journey Jules Verne described in "Around the World in 80 Days." Palin circled the globe by using just about every means of transportation except airplane (since that wasn't available in Verne's time). Palin turned his journey into an 8-part TV BBC series (it aired in this country on the A&E network) and a book that's a bestseller in England.

Critic Laurie Stone reviews the work of impressionist Louise DuArt. On her recent Showtime special, DuArt portrayed everyone from Cher to Barbara Walters, Woody Allen to Doctor Ruth.

Comic Mike Myers. He's the newest member of Saturday Night Live, where he's created the characters and sketches for "Wayne's World" and "Sprockets." Myers began his career at Second City in Toronto.

Critic Laurie Stone comments on two newsworthy comedy events from last weekend--comic Andrew Dice Clay's controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live, and the Comedy Relief special on HBO.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Barbara Ehrenreich's new collection of essays, "The Worst Years of Our Life."

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "The Dave Thomas Comedy Show."

Critic Laurie Stone reviews stand-up comic Margaret Smith.

Comedian David Brenner. He's written a new book about the pitfalls of traveling.

Stand-up comic Jimmy Tingle.