Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Las Vegas Comedy Festival’ brings comedic nuggets to LV

Sid Caesar, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller, Ed McMahon and the late Buddy Hackett are among the legends of the comedy world who will be honored during the third annual "Las Vegas Comedy Festival" from Wednesday through Oct. 17 at the Golden Nugget.

Caesar, 82 and in poor health, will not be able to attend. And festival organizers aren't sure whether Diller will make it.

Rickles will be presented with the Entertainer of the Year Award by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Past recipients of the award include George Carlin and Rita Rudner.

Although the festival will be at the Nugget, Rickles will be performing at the Stardust and won't be able to attend the event. He will be presented with his award during his show Thursday.

"This is an honor," Rickles said during a telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles. "I assume, hopefully, everyone still enjoys my comedy."

Rickles performs in Vegas three times a year. He was among the most popular entertainers on the Strip in the '60s and '70s, when Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack ruled.

"I miss the camaraderie," he said. "In those days it was more about personalities."

The festival will feature celebrity panel discussions, performance workshops and the national "Laugh Across America" finals competition. The competition, which included a 15-city search for comedy talent, began Aug. 9 and ended in Las Vegas on Sept. 12.

Among those who will be sitting on panels and conducting workshops are comedian/actor Shelley Berman, comedians Jack Carter and Sammy Shore, agent Ken Kragen and comedian/motivational speaker Tom Dreesen.

Several casting agents, managers, talent representatives and entertainment executives will be at the festival, keeping an eye on the talent. Among them will be Sony casting director Delia Frankel; Larry Whitmore, creator of "The Bernie Mac Show," and Lew Schneider, executive producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond."

"As in past years, we are focusing on education, with workshops and seminars," Mary Thomas, the festival's executive director, said. "But we also are delighted at this year's lineup of awards, award recipients, comics and participants.

"There will be a lot of fresh faces this year, and a lot of legends."

The seminars and other educational events will take place during the day. There will be performances at night for those attending the festival and for the public.

Berman, who has taught a graduate course in humor writing at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for 21 years, is looking forward to teaching a seminar on the art of improvisation at the festival.

In the mid-'50s Berman was a member of Chicago's Compass Players, which later became Second City.

"I love to teach," Berman said during a recent telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles. "I just hope the guys taking the class with me will not be too disappointed -- I'm not going to teach them how to be funny. I expect them to know how to be funny."

Berman portrays Larry David's father in the hit HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm," a comedy series that is largely improvisational. David created "Seinfeld."

Berman said the unusual approach to the series, now in its fourth year, "is so great and marvelous. We are told basically what the scene is and then we wing it. The actors don't have lines to memorize."

Producer Bernie Brillstein ("Ghostbusters," "The Blues Brothers") will receive the Steve Allen Pioneer of Comedy Award.

Producer George Schlatter ("Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In") will receive the Uncle Miltie Pioneer of TV Award, named in honor of the late Milton Berle.

McMahon will be presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Lifetime of Service Award.

Caesar will receive the first Caesar Award, named in his honor.

"I am so honored," he said during a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home. "I am really and truly honored. I appreciate it very much."

Caesar no longer performs.

"I retired," he said. "Enough is enough. I take things easy and enjoy life. I read books, watch TV, go for walks. When you get older, you get into your routines."

The routines that made him a legend were comedy routines, especially those created by the writers of his classic "Your Show of Shows" (1950-54).

"We had the greatest writers in the world in one room," Caesar said.

The list included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, Woody Allen and Larry Gelbart ("M*A*S*H"), among others.

Caesar says he still sees them.

"We're still good friends," he said.

Comedy has changed from the early days of television, Caesar said.

"For one thing the language has completely changed," Caesar said. And he doesn't much care for it.

"It stops you from thinking," Caesar said. "It's too easy to get a laugh using filthy language. It appeals to the lowest class -- it's crazy. I just don't agree with it."

Organizers of the festival aren't sure if Diller will be on hand to give out the award named in her honor, to be presented to the top new female comic.

The Buddy Award, named for Hackett, will be presented to the best comedy club stand-up act.

Other events include a celebrity charity poker tournament, "The Unusual and Unique Bash," under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience, and specialty shows featuring top comedians from across the country, with celebrity hosts such as George Wallace presenting the "Burnin' Hot Comedy Show."