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On the eve of their standup comedy takeover of the 2025 South By Southwest festival in Austin, TX, The Stand Group, Inc. announce a partnership with leading independent entertainment studio, Cineverse and their fast-growing podcast arm to maximize distribution platforms, sponsorships, programmatic demand and additional avenues. The partnership also includes the creation of a development slate for the companies to build new IP together through podcasts and live entertainment.

After successfully launching the Witz Comedy-tv Fast channel and digital content library in 2022 with partners Best Ever Channels (Bec), The Stand Group is now expanding its reach through podcast creation and distribution. Through the launch of the Witz Podcast Network – a new comedy label operated through the Cineverse Podcast Network – Bec partners Barry Gordon and Jonathon Barbato matched The Stand/Witz sensibilities with Cineverse’s ability to support and build brands.

“Together we will maximize marketing, promotional and sales initiatives for shows...

“I’m a glass half-full motherfucker,” says Bert Kreischer.

I can practically hear him smiling through the phone as he discusses his upcoming Netflix special, “Lucky,” an aptly titled hour that sees the notorious party animal turned family man counting his blessings.

Just moments after articulating his reverence and appreciation for his fan base, the comedian, on a walk in Los Angeles, interrupts the interview to take a selfie with a stranger.

The special, Kreischer’s fourth for Netflix, debuts March 18. It features stories about his wife and daughters that are sometimes heartwarming, sometimes vulgar and often both at the same time.

But Kreischer is grateful for more than just his family. “I feel very lucky to be alive and working at this point,” he tells Variety when asked about the state of the industry. “TV and movies are about to explode in Hollywood, in a really fun and crazy way.

Welcome to our rundown of the most-watched branded YouTube videos of the week.

We’re publishing this snippet of a larger Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report in order to analyze sponsorship trends in the creator economy. Any video launched in tandem with an official brand partner is eligible for the ranking.

And – as the name up above would imply – all the data comes from Gospel Stats. If you’re interested in learning more about Gospel – and which brands are sponsoring what creators on YouTube – click here.

Podcasters are having a moment in the White House right now–and over on YouTube, too. Around this time last year, we saw a spike in podcast viewership right before the Super Bowl, with the Kelce brothers‘ podcast New Heights regularly hitting the top 5 in our Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report. This year, instead of sportsball podcasts, it’s entertainment and political shows, with...

America’s Sweetheart, Ari Shaffir’s new Netflix stand-up special, bears a title that flies in the face of the hilariously edgy jokes you’ll hear during the comic’s latest hour. “I’m a big troll,” Shaffir laughed as he explained the special’s ironic name. “I like to rile people up. I’m a habitual shit-starter.”

What to expect from the new special? “I’m trying to take every single thing that people say, ‘This is too serious,’ and I’m gonna be like, ‘Let me show you how to find some joy out of that,’” he says. The message of America’s Sweetheart? “Guys, chill the fuck out.”

I recently spoke with Shaffir about the state of comedy in 2025, the legend of working the door at the Comedy Store and how the advent of podcasting permitted provocative comics to be themselves.

“You see it everywhere in America,...

Hannah Berner is making things clear: She stands by Blake Lively, even if she made a joke about her in a special filmed earlier this month.

In an Instagram Story posted on Friday, Berner shared her support for Lively amid her legal battle with Justin Baldoni, despite joking about the actress during Netflix’s Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, which premiered Friday.

During Berner’s part of the roast, Berner said on stage: “The word ‘cunt’ was trending this year. I don’t think Blake Lively was that bad.

Jeff Ross isn’t done fanning the flames.

Following his memorable appearance helming The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady, Ross will again assume the title of roastmaster general at Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year.

Set to stream globally on Dec. 27, the special will be a night of big laughs and big surprises as Ross and a team of comedians bid good riddance to 2024 the only way they know how — by throwing shade at the biggest moments of the past 12 months. Tim Dillon, Hannah Berner, John Stamos, Sam Morril, Mark Normand, and Ms. Pat are among the confirmed guests.

The special was recorded at The Bellwether in Los Angeles on Dec. 17, directed by Joe DeMaio. The executive producers areIan Orefice and Michael Antinoro for EverWonder Studio, Bryan Zuriff for Bz Entertainment, Jeff Ross, Canopy Media Partner’s Amy Zvi, and Michael Gibbons.

Come for...

When Netflix first picked up its package of Christmas Day NFL games, there was one thing everyone was wondering in Hollywood: Given the streamer’s desire to lean into big events, what would it do to make these games its sports event of the year, something everyone felt they needed to watch live?

Netflix, it turns out, had an answer: Star power, and a lot of it. Beyonce will perform during halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game, and Mariah Carey will make a special appearance during the pregame programming.

And it is rolling out a ton of talent for the studio shows and games themselves, including some of the top names from the other networks, like Ian and Noah Eagle, Greg Olsen, JJ Watt, Robert Griffin III, Mina Kimes, Drew Brees, and Nate Burleson.

And it has turned to a pair of its favorite comedians to help...

Exclusive: After generating some pretty spectacular ratings for Netflix as co-host of its Roast of Tom Brady, Jeff Ross is set to reteam with the streamer on Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year, premiering globally on December 27.

Billed as a night of savage laughs, and surprises, looking back on the last 12 months, the roast will tape at the The Bellwether in Los Angeles on December 17. Featured guests will include comedians Mark Normand, Ms. Pat, Sam Morril, and Tim Dillon.

Joe DeMaio is directing, with Ian Orefice and Michael Antinoro exec producing for EverWonder Studio, alongside Bryan Zuriff for Bz Entertainment, Ross, Canopy Media Partner’s Amy Zvi, and Michael Gibbons.

Nicknamed the “Roastmaster General,” Ross has been a central figure in the art of celebrity roasts for multiple decades. His association with roasts began in the late 1990s through the New York Friars Club, and in 2003, he transitioned to...

Is Jamie Foxx’s illness related to Sean Diddy Combs? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Jamie Foxx reportedly commented about the disgraced rapper while shooting his forthcoming Netflix special, What Had Happened Was, fueling speculation about the event.

Joe Rogan on Jamie Foxx’s Remarks on Sean Diddy Combs

The former Fear Factor host, joined by his guests Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir, weighed in on the situation critically, referencing Foxx’s statements on the podcast.

Trending Did Kate Winslet Turn Down The Role Of Viola In Shakespeare In Love?

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Rogan expressed skepticism about Foxx’s illness’s true nature and noted that his comments could be part of his comedy routine.

“Jamie Foxx just recently said that P Diddy poisoned him, and that’s why he got that stroke,” Rogan said. The...

If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Well, for Joe Rogan, the kitchen’s never been hotter, and it looks like Joy Behar just turned up the heat a little more. The Spotify podcast king, who’s no stranger to controversy, found himself in the firing line from The View co-host. Behar didn’t hold back, calling Rogan an unreliable source of information who “believes in dragons”. And if you think dragons are where this story ends, think again!

Joe Rogan | Credit: The Joe Rogan Experience/ YouTube

Rogan, joined by his comedian pals Mark Normand, Shane Gillis, and Ari Shaffir, didn’t flinch. On a Thanksgiving episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he hit back hard, throwing his own bombshells and delivering a reality check that made it clear—he’s not one to be silenced. According to him, Behar’s jabs weren’t just...

For quite some time, rumors have been floating around on the internet that Jamie Foxx’s last year’s mysterious illness was because of his ‘good friend’ Sean P Diddy Combs. These claims were first made when the producer Choke No Joke talked about this in an interview with Comedy Hype.

Diddy | Credit: The Love Album / Motown Records

While most celebrities have kept mum about the topic or even on Diddy’s arrest and legal troubles, Joe Rogan joined in to comment about it in his recent podcast episode.

Joe Rogan on Rumors of Diddy Poisoning Jamie Foxx Joe Rogan speaks about Jamie Foxx and Diddy rumors | Credit: Joe Rogan Experience podcast / YouTube

Sean ‘P Diddy‘ Combs and Jamie Foxx‘s friendship is well-recorded and the two were apparently good friends back in the day. However, since Diddy was arrested and is currently battling the dozens of legal cases brought against him,...

The annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit, which raises money for wounded veterans and their families via the Bob Woodruff Foundation, takes place every November when the New York Comedy Festival is in town, and Bruce Springsteen has an off day in his tour schedule. This year’s event at David Geffen Hall on Monday night featured performances by Springsteen and Norah Jones and comedy sets by Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, and Mark Normand. Questlove served as the DJ.

It’s a nonpolitical show by nature, but since...

Justin Theroux and his fiancee Nicole Brydon Bloom are paying tribute to veterans on the national holiday.

The engaged couple stepped out to attend the 2024 Stand Up For Heroes event on Monday night (November 11) at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The event raised awareness and over $29 million for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures. On the carpet, Justin and Nicole posed for photos with Bob and Lee Woodruff.

Jim Gaffigan, Norah Jones, Mark Normand, DJ Questlove, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart treated the crowd to an evening of comedy and musical performances.

Find out why Justin didn’t end up starring in the recent movie Joker: Folie a Deux, despite almost being cast.

For the first five weeks of Saturday Night Live‘s current, 50th season, Jim Gaffigan has been part of the celebrity guests, playing Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz alongside Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris.

But with Harris and Walz losing the 2024 presidential election last week, Gaffigan’s time playing Walz has seemingly come to an end. And the weekly late-night sketch series didn’t feature either Rudolph’s Harris or Gaffigan’s Walz during its post-election cold open over the weekend.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday night ahead of the 2024 Stand Up for Heroes event, which honored veterans and their families, Gaffigan indicated that his time on the show would probably have been limited even if Harris and Walz had won.

“It wasn’t the expectation that Maya and I were gonna continue on the entire time,” Gaffigan said.

And though he had to “cancel some [tour] dates,...

Michael Jackson is a name that echoes in the hearts of music lovers around the world. It all started during the ’60s when the “King of Pop” was barely a teenager; he joined the famous Jackson 5, a group formed around him and his brothers. Things eventually took their own course when Mj started to get recognized for his unique voice.

Michael Jackson in the “Beat It” music video | Credits: youtube.com/@MichaelJackson

Before tragically passing in 2009, Michael Jackson had released multiple albums and hit songs such as Thriller, They Don’t Care About Us, Billie Jean, and many more. The multi-platinum singer-songwriter inspired musicians across a vast set of genres, despite being the greatest pop singer ever.

However, Jackson was put under the spotlight for several reasons, one of them being his unique voice, which never changed even after puberty. And Joe Rogan never backs down from discussing highly controversial topics.

“Stories from the Road,” a new six-part series hosted by comedian Brian Simpson, premieres exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers on Netflix Is A Joke Radio (ch. 93) in cars and on the SiriusXM app on September 23 at 7pm Et.

Stories from the RoadExclusively for SiriusXM subscribersGet 3 Months Free

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Stories from the Road with Brian Simpson How to listen

Listen to the first episode premiering Monday, September 23, at 7pm Et exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers on Netflix Is A Joke Radio (ch. 93). Both the first and second episode will be available that night on demand in the SiriusXM app with a subscription and free trial. Future episodes will air on Mondays at 7pm Et.

What you’ll hear

“Stories from the Road” uncovers the most hilarious and outrageous tour tales from top comics like Mark Normand, Vanessa Gonzalez, Amy Miller, Gianmarco Soresi, Anjelah Johnson, and Fahim Anwar. From celebrity run-ins to getting too high,...

Exclusive: Brillstein Entertainment Partners is expanding its comedy ranks, adding Alex Goodman, Rachel Helix and Turner Byfuglin as managers.

The three join Brillstein from Levity Entertainment Group. Goodman and Helix had been at Levity for about a decade; Helix spent her entire tenure there as a manger, Goodman was promoted to manager seven years ago. Both worked with Turner who was a coordinator at Levity and will become a manager at Brillstein.

Goodman, Helix and Byfuglin all specialize in comedy, representing more than 30 comedic multi-hyphenates with a focus on comedy touring and other live entertainment.

Joining Goodman, Helix and Byfuglin at Brillstein will be clients Aaron Weber, Andrea Jin, Brandon Rogers, Brian Simpson, Chad Daniels, Che Durena, Chelcie Lynn, Chike Robinson, Deb Digiovanni, Gianmarco Soresi, Ian Edwards, Jason Cheny, Jessie Jetski Johnson, Jesus Trejo, Joe Dombrowski, Jr De Guzman, Kam Patterson, King Hassan, Laura Peek, Lenarr Young, Leslie Liao, Lukas McCrary,...

In the parlance of stand-up comedy, Sam Morril is a killer, and with You’ve Changed, his new special unveiled today on Prime Video today, he’s hit on some his best work yet.

One of the great New York up-and-comers known for his sharp, dark, deadpan sensibility, Morril’s work is unapologetically honest and sometimes provocative, as reflected in his quartet of past specials. Most recently debuting Same Time Tomorrow on Netflix, his new hour sees him riff on topics like the worst person he’s ever dated, the complications of getting older, and his perspective on everything from cable news to the perils of social media. He taped it at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Ma, which he sold out nine times last year.

Possessing a distate for podcasting, despite the huge success of his liquor-soaked pod We Might Be Drunk, co-hosted with fellow comic and longtime friend Mark Normand,...

Hulu is giving Shark Week a run for its money this July with not one but seven National Geographic specials dropping on the streaming service at the start of the month. From Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie to Baby Sharks in the City, there are plenty of options for fans of these fearsome finned creatures.

Hulu also has a couple of fun offerings for adult animation fans with the full second season of Marvel’s Hit Monkey dropping on July 15 and Futurama returning for its 12th season on July 29th.

There’s not really anything notable in the way of original movies on Hulu this month, but Aliens, Step Brothers, and (500) Days of Summer are just a few of the noteworthy movies joining the library.

Here’s everything that’s coming to (and leaving) Hulu in July.

Hulu New Releases – July 2024

July 1

Attack of the Red Sea Sharks: Special Premiere...

Get ready for a night of laughter with “Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen” on CBS! Airing at 1:37 Am on Tuesday, February 20th, this episode features a fantastic lineup of comedic talent.

Join host Byron Allen as he welcomes a diverse group of comedians to the stage. Marianne Sierk, Mark Normand, Michael Gelbart, and Jasper Redd are all set to tickle your funny bone with their unique styles and hilarious observations.

From witty one-liners to insightful commentary on everyday life, each comedian brings their own brand of humor to the table, promising plenty of laughs and entertainment for viewers late into the night.

So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to unleash your laughter with “Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen.” Tune in at 1:37 Am on Tuesday, February 20th, on CBS for an unforgettable night of comedy that will leave you in stitches!

Release Date & Time: 1:37 Am...

Chris Rock, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Hannah Gadsby, Seth Rogen, and Tom Brady (yes, that Tom Brady) are among the comedians and non-comedians set to appear at the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke festival.

Kevin Hart, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, Chelsea Handler, Maya Rudolph, Nate Bargatze, Nick Kroll, Kumail Nanjiani, Tim Robinson, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Patton Oswalt are just some of the dozens of A-list comics also on the bill when the fest hits venues across Los Angeles between May 2 and 12.

Despite all the comic legends, the name that stands out the most is Brady’s,...

Netflix is bringing back its “Netflix Is a Joke Fest,” which so far has lined up more than 300 live events across 35 venues in Los Angeles. The event, last held in 2022, will include Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Nate Bargatze and Sebastian Maniscalco in a night of comedy at the Hollywood Bowl; also holding stand-up shows there are Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Seth Rogen, Matt Rife, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah and a joint show with Taylor Tomlinson, Sarah Silverman, Nikki Glaser and Michelle Buteau.

Netflix produces the festival with Live Nation; this year’s event will take place from May 2 to May 12, 2024. Besides the Bowl, other venues on tap include The Greek, The Dolby, The Forum, The Palladium, Orpheum Theatre and The Wiltern, as well as well as comedy venues including The Hollywood Improv, Largo, Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store.

“This is a special time for comedy, both for Netflix and the genre at large,...

Netflix’s L.A.-based comedy festival, Netflix is a Joke Fest, has unveiled the lineup for its 2024 edition, taking place from May 2-12.

This installment of the streamer’s star-studded celebration of comedy, produced in association with Live Nation, will feature over 300 events, covering everything from stand-up to sketch performance, table reads and more. View highlights from the lineup below.

While talent and schedule for the festival are subject to change, further headliners will be announced in the new year. Shows will take place at more than 35 of the city’s most iconic venues, from the Hollywood Bowl and The Greek to Largo, The Hollywood Improv and The Comedy Store.

Set to serve as a festival hub, featuring everything from live stand-up and cast game shows to lawn games, is Outside Joke, an outdoor entertainment space located next to the Hollywood Palladium. Tickets to all events go on sale...

Exclusive: Immersive virtual reality stand-up series Surrounded is to return for a second season next month with Jack Whitehall, Marlon Wayans, Lil Rel Howery and Mae Martin among the comics lined up.

The six-part series will debut via the Meta Horizon Worlds VR online video game platform, with episodes starting from December 29, including a festival holiday special that drops at 10am Pt.

The comedians’ sets were filmed at the 2023 Just For Laughs Montréal Comedy Festival. The format sees the audience inspiring the jokes, with everyone fair game. It originated as a stand-up comedy show created by Mike Falzone before being adapted for the Metaverse.

Hosted by The Carmichael Show star Howery, the episodes will feature Whitehall, Wayans, Martin, Fortune Feimster, Mark Normand, Chris Redd, Dan Soder, Jay Pharaoh, Meg Statler, Felipe Esparza, Rosebud Baker, Sam Morril, Joel Kim Booster, Hannah Berner, Nate Jackson, Brad Williams, Preacher Lawson, Sasheer Zamata, Brian Simpson,...

When comedian Stavros Halkias’s first Netflix special Fat Rascal debuted on the service on Tuesday, it marked the culmination of 15 years of work, the last two of which have been particularly “wild.” It’s the first bit of mainstream exposure for the 34-year-old Baltimore native, bearing one of the most singular visages and voices of his generation, who set out to build his career in stand-up at age 19.

Unlike some comics, who rose up on the back of a late-night set or a Comedy Central half hour, he’s among the young talents who have leveraged the digital space as a means of building both a powerhouse brand and a loyal following. Such has been his permeation of pop culture of late, he says, that he’s begun noticing a difference in those attending his shows. Instead of “internet freaks” alone, he jokes, he now sees “nice older couples” out in the crowd,...

Exclusive: Four years after his fourth acclaimed comedy special The Great Depresh premiered on HBO, comedian Gary Gulman has set his latest, Born on Third Base, to debut on Max. Directed and produced by James Webb (Mark Normand: Soup to Nuts), his new hour will debut on the streaming platform this December.

In Born on Third Base, Gulman offers up his insights on a range of topics — from growing up poor to pretentious suffixes — all with a generous helping of his inventive humor and absurdism. While chronicling his childhood experiences with free school lunch programs and questionable dental care, and experiences with his eccentric Jewish American family, the stand-up makes an incisive swipe or two at billionaire-ism.

Written, performed, and executive produced by Gulman, the special’s other EPs are Conan O’Brien, Michael Bonfiglio, Brian Stern, Jeff Ross, and J.P. Buck.

Said Gulman: “I’m thrilled to be working with the Max team again,...

Exclusive: Netflix on Monday morning unveiled Verified Stand-Up, a new series featuring short sets from 10 comedians that’s set to premiere globally on November 28. Rising comedians that perform in the two-parter, filmed at Webster Hall in New York City, include Asif Ali, Dulcé Sloan, Gianmarco Soresi, Isiah Kelly, Leslie Liao, Nimesh Patel, Robby Hoffman, Rosebud Baker, Sabrina Wu, and Vanessa Gonzalez.

News of Netflix’s new stand-up series comes following its announcement of Improv: 60 And Still Standing, a comedy special celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Improv comedy clubs, which is set to premiere November 7th. Top comics dropping in for short sets as part of that project included Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Bert Kreischer, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Nealon, Mark Normand, Jo Koy, and Whitney Cummings.

Linda Mendoza directed Verified Stand-Up, with Anne Harris serving as executive producer.

Previously seen on Disney+’s WandaVision and The Mandalorian,...

Exclusive: Netflix on Thursday morning unveiled Improv: 60 and Still Standing, a comedy special celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Improv comedy clubs, which will premiere globally on the streamer November 7th.

For six decades, The Improv has stood as a trailblazer in the realm of live comedy, serving as one of the primary platforms for both up-and-coming and veteran comedians. In honor of its anniversary, 10 globally acclaimed comedians will light up the stage in Hollywood for a special evening at The Improv, alongside never-before-seen archival footage from today’s household names.

The comics dropping in for short sets include Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Bert Kreischer, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Fortune Feimster, Jeff Dunham, Kevin Nealon, Mark Normand, Jo Koy, and Whitney Cummings. Among those featured in rare archival footage, who arrived at The Improv as “young newcomers,” per Improv CEO Robert Hartmann, and emerged as “major stars,” are Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld,...

You already know that screenwriters are terrified of AI stealing their jobs. Actors are rightfully looking over their shoulders. When Bryan Cranston warned, "We will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots," he sounded legitimately unnerved. Stuntmen and practical effects teams, puppeteers, and lighting technicians have been anxious over their job security ever since the first CGI began to make their line of work redundant, every single aspect of a movie adjustable from behind a keyboard. The human element seems more and more marginal in the cinematic process.

Don’t get too cocky, movie producers. You’re next.

With minimal input, AI can predict what kind of video you want to watch, when your arteries will congeal, and even what you are thinking. Do not underestimate the robots, showbiz insiders sure haven't. Given the right parameters and correct data, they can play us like a slot machine.

Netflix announced on Monday that A Woman’s Prayer, the first-ever comedy special from actor and comedian Kountry Wayne, will premiere on the platform September 19th.

Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the special has the rising star comic meditate on everything from fatherhood to gender dynamics and faith. It’s directed by Jeff Tomsic, who in addition to the 2018 feature comedy Tag and shows like Idiotsitter, has helmed specials for everyone from Bert Kreischer to Steve Rannazzisi (Breaking Dad), Kurt Metzger (White Precious) and the late Norm Macdonald (the 3x Emmy-nominated Nothing Special).

Wayne, Tomsic, and Matthew Vaughan of Rotten Science served as executive producers.

One of the most in-demand touring comedians in the country, Wayne is currently out on the road for his “Help Is On The Way” tour...

The Barbie craze has made its way over to Netflix as “Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse” Season 1 cracks the Netflix Top 10 at No. 6 with 1.9 million total views. Despite being originally released in 2012, the series seems to be experiencing some momentum following the release of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” film, which premiered in theaters on July 21.

Also on the chart during the July 24-30 viewing window, “The Witcher” fought its way back to No. 1 following the release of Season 3, Volume 2 which arrived on July 27. In its first four days of availability, the season amassed 7.8 million total views. To date, Season 3 has recorded 47.7 million views since premiering on June 29.

The Henry Cavill-led season promptly put a stop to “Sweet Magnolias” Season 3 run at No. 1. After opening at the top of the chart last week with 4.6 million total views and 39 million hours viewed, the romantic drama garnered 5.3 million views in its second week of availability.

Comedian Mark Normand has announced his first hourlong special for Netflix, “Soup to Nuts,” which will hit the streaming site on July 25.

Since he was a kid, Normand knew he was interested in comedy. But once his mother doled out VHS tapes of the Marx Brothers, it became an integral part of his life. After watching it, he soon discovered comedians, films, shows and specials from the past, all due to his mother’s suggestion.

“I thought, ‘This is great. It’s all jokes. This is hilarious. Still holds up.’ Then I went into a deep dive, where you find Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy,” Normand told Variety. “And then it was my whole world.”

Since stumbling on old clips of Seinfeld, Normand has taken the stage with his comedy hero, opening up for the acclaimed comedian, as well as performing sets on late night TV,...

Bird Box: Barcelona, the NFL docuseries Quarterback, the third season of Sweet Magnolias and Jamie Foxx starrer They Cloned Tyrone are among the new projects debuting on Netflix in July

Bird Box: Barcelona is a Spanish-language spinoff of the 2018 Sandra Bullock-starring thriller. The film, written and directed by Alex and David Pastor, picks up after a mysterious force destroys Earth’s population and follows survivors as they seek to escape visible threats. The movie, which stars Mario Casas and Barbarian breakout Georgina Campbell, is meant to be the first of a series of films to expand the Bird Box universe.

The eight-episode Quarterback, Netflix’s first partnership with the NFL and produced by Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, features unprecedented access to Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota both on and off the field during the 2022 season as the NFL allowed the quarterbacks to be mic’d up for every single game,...

Do not adjust your phone screen. You are not experiencing deja vu. Netflix’s list of new releases for July 2023 does indeed look quite a bit like last month’s.

That’s because the biggest new arrival this month is the conclusion of The Witcher season 3 on July 27. It seems like only 29 days ago that The Witcher season 3 premiered. And that’s because it was! Now Henry Cavill’s arc as Geralt of Rivia is set to officially end with this batch of three episodes. Get ready for the Liam Hemsworth era, Witcher fans. Other Netflix Original series of note in July 2023 are The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 on July 6, Sonic Prime season 2 on July 13 and the animated comedy Captain Fall on July 28.

Meanwhile it’s a big month for Netflix’s original movies department. Adam Devine-starring comedy The Out-Laws premieres on July 7. That will be followed by Bird Box...

John Mulaney, Billy Eichner, Bill Burr and other comedians have been added to the growing roster of performers headlining events at the inaugural “Netflix is a Joke: The Festival,” the streamer announced on Tuesday.

The festival will host over 250 live shows in over 30 Los Angeles venues over the course of 11 days, featuring A-list names in stand-up and comedy. Previously announced performers and events include David Letterman, Gabriel Iglesias, Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, Tim Robinson and Aziz Ansari.

Highlights from the newly announced shows include stand up sets from Mulaney, Sebastian Maniscalco, Franco Escamilla, Neal Brennan and Jacqueline Novak. In addition, Eichner will host a celebration of LGBTQ+ comedians with special guest such as Wanda Sykes and Margaret Cho, while Snoop Dogg will host an event for Black comics such as Katt Williams and Mike Epps. Burr will host an event featuring surprise guest comedians at the Hollywood Palladium, and there...

The Standups is returning. Netfix has ordered a third season of the comedy series, composed of six half-hour episodes, for premiere later this year.

The six standalone specials will feature comedians Brian Simpson, Dusty Slay, Janelle James, Mark Normand, Melissa Villaseñor and Naomi Ekperigin.

Per the synopsis: The Standups features all new comedians at the top of their game delivering half-hour sets. Among them, they have starred in the biggest shows on television, performed in festivals all over the world and headlined at the premier comedy clubs across the world.

The third season of The Standups will tape live in NYC this summer and premiere on Netflix later this year.

Joy Bryant and Henry Simmons will star in the second season of Ava DuVernay’s anthology series, “Cherish the Day.”

Production of the OWN drama series will begin in July, with Season 2 expected to debut next year. It will tell the love story of Ellis (Simmons) and Sunday (Bryant), who fell in love in high school and find themselves reunited in New Orleans. In the years that have passed, Ellis has transformed from a basketball player to a single father of two kids, while Sunday is a vegan celebrity chef on the precipice of fame. Each episode of the season-long narrative take place over the course of a single day in order to unveil the significance of both extraordinary and everyday moments to the functioning of a relationship. “Cherish the Day” is produced for OWN by Array Filmworks and Harpo Films in association with Warner Bros. Television. DuVernay, Paul Garnes,...

Comedy Central will revisit the top moments from its celebrity roast specials with Hall of Fame: Top 100 Roast Moments, a five-night event hosted by Nikki Glaser.

Starting on Monday Mar. 29 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt, Hall of Fame: Top 100 Roast Moments is a countdown featuring the Roasts’ “best burns.” The week-long event will revisit the most scorching quips given to past roastees including Alec Baldwin, Justin Bieber, James Franco, Bruce Willis and Rob Lowe.

The Comedy Central special event, which will run until April 2, will feature commentary from comedians, actors, commentators and pop culture historians who will break down the iconic jabs. Set to give their two cents on blazing moments of the Comedy Central tradition are Carly Aquilino, Joel Kim Booster, Guy Branum, Matthew Broussard, Foodgod (Jonathan Cheban), James Davis, Bob the Drag Queen, Daniel Franzese, Josh Johnson, Luenell, Heather McDonald. Additional names joining Hall of Fame: Top 100 Roast Moments are Sam Morril,...

In today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus unveils the trailer for its original thriller “Losing Alice,” and HBO Max sets the premiere date for Wolfgang Puck’s culinary series “The Event.”

Dates

Starz announced that “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham,” an eight-episode docuseries developed by “Outlander” stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, will premiere Feb. 14. The original series is presented as a fun-filled buddy travelogue through Scotland’s terrain, taking viewers on a journey through the country’s rich heritage and traditions. Watch a trailer below.

Nickelodeon set Feb. 12 as the premiere date for its long-anticipated second season debut of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” Subtitled “Curse of the Shadows” and featuring all-new members of the Midnight Society, the six-episode season will follow the kids as they tell terrifying tales about a curse cast over their seaside town and the villainous Shadowman. The beloved horror anthology series,...

Exclusive: Truly Tasteless Jokes, a series of slim paperbacks that became a publishing juggernaut in the 1980s, is the subject of a new documentary feature just acquired by Virgil Films.

Tasteless, directed by Jeff Cerulli and Matt Ritter, traces the history of not only the books themselves but the way the material — much of it crude and controversial — has aged over the decades. The author of the books, Ashton Applewhite (who used the pen name Blanche Knott), later became a feminist and activist. She conceived of the original volume while making $8,500 a year as an entry-level employee in book publishing.

In a 2011 reminiscence she wrote for Harper’s magazine, titled “Being Blanche,” Applewhite reprised many of the jokes that filled the books, the first of which was the best-selling mass-market title of 1983. The punchlines started fairly PG-rated — “What’s the difference between garbage and a girl from New Jersey? Garbage...

Comedy Central has announced the lineups for its January Stand-Up Month, including four new one-hour specials, and talent for a new digital series of half-hour specials under two different banners.

The January Stand-Up Month will feature new specials from Ron Funches, James Davis (Hood Adjacent with James Davis), Chris Distefano and Roy Wood Jr.. The specials will air consecutive Fridays throughout the month at 11 Pm Et/Pt.

In addition, Comedy Central’s digital series Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring will premiere January 8 on YouTube, Facebook Watch, Twitter and Instagram. The series will spotlight a new up-and-coming comedian on Tuesday and Thursday each week.

In the spirit of Adam Devine’s House Party and Live at Gotham, the series will feature short sets from some young voices. The...

Comedians work well in pairs: Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Nichols and May. But it’s high time for a new dynamic duo, and they call themselves “2 Dope Queens.” Out of a smash hit podcast and monthly live show in Brooklyn, stand-up comedians Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson fashioned their very own four-part HBO series, which will air every Friday in February. If HBO needs to use Black History Month as a reason to program these fierce talents, we’re not complaining. But after a few hours with these two, you might find yourself wishing every month was Black History Month.

Read More:‘2 Dope Queens’ Podcast Picked Up By HBO for 2018 Series

Both accomplished performers in their own right, the rise of Robinson and Williams is one of the more heartening comedy stories of the last few years. Their success is a testament to that certain extra something that...

Well, we did it. One month down, 11 more to go. It’s 2018 and even if you wiped the DVR clean as the calendar switched over, odds are good that you’re already drowning under the weight of new TV. As much as we’d like to tell you to have no fear, let us instead help you embrace the countless hours’ worth of new programming heading your way.

Read More:18 HBO Original Programs To Be Excited About in 2018 — ‘Sharp Objects,’ ‘Paterno,’ and More

If the Winter Olympics aren’t your thing (aside from curling, of course, because everyone loves curling), here are some upcoming brand new series that might just make up a big chunk of the February TV conversation.

“AP Bio” (February 1, NBC)

Glenn Howerton stars as an unrepentant asshole instructor in this new series from “SNL” alum Mike O’Brien. Patton Oswalt co-stars, along with Lyric Lewis and an army of confused teenagers.

Photos: Michelle Wolf, Mark Normand and More at Paste's Brooklyn Comedy Festival Show...

Paste Presents An Evening at the Brooklyn Comedy Festival with Michelle Wolf, Mark Normand and More...

If you're like us and value your sleep, you probably nodded off into your Ambien dreamland before the party started on post-prime time TV. Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here's the best of what happened last night on late night.

Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman and Seth Meyers all had repeats on Monday, October 20, so the pickings were a bit slim.

Ice Cube was on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," talking about how he just wrapped principal photography on the N.W.A. movie, "Straight Outta Compton." He was constantly getting arrested when he was with N.W.A. Jimmy asked about the cast, which is mostly filled with unknowns. Ice Cube's son is in it, though, playing Ice Cube himself; did he have to audition to play his dad? "Hell yeah!" They also discussed how it was Snoop Dogg's birthday, and Ice Cube got him the same thing he got him last year.