Vong Show

FRESH: New Comedians Showcase Season 7 (Tickets Now On Sale)!

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Toronto’s newest comedians make their stage debut at the iconic Rivoli! Show closes with a professional headliner, who will stay after the show for a Q&A session to answer questions about their experiences as a professional comedian. Prominent producers will also be invited to perform and answer questions during the Q&A about how shows are booked and produced.

NEW COMEDIANS LINEUP: Brandon Schiafone, David Yun, Justen Williams, Keh Dee, Miguel De La Barrera, Miles Reuben, Nicole Benjamin, Paul Schmidt, Steve Degay, Tyler Risman, Tyler Stevens!

FEATURED PROFESSIONAL COMEDIANS: Headliner and touring comedian Ryan Horwood along with super producer and actor Brandon Zakkai!

TICKETS $20 Online + Taxes/Fees. Limited tickets available at the door for $30 cash. Tickets fully refundable (minus Universe processing fees) up to 24 hours before show starts, no questions asked.

HAVE DINNER AT THE RIVOLI! Show attendees get 10% off your dinner meal at Rivoli (only applies for dinners prior to the start of the show).

SCHEDULE
9:00PM Doors Open
9:30 PM Show Starts (Promptly!)
11:00 PM Headliner Q&A Session, Mentoring New Comedians

WHAT IS FRESH: NEW COMEDIANS SHOWCASE?

FRESH is my way of paying it forward to the new generation of comedians. When I first started comedy 20 years ago in Alberta, I was fortunate enough to get loads of mentorship as I was learning the craft of standup comedy. Being a smaller town, I had the opportunity to host headliners who came through and performed at the local clubs, showing them around town and spending time with them at meals. I was able to pick their brains and gain knowledge from their valuable industry experience. (Special shoutout to now-deceased Canadian legend Mike McDonald AKA King of Canadian Comedy who really encouraged me early in my career and inspired me to start this show.)

Since moving to Toronto I’ve found that new comedians aren’t getting the same type of mentorship as the city is just too large and performer schedules too busy for the connections to be made between headliners and newbies. Things I was taught early on aren’t at all common knowledge with new comedians here unfortunately at no fault of their own.

So I started FRESH: New Comedians showcase as a way to give newcomers a chance to meet headliners from Toronto and across North America and have an opportunity to ask them questions about their careers and the industry.

Additionally I wanted to use FRESH to give new comedians a chance to perform at iconic venues for the first time such as Cameron House, Rivoli, and of course the AMAZING CBC Glenn Gould Studio (only best of the best FRESH comedians are selected for the once-a-year Best of Fresh gala show at a theatre). Press coverage for the shows also gave FRESH comedians an opportunity to learn about how to market themselves and conduct interviews with news media in Canada. Past FRESH comedians have been featured on CBC’s The National, NOW Magazine, CBC One Radio, CTV’s The Social, National Post, CBC Comedy and more!

I truly believe that the stronger the pipeline of new talent coming up, the better for everyone in the industry.

FRESH SEASON 7 ANNOUNCEMENT – TAKING PLACE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 930PM AT RIVOLI!

Toronto’s newest comedians make their big-stage debut, now taking place at the iconic Rivoli for the first time ever! Show takes places on Wednesday, February 1, at 9:30 PM..

FRESH show closes with a professional headliner, who will stay after the show for a Q&A session to answer questions about their experiences as a professional comedian. Prominent producers will also be invited to perform and answer questions during the Q&A about how shows are booked and produced.

Season 7 will be recorded using a 5-camera, 7-microphone setup and will be edited in post-production to look like TV series. Footage of the performances are later released as a web series on YouTube including Watch Parties for all episode premieres! Check out footage from previous seasons below.

Stage time is limited to 3-to-4 minute sets. Although this may seem short, trust me I was just in Hollywood and all showcases were 3 minutes. In New York City, showcases are 2 minutes. As a new comedian it’s important to get your best material into a condensed period of time that’s as cohesive and sharp as possible before expanding to longer sets.

BEST OF FRESH

At the end of each year, the best of the best performers from FRESH: New Comedians Showcase will be invited for a special gala performance and recording at a proper theatre venue! See footage below of the Fresh Rice special gala performance recorded live at CBC Glenn Gould Studio!

COMEDY MENTORS!

This season’s featured guest mentors are Ryan Horwood and Brandon Zakkai. Ryan is a hilarious headliner with years of industry experience. Brandon runs amazing comedy shows all around Toronto’s best venues including The Cathedral and Comedy Bar and has a successful career as an actor.

Per the submission guidelines below please look them up on their official websites and social media channels and let me know what questions you’d like them to answer during the Q&A as part of your submission. You can also choose to direct your questions about the comedy industry to me.

The quality of the questions will be taken into account when selecting comedians for the show, as we want to help comedians who are thirsting for knowledge about the industry! Questions should be specific to the guest professional comedians as we don’t want to waste their time with generic questions that anyone could answer. Please pay attention to this section of the submission as the Q&A questions are heavily weighted when considering who will make it on to the show.

BRANDON ZAKKAI’S SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.instagram.com/brandonzakkai/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5863695/

RYAN HORWOOD’S SOCIAL MEDIA

https://www.instagram.com/ryanhorwoodcomedian/

MARKETING AND SHOW INVITATIONS

FRESH is NOT a bringer show and there are no minimum tickets sold required. When I moved to Toronto for comedy I had no friends or family here so I would never add bringers as a requirement to get on this show. All I ask is that you try your best to get as many people to come support you as possible.

That said, for a new comedians show realistically the only people who are going to come to see you are your friends and family. For sure I can sell out a show with professional comedians but a general audience is just not going to purchase tickets to see unproven comedians. Additionally, I do not make any profit from this show, as all proceeds go to toward the video production of the multi-camera production (both live event capture and post-production). Generally we need to sell about 80 tickets to break even on the production as most of the equipment is my own and the video crew are volunteers and I understand I will take a loss if we don’t meet this sales target but am willing to invest in the future of comedy.

VOLUNTEERING COMPONENT

All FRESH comedians are required to volunteer at the professional show taking place at Rivoli at 730PM prior to the FRESH showcase.

The volunteering is meant to be a learning opportunity to understand what goes into the production of a professional show and should also serve as an aspirational showcase of where you should aim to go with your careers in the future. If you do not see the value in this portion of the mentorship then please do not submit. Believe me I can easily find volunteers for my shows given the ticket price there’s enough volunteers just from the pool of people who wanna come to the show at no cost by volunteering.

So the volunteering itself really is a critical component of the learning process of how to become a professional comedian. During FRESH you will transition from volunteer to performers and there will be a new set of volunteers who will come in to take care of your show. Having volunteered earlier in the night will also allow you to understand what roles the new volunteers play in the overall production.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING FRESH COMEDIANS

Multiple criteria are taken into account when deciding who makes it on to the FRESH stage. In rough order of priority here are some of the criteria I’m using to finalize the lineup. Hopefully this will guide you as through the submission process to understand what to focus on.

  • Volunteering for Previous Vong Show Production (highest priority for inclusion in this show)
  • Quality of the Q&A Question Submitted (very important criteria, specificity of question is important)
  • Previously Submitted Unsuccessfully (multiple submissions prioritized over first-time submissions)
  • Quality of the Submission (improperly filled out fields or lazily filled out applications de-prioritized)
  • Amount of Time Since First Performance (newer comedians are prioritized)

SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED, STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES

‘Producer Spotlight’ Series Elevates Toronto’s Best Comedy Shows

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What is the ‘Producer Spotlight’ Series?

Over the past few years I’ve learned that Toronto has all the ingredients necessary to produce amazingly successful comedy shows! Our city has an abundance of high-level comedic talent, a surplus of gorgeous venues that often go unused, and most importantly an incredibly diverse audience of comedy fans who are enormously supportive of live shows and local talent! This combination of factors is incredibly rare and we should absolutely be taking advantage of everything this city has to offer.

I’m absolutely ready (and honestly itching!) to share all my knowledge of best practices, do’s and don’ts so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I did. By supporting local producers and helping to launch more large-scale theatre shows, the entire comedy community benefits. Larger venues leads to higher ticket prices and profits, allowing producers to fairly compensate Canadian talent and help to end the narrative that Canadians need to head to the United States to make a living.

The ‘Producer Spotlight’ series aims to elevate Toronto’s best comedy shows by arming our brightest producers with the knowledge, training and connections necessary to take their shows to the next level and sell out larger and more prestigious theatre venues. Mentorship will cover everything from producing and marketing a live show, garnering press coverage, how to sell out a larger venues, capturing video and audio footage for post-production (when applicable)… and everything in between.

Comedy Productions Consulting (AKA Free Advice!)

First step when I meet a producer is to go to one of their live shows and then sit down afterward to give feedback based on what their goals are with the show. Even outside of the ‘Producer Spotlight’ series, giving feedback to new producers is something I love to do, so don’t be afraid to reach out (or fill out the form below) and let me know when your next live show is that you’d like feedback on.

Co-Productions at Rivoli

Up to 12 producers per year (one show monthly) will be selected to be the featured ‘Producer Spotlight’ show at the iconic Rivoli. This historic venue is famously the home of ‘Kids in the Hall’ and features an elevated stage and amazing sound and lighting system. Let’s be honest here… the Rivoli is a great music venue and the requirements for lighting and sound in musical performances far exceed that of comedy performances, so there’s really nothing you could imagine you’d need to produce an excellent comedy show here that wouldn’t be technically feasible. Sight lines are great for both the audience and the performers and the room is perfectly set up to place up to five video cameras for multi-cam footage capture.

Co-productions at Rivoli would be a true 50/50 partnership including all costs (marketing, PR, production) and profits being split evenly. Ticket sales would be through the Universe online ticketing platform with full access for all producers to the backend data and live dashboard. Target capacity would be 80-100 seats at $20+ per ticket, although this would be adjusted based on the show.

While the initial show would have lower profit margins due to the 50/50 partnership, the idea is for the featured producer to gain the knowledge and connections to produce future shows successfully at the venue in the future. There would be a minimum target to meet to cover venue costs if we don’t meet the bar sales targets for the night (this is based on how the deal with the venue is set up and is pretty standard for music venues serving alcohol).

Please note that video and audio capture component would need to be negotiated above and beyond the standard partnership and only in cases where the show concept makes sense for post-production. Shows featured at the Rivoli are less likely to require this component compared to shows featured at Paradise Theatre.

Co-Productions at Paradise Theatre

vong show paradise theatre on bloor monthly

Up to four productions per year (one show per quarter) will be selected to be the featured ‘Producer Spotlight’ show at the newly renovated Paradise Theatre. Generally, the Paradise Theatre selection will be made from the best performing of the Rivoli productions that show the most potential for a larger audience.

Co-productions at Paradise Theatre would be a true 50/50 partnership including all costs (marketing, PR, production) and profits being split evenly. Ticket sales would be through the Eventbrite online ticketing platform including full seat selection and venue map. Full access for all producers to the backend data and live dashboard will be provided. Target capacity is 180-220 seats at ticket prices ranging from $25 to $50 based on location in the venue (front rows, balcony, accessible seating etc.).

While the initial show would have lower profit margins due to the 50/50 partnership, the idea is for the featured producer to gain the knowledge and connections to produce future shows successfully at the venue in the future. There would be a minimum goal of 50% tickets sold set out that the featured producer would be responsible for should we fail to meet our seat sales goals (this is to ensure there is enough funds to cover the venue costs).

Please note that video and audio capture component would need to be negotiated above and beyond the standard partnership and only in cases where the show concept makes sense for post-production. In general, shows selected for Paradise Theatre would be concepts that are more likely to be desirable for post-production. With the inclusion of a balcony, Paradise Theatre is perfectly set up for multi-cam video and audio capture using roughly 9 cameras.

Selection Criteria

There are a lot of factors for selecting which shows will be a part of the ‘Producer Spotlight’ series outlined below (please read through carefully). There are also some intangible factors as well such as which, and sometimes it comes down to which producers can best convey genuine excitement for their show and inspire people to want to work with them.

  • Most important factor is having the best show ideas that would be most suitable for the venues and their capacity (Rivoli target capacity 80-100, Paradise Theatre target capacity 180-220)
  • Track record as a producer including discussion about previous shows produced, ticket sales track record, and venues used for past shows
  • How well the show idea relates to the producer (does it make sense that this would be the producer to bring this particular idea to life) and how the idea was conceived and the story behind the idea
  • Ability of showrunner to articulate their ideas and convey their genuine passion for the show (extremely important to garner press coverage and general buzz leading up to the show)
  • Potential of the show idea for post-production video and audio

Shining a Spotlight on Canadian Comedy Shows

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my background as a media executive prior to becoming a comedian, it’s how to properly amplify Canadian comedy shows to get the spotlight it deserves. Full media and communications strategies will be deployed leading up to the live show.

Past shows have included full television coverage on programs including CBC The National, CTV The Social, OMNI Television and most noteworthy was being the full 8-minute lead story segment on CBC Our Toronto and being profiled in-studio back at Glenn Gould Studio for a story CBC News Toronto. Radio coverage has included CBC Metro Morning and CBC Fresh Air.

Print and web coverage has included full multi-page spreads in National Post and a profiles in NOW! Toronto, CBC Comedy and even critics reviews from outlets that generally only cover live theatre such as Mooney on Theatre.

Past partnerships have also amplified comedians appearance on my shows to full billboards at Yonge-Dundas Square and takeovers of BlogTO. So basically I’m saying if you’re on the show get ready to be heavily promoted (although it is important to say that press coverage is never guaranteed in any project).

National Post Laughter for Literacy Raise-a-Reader Learning Enrichment Foundation Vong Show Headshot Gay Pride LGBT LGBTQ Queer Comedy Jokes Standup Asian Chinese Thai Laos Urban Canada Toronto Ontario Winnipeg Allyson June Smith Nile Seguin
NOW Magazine Toronto Glenn Sumi RICE Asian Comedy Showcase Vong Show Ron Josol Yumi Nagashima Ernie Vicente Leonard Chan

Filming and Production (Multi-Cam Video and Audio)

For select projects where the live show featured on ‘Producer Spotlight’ has the potential to be developed into a video (network television, streaming services, film festivals) or audio (albums) product, there is the option of capturing the the footage in partnership with Studio Vong production company. This will only be for projects that make sense as not all live shows are proper for development into a video or audio product. Please note this component is absolutely not a requirement of the ‘Producer Spotlight’ series.

Submissions Now Open!


‘The Vong Show’ Takes Over Paradise Theatre Monthly Starting Sept 22

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What is ‘The Vong Show’?

The Vong Show is a celebration of all the unique voices that make Toronto the most diverse city in the world. It’s fitting that the show will take place at Paradise Theatre because to me Toronto is a paradise for comedy. I’ve recently performed in New York City and Los Angeles and honestly I think that Toronto is at least ten years ahead in terms of the standup comedy being performed on our stages. Toronto is a world-class city for comedy and it’s time we get the recognition we deserve as a standup comedy powerhouse!

Starting September 22 and continuing monthly ‘The Vong Show’ will shine the spotlight on Toronto’s top headliners and feature acts by providing the stage and the audiences we deserve. All performances will be filmed live with a 9-camera, 12-microphone setup. One 45-minute headliner set will be produced and released as a full comedy special to be shopped around for distribution (final platform depends on the recognition level of the headliner and their following which both factor into negotiations for distribution). Two 15-minute feature sets will be produced and released on ‘The Vong Show’ YouTube channel including watch parties for all episode premieres. The headliner’s audio recording will be output as a comedy album to be released across audio streaming services while the features’ sets may be released as a compilation album.

Ultimately, ‘The Vong Show’ is my love letter to Toronto. I want Toronto’s comedy scene to see itself the way that I see it, so join me in helping Toronto take our rightful place as one of the comedy capitals of the world!

Tickets Now On Sale!

Filming and Production Multi-Cam Demo

Here’s some raw footage from my last multi-cam taping to give an example of what the final output from ‘The Vong Show’ will look like! Of course it’s a different venue but equally as amazing. This demo video will be replaced in the future with actual footage from Paradise Theatre.

Join Me On the Paradise Theatre Stage (Submissions Open Now)


Audience Makes All the Difference

A huge part of the Toronto comedy scene is the amazing diversity of our local audiences and their amazing support of live comedy. It actually angers me when people say you have to leave Canada and make it in the United States before Canadians will support you… or that you can only sell out a huge theatre in Toronto by booking an American comedian. I would say the 700-seats sold (double sell-out) at CBC Glenn Gould Studio prove that Torontonians will support quality entertainment from local Canadian comedians. I actually think we have one of the best audiences in the entire world, and I think TIFF has shown that people from other countries actually value the Toronto audience as a gauge of worldwide popularity for a project. It’s time we start valuing our own audiences as well.

I’m gonna tell a story that I don’t share too often. My very first comedy special taping was in the United States just over a decade ago, and I had no creative control which is standard for a young comedian. But what I learned was just how incredibly important the audience is to a live taping. Because I was in a foreign country and city, no one in the audience knew who I was until I walked out on stage. Additionally a lot of video production companies producing comedy specials have very little experience also producing a live comedy event. As such, a large proportion of the audience are made up of tourists or comp tickets or people who’ve never heard of the comedian being taped. As a professional of course I did my best and the audience was happy, but honestly it’s not the same as doing a taping in front of a real comedy audience… an audience of people who came specifically to see you and who has followed your career…. an audience that is there to support local talent and propel their careers forward.

Taping my first self-produced comedy special at the CBC Glenn Gould studio in front of an audience who came specifically to see me honestly filled that gap that I didn’t understand was missing at my other tapings. It’s a night-and-day difference. I will 100% work with you to ensure that the audience you are performing in front of for your taping is the right audience for your material.

Shining a Spotlight on Canadian Comedians

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my background as a media executive prior to becoming a comedian, it’s how to properly amplify talented comedians get give them the spotlight they deserve. Full media and communications strategies will be deployed for both the live taping and for the eventual album release and comedy special launches.

A lot of albums and comedy specials are released without the proper attention they deserve and that will absolutely not be the case for any project I am associated with.

Past shows have included full television coverage on programs including CBC The National, CTV The Social, OMNI Television and most noteworthy was being the full 8-minute lead story segment on CBC Our Toronto and being profiled in-studio back at Glenn Gould Studio for a story CBC News Toronto. Radio coverage has included CBC Metro Morning and CBC Fresh Air.

Print and web coverage has included full multi-page spreads in National Post and a profiles in NOW! Toronto, CBC Comedy and even critics reviews from outlets that generally only cover live theatre such as Mooney on Theatre.

Past partnerships have also amplified comedians appearance on my shows to full billboards at Yonge-Dundas Square and takeovers of BlogTO. So basically I’m saying if you’re on the show get ready to be heavily promoted.

National Post Laughter for Literacy Raise-a-Reader Learning Enrichment Foundation Vong Show Headshot Gay Pride LGBT LGBTQ Queer Comedy Jokes Standup Asian Chinese Thai Laos Urban Canada Toronto Ontario Winnipeg Allyson June Smith Nile Seguin
NOW Magazine Toronto Glenn Sumi RICE Asian Comedy Showcase Vong Show Ron Josol Yumi Nagashima Ernie Vicente Leonard Chan

FRUIT: Queer Comedy Showcase June 22nd Celebrating Toronto Pride!

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Celebrating unique LGBTQ+ voices from the most diverse city in the world! FRUIT: Queer Comedy Showcase returns to the iconic Rivoli on Wednesday, June 22, 745PM in honour of Toronto Pride!

Starring Canadian Comedy Award winner-Robert Watson (OutTV, Amazon Prime) who will be recording his very first comedy album during the show! Hosted by Vong Show, official spokesperson for gay, super cute Asians. Special guest performances from an all-star lineup of Canada’s top queer comedians including Martha Chaves and Ted Morris!

SCHEDULE

7:00 PM Doors Open with Musical Guest During Seating
7:45 PM Show Starts (Promptly!)
8:30 PM Intermission
9:15 PM Show Ends

TICKETS

$20 + Taxes/Fees Online. Limited tickets available at the door for $30. Tickets are fully refundable (minus Universe processing fees) up to 24 hours before show starts, no questions asked.

Fan Favourite Jen Sakato Selected by RICE Audience To Headline May 25th!

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SPREADING ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH LAUGHTER!

RICE: Asian Comedy Showcase returns to the iconic Rivoli to celebrate Asian Heritage Month! Starring fan favourite Jen Sakato, chosen by RICE’s audience as the must-have headliner for our first show back since the pandemic lockdown.

Hosted by Vong Show, official spokesperson for gay, super cute Asians. Featuring American comedians Angela Kimmel (Atlanta) and Ricky Sim (New York City) making their Canadian stage debuts! Also special appearances from rising stars Sebastian D. Chow and Ronald Hae.

Since its launch during Asian Heritage Month (May 2019) as Canada’s first all-Asian monthly stand-up comedy revue, RICE has consistently played to sold out audiences and garnered glowing reviews from prestigious Canadian media outlets including CBC Comedy, NOW Magazine and Mooney on Theatre.

GLENN SUMI (NOW Magazine Theatre Critic): “…RICE was a phenomenal show. Diverse, inclusive, tightly run and – most important – very, very funny… a revelation!”

MOONEY ON THEATRE REVIEW (Sarah Siddiqui): “…there was something to love about every performer. I felt really impressed by the diversity of performance styles and found Vong Sho to be a grounding presence between each act… Asian or not, it is well worth adding to your list of date nights and things to see in the city…”

ACCESSIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE

Rivoli is a fully accessible space for audience members. Street-level access with accessible washroom between bar and backroom. 

This event will be fully compliant with Ontario COVID-19 rules. Masks are recommended but not required.

SCHEDULE

7:30 PM Doors Open with Musical Guest During Seating
8:00 PM Show Starts (Promptly!)
8:45 PM Intermission
9:30 PM Show Ends

TICKETS

TICKETS $20 Online + Taxes/Fees. Special early bird pricing ends May 15. Tabled Seating for Groups of 4+ Available for Additional Fee. Limited tickets available at the door for $30 cash. Tickets fully refundable (minus Universe processing fees) up to 24 hours before show starts, no questions asked.

PHOTOS

RICE Vong Show Rivoli Asian Heritage Month
RICE Vong Show Rivoli Asian Heritage Month
RICE Vong Show Rivoli Asian Heritage Month

Upcoming Shows

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Purchase tickets for upcoming live standup comedy shows performed at some of Toronto’s most iconic stages including CBC Glenn Gould Studio and the Rivoli.

Concert Film & Album

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Filmed live at CBC Glenn Gould Studio in front of two sold-out audiences! Concert film currently in post-production to be released in 2022 along with a vinyl album.

Audio Podcasts

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Vong’s podcasts have been featured on Spotify’s “Unlike Any Other” campaign, Apple’s “New & Noteworthy” section and been nominated for a Canadian Podcast Award.

Studio Vong

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Productions include filming of standup comedy for release theatrically at film festivals, on television and for web series. Exciting announcements coming soon!

Media Appearances

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Vong’s has been a featured guest on CBC Television’s The National, Metro Morning, Our Toronto, Toronto News and Fresh Air, along with CTV’s The Social.

CONNECT WITH VONG

Follow Vong’s journey across his Social Networks including photos, videos, stories and more!

JOIN THE VONGTOURAGE!

Sign up for exclusive early access to tickets and merchandise plus get notified when Vong performs in your city!

ABOUT VONG SHOW

Official spokesperson for gay, super cute Asians. Sharing the Gaysian perspective on culture, sports and trending topics. Creator of RICE Asian Comedy Showcase and founder of Comedy Cares, partnering comedians and charities to raise money for worthy causes.