Category: Comedy

THE NEW FILM, The Last Laugh, explores the question, “Is it possible to make jokes about a topic as devastating as the Holocaust?” Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson talks with director Ferne Pearlstein and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who appears in the…

She's baaaack! But this time award-winning director Ferne Pearlstein's joined by veteran comic Judy Gold, one of the many bold-faced names featured in The Last Laugh. Using the scope of the Holocaust, this entertaining, thought-provoking, and edgy documentary explores what is and isn't off-limits in comedy. The Last Laugh opens in Manhattan on March 3rd nation wide on March 17th. www.lastlaughfilm.us

Kristin McCarthy Parker is one busy, creative woman. She's a freelance director in New York City and a founding member of the theater group, Recent Cutbacks. Her niche? Directing top-notch theatrical parodies of blockbuster films. They include, in no particular order: KEVIN!!! (Home Alone), Fly You Fools (Lord of the Rings) and Hold On To Your Butts (you may recall that was the line Samuel Jackson spoke not once, but twice in Jurassic Park). It was named the #3 Comedy of 2014 by Time Out New York Magazine. Kristin is smart, funny and breath of fresh air.

Meet Ashley Nicole Black, the Emmy-nominated comedy writer/correspondent for "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," which in case you didn't know, is not only the first political talk show hosted by a woman, but has THE most diverse writing staff in late night history! Ashley began her comedy career at Second City in Chicago after earning a Masters in performance studies at Northwestern. She dropped out of a PhD program to pursue comedy and the rest is history! Sit back, tune in and let Ashley make your day!

Meet Ferne Pearlstein, yet another creative women with a long list of credits behind her name. A prize-winning cinematographer, Ferne's also a writer/director, producer and editor whose films have been shown nationally and internationally. Her most recent feature documentary, "The Last Laugh," features among others: Mel Brooks, Carl and Rob Reiner, Sara Silverman, Susie Essman and Auschwitz survivor Renee Firestone. The film explores what is and is not off-limits in comedy and includes rare archival footage of cabarets in concentration camps. "The Last Laugh" had its world premier at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. There's plenty to talk about, so get comfortable and tune in!