Stand-up

ELLEN DEGENERES IS STANDING UP FOR GAYS

Even though she’s gay herself, Ellen DeGeneres is trying to polish up her image with the gay community. Ellen’s career has been in the toilet ever since her talk show ended, and as we previously reported, she’s returning to stand-up to launch her comeback. Ellen fears her reputation is tarnished, so she’s hoping her fellow gays can help polish it up. Although most of her charity work involves protecting endangered species, Ellen is now forming a charity to benefit gay and lesbian youths. My source says Ellen is planning an upcoming comedy tour at predominantly gay clubs across the nation, and will donate all profits to the charity.

ELLEN DEGENERES HAS A PLAN

Ellen DeGeneres is going back to her old playbook in hopes of reviving her career. After she came out as gay, Ellen’s TV career stalled so she eventually went back to stand-up comedy before reinventing herself as a talk show host. After backstage reports circulated describing her as “toxic,” Ellen was all but cancelled, and now she’s going back to stand-up as she tries to reinvent herself yet again. My source says Ellen is itching to get back to work and podcast host will be her next transformation. She’s been a sitcom star and a talk show host, so the logical next step for her is to host a podcast.

PHOTO: Warner Bros

TIFFANY HADDISH IS LOOKING FOR A STAND-UP GUY

Have to admit we were HUGELY disappointed in Tiffany Haddish when we heard about her reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. Tiffany swooned that the slap was “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!” She went on to explain that she was thrilled to see a Black man stand up for his wife and she was happy to know “There are still men out there who CARE about their women.” We totally disagreed with her point of view, but it led us to start thinking about the men in her life. Maybe she never had a guy who stood up for her! Keep in mind, she had split with her quarantine partner Common shortly before the Oscars and she emphasized that they did NOT break up because of (that old stand-by) “conflicting schedules.” We’re guessing Common just was not a stand-up guy for her. Tiffany also talks about her adventures in real estate in this month’s Cosmopolitan…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO IS FULL OF SURPRISES

The first time we saw the very Italian comic Sebastian Maniscalco, we were dead certain that he was a native New Yorker. But it turns out he was actually born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, very close to where we grew up. In 1998, he moved to Los Angeles and started appearing at The Comedy Store, while working his way up in the world of stand-up. He’s a little like Jerry Seinfeld in his funny observations, but he’s a lot more animated. Sebastian is in NY promoting his new Netflix special Stay Hungry, and we’re surprised to see him wearing head to toe MAUVE!

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

JOAQUIN PHOENIX MIGHT MAKE YOU FORGET ALL THOSE OTHER JOKERS

We didn’t think the Joker could get much creepier than Heath Ledger’s brilliant version, but Joaquin Phoenix has major potential. His Joker starts out as a frustrated stand-up comedian who can’t catch a break and turns to criminal activity – and eventually criminal insanity. There is no Batman in this film – it’s all about the Joker and we bet there will be some twisted humor…

Above, Nattily costumed Joaquin Phoenix filming in the streets of New York

ANDREW DICE CLAY: DON’T GIVE UP ACTING!

Andrew Dice Clay must cringe every day when he hears the news because there’s always another word or reference he’s got to leave OUT of his stand-up act. In fact, we wonder if he still HAS a standup act because his early act would be entirely unacceptable today. We saw him at the Hollywood Bowl around fifteen years ago and the Diceman character insulted women and gay people in dozens of different ways. The guys in the audience loved his horrifying and filthy act – they swilled beer and cheered every diss. It got so rowdy and obnoxious that we chose to leave. Since belittling women and gays has fallen out of favor, we suggest that Andrew stick to acting!

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

JEREMY PIVEN STILL HAS ONE BEST FRIEND

And that friend happens to be a cute and very portable French Bulldog. Jeremy has some time on his hands since his series Wisdom of the Crowd was canceled – after he was accused of predatory sexual behavior by eight women. (No violence or rape) Not really sure if that affected the series’ cancellation, but Jeremy’s reputation has suffered because he didn’t handle it well. The 52 year old Entourage star blasted the women, denied everything, and called them liars. He SHOULD have simply apologized and acknowledged that he may have behaved badly and he has learned his lesson. Jeremy is now doing stand-up – his stand-up comedy tour starts next month at a club in Naples, Florida.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA