USCAF, Arizona and God

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on August 24th, 2004

Over the cybertransom comes a press release from the folks at the USCAF:

Every year the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival showcases the most cutting edge comedy in the areas of stand-up, sketch, theater, alternative and one person shows.

To be considered for the 2005 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival please submit your material (DVD, VHS tape, press kit, written materials, upcoming performance schedules, articles, etc.) to the address listed below making sure to include the best means of contacting you (e-mail, phone, address, agent, manager, publicist, etc.) Submissions will also be accepted via E-Mail at USCAFTalent@hbo.com. Once we’ve received and reviewed your material, we will contact you if we are interested in potentially booking you for the Festival. Submissions will be accepted beginning July 1, 2004 and ending November 1, 2004. Please note that submission materials will not be returned.

Also, periodically check this website for announcements and information regarding the Festival.

Mailing address:

USCAF Talent Department
2500 Broadway
Suite 400
Santa Monica, CA 90404
E-mail: USCAFTalent@hbo.com

A BRIEF FORAY INTO SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA


Traci Skene poses at the Windemere Hotel in Sierra Vista Hotel with show producer Amy Blackwell
We had the extreme pleasure of working in Sierra Vista, AZ, last weekend. It wasn’t the first time we worked for/with comedian/producer Amy Blackwell— several years ago, we worked with her in the surreal burg of Kingman, AZ.

I THINK “HIP AND MODERN,” I THINK “ELLEN DEGENERES”

The following came from Variety, via Tommy James:

(Jerry)Weintraub and Warner Bros. have set Ellen DeGeneres to star in a remake of the 1977 comedy “Oh, God!” DeGeneres will play the title character, a role originally performed by George Burns.

Weintraub produced the original “Oh, God!,” which also starred John Denver and spawned two sequels. Weintraub said he could never figure out how to remake a film in a way that would flatter the original. He was recently approached by DeGeneres, however, and was impressed by her take. Then he got the blessing of the original’s director, Carl Reiner, and writer Larry Gelbart.

“Ellen is a strong comedienne and she has always done material about God and questions about God,” said Weintraub. “She will help us with the writing, and using her will allow us to do a proper 2005 view of ‘Oh God!’ that is hip and modern.”

Even Degeneres herself would tell you that she is neither hip nor modern. Read the whole thing.