TBS: "All your funny are belong to us!"

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on November 21st, 2008

Erstwhile SHECKYmagazine columnist Tommy James sent us a link to a Variety article that reveals the behind-the-scenes jockeying at the major comedy festivals in North America.

HBO, says Variety, continued to brand the Vegas fest with their logo only out of contractual obligation. TBS, they say, is stepping up and providing the funds both for this year’s Vegas blowout (and subsequent years’ events) and for the Just For Laughs foray into Chigago a year from now.

On the other side of the continent, Comedy Central is pouring some dough into the New York Comedy Festival, although the suits at C.C. say it’s not in response to TBS’ muscling into their territory. Comedy Central’s GM explains it thusly:

“There’s a whole generation of consumers out there who don’t watch a lot of TV,” says Ganeless, whose network launched a live-events division to better tie its on-air promo power to its talent’s tours, DVD releases, online activity and merchandise sales. “Young guys spend a lot of time online or playing games. You have to be everywhere at once to get that audience.”

So… in order to be “everywhere at once,” Comedy Central will spend a pittance on a five-day fest in mainly two venues.

Meanwhile TBS is sponsoring two major fests (one in flyover country, one in Vegas– which is where flyover country vacations), one of which is co-branded by Just For Laughs (which is the recognized name in festification). The judges give the decision to: TBS!

We love Ganeless’ argument: Nobody watches television anyway, so what’s the big deal? (She seems slightly annoyed at her elusive audience.) It’s all part of Comedy Central’s plan to go Multi-Platform! (She seems somewhat annoyed at her young, male audience. Never a good sign!)

We skipped on over to the NYCF website and checked out the lineup– an assortment of Comedy Central’s greatest hits. (And we realized that Katt Williams’ appearance at Carnegie Hall– the gig he almost missed because of his weapons offense arrest!– was part of that fest. Hmmm… he gets arrested in Manhattan, gets sprung on bail and barely makes the performance… but the fest doesn’t get a drop of ink in most or all of the wire stories on the incident!)

TBS and their “Very Funny” branding effort just might succeed to the point where more folks identify comedy (and standup!) with them rather than with Comedy Central!

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