R.I.P.: Gidget the Chihuahua

Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell commercials made her a star, has died. She was 15.
The owner of Studio Animal Services in Castaic says Gidget suffered a massive stroke late Tuesday at her trainer's home in Santa Clarita and had to be euthanized.
Gidget was the sassy mascot in Taco Bell commercials from 1997 to 2000. While other dogs had bit parts, it was her bug-eyed, big-eared face that was seen pronouncing "Yo quiero Taco Bell," Spanish for "I want Taco Bell," in a male voice dubbed by Argentine actor Carlos Alazraqui. A few years later, Alazraqui landed the role for which he is best known: Deputy James Garcia on Comedy Central's "Reno 911!"
more HERE

The Future of Futurama

Comedy Central has ordered 26 new episodes of Futurama, the animated comedy that ran from 1999 to 2003 on Fox.
Series creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen are currently working on scripts for the new episodes, which will premiere on the cabler in mid-2010 and be dispersed over two seasons.
more HERE

Gullible Conservatives & the Art of Sarcasm

Stephen Colbert, the character and host of Comedy Central's " The Colbert Report," a right-wing blowhard on a one-man mission to reeducate the ignorant, is convincing enough that a recent Ohio State University study found that a majority of conservatives polled believed Colbert the man was one of them. The irony couldn't please him more.
more HERE

Voice of Alazraqui

Yesterday we featured voiceover artist and buddy Tom Kenny, today his contemporary counterpart...Carlos Alazraqui.
The annual Comics 4 Comix event at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco is back with this year's special comedian guest Carlos Alazraqui, who played Deputy Garcia on Comedy Central's "Reno 911" for five seasons, has voiced countless cartoon characters but is probably best known for the "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" hungry Chihuahua in the fast-food chain's commercials.
SFGate interview HERE

Bang a Gong

As we reported right HERE, Dave Attell will soon host a new version of the Chuck Barris classic television game show, the infamous 'Gong Show' on Comedy Central.

Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and Comedy Central are holding an open casting call Monday 5/19/08 in Las Vegas, Thursday 5/22/08 in New York and Saturday 5/24/08 in Los Angeles for "The Gong Show with Dave Attell."
They're looking for the flotsam and jetsam of entertainment, "the unusual, absurd, bizarre, twisted and unique performers."
E-mail your name, phone number, type of act, and any links or videos that showcase your act to: gongshowcasting@aol.com. Or call 310-840-5721. more info HERE

Dave Attell to host 'The Gong Show'

Comedy Central is reviving Chuck Barris' "The Gong Show," with comedian Dave Attell as host.
Set to premiere July 17, 2008, "The Gong Show" will air weekly at 10:30 p.m.
Variety report is HERE

...Oh, YEE!

Comedy Central to Roast Willie

Get your IRS and pot smoking jokes ready: Comedy Central is roasting country music god Willie Nelson.
The roast, marking the red-headed stranger’s 75th birthday, will be taped in Los Angeles on April 17 and air in early June.
Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions will be executive producer for the roast. He also executive produced Comedy Central’s roasts of Flavor Flav, William Shatner and Pamela Anderson.

“Willie Nelson is the original outlaw who has blazed the way for so many in the music and entertainment industry,” said Elizabeth Porter, senior VP, specials and talent, Comedy Central. “We are honored to celebrate Willie’s 75th birthday with a night of smoking hot comedy.”
more HERE