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comedians

Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, author of 'Something We Said: Richard Pryor: A Notorious Word, And Me.' (Isabella Dellolio Photography via JTA)
June 12, 2026, 2:49 pm
Richard Pryor wrestled with the N-word. His Jewish daughter explores how it shaped her life
In her new memoir ‘Something We Said,’ Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor delves into her childhood, Black and Jewish identities, and the racism and antisemitism that continue to shape American life
By Andrew Lapin
Comedian Mario Adrion is coming to Israel for a string of sold-out stand-up shows. (Courtesy)
May 22, 2026, 2:20 am
Funny dynamic: German comedian finds Israelis have ‘the darkest sense of humor’
About to play a string of sold out shows in Tel Aviv, with a US tour to follow, Mario Adrion has built a career riffing on his Jewish wife and joking about taboo topics, including in his special, ‘My Struggle’
By Amy Spiro
Marc Shaiman is the author of a new memoir, 'Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner.' (Robert Trachtenberg via JTA)
February 21, 2026, 2:28 am
In new memoir, acclaimed ‘Hairspray’ composer tells a showbiz story shaped by Jewish humor
In ‘Never Mind the Happy,’ Tony winner and 7-time Oscar nominee Marc Shaiman recounts collaborations with Bette Midler and Rob Reiner, and the musical liberties he took at his bar mitzvah
By Stephen Silver
Mel Brooks, left, sat for roughly 10 hours of interviews over five sessions with filmmaker Judd Apatow for the HBO documentary 'Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!' (Mathieu Bitton/HBO via JTA)
January 22, 2026, 7:19 pm
Ahead of new HBO documentary, Judd Apatow talks about ‘stalking’ his idol Mel Brooks
The acclaimed director reflects on the iconic comedian’s Jewish identity, his influence on modern comedy and the newly-released film, ‘Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!’
By Stephen Silver
Sid Caesar, flanked by Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner, in a skit from the TV variety series, 'Your Show of Shows,' 1952. (NBC Television via JTA)
January 2, 2026, 4:53 pm
How Sid Caesar and a roomful of forgotten Jewish writers transformed television forever
In his new book, ‘When Caesar Was King,’ author David Margolick chronicles the rise, and fall into obscurity, of the sketch comedian who set the stage for the TV sitcom
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
On stage, Gianmarco Soresi jokes about being the son of a Jewish mother and an Italian Catholic father. (Dalvin Nichols via JTA)
September 18, 2025, 1:57 am
Jewish comic Gianmarco Soresi makes a punchline out of his mixed feelings for Israel
The ‘comedian to watch,’ who built a following of over 1 million on TikTok alone with videos of his ad-libbed banter with club audiences, releases a new special on his YouTube channel on Sept. 19
By Steve North
US comedian Sammy Obeid gestures during a performance in a video uploaded to social media on August 21, 2025. (Screen capture: Sammy Obeid via X)
August 29, 2025, 6:18 pm
Refused permit, US anti-Israel comedian accuses Singapore of censorship; regulators deny it
Sammy Obeid says he was told to ‘remove all mentions of Palestine and Israel’ despite handing in toned-down script, which local media authority says he didn’t submit in time
By AFP and ToI Staff
British comedian Rachel Creeger will appear on Israeli stages for five performances from March 27-April 1, 2019 (Courtesy Rachel Creeger)
From the WebJuly 25, 2025, 3:23 pm
Edinburgh Fringe venue nixes shows by Jewish comedians, citing ‘safety concerns’
UK Jewish News reports that Rachel Creeger and Phillip Simon have been told by Whistle Binkies, where they have performed for many years, that staff complained of being ‘unsafe’
The comedian Dave Chappelle tells an extended anecdote about President Jimmy Carter's Middle East diplomacy during an appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' on January 18, 2025. (Screenshot)
January 21, 2025, 2:54 am
On ‘SNL,’ Dave Chappelle implores Trump to have empathy for Palestinians
Comedian’s monologue includes praise for Jimmy Carter’s visit to Palestinian areas; his jokes about ‘the Jews’ during 2022 appearance drew claims of antisemitism
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Stand-up comedian/Israel advocate Yohay Sponder. (Limor Azran Garfinkle)
December 28, 2024, 3:29 pm
Daily Briefing Dec. 28: Day 449 – Yochay Sponder on telling post-Oct. 7 truth, with laughs
Considering it his ‘reserve duty,’ the veteran Israeli comedian uses his heavily Hebrew-inflected English to point out global hypocrisy and remind the world that Israelis want peace
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
At left: Jean Carroll circa 1955. (via Photofest); Cover of 'First Lady of Laughs' by Grace Kessler Overbeke. (Courtesy: NYU Press)
November 18, 2024, 4:25 am
Before Midge Maisel, there was Jean Carroll, a real-life trailblazing Jewish comedienne
In her new book, ‘First Lady of Laughs,’ scholar Grace Kessler Overbeke shines light on the oft-overlooked performer who created ‘a totally different model of funny Jewish women’
By Rich Tenorio
Reginald D. Hunter performing at the Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, July 25, 2021. (Matt Crossick/Empics via Reuters)
August 13, 2024, 5:17 pm
Israeli couple heckled out of Edinburgh comedy show for saying Israel joke not funny
Reginald D Hunter tells Fringe Festival audience that documentary where abusive wife accuses husband of mistreatment makes him think of ‘being married to Israel’
By ToI Staff
Zach Zucker as "Jack Tucker" (Photo by Dylan Woodley, via Hey Alma)
August 10, 2024, 12:32 pm
The Jewish clown of a generation? Watch Zach Zucker aka ‘Jack Tucker’ and decide
On paper, Zucker performing as a cartoonishly dim-witted stand-up comedian should not be funny. But his shows are a comedic assault on the senses, and the buzz is growing
By EVELYN FRICK
Comedian Modi will perform in Tel Aviv on September 12, 2024 (Courtesy)
June 20, 2024, 8:34 am
US comedian Modi books Tel Aviv show after selling out in Jerusalem
The New York comic sold out his first show after mentioning it to followers on Instagram
By Jessica Steinberg
Pope Francis shakes hands with US comedian Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's 'The Tonight Show,' during an audience with comedians in The Vatican, June 14, 2024. (Handout: Vatican Media / AFP)
June 14, 2024, 8:54 pm
Pope Francis tells visiting comedians it’s okay to ‘laugh at God’
Pontiff hosts group of comic actors, including many prominent names, for reception at Vatican hailing the importance of humor: ‘You also make God smile’
By Giada Zampano
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