Comedy

Congressman Adam Schiff tries his hand at live stand-up comedy once a year ... but he sees nothing funny about how CNN set up Donald Trump's town hall for a national audience.

The distinguished gentleman from Burbank, CA joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" and we asked him about his upcoming comedy set at The Improv in L.A.

Schiff, who's running for U.S. Senate, is hosting a fundraiser next month at the famous West Hollywood venue -- and while he'll mostly be introducing professional comics, he says he likes to mix in a few jokes of his own.

As Adam explains, he's performed full stand-up acts at his annual fundraiser in the past -- usually writing his own jokes during the cross-country flight -- and he let us in on some of his favorite material.

All jokes aside, Adam's not only eyeing the Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Dianne Feinstein ... he's also paying attention to Trump's presidential campaign.

Rep. Schiff ripped CNN for this month's town hall with the former President -- although, he doesn't take issue with CNN holding the event, he strongly objects to one thing about the spectacle ... comparing it to a reality TV show.

"Good Burger" is returning to the big screen with OG stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell ... and we nabbed an early look at the new production's set as filming gets underway.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... the sequel "Good Burger 2" started shooting Thursday in North Providence, RI around 8 AM, and it's obvious the set designers put a lot of work into recreating the look of the classic '90s flick.

We're told production completely transformed a vacant Friendly's ice cream shop ('memba those?) into the new Good Burger joint.

The joint was originally painted red, but that all changed about 2 weeks ago when production gave the shop a major facelift ... just after notifying local businesses.

Sources say the crew went in and did a full paint job, added window decals and more. They even built a concrete wall in the parking lot, before finishing it off with some spray paint.

And, now it's time to get all that hard work on camera -- we're told they've been filming all this week ... with the cast and crew shooting a scene involving some actors at the graffiti wall.

A clip of Jerry Springer has gone viral on Twitter, showing him reading a last will and testament with a bunch of juicy details ... and some fans think it's the real deal, but it turns out to be more fiction than fact.

The vid shows Jerry in a Zoom call, divvying up his assets to his children ... more specifically, leaving a good portion to 2 Black kids he had out of wedlock -- of course, this is in no way rooted in reality.

It's actually a pandemic-era virtual play called, "Blood Money." Jerry made a cameo in the production, which was featured in "REFRAMED 2020: A Festival of New Plays on Social Justice," presented by Tulane University ... the school where he once was a student.

It's a pretty interesting piece, but gullible folks online took it and ran ... with one saying, "Only Jerry Springer could go out like this."

Another person said Jerry "wrote" the best episode of his drama-filled reality show yet.

As if the evidence against this being legit wasn't enough, a source connected to Jerry tells us this obviously isn't real, adding he only had one daughter throughout his life.

You'll recall, Jerry was laid to rest earlier this month in a Chicago suburb ... after dying from pancreatic cancer.

Antonio Brown may not have many friends left, but there's at least one person still standing by his side amid all the drama surrounding the former NFL star -- Michael Blackson.

The actor/comedian showed up to watch Brown's team, the Albany Empire, play the West Texas Warbirds in a National Arena League showdown this past weekend.

AB posted a photo of Blackson, who came dressed for the occasion, holding an Albany Empire sign, on social media, with the caption, "Family here."

MB was all smiles ... and he seemed to enjoy his time as AB's guest despite claims the Super Bowl champ has been destroying the team since he became owner.

We broke the story ... former Albany Empire coach Damon Ware and quarterback Sam Castronova both told us the experience has been a disaster.

Ware alleges Brown threatened him through text messages after an argument over paying the players ... a problem that has guys mulling sitting out games.

Meanwhile, Castronova told us the players were seemingly locked out of their hotel rooms after previously confronting team officials about not receiving payment for playing games.

Woven into this wavy woman is a comical actress who has been performing in front of audiences since the early 2000s. She interned for 'SNL' back in 2004, which would become a full circle moment after hosting the prestigious show earlier this year!

She spent a good amount of time filming in Sicily, Italy and it wouldn't have been a home run without catching a full-frontal glimpse of her costar Theo James! And, perhaps she made you chuckle during her days as the snarky April Ludgate, starring alongside none other than Amy Poehler.

Brandon T. Jackson is sending up prayers for his friend Jamie Foxx, saying JF's hospitalization ... coupled with the pressure on comedians is starting to scare him.

We caught up with the actor/comedian Wednesday at LAX, and he offered up some words of encouragement to Jamie following the mysterious health condition that's landed him in a hospital for more than 3 weeks.

Brandon spoke directly to Jaimie, saying, "I love you. My prayers are with you and your family" ... and he actually took a moment to pray on camera.

He added, as a fellow comedian, he wants folks to understand the fast-paced lifestyle of the industry ... something that's starting to frighten him.

Of course, Jamie's ailment remains a total mystery and there's no word what he's battling or what caused it. Still, BTJ says it's important for entertainers to take care of themselves with healthy doses of sleep and moderation.

As we reported, Jamie suffered what his family called a "medical emergency" on April 12, and has remained in the hospital. He finally broke his silence Wednesday with an IG post, saying ..."Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed."

Ariana Madix took her road show to D.C. Saturday night ... and she had to get a boatload of satisfaction when someone hurled a joke into the crowd ... comparing her ex to Tucker Carlson!!!

Ariana and boss woman Lisa Vanderpump were invited guests of DailyMail.com at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. M.C. Roy Wood Jr. dropped the comparison in the middle of his roast ... "The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job… but to Tucker’s staff, I want you to know that I know what you’re feeling. I work at The Daily Show, so I too have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. Tucker got caught up. Got caught up like that dude from Vanderpump Rules."

Of course, Roy was referring to the Scandoval ... specifically Tom Sandoval.

Ariana's been on a world tour lately ... doing karaoke in Europe and getting tight with a dude at Coachella. She's movin' on ... so where's that reunion show!

D.C. was lit Saturday night at an after-party following the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and apparently so were some of the correspondents!!!

MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle was yukking it up and feelin' the beat with fellow anchor Symone Sanders-Townsend ... posing for pics when she just collapsed. No harm, no foul ... Ruhle bounced back up, with a little help, and was back at it.

The party went down at the French Ambassador's residence in D.C. People were dancing and, we're guessing, drinking some as the shindig blazed on. Stephanie hit the ground at 1 AM. No word on how long the party lasted.

The event's a big deal in D.C. Ariana Madix and Lisa Vanderpump were guests at the Dinner and A.M. had to love it when host Roy Wood Jr. compared her ex, Tom Sandoval, to Tucker Carlson.

While AI is sparking intellectual property debates, funnyman Bill Bellamy's making it clear ... he's not down with the tech using his jokes -- and the fact is, he's still feeling some kinda way about a different financial loss.

We linked with Bill out in NYC and tackled the ongoing discussion about artificial intelligence ... and he's unapologetically Team Human.

Bill not only thinks AI would have a hard time matching his joke-writing wit, he also believes deceased superstars -- like Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. -- would also frown upon their voices being remixed without legal approval.

We also talked to Bill about a golden opportunity he admits missing out on back in the '90s -- namely, not trademarking the "booty call" catchphrase he coined as a young comic on Def Comedy Jam.

The phrase has since been placed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and Hollywood also took advantage ... tapping Jamie Foxx and Vivica A. Fox for the 1997 rom-com.

Speaking of Jamie, Bill tells us his inner circle relayed positive news about the Academy Award winner's condition after he suffered a medical emergency in Atlanta.

Michael Blackson is rejecting Desiigner's "mental health" apology/explanation for his recent indecent exposure charges -- instead, he thinks it's simply a sign American culture is too soft!

On Tuesday, Desiigner posted a video of himself bumping a new tune while claiming he was moments from checking himself into a treatment facility as the aftermath of his bizarre Delta flight unfolds.

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story, Desiigner is charged with indecent exposure for masturbating in plain sight of multiple flight attendants during a flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis. The FBI says he was even armed with a jar of Vaseline.

Michael thinks Desiigner used mental health as a cop-out for his horniness after he got busted and compared American culture to his native homeland of Africa ... a place he says everything gets blamed on the devil!!!

We recently spoke to G Perico, who doesn't have a dog in the fight in the convo, but unlike Michael, says he can see obvious mental health issues in Desiigner's sitch and wished him well.

Everybody loves Ray Romano's wide open arteries ... especially him, after undergoing a potentially lifesaving procedure, which is why he's out and about in L.A. getting some exercise.

The actor/comedian got in his steps during a vigorous walk in casual athletic wear, along with his headphones and Apple Watch to monitor his progress and, likely, his heart rate too.

The reason Ray taking a pretty basic walk is significant is ... he just revealed last week he had to have a stent implanted to clear serious blockage in a major artery.

He made the confession on Marc Maron's podcast -- this as he was in the middle of a press run for his new movie, 'Somewhere in Queens' -- and it sounded pretty scary.

RR explained he'd been fighting for years to keep his cholesterol levels down ... and that, for a long time, he'd insisted on doing it on his own terms -- only to come up short time and again, despite doctors repeatedly telling him he was teetering in dangerous territory.

Now, after getting the procedure done -- which he says cleared a 90% blockage -- Ray says he wishes he would've taken his doctor's advice from 2 decades ago.

Pete Davidson's late-night car crash didn't result in serious injury, but that doesn't mean the comedian is gonna get off scot-free ... because we've learned he's now facing possible criminal charges as a result of the incident.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Beverly Hills Police Department recently wrapped its investigation, and sent the case over to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office to determine whether Pete will be charged for the crash.

As we first reported, drugs and alcohol were ruled out as factors in the mishap, but we know Pete was traveling at a high rate of speed when he crashed ... so you gotta imagine at the very least, a reckless driving charge is on the table.

TMZ broke the story ... Pete was driving with his girlfriend, Chase Sui Wonders, through Bev Hills last month when he lost control of his Mercedes, drove through someone's yard and crashed into the side of their house. No one was injured.

Pete was not cited at the time for the crash, but that didn't mean he was in the clear.

Pete Davidson's New York Knicks took home a big win, but one fan might wanna take a lesson in personal space ... cuz he got wayyy too far into Pete's zone.

Check out the video, Pete was posing for pics and high-fiving a bunch of his fellow Knick fans as he left Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon. You see Pete appears to pose for a pic with one dude in a pink shirt and blue cap and continues to move through the crowd.

That clearly wasn't enough for the fan though, who continued to follow Pete ... putting his arm around the comedian and resting his head on Pete's shoulder.

Pete tries to stay cool, taking more pics with others, but when the overzealous fan continued to get all up in his grill Pete understandably snaps ... shoving the dude away and telling him to back off.

Finally, the fan takes a hint and leaves Pete alone.

While his exit was stressful, the good news for Pete is the Knicks defeated Cleveland to take a 3-1 series lead ... not to mention, he got to share a seat next to (and likely some laughs with) Jon Stewart.

Tom Brady apparently didn't think an AI-generated comedy special about him was funny at all.

According to the comedians who helped create the viral, hour-long video -- which featured an animated version of the NFL legend telling crass jokes in a stand-up format -- TB12 threatened legal action over it just days after it was posted ... which forced them to wipe it from the internet this week.

Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen explained the situation on their "Dudesy" podcast on Tuesday ... saying that shortly after they helped put up the fake Brady comedy special on their Patreon page earlier this month -- they received a cease and desist letter from the G.O.A.T.'s attorneys.

The guys said Brady's lawyers claimed in the letter that the AI version of the future Hall of Famer "blatantly violates" the former quarterback's "rights" ... and if they didn't meet a list of demands -- which included taking down the video -- a lawsuit would be forthcoming.

Sasso and Kultgen clearly thought the whole thing was B.S. -- on their pod, they wondered how it in any away differentiated from live comedians doing impressions of celebs on shows like "Saturday Night Live" -- but they nonetheless acquiesced.

The comedians said they took down the comedy special at midnight Tuesday.

Never mind all that talk about artificial intelligence killing the music industry, Tony Rock sees a huge upside to adopting the technology ... especially if you're a fan of late greats like Tupac and Biggie!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with the veteran comic Tuesday at LAX and it's clear he has some deep thoughts on the AI topic, because he rattled off some suddenly possible collabs -- between deceased rappers, or even Michael Jackson and Jay-Z sparring on a track.

There's currently a fake Drake and The Weeknd song with millions of views so yeah, there's clearly a demand for dream AI pairings.

Going further, Tony proposed a Coachella-style, 100% AI-generated festival ... and he even nominated Billy McFarland and Ja Rule to organize it!

Pump the brakes, Tone ... we were with ya right up until the Fyre Fest callback.

"The Mighty Ducks" star Shaun Weiss is taking his past addiction problems and arrests, and turning it all into comedic gold -- using it as brand new material for his stand-up career ... and it's pretty freakin' hysterical.

Shaun got candid about his addiction at the Mic Drop Comedy Club in San Diego this month, taking incredibly serious source material and turning it into stand-up ammo.

He got the crowd laughing pretty hard by poking fun at his own mugshot from his 2020 arrest. He dives deep into his struggles with substance abuse -- with some wit of course -- and gets a roar of applause when he announces he's now 3 years sober.

Check out his last bit about what his "triggers" are for wanting to use drugs. Again, he's probably not joking ... yet he finds a way to crack up the crowd.

Shaun, who played Goldberg in 'Ducks,' has been working on his stand-up act for a little over a year. He's currently on the road and says, "100% of the proceeds go toward helping a child actor stay off drugs."

As we reported, the former child star opened for fellow comedian Russell Peters at a show last year ... following his time living on the streets and having several run-ins with the law.

BTW, Shaun tells us he was recently hired by the treatment center where he used to be a patient to be a sober coach and interventionalist.

He's looking to jump-start a program that helps people turn their personal trauma into comedic material, just like he's doing.