Comedy

Dave Chappelle is ripping Republicans for running on transgender issues by "doing a weaponized version" of his transgender jokes ... and he says he resents them for it.

The comedian laid into the GOP in a new interview with NPR, saying Republicans twisted his words to their benefit and made his transgender jokes a lot nastier than what they really were.

Dave gave "NPR Newsmakers" host Michel Martin an example ... recalling a visit to Capitol Hill where Congress members from both sides of the aisle were hounding him for photos. He says he didn't know how to "respectfully decline," so he took photos with everyone ... including GOP firebrand Lauren Boebert.

We're getting a look at Natasha Lyonne the night before her flight meltdown last week ... out having a blast with some buds with a mic in her hand.

TMZ obtained video of Natasha laughing, singing and clearly in her element at The Naughty Pig in West Hollywood last Monday for a low-key karaoke evening.

We're told Natasha hit the high notes with Cornelius James and Ryan Mirvis from the Comedy Store, jumping into a performance of Joe Cocker's version of "With a Little Help From My Friends" that had the bar locked in.

Martin Short and Steve Martin have taken their hit comedy show back on the road ... and it sure looks like they put on a pair of freaking fantastic performances after a sad tour pause.

The iconic funnymen actors returned over the weekend for a show in Savannah, GA and another in Birmingham, AL ... where they left the crowds in stitches, as seen in social posts.

As you know ... the duo's tour was paused after Short's daughter died on February 23. Multiple shows scheduled in March were rescheduled for September.

Pete Davidson is keeping it VERY real about dad life ... and as usual, he's doing it with a punchline.

According to audio, obtained by TMZ ... the comedian -- who recently welcomed a baby with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt -- joked during a comedy show Saturday that becoming a "girl dad" has officially complicated one very specific pastime ... watching porn. Turns out, adult content hits different when you start seeing the world through a dad lens.

On stage at Las Vegas' Fontainebleau, Pete reportedly quipped that it's now "hard to watch porn ... in front of her."

Actor-comedian Alex Duong's death is putting a lot of emotional and financial stress on his family ... TMZ has learned. But loved ones are rallying around them.

Duong's very close friend and GoFundMe operator Hilarie Steele tells TMZ ... the mounting medical bills from Alex's cancer treatment could add up to $500K or even $1 million ... putting a lot of pressure on his wife, Christina.

Beloved comedian and actor Alex Duong -- who appeared on "Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle" and "Blue Bloods" -- has died after a year-long bout with cancer, TMZ has learned.

Hilarie Steele, a very close friend of the family who was there when he died, tells TMZ ... Alex went into septic shock Friday night and passed away at 11 AM Saturday at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by family and friends.

Last year, Alex was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma -- a rare and aggressive cancer -- after experiencing headaches behind his eye. After a biopsy was performed, the tumor was labeled as extremely aggressive, and Alex ended up with an eye patch and rounds of treatment.

It's Guess Who time! And here's a key clue ...

This actor was one half of Hollywood's most dynamic duos, coming up in the sketch comedy scene.

He's been booked and busy ... voicing a classic character in the movie adaptations of a beloved video game franchise.

Chuck Norris has died, but his legacy lives through the memes he loved so much. He even had a few favorites of his own.

In a 2023 blog post, he wrote about the viral internet jokes -- affectionately called "Chuck Norris facts" -- saying he was "flattered and truly humbled" to have been turned into a "somewhat mythical superhero" through them.

Comedian Mark Normand's got a tip for Taylor Swift ... not one we think she'll take, but nonetheless, he's suggesting she take drastic measures to measure up to one of Travis Kelce's exes.

Mark dropped this hot take during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay" podcast this week ... and made it pretty clear he thinks Trav's ex-gf Kayla Nicole offers way more in the curves department.

The comic described Taylor's body as being more surfboard-like, and suggested she needs a Brazilian butt lift to catch up to Kayla's booty.

Kiki Shepard -- the longtime cohost of the legendary music showcase "Showtime at the Apollo" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

LaShirl Smith, Kiki's rep, tells TMZ ... she suffered a massive heart attack in Los Angeles on Monday, adding her passing was completely unexpected.

Shepard became a familiar face to millions of viewers during her long run on "Showtime at the Apollo" from 1987 to 2002, where she shared the stage with Steve Harvey and helped introduce aspiring performers at the iconic Harlem theater.

"Bridesmaids" star Wendi McLendon-Covey is making it clear there’s no bad blood between her and her former castmates ... saying she missed the Oscars reunion due to some recent plastic surgery.

ICYMI ... Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, and Ellie Kemper teamed up as presenters at Sunday’s ceremony to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the beloved comedy.

The group delivered a few funny bits -- even taking jabs at Leonardo DiCaprio and Stellan Skarsgård -- but fans quickly noticed McLendon-Covey, who was an essential part of the film, was nowhere to be seen.

Bert Kreischer's tour bus fire in North Dakota came after a bizarre tire blowout the night before forced the crew to abandon the vehicle on the side of the highway ... TMZ has learned.

Rob Greenwald, Bert's rep, tells TMZ ... the trouble started in the early hours of Sunday morning while the bus was traveling from Fargo to Cedar Rapids. The front right tire suddenly blew out and completely tore off the rim. We're told the bus didn't hit anything, and the drivers -- who each have about 35 years of experience -- said they'd never seen anything like it.

The bus pulled over along Interstate 94 during a snowstorm, and the group waited a couple hours trying to arrange a replacement tire. When none could be delivered overnight, Kreischer and others on the trip continued to Cedar Rapids on two separate crew buses. The disabled bus stayed behind with the driver, who waited on the highway for help.

Bert Kreischer had a super close call Sunday. His tour bus burned to the ground!

Bert shared a picture of the charred vehicle, writing, "We are all safe but my bus is gone -- God works in mysterious ways."

Look at the pic ... the bus is completely incinerated while sitting on the side of the road in what seems to be the middle of nowhere.