NY Comedy Festival Adds THE BEN STILLER SHOW Reunion, Denis Leary and More to Lineup

The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), in association with COMEDY CENTRAL, today announced over 70 additional shows taking place at more than 25 venues throughout New York City, to its 2012 schedule, highlighted by two events in partnership with The Paley Center for Media: a reunion of the creative minds behind the landmark TV series The Ben Stiller Show and a Conversation with Denis Leary in celebration of his new publication Merry F***in' Christmas. In addition, the NYCF's New York's Funniest Stand-Up competition, brought to you in partnership with JetBlue, and the festival's Comics To Watch program will offer emerging comics a platform to showcase their work to industry professionals in front of a live audience.

The Ben Stiller Show debuted on MTV in 1990 and ran for thirteen episodes before moving to Fox for twelve episodes in 1992, but the show's impact on television comedy cannot be underestimated. A unique blend of a sketch comedy and backstage intrigue, The Ben Stiller Show launched the careers of Stiller, Judd Apatow, Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garafolo, Andy Dick, Jeff Kahn and Rob Cohen each of whom will participate in the 20th anniversary reunion at the Paley Center to share memories and contemplate the show's legacy as one of the true classics of television comedy on Saturday, November 10.

Denis Leary's classic holiday song Merry F***in' Christmas has finally been transformed into an interactive children's picture book… for adults. With brand new verses and original stop-motion-animation art, the dirty ditty will arrive on the shelves just in time to ruin yet another holiday. Leary joins the NYCF for a Conversation with Kate Snow about this comedy classic at The Paley Center for Media on Friday, November 9.