(1888PressRelease)
January 18, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV -- Chucklehut Entertainment and Don Barnhart Jr are gearing up for Season Two of The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show. The late night comedy series that doesn't hold back. Comedian Don Barnhart is the grand prize winner in the 2007 American Idol Underground's Comedy Contest.
Starting early in 2008, Season One of “The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show” is coming to network television and each half hour episode will feature 2 of the best and funniest working comics shot live at one of the top comedy clubs across the country with original sketches, interviews and short films.
The show is created, produced and hosted by award winning comedian Don Barnhart Jr. (Winner of the 2007 American Idol Comedy Contest, Writer/Director/Actor of the hit indie film “China Dolls”, Second City Conservatory Graduate and Contributing Author on “I Killed: True Stories of The Road by America’s Top Comedians”) Don is also the former talent coordinator for the infamous Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA
For years, the networks and studios have scoured the comedy clubs across the country trying to find and develop the next great television and film stars and a majority of the biggest super-stars working today got their start at the comedy club level.
Each comedian on the show is a professional touring act with national credits (The Tonight Show, Conan, Kimmel, BET, Letterman, and Comedy Central) but you haven’t seen them like this!!! Doing their act live in front of a real comedy club audience...
Some of today’s biggest stars got their break by “working it out” at the comedy club level: Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Chris Rock, Dane Cook, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, David Spade, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, Bill Maher, George Lopez, and Jamie Foxx are just a few that got their break as a stand up comedian and these comedy superstars continue to work the comedy clubs today...
Why comedy? Why The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show? In comparison, Last Comic Standing established a new ratings record in the 18-49 demographic drawing 10.4 million overall viewers and a 4.8/13 rating share in Adults 18-49. The major difference with The Freedom of Speech show is that our show is a hipper, fuller version showcasing more comedy featuring top touring professional comedians.
Barnhart was already on the rise to comedy stardom when he won the contest and was recently named one of the top 100 comedians to see 3 years in a row by Entertainment Business Weekly.
Besides being a talented comedian, Barnhart recently wrote, directed and stars in the independent film, “China Dolls” which is already generating a great buzz with outstanding early reviews. It's a gripping look into the underground world of human trafficking inspired by Don's many tours overseas entertaining the troops.
Barnhart is also a contributing author on the book, “I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics” which the NY Times calles "hilarious". He is also the producer and host of the new syndicated television series, "The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show" where he showcases his comedy pals in a late night comedy show that doesn't hold back. Don can also be heard as a regular guest on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius Satellite.
Besides being a regular headliner at the top comedy clubs across the country like The Improv and Punchlines, Barnhart tours regularly for The USO and Comics On Duty entertaining the troops around the world with frequent stops in Afghanistan and the Middle East and has been doing so since the early 90's.
Don Barnhart also holds the title of being one of the first comedians to graduate from the infamous Second City Conservatory Program in Los Angeles and has written, produced and directed several sketch shows and comedy DVD’s along with writing several original sit-coms and feature films. Don is currently on tour and is prepping to shoot a second feature and is developing a sit-com based on his stand up comedy routine.
