Over 50 amazing performers will show their support and lend their comedy chops to “Night Of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert For Autism Education,” the biennial/bi-coastal event which raises funds to help ease the severe shortage of effective schools and education programs for autistic children and adults.
This year’s presentation features star-studded taped segments from the Beacon Theatre in New York City with additional live wrap-arounds from Los Angeles including a celebrity phone bank which allows viewers to call in during the show to donate while speaking with additional comedic heavyweights. Jon Stewart hosts an evening filled with live performances and sketches from a roster of comedy all-stars with live wrap-arounds in LA and showcasing the taped segments from New York City which premieres on COMEDY CENTRAL on Thursday, October 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
During the LA live telecast, viewers can vote via texting on stunts they want to see take place with celebrities. Comedians appearing and manning the phone bank include George Clooney, Jason Alexander, Mike Birbiglia, Julie Bowen, Drew Carey, Cedric the Entertainer, Bryan Cranston, Larry David, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Will Forte, Jeff Garlin, Lauren Graham, Tom Hanks, John Hodgman, Rob Huebel, Penn Jillette, Chris Kattan, Jimmy Kimmel, B.J. Novak, Conan O'Brien, Jim Parsons, Andy Richter, Holly Robinson-Peete, Maya Rudolph, Paul Scheer, Adam Scott, Bill Simmons, David Spade, Eric Stonestreet, Betty White, Larry Wilmore and Weird Al Yankovic.
The pre-taped New York City segments included comedians Lewis Black, Tom Brokaw, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Billy Crudup, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Jim Gaffigan, Ricky Gervais, Temple Grandin, Tommy Hilfiger, David Letterman, Leonard Maltin, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Soledad O'Brien, John Oliver, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Paul Simon, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Robin Williams and Tay Zonday with Brooklyn’s own soul/funk sensations Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings as the evening’s house band.
Donations can be made in a variety of ways with complete info available via comedycentral.com/stars. An eBay auction with a slew of signed items by celebrities who participated in the event is taking place now with bidding ending on October 25. Some of the items include: a copy of former VP hopeful Sarah Palin’s autobiography signed by Tina Fey; a box of Thank You cards signed by Late Night host Jimmy Fallon; Hot Pockets box signed by Jim Gaffigan and a souvenir t-shirt; a canned ham signed by Late Show host David Letterman; and a copy of our nation’s Declaration of Independence signed by Stephen Colbert.
Donations of any dollar amount will be accepted on comedycentral.com/stars. All donations of $75 or more will receive a White Castle-scented candle and all donations of $100 or more will get a 2011 Tina Fey swimsuit calendar in addition to the candle. Also, a $10 donation can be made by texting STARS to 90999 (message and data rates may apply).
“Night Of Too Many Stars” will benefit a variety of Autism education and family service programs across the country, in support of the overabundance of autistic individuals that so desperately need quality services. One exciting new initiative is The Institute for Brain Development – an all-inclusive diagnosis and treatment center positioned to undertake groundbreaking collaborative research into the causes and treatment of Autism spectrum disorders. The Institute is the product of New York Center for Autism’s partnership with New York-Presbyterian and its affiliated medical school of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College.
