Here’s a sketch video NashvilleStandUp’s own Chad Riden did with American Idol’s Scotty McCreery to promote Scotty’s ACM New Artist Of The Year nomination. Since Scotty posted the video online a week ago, his fans have warmly embraced Chad as “cousin” JIMMY DALE. Some YouTube comments even go so far as to say Riden should get his own show on CMT.. and we wholeheartedly agree. wink wink

For more Chad Riden’y goodness, visit:
ChadRiden.com
Twitter.com/ChadRiden
Facebook.com/comedychad
YouTube.com/ChadRiden

..and now an update from Nashville-based comic Rik Roberts:

GRADUATION SHOW
First off PLEASE come out and support the latest graduating class from the School of Laughs at ZANIES in Nashville on Wednesday, November 19th. The show starts at 7:30p.m., doors open at 6:45. Call Zanies box office (615) 269-0221 to purchase tickets. If you ask for the “friend/family of a performer” discount the price will be $6. The special rate is not available for online purchases. Tickets at the door are $10 if there are any left.
Attending this show will give you a chance to meet students and pick their brain about the classes. It will also give them a full house to perform in front of which will really give them great energy.
2009 CLASS DATES
Many of you have asked when the next round of classes will at Zanies. Although I don’t have dates set in stone yet, here is what I am shooting for:
Stand – UP Writing Class
Mondays, February 2, 9, 16 & 23 5:30-7:30p.m.
Stand – UP Performance Class
Mondays, March 2, 9, 16 & 23 5:30 – 7:30p.m.
Business of Comedy Class
Monday, March 30 5:30-8:30 p.m.
If there is enough interest, I will have an IMPROV class in APRIL. Class descriptions online at www.schooloflaughs.com.
As soon as dates get locked in for any class I will send out an announcement.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Don’t want to spend the money on yourself for classes? Have someone else do it! You can let people know you want to take these classes and have them pay your tuition with a gift certificate. Just have them e-mail me and I will guide them through it. The gift certificate is available for any of the 4 week courses for $200, and for the Business Class for $75. All pre-paid certificate are fully refundable if you decide not to take the class.
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION
I will be appearing on “The 20 Greatest Redneck Moments Part 2” on CMT Fri. Nov. 14th – 11:15AM, Tues. Nov. 18th – 10:00PM, Wed. Nov. 19th – 3:00PM & Fri. Dec. 5th – 10:30 PM CST.
If you have a DVR.. I will be appearing on “Bananas” in national syndication through Sony Studios on January 24th & August 1st. Each market has different channels and air times, but those are the dates I’ll be on. So, search it out on your DVR and watch!

Comments?

The Southern Fried Chicks Tour, featuring Nashville’s own Beth Damn Donahue, along with Etta May, Trish Suhr, and Sonya White, debuts July 27th at 10pm Central, 11pm Eastern on CMT.
The suits at CMT say, “Southern Fried Chicks is the top grossing female comedy tour on the road today, featuring Trish Suhr, Sonya White, Beth Donahue and Etta May. This one-hour stand-up special will bring together four different women who will share their hilarious take on life, love and living in middle America.”
Beth says, “It was REALLY cool. I didn’t know it at the time cause I was super stressed and cracked out, but now that it’s over I have to say it was really really cool. I’ve done lots of TV, but it’s been a while and this MTV Crew was a well-oiled machine, man.”
Ms. Damn Donahue is FUNNY. You probably used to listen to her on the radio here in Nashville & if you’re lucky you’ve seen her live at Zanies the last Wednesday of the month for the last few months. Don’t miss this show.. and don’t miss Beth’s upcoming appearances at Zanies.
Here’s more CMT show times:
Fri, July 27 at 10:00 pm
Sat, July 28 at 6:00 pm
Sun, July 29 at 5:30 pm
Mon, July 30 at 6:00 pm
Tues, July 31 at 9:00 pm
Wed, Aug 1 at 2:00 pm
Fri, Aug 3 at 12:00 am
All times are CENTRAL TIME. Figure it out for yourself, or schedule it online with TiVo.
MySpace.com/bethdamndonahue
MySpace.com/southernfriedchickscomedy
CMT.com/southern-fried-chicks
Zanies.com – Beth Donahue
Comments?

CMT COMEDY STAGE – April 10th & 11th -Doors @ 6PM / Show @ 7PM – Back by popular demand, comedic actress Melissa Peterman (“Reba”) will host an additional four episodes of the new half-hour stand-up comedy series, CMT COMEDY STAGE, taping before a live audience at the historic Belcourt Theatre in Nashville on April 10 & 11, 2007 – tapings begin at 7:00P, doors open at 6:00P. The series features rising stars, as well popular comedic favorites, with a complete line-up yet to be announced.
Oh, wait, this is NashvilleStandUp.. we know what’s going on.. here’s that yet-to-be-announced lineup:
Buzz Sutherland
Greg Warren (back for more)
Steve MudFlap McGrew
Tommy Johnagin
Kelly Terranova (back for more)
John Heffron
MG
James Johann
Bob Zany
Williams & Ree
Wild Willy Parsons
Rich Ragains
Heath Hyche
Each comic will perform for approximately 15 minutes and there will be two episodes shot each night. These tapings are FREE and open to the public, available to those who RSVP to cmtcomedystagetix@cmt.com – YOU MUST RSVP TO ATTEND. Or stop by the Belcourt box office during regular hours and pick up a ticket while supplies last.
Comedy Stage @ CMT.com
Comments?

Round Two of the CMT “Music City Madness” Contest ends March 5th at Midnight EST. Nashville’s own Sue Fabisch has a song in the running and she NEEDS YOUR VOTE!
Go now and vote for Sue Fabisch’s “Wal-Mart Woman”:
http://www.cmt.com/interact/music_city_madness/vote/
Whether it’s 25 people or a group of 5000, Top 10 Billboard Artist Sue Fabisch (pronounced Fay-bish) has made them laugh (and cry!). Her hit parody, “The MOM of Constant Sorrow”, catapulted her onto the mainstream airwaves of country music when it found it’s way to over 200 radio stations and the video network Great American Country. The song seemed to strike a chord out in the real world, where all of Sue’s songs are real-life scenarios for over-worked and underpaid parents.
Comments? We’re in the forum.

The video for Sue Fabisch’s song “Wal-Mart Woman” has advanced to Round One of the CMT Music City Madness Contest. This first round runs through Feb 27 and SHE NEEDS YOUR VOTE!
Whether it’s 25 people or a group of 5000, Top 10 Billboard Artist Sue Fabisch (pronounced Fay-bish) has made them laugh (and cry!). Her hit parody, “The MOM of Constant Sorrow”, catapulted her onto the mainstream airwaves of country music when it found it’s way to over 200 radio stations and the video network Great American Country. The song seemed to strike a chord out in the real world, where all of Sue’s songs are real-life scenarios for over-worked and underpaid parents.

If you could take 2 minutes and cast your vote, it would be much appreciated.
1. Go to the link below and look for her name, Sue Fabisch, in the right hand column, (7th from the bottom),
2. Click on her name to watch “Wal-Mart Woman” and the contender.
3 Then cast your vote, (hopefully for Sue!) by checking CLICK TO SELECT under the video.
4. After closing out that screen it will ask you to submit your vote…
Easy as pie, right? Way to go, CMT.
And remember, you can vote MORE THAN ONCE A DAY!
VOTE NOW @ CMT.COM
www.MommyMusic.com
Comments? To the forum!

On Friday, February 2nd, at 8:30 p.m. (Central), CMT premiers “CMT Comedy Stage” – its new stand-up comedy series that was taped right here in Nashville at the historic and beautiful Bellcourt Theatre. NashvilleStandUp was there for the taping of the first four episodes in January, so look for several Nashville-based comedians in the audience AND on-stage. We also gave away tickets to the taping to members of our mailing list. Lee Campbell wrote to thank us saying, “The show was awesome!!!” ..and it was.
Melissa Peterman (from “Reba”) hosts the shows, which feature 14 comics performing stand-up: Trish Suhr, Gary Mule Deer, Kelly Terranova, Etta May, Killer Beaz, Tom Mabe, Vic Henley, Jon Reep, Robert Hawkins, Nate Bargatze, Greg Warren, Greg Hahn, John Wesley Austin and Mike Armstrong.

Among the comics listed, you’ll notice Nashville native Nate Bargatze.. the producers of the show contacted NashvilleStandUp last year looking to spotlight new / southern / local talent in the show and expect to work with more as additional shows are produced in the future.. so that’s good news for Nashville-based comedians and fans!
The third episode (Feb. 16) was Nate’s national television debut, and we’re sure it’ll lead to more great successes for him because he nailed it. Nate’s laid back delivery served him well as he flowed from joke to joke, working in material ranging from his recent move to New York City to the sting-ray petting zoo at Opry Mills Mall. His set was very strong and well received.. and we couldn’t be more proud. If you’d like to see Nate live, he’ll be headlining Zanies on March 14th @ 7:30pm.
The taping was edited into four episodes, premiering Friday, February 2nd and then the next three consecutive Fridays on CMT — 2/9, 2/16, 2/23. Set your TiVo now.
CMT.com’s “Comedy Stage” site
MySpace.com/natebargatze
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