Regularly selling out theater performances across the country and internationally, Lewis Black has proven himself to be a worldwide sensation. A staple of late night television and a regular commentator on The Daily Show, Black has also appeared on his own HBO specials and in feature films. This comedian/actor/author manages to invoke incontinent laughter as well as compelling points about the absurdity of our world. The NCF is extremely thankful to Lewis for his continued help at the festival.

The NCF is proud to be catching Kathleen Madigan at the top of her game. With her new Showtime special, “Gone Madigan,” topping the Amazon and iTunes charts, Madigan has the entire year booked with over 100 theater gigs across the country and numerous television appearances. She’s recently back from her second Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s USO Holiday Tour of Iraq and Afghanistan. She’s had countless appearances on every late night show that has come and gone, as well as her own hour specials on HBO and Comedy Central. Madigan has won the American Comedy Award for “Best Female Comedian” and the Phyllis Diller Award for “Best Female Comedian.”

Pete’s reputation for “working the crowd” led him to the opportunity to warm up audiences for live television tapings; he eventually served as a permanent warm-up on The Colbert Report for 5 years. Pete performs on many college campuses, and his own half-hour news wrap-up show, What the Week, as well as a satellite radio show called Stand Up! with Pete Dominick, which regularly features some of the biggest names in politics and journalism. Recently, The Huffington Post called Stand Up! “truly the best political talk show on the air today.” Hollywood Reporter listed Pete in an article featuring personalities to watch in talk radio.

Bob Ley is ESPN’s longest-serving commentator, and in addition to Sports Center he has hosted Outside the Lines since its inception in May 1990. With Ley as host, Outside the Lines has captured 11 Sports Emmy Awards and three Cable ACE Awards as cable’s top Sports Information Series. Bob has handled play-by-play for World Cup, NCAA Final Four basketball, NFL Draft coverage. He will be using his journalistic impartiality to host the New York vs. Boston Comedy SmACKdown.

One of the fastest and funniest comedians working today, Don Gavin has delighted crowds of all ages throughout the world with his unique humor and “everyman” style. Throughout the entertainment and comedy community, Don is reverently and affectionately known as the “The Big Guy,” or often as the “Godfather of Boston Comedy,” for which he will be representing the Bean Town in the New York/Boston SmACKdown. Last year, we were proud to present the Man From Nantucket’s “Comic’s Comic Award” to Don Gavin.

Comedy veteran Vic Henley’s easy style has attracted a vast and sundry fanbase across the country. Vic has been featured on national programs such as The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He will be opening for Lewis Black at the festival, partly as a favor to Kevin Flynn, who performed a well-timed Heimlich maneuver on Vic last winter.

After years as a successful trial lawyer, Karen become a full-time comedian in 2005 after being chosen as a finalist on Nick at Nite’s First Search for the Funniest Mom in America. Karen’s southern comedy style invites the audience to sit in the front porch swing and laugh with her while she talks about family, parenting, marriage and life in general. She can be heard on Sirius XM Radio’s Blue Collar Comedy, Raw Dog and Laugh Break as well as every week on the Coast Morning Show.

Debbie Loeffler worked as an international fashion model for over a decade, living in Paris, Milan and New York. She then took a sharp turn and went into the very different world of political fund-raising. After those two careers she felt she had gathered enough material to become a comedian…she began doing stand-up a year and a half ago and now regularly appears at the world-famous Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York. Since comedy doesn’t exactly keep a girl in Prada, she is also a successful real estate agent inthe Hamptons!

Kelly MacFarland has opened for Melissa Etheridge and LeAnn Rimes at the South Shore Music Circus and Cape Cod Melody Tent. In addition to appearing on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Kelly has worked alongside Fred Willard as part of the rambunctious news team of “TV Network” on TurnerEntertainment’s broadband site, SuperDeluxe.com. Kelly is currently touring clubs and colleges across the country and takes great pride in working with the USO Tour to entertain our US troops overseas. Kelly is also an experienced wellness/inspirational speaker, coaching individuals about self acceptance.

Jon was recently featured in Maxim Magazine and is the host of the widely popular podcast In the Tank. His appearances on “Last Comic Standing 4,” where he was the New York City Capital One Audience Favorite, gained him wide recognition and a new legion of fans. He has been seen on Comedy Central and VH1 and was invited to perform at this year’s TBS Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago. He is known for his regular appearances throughout the NYC scene, including opening for Jerry Seinfeld at the Gotham Comedy Club.

Greg Fitzsimmons hosts a show on Howard Stern’s Sirius/XM Channel, as well as his own Podcast, “FITZDOG Radio”. In addition to appearing regularly on The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan, Greg also has 2 standup specials on Comedy Central. He won 4 Daytime Emmy Awards writing for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and his book Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons was just released to stellar reviews.

Within a year of starting out as a stand-up comic, Gregg Rogell won “The Funniest
Person In Long Island” contest. And within a short period of time, he was appearing on television stand-up specials, late night shows, and playing Kenny on the CBS sitcom, The Nanny. In 2002, Rogell entertained troops at Guantanamo Bay for the “Comedy Central’s USO Comedy Tour,” and recently, he has been performing in his native New York as well as around Europe. In addition to completing a documentary for the BBC in association with Comedy Central, he can be seen cracking dirty jokes in the film The
Aristocrats.