The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival hits Aspen March 8-12 – and it’s starting to get a little wattage.
It’s been announced that Goldie Hawn will be honored, along with sitcom director James Burrows (“Mary Tyler Moore,” “Cheers,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace”). Garry Shandling gets a nod for “The Larry Sanders Show,” and Garrison Keillor delivers a live presentation of “The Prairie Home Companion.” Russell Simmons celebrates the 15th anniversary of “Def Comedy Jam.” Damon Wayans brings in his movie “Behind the Smile” for its world premiere – as well as performing a stand-up set.
Monday, organizers announced the 10th reunion of the cast of “Swingers,” with Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn and Ron Livingston coming to town. Chevy Chase and Penelope Ann Miller hit Aspen with their movie “Funny Money.”
So far, that’s it, friends.
Here comes the judge
Judge Joe Brown, the No.2 syndicated TV judge after Judge Judy, is living in Aspen these days.
The Aspen Times reports that the stern gavel-banger and his wife, Debra Herron-Brown, bought a five-bedroom condo last spring and are regularly seen on the slopes or delivering sentences at the Caribou Club.
What’s his take on Aspenites?
“The people who have made their money are friendly,” he says. “It’s the people with Daddy’s money; they act like they’ve lost their minds. They don’t know what polite is.”
We hear …
A well-known Denver real estate agent-socialite had a glass of champagne thrown at her in the Capital Grille last week – after getting into an argument with an Aspen woman who objected to her wearing a fur coat. When the agent told the high-country hysteric to crawl back into her hole, the bubbly was tossed. The Aspenite was ejected from the bar … Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly is actually going to do 10 minutes of stand-up before the Sinbad benefit show June 1 at the new Soiled Dove Underground at Lowry … She’s everywhere – Rachel Ray’s “Tasty Travels” also stopping by Amore when she’s in town this week … Former Adega chef Bryan Moscatello has landed a job as exec chef at Indigo Landing in Alexandria, Va., near Washington, D.C. It opens April 10 serving “contemporary Southern low-country cuisine.”
City spirit
The town of Barolo, Italy, is right next to Turin, so Barolo Grill is offering a $65-for-two Turin-style dinner throughout the Olympics … Last minute Valentine’s idea – go see Ballet Nouveau’s “Moulin Rouge” at the Paramount Theatre tonight. Nothing like a pack of ballerinas doing the cancan … Janet Elway’s Janet’s Camp committee meets at Saks on March 2 for a Campy Couture fashion show … Ricky Nelson’s boys, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, are at Isle of Capri in Black Hawk on March 16 and 17 … Charles Sanders presents a slide show on his book “The Boys of Winter,” about the 10th Mountain Division, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Colorado Historical Society, $7 … Earl Klugh hosts a jazz weekend March 10-11 at the Broadmoor with Patti Austin, Chuck Mangione, Michael Franks and Nelson Rangell … Sez who: “The strong must protect the sweet.” Homer Simpson
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
